A libertarian Minneapolis?

Would the Minneapolis rebellion happen in a libertarian world? No, it would not. Rebellions take place when the people and government part ways. It happens when a ‘gap’ forms between government and the governed. It happens when enough people actively oppose their government to threaten peace and order. Such a political conflict is reminiscent of Shays' Rebellion or even our Civil War.

In Minneapolis there is a growing gap over federal immigration law. The city declared itself a ‘sanctuary city’. This means that all immigrants are welcome in that city even though such immigrants are breaking federal laws by being in the country. The city ignores Congress which enacted that law and also agressively resists the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) police infrastructure created to enforce that law. Why enact laws that are not enforced?

In a libertarian world Congress would not enact immigration laws. This means there would be no political ‘gap’ separating the people in Minneapolis and Congress. The peace would not be disturbed and there would be no need to fund ICE ($80 billion budget). Neither would a libertarian world have federal welfare laws that illegal immigrants can exploit ($150 billion cost). Instead of fighting ICE the people of Minneapolis can integrate immigrants into their community with no federal interference and accept all costs (infrastructure, welfare, crime) and benefits these immigrants accrue.

In a libertarian world Congress has limited power. The US Constitution does not ban, mandate or limit people. It limits Congress. In a libertarian world the people in Minneapolis are allowed to make their own choices. They must also accept the consequences. They can't expect their 'sanctuary city' values to be accepted or funded from outside their city, thus causing still another political gap.

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