What is the difference between liberal & libertarian?

Answer 1

They're polar opposites.

Libertarians are strict constitutionalists and believe government intrusion is constitutionally restricted.

Liberals see government control of EVERYTHING as a good thing!!!

Answer 2

Answering another question, I noted that "political terms never mean the same thing twice." Politicians always try to associate popular terms with policies they support, and unpopular terms with policies they oppose.

As others have noted, "liberal" originally meant "classical liberal," i.e. seeking a limited or minimal state. I'd add that "libertarian" originally meant "libertarian socialist," i.e. opposing the state and all forms of social domination.

(Joseph Dejacque used the term to criticize Proudhon's sexist attitudes as "libéral et non LIBERTAIRE," in 1857.)

http://joseph.dejacque.free.fr/ecrits/lettreapjp.htm

(Proudhon's mutualism is generally considered a market form of libertarian socialism).

Others have pointed out the political compass or other grids which distinguish economic egalitarianism (left) from economic elitism (right) and political libertarianism from political totalitarianism.

It's not a bad start, but strong libertarianism means that matters which are now decided by the state would be decided by personal choice and voluntary association, i.e. economically, while strong totalitarianism means that matters now left to personal choice and voluntary association would be decided by the state, i.e. politically. So left and right mean different things in libertarian contexts than they do in totalitarian ones.

Answer 3

The word "liberal" has different meanings in different contexts. It has also changed meaning over time. In the context of the old USSR a "liberal" was someone who wanted to move towards a free market and more civil liberties. Meanwhile in the United States it meant (as it still means) someone who supports (or claims to support) more liberty in every area except economics and the right to keep and bear arms. Sometimes people call themselves a "classical liberal" This means they are a liberal in the sense it was used in the 18th and 19th centuries in the United States and Great Britain. At that time, it was someone who we would today call a libertarian.

A libertarian is someone who supports both civil and economic liberty. In other words they want government out of both your bedroom and your purse. As a libertarian myself I want you to be free both in your personal life and in your economic life. Some people are libertarians and do not know it. If you would like to find out click on the link and take the "World's Smallest Political Quiz"

Answer 4

Libertarians, in the most general terms, stand for individual rights and individual responsibilities. They share views on some issues with liberals, and other with conservatives. For instance, most libertarians I know are opposed to gun control, a position generally associated with conservatives. However, they mainly tend to be pro choice on the abortion issue, which position is generally associated with liberals. In general, libertarianism is in favor of minimal government interference with peoples private lives.

Answer 5

LIBERALS
WANT MORE GOVERNMENT CONTROL.

BELIEVE ANY MONEY BELONGS TO THE GOVERNMENT AND SHOULD BE DOLED OUT AT THEIR DISCRETION.

THEY BELIEVE OUR CHILDREN SHOULD ALL BE GOVERNMENT EDUCATED, NOT TO THINK FREELY BUT AS THE GOVERNMENT PRESCRIBES IN THEIR EDUCATIONAL PLAN.

THEY BELIEVE YOU CAN T SAVE FOR YOUR RETIREMENT AND THAT THEY MUST TAX YOU TO SAVE THEN DOLE OUT THE MONEYS AS THEY FEEL .

THEY BELIEVE WELFARE,HEALTH AND EDUCATION ARE ALL RIGHTS AND WILL TAX YOU TO MAKE SURE EVERYONE ELIGIBLE

WISH TO MUSSEL ANY NEWS OR RADIO TALK AGAINST THEIR VIEW.BUT FEEL FREE TO SAY OR DO ANYTHING THEY PLEASE TO FORWARD THEIR AGENDA

PRAY ON THE FEARS OF THE POOR AND ELDERLY AS A MEANS TO FURTHER THEIR PLANS

LIBERTARIANS

WANT THE GOVERNMENT OUT OF AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE,GIVE THE PEOPLE THE CHOICE TO DECIDE HOW THEY WANT TO LIVE

WELFARE SHOULD BE CHARITY,FREELY GIVEN BY THE PEOPLE,NOT TAKEN AS TAXES AT THE POINT OF A GUN

MY MONEY BELONGS TO ME, NOT THE GOVERNMENT.
TAXES SHOULD BE EQUAL AND FAIR ACROSS THE BOARD.A CONSUMPTION TAX OF WHAT WE BUY.IF YOU DON T BUY STUFF,YOU DON T PAY TAXES. IF YOUR RICH AND BUYING ALL KINDS OF THINGS ,YOU ARE PAYING IN THE POT AT A GREATER RATE.WHATS NOT FAIR ABOUT THAT.

I WANT MY COUNTRYS BORDERS SECURED

ENGLISH IS THE LANGUAGE OF THIS COUNTRY. YOU IF YOU LIVE HERE YOU SHOULD BE ABLE TO READ,SPEAK AND WRITE A GRAMMANICAL SENTANCE

AMERICAN HISTORY SHOULD BE TAUGHT IN ALL ANERICAN SCHOOLS,ALL OTHER ETHNIC AND OR FORIGN STUDIES SHOULD BE ELECTIVE AND NOT FORCE ON THE WHOLE . ALL THIS DEVERSITY STUDY DELUTES WHO WE ARE AND MAKES OUR NATURE OF LESS VALUE.IF YOU COME HERE TO LIVE , LIVE AS AN AMERICAN,LEAVE YOUR BAGGAGE AT THE DOOR.

Answer 6

They are on opposite ends of the political spectrum. Liberals want the government to run everything. Libertarians want total freedom.
Read up on both in Wickipedia.
I like your pic.

Answer 7

They're really quite opposite. A libertarian is for making the federal government as small as possible whereas a liberal is for expanding the government and government programs for the most part.

Answer 8

libertarianism is about having free will, maximizing individual rights and minimizing government's role in your daily lives.

Answer 9

They're on different political spectra.

Liberals exist in a political spectrum that ranges from communism on one extreme to fascism on the other. They're closer to communism than to fascism on that spectrum.

Libertarians exist on a different spectrum with totalitarianism (including communism & fascism) on one extreme, and total anarchy on the other. They're closer to anarchism than totalitariansim on that spectrum.

Answer 10

It's easier to find a Libertarian with a sense of humor.

Answer 11

Liberals want government to control everything in your lives.

Libertarians want government out of their lives.

Libertarians are usually to the right of lots of Conservatives.