Certain quarters of the libertarian universe are in an absolute tizzy because Mises Institute President Jeff Deist invoked blood and soil in a recent speech. In the minds of some PC brain-addled libertarians, this is clearly an indication that the speaker was dog whistling to Nazis. This is both profoundly clueless and shameless PC grandstanding.
Proof that blood and soil can only be some sort of cryptic reference to Nazism is supposedly supplied by a Google search of the term which brings back a lot of links to wrongthink websites. I respect many libertarians. I have many libertarian friends, both real and virtual, but too many modern libertarians inhabit a world that exists only in their heads, and they can be grossly unfamiliar with the intellectual (and real) world outside the echo chamber that is their segment of libertarianism.
Blood and soil is, in fact, a rather mundane formulation that is used to express an undeniable aspect of reality. To deny that attachment to blood and soil is a fundamental aspect of the human condition identifies someone as intellectually unserious, but that is what ideology can do to people. It makes otherwise smart people stupid as they try to force reality to conform to their tidy theories, rather than letting reality inform their theories.
Man has been attached to blood and soil, hearth and home, kith and kin, for the entirety of human history. In fact, much of human history is a tale of blood and soil. Such is certainly hardwired into our DNA, which makes perfect Darwinian sense. Attachment to blood and soil is very logical from a survival standpoint.
For making a statement similar to this during a Facebook debate, I was accused of peddling baseless pseudoscience. Huh? Because other primates do not demonstrate attachment to kin and territory? Because no other mammal does? You cannot penetrate this sort of ideological blindness.
Far from being some exclusively Nazi code, blood and soil have long been invoked within American conservative circles, for example, as part of the long-running debate between paleoconservatives and neoconservatives over the nature of America. Paleocons assert that these United States are a continuation of old Europe in the New World, not some radical new departure or experiment. Neocons on the other hand assert that the U.S. is instead an idea or proposition nation unlike the blood and soil nations of Europe. I certainly side with the paleocons in this debate because an idea nation is an ideological conceit that is inherently leftist. It is also important to note that other countries that claimed to be idea nations were the old Soviet Union and post-Revolution France. Not exactly stellar company.
But even if you concede that the U.S. is an idea nation, the claim is that it is uniquely so. Therefore, by implication, other nations are not and follow the model. Arguably, every nation on earth is a nation founded on blood and soil to a greater or lesser degree, and the degree to which it is lesser is largely dependent on how many differing blood and soil groups it is attempting to make coexist under one national roof. The only nations that are arguably not based on blood and soil are the modern nation states that were artificially cobbled together by others, such as Iraq and the former Yugoslavia, and we saw how well those little experiments worked out. They were led by strongmen and held together by force, but when that fell apart, they naturally separated into their blood and soil constituencies with much messiness. So Iraq is not a natural blood and soil nation, but Kurdistan within Iraq is. So, according to the PC libertarian thought police, is Kurdistan inherently a Nazish country? Are all Kurds therefore Nazis?
I asked one of the Rightthink Enforcement Brigade in my aforementioned debate if he considered a Cherokee Indian Reservation to be a manifestation of blood and soil Nazism? Are the Cherokees who live there therefore Nazis? Needless to say, I didnt get a straight answer. Off course, Nazi-esque Indian Reservations would be a bit of a difficult thing to pull off since the Reservations predate Nazism, but history has never been the righthinkers strong point seeing as how they are peddling a laughingly novel intellectual formulation.
Aside from all of this ridiculous hoopla, I highly recommend that you read the Deist speech. Far from a dog-whistling screed as the PC libertarians have characterize it, it is actually eminently reasonable and a much needed counterbalance to the detached-from-reality brand of libertarianism being peddled by the hypersensitive PC-obsessed new breed.
The speech is very well done, and comes at a very important time as many libertarians are going astray. The Anarchist Notebook calls it probably the most important libertarian speech made in the last decade. What Deist is essentially doing in his speech is defending a concept that, while some will object to the term, used to be called paleolibertarianism. I do not intend to diminish Deists speech in anyway, but what he articulates is not new or groundbreaking. He makes some observations that are really truismsthat people value family, faith, culture, place, and so forthand then makes some arguments that men and women of good will could have an honest debate about, such as the relative role of universalism vs. self-determination.
