• HANN
    link
    fedilink
    arrow-up
    1
    ·
    7 months ago

    If there is freedom from a governing authority then there is no one to take away my freedom to do what I like. Sounds like two ways of saying the same thing. Maybe I miss your point.

    • Kalcifer
      link
      fedilink
      English
      arrow-up
      1
      ·
      7 months ago

      The distinction between positive and negative liberties is, indeed, a rather blurry one, but there is generally a difference in mindset between the two. That being said, libertarianism seeks to minimize the size and influence of the government, but they don’t seek to abolish it — those that seek to abolish it are anarchists (I’m not sure if I am reading your comment correctly, but it seems that you are advocating for anarchism rather than libertarianism when you said “freedom from a governing authority”). It’s important to note that negative liberty is a concept that distinguishes a certain class of liberties — it doesn’t require the presence of a government.

      • HANN
        link
        fedilink
        arrow-up
        2
        ·
        7 months ago

        Well said, I probably wasn’t very clear, but I am not an anarchist. There are certain critical functions that the government must control. When I say freedom from authority I refer to specific government agencies that can exert force on individuals. Government roads don’t force users to do anything but rather empower citizens.

        • Kalcifer
          link
          fedilink
          English
          arrow-up
          1
          ·
          7 months ago

          Government roads don’t force users to do anything but rather empower citizens.

          Another argument for why government roads are ethical is because they fight off monopolization — property ownership is at high risk for monopolization. I’m not sure if the Georgist idea of taxing the land value that a private road would be on is enough.

          • HANN
            link
            fedilink
            arrow-up
            2
            ·
            7 months ago

            Right, government should provide oversight to public goods that, by their nature, require monopolies such as roads or utilities. Government also needs to have a judicial branch that mediates conflicts between individuals and entities.