Why aren’t libertarians talking about Ferguson?

[Type Username Here]

It really is crazy. It's so far beyond acceptable that it's hard to even try to begin to comprehend what we're seeing.

I hope things don't get any worse but maybe this will be the catalyst necessary to demilitarize


twitter quote: @PaulSzoldra LRAD (Long Range Acoustic Device), the last place I saw one of those was at the Iraqi detention facility.
storify.com


That is dark.

I thought I heard one in the video I watched last night.

All it takes is one or two NDs for all hell to break loose. They probably want it to happen.

 

[DEAD7]

The Washington Post's Paul Waldman is confused. He doesn't know where the libertarian voices are on the police killing of Michael Brownin Ferguson, Missouri. His column begins:

The shooting death by police of Ferguson, MO teenager Michael Brown, and what has happened in the aftermath, has been blanketing the news for the past few days. It's a story about race, but it's also become a story about the power of the state and how it's wielded, and against whom.

So my question is this: Where are the libertarians?

Waldman goes on to mention the New York Times Magazine story about the "libertarian moment," so he's definitely heard of Reason. Yet he doesn't mention that we've covered Ferguson extensively until the last paragraph of his piece. It's almost an afterthought. Instead, he takes issue that Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Rep. Justin Amash (R-Mich.), prominent libertarian-leaning Republicans, haven't made any statements about Ferguson. Neither, it should be noted, represents Ferguson, Missouri, and neither is a member of the Libertarian Party. I contacted both offices for a statement; Rep. Amash's press person told me when she spoke to Waldman she meant she knew of no immediate plans to release a statement and that Waldman hung up before she even finished her thought. If Amash does make a statement, we'll update you here on the blog. We're awaiting a response from Paul's press shop.

Like Amash and Paul, prominent liberal Democrats haven't said much either. Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) has made no statement about Ferguson, Missouri. I contacted her DC office but there did not appear to be anyone there to take phone calls.

Waldman's timing on his column is interesting, too. It was released this afternoon. Twenty four hours ago his misleading point wouldn't be as salient; back then President Obama, who's commented on everything from Henry Louis Gates' 2009 encounter with police in Massachusetts to Robin Williams' death, hadn't made a statement either. I took no issue with that decision by the president, and had he not spoken yesterday I wouldn't criticize him for it. Far more important are actions. Federal involvement in the Ferguson investigation and the wider Department of Justice review of police tactics are both welcome news, and far more substantive than any statement could be.

Most importantly, perhaps, Waldman ought to familiarize himself with the work of his fellowWashington Post scribes and specifically Radley Balko, formerly of Reason, and the only reason (drink!) I was even exposed to Waldman's ridiculously misguided column. Balko'sextensive coverage of police issues over the years wasn't mentioned at all.

As the libertarian moment becomes harder to ignore, expect liberals (and conservatives) to protest that much more loudly when libertarians take up causes (be it police brutality or government spending) they believe they have a monopoly on.

On a final note, Waldman's question could be easily turned around on the American left, and not just because Sen. Warren hasn't made a statement. There are plenty of cases ofpolice brutality you can read about at Reason that didn't get mentioned by Warren, President Obama, or any of the activists attaching themselves to the situation in Ferguson.

UPDATE: It's not just the left engaging in this kind of gotcha-ish journalism. Here's aNational Review piece from yesterday pointing out that in addition to Obama neither House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) or Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid (D-Nev.) had made a statement.

 

[DEAD7]

Waldman’s speculation is based on a false premise. Libertarians have in fact had plenty to say about both Ferguson specifically and overaggressive policing generally. Walter Olson of the Cato Institute – the nation’s leading libertarian think tank – recently wrote a post describing the events in Ferguson as an example of indefensible police militarization, an issue he and others at Cato have focused on for years. As Waldman partially recognizes, Reason – probably the nation’s leading libertarian publication – has posted numerous items about Ferguson on its site, nearly all of them highly critical of the authorities.

