Reflections on Playboy: Why is libertarian propaganda so sexy?

February 2, 2008

Why is libertarian propaganda so sexy?

As devotees of free minds and free markets, we spend our nights pining for a major-party politician who not only looks dreamy while reading a Teleprompter but shows some passion for life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness and sex, drugs, and rock ’n’ roll.

—Nick Gillespie and Tim Cavanaugh, “Building the Perfect Candidate,” Reason, April 2004

“Why are Russian women so hot?” asks Radley Balko at my source for the above photo of beautiful Maria Sharapova, the libertarian blog Hit & Run. To answer his own question, Balko approvingly cites Anne Applebaum of Slate, who credits the collapse of communism and the opening of markets in the former Soviet Union.

As a libertarian, I’ve been falsely accused of admiring Ayn Rand. Her novels reportedly have some kinky sex in them, but even so, I haven’t been motivated to read them after reading her March 1964 Playboy Interview (complete transcript; paid subscription required). Her assertion that “man does not possess any instincts” and her belief in “Objectivism” as a viewpoint structurally incapable of turning into fanatical dogma tell me that her view of human nature isn’t refined enough to merit serious study. As an alternative, I recommend a careful reading of the libertarian implications of Steven Pinker’s The Blank Slate: The Modern Denial of Human Nature.

I don’t necessarily speak of libertarian literature in general, but Reason has been sexing up its act for a while. More power to it, I say. Playboy and Reason are two magazines that can benefit mutually from a willingness to resemble each other a bit from time to time.

Posted by Brian Sorgatz at 2:04 PM

Robert Paulson left this comment at February 3, 2008 11:54 AM
1) I recently resubscribed to Playboy. Why, two reasons: Sarah Elizabeth & Patrice Hollis. As long as Playboy lets one real [my definition: real breasts, largish hips] woman through per year, I will be happy to give them some cash. Also, the overall quality of the playmates has increased: Jayde Nicole, Brittany Binger, Nicole Voss, Stephanie Larimore, Alison Waite [minus those horrible implants], Jordan Monroe, I could go on, but its been a long time [96/97] since PB has had such a decent crop.

2) Why do some Libertarians have this animosity towards Rand? I had a libertarian friend back in the late 80's who once he found out I was into Rand/Objectivism, did everything in his power to try to convince me the Rand was evil and to become a "pure" libertarian and leave the Republicans behind. He even reprinted article from Reason and Liberty magazines to back up his arguments. No way, Once a Rand Republican always a Rand Republican [a RaRe ?]

February 2, 2008

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