what is a libertarian and what do they believe in?

Question

are they liberals or conservative?

Answer 1

liberal in the sense that we don't want government interfering in people's lives...we feel that the government has no place legislating people...we believe in freedom from imposing laws on people's bodies, religions, etc...that means we believe that abortion should be kept safe and legal, drugs shouldn't be illegal (however driving cars, etc...under the influence should be illegal) We believe in personal accountability, and everyone as free and equal in the eyes of the law.
conservative in the sense that we don't believe in government interfering monetarily in people's lives...loose restrictions and controls on corporations, very little tax, in the form of USE, and not property or income.

I, as a libertarian, have had to vote democratic in elections, as my personal freedoms mean more to me than my money. Some day, I hope to be able to keep BOTH.

Answer 2

Despite ideogenetic's humorous statement, he could not be farther from the truth.

Yes, Libertarians support total individual liberty and economic freedom. However, we believe in a return to the rightful governance for the people, the Constitution. We are against social programs such as welfare and public housing, and dismantling everything that the Federal Government created that usurps the 10th Amendment. Social programs should be run the way they were originally, by charitable organizations.

We believe in dramatically reducing taxes, divorcing government from business which has lead to the current corruption and permeation of the government in your life. We believe in total personal freedom. You can do anything you want as long doing so does not abridge the rights of others.

Just to comment on ideogenetic's fire department statement, the Constitution clearly states Government's role is to ensure domestic tranquility which includes a police force and fire department. All of the original colonies had fire brigades, and local law enforcement was general done by the militia.

It is funny hichefheidi said she feels she has to vote Democrat in elections to keep her personal freedoms instead of her money, and hopes for the day she can keep both. I feel the exact same way except; however, I find I have to vote for Republicans. Even though the Republicans are bad, I feel the Democrats are worse.

To continue ideogenetic's Fire Department example. Here's what a Democratic Fire Department would be:

Democratic Fire Department:

Dear Citizen,

Last month, you may have noticed that our fire trucks where on the road quite a bit. In fact, the large number of times caused us firefighters to exceed our two hour workday as mandated by our contracts; therefore, we are now required to raise taxes by 20% to pay for additional firefighters and equipment. A 20% increase may seem high; however, as you know we must award the equipment supply contract to the Fire Chief's brother-in-law's company, who charges significantly more than other equipment supply venders. However, his company makes significant contributions to the Chief's re-election campaign.

Government of the people, by the people, for the profit of your Democratic elected peoples' family members.

Sincerely,


The Democratic Fire Department


Citizen: I did not vote for this, what gives you the right to do this?

DFD: You did, when you allows us to usurp the Constitution; and didn't even put up a fight!

Answer 3

There are both right-wing and left-wing Libertarians. In the USA Generally, both right and left wing libertarians believe the highest political value is individual liberty and that the chief enemy of individual liberty is government power. Where they differ (this is my personal view) is that left wing libertarians believe that economic inequality is perhaps second only to government power as a threat to individual liberty and they are willing to support more government interference in people's economic lives to limit the power of large economic interests and assure greater economic equality; sometimes even to the point of supporting laws that explicity re-distribute economic wealth. In general "right wing" Libertarians would eschew all government redstributionary legislation and and reduce government regulation of private economic life as much as possible. In general they believe the free market will work in the best interests of everybody in the long run even though there may be temporary economic inequality and that the economic rights of, say Exxon-Mobile Oil company, are as deserving of economic protection as the rights of the corner grocer or a factory worker. These are extremey general statements and there is a whole continuum of variation among political & economic Libertarians. I have not even mentioned various views on the relationship of the state and religion; legal protections of those accused of crimes; and external defense, on all of which Libertarians differ with each other. In fact there are probably as many different kinds of Libertarian beliefs as there are Libertarians.

Answer 4

Libertarians are what use to be Classic Liberals. They nowadays kind of, sort of, support the Republicans.

Here is what Libertarians believe--
Small Government- the Federal Govt should only be as large as necessary to protect the American people, and keep up the infrastructure (roads, bridges, etc). This is why Libertarians usually back Republicans because they are supposed to want small Govt. whereas most modern Democrats/Liberals are really Socialists and want Govt. to be large in order to cure all of mankind's problems.

Personal Responsibility-- the Govt should NOT take money from one person to give to another. No welfare, no unemployment, no healthcare, no disaster relief, NO GOVT HANDOUTS of ANY kind. Americans are the most generous people on the planet. If someone needs temporary help a charity probably will be organized to help or individual Americans will.
-You can not mandate away or outlaw stupidity. If someone wants to take narcotics, overeat, smoke, drink, and not wear a seatbelt or a motorcycle helmet that is their business. Of course if they take a bad decision, they will have to live with the consequences, we should not have to rescue them from their stupidity.

Libertarians believe that you should have the right to do anything with your life that you choose up to the point that your actions infringe on my or someone else’s rights. As in you have the right to be a drug addict if you want, but if you have to commit crimes to support your habit, or your behavior places someone else in danger you lose your rights.

I consider myself a Libertarian, but I do not agree on their stance of Open Borders. I think we should control ours... Most of the extreme Libertarians want there to be no borders.

Answer 5

Libertarianism is a political philosophy advocating that individuals should be free to do whatever they wish with their person or property, as long as they do not infringe on the same liberty of others. Libertarians hold as a fundamental maxim that all human interaction should be voluntary and consensual. They maintain that the initiation (or threat) of physical force against another person or his property, or the commission of fraud, is a violation of that principle. Some libertarians regard all initiation of force as immoral, whereas others support a limited government that engages in the minimum amount of initiatory force (such as minimal taxation and regulation) that they believe necessary to ensure maximum individual freedom. Force is not opposed when used in retaliation for initiatory aggressions such as trespassing or violence. Libertarians favor an ethic of self-responsibility and strongly oppose the welfare state, because they believe forcing someone to provide aid to others is ethically wrong, ultimately counter-productive, or both.

Note on terminology: Some writers who have been called libertarians have also been referred to as classical liberals, by others or themselves. And, some use the phrase "the freedom philosophy" to refer to libertarianism, classical liberalism, or both.

Answer 6

Laissez-faire economics (conservative economics which died in the Great Depression) but socially liberal (legalize drugs, etc).

I like to demonstrate how libertarian economics will function via the Libertarian Fire Department.

LFD: Libertarian Fire Dept. What is your emergency?

You: My house is burining down and I need assistance. My children are trapped upstairs and the flames are blocking their egress. Help!!!

LFP: Sir, what are you bidding for our services at this time.

You: Bidding? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT!?

LFP: We are a for profit fire department, sir. There are no public or government fire departments anymore. What is your bid?

You: Well....I...uh...I've got some money in savings that...hey- we don't have time for this...send help NOW!

LFP: I'll put down zero for your bid sir. Mr Gates has outbid you for our services. He needs his cat taken down from a tree in the yard.
Thank You for calling the Libertarian Fire Department, where your life will cost you dearly. Have a nice day.

Answer 7

Unlike liberals and conservatives, they believe each man/woman controls his/her own life and being. They believe the products of labor are the property of those who earned or created them. For the most part, they support the non-aggression principle, with an exception for self-defense.

Answer 8

They tend to be fiscally conservative and are thought of as socially liberal because they believe that the government should not over legislate like they do. The extent of government involvement should be limited to the guidelines in the constitution.

http://www.lp.org.

Answer 9

Libertarians are for very limited gov't. The end of the drug war. The dismanteling of the social system, taxes, and most Federal Depts.

I like some of their ideas. A lot of them aren't practical.

Answer 10

I thought you were a libertarian. Don't you know what you believe in?