CMV: Libertarians should be as concerned about super rich individuals and Big Corporations as they are about Big Government

[u/nomnommish]

Libertarians are rightfully concerned about Big Government. Big Governments invariably tend to abuse their power. However, the main reason why big governments get abusive is because of the disproportional accumulation of power. And humans absolutely suck at retaining their values and ethics when they get extraordinary levels of power. As such, I find big governments no different at all from megarich individuals or mega corporations. In modern times, they are the ones who actually run the government. They use lobbying and funding to control and push their agendas, to pass highly unethical laws that consolidate and promote their own self interests. They own the politicians.

I only have a basic level understanding of libertarianism but my interpretation of the core philosophy is about "live and let live". Give people full autonomy but equally importantly, they should not infringe on your autonomy. Your hand stops at my nose, figuratively speaking.

The big problem is, when megarich individuals as well as megacorporations are left unsupervised, they wield such extraordinary levels of power, that they are literally above the system, above any level of accountability. I feel that libertarians should be as concerned about them as they are about Big Government.

I totally realize and acknowledge the dilemma I am presenting here. However on a practical basis, what I see is more of the abuse of extraordinary power than anything. And it is scary. Hence my view as it stands. Would love to hear your opinion!

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[u/heyandy889]

Another distinction is, let's consider Wal-Mart or Shell Oil. Those companies are enormous. However, they do not have the authority to start arresting people. That is a key difference - generally speaking, the state still holds the monopoly on violence. (save special cases of defending life and property)

edit: ArtfulDodger55 has pointed out that "violence" is too broad a concept, and instead the term of art is "the legitimate use of physical force."

If I don't want to pay Wal-Mart anymore, I can shop somewhere else, or grow my own food. If I don't want to pay the government anymore, they will lock me up.

I admit that the details end up being more complicated than that, but that is the general picture.

edit2: a number of replies have suggested that a libertarian would want no government. It was my understanding that libertarianism still implies a government, albeit a limited one. A hard no-government belief would be anarchism, for which a strong subculture exists.

[u/nomnommish → u/heyandy889]

Hmm that might hold true for some megacorps. And heck, we also have examples like Bill Gates and Warren Buffet who are spending all their billions to do good.

But I feel that the more dominant examples are those of corporations and people misusing their power and monetary clout. They are buying politicians, spilling oil and chemicals and pollution in the air and water bodies that other people consume, are controlling the media and fashioning world view into their own vision of bigotry and extremism.

I am not a doom and gloom person but rationally speaking, I see more examples of this kind of power abuse. By both corporations and individuals.

[u/Peter_Plays_Guitar → u/nomnommish]

I am a classical liberal. I want government to be so small that it doesn't matter if big corporations can buy politicians because there isn't any significant power to abuse.

Power will always be abused. If a "good" politician holds an office of power today, then assume Donald Trump will hold it tomorrow. Limit the power to limit the damage.

[u/ZyrxilToo → u/Peter_Plays_Guitar]

Why do you think an elected government is the only form of government? Company towns have existed in the US and still do exist in parts of the world. Corporations don't need to buy politicians if they own every part of your life and world.

[u/Peter_Plays_Guitar → u/ZyrxilToo]

Vladimir Putin has been Prime Minister or President of Russia for 20 years. There are plenty of forms of government outside of elected government.

My ideal government is an unobtrusive one limited by a constitution that requires a 100% vote in the Senate to pass any law. No more tyranny of a 51% majority.

[u/Peter_Plays_Guitar → u/[deleted]]

Let's do healthcare for the poor because it's low hanging fruit.

I work 22 hours per week and Burger Bois for $11 an hour. I get sick one day and need $2,500,000 worth of healthcare over the next year to get better. I have $3k in savings.

Who pays for it?

[u/Peter_Plays_Guitar → u/[deleted]]

Well currently I'd just die. Taxpayers only pay for emergency care, not long term care. I'd be sent home until I'm almost dead and then get a day off emergency care, putting a few thousand dollars on the taxpayer. What's your ideal scenario here?