Quick Thought on Libertarian Paternalism
July 29, 2009
Those opposed to libertarian paternialism should spend some time talking to people with sub-100 IQs. Seriously. Try explaining a basic concept like Pythagora's theorem to someone who is as smart as half of the population. (Relatedly: I tell my liberal friends, mostly Ivy-league grads, that they should go teach at a rural junior college before spouting off that everyone is capable of obtaining a college education.) It's amazing what one learns about humanity when one actually engages humans.
It's probably not a coincidence that libertarians are smarter than average. People tend to find a morality that suits them. The rest is artiface. If you're smart but physically frail, you might be a libertarian.
"Your rights end at the bridge of my nose." Clever, right? Somehow it's entirely moral to trick mental midgets into buying knives from QVC at 33.33% interest (compounded daily); but it's immoral for those fat-fingered plebians to break your noses when you say, "You signed the contract!"
Yes, stupid people need to be protected from themselves. If you doubt this, spend a few days having actual conservations with people outside of your socio-economic class. You might actually learn something.