Why I Avoid The Title Libertarian

Let’s get the jokes out of the way. “You’ve called yourself a libertarian in the past.” “You share memes that say libertarian on them.” “You host a libertarian podcast.” And the most obvious one; “You’re the managing editor at the Libertarian Institute!” And then there’s my favorite comment, “You change your mind more than you change your name.” Anyone who makes that comment doesn’t understand the culture and can enjoy a block until they wake the fuck up. But as to the first comments, yes to all of those. But with new information I also change my mind. And with the last 8 months clear in my psyche a change in thinking and approach is needed.

Look, we will not see a libertarian, anarcho-capitalist or agorist society in our lifetimes. I think most people know this but I see some hanging onto this fantasy. It’s not one I wish to entertain anymore or even address. In my opinion, we would need a fundamental change in evolution for this to be achieved. Even if the Free State Project were to succeed and secede, the state would be overrun with statists from the outside. It would last 6 months if it were even more libertarian from the start. There would be no consensus on how to handle people coming over the border, property owners would most likely not be seen as being able to enforce their property lines with the force of a national border, and then you have the several interstate federal highways that flow through it. Madness.

So, I have abandoned these monikers because when I listen to myself talk about what could be, it’s a waste of time, effort and brainpower. Why would I spend any talking, podcasting and writing about something that’s not going to happen? Now, I do believe that these are ideological apexes that can be pointed to, but a close examination of this year should cause you to smash the tablets to pieces that you believe this ideal is written upon. Maybe that’s dramatic but at least put them into the back of the closet. It’s not going to happen.

Does this mean I endorse the State? Perish the thought! But I know that it’s there and I know its wares and one must learn to navigate them without falling victim to it. This is one of the benefits of practicing agorism and getting off its radar as much as possible.

Now I come to a question that people who follow me on Twitter have asked. Hell, even people who know me IRL have tossed it my way. Have I become a monarchist? I’ve started to refer to myself as one unironically and here’s why. I was asked not too long ago, “what 3 countries would I want to live in if I wasn’t in the United States?” Without hesitation I said Lichtenstein, Andorra or Monaco. All three are small monarchies where personal freedom is respected and the tax rates are remarkably low. So yes, practically you can call me a monarchist because those are the best options right now.

In all honesty I’ve just reached a point where I don’t understand the importance that some place upon what I assume they consider to be their “title.” But it appears that most people need to have one whether it be libertarian, ANCAP or agorist. That’s fine. And I’m not going to bite your head off if you insist on calling me something other than my preferred pronoun, Regiphile. But I’m not going to pretend true liberty will be achievable any time soon.