Libertarian=Neocon????????????????

Question

I'm very curious to why so many liberals intend on claiming that Libertarians are like neocons. I understand that we are not Liberals, but I would like some clearification on why you think Libertarians are like Neoconservatives?

Pip: I agree that not all liberals say this but I want to narrow down the ones that do.

Mortica- I've never voted Republican and don't intend to.

Many libertarians vote Republican because many believe that their votes are a waste if they vote Libertarian. I'm trying to encourage more votes for the Libertarians get them to vote for their beliefs. Not to use a defensive voting tactic.

Answer 1

Why do they say that? Becaue they are either confused, ignorant, or just plain slanderous. Libertarians are absolutely NOT Neocons.

Libertarianism usually refers to a political philosophy maintaining that every person is the absolute owner of their own life and should be free to do whatever they wish with their person or property, as long as they respect the liberty of others.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Libertarian

According to Irving Kristol, the founder and "god-father" of Neoconservatism, there are three basic pillars of Neoconservatism:

1. Economics: Cutting tax rates in order to stimulate steady, wide-spread economic growth and acceptance of the necessity of the risks inherent in that growth, such as budget deficits, as well as the potential benefits, such as budget surpluses.
2. Domestic Affairs: Preferring strong government but not intrusive government, slight acceptance of the welfare state, adherence to social conservatism, and disapproval of counterculture
3. Foreign Policy: Patriotism is a necessity, world government is a terrible idea, the ability to distinguish friend from foe, protecting national interest both at home and abroad, and the necessity of a strong military.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neocon

Answer 2

Libertarians believe in liberty as the ultimate objective, like TRUE liberals. Libertarians believe in smaller government and less government power. I tend to vote for the candidate who would reduce government interference into my daily life. Seldom is that a neocon or Republican. Those who equate the two don't understand the meaning of either...

Answer 3

Of course, they are completely different. I think people are confused because Libertarians once were more likely to align themselves with Republicans many years ago when republicans believed in smaller government, deregulation, small deficits, protection of constitutional rights and in general-less government intervention. Many Libertarians today admit that now they have more in common with so-called liberals. The parties have changed.

But people are likely to assume their party stands for things when in fact they no longer do. The South for years voted Democrat because Lincoln was Republican-yet the parties completely changed over time.

Answer 4

As an independent voter who tends to vote Libertarian in the Presidential elections, I can only guess that the reasoning is that Libertarians are strong proponents of individual accountability and disagree with many of the socialist tenets which the left holds dear, which include concepts like the welfare state, the notion that "it takes a village to raise a child", and socializing of private resources and functions (like health care).

Answer 5

It's the same reason that the Green's become Reform Party, the Reform Party become Socialists, the Socialist's become Communists, and the Communist's become Facists. Those two bigwig parties at the top want to make sure you associate any interesting and viable options with fear, distrust, and the 'opposing' side of the two party coin, keeping votes nicely lined up with either the Dem's or the Republicans. What they count on is that people don't do their research, and that is the key to the whole racket.

Answer 6

I for one would like a liberal to actually define the term "neocon". Doubt many could do it and those that try will come up with a dozen desultary meanings.

When you hate freedom, indipendence and responsibility for self, you will strike out at anyone that opposes your religion. And so, we get the labels being cast about.

I am not a republican, democrat, indipendent (another name for democrat) or libertarian.

I am a free american that owns his own ideas and beliefs and a defender of a strict interpretation of our Constitution as our only hope in the fight against socialist, liberals, democrats, republicans and indipendents that make up the political class in America.

Get on board and break the bonds of trying to fit into the boxes that political parties push on you. It is liberating to be FREE.

Answer 7

They're not. Libertarians are anything but Neo-Cons. Textbook Libertarians want minimal government involvement in our lives. They don't want the government telling us what we can and can't do. No gun control. No illegal drugs. Legalized prostitution. The basic premise of all Libertarians is that a citizen can do virtually anything he or she pleases, as long as it doesn't infringe upon another's rights. This, of course, is not what Neo-Cons stand for.

Answer 8

who called a libertarian a neocon? I'm about as liberal as they come and would never confuse the two.

Answer 9

Libertarians are Republicans that are in denial, since they still vote Republican always. Yes they are Neocons when they support them.

Answer 10

Some of them are lucky to tie their shoes correctly on the first try. Don't be so hard on them.