Capitalism is, and generally has been, associated with conservatism. In the jargon of the far left, it's a reactionary ideology. I don't agree with this at all, and I think that modern-day libertarians really need to distance themselves from certain aspects of the conservative movement. That most libertarians are former Republicans is no help in this matter. Many of us continue supporting the GOP instinctually (giving the raging statism of the Democratic Party, this isn't necessarily bad). That said, there are still several major areas for improvement.
First off, we need to drive a wedge between traditionalism and cultural conservatism. Promoting the ideals of individualism, reason, and order do not require the European ethnic trappings and Judeo-Christian imagery that is generally associated with the Right. There's nothing inherently wrong about those (waits for the Objectivist handwringing...), but they aren't an essential element of capitalism or libertarianism.
Moreover, we should make clear our dedication to reason and the scientific method, without the statism the left has married to them. It's part of the rationality trap*: those who devote themselves to finding thought-based solutions all too often try to apply that model to fields where it is not applicable (e.g. social organization). If libertarians (including the religious ones) can demonstrate to the public that science can exist without the state, we can deprive the left of a fertile recruiting ground.
The best way to shrug off the 'reactionary' label is to become revolutionary in our ideals. That little word revolutionary should be handled with care. Violent uprising is not warranted and will not be effective--at least not at present. But as we continue to move into the political mainstream we must distance ourselves from that boogeyman of the "Establishment". The corporatist Welfare State is not our friend, and never can be. Throwing in with the cronies on Wall Street and the tenured politicians would be political suicide.
Capitalists must fundamentally reshape the system in our pursuit of a truly free society. We can't quibble over trivialities of the tax code and expect to get anywhere. No, what we need are sweeping reforms in almost all aspects of public life. It will be a costly political battle, but revolutionary capitalism can do what conservative capitalism never dreamed: restructuring society around production and trade.
Will there be room for a government in this free society? Quite possibly. Will it resemble that of today? Not a chance in the world.
Capitalists must fundamentally reshape the system in our pursuit of a truly free society. We can't quibble over trivialities of the tax code and expect to get anywhere. No, what we need are sweeping reforms in almost all aspects of public life. It will be a costly political battle, but revolutionary capitalism can do what conservative capitalism never dreamed: restructuring society around production and trade.
Will there be room for a government in this free society? Quite possibly. Will it resemble that of today? Not a chance in the world.
*An idea I'll explain in a later post. See: The Intellectuals and Socialism by F. A. Hayek
