Posted on 09/22/2002 6:53:05 AM PDT by EggsAckley
Okay, folks. I've been hanging around here, trying to sort out the local population for about four years. I have discerned that there are "big-L" Libertarians, and there are "little-l" libertarians, and these sometimes do not agree with each other. And I've also encountered some threads where the big-L's seem to gang up on everybody, and I'm really trying to figure out why there are so MANY different ideologies here.
From what I have gleaned, Libertarians (both big-L and little-l) are against big government. Well, guess what! So am I. I think we have wa-a-a-a-y too many laws about wa-a-a-a-y too many things that should be none of the government's business. I also think that those laws favor certain groups of citizens while encumbering others. Of course, the obvious example would be the givers and takers of our nation. The hard-working give to the non-working, who gladly lap up what is offered. Or the issue that's currently a burr under my personal saddle: THE DEATH TAX. But these are just BIG examples; there are lots of little ones.
How about, when we get RID of a few laws, let's make some NEW ones, laws that really HELP people, all people. Like, a law against putting labels in the neck of women's garments? Or a law against the goofy "easy open" packaging? Or a law against too much fog (oops, just being a little selfish there.) And a law against the BIGGIE: it should be a federal offense for any book to be published WITHOUT an INDEX! Ya know, these are laws that would help EVERYONE, rich or poor, left or right.
Okay, I know this is silly, but there ARE some laws I'd like to see enacted, such as a law requiring that all appointed judges be subject to a performance review, say....every ten years. For that matter, ANY lifetime government jobs should be subject to this. In fact, even tenured professors should be reviewed regularly.
And who should review them? US. We the people. Maybe put it on the ballot so that all citizens can comment on the matter. Yeah, you're right.......too many people don't vote, and it would probably turn into a huge and expensive political football, and we don't need any more of those.
Yes, I know I'm veering off from the title of this missive, but it's all still pertinent, in a round-about way. I simply would like to understand why there is so much consternation here on FR when the word "L-libertarian" pops up. I do know that several of the "big-L's" whip out their copy of a book written by a woman whose name escapes me now. But that's NOT what I want. I want to read their OWN words, their OWN ideologies, not some L-libertarian "handbook."
I'm really serious (series?) here folks. Yes, I want less government; yes, I want less laws. Could I be (*gasp*) a closet L-libertarian??
Confusion reigns.
I'm glad someone found it interesting, as the comments weren't exactly profound.
Thanks for reading it, anyway, serinde. I posted it more to open some minds more than to promote discussion, and I would have to believe it's achieving that end.
The link you supplied is outdated, BTW.
Sounds like the Libertarian fascination with drugs to me....
And the first step is to stop supporting those big-government socialists you vote for in every election.
Drink or smoke? Watch too much TV? Unhealthy diet? Any cavities? Forget to wash your hands after using the restroom?
Maybe some imprisonment or a few lashes are in order to teach you right from wrong.
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