[Reagan Man]

Does anyone who rails against Libertarianism actually know what it stands for?

I'm very familiar with the Libertarian Party Platform. Are you? Read it here!

[Gunslingr3]

Does anyone who rails against Libertarianism actually know what it stands for? I'm very familiar with the Libertarian Party Platform. Are you? Read it here!

Then please address the first question and clear up my confusion: How is Libertarianism 'void of both moral and ethical codes of conduct'?

[opinionator]

The platform of the Libertarian Party is not the definition of libertarianism.

That's like saying that the definition of conservatism is the platform of the Republican Party.

[TopQuark]

Here is a subsection from the part platform:

Taxation

Since we believe that all persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor, we oppose all government activity that consists of the forcible collection of money or goods from individuals in violation of their individual rights. Specifically, we:

1. recognize the right of any individual to challenge the payment of taxes on moral, religious, legal, or constitutional grounds;

2. oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including capital gains taxes;

3. support the repeal of the Sixteenth Amendment, and oppose any increase in existing tax rates and the imposition of any new taxes;

4. support the eventual repeal of all taxation; and

5. support a declaration of unconditional amnesty for all those individuals who have been convicted of, or who now stand accused of, tax resistance.

   How are they going to pay for the army, highways, etc.?

[austinTparty]

There is quite a difference between libertarianism with a small "L" and the "Libertarian Party". Libertarianism as a political movement, rather than a party, is often referred to instead by the term Friedrich Hayek (author of the seminal work "The Road to Serfdom", a book which many people have considered a profound influence on their lives, among them Ronald Reagan and Margaret Thatcher) used: "Classical liberal".

In this context, it means being for free markets, free trade, Constitutionally limited government, respect for the rights of the individual and civil society. Classical liberals tend to have a Jeffersonian worldview. It is not anarchy, for classical liberals understand the necessity of good government (limited government). Nor is it anti-morals. It is merely against government-imposition of moral standards. And if you want to know why, Mr. Hayek's book explains it all rather well.