In some circles, the libertarian political philosophy is considered a right-wing ideology, broadly identified with minimal government. But government over-reach is the signature of authoritarian rule. Be wary of such leaders’ anti-government appeal, because his or her true aim is to cement power by claiming as much executive authority as possible. You need look no further than the regimes of Hungary’s Viktor Orban or Vladimir Putin, where dictates of the supreme leader brook no resistance or dissent . Those are the antithesis of individual liberty and minimal government. The authoritarian policies of the U.S. president elected in 2024 has gone to extreme lengths to impose burdensome taxes on Americans, especially on those who can least afford them, through questionably legal importation tariffs.

Would a true libertarian support the surveillance state being imposed by the current director of the Federal Bureau of Investigations, Kash Patel? Re-imposition of McCarthy era repression of political dissidents and guilt by association are clearly not libertarian values. As explained in the “Statement of Principles” of the Libertarian Party of the United States, “We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.” If you believe in freedom, you must oppose authoritarian leaders. Read more in short articles below or as they are posted here.