VIA Gus Van Horn, I learned about 2 cartoons that he discovered while reading Objectivism Online. The first is a 24 panel cartoon entitled, “The 24 types of Libertarian”. I agree with Gus’ fear that the panel on libertarianism confuses those who advocate actual capitalism with Libertarianism. They are not equal in any form. Libertarians are capitalists of convenience and anti-capitalists when the wind blows the other way. Ayn Rand was a capitalist without qualification or equivocation. Yet, one of the panels shows a Libertarian holding up a copy of “Atlas Shrugged” by Ayn Rand indicating support for her positions. This assumed association between Ms. Rand and Libertarians is, of course, completely inaccurate. In fact, Ms. Rand went out of her way to disassociate herself with the Libertarian Party and all of its “facets”.
You see, Libertarians are all for protecting individual rights when that protection pertains to them. They aren’t too concerned with the individual rights of others, however. They are for property rights, so long it is their property that is under consideration. The property rights of their neighbors and owners of businesses, however, are free targets to trample upon at will. Libertarians see conspiracies abounding all around them: if they cannot blame the government, then, they blame big business. If they can’t blame big business, then, they blame “crony capitalism”…you know, that amorphous entitiy that uses the combination of business and government policy to trample “the little guy” out of jobs or money shifting overseas. They find a bogey man under every bed, except their own.
With a couple of exceptions, the cartoon points this out clearly to anyone who cares to see what is in front of them. Of course, Libertarians won’t see the truth in this cartoon or my commentary because they are so used to shifting positions, causes, and claims that they can no longer see that they are nothing more than an amorphous cloud of a confused mix of philosophy and feelings that keep them from any hope of grounding through essential and unwavering core values.
The other cartoon panel that Gus points to, “The 24 Types of Authoritarian”, speaks more clearly and succinctly to those in Billerica who fashion themselves as town authorities. You know the type I mean – the recalcitrant, unapologetic, staid advocates and rigid battlements dedicated to the preservation of things as they are. They are those backward snobs who call residents new to Billerica, “blow ins”. They look down on anyone who suggests that they might have a better way or a new path for Billerica to follow into the future. They certainly don’t want to hear anyone with an opposing viewpoint and will call each of their membership “traitors” should they dare step out of line.
The only things that keep these cartoons from being wonderfully funny is that they carry with them too much sting of truth…know what I mean?
