[Phlyer]

an[d] libertarianism is NOT strictly conservatism.

The terms 'liberal' and 'conservative' have become so distorted that any meaning has been sucked out of the words. Or another way to put that is: 'liberal' or 'conservative' means whatever the person using it says that it means - at least to him/her.

The only political spectrum that really means anything is the degree to which authority and responsiblity are individual, or collective (the state). On one extreme are anarchists, and on the other extreme are socialists / statists / communists / fascists. The challenge of history has been to find a good compromise between those extremes. I happen to think the US Constitution provides about the best balance that has ever been invented.

Some self-styled 'conservatives' (who have as good a claim to that abused term as anyone else) would use the power of the federal government in the same way that the 'liberals' or 'progressives' do: to enforce their particular view of what is 'right' on others. I happen to think that abortion is murder, but to a Constitutionalist, it's not the federal government's job to police murder. A 'Wade v. Roe' where the federal government would force all the States to outlaw abortion is just as unConstitutional as Roe v. Wade.

Libertarians do have a place on that spectrum - near the anarchy end. But they are definitely not 'social conservatives' who feel the federal government should outlaw abortion, or define what can be called 'marriage.' Once upon a time - when the US was being founded - the term 'liberal' meant pretty close to what 'libertarian' means today. But today's 'liberals' or 'progressives' are only distinguishable from Leninist communists by the fact they work for statism from within rather than through violent revolution. Their end goal is the same.

If you feel you are a conservative because you disagree with the Democrat party on social issues, then fine. Like anyone else you can make that term mean whatever you want. You can certainly draw a distinction between yourself and a libertarian if you'd rather be divided from them than united against the Democrat party. A 'fiscal conservative' can also claim that label. And a host of other little subdivisions of those who don't like what the Democrat party is doing.

But I'll stick to a 'moderate' position as a Constitutionalist. I happen to think that is 'conservative' as well because it is a position that wants to 'conserve' the US Constituion, and it is 'liberal' in that it lines up with Jefferson, Madison, and John Locke against the monarchists/statists of their time. But as I said - that's just my own use of the term.

[ansel12]

Libertarians are radical leftists that would be lynched in 1800 America if they tried to sell their anti-God, pro-homosexual, pro-porn etc. nonsense.

Here is the leftists agenda hidden behind the Libertarian Party curtain.

Libertarian Party Platform:

Throw open the borders completely; only a rare individual (terrorist, disease carrier etc.) can be kept from freedom of movement through “political boundaries”.

Homosexuals; total freedom in the military, gay marriage, adoption, child custody and everything else.

Abortion; zero restrictions or impediments.

Pornography; no restraint, no restrictions.

Drugs; Meth, Heroin, Crack, and anything new that science can come up with, zero restrictions.

Advertising those drugs, prostitution, and pornography; zero restrictions.

Military Strength; minimal capabilities.