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In reply to the discussion: Hello, DU. I am a libertarian. [View all]Scuba
(53,475 posts)You've been led astray regarding the benefits of government regarding the rich and poor. Law enforcement spends much more time protecting businesses than private residences, as do fire departments. Sewer, water, roads and other public infrastructure are much more heavily used by businesses than individuals.
Here's some data (notice these are all sourced, not just my opinions) ...



Your link regarding minimum wage failed (404 error). Can you please re-post it?
Police don't need a warrant to tail someone. Tailing someone is how they gather the evidence to support getting a warrant. And what about the liberty of the black law enforcement officer who can't do his job if a business is allowed to discriminate against him? What about the liberty of the family that wants to buy food but can't because the business decides it's OK to discriminate against them? Seems like you're OK with individuals denying others their liberty in the name of liberty. Doesn't one's liberty end where another's begins?
Are you strongly anti-regulation, or stongly anti-corruption of regulators? If there was no corruption would you be less anti-regulation? If so, shouldn't ending the corruption be the goal? Some police are corrupted. Do you want to end law enforcement?
I agree that most of these issues are not window dressing to the rank-and-file libertarian. They are however, simply wedge issues for the anti-regulators who hold the power in the libertarian political landscape. Their goal is to let corporations profit without interference from government, polluting the environment, having unsafe working conditions, offerering sub-standard wages that leave workers reliant on food stamps and Medicaid. IMHO, working full time should pay enough to lift workers out of poverty. If your business can't cover the costs keeping the environment clean, providing safe working conditions and non-poverty wages, then it's not a viable business. The modern libertarian politician disagrees.
On edit: Just read your post #40. Agree on # 1 and 2, but not on 3. Externalizing costs issue as already explained in another reply.