A Theistic Libertarian Take on Immigration

2025-06-132025-06-13 Jason Mataafa Libertarian Ideas Leave a comment

A Theistic Libertarian Take on Immigration: Balancing Compassion and Responsibility

What does it mean to welcome the stranger in a world of limited resources? As Americans, we grapple with immigration daily—stories of families seeking a better life, border surges, and heated debates over policy. But how should we approach this issue if we believe every person is made in God’s image, endowed with dignity, yet also recognize the need for order and justice in society? As a theistic libertarian, I believe the answer lies in balancing compassion with responsibility, guided by natural law and limited government. Let’s explore this together, asking tough questions to uncover a path forward.

Why Should We Care About Immigration?

Scripture calls us to love the foreigner (Leviticus 19:34). If we take human dignity seriously, shouldn’t we open our doors to those fleeing persecution or poverty? But here’s the flip side: what happens when unchecked immigration strains communities, overwhelms public resources, or disrupts the rule of law? These aren’t just policies, they’re moral ones. Theistic libertarianism, rooted in thinkers like John Locke and C.S. Lewis, holds that every person has inalienable rights to life, liberty, and property, but freedom isn’t a free-for-all. It’s ordered toward virtue and the common good. So, how do we honor both the immigrant and the citizen?

The Welfare State: A Magnet or a Burden?

Let’s start with the welfare state. Programs like Medicaid, SNAP, and housing assistance are meant to help, but do they unintentionally skew immigration? Imagine you’re a migrant weighing your options. If a country offers free healthcare, food, or housing, might that tip the scales toward moving there, even if you’re not fleeing danger? Data backs this up: studies, like one from the Center for Immigration Studies, show welfare benefits can attract low-skilled migrants, straining budgets. In 2023, the U.S. spent over $150 billion on welfare for non-citizens, raising questions about sustainability.

As theistic libertarians, we see a problem here. Welfare, funded by taxpayers, often replaces voluntary charity, which Catholic social teaching (like Rerum Novarum) says should come from com- munities, not coercion. If we’re forcing citizens to foot the bill for unsustainable immigration, are we respecting their rights? And if welfare draws migrants who might not otherwise come, are we truly helping those in dire need? What if we scaled back public benefits for non-citizens and leaned on churches and charities instead? Wouldn’t that align better with stewardship and voluntary cooperation?

NGOs: Helpers or Enablers?

Now, let’s talk about NGOs. Groups like Catholic Charities or secular resettlement agencies do incredible work, helping migrants navigate legal systems or find homes. But have you ever wondered about their broader impact? Some NGOs, especially those flush with government grants, push for open borders or even facilitate illegal crossings. A 2024 report from the Heritage Foun- dation flagged certain NGOs for transporting migrants across borders, sometimes bypassing legal channels. If the rule of law is a cornerstone of a free society, as Lord Acton might argue, don’t these actions undermine the common good?

Here’s the Socratic twist: are NGOs always acting out of charity, or could some be driven by ideology or profit? Government-funded NGOs spent billions in 2024 on migration services, raising questions about accountability. As theistic libertarians, we champion voluntary aid—churches and communities stepping up—but we’re wary of groups that might destabilize society or skirt laws. Shouldn’t NGOs be transparent, especially if they’re using taxpayer money? And shouldn’t their work support, not subvert, a nation’s right to secure its borders?

A Path Forward: Compassion with Guardrails

So, where does this leave us? If we value human dignity, secure borders, and limited government, what’s the answer? Let’s reason through some ideas:

Secure Borders, humanely: Governments exist to protect citizens’ rights, including through border control. But enforcement doesn’t mean cruelty. Can we streamline legal pathways for true asylum seekers, those fleeing persecution, while cracking down on illegal entry? This respects both the migrant’s dignity and the citizen’s security.
Rethink Welfare: If welfare draws economic migrants, why not limit non-citizen access to benefits? This isn’t about closing doors but ensuring charity is sustainable. Could churches, nonprofits, and communities take the lead, as they did before the welfare state ballooned? This aligns with subsidiarity—local solutions over centralized mandates.
Hold NGOs Accountable: NGOs can be a force for good, but they need oversight. Shouldn’t those be receiving public funds answer for their actions? If they’re encouraging illegal immigration or pushing ideological agendas, are they serving the common good? Transparency ensures charity doesn’t become chaos.
Merit-Based Immigration: What if we prioritized immigrants who bring skills, work ethic, or a commitment to integrate? This isn’t elitism, it’s stewardship. A system that rewards contribution encourages mutual responsibility, benefiting both newcomers and citizens.

