Your money, your body, your choice

And also your responsibility… Libertarianism as an ethic.

I was thinking more about that commercial I heard the other day. About how small business can end racism. I wrote that it won’t; maybe it can, but probably not.

Now I’m thinking, well, maybe it’ll at least reduce bigotry. Do sellers care more about what buyers look like or whether they’ll be buyers in the first place?

Liberals in America argue that it’s your body, therefore your choice. Your money (paying your fair share, with whom you contract, how you contract…), though, you don’t get to decide much of that.

Conservatives argue that it’s your money, your choice. Your body (what you eat, drink, smoke, your sex life or whom you worship…), government will have plenty to say about that.

As a libertarian, I say it’s your life and your livelihood, it’s your therefore your choice. More importantly, it’s your responsibility, not someone else’s.

On yesterday’s article, you’re a sexist when it comes to sex partners (you don’t equally allow all genders or types of persons into your sex life do you?). Maybe you’re also a racist in that you only check certain demographic boxes on Tinder or Plenty of Fish, too. It’s your life.

Why shouldn’t you get to choose whom to allow into it and whom not to, and for whatever reason? Why shouldn’t you be free to choose (while also respecting other people’s freedom to choose, of course)?

On small business ending racism and other bigotry, as a libertarian, I argue that it’s your business, your money. You should remain free to outsource, offshore or to not do business with anyone you don’t want – even if for racist reasons. The marketplace will encourage a less racist outcome anyway.

I buy and sell through the internet. I almost never see what the other person looks like. Do any of us? The internet requires that we look for trust on other factors, like the social proof of both the venue and the other person. The longer in business and the more popular, presumably the more trustworthy in transacting.

So maybe small business can end (or at least reduce) racism. If you’re a seller, does it really matter what your customers look like so long as they’re paying you?