Early on in his speech, Deist describes and defends orthodox Rothbardian libertarianism. What he defends in theory is a stateless form of libertarianism. It isnt even minarchism that he is defending. He goes on to defend the paleolibertarian belief that the institutions and sentiments that undergird civil society such as family, faith, culture, tradition, attachment to place, etc. are essential components that will hold society together in the theoretical absence of the state, rather than impediments to liberty as many of the new breed libertarians see them. He defends decentralization, secession, and self-determination as political ends that libertarians should strive for rather than the imposition of a universal moral ethic.
Deist concluded his speech with a call to action. In other words, blood and soil and God and nation still matter to people. Libertarians ignore this at the risk of irrelevance, he said. This statement is true on its face. These things do manifestly matter to people and libertarians certainly ignore them at the risk of their own irrelevance, but it is apparently this line more than any other that has the PC libertarian thought police so hysterical.
There is something not normal about a person who can read a defense of the stateless society and decentralization, secession, and self-determination as means of achieving it and immediately think Nazi because of a reference to the obvious reality of blood and soil. This is a sorry attempt by competing power centers in the libertarian orbit to marginalize a mindset that they disagree with at the expense of the greater movement as a whole. Perhaps some of the not-too-bright spear carriers arguing over this really are ideologically brain addled, but I simply cannot believe that people like Steve Horwitz, one of the main ringleaders of the PC jihad, are really that stupid. Theyre not. They are arguing in bad faith by exploiting the reigning PC zeitgeist rather than have an honest debate. Shame on them.
Enjoyed the article? Make a contribution to support our work via Patreon!
Excerpt from:
Defending Jeff Deist From The Politically Correct Libertarians - The Liberty Conservative
- Why Libertarians Are Idiots. - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Libertarianism Vs. Socialism with Austin Petersen - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- "Libertarian" Ron Paul Exposes His True Self: a Corporate Feudalist - Video [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Ask a Libertarian Lightning Round: Recalls, Libertarian Paternalism, [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Ask a Libertarian Lightning Round: Libertarianism in Pop Culture [Last Updated On: September 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 7th, 2012]
- Gary Johnson invigorates the Libertarian vote [Last Updated On: September 21st, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 21st, 2012]
- Breitbart Writer Begs Libertarians To Vote Romney — Sorry, It Ain’t Going To Work [Last Updated On: September 25th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 25th, 2012]
- Quick Hits: Muse, Christina Aguilera, Nicki Minaj, Outasight, Interpol [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Philip Pilkington: The 19th Century Long Depression: How it Fostered Oligopolistic Capitalism and Serves as a Model ... [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Muse singer rips Glenn Beck for liking his music [Last Updated On: September 30th, 2012] [Originally Added On: September 30th, 2012]
- Myth and Truth About Libertarianism [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- What Is Neoclassical Liberalism? [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- Glenn Beck's extraordinary open letter to Muse [Last Updated On: October 3rd, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 3rd, 2012]
- Lord Wood of Anfield:the crisis of Conservative values [Last Updated On: October 6th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 6th, 2012]
- Libertarians are wrong about smoking bans [Last Updated On: October 10th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 10th, 2012]
- Anonymity and its limits: Reddit v Gawker [Last Updated On: October 15th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 15th, 2012]
- Friedman on Intolerance: A Critique [Last Updated On: October 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 16th, 2012]
- Libertarianism not likely to yield third party [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Ayn Rand Institute Bigwigs Piss on Libertarianism, Libertarians Fight Back! [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- 2 comments [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- The Hard Truth About Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Ayn Rand's First Appearance on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, 1967 - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 960 - Why Libertarianism Fails: Part 1 - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 961 - Why Libertarianism Fails: Part 2 - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 962 - Why Libertarianism Fails: Part 3 - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 672 - Minarchism, Libertarianism and Logic - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 614 - Political Libertarianism: Part 2 - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 613 - Political Libertarianism: Part 1 - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 235 - Libertarianism for the Young: Freedom for the tweens - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 86: Top Ten Myths About Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- FDR 37: What is Libertarianism? - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- THRIVE! 30.1 - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Norman Barry: Differing Foundations in Libertarian Thought - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Ron Swanson's Libertarianism - Nothing The Government Does is Important - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- Libertarian Transhumanism - Wiki Article - Video [Last Updated On: October 31st, 2012] [Originally Added On: October 31st, 2012]
