An ideology without a concrete, programmatic plan for how to realize its objectives is merely rhetoric, or fantasy, or perhaps even sophistry. It’s only when you spell out the social, economic and political implications of your vision that you allow its merits, and practicality (and political viability) to be tested in the real world. Marxism was extremely vague and permitted the likes of Lenin, Stalin, and Mao to fashion their own political agendas. Modern libertarianism, likewise, comes in a bewildering array of sometimes contradictory views. Some libertarians seem to take a piecemeal approach (in this country at least), focusing on such specific political issues as legalizing marijuana, gay/lesbian/transgender rights, Obamacare, etc.