Perhaps more importantly, libertarians have for many years criticized the War on Drugs and the militaristic police tactics it has helped foster. Libertarian Radley Balko has written more about this than any other commentator, and last year published the leading book on the subject, which I reviewed here. The War on Drugs, which libertarians have denounced since its inception, is responsible for many of the violent interactions between police and young black males that lead to tragedies like the death of Michael Brown. You can certainly argue that libertarians should focus on these issues even more than they already do. But they have opposed both the War on Drugs and police militarization longer and more consistently than adherents of any other political movement. If they are at fault for not doing more, so too are liberals and conservatives, and to a substantially greater extent.

 

[tru_m.a.c]

Some of us here spoke about the martial law in Boston and got chastised by others who thought the police response and a tank with a machine gun rolling down the street ordering people to stay inside was justified.

This point needs to be blasted again and again and again

The beautiful thing about the internet, is that nothing disappears forever. We can go and research all the conservative sites that went CRAZY when tanks were in Boston. All of those sites should be put on blast. Every conservative writer should be put on blast.

 

[DEAD7]

Either everyone making this claim is being deliberately obtuse — perhaps to further an easily debunked narrative about libertarians not caring for minorities — or they just don’t know many libertarians.

Cato institute... F*CKING CATO INSTITUTE ran a story about it and i'm sure they will run more.

 

[tru_m.a.c]

Could y'all imagine the public opinion if it were reported that some News reporters were jailed for "not packing up fast enough" while in Palestine last month?

Lindsey Graham would've been on EVERY fukkN NEWS CHANNEL

 

[GetInTheTruck]

There is one I know personally who has been on it on FB. And Yeah he's white. Can't speak for the others though.

 

[Julius Skrrvin]

Either everyone making this claim is being deliberately obtuse — perhaps to further an easily debunked narrative about libertarians not caring for minorities — or they just don’t know many libertarians.

Cato institute... F*CKING CATO INSTITUTE ran a story about it and i'm sure they will run more.

fair enough but where are all the big small government guys?

Rand Paul? Not a peep

Paul Ryan?

even grand wizard Ron himself

a couple quick columns aren't much, tbh

 

[Blackking]

Dead7 just rebutted the entrie premise of the thread by saying they have spoken out

 

[Strapped]

I personally am glad they are being prudent with this case.
Wait til all the evidence is on table, both real, and made up, then address it.

That said, i'm sure their silence will be spun into love of govt. and hate for blacks. It is what it is.

I'm kinda lost here dawgie

 

[DEAD7]

fair enough but where are all the big small government guys?

Rand Paul? Not a peep

Paul Ryan?

even grand wizard Ron himself

a couple quick columns aren't much, tbh

 

[DEAD7]

I'm kinda lost here dawgie

I'm glad the libertarian running for office is being prudent...


edit: and lets be honest, the niqqas complaining werent gonna vote for him anyway.

 

[SHO-NUFF]

Either everyone making this claim is being deliberately obtuse — perhaps to further an easily debunked narrative about libertarians not caring for minorities — or they just don’t know many libertarians.

Cato institute... F*CKING CATO INSTITUTE ran a story about it and i'm sure they will run more.

Not gonna argue with you nikka (if you even a real one):

THEY DONT GIVE A LEFT fukk ABOUT US, never have , never will.
The "research" will be done, and then:

 

[Julius Skrrvin]

Dead7 just rebutted the entrie premise of the thread by saying they have spoken out

That's the cato institute though, and reason. These are more academic/think tank sources. And if you read both of those articles, they have a lot to do with militarization of the police, but with the police and race. There is one exception sohh far, which I appreciate:

http://reason.com/blog/2014/08/14/ferguson-police-have-a-long-troubling-re

And even thats a reblog of WaPo

The premise of the thread is more about Libertarian politicians and more salient mouthpieces to begin with (not bloggers). I do hope they'll prove me wrong...

 

[Julius Skrrvin]

@DEAD7 Rand Paul spoke....

Not much to say about race though

http://time.com/3111474/rand-paul-ferguson-police/