Green libertarianism: Difference between revisions
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'''Green libertarianism''' is a [[political philosophy]] that has developed in the [[United States]]. Based upon a mixture of political third party values, such as the environmental platform from the [[ |
'''Green libertarianism''' is a [[hybrid]] [[political philosophy]] that has developed in the [[United States]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.thepresidency.org/pubs/Fellows_2009/drafts_President_Policy.pdf |title=Seeing Green: Presidential Perspective and Environmentalism |author=Joshua T. Eagan |date=1996-06-25 |accessdate=2007-05-20 }}</ref> Based upon a mixture of political [[third party (United States)|third party]] values, such as the environmental platform from the [[Green Party (United States)|Green Party]] and the civil liberties platform of the [[Libertarian Party (United States)|Libertarian Party]], the green libertarian philosophy attempts to consolidate [[social progressivism|socially progressive]] values with [[economic liberalism]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://efn.org/~bsharvy/ecolibparty.html |title=Green-Libertarian Politics and Theory |author=Ben Sharvy |date=1996-06-25 |accessdate=2007-09-26 }}</ref> Both parties concern economic maintenance in the long-term rather in the short term.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.sfbg.com/entry.php?entry_id=3728&catid=4 |title=Green libertarians |author=Annalee Newitz |date=2007-05-30 |accessdate=2009-05-20 }}</ref> |
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A green libertarian would be an individual who adheres to [[libertarian]] political philosophy as well as to [[green ideology]]. While these are not traditionally seen going hand-in-hand, the two are not necessarily incompatible. For example, [[free market economics]] and [[environmentalism]] are combined in the concept of [[free market environmentalism]]. And there has recently been an interest in "how to bring green sensibilities into line with the free-market agenda of libertarians."<ref>{{cite web |url=http://alternet.org/columnists/story/52541/ |title=Green Libertarianism: The New Reformist Movement? |author=Annalee Newitz |date=2007-05-29 |publisher=AlterNet |accessdate=2007-09-26 }}</ref> |
A green libertarian would be an individual who adheres to [[libertarian]] political philosophy as well as to [[green ideology]]. While these are not traditionally seen going hand-in-hand, the two are not necessarily incompatible. For example, [[free market economics]] and [[environmentalism]] are combined in the concept of [[free market environmentalism]]. And there has recently been an interest in "how to bring green sensibilities into line with the free-market agenda of libertarians."<ref name=alter>{{cite web |url=http://alternet.org/columnists/story/52541/ |title=Green Libertarianism: The New Reformist Movement? |author=Annalee Newitz |date=2007-05-29 |publisher=AlterNet |accessdate=2007-09-26 }}</ref> |
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==History== |
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==Ecology vs. Economics== |
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Originally, the ideals of libertarianism failed to "deal appropriately with environmental problems"<ref name=alter>{{cite web |url=http://gadfly.igc.org/papers/liberty.htm |title=With Liberty for Some |author=Ernest Partridge |accessdate=2009-05-20}}</ref> In 2000, ''[[Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution]]'' mentioned that libertarianism and [[green politics]] could mix. By 2006, ''[[Green to Gold (book)|Green to Gold]]'' was published, which provided ideas on how companies can practice green libertarianism.<ref name=alter/> |
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| ⚫ | The biggest debate among green libertarians is how to balance ecology with economics. The green libertarian philosophy confronts conflict between the principles of environmental protection and economic [[free trade]] by stressing that the two can go [[free market environmentalism|hand-in-hand]], only with corporate responsibility and accountability. According to some green libertarians, government intervention is required if big business is apathetic to environmental stability. |
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==Balance of ecology and economics== |
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| ⚫ | Ideas of green libertarians are based on the assertion that the government itself is the biggest |
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| ⚫ | The biggest debate among green libertarians is how to balance ecology with economics. The green libertarian philosophy confronts conflict between the principles of environmental protection and economic [[free trade]] by stressing that the two can go [[free market environmentalism|hand-in-hand]], only with corporate responsibility and accountability. According to some green libertarians, government intervention is required if big business is apathetic to environmental stability. |
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===Limited government=== |
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| ⚫ | The green libertarian philosophy supports [[limited government]]. Green libertarians advocate cutting the size and scope of the [[federal government of the United States|federal government]] substantially to maximize civil liberties and encourage private charity. However, they would expand the understanding of the classic libertarian motto |
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| ⚫ | Ideas of green libertarians are based on the assertion that the government itself is the biggest [[pollute]]r.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.lp.org/issues/environment |title=Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee |date=2007-05-29 |accessdate=2009-05-20}}</ref> Therefore, the government should be held accountable to all the same environmental regulations they place on businesses. The problem is that while one can sue private corporations for its damage to the environment, the government protects itself from the same suits. Therefore, green libertarians call for the abolition of [[sovereign immunity]]. |
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| ⚫ | The green libertarian philosophy supports [[limited government]]. Green libertarians advocate cutting the size and scope of the [[federal government of the United States|federal government]] substantially to maximize [[civil liberties]] and encourage private [[charity]]. However, they would expand the understanding of the classic libertarian motto "your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins" to include pollution as [[force-initiation]] which may be regulated. |
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| ⚫ | Although many libertarians are against government regulation of business in regard to the economy, they believe that restitution — rather than regulation — would be more effective at preventing pollution than |
