Whats your view on Libertarianism ?

Question

I see it as a moderate line between Conservatives(Socially Chalenged) and Liberals(Economicaly chalenged) .

Agree/Disagree and why ?

Answer 1

Libertarians favor liberty - that is freedom to do what we want to the extent that it does not interfere with the same right for other people. This is actually an extremely important point and one that is often overlooked in discussions. Libertarians oppose taxes, drug laws, sex laws and various other impositions on individual freedom. They favor the absolute minimum of govern-ment intervention in people's personal lives. They recognize that Government is necessary, for example to deal with other countries (foreign policy), but they do not believe that the government should be able to say, "You can't smoke pot or have sex with people of the same gender." Those are decisions best left to the individual and basically are none of the govern-ment's business in the view of Libertarian political philosophy. Would such a government actually work? Hard to say. Read below for more info on this fascinating subject or follow some of the links in the source box.

Several prominent Libertarians have written books, including:
1. David Boaz, "Libertarianism: A Primer"
2. Charles Murray, "In Pursuit: Of Happiness and Good Government"
3. Charles Murray, "What it Means to be a Libertarian"

For further reading, I'd also recommend:
1. John Rawls, "A Theory of Justice" (very difficult!)
2. Robert Nozick, "Anarchy, State and Utopia"

On issues of personal liberty, libertarians may sound like liberals. On economic issues, libertarians may sound like conservatives. Which are they? Or -- are they something else entirely?

Actually, the reason libertarians sound like people of other positions is that many of those other positions sound like libertarians! For example, conservatives have a tendency to be libertarian on economic issues, and liberals have a tendency to be libertarian on issues of personal liberty. In fact, virtually everyone is libertarian on some issues. You might say libertarianism is the common denominator!

Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate Harry Browne put it this way: "I don't agree with the idea that a libertarian is some-one who is fiscally conservative and socially liberal. It is a mistake to define libertarians in terms of conservatives or liberals. Conservative politicians are as fiscally imprudent as liberals, and liberal politicians are as contemptuous of individual rights as conservatives.

"Libertarians stand for individual liberty and personal responsibility on all issues at all times. Conservatives and liberals each sometimes take positions similar to libertarians, but -- unlike libertarians -- there is no consistent principle running through all their political positions. "

Liberals favor government action to promote equality, whereas conservatives favor government action to promote order. Libertarians favor freedom and oppose government action to promote either equality or order.

Libertarianism, political philosophy emphasizing the rights of the individual. The doctrine of libertarianism stresses the right to self-ownership and, by extension, the right to private ownership of material resources and property. Advocates oppose any form of taxation and favor a laissez-faire economic system.

While libertarians are a diverse group of people with many philosophical starting points, they share a defining belief: that everyone should be free to do as they choose, so long as they don't infringe upon the equal freedom of others.

Libertarianism is the view that each person has the right to live his life in any way he chooses so long as he respects the equal rights of others. Libertarians defend each person's right to life, liberty, and property-rights that people have naturally, before governments are created. In the libertarian view, all human relationships should be voluntary; the only actions that should be forbidden by law are those that involve the initiation of force against those who have not themselves used force-actions like murder, rape, robbery, kidnapping, and fraud.
David Boaz

Libertarianism is often thought of as “right-wing” doctrine. This, however, is mistaken for at least two reasons. First, on social—rather than economic—issues, libertarianism tends to be “left-wing”. It opposes laws that restrict consensual and private sexual relationships between adults (e.g., gay sex, non-marital sex, and deviant sex), laws that restrict drug use, laws that impose religious views or practices on individuals, and compulsory military service. Second, in addition to the better-known version of libertarianism—right-libertarianism—there is also a version known as “left-libertarianism”. Both endorse full self-ownership, but they differ with respect to the powers agents have to appropriate unappropriated natural resources (land, air, water, etc.). Right-libertarianism holds that typically such resources may be appropriated by the first person who discovers them, mixes her labor with them, or merely claims them—without the consent of others, and with little or no payment to them. Left-libertarianism, by contrast, holds that unappropriated natural resources belong to everyone in some egalitarian manner. It can, for example, require those who claim rights over natural resources to make a payment to others for the value of those rights. This can provide the basis for a kind of egalitarian redistribution.

Answer 2

I haven't heard that term put that way before but I would say I agree with you. Too much right wing or left wing is bad. They don't have open minds and don't like change. Thats what we need, CHANGE! The Conservatives and Liberals fight so much with each other they don't get anything accomplished. If they were tweeners then maybe they could come to some agreements on things.

Answer 3

Real Libertarians despise Liberalism. They are complete opposites.
The Libertarian Party is a Real Conservative political party.
The problem with it is that it can't win much, pulls votes away from Republicans, and that causes the commie Democrats to win.
Third parties don't work.

Answer 4

If it weren't for the legalized drug thing, I would have switched parties years ago. I have also met many others that like their platform, but won't switch because they are afraid to look soft on the drug issue.

I think this is the biggest stumbling block of the party.

Answer 5

I disagree with any group that establishes labels and rules to govern overall belief systems.

Beliefs should be dynamic, changing and flowing as new information is presented. Open to change and unencumbered by dogma and tradition.

Answer 6

I tend to follow the Libertarian POV. The problem is that the US Libertarian party seems to be full of nut cases.

Answer 7

The number one reason they're not elected more often is because of their stance on drugs. Although I'm not a big proponent or opponent of illegal drugs, the majority of Americans see drugs as a major problem and would not want to see them legalized (i.e. meth, ice, crack, etc.)

Answer 8

They never can win in an election.I would vote Libertarian more if I thought that they could win.

Answer 9

We are definitely more Conservative than Liberal! I'm not liberal at all.