I’m not certain why a number of Libertarians read and post on FR. Libertarianism just doesn’t appeal to me. I don’t think it appeals to most true conservatives.
Why FR has posters who call themselves Libertarians, is beyond me.
I hear you. I think a small dose of libertarianism is helpful to the Republican Party and the country. My problem is I can not stomach a full dose - particularly when it comes to foreign policy, illegal immigration and conspiracies. I think a solid conservative with a small dose of libertarianism would work just fine for me but not sure they exist. Most Libertarians I see appear to me to be full bore rules-based types and chained by their idealogy to the point where they feel they must support illegals coming across open borders. It's nuts
Our Founding Fathers were libertarian. That is where I got the idea long before I heard the word libertarian.
From Wikipedia:
The term libertarianism refers to a political philosophy maintaining that all persons are the absolute owners of their own lives, and should be
free to do whatever they wish with their persons or property, provided they allow others the same liberty and avoid harming others by abusing their
liberty.
Doesn't that sound like the Golden Rule applied to Adults? "Your freedom ends where my nose begins."
Do you want to tell me we are not the absolute owners of our lives? Do you want to tell me that I should not be free to own my property?
I'm not at all out of line with the values of this forum. Look at these words from the Republican Liberty Caucus.
Liberty Compact — A Candidate's Pledge:
The Liberty Compact is a written pledge inspired by the words of the late Sen. Barry Goldwater (R-AZ) in his book, "Conscience of a Conservative,"
which promotes the belief that government isn't the solution, but all too often, the problem. The pledge reads as follows:
"I, (insert name), pledge to the citizens of the State of (insert state) and to the American people, that as their elected representative I will work to:
Restore liberty, not restrict it; shrink government, not expand it; reduce taxes, not raise them; abolish programs, not create them; promote the
freedom and independence of citizens, not the interference of government in their lives; and observe the limited, enumerated powers of our Constitution,
not ignore them."
In 1964, Barry Goldwater was the political founder of our modern day Conservative movement when he wrested control of the Republican Party from the
liberal Rockefeller Republicans and paved the way for every Republican President since. Being "small ell" libertarian is the heartbeat of Conservatism.
One plank states, "let peaceful persons cross borders peacefully" which seems fair, yet any thinking individual will realize that it is impossible to know which border crosser will be peaceful or not. The national Libertarian Party platform that Rand Paul was raised on is paved with numerous arbitrary or duplicitous conditions. One major tenet of the LP is "non-initiation of force" which holds that force must never be used unless it is to respond to force already used against you. This also seems fair, but caused a schism among LP members when some viewed the horrific attack on 9/11 by Islam as initiation of force (thus requiring a principled libertarian response), and others that thought the use of force by Islam was retaliation for transgressions against them by the the US.
The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971, and I have finally understood that the LP platform with its intentionally obscure phrasing exists by pulling dissatisfied individuals from both the Democrats and Republicans. The faithful adherents to the LP can spin every position to the left or to the right depending on the orientation of the target audience. Rand Paul is a master at this deception.
The Libertarian Party long ago evolved into a big business. There are many groups that will teach individuals how to speak to others in LP doublespeak to advance their goals.
Here is an example of the promo for an "Advocates for Self-Government" LP seminar from a few years ago:
It appeals to me and I am pretty darned conservative.