How many libertarians recognize that the original libertarians were also socialists?

The US political system, has a really interesting way of contorting the meanings of words. If you're a socialist, your madly in love with Stalin's USSR; if you're a liberal then you want the entire country to have no army and pay 80% in taxes; if you're a libertarian then you're a godly crusader to get government out of our schools, put other races in their place, and make sure that all government power (which at least has some vestiges of democracy and control) in the hands of corporations (which have none at all).

Libertarianism is an extremely left-wing idea. Ideas like democracy (also called liberal democracy), anarchism, and syndicalism come from the left. Form of government like monarchy, fascism, and democracy without universal suffrage come from the right. It is funny how the right, after the left is proven correct, wants to use our words.

When I explain to people that I am left-wing libertarian, they think it's an oxy moron. That all liberals have to have wet dreams about the state. (I wouldn't say I am a true anarchist, I believe we can still move the Canadian government towards a position of greater freedom i.e towards anarchism but that's a different question.) Then, I explain the position of anarchism in terms of freedom to participate in a collectivized system and move your society forward locally. Then I often hear a reply that it's like communism but it could work.

Not nearly enough. And I agree with your other points.

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The Nature of Anarchism

by Dan Clore

(The following is a bit of "boilerplate" that I use to answer questions about anarchism. It is intended to provide a concise explanation of anarchism. Any suggestions as to how to improve it would be welcome.)

There is a great deal of misunderstanding of the nature of anarchism.

Anarchists (also known as libertarians or libertarian socialists, in the original sense of socialism as worker-ownership-and-control of the means of production) oppose illegitimate authority and hierarchy, and therefore oppose capitalism and the state; anarchists do not oppose all organization: anarchists favor voluntary, non-hierarchical, self-organization. Anarchists do not oppose all rules and laws; anarchists oppose rules and laws imposed involuntarily by illegitimate authorities, such as the state, and favor voluntarily-agreed upon rules and laws.

"Anarchy 101", an excellent introduction to anarchism, can be found here:

http://tinyurl.com/2fq4d2

"An Anarchist FAQ", giving an in-depth treatment of anarchism, can be found here:

http://www.anarchistfaq.org/

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News & Views for Anarchists & Activists:

http://tinyurl.com/4nptw