Living in Alaska, it is easy to fall into a quasi-libertarian mindset. I really enjoy living sans zoning and regulations. Not that we do anything radical at my place--no major farm animals or jalopies here. But there sure is something nice about knowing I could have them if the mood should strike me.
The sad thing is, I also know about all the pitfalls that come about when no one is watching over you. We live in a home built without building codes, which besides the frozen sewer vent pipe, hasn't posed a safety hazard. My neighbor, on the other hand, accidentally poisoned her family while cooking in a home with a gas stove that has no oven hood (vent)! That wasn't even a home-made cabin, but a decent house built by a 'reputable' Alaskan home builder.
Folks out here don't want to be regulated. For example there is a huge fight for the Borough to leave home property owners alone who want to build near certain river beds. However, these same rivers are currently eroding, so folks on the other end are screaming for the Borough to bail out there homes that are falling into the river!
It's pretty incredible stuff. I also know that the government spends a lot of money cleaning up after people and their "rights"--not to wear helmets, seat belts or the right to enjoy tons of other reckless behaviors. Taking care of oneself--they call it. But does that mean we leave the splattered motorcyclist on the road and allow the magpies to take care of it??? Having worked in the Alaskan disability field, I can tell you that tons of State & Federal Medicaid money go for self-inflicted disability care. It ranges from drunk and driving brain injuries, to ATV crash paraplegia to chronic obesity and lung cancer. All our rights gone wrong--and the tax dollars pay for it.
To me libertarianism is like socialism--a good idea in theory, but just doesn't work in reality.
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