# What does libertarianism mean?

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-libertarianism-mean/926293>\
**Category:** Great Debates\
**Created:** [November 22, 2020, 12:20am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-libertarianism-mean/926293 "2020-11-22T00:20:42Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 2

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Hari\_Seldon](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hari_seldon/32/5173_2.png) [@Hari\_Seldon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Hari_Seldon)\
**Post date:** [November 24, 2020, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-libertarianism-mean/926293/21 "2020-11-24T16:55:22Z")

</div>

I used to know a libertarian–at least that’s what he called himself. In his mind, the only valid functions of governments were police forces and armed forces. In particular, no government should build roads. You want to build a street in front of your house? Build it and charge a toll to anyone who uses it. If you and your neighbors agree to build a string of such streets and make a private company to charge just one toll to use it, fine. No business of the government’s. I never thought to ask him why the government should provide police services when you and your neighbors could always hire your own police force.

Well, that was the way he wanted to live; not me.

As mentioned above there are many varieties of libertarianism.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 4:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-libertarianism-mean/926293/22 "2021-03-24T16:48:33Z")

</div>

Love this story.

> **[How a New Hampshire libertarian utopia was foiled by bears](https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/21534416/free-state-project-new-hampshire-libertarians-matthew-hongoltz-hetling)**
>
> Seriously, this happened. You should absolutely read about it.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![LSLGuy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lslguy/32/5813_2.png) [@LSLGuy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/LSLGuy)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 6:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-libertarianism-mean/926293/23 "2021-03-24T18:03:27Z")

</div>

That’s great.

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\
**Post date:** [March 24, 2021, 6:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-libertarianism-mean/926293/24 "2021-03-24T18:21:39Z")

</div>

Moral of the story:

Libertarians - dumber than the average bear.

[Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/what-does-libertarianism-mean/926293.md?page=1)