For some time now, my good libertarian friend has continued to send me information extolling libertarian values and criticism of the two major political parties, the Democrats and Republicans. He has always been particularly exercised about the Libertarian Party’s continual struggle with ballot access, the nemesis of all third parties in our two-party system. He has a point. All of this got me to thinking what if, by some quirk of politics, an actual libertarian won the White House?
Donald Trump’s presidency just might have provided a glimpse of libertarian rule in a bizarre if imperfect way. Many of his actions lined up rather well with libertarian values and principles. Here’s a list that just might qualify him as our first libertarian president:
Self-interest drives all of us and is a cardinal belief of
libertarians. The idea is that pursuit of self-interest will benefit all of us. If anyone ever acted exclusively on self-interest it has to be Trump; Adam Smith and Ayn Rand would certainly approve.
Cutting programs, belief in a smaller limited government. Trump’s budget cut over 50 government programs. Bare-bones government is a libertarian goal. The private sector know best.
Decentralization of political power closer to all of us so we might exercise our own judgment. The result of this action by the previous administration was especially apparent in regard to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. A libertarian principle.
Deregulation of numerous industries including airlines, long distance telecommunications, and trucking. Environmental laws were especially targeted. Libertarians rail against government regulation which they allege cripples businesses.
Libertarians have always been aggravated by taxes, especially those that tax across the board rather than for use only. The Trump administration cut taxes sharply and, of course, Trump, himself, has been accused of tax fraud.
The MAGA slogan epitomized the idea of self-interest. Do only what is good for America no matter the consequences for others. A bedrock libertarian value.
The idea of diplomacy and traditional foreign policy was ridiculed and ignored resulting in dropping memberships in several international agreements and threatening to drop out of NATO. Libertarians are not into nation building and other unnecessary foreign entanglements.
There is also the case that Trump is not a conservative or even a Republican and never was. As amply demonstrated, he relished bashing Democrats who he held in the lowest esteem. In this he embodies the absolute contempt libertarians have for both major parties, especially the Democrats.
Even Trump’s avoiding military duty might square with the libertarian charge that obligatory service violates the 13th amendment’s prohibition of involuntary servitude. It couldn’t have been self-interest.
Obviously, all of this is a rather imperfect fit, but it does get one thinking. Governing is tough business and getting the reins of power brings serious responsibilities and forces people to face the realities of their beliefs.
Perhaps the moral to this story is best summed up by what happened on January 6 when a Trump inspired mob attacked and sacked the Capitol. It was all done in self-interest, most certainly, that of Trump, our president at the time. I do know that such use of force violates the strong libertarian belief that force should never be used under any circumstances to make others conform to your ideas or goals. January 6, however, raises the question that reliance on self-interest as a guiding principle has serious shortcomings.
Postscript
All political theories fail to achieve their goals, in concept or reality. Some, I believe, are purposely propagated knowing that they are unachievable or not always desirable. Marxism, for example, never results in a “classless society.” Communists know this and still preach it. In much the same way, the idea that “self-interest” always results in the best for the larger community is wrong as well. I don’t pretend to be a political philosopher, but I must wonder if both Karl Marx and Ayn Rand were not charlatans for they certainly understood the shortcomings of what they proposed.
In the United States we believe in democracy and capitalism because they have proven to produce both individual freedom and economic well-being for the vast majority of us. It’s the best we have, but we know we must work at correcting things now and then.