These ideas aim to balance compassion with order. They reflect the theistic libertarian belief that freedom thrives when rooted in moral law, not secular relativism or coercive collectivism.

Why This Matters

Immigration isn’t just a policy debate; it’s a test of our values. Do we believe every person has God- given worth? Then we must welcome those in need. Do we believe in justice and stewardship? Then we must protect the common good, ensuring our generosity doesn’t bankrupt communities or erode the rule of law. The welfare state and unchecked NGO influence complicate this balance, but they don’t have to define it.

As theistic libertarians, we’re called to think critically, guided by truth and natural law. What if we reformed welfare to empower private charity? What if we secured borders while streamlining legal migration? What if we held NGOs to the same moral standard we expect of ourselves? These questions point us toward a system that honors both the stranger and the citizen, fostering a society where freedom and virtue coexist.

In the end, immigration challenges us to live out our principles. Can we love the foreigner without losing sight of justice? Can we be compassionate without being reckless? I believe we can, if we ground our policies in God’s law, human dignity, and ordered liberty. What do you think?

Jason Mataafa is a theistic libertarian writer and serves as Treasurer for the Libertarian Party of the Maine. The views expressed are his own and do not necessarily represent those of the Libertarian Party of Maine.

A Broken System That Silences the People of Maine

2025-03-202025-03-21 LPME Staff Maine House, Maine Politics, Maine Senate 1 Comment

Concept Drafts: A Broken System That Silences the Public

In Maine’s legislative process, there exists a little-known but deeply troubling practice: concept drafts. These vague, often incomplete bills are introduced with only a title and a general idea of what the bill aims to address, but no actual legal language. This means the public has no clear understanding of what the bill would actually do until the last minute—if at all.

What Are Concept Drafts?

Concept drafts are placeholders for bills that lack specific legislative text. This means that a bill could ultimately serve the interests of large corporations or special interest groups, rather than the public, without anyone realizing until it’s too late. They often carry titles that sound harmless or even positive but provide no details on the actual policy changes being proposed. For example, a bill titled “An Act Concerning Public Safety” might simply state that it seeks to amend laws related to emergency response procedures in Maine. However, without real legal language, it is impossible for the public—or even other lawmakers—to determine the bill’s true impact.

This vagueness is more than just an inconvenience—it shields lawmakers from public scrutiny. The lack of detailed bill language means concerned citizens, business owners, and advocacy groups have nothing concrete to analyze or respond to before the public hearing. This is a fundamental failure of transparency.

Why Should You Be Outraged?

The problem has escalated in recent years, with over 200 concept drafts introduced in the last legislative session alone. This surge has made it even more difficult for the public to participate, leaving advocates increasingly frustrated as they are consistently shut out of the process, unable to review critical legislation or mobilize support in time. Many have voiced concerns that concept drafts allow lawmakers to push through controversial policies without proper scrutiny or public input.

At first glance, concept drafts may seem like an administrative tool to introduce ideas before fleshing out the details. In reality, they have become a nefarious tactic to sideline public input and fast-track legislation with minimal pushback. Here’s why this matters:

🔴 No Public Review – The full text of the bill is often revealed only hours before the public hearing, and is only available in printed form to those physically present 30 minutes prior to the hearing. This gives everyday citizens no real opportunity to read, analyze, or prepare testimony on the actual contents of the bill. Additionally, it prevents advocates from notifying their followers and mobilizing public response in time to influence the hearing.

🔴 Advantage for Special Interests – While the public remains in the dark, lobbyists and political insiders often get access to draft language early, allowing them to shape legislation behind closed doors.

🔴 Rushed Lawmaking – Even lawmakers themselves have very little time to properly read and debate the bill before having to vote on it.

🔴 Minimal Accountability – Because the bill language is hidden until the last minute, lawmakers can introduce controversial policies without early public backlash. By the time people realize what’s in the bill, it’s often too late to stop it.

