# What's the opposite of a Libertarian? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 8, 2011, 1:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941 "2011-08-08T13:18:39Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mac\_bolan00](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b3f665/32.png) [@mac\_bolan00](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mac_bolan00)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 11:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941/21 "2011-08-09T11:14:40Z")
libertarian is basically anarchy (no government) a opposed to totalitarian government. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941/22 "2011-08-09T15:05:21Z")
> [@thelurkinghorror](#): > > There is also the Pournelle chart, Nolan chart, World’s Smallest Politcal Quiz, etc. However, the Political Compass is IMHO the best in the group, since it seems to have less to sell and doesn’t come from the bias of a libertarian perspective (really!!? Libertarianism is on the “Reason Enthroned” side? And your opposite is “Irrational”?) Minor quibble–the AUTHOR of the Pournelle chart characterized himself on the Irrational end of the spectrum. It’s shorthand for “believes societal problems can be solved rationally/deterministically” vs. “believes societal problems can only be solved on a trial-and-error basis”. Put another way, that axis measures how much you believe that social cohesion and a sense of community purpose can be rationally created. ---
**Author:** ![njtt](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ecd19e/32.png) [@njtt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/njtt)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941/23 "2011-08-09T15:39:58Z")
> [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > libertarian is basically anarchy (no government) a opposed to totalitarian government. So [Proudhon](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Proudhon) and [Bakunin](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bakunin) would have admired John Galt, you think? :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [August 9, 2011, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941/24 "2011-08-09T16:45:17Z")
> [@Zeriel](#): > > Minor quibble–the AUTHOR of the Pournelle chart characterized himself on the Irrational end of the spectrum. It’s shorthand for “believes societal problems can be solved rationally/deterministically” vs. “believes societal problems can only be solved on a trial-and-error basis”. Put another way, that axis measures how much you believe that social cohesion and a sense of community purpose can be rationally created. His definition of “irrational” is “problems can be solved rationally”? ---
**Author:** ![Balthisar](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/balthisar/32/2825_2.png) [@Balthisar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Balthisar)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 12:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941/25 "2011-08-11T12:44:41Z")
> [@mac\_bolan00](#): > > libertarian is basically anarchy (no government) a opposed to totalitarian government. Libertarians aren’t anarchists, and they believe in government. ---
**Author:** ![Zeriel](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/58956e/32.png) [@Zeriel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zeriel)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 1:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941/26 "2011-08-11T13:40:21Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > His definition of “irrational” is “problems can be solved rationally”? No, let me try to rephrase: If you’re on the “Rational” side of the Pournelle chart, you believe that society can be managed using generally scientific/deterministic techniques–any policy you care to name will have an obvious, predictable result, and all you have to do is show that your idea works and people will happily vote for you and follow your lead. Classic Marxism, Technocracy, Objectivism, etc. The modern Democrats are on this side, barely. If you’re on the “Irrational” side of the Pournelle chart, you believe that society has to be managed with trial-and-error, emotion, and non-rational techniques–you can’t predict the outcome of any given policy because people are not typically rational, and you can’t lead the people with cause and effect proof, but must use nationalism, party loyalty, fear of other, and appeals to emotional thinking to rally the people to act as one. Nazism rallies, North Korea’s We Love the Leader stuff, Tea Party fear-mongering, etc. The modern Republicans are on this side, somewhat. Both sides have historically had idiots on them. Pournelle characterized himself as “Irrational”–it’s not intended as pejorative. ---
**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:** [August 11, 2011, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941/27 "2011-08-11T15:41:13Z")
> [@Beware\_of\_Doug](#): > > One potential quibble: hardly anybody _admits_ to being authoritarian. Old PoliSci joke: In a democracy, what is not prohibited is permitted. In a dictatorship, what is not prohibited is _compulsory_. ---
**Author:** ![Sal\_Ammoniac](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/8dc957/32.png) [@Sal\_Ammoniac](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sal_Ammoniac)\ **Post date:** [August 11, 2011, 4:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941/28 "2011-08-11T16:53:14Z")
How about “statist”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/whats-the-opposite-of-a-libertarian/591941.md?page=1)