- THE CORRECT VIEWS HIT SHARE! I AM SPEAKING AT CONESTOGA NOV 19 - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2012]
- Parks and Recreation - Ron and Andy Bonding over Politics - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2012]
- More hypocrisy from the MRAs. - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2012]
- CONSTITUTION PARTY EXPLAINED! HD - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2012]
- Dr Stephen Davies: British Individualism and Libertarianism the Past and Today - Video [Last Updated On: November 2nd, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 2nd, 2012]
- Vallentyne and Zwolinski on 'Libertarianism' | Jan Lester - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2012]
- Libertarianism Is Simple To Describe But Not Simple To Argue For - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2012]
- Watch Wayne's World (1992) Full Movie Free Online - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2012]
- American History with George H. Smith, Part Three - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2012]
- American History with George H. Smith, Part Two - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2012]
- American History with George H. Smith, Part One - Video [Last Updated On: November 4th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 4th, 2012]
- Liberty conference comes to UNC [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2012]
- Libertarianism in Ancient China | by Murray N. Rothbard - Video [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2012]
- Ron Paul, Rothbard and Race 2 of 2 - Video [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2012]
- Ron Paul, Rothbard and Race 1 of 2 - Video [Last Updated On: November 5th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 5th, 2012]
- Voting: The Seen and the Unseen [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2012]
- Gary Johnson at the LAST third party debate on RT - Video [Last Updated On: November 7th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 7th, 2012]
- Puerto Rico Will Be The 51st State - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2012]
- Pro-Market Intervention vs. Free Market Volatility (Libertarian Dilemma) - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2012]
- Robert Poole and Samuel Konkin: What is a Libertarian? - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2012]
- Kokesh 1of4 - Video [Last Updated On: November 9th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 9th, 2012]
- Republicans Must Focus on Social Libertarianism to Win Back Voters [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2012]
- Do You Have a Duty to Vote? - Video [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2012]
- Free Speach The Non Aggression Principle Voluntaryism Adam Kokesh - Video [Last Updated On: November 11th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 11th, 2012]
- Peter Schiff, Austrian, Libertarianism, Right Wing, FOX Logic. - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- Part 4 - Prof. Anderson on Liberalism vs. Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- Part 6 - Prof. Anderson on Liberalism vs. Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- Part 5 - Prof. Anderson on Liberalism vs. Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- Part 2 - Prof. Anderson on Liberalism vs. Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- Part 7 - Prof. Anderson on Liberalism vs. Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- Part 3 - Prof. Anderson on Liberalism vs. Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- Part 1 - Prof. Anderson on Liberalism vs. Libertarianism - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- What Happened to Conservatism? - Video [Last Updated On: November 12th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 12th, 2012]
- Praxis, Praxis, Praxis - a lecture by Patrick M. Byrne - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- Milton Friedman: The Future of Freedom - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- ExplainIng Obamacare to simplefolk. - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- Barrack Obama - The Food Stamps President - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- Why Obama Beat Romney - Video [Last Updated On: November 14th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 14th, 2012]
- Templeton, Craig, Shermer, and Rand - Nov. 12, 2012 - Video [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2012]
- Penn Jillette - On Atheism, Libertarianism, and 9/11 - Video [Last Updated On: November 16th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 16th, 2012]
- The GOP’s Libertarian Problem [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2012]
- Ron Paul Farewell Speech: What Did He Get Right Over The Course Of His Career? [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2012]
- National Liberation - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2012]
- How I Stopped Spanking My Kids: A Fathers' Roundtable - Video [Last Updated On: November 18th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 18th, 2012]
- +Dolan on the Elections [Last Updated On: November 20th, 2012] [Originally Added On: November 20th, 2012]