Michael Knowles is WRONG On Libertarianism
Recently, Michael Knowles, a conservative commentator with the Daily Wire, appeared on the Timcast podcast and launched into a series of tirades against libertarians. Knowles claimed that conservatives have listened to libertarians who advise against using state power for years, and as a result, the left has gained control. He argued that the expansion of individual liberty in various ways has contributed to the deterioration of American society, citing examples such as the Berkeley free speech protests and the repeal of obscenity laws.
But it is highly questionable to suggest that a lack of obscenity laws had a more significant negative impact on society than major events and policies such as the Federal Reserve, World Wars I and II, the New Deal, Social Security, The Civil Rights Act, The Great Society, and the Vietnam War. These events and policies, which have had far-reaching and significant consequences, are not even mentioned by Knowles.
Contrary to what Knowles has claimed… for too long, republicans and conservatives have turned a deaf ear to the voices of libertarians, choosing instead to succumb to the seductive call of state power and control. They have erected institutions that are fundamentally flawed, institutions that cannot be considered right-wing or conservative by their very nature. This contravenes O'Sullivan's 1st law of politics, which dictates that "all organizations that are not actually right-wing will eventually become left-wing." Conservatism is fundamentally about natural hierarchy, but the hierarchy of state institutions is anything but natural. By prioritizing the expansion of state power and control over the safeguarding of pre-political institutions like the family, the church, and the community, conservatives have undermined their own principles and values.
As Edmund Burke astutely observed, it is not the role of government to legislate morality. He once wisely proclaimed
"It is better to cherish virtue and humanity, leaving much to free will . . . than to attempt to make men machines and instruments of political benevolence. The world as a whole will gain by a liberty without which virtue cannot exist."
Burke believed that society's moral values should be organic and grounded in tradition, rather than imposed by the state. When conservatives try to legislate morality, they risk creating “reactance” or boomerang effects, whereby individuals push back against these imposed values and become more resistant to them. This is counter-intuitive, as conservatives often aim to promote traditional values through legislation. This approach can actually have the opposite effect, leading to a rebellion against these values rather than a reinforcement of them.
Unfortunately, the republican and conservative embrace of state power and control has resulted in the development of institutions like the EPA, the NSA, and public schools that have become weapons in the hands of the left, used to suppress conservative voices and values. These institutions have become instruments of oppression, used to restrict the freedoms and rights of individuals, businesses, and communities. They replace our vital pre-political institutions with utter bastardizations. Homeschooling and private schools once taught morality and life skills, now children are indoctrinated into moral subjectivism and useless skills in public schools. Churches and voluntary associations once took care of the poor and built social capital, but state welfare engulfed society and tore down relationships. Children were once raised to grow up and be successful while taking care of their parents, now the state controls the elderly through social security and various senior welfare programs. We have lost nearly everything.
But it does not have to be this way. There is still hope for a better future, a future in which republicans and conservatives can reclaim their values and principles. All they need to do is listen to the voices of libertarians, those who have been warning them for decades about the dangers of state power and control. Let us pursue a better future, a future in which we can build and protect pre-political institutions like the family, the church, and the community. They have shown us the way to a society that is truly free and virtuous, one that is not beholden to the oppressive power of the state.
It is not too late to turn things around. We can still dismantle the state power that has been used against us, and build a better society. But we must act now, before it is too late. We must embrace the wisdom of libertarians and the insights of Burke and other intellectuals, and work together to build a better future for ourselves and our children. This is the only way forward, the only way to reclaim our values and principles. We must act now, and we must act together.