My reader was not satisfied with the answer I offered in Libertarians and Politics. Here are a few more thoughts.
1. For economic libertarians who do seek to engage in politics, I do not think that the current environment is conducive to success. I use the modifier “economic,” because the same dominant progressive ideology that stifles economic libertarianism is quite friendly to libertarian positions on many social issues.
2. Perhaps one way to change the environment is to engage in political action and failing. The old Goldwater-made-Reagan-Possible theory. I am not terribly sold on that one.
3. I think that public schools are a major problem. Whether you think they make a difference at the margin in terms of student learning (I am skeptical), they probably are somewhat effective at progressive brainwashing. If you don’t believe that, consider what an uphill battle one faces trying to explain the beneficial effects of the capitalist system on reducing poverty, conserving natural resources, and so on.
4. The strong component of progressivism in the identity of intellectuals is another major problem. In order to feel welcome among highly-educated people, you have to affirm belief in ideas that are at best dubious and at worst just flat-out wrong. It takes too much courage these days to question progressive dogma in certain segments of the population, including non-Orthodox Jews
“It takes too much courage these days to question progressive dogma in certain segments of the population, including non-Orthodox Jews.”
Boy, is that ever true. I was raised among non-Orthodox Jews, they’re my people, but they make it rough on me sometimes.
One hundred percent correct. I’m from the same “liberal” Jewish background. In truth, “liberal” Jews are just as conformist and close-minded as the most reactionary ultra-Orthodox sects. The dogmas are different but the wagon-circling and intemperate invective against dissenters are the same.
Of course, to be fair, libertarians have their own unexamined orthodoxies.
Has the questioner ever tried politics? Let’s start with that you basically have to run as an R or D. And it goes downhill from there.
It’s like telling Jolt Cola they weren’t trying. While Warren Buffett is in the other ear telling they are idiots for trying.
I think the Reformation is a useful guide. There is always an undercurrent of discontent among the population that is exploited by a given political system, but for a cultural change to occur it must be supported by a significant faction of those with power.
3 and 4 are related. The progressive brainwashing in education is reinforced by the social cost of reconsidering those ideas. And, if you repeat something long enough without thought, it becomes ingrained and even more costly to identity to question. Nothing is more dangerous than to challenge someone’s identity, religious or otherwise.
Take for example this article on Idealistic Engineers. The author and several commenters cannot fathom that the improving lives motivated by profit is just as worthy as doing it for the “public welfare”.
“Instead of trying to counter the survey data that led Professor Cech to conclude engineering education makes students cynical, I would instead like to highlight some of the motivations and actions of engineers and engineering students and then consider whether these indicate a desire to improve the human condition.”
Read more: http://www.insidehighered.com/views/2014/03/04/essay-questions-idea-engineering-students-are-cynical#ixzz2v6kceFU4
Inside Higher Ed
“Empathize with the customer”
As an engineer, I’m constantly irritated how people can’t sympathize with a customer until they can empathize with them.
For example, I have kids and I have so many kids things that I know were made by people who have never met a child. For example, I have a wireless baby monitor by a major brand that if it ever loses signal from the camera emits a lout alarm. Insane. I don’t think I’d do it that way if I’d designed A BABY SLEEP MONITOR!!!
And I don’t think I’d have to have a lot of sensitivity training beforehand.