The distinctive American version of libertarianism focuses almost solely on the value of freedom, and makes freedom synonymous with non-interference at the hands of government. In more sophisticated variants, libertarianism focuses on the dignified human, makes freedom the most important (but not the only) political precondition for the achievement of dignity, and seeks to ensure that dignity is achievable by all. But the American version dispenses with any complicated talk of the many-sided human personality, or the connections that might tie us together (what we owe to each other), and pursues with single-minded zeal the idol freedom.
-- Steven Kelts, Political Theory professor at GW, guest blogging at The Monkey Cage
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I actually have a lot to say on this- I actually typed out seven or eight paragraphs before realizing it might be better not to make such a lengthy response. While I would love to discuss it more in depth at some point, as this critiquer has made a valid-if-somewhat-obscure point, I don't know the comments section is the right place. What I will say is that a similar phrase, "libertarians are simply conservatives who don't want to be called Republicans" has often (though not always) been found true in my own experience.
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