Attempts to Fix the Problem

A new bill is expected to be introduced this session that will once again aim to eliminate concept drafts entirely. Recognizing the serious transparency issues with concept drafts, some legislators have attempted to reform the system. Sen. Bennett proposed changes to legislative rules that would have eliminated concept drafts entirely, forcing all bills to include actual legal language from the outset. Unfortunately, these reforms were rejected along party lines, allowing the broken system to continue.

A minor change was made requiring concept drafts to include an internet link where the full bill text can be accessed, but this does little to fix the core issue. When bill text is withheld until just hours before a public hearing, meaningful public participation becomes impossible, leaving citizens shut out of the legislative process.

The Bottom Line: Transparency Is Non-Negotiable

The fundamental duty of lawmakers is to write and pass laws that serve the public interest. But when those laws are crafted behind closed doors and revealed only at the last minute, how can the public trust the process? No lawmaker should be allowed to hide behind vague bill titles and ambiguous intentions.

If you believe in open government and public accountability, demand an end to concept drafts. Stay tuned for updates on the upcoming bill and how you can take action to support real transparency. No more secret laws. No more last-minute surprises. It’s time for full transparency in the legislative process.

Falling in Love With Small Government: A Quick Resource Guide

2024-02-152025-03-21 Harrison Kemp Libertarian Ideas

In a world dominated by ever-expanding governments and increasing intervention in our lives, the philosophy of small government has found renewed interest among Mainers. We argue that limiting the power of the state is essential for individual freedom, economic prosperity, and a more just society. To delve deeper into the principles of small government, here’s a curated list of books, essays, podcasts, and videos from a diverse range of thinkers in the libertarian tradition.

Books:

“Nullification” by Thomas E. Woods

As New York Times bestselling author Thomas E. Woods, Jr. explains, nullification allows states to reject unconstitutional federal laws. For many tea partiers nationwide, nullification is rapidly becoming the only way to stop an overreaching government drunk on power. From privacy to national healthcare, Woods shows how this growing and popular movement is sweeping across America and empowering states to take action against Obama’s socialist policies and big-government agenda.

“Enough Already: Time to End the War in Afghanistan” by Scott Horton

“In Fool’s Errand, Scott Horton masterfully explains the tragedy of America’s longest war and makes the case for immediate withdrawal. I highly recommend this excellent book on America’s futile and self-defeating occupation of Afghanistan.” – Daniel Ellsberg, Pentagon Papers whistleblower and author of Secrets: A Memoir of Vietnam and the Pentagon Papers.

“Planning for Freedom” by Ludwig Von Mises

The seventeen essays in Planning for Freedom: Let the Market System Work are tied together by one overarching idea, best expressed by Mises in the capstone essay “Profit and Loss.” The essays in the final section of the book summarize Mises’s contributions to economic thought and emphasize his firm belief in the power of ideas.

“An Agorist Primer” by Samuel Edward Konkin III

In the new paperback edition of AN AGORIST PRIMER, Samuel Edward Konkin III — the creator and premier activist and theoretician of Agorism — introduces the most powerful means to free yourself, protect and increase your wealth, and liberate the whole of human society in the process! Agorism is applied Counter-Economics — the philosophy of engaging in free-market activities in defiance of government control. An evolution of libertarianism, Agorism embraces all non-coercive human action and opposes all force- or fraud-based attempts to stifle innovation, trade, thought, and wealth.

“Anatomy of the State” by Murray Rothbard

Murray Rothbard was known as the state’s greatest living enemy, and this book is his most powerful statement on the topic. He explains what a state is and what it is not. He shows how it is an institution that violates all that we hold as honest and moral, and how it operates under a false cover. He shows how the state wrecks freedom, destroys civilization, and threatens all lives and property and social well being, all under the veneer of “good intentions.”

“What Social Animals Owe Each Other” by Sheldon Richman

These essays, written over the past 20 years, have a single underlying theme: namely, that we human beings, as social animals, need individual freedom to fully flourish. The equation is simple: individual freedom = social cooperation = individual and social flourishing. Many corollaries follow. To pick one, the freedom to choose with whom we will cooperate entails competition among those who wish to cooperate with any given individual. So the imagined conflict between cooperation and competition is a misjudgment. They are two sides of the same coin.

