Is the Case for Liberty Too Extreme?

Richard Ebeling emails:

I have a new article up on Northwood University's blog, "In Defense of Capitalism & Human Progress" on the question: "Is the Case for Liberty Too Extreme?"

Friends of freedom are frequently accused of being "extremists" in not being willing to "compromise" with a "reasonable" amount of government regulation, welfare redistribution, and social intervention. But who really is the extremist, the advocate of liberty who respects diversity and differences among men and their beliefs and actions, or the political interventionist who wishes to impose his vision of the "good society" on all through the use of government coercion?

I contrast these two conceptions of man and society by looking at two recent examples: the political banning of smoking in both public and private spaces, and the growing political censorship and prohibition of religious expression and debate over matters of faith in the marketplace of ideas.

I suggest that it is the political interventionist who is really the "extremist" in his attempt to make all conform to his idea of "good behavior," and not the advocate of freedom who believes in the liberty of the mind and the power of peaceful persuasion

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This is a powerful article by Richard. It is must reading.Read it here.