Libertarian Harry Browne on George Bush

World Net Daily ^ | April 18, 2002 | Harry Browne

[Rule of Law]

I am convinced that the return to constitutional government will never happen as long as we continue to elect republicans and democrats who refuse to honor their oath.

You shouldn't repeat yourself. The "who refuse to honor their oath" part is redundant.

[r9etb]

Incrementalism in all things is doomed to failure, because it concedes to the left principle.

Hmmmm. Considering that the Left's most effective tactics are based on incremental steps, I don't know how you can possibly say this.

[r9etb]

Incrementalism in all things is doomed to failure, because it concedes to the left principle.

Conservatism and libertarianism are not synonymous. In many respects they're at opposite ends of the spectrum.

[r9etb]

This statement from the article belies your statement.

Really? Looks to me like Harry's defending a "no compromise" position.

[rottweiller_inc]

heh yes well that's a matter for debate. However rather than conservatives trying to bring an unwilling republican party back to being conservative why not bring the Libertairian party to become more conservative. The argument in favor of this is both republican and democrat parties are too firmly entrenched and politics for either revolves around advancing the party rather than the good of the voters.

[Rule of Law]

I believe Libertarians are marginalized because most Americans are scared to death of what their lives would be like if they had the freedom and responsibility as stated in the constitution.

I don't know.

I mean it's true that some are scared of freedom. Many. But most? I don't know.

I do believe that one thing that keeps the Libertarians from gaining more support is their reputation as the party of dopers and whores. The "Libertine Party".

They have wonderful ideas about reducing government. Ridding us of Social Security. Retiring the national debt. Cutting taxes. Abolishing the IRS. Returning government to its legitimate constitutional role.

These are all things that people want to hear. These are all things that many people really want.

So what does the Libertarian Party talk about? How the first thing they'll do is legalized drugs. They explain at detail how this will mean that drugs will be cheaper and more readily available. Then, in a very transparent and stupid lie, they say that drug use will go down because of their policies. In virtually every speech and article, they harp on this one subject.

Guess what. It's a sure loser. People don't want drugs to be cheaper and more readily available. They are terrified that their kids will be hooked on drugs. Even if their kids are 40 years old, they don't want them doing drugs. They don't want druggies in their neighborhoods. And it doesn't do any good to tell them that there are already druggies there. This is an emotional issue and the LP is on the wrong side of it.

Does that meant that the LP should give up on fighting the War on Drugs? No. The WOD is wrong. It is (on the federal level) unconstitutional. On any level, it puts too much power in government's hands.

But the LP has to decide which is more important. Constantly talking about the WOD or being elected so they can actually do something about it. The LP needs to decide to lead with the issues that will appeal to most Americans and that will change its reputation.

[Deb]

Funny Browne mentioning abortion. The Libertarian position on abortion is what again?

According to Ron Paul they also want the US out of Afghanistan, the middle east and to break with Israel. They want open borders and no immigration laws.

If that's the America you want, please leave the GOP now. Don't wait another minute. You're too stupid and dangerous to be a Republican.

[texlok]

HA! But that doesn't seem to matter to folks around here blindly and ignorantly towing the party line and licking boots whenever possible (MMMMMMMMM tasty!).

I've noticed a large increase in people grumbling about Bush's decisions as of late, so I think people are finally taking the blinders off.

[rottweiller_inc]

If that's the America you want, please leave the GOP now. Don't wait another minute. You're too stupid and dangerous to be a Republican.

lol..I did right before the 2000 elections after watching Bush's campaign. It was'nt hard to see he called himself a conservative but was in fact a liberal..it's pretty sad if this is the the cream of the republican party, who rose up to run for president. If you look at what he's doing he's trying to skim off segments of the democrat party base so the party does'nt have to rely on conservatives.

[texlok]

This is why the government can afford to go slowly. As time goes by, the yardstick moves further and further along.

Bush and Generals Ridge and Ashcroft managed to pick the yardstick up and run quite a bit with it.

