What has happened to Free Republic

I agree with you. I think it is because the real conservatives don't like being exposed to the often times filthy language that is pointed at them as liberals and ungodly libertarians shout them down.

Well, I don't agree with that statement. In fact, I think it's downright tacky and doesn't help the debate on here along at all.

Now, since I don't agree with you, does that mean I'm not a REAL conservative?

Thanks, I appreciate that!

I will use the Portions of the Party Platforms to show you the similarities between Liberals and Libertarians.

Libertarian Platform

the repeal of all laws prohibiting the production, sale, possession, or use of drugs, and of all medicinal prescription requirements for the purchase of vitamins, drugs, and similar substances;

the repeal of all laws restricting or prohibiting the use or sale of alcohol, requiring health warning labels and signs, making bartenders or hosts responsible for the behavior of customers and guests, making liquor companies liable for birth defects, and making gambling houses liable for the losses of intoxicated gamblers;

the repeal of all laws or policies authorizing stopping drivers without probable cause to test for alcohol or drug use;

the repeal of all laws regarding consensual sexual relations, including prostitution and solicitation, and the cessation of state oppression and harassment of homosexual men and women, that they, at last, be accorded their full rights as individuals;

the repeal of all laws regulating or prohibiting the possession, use, sale, production, or distribution of sexually explicit material, independent of "socially redeeming value" or compliance with "community standards";

the repeal of all laws regulating or prohibiting gambling;

the repeal of anti-racketeering statutes such as the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act (RICO), which punish peaceful behavior -- including insider trading in securities, sale of sexually explicit material, and nonviolent anti-abortion protests -- by freezing and/or seizing assets of the accused or convicted; and

the repeal of all laws interfering with the right to commit suicide as infringements of the ultimate right of an individual to his or her own life.

We hold that individual rights should not be denied or abridged on the basis of sex. We call for repeal of all laws discriminating against women, such as protective labor laws and marriage or divorce laws which deny the full rights of men and women. We oppose all laws likely to impose restrictions on free choice and private property or to widen tyranny through reverse discrimination.

Recognizing that abortion is a very sensitive issue and that people, including libertarians, can hold good-faith views on both sides, we believe the government should be kept out of the question.

We believe that adults have the right to private choice in consensual sexual activity.

We oppose any government attempt to dictate, prohibit, control, or encourage any private lifestyle, living arrangement or contractual relationship.

We support repeal of existing laws and policies which are intended to condemn, affirm, encourage, or deny sexual lifestyles or any set of attitudes about such lifestyles.

The so-called "War on Drugs" is in reality a war on the American people, our Constitution, and the Bill of Rights. We deplore the suffering that drug misuse has brought about; however, drug prohibition is more dangerous than drugs themselves. The War on Drugs is a grave threat to individual liberty, to domestic order and to peace in the world; furthermore, it has provided a rationale by which the power of the state has been expanded to restrict greatly our right to privacy and to be secure in our homes.

We specifically condemn the use of "profiles" as sufficient to satisfy the probable cause requirement of the Fourth Amendment, the use of "civil asset forfeiture" to reduce the standard of proof historically borne by government in prosecutions, and the use of military forces for civilian law enforcement as an exception to the Posse Comitatus Act which forbids this practice.

We call for the repeal of all laws establishing criminal or civil penalties for the use of drugs and of "anti-crime" measures restricting individual rights to be secure in our persons, homes, and property; limiting our rights to keep and bear arms; or vote.

Democratic Party Platform

The Democratic Party stands behind the right of every woman to choose, consistent with Roe v. Wade, and regardless of ability to pay. We believe it is a fundamental constitutional liberty that individual Americans - not gvernment - can best take responsibility for making the most difficult and intensely personal decisions regarding reproduction. This year's Supreme Court rulings show to us all that eliminating a woman's right to choose is only one justice away. That's why the stakes in this election are as high as ever.

Our goal is to make abortion less necessary and more rare, not more difficult and more dangerous. We support contraceptive research, family planning, comprehensive family life education, and policies that support healthy childbearing. The abortion rate is dropping. Now we must continue to support efforts to reduce unintended pregnancies, and we call on all Americans to take personal responsibility to meet this important goal.

