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muse7
Most Libertarians are what I would call "Denialcans" they're in denial and don't want to accept that they are really just Republicans in disguise.
TheJourney
reply to post by muse7
Anyone who claims to be a libertarian, and could at all be compared to anything you woukd think of as republican, is not a libertarian...
Simple check: do you believe drugs and prostitution should be legal? If your answer is no, you're not a libertarian.
I choose those because it's a good way to differentiate false 'conservaties' from libertarians.edit on 12-10-2013 by TheJourney because: (no reason given)
Southern Guardian
reply to post by John_Rodger_Cornman
I think you must first ask yourself just how many differences there are between so called Conservatives (your standard run of the mill GOP voter and Tea Partier) and Libertarians? Many have already pointed out here that the Libertarian tag has been hijacked by political shills however I personally don't think this fully explains why people view them as one in the same in any case.
Let's start with identifying the differences. What are the fundamental differences between your standard Conservative/GOPer and your Ron Paul Libertarian? (Notice that I'm not lumping in Mr Glenn Beck and co. in with the Paulers to make them happy).
The Economy:
a) Libertarians (like Ron Paul) believe in changing the tax system, many favor a fair tax system.
b) Conservatives believe this as well. In fact some conservatives like Bachmann have gone further than this to propose eliminating the bulk of all taxes if not all.
Social Issues:
While Libertarians will argue their stance on social issues are merely based on freedom, human rights and states rights, it still doesn't change the fact that they share the same view as your typical GOP/Tea party conservative.
a) Libertarians like Ron Paul believe abortions should either be outlawed or handled by the states
b) Conservatives/Tea partiers believe the same. They both oppose Roe V Wade.
What about the rights of states to ban a sex act between two consenting adults in the privacy of their own home? Lawrence V. Texas 2003?
a) Libertarians like Ron Paul opposed the ruling, stated it should be within the states right to ban such acts in the bedroom.
b) Conservatives/GOPers? Obviously them too.
Look I can go on, I really can. In the end the main differentiation that Libertarians cite between them and your typical run of the mill GOP/Tea Partier is the fact they oppose American involvement in wars abroad and invasive government like the Patriot act. The problem with this is, many GOPers/Tea partiers are now claiming they oppose this too (e.g many oppose intervention in Syria and Libya) so once you take this out, what else is there to differentiate the Ron Paul Libertarian from the GOP/Tea partier? Not much really. Libertarianism is essentially just a rebranding of the conservative movement to suit a younger audience, that's it.
edit on 14-10-2013 by Southern Guardian because: (no reason given)
Southern Guardian
reply to post by John_Rodger_Cornman
I think you must first ask yourself just how many differences there are between so called Conservatives (your standard run of the mill GOP voter and Tea Partier) and Libertarians? Many have already pointed out here that the Libertarian tag has been hijacked by political shills however I personally don't think this fully explains why people view them as one in the same in any case.
Let's start with identifying the differences. What are the fundamental differences between your standard Conservative/GOPer and your Ron Paul Libertarian? (Notice that I'm not lumping in Mr Glenn Beck and co. in with the Paulers to make them happy).
Ron Paul and Gary Johnson are classical neo-liberalists with some libertarian views. They are not a pure libertarians. Stop it. Please.
True Ayn Rand(far right anarchist/libertarian),Noam Chomsky(far left anarchist/libertarian socialist) and Murray Rothbard(anarchist capitalist/libertarian).
The Economy:
a) Libertarians (like Ron Paul) believe in changing the tax system, many favor a fair tax system.
libertarians don't believe in mandatory taxes. pro-Statists believe in mandatory taxes.
b) Conservatives believe this as well. In fact some conservatives like Bachmann have gone further than this to propose eliminating the bulk of all taxes if not all.
Social Issues:
While Libertarians will argue their stance on social issues are merely based on freedom, human rights and states rights, it still doesn't change the fact that they share the same view as your typical GOP/Tea party conservative.
Not true. Libertarians are against the state legislating enforcement of morality.
a) Libertarians like Ron Paul believe abortions should either be outlawed or handled by the states
He's not a libertarian. He's a neo-liberal. Stop it.
b) Conservatives/Tea partiers believe the same. They both oppose Roe V Wade.
What about the rights of states to ban a sex act between two consenting adults in the privacy of their own home? Lawrence V. Texas 2003?
a) Libertarians like Ron Paul opposed the ruling, stated it should be within the states right to ban such acts in the bedroom.
Libertarians are against the state enforcement of morality.So no.
b) Conservatives/GOPers? Obviously them too.
Look I can go on, I really can. In the end the main differentiation that Libertarians cite between them and your typical run of the mill GOP/Tea Partier is the fact they oppose American involvement in wars abroad and invasive government like the Patriot act. The problem with this is, many GOPers/Tea partiers are now claiming they oppose this too (e.g many oppose intervention in Syria and Libya) so once you take this out, what else is there to differentiate the Ron Paul Libertarian from the GOP/Tea partier? Not much really. Libertarianism is essentially just a rebranding of the conservative movement to suit a younger audience, that's it.
Nope.
GOP are pro-statists.
Libertarians are anti-statist pro-volunteerism.
Libertarians believe in the Non-aggression principal and are against imperialist acts of violence.
pro-Statists are FOR imperialist acts of violence and enforcement of the status quo with violence and threats.
Libertarians are against all forms of ruler-ship and use of violence/threats to coerce people into participating in their system.
edit on 14-10-2013 by Southern Guardian because: (no reason given)
Krazysh0t
Libertarians want to end the Federal Reserve and do away with the IRS and income taxes.
Now you are making things up. We do not support sex laws. Again we are PRO-FREE CHOICE.
I have a suggestion,
So, you are taking one libertarian... Ron Paul,
]who happens to be a conservative Christian, and painting all libertarians with his personal moral views?
And btw, Paul while personally opposed to abortion was still pro-choice. His argument was that it shouldn't be legislated or subsidized by the federal government. It was more a fiscal stance than a moral one.
Paul has described himself as "strongly pro-life" and said that the Supreme Court's decision in Roe v. Wade was one of the "most disastrous rulings of this century."
“I am strongly pro-life. I think one of the most disastrous rulings of this century was Roe versus Wade. I do believe in the slippery slope theory. I believe that if people are careless and casual about life at the beginning of life, we will be careless and casual about life at the end. Abortion leads to euthanasia. I believe that.”
“If you can’t protect life then how can you protect liberty?”