Should Libertarians be against prisons?

Ravi

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Feb 27, 2008
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I realize prison can be a punishment, but don't they really serve to protect the rest of us from the bad guys?

It seems it would make more sense from a libertarian stand point to arm everyone and let them mete out punishment whenever they feel threatened.

It would save a lot of taxpayer money, as well.
 
I realize prison can be a punishment, but don't they really serve to protect the rest of us from the bad guys?

It seems it would make more sense from a libertarian stand point to arm everyone and let them mete out punishment whenever they feel threatened.

It would save a lot of taxpayer money, as well.

:eusa_eh:
 
Rav here you go lumping everyone into one label again.

Like every single libertarian has the same exact position on EVERYTHING.

The constitution allows for a justice system, and prison is a part of that.

The 8th amendment protects citizens from UNUSUAL punishment, which jailing would not be considered.

More often than not, you confuse a libertarian with an anarchist. A classical liberal, as I would prefer to think of myself as, is nothing close to an anarchist.
 
I realize prison can be a punishment, but don't they really serve to protect the rest of us from the bad guys?

It seems it would make more sense from a libertarian stand point to arm everyone and let them mete out punishment whenever they feel threatened.

It would save a lot of taxpayer money, as well.

I feel threatened by you.
I should kill you and save internet bandwidth. :lol:
 
Many of us would advocate privatizing prisons so they're not leeches on the taxpayer, but no prisons do not go against the libertarian ideology.
 
I realize prison can be a punishment, but don't they really serve to protect the rest of us from the bad guys?

It seems it would make more sense from a libertarian stand point to arm everyone and let them mete out punishment whenever they feel threatened.

It would save a lot of taxpayer money, as well.

That would probably be the "hardcore" libertarian ideal, but it seem impractical in today's society. You have to make some compromises.
 
I realize prison can be a punishment, but don't they really serve to protect the rest of us from the bad guys?

It seems it would make more sense from a libertarian stand point to arm everyone and let them mete out punishment whenever they feel threatened.

It would save a lot of taxpayer money, as well.

That would probably be the "hardcore" libertarian ideal, but it seem impractical in today's society. You have to make some compromises.

I've never seen a libertarian, hardcore or otherwise, advocate getting rid of prisons so that prisoners can roam free forcing everyone else to arm and defend themselves.
 
I don't have a problem with sending violent people to prison, a person doing a drug, gambling, prostitution or whatever to jail/prison is a real waste and assault on individual freedoms though,imho.
 
MOST libertarians would have no problem sending anyone to jail for committing a crime that intrudes upon another's rights.

Vice type 'crimes', however, fall into a different category and that's where a lot of libertarians separate from your average liberal or conservative of today.
 

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