Al Gore and the Democratic Party know that much remains to be done. We must remember we do not have an American to waste. We continue to lead the fight to end discrimination on the basis of race, gender, religion, age, ethnicity, disability, and sexual orientation. The Democratic Party has always supported the Equal Rights Amendment and will continue to do so, and we are committed to ensuring full equality for women and to vigorously enforcing the Americans with Disabilities Act. We support continuation of the White House initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders. Because every American counts, we will continue to work toward a census that counts every American. We support continued efforts, like the Employment Non-Discrimination Act, to end workplace discrimination against gay men and lesbians. We support the full inclusion of gay and lesbian families in the life of the nation. This would include an equitable alignment of benefits. We recognize the importance of new battles against forms of discrimination and disadvantage that stand as barriers to communities and families, such as environmental injustices and predatory lending practices. And we will fight for full funding and full staffing of the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and other civil rights enforcement agencies so they can do their job of ensuring that America lives up to its creed of equal rights and equal opportunity for all.

Green Party Platform

2. We, as Greens, are committed to establishing relationships that honor diversity; that support the self-definition and SELF-DETERMINATION of all people; and that consciously confront the barriers of racism, sexism, homophobia, class oppression, ageism, and the many ways our culture separates us from working together to define and solve our common problems.

3. We affirm the right to openly embrace SEXUAL ORIENTATION in the intimate choice of who we love.

4. We support the rights of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgendered people in housing, jobs, civil marriage and benefits, child custody – and in all areas of life, the right to be treated equally with all other people.

13. WOMEN’S RIGHTS must be protected and expanded to guarantee each woman’s right to be a full participant in society, free from sexual harassment, job discrimination or interference in the intensely personal choice about whether to have a child.

14. We support the EQUAL RIGHTS AMENDMENT.

22. We oppose the illicit activities of the international drug trade and the illicit money laundering that often accompanies the drug cartels. We call for a revised view of the “drug problem” and an end to the “war on drugs,” recognizing that after over a decade of strident law-and-order posturing, the problems with hard drugs have only worsened.

Republican Party Platform

The Supreme Court’s recent decision, prohibiting states from banning partial-birth abortions--a procedure denounced by a committee of the American Medical Association and rightly branded as four-fifths infanticide--shocks the conscience of the nation. As a country, we must keep our pledge to the first guarantee of the Declaration of Independence. That is why we say the unborn child has a fundamental individual right to life which cannot be infringed. We support a human life amendment to the Constitution and we endorse legislation to make clear that the Fourteenth Amendment’s protections apply to unborn children. Our purpose is to have legislative and judicial protection of that right against those who perform abortions. We oppose using public revenues for abortion and will not fund organizations which advocate it. We support the appointment of judges who respect traditional family values and the sanctity of innocent human life.

Constitution Party

The pre-born child, whose life begins at fertilization, is a human being created in God’s image. The first duty of the law is to prevent the shedding of innocent blood. It is, therefore, the duty of all civil governments to secure and to safeguard the lives of the pre-born.

To that end, the Constitution of the United States was ordained and established for "ourselves and our posterity." Under no circumstances may the federal government fund or otherwise support any state or local government or any organization or entity, foreign or domestic, which advocates, encourages or participates in the practice of abortion. We also oppose the distribution and use of all abortifacients.

As to matters of rape and incest, it is unconscionable to take the life of an innocent child for the crimes of his father.

In addition, Article IV of the Constitution guarantees to each state a republican form of government. In a republic, the taking of innocent life, including the life of the pre-born, may not be declared lawful by any institution of state or local government — legislative, judicial or executive. The right to life should not be made dependent upon a vote of a majority of any legislative body.

Moreover, this right should never depend upon a majority of justices on any court, including the United States Supreme Court. Therefore, although a Supreme Court opinion is binding on the parties to the controversy as to the particulars of the case, it is not a political rule for the nation. Roe v Wade is illegitimate, contrary to the law of the nation’s Charter and Constitution. It must be resisted by all civil government officials, federal, state, and local, and by all branches of the government — legislative, executive, and judicial.

In office, we shall only appoint to the federal judiciary, and to other positions of federal authority, qualified individuals who publicly acknowledge and commit themselves to the legal personhood of the pre-born child. In addition, we will do all that is within our power to encourage federal, state, and local government officials to protect the sanctity of the life of the pre-born through legislation, executive action, and judicial enforcement of the law of the land.

In addition, we condemn the misuse of anti-racketeering and other federal laws against pro-life demonstrators, and strongly urge the repeal of the RICO and FACE Acts as unconstitutional expansions of federal power into areas reserved to the states by the Tenth Amendment.

Finally, we also oppose all government "legalization" of euthanasia, infanticide and suicide.

The Constitution Party will uphold the right of states and localities to restrict access to drugs and to enforce such restrictions in appropriate cases with application of the death penalty. We support legislation to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States from foreign sources. As a matter of self-defense, retaliatory policies including embargoes, sanctions, and tariffs, should be considered.

