Taking Things To Their Logical Extreme

Roger Fredinburg has written a commentary in which he basically complains about everything in the US except the military. He complains about the tax system, he whines about our legal system, and he expresses displeasure towards the environmentalists. My father and I often have discussions about how taking something to its logical extreme is in itself, illogical. I have stated before that I generally have libertarian tendencies - I want to live my life with minimal governmental interference. But Mr. Fredinburg has taken libertarianism to its logical extreme.

I don't want to overthrow the government, start a civil war, protest in the streets or terrorize my fellow Americans.

But essentially what he is proposing is anarchy backed by a strong military.

I would agree with the statement that the government has moved too much towards the authoritarian end of the spectrum. We do have many needless laws on the books. Motorcycle helmet laws, for one example, are really not needed.

The US Constitution enumerated certain powers for the government (roads, coinage, military, etc.) and then also left in a catchall - "for the common good." But what is the "common good?" Is protecting children part of the common good? I think so. Kids generally can't stand up for their own rights, so for the government to intervene to protect them (within reason - no witchhunts) is in the general interest of the nation. But is a motorcycle helmet law in the interest of the "common good?" No. The government should not be in the business of protecting you from your own stupidity. The government has no business attempting to regulate common sense.

Mr. Fredinburg makes a number of arguments that are all reasonable, but he proceeds to take them to their illogical extremes. At no point does he recognize the failing of pure libertarianism; at no point does he recognize that it is reasonable to give up some personal freedom for the common good. He doesn't admit to any use for government beyond the military.

There are many things that the government does that I don't like. I would like to see a different tax structure (that will be a discussion another day). I would like to see more personal freedom. And I would like to see the government do more to protect individual rights and less to protect us from ourselves (which almost always requires the taking away of personal rights). But the position taken by Mr. Fredinburg is too far out there. It is the illogical extreme of libertarianism.