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| ⚫ | Although many libertarians are against [[business#government regulation|government regulation]] of business in regard to the economy, they believe that [[restitution]] — rather than regulation — would be more effective at preventing pollution than the existing anti-pollution laws. In the current system, the government is immune, and corporations that pay fines pay them to the government rather than to the victims of the pollution.; a libertarian system would enable payment to the victims. |
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A justification of other types of environmental intervention could look like this: |
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===Environmental regulation=== |
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# Pollution creates health hazards. Individuals have to pay themselves to maintain their health. Therefore, pollution is stealing. |
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Pollution creates health hazards. Individuals have to pay themselves to maintain their health. Therefore, pollution is stealing. Since destabilization of the biosphere is initiation of force and the minimal state is justified, that minimal state must prevent and punish violations of the nonaggression principle. Therefore, environmental regulation in a minimal state is justified. |
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# Destabilization of the biosphere is initiation of force. |
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# Allow that the minimal state is justified. |
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# The minimal state must prevent and punish violations of the nonaggression principle. |
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# Therefore, environmental regulation in a minimal state is justified. |
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== See also == |
== See also == |
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Revision as of 23:36, 20 May 2009
 | The factual accuracy of part of this article is disputed. The dispute is about evidence whether or not this platform is held by any organized political entity. (March 2008) |
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Green libertarianism is a hybrid political philosophy that has developed in the United States.[1] Based upon a mixture of political third party values, such as the environmental platform from the Green Party and the civil liberties platform of the Libertarian Party, the green libertarian philosophy attempts to consolidate socially progressive values with economic liberalism.[2] Both parties concern economic maintenance in the long-term rather in the short term.[3]
A green libertarian would be an individual who adheres to libertarian political philosophy as well as to green ideology. While these are not traditionally seen going hand-in-hand, the two are not necessarily incompatible. For example, free market economics and environmentalism are combined in the concept of free market environmentalism. And there has recently been an interest in "how to bring green sensibilities into line with the free-market agenda of libertarians."[4]
History
Originally, the ideals of libertarianism failed to "deal appropriately with environmental problems"[4] In 2000, Natural Capitalism: Creating the Next Industrial Revolution mentioned that libertarianism and green politics could mix. By 2006, Green to Gold was published, which provided ideas on how companies can practice green libertarianism.[4]
Balance of ecology and economics
The biggest debate among green libertarians is how to balance ecology with economics. The green libertarian philosophy confronts conflict between the principles of environmental protection and economic free trade by stressing that the two can go hand-in-hand, only with corporate responsibility and accountability. According to some green libertarians, government intervention is required if big business is apathetic to environmental stability.
Limited government
Ideas of green libertarians are based on the assertion that the government itself is the biggest polluter.[5] Therefore, the government should be held accountable to all the same environmental regulations they place on businesses. The problem is that while one can sue private corporations for its damage to the environment, the government protects itself from the same suits. Therefore, green libertarians call for the abolition of sovereign immunity.
The green libertarian philosophy supports limited government. Green libertarians advocate cutting the size and scope of the federal government substantially to maximize civil liberties and encourage private charity. However, they would expand the understanding of the classic libertarian motto "your right to swing your fist ends where my nose begins" to include pollution as force-initiation which may be regulated.
Although many libertarians are against government regulation of business in regard to the economy, they believe that restitution — rather than regulation — would be more effective at preventing pollution than the existing anti-pollution laws. In the current system, the government is immune, and corporations that pay fines pay them to the government rather than to the victims of the pollution.; a libertarian system would enable payment to the victims.
Environmental regulation
Pollution creates health hazards. Individuals have to pay themselves to maintain their health. Therefore, pollution is stealing. Since destabilization of the biosphere is initiation of force and the minimal state is justified, that minimal state must prevent and punish violations of the nonaggression principle. Therefore, environmental regulation in a minimal state is justified.
See also
- Natural Capitalism
- Eco-capitalism
- Property and Environment Research Center
- Wise use
- Independent Green Party of Virginia - a state green party, affiliated with the Independence Party of America, that combines fiscal conservatism with an ecologically- and socially-progressive platform.
References
- ^ Joshua T. Eagan (1996-06-25). "Seeing Green: Presidential Perspective and Environmentalism" (PDF). Retrieved 2007-05-20.
- ^ Ben Sharvy (1996-06-25). "Green-Libertarian Politics and Theory". Retrieved 2007-09-26.
- ^ Annalee Newitz (2007-05-30). "Green libertarians". Retrieved 2009-05-20.
- ^ a b c Annalee Newitz (2007-05-29). "Green Libertarianism: The New Reformist Movement?". AlterNet. Retrieved 2007-09-26. Cite error: The named reference "alter" was defined multiple times with different content (see the help page).
- ^ "Official Website of the Libertarian National Committee". 2007-05-29. Retrieved 2009-05-20.
External links
- Green-Libertarian Politics and Theory - Political Systems for a Small Planet, by Ben Sharvy. Retrieved August 21, 2008.
- Green Libertarianism: Ecology vs Economics?, by Jim Blair. Retrieved August 21, 2008.