Posted on 02/16/2010 7:27:44 PM PST by ggrrrrr23456
So, what exactly is a Libertarian?
I have a friend who calls himself a Libertarian. I've known him for about a year. We both have similar interests, share the same political views (generally), and have respect for a benevolent and gracious higher power.
Lately, my friend has been sending out articles written by "Libertarians" and those associated with the Campaign for Liberty. Most of these articles are highly critical of the war on terror, ridicule the efforts of the Bush administration to combat the terror threat, and seize on any opportunity to highlight misguided efforts at Guantanamo, Afghanistan, or Iraq.
I get the impression that my friend believes the government, in its pursuit of terrorists, is seriously endangering the rights of free, law-abiding citizens like you and I. While I can understand the concern, especially in light of the Obama administration's alarming statements regarding military veterans and so-called right-wing extremists (aka Teapartiers), I am searching for the right response that addresses the terror issue without negating the importance of the preservation of individual liberty.
I would appreciate your input.
That’s what I don’t get, how can there be a Liberal who believes in Anarchy, when all Liberals and Progressives want to do is strengthen and make the government bigger!
My brain does not compute that.
Oh sure you did. LOL
guess who takes over AFTER anarchy? in their minds.
It is a tough row to hoe — but eventually if we can win the argument we can change world.
(um, do you have that cute pharmacist’s number...? ;) )
geeze Parsy, that was kinda crazy. LOL
>>guess who takes over AFTER anarchy? in their minds<<
After experiencing them 1st hand at the WTO in Seattle way back when, I often wonder: how do anarchists organize?
randomhero97:
What the Heck was that? LOL That didn’t even make sense.
Vendome how likes Parsy posts
Just scrolling thru this post and saw your first comment.
I am so with you.
I saw a History Channel show about prisons and that changed me.
Old guard said in the old days every one knew why they were there. He said it changed when guys went to jail for growingc(onsuming/etc.) a bit of agriculture.
Vendome, who needs a grammar checker. lOL
Vendome who likes Parsy posts
fixed.
Was your post #28 intended as sarcasm? It sounded like something a Democrat would've written. I'm not a capital-L "Libertarian", but let's look at what you wrote:
Their “free market” ideas have led to foolish deregulation of the financial markets with the disasterous results you see now. Greenspan, a disciple of Ayn Rand, may have had an epiphany or not when he said he had wrongly relied on enlightened self interest of banks.
Financial markets are regulated heavily. And Greenspan USED TO BE a disciple of Ayn Rand, but he abandoned those principles. By lowering the interest rates through the Fed, he wasn't relying on the "self-interest of banks." The Fed believed they could manipulate the economy, but all they succeeded in doing was to create a housing bubble.
Conservatives believe in responsibilities. Libertarians really don’t.
Both believe in responsibilities.
While they may pose as rugged individualists, they are really insecure little children who belong back in Europe when they had lords and ladies to run things. Mention taxing the rich and they wet their short pants out of fear that there will be no rich person to give them a job or take care of them.
I don't understand. You're not in favor of higher taxes, are you?
Thankfully, America was not founded by Libertarians.
Those revolutionists in the early days were probably much closer to Libertarian than anything else.
If it had, no settlers would have headed West, because there were no rich folks waiting on the prairies and coasts to take care of them. Real American don’t need no rich person to take care of them, and give them jobs, and run things for them.
I spent a lot of time talking with Libertarians. Believe me, they're not asking for anyone to take care of them.
I had some time to kill before “Harold and Kumar Escape Guantanamo Bay” came on.
parsy
I bet they are offshoots of RCP and other radical left groups
I understood that part of the post as parsy doesn’t believe that SS, Medicare, and the FDA are horrible intrusions of government power. Correct me if I’m wrong.
No, I was being serious. Maybe a little heavy-handed, but serious. But on the taxes: How do you think we can pay back around $14 trillion without raising taxes. And don’t forget, there’s this little $75 trillion or so social security and medicare liability coming due. Do you think you can tax cut your way to paying that off?
parsy
LOL, they are all cute and I can’t give you my source. But, hang out at any medical building and they are there all day long pushing their version of save the world miracles.
Just strike up a conversation about having fun and no matter what their objection is always make fun the alternative.
“I have a boyfriend”
“Well and probably a fine fellow but maybe you would like to have some fun this week. Drinks? Lunch? Breakfast?”
“I am a little busy”
“Well, let me help you on to your next appointment and we can discuss all the fun we are going to have”.
The conversation gets more natural but that’s the gist of it. LOL
I am having fun! LOL
You must have a tremendous amount of time to kill if that is your entertainment for the evening. LOL
You would still have illegals taking Americans’ jobs due to the gap in employer taxes and acceptance of substandard working and living conditions.
Not to mention that if they aren’t paying individual Federal taxes and State taxes, they are not paying their share of national defense, judiciary, infrastructure, etc.
So illegals are still a drain on society even if not receiving direct welfare, free healthcare, and free education. Freeloaders.
Immigrants need to participate in society fully — play by ALL the rules, including paying all the same taxes and carrying all the same insurance and generally living like a responsible American.
They do not deserve even as much slack as we cut some American citizens who have several generations of productive contribution behind them. If the bar is not kept high for immigrants, they will never be more than a permanent underclass.
This should be the crux of any immigration process — employment sponsorship, criminal and health background checks, education in the laws and constitutions of state and nation, etc. — as a minimum effort to be sure they will become Americans citizens we can be proud of, and not shadow citizens. “Open borders” means none of this screening is done and can only result in ghettos and criminal subcultures.
Wow, you sound like you might of stumbled in from DU or DailyKos.
>>am a Libertarian, and I do NOT support an open boarder.<<
There seems to be a meme running around that Libertarians (or those who lean that way) are supporters of open borders. I have NEVER seen that in any Libertarian, nor the positions of the Libertarian Party.
THAT distinction falls to both the last Bush Presidents (who I supported but was hoping I could change in this area — with some positive results). And of course McCain (I still have the fingerprints on my nose from THAT vote) just wanted to drive down and drive all 200 million Mexicans here personally.
Ron Paul syndrome, maybe????
The country shouldn’t have been put trillions of dollars in debt to begin with. What we need to do is cut spending.
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