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Lee Harris has written an essay containing some interesting ideas concerning the concept of natural libertarians. He explains the concept like this:

They knew they couldn’t stand the idea of someone else owning them, someone else telling them what to do or how to think, of someone else bossing them around. They all felt competent to manage their own lives and deeply resented any attempt by other people, including the government, to manage their lives for them. Rightly or wrongly, natural libertarians are firmly convinced that no one else can know their best interests more than they do. They insist on remaining in charge of their own destinies and bristle whenever other people seem intent on taking charge of their lives. Because natural libertarians respect their own independence, they respect the independence of others. They do not aspire to control other people’s lives, but when other people aspire to control theirs, they will resist tooth and nail. The natural libertarian will behave this way not because of an ideology, but because of his or her distinctive attitude towards life.

Arnold Kling offers up some comments, and suggests a test for natural libertarianism.

I think that most people resent being told what to do, and yet such people are not libertarians when it comes to other people being told what to do. I have a stronger criterion for natural libertrianism. When you see other people doing something that really offends you, are you willing to see the state allow that behavior to continue? Only if you can answer “yes” are you a natural libertarian. I think that there are very few natural libertarians.

Would you consider yourself to be a natural libertarian?

I agree with Kling’s view, that there aren’t very many such folks. Personally, while I do have some of the inclinations described in the first quote, and also would pass the test on some issues, on others I most likely wouldn’t. Ultimately, I’d rather stick with the label that is a part of this blog’s name.

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