Penn Jillette on why his views on libertarianism have changed

Just in case anyone forgot. When Penn and Teller had their show Bullshit, they did an episode on vaccines where they debunked a lot of what Jenny McCarthy said. So, never associate pen with the antivax movement

This right here is why I have such respect for Penn, even though he has expressed opinions that I highly disagree with. He isn't stuck in his ways, and his views alwayd come from a level of kindness. I might not agree with his conclusions, but I respect how he got there.

I've never heard American libertarianism described as being about responsibility for others. Typically it's seen as focused on minimal government intervention in markets and personal lives; personal responsibility is crucial. You can feel responsible towards others if you like, that's your choice and your freedom, but by no means are you expected to. This makes me think he's actually more of an anarchist. Not in the cliche sense of anarchy being no government or rules, but it is about minimal government intervention (etc.) because you are expected to feel responsibility towards others and not need a government to compel this.

I think mankind's greatest accomplishment was the free refill at restaurants but that's just me

"Why has government been instituted at all? Because the passions of men will not conform to the dictates of reason and justice, without constraint." - Alexander Hamilton

I can’t find any record of anti mask protests in Vegas, only anti mandate (which he said he would support). Does anyone know which protests he was talking about here?

I'm a libertarian not necessarily because I'm optimistic about the efficiency of a free and unregulated people (although I am), but because I'm incredibly pessimistic about the competence of government.

The sign of a mature individual is to be able to modify or abandon strong held beliefs that he or she held and be OK with it. Michael Pantazis

I'm a cynical Libertarian! :)

How am i just coming across this in 2024?

We hate them for the content of their character...

He should talk about being on The G Word with Adam Conover.

Penn's views aren't conflicting. Social responsibility without a government mandate means that we do the right thing socially and stand up to the bullshit of what is actually wrong. I'm a libertarian and believe that open carrying a firearm should be legal everywhere the public has access to in the country, but at the same time, that doesn't mean you should do it.

There have always been those who mistakenly think that the concept of "liberty" is fundamentally a one-sided one . . . that you can somehow have a limit on government exclusively to expand individual liberties. Science is the primary means by which freedom can be defined. Before European man discovered the means by which contagion operated (at least to a fundamentally greater degree than was known prior), there was understandably little rationale for restrictions like quarantines, masks, disinfectants etc. So those who were foolish enough to equate "liberty" with a knee-jerk, categorical rejection of masks, lockdowns etc. were simply being rather anti-libertarian in their own attitude. It is one thing to say that there are debatable points, and quite another to be dogmatic about things that are obviously--like all science is--an ever evolving understanding. So sure, sometimes precautions might go too far. But unless you know for certain that they are and can prove it, it only stands to reason that a severely disabling or lethal virus, bacteria etc. requires some sort of collective discipline to protect EVERYONE. My rights END where others begin, and visa-versa. No science has ever been perfect, but throwing out the prior knowledge that we've gained in previous pandemics about the means of disease transmission is ridiculous on a practical AND a libertarian basis. Furthermore, just as it is bizarrely hypocritical for many of those who ceaselessly advocate for gun control to nonetheless support arms sales to brutal regimes (as Joe Biden and Hillary Clinton etc. have done), so it is just as hypocritical to advocate for a maskless, or non-social distancing etc. society and expect others not to see that as an aggressive and dangerous potential invasion of one's immune system during a pandemic. Of course, if these same people were consistent and were against ALL government then I could understand their logic. That would be an extreme form of libertarian thought, but it would have its own consistent, beautiful logic.

I am not AT ALL optimistic about the decency and responsibility of my fellow chimps, but I am STILL a Libertarian (although I don't use the label) because I believe it is essentially wrong to use force and coercion to compel another free human.

None of this has to deal with libertarianism fundamentally. People have the right to be stupid.

Always had so much respect for Penn. Even if I’ve often thought a lot of his views were kind out there and crazy, it’s clear he came to to them through honest reasoning and principles he cares about and I’ve always deeply admired the way he treats and talks about other people.

An optimistic skeptic.

1:06 wants people to protect each other 1:35

Thank God