I don’t know if Joss Whedon is of a libertarian mind, but several characters in his Firefly series tend to show some pretty libertarian bents in their conversation. Malcolm Reynolds (Mal) – the captain of Serenity – particularly has some great one-offs. Shepherd Book – a futuristic monk with a shady past – also makes some great observations about the government. Below are a few of the keenest.
(Note that the “Alliance” is the interplanetary government ruling over the solar system in which the Firefly series takes place.
(After telling the new passengers that Serenity needs to stop off at another planet to drop off medical supplies based on an Alliance order.)
Simon: So, does it happen a lot? Government commandeering your ship, telling you where to go?
Mal: That’s what governments are for. Get in a man’s way.
Mal: (after hearing about a particular incompetence by a group of Alliance soldiers) That sounds like the Alliance – unite all the planets under one rule, so that everyone can be interfered with or ignored equally.
(After coming upon a destitute ship.)
Book: Shouldn’t we report this?
Mal: To who? Alliance? Right, ’cause they’re gonna run \r\nright out here lickety-split, make sure these taxpayers are okay.
(After being captured by an Alliance vessel, attacked by a psyopath rescued from the derelict mentioned above, and then freed for helping to find and kill the man.)
Jayne: You save his gorram life and he still takes the cargo. Jerk. [Hwoon dahn.]
Mal: Had to. Couldn’t let us profit. Wouldn’t be civilized.
Book: A government is a body of people usually notably ungoverned.
Saffron: In the maiden’s home, I heard talk of men who weren’t pleased with their brides, who…
Mal: Well I ain’t them. And don’t you ever stand for that sort of thing. Someone tries to kill you, you try to kill ’em right back. Wife or no, you’re no one’s property to be tossed aside. You got the right same as anyone to live and to try to kill people. I mean, you know. People that are… That’s a dumb planet.
Anyway, that’s just a taste. The rest of the dialogue is usually just as witty and cynical, and much of it has no real political bent. Overall, it’s just a good show.
(Edited to add two additional quotes.)