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DWAnderson's avatar

Most of the elite libertarians I know (and being one, I know a lot) aren't socially liberal in that they don't believe in strong norms, they are socially liberal in that believe that using the power of the state is generally not a good way to enforce those norms. (The dose makes the poison.) This brand of libertarianism is *political* ideology born of an insight into the nature of the state (terrible feedback mechanisms, but very powerful given its monopoly on the use of force). This doesn't describe all libertarians, but it does describe the majority at places like Cato, Reason, Institute for Justice, Mercatus, etc. (and probably Charles Murray).

Indeed, these same people would argue that in many ways the actions of the state, and the breadth of the power of late 20th century government, have undermined the power of norms that used to be better enforced by non-state institutions.

Perhaps this is all a semantic quibble, but you paint with too broad a brush in when using the terms "libertarians" and "socially liberal".

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It’s Just Me Dad's avatar

“Twenty-five percent of foster kids become homeless. Sixty-percent of boys in foster care are later incarcerated.”

My heart aches…what a profound injustice

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