A few counter-arguments:
*- The "dissident left" as I call them (or "woke right" as James Lindsay calls them) believes in secure borders precisely because they want universal welfare, and know that system is unsustainable without a stable population and labour force. Dissident leftists tend to agree with libertarians on everything except that and business regulations, and are split on gun regulations.
** - Good luck trying to convince partisan Democrats and even disaffected "progressives" that bit is even true. Even according to the ones who acknowledge the Dems' warmongering, they will insist that the Republicans are worse. As before, only dissident leftists are willing to acknowledge that the Republicans are no longer the party of Shrub, case in point: Jimmy Dore.
Bullet Point 3 - Private ownership of the means of production is inherently exploitative according to people so far to the left that they see the Dems as a right-wing party. My former history professor and favourite punching bag is one such person, and he's a HUGE fan of Mill, despite also being one of those twats who has repeatedly advocated for mandatory community service.
You already know where I stand on these issues, but what would you say to the people in these specific categories?
Oh, and follow-up: could you at least create a Substack profile so that I can add you as an author if you let me use portions of your writing in my own articles?
All of that is why I said, "...the current partisan rhetoric on several key topics [...] these are all complex issues with diverse opinions on each even within partisan circles."
And I don't require attribution. Use away. Quote, misquote, dissect, defame, IDGAF. I am tired of creating accounts. It's my inner boomer, maybe, but I need a break from new logins and passwords.
As for the anti-propertarian left, nothing in my philosophy prohibits them from choosing mutualist cooperatives or whatever they think works better. I want them to be free to succeed or fail according to the merits of their ideas and their dedication to their ideology based on consent and cooperation too, just like everyone else.
Touched a nerve, have I?
Kidding, kidding (mostly), but a serious follow-up regarding the "anti-propertarian left": have you ever heard the self-ownership denial argument? One particular version, espoused by the DOJ no less, is "taxation is not theft because money is not your property." Federal Reserve technicalities aside, we need to come up with some better philosophical arguments, because Mises no longer has the final word on these matters on account of statist thinkers working overtime recently. If you can recall, I directed you to a hilarious strawman of libertarianism about a year ago, and while that guy took the coward's way out and disabled comments on his entire website, more like him have popped up. They are smart enough to see past the false dichotomy of American partisan politics, and label libertarians explicitly as "an even greater existential threat than MAGA."
Mate, these people are huge fans of Mill, and they are afraid of us. The hell is going on?
What I have heard denying self-ownership usually sounds like flat-earther denial of curvature. "If I refuse to acknowledge it, it doesn't exist, even if the mere fact that I am trying to present a dissent necessarily suggests at least self-ownership of intellect." Maybe there are better arguments out there
As for the Fed and fiat, their argument would hold up better if they weren't also out to tax crypto and destroy projects like the NORFED dollar where people developed voluntary alternatives.
Funny you should mention flerf, I'm about to have some real fun with that! The article is finished, but given my publication schedule, it won't be out for at least a week. I'll be sure to share it here for the benefit of a certain frequenter of your comments section.
Did you have fun with the Final Experiment fallout? I've been following Dave McKeegan for a while, and seeing how the flerf community turned on the flerfers with the balls (heh) to go has been wild. Sadly, I'm not surprised by the flerf priest denials of any evidence presented no matter what, or the knots they tie themselves into trying to "debunk" it.
Oh yes, that was hilarious! However, I have a different angle to the whole thing, which ties into a great metaphysics conspiracy.
Flerf article is done! Let me know if you makes you laugh, I had fun writing it.