[texlok]

So far you've got very little resistance on this thread from the W bootlickers. Since most are also Israel bootlickers, his handling of the Mideast has probably ticked them off.

I think the Mideast has been what pushed a lot of the sheeple to finally stand up and say something - the rally in DC where they booed the WH staff member was/is a turning point.

[texlok]

Case in point, at least two senators lost enough votes to libertarian candidates to loose their elections in 2000.

If they can't get a majority of the vote, they must not have been very good from the beginning.

Maybe those candidates will pay more attention to the LP.

[Scarlet Pimpernel]

"They have wonderful ideas about reducing government. Ridding us of Social Security. Retiring the national debt. Cutting taxes. Abolishing the IRS. Returning government to its legitimate constitutional role."
That's why I vote Libertarian. The Pubbies and the Dims will never change until they get some serious competition.

[Deb]

Unfortunately those brave, stalwart Libertarians, like Ron Paul, lie, "change " parties and pretend to be Republicans to get elected. Then they work as hard as they can to undermine their new home. Sorta takes the honesty away from your side, don't it?.

And the real reason government is getting bigger is because government employees are unionized and can't be fired. Thank fourty years of Democrat control for that. But if you cared reallyt about "bigger government", you could call Dick Armey's office and get a list of agencies and departments that have been axed since '94. You won't though, 'cause Libertarians are lazy, looney and perfectly happy to be led around by the nose by their alcohol-drenched "leader". As long as Browne keeps the BS flowin' you're happy.

[Deb]

Thanks for leaving. We appreciate it.

You obviously need a steady diet of pablum and simplistic bumper sticker phrases to be content. The impotent, bawling world of third parties is for you. Have a nice life and don't come back.

[The Green Goblin]

Does that meant that the LP should give up on fighting the War on Drugs? No. The WOD is wrong. It is (on the federal level) unconstitutional. On any level, it puts too much power in government's hands.

One cannot oppose the War on Drugs these days without automatically being branded as a "doper." To offer any opposition whatsoever is to live with that mischaracterization.

[rottweiller_inc]

You obviously need a steady diet of pablum and simplistic bumper sticker phrases to be content. The impotent, bawling world of third parties is for you. Have a nice life and don't come back.

most amusing. Remember to keep your happy thoughts; no matter what your party does.

[r9etb]

However rather than conservatives trying to bring an unwilling republican party back to being conservative why not bring the Libertairian party to become more conservative.

Before I started coming to FR I would probably have thought it was worth trying.

Having met libertarians in action here, however, and seen the ridiculous "press releases" put out by the LP, I long ago concluded that there's no point in trying. The LP has too few points of contact with reality.

[realpatriot71]

we would have maintained a republican controlled senate. Conservative constitutionalist judges would have been confirmed; unconstitutional laws would have not been passed

HA! What makes you think Libertarians care anything about a Repubican majority. As long as its close enough for the the Republicans and Democrats to have to bicker over everything, then neither side has carte blanche to increase government according to their ideology. I like the stalemate.

[realpatriot71]

The Libertarian position on abortion is what again?

Depends on the Libertarian some side with the mother some side with the fetus. Me? I take a position somewhere in between.

the US out of Afghanistan, the middle east and to break with Israel. They want open borders and no immigration laws

That's a bit of an over simplification, and again many Libertarians take different approaches. Me? I support our particular military action of self-defense against those who attacked us. However, that's the extent of my support. Catch/kill the bad guys and come home. We spend too much time meddling in other's affairs. Our foreign policy was a contributing factor in the 9-11 attrocity. We should leave Israel and Palestine to their own affairs. If that means Israel kills every pallie on earth - it's NONE of our business. I'm in support of regulation of people coming into and out of this country, but borders need to be somewhat open to facilitate capitalism which of course drives democracy.

If that's the America you want, please leave the GOP now. Don't wait another minute. You're too stupid and dangerous to be a Republican.

Well, aren't we full of happy thoughts today? I've never been a Republican, so it's not like I can leave an organiszation I've never been a part of. I've been registered LP since I was 18.

Have a nice day :-)