As Ronald Reagan once said, despite being a paragon of un-facts himself, "Well, the trouble with our liberal friends is not that they're ignorant; it's just that they know so much that isn't so. " How much more our libertarian friends? Or enemies, as the case may be. I find every conversation with a libertarian is generally filled with elementary falsehoods with respect to either the historical record or the economic literature (as poorly as I am acquainted with it - mind you, I'm not saying "OMG they contradict Krugman" or some other banal response, but, rather, "No, the economic consensus does not indicate decreasing taxes will increase revenue."). And, this is not as objective as the other measures, but they often contradict the basics of patriotism and civic religion - eg, opposing Lincoln and supporting the treasonous South and slavery.
Never mind, by the way, how nutty the speech that came from actually is. Never mind that Barry Goldwater, it is universally agreed, would probably have been the worst possible president.
And I would just say that the 49 years since that speech have looked rather fondly on the welfare state as compared to the alternative he was promoting in that speech.
Anyway, I digress.
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