Replies

Yours is a very reasoned post. It is also informative for me: I do not know, for instance, that there are many libertarians that believe in limited government. That would disqualify them from being construed as anarchists, as I did earlier.

You complaint about name-calling is also justified and well-expressed; I agree with it completely. The only question I have, why was that complaint addressed to me? Did I call anyone a criminal?

The only question I have, why was that complaint addressed to me? Did I call anyone a criminal?

At post #208, you called libertarians anarchists. -- He replied to that slur.

I do not know...that there are many libertarians that believe in limited government. That would disqualify them from being construed as anarchists, as I did earlier.

Out of curiosity where did you read that libertarianism is congruous with anarchism?

A moment ago you accused me of being hasty with causality. Perhaps you are hasty with generalizations.

Yours is a very reasoned post. It is also informative for me: I do not know, for instance, that there are many libertarians that believe in limited government. That would disqualify them from being construed as anarchists, as I did earlier.

Thank you. I am not an anarchist, myself. I am more of a federalist, I believe in constitutionally limited government, not no government at all. I have some rather significant departures from more anarchist-leaning libertarians, not the least of which is the legitimacy of the military and police, and the manner of laws that may be passed by the states as opposed by the federal government.

It is my sense that there are more limited government libertarians, but more of the are in the Republican party or have no party affiliation since the national Libertarian party is being run my the anarchist-leaning libertarians. This has always been off-putting for me, because I am often told I am not a "real" libertarian (what ever that is) or that I am a "statist" or "government-lover" and so forth.

In my opinion this is unfortunate and unnecessary. I find that for the party of individualism to require a litmus test is highly suspect. However, what ever limitations the organized party may have, that's a far cry from a political position of constitutional republicanism. I think that the libertarian position has a great deal of merit, despite the best efforts of the party. I'm certianly willing to discuss any drawbacks that libertarian positions might have, but I would like to separate complaints about the party I might agree with from criticisms of policy that I might not.

You complaint about name-calling is also justified and well-expressed; I agree with it completely. The only question I have, why was that complaint addressed to me? Did I call anyone a criminal?

I was speaking generally. Sorry, I did not mean to imply that you personally said those things. I think your posts have been respecful and interesting.