[Wonder Warthog]

"They're not only enemies of the GOP, but of America in general. Giving us back our Constitution is a cause that all of us should embrace, but the pacifism is too far out of touch with current world events."

Excuse me, but where the HELL do you get the idea that libertarians are pacifists?? The libertarian position is non-aggression, not pacifism, and typically non-agression in the sense that they won't ever START a fight, but once one was started, they would do their damnedest to finish it in their favor.

[antaresequity]

they won't ever START a fight, but once one was started, they would do their damnedest to finish it in their favor.

Worth repeating...

[hscott]

"...where the HELL do you get the idea that libertarians are pacifists??"

Maybe its because the LPs position on the War on Terror and the War on Islam is the same as the hyperlefties.

[Dan Day]

Excuse me, but where the HELL do you get the idea that libertarians are pacifists?? The libertarian position is non-aggression, not pacifism, and typically non-agression in the sense that they won't ever START a fight, but once one was started, they would do their damnedest to finish it in their favor.

Since this thread started with an essay by L. Neil Smith, it's worth pointing out that some of his novels depict varying visions of a libertarian society. In both "The Probability Broach", and "Pallas", the citizens are peaceful, respectful of each other's rights, and ARMED TO THE TEETH against anyone who doesn't treat them likewise.

There are several gun battles in The Probability Broach, all enthusiastically participated in by the libertarian citizens in response to unprovoked attempts by others to initiate force (kidnapping, etc.) against them.

And in Pallas, preserving the right to keep and bear arms in defense against tyranny is the entire point of the book.