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It seems to me that most libertarians -- except maybe those who use a utilitarian basis for their system -- are a classic case of a group of thinkers that are taking certain ideas from our particular cultural tradition and elevating them into absolute and universal principles.

Most people around the world would find libertarianism totally implausible. It doesn't fit into their traditions at all. 

Can't you see what's happening here? Libertarians take certain traditional American political ideas, purify them, systematize them, claim that they have foundations in reason itself, and then try to apply them to the whole world. It's really classic. But it's a complete mistake.