US Citizens, Libertarianism is, in essence, personal freedom and minimization of the state. Many would say that Obama‘s current administration conflicts with this view. The idea is that the state is a burden to the economy – a source of bureaucracy. Obama’s administration seems to contradict these views. One big example of this, certainly, is his health care reform plan. But many questions remain: is “reducing” the state simply abolishing it? Should the state be a thin layer, or completely eliminated? A state without any intervention is no state. So why not, instead of destroying the state completely, let it administrate the basics?
A state shouldn’t care only about its economy. The first thing a “true”, “free” state should think of is, certainly, its citizens. Some people would cry foul here: “why should we be burdened by people that don’t want to work? Let them pay their own bills!” But this is not what libertarianism is about. True libertarianism, and therefore freedom, is not violating the US constitution and invading people’s privacies needlessly. It’s about not enslaving other countries, and spending useless amounts of money with an imaginary war. So, if the state isn’t bad, is it good in every way? Should we let it take care of our lives?
No.
Our State is made by US, Citizens. Obama’s government is certainly not perfect. One example is his making of bold claims. He said he would end the war, for example. He didn’t. He said he would cut the government’s wasteful spending. Did he? Politicians have too many ties, and they should always be taken with a grain of salt. There is a chance that Obama’s government will turn tyrannical. If that happens, it is up to us to claim back our freedom. So, as a consequence, I do not think Obama’s government is evil. It is here to bring many taboos to the spotlight. As we discussed, health is one of them, but economic and education inequality are also taboos in the American society. My point of view about all this? I believe freedom is knowing you can count on your State, and that it actually supports you into times of trouble – not some sort of façade that hides a political agenda made to benefit only a rich minority. I expect our politicians to spend our resources wisely, and I truly think the US hasn’t been doing this for a long time – it’s just that we’re only starting to see this now.