Is liberty really idealistic?

[Collin Li]

Friend: But you realise liberty is really idealistic right?

My response:
Idealism has gained negative connotations from communism's failures. But you're wrong anyway. Liberty is the least idealistic of them all. For example, when I believe in social security to prop up the poor, I take money from everyone to give to the poor. That is an enforced ideal onto everyone. Isn't that idealism? When I believe in liberty, I let people choose their own ideals. If I wish to help the poor, I can. If others don't wish to, they can choose not to. Liberty is a decentralised form of idealism - where the autonomous individuals make their ideals, not the government.

[bubble sunglasses]

 
  Isn't it idealistic to imagine that a) charity will stop many people starving + dying of preventable diseases [assuming you don't want that
  b) the poor's difficult circumstances won't adversely affect everyone else, through crime
 

       I do favour a smaller government, but with some social security. Maybe if that worked, I might want to try your libertarian society

[Collin Li]

It's idealistic to think that everyone should put in to rescue them. It's also idealistic to think that government can rescue them.

[costargh]

Just out of curiosity, (because the posts above have prompted this question), is anyone on VN in favour anarchism?

[bubble sunglasses]

It's idealistic to think that everyone should put in to rescue them. It's also idealistic to think that government can rescue them.

  hence my position being somewhere between socialism and libertarianism

[bubble sunglasses]

Just out of curiosity, (because the posts above have prompted this question), is anyone on VN in favour anarchism?

   probably not totally. the most liberal minded here would nevertheless advocate the existence of a police force

[costargh]

A police force which turned into a military junta...