I’m looking into supporting the Libertarian Party but there are a few things I disagree with in the party platform. Help me understand, or change my view?

If it is OK some times and not other times, then it is not a principle. The Libertarian party has staked out a principle here that it is not alright to force (coerce) anyone to behave the way you want them to. You can beg or incentivize to your hearts content, but not use force. You do not have the legitimate authority to coerce anyone, and a group of people does not. There is no way for that power to come into being (if for instance you accept principles like the NAP).

The problem with this attitude is that it fully precludes the notion of society as a collective being responsible for anything.

And well, if you want things like contract enforcement or jail sentences for criminals, those still have to be paid for, and the criminal with no income isn't going to be a stone you can squeeze much blood from.

On top of the implied question of "What, exactly, is supposed to separate this from complete anarchism?", there is also another question about the ethics resulting from this:

If no-one may be coerced into say, providing for the disabled, then these people are forced to beg. Yet, what happens if no-one donates them the equipment they need. Is their death an acceptable sacrifice for a "free society"?

Which still ignores the elephant in the room:

If "Work for me or I shoot you" is coercion, how is "Work for me or starve?" not coercion?

/r/Libertarian Thread Parent