how come more Americans are not Libertarians?

Answer 1

Because people were raised with Democrat and Republican. The two political parties have become more like religions than groups representing a common cause. People don't just change religions randomly, it takes something spectacular to shake the faith.

It really makes no sense because the Democrats and Republicans are moving futher and further left fractionalizing each party, but their supporters maintain their fealty even though the parties no longer represent what they did 20 years ago.

Answer 2

I would have too say that most Americans are not really told what which party really stands for what each party believes in ect.....the democrats say one thing and then do another the people see their talk and see it as nothing but lies..... The Republicans tend too stand for the right things but again they too get of track and stray from what they truly believe and the few that have the elite status in the Republican party push it into doing what they want.....the American people see this and being who most of them are they would rather fallow a party that stands for the right things even thought they don't always do the right things....rather then fallowing a party that says one thing does another and tends too preach a lie no matter how you look at it....

i think it would be a good idea if they came out with a third party

i like many things that the libertarians stand for i don't agree with it all but for the most part they have some very wise ideas.... i think the libertarian party has too get out in mass and let the people truly know what they stand for and what their issues are.....

Answer 3

Being libertarian leaning, I'd like to think its just the wasted vote issue, etc., and if that could be corrected, we'd enter a new libertarian age (well in my case, for Canada, but its the same idea).

Sadly, the reason is - most people aren't libertarians. Most people outside of urban areas are not social libertarians, and most people who've never taken an economics class are not economic libertarians.

I personally think one of those could be solved by required economics in high school. Frankly, its absurd that the average voter does not know how free markets operate, or what the impact of taxes, tariffs, quotas or rent control are, yet routinely are asked to make judgements about them.

Answer 4

The Libertarian party is only a United Statesian institution, it is now starting to gain acceptance in other parts of America but it is incipient at best. Most Americans have not been exposed to the concept of it.

As far as United Statesians, the vast majority of people don't know what they are, if they did they would realize that they are in fact libertarians instead of what they thought they were.

Answer 5

Big "L" or small "l"?

The first thing that people wince at on the libertarian platform is slash and burn government programs. Look at the 2006 federal budget, it is swollen with both defense and social services. Therefore, government because it has collected so much money is a huge employer. Most people don't bite the hand that feeds them. Could they get a job in the private sector? Yes. But that's a leap of faith alot of people don't want to take. The private sector requires you to acknowledge and accept risk. People hold tight to Uncle Sam and his money, even though Old Sam can no longer think critically.

Answer 6

I did actually register as a libertarian at one time, but I found that most Libertarian candidates were so wacko and unrealistic, that they just didn't fit.

But- on the surface- I like the basic philosophy of less government and less control. It's what the republican party used to stand for, before it was taken over by the religious right.

Answer 7

I wish I knew.
Unfortunately, I think it's a cyclical thing; people don't want to waste their time and money on a party that isn't more prevalent ... and which won't become more prevalent unless more people spend their time and money on it.

But yeah, you'd think that the business lobby would be all for decreased regulation, that the hippies would be all for decriminalization of drugs, and that most people would be for less gov't in general in our lives.
Most politicians - the conservatives, at least - will even claim to be libertarians at heart.

Answer 8

Biggest reason, in my humble opinion, is because of the drug legalization issue.

Second reason, too many people like to be pampered by the government and libertarians will not do that.

“Few men desire liberty. The majority are satisfied with a just master.”
-Gaius Sallustius Crispus

Answer 9

Because a Libertarian is simply a Republican who uses drugs.

Answer 10

I'm hopeful you're not representative of all of them??? I'd venture to say the Libertarians aren't so narrow minded as to blame all the ills of the world on libs & Dems.