Political Assessment

[MoonShadow]

Socialism can not be libertarian.

This is true enough, but a libertarian can be a socialist; just not a statist.  If the socialist order is non-coercive, any libertarian should be fine with it's existance, even if he doesn't agree that it's an ideal social order.  A fine example is a hippie co-op type farm, wherein adults not related to one another agree to live in a communal fashion.  History and reason both tell us that these adventures aren't sustainable, but that's irrelevant.  Another example is an 'intentional community', or even an extended family living together in the same household.  It's the idea that the social fabric of a happy homelife can be extended to the whole of society that drives the 'feeling' youth towards the socialist worldview.  Children who grow up in dysfunctional families are much less likely to fall for that crap.

[breandan81]

I guess it depends on how you define it whether communes work.  There are a number of small religious communities that I think could fairly be associated with that sort of commune.  Notably the Hutterites, who live in colonies, mostly in western canada, and run huge farms communally.  The key is that for that sort of social relationship to work, people need to feel a stable social relationship with each individual in the group.  This is why the hutterite colonies never exceed about 250 people.  I'm sure there are various mennonite sects that have similar strategies.  Outside of the commune capitalism is the best way to go. This is the same as the way people deal with their close friends and family.

[nanaimogold]

Hmmm

Objectivist, but without the chain smoking.

;-)