I'm a conservative that grew up in northern Virginia. I'm a registered Republican but believe the party has lost a lot of its backbone by failing to pass Social Security reform, immigration reform, to make the national language English, and by reaching out to minorities not on the party platform, but by subtly pandering to race (Bush speaks Spanish to Latino crowds; Congressional Republicans point to Condi Rice and Colin Powell as examples of high-ranking blacks in the administration, something that goes against the color-blind, best-man-for-the-job platform Republicans are supposed to stand for).
Libertarians never win elections, yet they hold true to their beliefs--beliefs which are pretty much in lock-step with conservative principals (save for legalizing drugs).
Plus, they seem to have a lot of common sense (ever watch John Stossel?). I feel as if my party should stand for something without compromise. Is the Libertarian Party the answer?
Thanks!
2006-08-09 14:45:39 · 10 answers · asked by Max Power 1 in Politics & Government ➔ Politics
I have voted Libertarian in the past, especially when they are at the local level. I was raised as a Democrat, but I am not in step with them on many economic issues (where I would tend to be more in step with Conservatives).
To me one does not have to give up civil liberties to have economic liberties and vice versa.
I would caution you that if you find you are socially, as well as economically conservative, the Libertarian party is probably not for you. We tend to be anti-government in personal affairs so that often makes us defacto pro-choice, pro-gay etc. Not because individual Libertarians believe abortion or life style choices may be "right", but because we think it is "wrong" for government to dictate these choices.
Of late though I have found that traditional libertarians (little l) have been displaced in the party by so-called "anarcho-capitalists", or anarchists who call for a ban on all government. I find this world view at odds with a "minimal-government approach" that I believe the party really stood for.
A good way to get introduced to the nuts and bolts Libertarian party is below.
2006-08-09 15:02:14 · answer #1 · answered by DrSean 4 · 1⤊ 1⤋
That is up to you, I am a Libertarian and even though they may not win any major elections in the near future when enough people get fed up with both parties and stop thinking they are wasting their vote (you can not waste a vote) we may have a chance. I would suggest going to these websites to find out more about the Libertarian Party.
2006-08-13 08:38:24 · answer #2 · answered by Christopher W 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Yes, because I think that if enough people join the Libertarian party and leave one of the major political parties, then Libertarians WILL win elections!
2006-08-12 11:57:06 · answer #3 · answered by Blue Rose Thorn 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
For the record, I do not affiliate myself with any particular party because none of them fully represent my own political ideals and I cannot honestly align with any of them. However, Libertarian ideology is just not solid. They are very skilled at coming off as a common sense party but in reality they are far from it. Their economic policies are especially troubling - they believe in laissez-faire to the maximum possible - so if we all ended up as sweat shop workers, as long as the market dictated this scenario, then it is perfectly acceptable and government should not interfere. of course, if the Libertarians espousing these ideas wound up as sweat shop laborers I bet they would beg for unions by the end of their first week.
2006-08-09 15:26:33 · answer #4 · answered by jenms1277 2 · 0⤊ 3⤋
Libertarians have some surface appeal -- quite a bit, actually. Unfortunately, there's baggage too: anarchy, for one - the idea that no government is needed, which really means the first powerful mob takes over. On matters of defense, it's likely that somebody nuking us wouldn't be enough to trigger us retaliating with force.
We need a Capitalist party, but don't hold your breath.
BTW, John Stossel is fantastic!
2006-08-09 14:52:26 · answer #5 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 4⤋
If you want to fight giants you may:
Tilt at windmills with the Libertarians or
Put a stone in your sling with the Rs.
2006-08-09 15:17:28 · answer #6 · answered by SPLATT 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I am a Libertarian, and a lot of people on here hate me. but if you consider yourself more of a Regan Conservative, than a "neocon", come on over.
2006-08-09 15:10:59 · answer #7 · answered by Phil My Crack In 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋
yes
2006-08-09 14:48:52 · answer #8 · answered by Anry 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋
libertarianism sounds good on paper but if you actually check thier website and read some of thier policies you will see they are lunatics.
2006-08-09 14:54:21 · answer #9 · answered by abcdefghijk 4 · 0⤊ 3⤋
I think you answered your own question.
2006-08-09 14:52:17 · answer #10 · answered by beren 7 · 0⤊ 0⤋