Ron Paul, Creeping Socialist

Classic libertarianism - start by massively over-stating your case. Then, when confronted with a clear inconsistency, grant the exception without considering its implication for your broader theory. It reminds me of the scene in Life of Brian, when the Jews start out by denying that the Romans have done anything for them.




"I happen to think that the market can deliver any service better than the government can." Defense? No no! Of course not. Did I say any service?

Paul stops there, but it's hard to imagine this is actually his conceptual stopping point. The typical libertarian would continue: I meant any service other than defense... and firefighting. Defense, firefighting, and police. And the courts. Defense, fire-fighting, police, and the courts. And environmental regulation.

Most libertarians I've encountered don't quite see the problem here. After all, they're reasonable people, they don't have a problem admitting all kinds of reasonabl exceptions. The fact that this eviscerates the theory - that in fact there is no theory left - doesn't seem to occur to them.