To whom much [power, wealth, influence, etc.] is given, much is required. You criticize the powerful, not the powerless. The burden of proof is upon the shoulders of the parties who have invaded, occupied and overthrown governments all over the planet in the name of civilizing and democratizing the unlearned, not on those who have been invaded, occupied, and destabilized. No one is perfect, but you first judge those who are most responsible for the world order we have been given.
The most expensive government in the history of the world, with the largest footprint in the history of the world, cannot help but be authoritarian. The power of a government to spend constitutes the power of that government to destroy, nevermind all the bells and whistles that government creates to use against all would-be opponents. Toppling foreign governments who oppose the designs of Wall Street for their imports and exports is authoritarian. Running covert operations inside our country to discredit and blackmail reformers who gain significant followings to enact change, is authoritarian. This would only be difficult to accept for someone suffering from Stockholm Syndrome. Are you a veteran?
Governments don't have rights to exist. Rights belong to individual human beings, not to groups of humans or to organizations. Reread your Declaration of Independence.
Oh most certainly. As Terry and I have discussed, I've evolved over time. I don't really know if libertarian is what I identify as anymore, but I maintain all public policy ought to be informed by libertarian political theory, Austrian-free market economics, and public choice theory. We live in a world of less than ideal governments mostly run by adults who were neglected or abused in their youth and with dangerous toys at their disposal. So that requires particular preparations from our own government, which don't always align with my ideals. But for far too long, our government has been dominated by forces and interests that profit from conflict and war, and as a result, consolidation. We have to take a sober look at this and realize that when the most powerful government in the history of the world has been hijacked from its stated ideals, the world will react. We have to be responsible for our actions first, before blaming how weaker actors react to our belligerence and trespassing. It's a truism that wherever you have an asymmetry of power among actors, abuse will enuse. The US may be exceptional, but it isn't immune from this law of nature. This law would remain just as valid if the roles were reversed, if we were surrounded by Iranian military bases in Mexico and Canada with their aircraft carriers sitting offshore.
