Supposedly, the generation after mine is set to be the most conservative generation since the Reagan era. The current conservative generation, though labeled "conservative," I believe that most are leaning more toward the libertarian strain of conservativism. They seem to be focused more on economic liberty than socially conservative issues; many are quite indifferent on issues such as abortion. I have talked to great many of them in my own generation, and indeed they view libertarianism favorably and seem to be fine with calling themselves libertarian.
But I question if libertarianism is an ideology they have made their own or a means to an end. I think that they envision a communitarian world as opposed to the libertarian world. By libertarian world I mean the kind of world and lifestyle envisioned by Ayn Rand. What they truly yearn for, I think, is a world where rich and poor alike can be knit into a community. In order to achieve that end, they seem to think that libertarian or libertarian-leaning economics is necessary.
The following, I presume, is their thought process.
Many dislike large corporations, but note that modern technology-driven industries cannot be run by small start-ups. However, they believe that each individual should be afforded the opportunity to start a business of one's own, cooperatively with a fellow community member if they require additional funds.
If we look to many hipster and country town restaurants and cafes, they are started not by corporations but by cooperation between community members, often of lower-class. Two or more close friends would combine the funds to start a business they envision and share the profits. The boon of a cooperative venture would be that inhumane treatment of workers and partners would be lessened due to the pressure of the community. For instance, owners of small-town BBQ restaurant would dare not mistreat its customers and workers, because they go to the Baptist church everybody in the town attends every Sunday.
This cooperative approach to economics is one of the principles of distributism, a strain of communitarian economics. Also, the emphasis of community is the core of communitarianism, as noted in its name. Yet proponents of views that sound more like communitarianism look to libertarianism. Why?
They think that cooperative ventures among community members need to be made easier in roder to achieve the end. In order to do so, there needs to be less government regulations and burdens on the employers. In the current political climate, they view libertarian approach to economics is the way to achieve the end they desire.
So, I wonder: Are professed libertarians actually communitarians at heart? I am attracted to think so.
I would like to ask whether socialists are actually communitarians at heart but with no economic sense. But I think I won't.
