Why isn't Libertarianism more popular?

Question

It has the best of both sides why isn't it more popular?

Liberty>all

Anarcho-capitalists are the ones who want no tax at all. Libertarians want small taxation and a smaller government.

Answer 1

Good question. This country is over run with religious zealots for one thing. I think fear of fracturing too much and giving the other party an edge keeps them together. Of course, the two of them have also rigged the system to make the rise of a third party very difficult.

Answer 2

It doesn't sit in the middle. They believe in freedoms (unlike both the republican and democratic party). They believe that you can do anything you want as long as it doesn't impact anyone else. Democrats believe you can do anything you want as long as you vote democratic and the government can regulate what you do and if you make money doing it you have to give it to the worthless poor and it doesn't offend a minority group.
Republicans believe you can do anything you want as long as it doesn't go against their religious beliefs and their sense of moral values and as long as you vote republican.

Now for the question. Libertarianism is very popular, but the party has been taken over by the Legalize Marijuana crowd. No one is taking them seriously as a result.

The best thing the libertarians have right now is the Fair Tax, which is still a progressive tax, but it removes the ability for politicians to manipulate the tax structure. It has gained a great deal of headway with bills recently introduced in congress by John Linder.

Answer 3

the precedence with Libertarianism is it really is a significant shift from the way issues paintings now. in case you recognize something about Washington politics, you recognize issues flow slowly. you should convince 1000's of Congressmen and Senators to regulate their perspectives, and the only thanks to really try this, is to convince all their voters (in reality the completed us of a) that your way is extra ideal than the way issues are literally. i'm no longer confident of this. Libertarianism, as far because the Ron Paul imaginative and prescient is going, consists of eliminating the dep. of teaching, the Federal Reserve, returning us to the surest. there is no possibly way shall we try this only on the drop of a hat, it would take years of transition. So shop up the wrestle, if you're so particular that that unclear destiny will be extra ideal than how issues are run now. i'm no longer confident.

Answer 4

because the two mainstream political parties make it nearly impossible to get a 3rd party canadate elected or even put on a ballet. Neither are willing to openly debate a libertarian canadate for fear of lost votes. The media is totaly biased and almost as corrupt as the government, careing only for rateings. most people also care more about sports than politics never bothering to inform themselves on the political agenda, which is they way the government wants it
remember America is still young

Answer 5

It has ideas which seem to conflict for some people. Folks who like the idea of legalizing drugs, do not like the idea of the government getting rid of all public land (national forest), for instance. More conservative people who go for smaller government and less taxes, hate legal abortion, in general, and lots of people are very uptight about open borders.

Libertarianism is one of the most idealistic political ideologies. That means that one size does fit all. Very few people are really Libertarians, although many can get excited about a few of the ideas if they don't see the whole platform.

Answer 6

I think it could be but certain parts of the Republican Party have claimed to have libertarian leanings and policies while not grasping the idea of libertarianism at all. This has given libertarianism a bad name with the general public.

It's not all about deregulating business, giving tax breaks to billionaires and raping the environment, like the GOP would have you believe.

It's more about trusting people to make their own decisions, like about drugs, abortion, prostitution, gambling and censorship.

The day that you see Republicans TRULY in favor of individual liberty, you'll see libertarianism really take off.

Don't hold your breath.

Answer 7

Most people like the "leave me alone" part of libertarianism, but they still want to be able to force other people to give them stuff, do/don't do what they like/don't like, etc.: liberty and freedom from coercion for me but not for you.

The rewards of liberty are less concrete and immediate (with more freedom more people will have better paying jobs and things will cost less), while the rewards of government force are more immediate and easily recognized (the government taxes me to pay your salary, subsidize stuff you want, keep your neighbor from ingesting some drug that offends you, etc.).

Answer 8

Because people do not like change, even when they are miserable. We were raised with the belief that there are only two "real" parties and the rest are nutjobs and vote-splitters. I don't know what it will take for this country to actually change itself in the right direction. Could be that it simply won't.

Answer 9

kujigafi backed into the answer.

Like him, most people are sheep and need to be part of a flock so they can be led around.

They are afraid of being alone and so they fear people of independence.

It all stems from deep personal insecurity. They need to be around people who are just like them and who constantly reinforce their weak minds and personalities by telling them how cool they are and, more importantly, so they can share their hated of everyone better than them (and that is a very large group).

Answer 10

It has too many holes in it. No taxes means no public roads, no police, no military, no testing of food, drugs, or water, no public education. Plus for whatever reason, people like the war on drugs, they like prisons full of millions of people who never actually hurt anyone, they believe in laws that regulate behavior whether they are needed or not. Its just not realistic.