Good things are happening in the world. Some of what’s happening is explicitly libertarian. Some of what’s happening is anti-authoritarian, “anti” being pushed around and bullied by governments. It’s been unfolding for some time and hit the big-time this last year. Here’s a taste of the proof. what I’ve come across.
The biggest and brightest bit of evidence is certainly Javier Milei, elected as president of Argentina in December last year. This entry from Wikipedia accurately captures Senor Milei. I can’t remember the expression “anarcho-capitalist” being anything but libertarian phraseology before Milei. Murray Rothbard would be pleased. Here’s the Sydney Morning Herald no doubt reluctantly reporting on Elon Musk and Milei. And from yesterday, here’s some reporting on Milei’s recent speech speaking at Stanford.
Much closer to home is our own John Ruddick, member of the Legislative Council of New South Wales, Australia since 20 April 2023. Check out this paragraph taken out of John’s maiden speech to the NSW Parliament:
I want to make the most radical statement said in this Chamber’s 200-year history. There is an element in my party that advocates for an entirely government-free society—a movement, founded by Murray Rothbard, known as anarcho-capitalism. It could also be called libertarianism on steroids. Anarcho-capitalists believe the best use of this beautiful Chamber is as museum—privately owned, of course. It is, at first glance, a shocking view, but one I am increasingly open to. Would a government-free society based on voluntary interaction be more humane, safe, vibrant, diverse and successful? I think it might, and it is definitely worth exploring. Anarcho‑capitalists are not revolutionaries; they certainly do not want social chaos. Even when my party wins towering majorities at the 2027 State election, government would be something that would be steadily phased out over decades and with democratic consent.
(my bold)
A speech like this is usually heard only in deep libertarian circles, not mainstream state politics in Australia. You can listen to the entire speech here on YouTube. And since John’s election to parliament as a Liberal Democrat, the party has officially changed its name to Libertarian Party (Australia). Click here to hear Victorian Libertarian MP David Limbrick announce the name change. For something that’s very timely, here’s John speaking to put the right to free speech into the NSW constitution. Finally, have a read of an article that John wrote for the mainstream Spectator of Australia.
Continuing on my Southern Hemisphere tour of change, the aforementioned article by John introduced me to New Zealand’s libertarian party, the ACT Party. I’m humbled to admit never having heard of the ACT Party prior to reading John’s article. According to their website, the party has five ministers in the New Zealand government! Although they don’t use the word “libertarian” in their website, here’s what they say about their principles:
We believe it is inherent in the nature of human beings as individuals that they are the owners of their own lives and must be free to act according to their own judgments so long as they accept and respect the like freedom of others.
Sounds pretty libertarian to me.
Is something going on that people are now craving liberty? Perhaps. Or are they simply sick and tired of stupid, of being treated with obvious contempt, of being pummelled over and over with too much coercion? This so captured by a book that I began last night, Australia Breaks Apart by John Stapleton. He has accurately portrayed the rage that grew roots in many gardens during the COVID persecutions.
And yet on an incredibly different front, here is Renato Moicano’s televised speech after a recent victory. He’s a Brazilian UFC fighter and in his speech he talks about Ludwig von Mises. I mean this is getting big! Go backward in time from his speech. How did he discover anything about Ludwig von Mises? Now that’s worthy of journalistic investigation.
Speaking of real journalists, one of the remaining greats is Glenn Greenwald. He recently did an interview with the U.K.’s George Galloway. Click on the link to get the full experience. From that interview, here’s an interesting statement by Glenn:
I think the reason George Galloway’s victory causes so much intense and unique and singular hatred among establishment forces is because they like it when things are liberal v. conservative, Labour v. Tory, Democrat v. Republican. What they fear the most is anti-establishment politics and they know George Galloway represents that. They know that increasingly more and more people are subscribing to that form of ethos as well. And they understand correctly that there’s nothing more threatening to them than that.
I believe that Glenn is accurately depicting what is happening in Argentina, in New South Wales, in New Zealand and elsewhere. We the people are discovering that liberal v. conservative, Labour v. Tory, Democrat v. Republican, even left versus right is a false set of alternatives. Whichever way you vote, it’s choosing someone who will screw you over. The only alternative to being screwed over is to be respected and left alone. That of course leaves us with a libertarian alternative such as Milei or Ruddick.
Let’s look to Howard Beale from the 1976 film, Network: I’m as mad as hell, and I’m not going to take this anymore. This is a spectacular piece of footage that illustrates so well the definition of insanity being doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result. No matter which conventional party we vote for, it will be just another election of insanity. Instead vote for a Milei or a Ruddick. Something different – and no doubt better –will happen.
Something good is afoot no matter what triggers it, love for liberty or hatred for being screwed over. Something is afoot folks. It’s too big to nail down in one short blog post but stay tuned and become a part of it.
A World of Honour 