Final Word from Friday, February 17, 2006
"Libertarianism" isn't a term used much in Czech politics, and the usual translations (liberalismus or indeterminismus) don't do it justice. Libertarians believe they should be free to do as they please, as long as they don't infringe on the freedoms of others. Libertarians would allow polygamy or same-sex marriage, although the very institution of state-regulated marriage would violate their belief. The debate over same-sex partnerships is so fierce because there's so much state regulation. If, for example, the government didn't dictate whom a person may name as his heir, or if rent control didn't make transfer of an apartment title so important, there'd be little practical reason for same-sex partnerships. By pushing for this law, homosexuals and their sympathizers have ceded the larger battle - getting the government out of their lives in all but the most necessary of cases. [Czech Republic homosexuality gays lesbians discrimination Václav Klaus veto]