Good points and well written, no doubt about it.
—HOWEVER—
Where was this attitude from the Liberaltarians when it was needed the most, say 18 days ago ?
Don’t get me wrong. I have many libertarian beliefs. Like I mentioned in the article, I’m all for repealing the 16th and 17th Amendments. I’m all for auditing, if not abolishing, the Federal Reserve. I also believe the freer the markets, the freer the people.
At the same time, I don’t believe Big “L” Libertarianism works. It may be great on fiscal issues, but it’s lousy on social and defense issues.
Thanks for that.
Where was this attitude from the Liberaltarians when it was needed the most, say 18 days ago ?
Look at Romney's record and tell me what exactly is there that a libertarian would vote *FOR*. Libertarians were in the same place I was - voting for what they believe in - Standing upon principle.
Romney had *NOTHING* for me to vote *FOR*, and the "well, he's better than the other guy," meme just doesn't cut it. He isn't better - He's the same dang thing - A big government globalist.
Y'all gotta stop this stuff. Conservatives have always stood on principle and voted their conscience. If you want my vote so bad, and you want the libertarians vote so bad, then support candidates that we can vote for.
I predicted this end long ago - The outcome was self-evident. Unfortunately, folks here are too politically aware, while the lion's share of the country isn't. All this expediency and pragmatism crap that works to buffalo folks here doesn't translate down to the base, because they aren't paying attention.
They go about there work-a-day lives until about the last month or so, and they already have principles they need to see - If they don't see them, why the hell would they bother to vote? And that is exactly what happened yet again.
So stop whining about people not 'buying your product'... Your product sucks. That's why they aren't buying. Who in their right mind would vote for a liberal who merely says he has the right to the Conservative mantle? The Republicans are not Conservative anymore, and many folks ain't buying that they are. Whose fault is that? (pssst: The customer is always right.)
At the same time, I don’t believe Big “L” Libertarianism works. It may be great on fiscal issues, but it’s lousy on social and defense issues.
The very same can be said of the Christians, who, given their own party, would also represent excesses which are just as unhealthy (theocracy, social justice, big-government largess, etc...). Look at Huckabee. He was lifted up exclusively by the Christians. No other Conservative faction can stand the sight of him... Yet the Christians came out for him in droves.
The same can be said of ANY conservative faction. They ALL will go to unhealthy places if left to their own devices. Defense conservatism winds up logically in military tyranny... fiscal conservatism winds up in bitter uncaring austerity. So look at the board in your own eye before criticizing the libertarians simply because they wind up in anarchy. No faction, unchecked by the others, is right, or Right.
And for the most part, the libertarians that inhabit this board tend to be displaced Goldwater Republicans... IOW, conservative libertarians. When the Bushes threw them under the bus, where would you suppose they would go?