“Choice: Cooperation, Enterprise, and Human Action” by Robert P. Murphy

Unlike what usually passes for economics in many classrooms, government, the media and elsewhere, Choice is an engaging and intriguing book that provides something quite unique: a genuine treatise on economics that both instructs and entertains both economists and general readers. Drawing on the seminal volume by the “Austrian School” economist Ludwig von Mises, Human Action, and comparing classical and neoclassical approaches, Choice is a creative, comprehensive, and unusually lucid book on economic science and market processes.

“Defending the Undefendable” by Walter Block

It is among the most famous of the great defenses of victimless crimes and controversial economic practices, from profiteering and gouging to bribery and blackmail. However, beneath the surface, this book is also an outstanding work of microeconomic theory that explains the workings of economic forces in everyday events and affairs.Murray Rothbard explains why:”Defending the Undefendable performs the service of highlighting, the fullest and starkest terms, the essential nature of the productive services performed by all people in the free market.

“The Road to Serfdom” by F.A. Hayek

An unimpeachable classic work in political philosophy, intellectual and cultural history, and economics, The Road to Serfdom has inspired and infuriated politicians, scholars, and general readers for half a century. Originally published in 1944—when Eleanor Roosevelt supported the efforts of Stalin, and Albert Einstein subscribed lock, stock, and barrel to the socialist program—The Road to Serfdom was seen as heretical for its passionate warning against the dangers of state control over the means of production. For F. A. Hayek, the collectivist idea of empowering government with increasing economic control would lead not to a utopia but to the horrors of Nazi Germany and Fascist Italy.

“The Law” by Frederic Bastiat

Frederic Bastiat (1801-1850) was a French economist, statesman and author. He did most of his writing during the years just before and just following the Revolution of February 1848 in France. This was the period during which France was turning to Socialism. The explanations and arguments then advanced against socialism by Mr. Bastiat were equally relevant for many Americans in the 1950s.

Podcasts:

Part of the Problem with Dave Smith

Dave Smith expounds upon current events, our government, foreign policy, and all things Libertarian. He is part of the new generation of pundits. He’ll educate you and open your eyes to the possibility of a truly free nation.

The Bob Murphy Show
The podcast promoting free markets, free minds, and grateful souls.

Mises Wire

Audio recordings of Mises Wire articles, offering contemporary news and opinion through the lens of Austrian economics and libertarian political economy.

The Brian Nichols Show

Instead of focusing on winning arguments, we’re teaching the basic fundamentals of sales and marketing and how we can use them to WIN in both the worlds of business and politics; teaching you how to meet people where they’re at on the issues they care about.

Lions of Liberty

The greatest OG libertarian/anarchist podcast network in the world. On Monday, John Odermatt delivers a powerful mix of inspiration, health and faith to set your mind, body and soul free with Finding Freedom, and every Wednesday Brian McWilliams will make you laugh at our broken world while providing the promise of a better future with Mean Age Daydream.

The Scott Horton Show

Join the hero of the anti-war movement for over 6,000 interviews! This show will give you intellectual ammo needed to stop the war machine.

Ron Paul Liberty Report

The Liberty Report brings provocative opinion and analysis to the breaking issues affecting our lives and finances. It is live-cast on YouTube at 12pm ET (US) and is co-hosted by Daniel McAdams, who is the Executive Director of The Ron Paul Institute for Peace and Prosperity.

Contra Krugman

Contra Krugman eviscerates the work of economist Paul Krugman.

The Soho Forum Debate Series

The Soho Forum is a monthly debate series held in Soho/Noho, Manhattan. A project of the Reason Foundation, the series features topics of special interest to libertarians and aims to enhance social and professional ties within the NYC libertarian community.

For live events- https://www.thesohoforum.org/

Videos:

The Libertarian Speech I Would Deliver to the Whole Country – Tom Woods
Life and Property – Ludwig Von Mises
Who is Ready to Fight for Freedom? – Spike Cohen
Free to Choose Documentary – Milton Friedman
Economics 101, Lecture Series – Murray Rothbard

This quick resource guide serves as a roadmap for those seeking a deeper understanding of the small government philosophy. Whether through the written word, engaging podcasts, or insightful videos, these materials provide a diverse and thought-provoking exploration of the principles that underpin the call for limited government and increased individual liberty.