Metal Memes

There's two types of libertarians. Noun Libertarians and actual libertarians. Just like the two types of communists. If you were to name your dog Libertarian would they be Libertarian? Yes. But would they be libertarian? That depends. There are a number of key things that someone would need to embrace in order to be considered libertarian. Something that most who call themselves Libertarian fail.

Then it also doesn't help that most actual libertarians have largely abandoned the term in general company. Usually self identifying as anarchist. Which isn't helped by the fact that there are oxymorons claming to be anarchist capitalists. Which is just basic capitalists.

If you want to figure out if someone is or isn't quickly. There is one rather easy test you can perform. Simply ask them what their opinion of private property is. If they extol its virtues and try to sell it to you. They are not libertarians or anarchists. Any system that would allow an individual to own more houses than they could ever actually live in, in a lifetime. While people go unhoused and starving. Something which can only be perpetuated by force and violation of consent. A basic violation of principles. And if you're curious what other option there is. Look at the discussion of personal property vs private property.

When a libertarian/anarchist calls taxes theft. It isn't because they don't want to contribute to the community. Often far from. It's that it's collected under threat of force by the state. To be put to their pet projects. Ie sports stadiums or subsidizing exploitative private businesses, even wars. All of which represent actual very real theft from the community in a literal sense. Not the actual support of the community. Securing food, housing, education, healthcare etc for the community. And by the same token private property is also an enduring type of theft.