Penn Jillette - Libertarian Atheist

[amused]

I stumbled across a couple of videos that present a different view of Libertarianism than the kooky version we've been getting here.

The list of Jillette's articles at Big Think:

http://bigthink.com/search?email=&q=penn+jillette


This one in particular presents an interesting take on the 2012 candidates:

http://bigthink.com/ideas/41033

Michele Bachman’s blasphemy is greater than anything I’ve ever accomplished. I have tried with friends to say the most blasphemous sentence I can possibly say and it does not come close to the blasphemy of Michelle Bachman saying that earthquakes and hurricanes were the way God was trying to get the attention of politicians. I cannot imagine a serious religious person reading that quote or hearing that quote and saying, “Yeah, right on.” It is solipsistic, it is opportunistic, it is cynical. It is deep and it is wrong and it is an insult to religious people everywhere.

And his take on Libertarian Atheists:

http://bigthink.com/ideas/40561

The mistake we make with Libertarianism is, I think, is that we start by saying, “Let’s stop the government from doing really stupid stuff.” And people come back with the argument and say, “So you don’t want bridges?” And you go, “Oh, okay.” Can we argue about bridges after we’re out of Afghanistan? Can we argue about bridges after we’ve stopped killing people in Texas for crimes? Can we argue about bridges after there’s no one in prison for marijuana possession and use? Nobody in prison for prostitution. Can we… once we get all that done, can we then have the argument about bridges?

Can we just stop the stuff that big government’s doing that we really know is bad?

[Gawdzilla Sama]

The mistake we make with Libertarianism is, I think, is that we start by saying, “Let’s stop the government from doing really stupid stuff.” And people come back with the argument and say, “So you don’t want bridges?” And you go, “Oh, okay.” Can we argue about bridges after we’re out of Afghanistan? Can we argue about bridges after we’ve stopped killing people in Texas for crimes? Can we argue about bridges after there’s no one in prison for marijuana possession and use? Nobody in prison for prostitution. Can we… once we get all that done, can we then have the argument about bridges?

Can we just stop the stuff that big government’s doing that we really know is bad?

I love that thinking. "Solve one problem at a time." That's how you never get anything done. Lots of things need attending to NOW, and not everybody has to attend to every one of them. I work with endangered animals. I don't teach English to los nondocumentos, not any more.

[Warren Dew]

I didn't think atheists cared about blasphemy.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

I didn't think atheists cared about blasphemy.

Re-read it.

[Tero]

He has a book out. It has some amusing personal stories. I did not buy it. You can get it cheap soon enough.

[Warren Dew]

Re-read it.

It still says the same thing.

[Gawdzilla Sama]

Re-read it.

It still says the same thing.

But does it say what you think it says?