The law of our Creator defines marriage as the union between one man and one woman. The marriage covenant is the foundation of the family. We affirm, therefore, that no government may authorize or define marriage or family relations contrary to what God has instituted. Parents have the fundamental right and responsibility to nurture, educate, and discipline their children. Assumption of any of these responsibilities by any governmental agency usurps the role of the parents.

Gambling promotes an increase in crime, destruction of family values, and a decline in the moral fiber of our country. We are opposed to government sponsorship, involvement in, or promotion of gambling, such as lotteries, or subsidization of native American casinos in the name of economic development. We call for the repeal of federal legislation that usurps state and local authority regarding authorization and regulation of tribal casinos in the states.

The first duty of civil government is to protect innocent human life. AIDS and HIV is a contagious disease which is dangerous to public health. It should not be treated as a civil rights issue. Under no circumstances should the federal government continue to subsidize activities which have the effect of encouraging perverted or promiscuous sexual conduct. Criminal penalties should apply to those whose willful acts of omission or commission place members of the public at risk of contracting AIDS or HIV.

Compare the Libertarian, Green and Democratic Platforms with the Platform of the Republican Or the even Better Constitution Party. Then you will see what I mean about Liberal and Conservative.

. I notice that less and less Conservatives seem to post here, and more and more Libertarians seem to be.

I don't think it is actual political differences so much that is changing as it is style. A lot of the old-time conservatives are/were, let's face it, not hip. And meanwhile the liberals were running rings around them because of their cluelessness. Oh, they might have meant well but culturally they were already defeated. I think the big change came with Rush who showed you could be cool and hip and still be conservative. For example, his Condom Updates might have offended a lot of the old style conservatives but to a lot of other conservatives he tapped in to our culture of parody.

One problem I have with the old style conservatives is that they are just so damn serious all the time. I remember once during one of the protests during the Florida ballot disputes last year, a bunch of us were sort of doing a little dance to some music on the street when some old fogey conservative came up to me and proceeded to lecture me about how it was improper to be dancing around on the street during the protests. What a jerk! All it did was make me dance around a bit more while Mr. Old Line Conservative got an even grumpier look on his face.

So, anyway, I think you might be confusing style with substance.

Why is this? Is this a Libertarian site now?

I hope not. I view libertarianism as a bankrupt philosophy; indeed, it is more like an affliction, like a disease that won't go away, than anything else.

Only rarely and on certain issues do conservatives and libertarians have common cause.

I might. But I would not ask Big Brother.

I agree, as I show from the Platforms above.

The only difference between your movement and the Taliban is that, in America, you don't run anything

This was a joke, right?

Do you believe in unalienable rights and if you do then who protects your right to them?

I would have to support the Republican position.

Jim Rob doesn't seem to have too much of a problem with Libertarians.

This isn't about Libertarians; this guy has his own agenda; he's preaching to us all. And after six days!

Yeah, and what about the Democrats on TV? They sound like they've all had the same opinions embedded in their brains. (I think that's what you call "mind-numbed robots".)

Abortion may not be right, but it is a right. The bottom line is this -- do we want the government to have to sanction our living or our death?

The bottom line is abortion is MURDER.
It is MURDER sanctioned and protected by the State.
It is MURDER just as foul and despicable as the Jewish holocaust.
Anyone who supports abortion is EVIL.

I view libertarianism as a bankrupt philosophy; indeed, it is more like an affliction, like a disease that won't go away, than anything else.

So the Founding Fathers were diseased?

One problem I have with the old style conservatives is that they are just so damn serious all the time.

That's true and when they're like that, they become much like liberals who are also too serious all the time. Reagan was cool because his humor was always there.

A lot of the old-time conservatives are/were, let's face it, not hip.

Bahhhhhhhhh! Hhhruumpth...Hey you kids! Get off my lawn!!!!!!

:-P

Yes, it's not fun to argue with democrats because once they describe themselves as that, you already know where they stand on abortion, welfare, Clinton's crimes and all the rest.

Would the founding fathers oppose the use of force in response to the 9/11 attacks on America while maintaining that our borders should be totally open?

The reason I ask is because one of the fathers of the Libertarian Party seems to hold those views concurrently.

"~havin' that said, I am rather heavenly~*L*"

I'll bet you are, Happy.

Imagining from your posts (here on FR)--I'll bet you are...heavenly.

Is it possible to have a dialogue without using EXTREMES?

1. You might give it a try, why don'tcha -- and let me know how you get on?

[I'll be expecting to hear of marked improvement]

2. "Anti-Life" is not an "extreme." It is a defense against the tyranny of "political correctness."

A throwing back of one of the grenades with which the obscene anti-lifers "defend" their slaughter-house mass-murder of [Forty-five -- and counting!] millions of unborn human babies.