Protecting One's Nose

Benjamin Franklin famously said, "Your right to swing your fist ends at the tip of my nose." A libertarian would probably rephrase it thus: "Your right to complain about my swinging fist begins at the tip of your nose."

In many ways, the libertarian viewpoint on when we can complain, when we can limit another's behavior is the right stance to take. It helps us remember that we don't want to overly constrain others, because we want to retain the right for ourselves to pursue our version of happiness without interference from the rest of society.

I find it strangely odd that pushes to limit who we can choose as living partners, as life partners, as marriage partners, issues from the pro-libertarian party. Sure, for decades they trumped up reasons why limiting marriage to heterosexuals protected society's (metaphorical) nose, but as each was debunked, their continued stance against same-sex marriage reveals instead a very non-libertarian viewpoint.

True libertarianism requires a highly developed sense of reciprocity - the ability to recognize that creating societal restrictions requires a strong proof that society will improve as a result, and that the restrictions don't constrain a minority's choices (paradoxically, at least to much of what is espoused as libertarian thinking, regulations fit this test: Requiring that businesses adhere to minimum quality standards allows consumers greater freedom to choose from competing products without fear of becoming the guinea pig for poison, and still gives business the options to select how and what to make). Restricting others simply because you don't like what they are doing is a form of tyranny, not liberty.

Choosing who we associate with, who we share our lives with, should be a fundamental right of all in society. Everyone should be free to make that choice without restrictions - sure, you can impose limits on yourself based upon your world-view, but really, it endangers your nose not one bit if instead of choosing Jill, Jack prefers John, and Ann and Beth want to move in next door.

It is high time that true, reciprocal thinking enters our debate on same-sex marriage, and that those who would maintain true liberty for choosing our lives stand up and drown out the tyrannical calls of those pseudo-libertarians who would instead impose their views - views that increase our liberty not one bit!