Roderick Long on Race, Gender, Equality and Libertarianism

"We don't have the right to subordinate other people to our ends or treat them as objects for our uses," says Roderick Long, professor of philosophy at Auburn University and President of the Molinari Institute. "And that is a fundamental kind of equality that I think is at the heart of libertarianism."

Reason TV talked with Long at Libertopia 2012 in San Diego. Topics included proper ways to deal with discrimination without state interference, why sometimes political correctness is good, and why libertarians should support some forms of equality.

Approximately 7 minutes. Interview by Zach Weissmueller. Camera by Alex Manning and Paul Feine. Edited by Weissmueller.

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[RKAddict101]

I like what he says at the end. You can use it and ask your liberal friends "Do you believe in equality of authority?"

[PostSurgeOperative .]

Love of Liberty is the heart of liberalism; liberalism is the philosophy of Liberty.

Thomas Paine said "Government, even in its best state, is but a necessary evil..." His was a minarchist, if not libertarian position.

social liberalism= protection of individual rights, equality, protection of civil liberties, freedom of religion, separation of church and state, social tolerance

economic liberalism= protection of private property rights, free enterprise, free trade

watch?v=e7qk8ZfuDJI

[Jononutoob]

You are incorrect. Libertarianism doesnt make that assumption. No principled libertarian sides with private authoritarianism over public. Libertarians understand that private enterprise can be corrupt and flawed. The issue you seem to miss is that since both sides face the same nature, we choose to side against govt for the mere reason that govt is the largest force. Corporations can mislead you and trick you to give them your money. A govt can put a gun to your face. Which is worse?

[AppleOnIce]

No weed shouldn't be sold it should be FREEEE, FREE WEED FOR EVERYONE

[imaginativelads]

Libertarianism assumes the inherent goodness of corporations run by human beings who are universally flawed. Why would anyone who knows this assume that private enterprise can be trusted anymore than government? If you agree that human beings are fundamentally flawed that automatically subjects both private and public spheres to the same downsides.

[AppleOnIce]

economic liberalism is lame

[BelleAndTheBoy]

"Party"? That sounds to me like a slippery slope to collectivism, "comrade"!

[Myla LeMaster]

He in the running for winning beards.

[PostSurgeOperative .]

The prohibition against unreasonable govt search applies to privileged communications between patient and doctors. Do you doubt Dr. Paul disagrees with that point?

Dr. Paul is on record stating that constitutional rights -- including due process rights -- are conferred to every individual, including zygotes, under the CotUs. Dr. Paul has stipulated circumstances in which he, as a Dr., would perform medically-necessary procedures to remove an unwanted fetus: in cases of 'honest rape'.

[jimlovesgina]

You are confusing "right to privacy" which is nowhere to be found in the Constitution and "unreasonable search and seizure." It's quite an easy mistake to make for the typical dipshit. RP quite appropriately complains about unreasonable search and seizure. Justice Scalia is in perfect agreement on this issue so you have just been debunked twice. I think you have been reduced to discredited asshat. You should just go away now.