Libertarianism

[Fortinbras Armstrong]

12. Yesterday, I discovered something called "Chesterton's fence" that libertarians should know

Simply put, it's the principle that you should never take a fence down until you know why it was put up.

From G. K. Chesterton's 1929 book, The Thing:

In the matter of reforming things, as distinct from deforming them, there is one plain and simple principle; a principle which will probably be called a paradox. There exists in such a case a certain institution or law; let us say, for the sake of simplicity, a fence or gate erected across a road. The more modern type of reformer goes gaily up to it and says, “I don’t see the use of this; let us clear it away.” To which the more intelligent type of reformer will do well to answer: “If you don’t see the use of it, I certainly won’t let you clear it away. Go away and think. Then, when you can come back and tell me that you do see the use of it, I may allow you to destroy it.

If you don't know why a law was passed or governmental agency was established, then you should not call for its destruction. It probably was put in place for a good reason, which may still exist and need to be dealt with.