The Astronaut Libertarian?
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The Astronaut Libertarian? BY RAYMOND J. KEATING he Astronaut Farmer ranks as an unmistakably dren. The government threatens to take their kids. libertarian family film. The plot might have a So, in this libertarian movie, we see, as one would T few holes, but the movie raises some fascinat- expect, government ineptitude and abuse of power. ing points and questions about individuals pursuing As for Farmer, he makes the case for his homegrown their dreams, limits on personal actions, and the role of space effort before a government panel in amusing and government. stirring fashion befitting a Hollywood movie. He talks The movie hit theaters in February and was sched- of the ills of having too many laws telling people what uled for DVD release in July. It stars Billy Bob Thornton to do and says he was taught in his youth that we could as Charles Farmer, a former astronaut who is continuing do anything. Farmer still believes that. to follow his dream of reaching outer space by building At one point this astronaut wannabe-again notes:“If a rocket in his barn on a ranch in we don’t have our dreams, we have Texas. Farmer has the support of his nothing.” wife and kids in this quixotic pursuit, The individual That’s the message Farmer com- even though it places the family on the pursuing his dream municates to his family. It often will brink of bankruptcy and subjects them not be easy, but stay true to your to ridicule in their community. triumphs in the beliefs and dreams. For good measure, the government face of adversity One of the film’s producers, Paula shows up when Farmer starts looking Weinstein, put it this way: “What’s around for the 10,000 pounds of high- and government most important is that Farmer does grade fuel needed to launch him into interference. And everything he can to succeed. Then, orbit. even if he doesn’t, he can still live The filmmakers have some fun at we can all stand up with himself. That’s something he the expense of the FAA and FBI. feels is vitally important to show his Bureaucrats are portrayed as buffoons and cheer. children. It’s what America is founded protecting their turf. In their view the on, and it’s the message of this movie: only right, safe way to space is via the government. if you do your best, if you dream high enough and let Besides, if civilians could do it, the government would nothing stop you from climbing all the way to the top look pretty dumb spending all those billions of taxpayer of your particular mountain, then, even if it doesn’t dollars. (Of course, it is interesting to point out that in work out, you are still fulfilled as a human being for real life we have recently seen the birth and expansion having done your absolute best.” of private-sector efforts to journey into space.) The government’s actions turn particularly nefarious Contributing editor Raymond J. Keating ([email protected]) is chief when a child protective services worker warns Farmer’s economist for the Small Business & Entrepreneurship Council and a wife that her husband is brainwashing her and the chil- columnist with Newsday. 31 JULY/AUGUST 2007 Raymond J. Keating Another producer, Len Amato, added: “As a story While the government in this film is portrayed as about overcoming obstacles, it can apply to any accom- inept, intrusive, and abusive (and that usually is quite plishment where there’s always a certain amount of justified), doesn’t government have some limited role to doubt and a chorus of naysayers—people who call you play regarding the safety of others, even if that means crazy because they don’t understand—you have to push perhaps restraining the dreams of a guy with a rocket in through with your own vision to make something his barn who wants to go to outer space? where there was nothing before.” In my view, the libertarian must answer this in the In The Astronaut Farmer, the government unmistak- affirmative. Let’s consider what David Boaz wrote in a ably is the major obstacle to such freedom and fulfill- Cato Institute essay excerpted from his book Libertar- ment. ianism:A Primer about the rule of law:“Libertarianism With this kind of film, one expects a is not libertinism or hedonism. It is feel-good ending, and that’s exactly not a claim that ‘people can do any- what is delivered. The individual pur- The Astronaut Farmer, thing they want to, and nobody else suing his dream triumphs in the face of while perhaps a bit can say anything.’ Rather, libertari- adversity and government interference. anism proposes a society of liberty And we can all stand up and cheer. cartoonish in some of under law, in which individuals are But it is worth pausing a moment as its characters, is not free to pursue their own lives so the credits roll. There is a scene that long as they respect the equal rights raises the possibility that government so when it comes to of others. The rule of law means might have a legitimate, limited role to raising an issue with that individuals are governed by play here, even from a libertarian per- generally applicable and sponta- spective. which libertarians neously developed legal rules, not Farmer experiences a failed launch. by arbitrary commands; and that But this wasn’t merely an abort of the have to wrestle. those rules should protect the free- mission. Instead, the engines fire and dom of individuals to pursue happi- the rocket fails to get far off the ground, tips over and ness in their own ways, not aim at any particular result crashes. Part of the rocket, with Farmer inside, then or outcome.” streaks across the community, smashing through a bill- The Astronaut Farmer, while perhaps a bit cartoonish board that says “Space Available.” in some of its characters, is not so when it comes to rais- No one gets hurt except for Farmer himself. But the ing an issue with which libertarians have to wrestle. idea of an out-of-control rocket careening across the Where is the line drawn between one person’s pursuit countryside does raise some issues about government’s of happiness and where that pursuit might infringe role in protecting people and property. another’s rights? THE FREEMAN: Ideas on Liberty 32.