The Libertarian Party is relatively new, founded in 1971 by disillusioned Republicans and Democrats, and independent-minded political newcomers. However, the libertarian philosophy is much older, dating to the time of the founding of this country, and much earlier. Libertarianism is largely a recent branding of what was once known as Liberalism, now known as Classical Liberalism in order to differentiate it from the Modern Liberalism with which we are most familiar today.
The foundations of what would become Libertarian, or Classical Liberal, philosophy can be traced into antiquity. The 1st century BC Roman philosopher and statesman, Cicero, was admired by this country’s founding fathers for his views of natural law and innate rights. The rediscovery of Cicero’s writings in the 14th century helped to spark the Renaissance of the 14th through 16th centuries. John Locke, the British philosopher of the 17th century, and Adam Smith, the Scottish economist of the 18th century, were major influences upon which the founding principles of this country were based. Locke emphasized the importance of individual rights, and defined the purpose of government as protecting those rights. Smith also valued individual rights, and stressed the importance of an unencumbered market economy in maintaining those rights and meeting the needs of society. Other writers were also instrumental in the development of what was then known as Liberal thought, but the foregoing should adequately serve as a brief introduction.
This country’s founders embraced these concepts of individual rights, free markets, and limited government. Like others, they found these ideals to be mutually compatible. A limited government was necessary to insure individual rights. The recognition of individual rights, particularly property rights, benefitted a free market economic system. A free market, in turn, allowed society to prosper, strengthening individual rights and (hopefully) preventing the perceived need to increase the size and scope of government. These ideals also merged well with their developing concept of largely autonomous states united under a limited national government.
Libertarianism, or Classical Liberalism, was a radical idea in the 18th century, and remains so today. When I speak of libertarianism to colleagues, friends and family, I frequently receive a wide variety of responses. Most of the comments are favorable, but many are ill-informed. If I said I was a liberal or a conservative, I could relatively easily predict the range of responses I would hear. Libertarianism, however, seems a mystery to many. Yet, when the matter is discussed in some detail, I have found that most Iowans are indeed libertarian, they just didn’t know the label! I find the following graphic very useful:
As visualized in this graphic, Libertarianism is remarkably in the middle of the extremes of political thought in the Left-Right divide. Conservatives tend to value libertarian principles of fiscal responsibility and national security. Liberals appreciate the libertarian values of individual rights and tolerance. And, I believe, most Iowans respect both of these sets of values. They are not mutually exclusive, although it would seem so based upon the exaggerated differences between “Right” and “Left”. Don’t most of us value another’s right to live their life as they see fit, so long as it does not impact upon our own rights? Don’t most of us believe that we should be free to succeed, recognizing the possibility that we might instead fail? Wouldn’t most of us like to make our own decisions regarding how we manage our possessions and spend our money, whether for our own use, or for charitable purposes? Don’t most of us believe that it is important to maintain the security of our country, but that we don’t necessarily need to waste lives and resources in foreign entanglements in pursuit of this goal?
As I see it, Libertarianism is the true center of American politics. It is right there, where it has been since our country’s founding. It has simply been forgotten by many Americans, and its principles summarily ignored by most of our leaders in government. It is time to restore these founding principles to our country; to educate ourselves regarding these ideals, and to remove from power those officials who refuse to govern by them.