Incorrect. On a larger scale, conservatism is right and libertarianism is right. Law abiding citizens/societies have every right to restrict personal behavior of individuals, that they deem harmful to society at large.
Complete BS. Libertarians support the rule of law FAARRRRRR more than Republicans! It isn't even close!
Do you realize how absurd this sounds? I guess not. Libertarians have little resepct for American law and even less for American justice. Libertarians talk of dismantling the criminal justice system and abolishing victimless crimes, as though crimes againmst society and government, aren't real crimes. Now that's real BS!
Most certainly NOT when the "will of the people" is to take away rights guaranteed by the Constitution.
The American people aren't taking away anyones rights, nor are their elected officials. You've got no respect for the will of the people and no respect for majority rule.
Jefferson said:
"The fundamental principle of the government is that the will of the majority is to prevail."
Thomas Jefferson to William Eustis, 1809
"The will of the people... is the only legitimate foundation of any government, and to protect its free expression should be our first object."
Thomas Jefferson to Benjamin Waring, 1801.
Jefferson also reminded us:
"Bear in mind this sacred principle, that though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will, to be rightful, must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal laws must protect, and to violate would be oppression."
Thomas Jefferson: 1st Inaugural, 1801.
Not pessimistic, skeptical. Conservatives here pretend (I think they've actually falsely convinced themselves) that they care about freedom (the "Free" part of Free Republic) and the Rule of Law. But a significant minority, if not a majority, of posters on Free Republic express opinions that are incompatible with freedom and/or the Rule of Law. Opinions like support of federal laws criminalizing drugs (without a corresponding Constitutional amendment).
I'm an optimist and highly skeptical. You're a born pessimist. Natch, you're a libertarian. Conservatives are very mindful that the laws of the land and the Conmstitution, must be followed at all times. Conservatives respect both. Libertarians only mention the Constituion when it serves their purpose and aren't interested in abiding by the laws of the land. I note, you're starting to talk irrational and illogical once again. One more time, a Constitutional ammendment isn't required to make law.
Libertarians want absolute and unrestricted liberty, as in no limitations on individuals and their personal behavior.
Complete BS. As I just posted, Libertarians want liberty ONLY to the extent that it does not "forcibly interfere with the equal rights of others" to liberty.
Horses**t! Libertarians only care about themselves, they don't give a rats arse about other people. Their lust for drugs is a good example of their selfish desires.
Its impossible to have any further reasonable communication with you.
Heh, heh, heh! You're just like the guys I "debated" about evolution...
I think we've reached that point again, you know, were you claim to be for civilized debate and then throw a rhetorical pie, it in your opponents face, when he speaks the truth. I know you like the back of my hand.
If you have anything further to say, I'll be around. But I suggest you make any future comments relevent and salient. I won't be wasting anymore time, responding to your endless diatribes, about how right you are and how wrong the rest of the world is. Suffice it to say, your reactionary absolutism is obvious and evident.
Wrong.
Second paragraph, first line:
On a larger scale, conservatism is right and libertarianism is right wrong.
See! Even your rhetoric is shared with your marxist competitors for the position of 'King of the Cannibals'.
You can claim that "conservatism and libertarianism are both right" all you want. But, at the federal level, there is simply NO DOUBT. Conservatives (as in John-the-tyrant Ashcroft) are WRONG! (And I can't believe he doesn't know it. If he doesn't, he's an idiot.) There is NO authority, under the Constitution, for the FEDERAL government to criminalize the manufacture or possession of ANY drug.
Complete BS. Libertarians support the rule of law FAARRRRRR more than Republicans! It isn't even close!
Do you realize how absurd this sounds? I guess not.
It only sounds ridiculous to YOU, because you apparently know NOTHING of the positions of the Libertarian and Republican parties! Get a friggin' clue!
Social Security? Republicans for it, Libertarians would abolish it (just like the Founders).
Medicare, Medicaid, Welfare? Republicans for ALL of them, Libertarians would abolish ALL of them (just like the Founders!)
Federal ownership of land outside of Washington DC and military bases? Republicans for it, Libertarians would sell or give away EVERY SQUARE INCH of federal land outside Washington DC and military bases...JUST LIKE THE CONSTITUTION says!
Once again, since you seem so clueless: It is NOT EVEN CLOSE! Libertarians would cut the size of the federal government by 80-90%...and Republicans are making the federal government BIGGER! Do you not understand arithmetic???! We Libertarians REALLY want to take the federal government back to the size it was prior to the New Deal. You're absolutely INSANE if you think the Republican Party is interested in doing that!
Libertarians talk of dismantling the criminal justice system...
Complete BS. Prove it. Show me a Libertarian Party position that indicates something even CLOSE to "the criminal justice system should be dismantled." Again, that's BS. Protecting people from harm by other people is the ONE function of government, according to Libertarian principle.
...and abolishing victimless crimes,...
Yes, that would make a HUGE improvement in the criminal justice system! As Jefferson said, the proper function of government is to protect people from harm by others, and otherwise leave them to the own pursuits.
...as though crimes againmst society and government,
You are so clueless. Counterfeiting is a crime against (the federal) government. Libertarians absolutely support laws against counterfeiting. Treason is a crime against (the federal) government. Libertarians absolutely support laws against treason.
Violating (local/state) public health codes could reasonably be called a "crime against society" (it's much better to call it what it really is...a "crime against many individuals"). Libertarians absolutely support state and local public health laws (such as food preparation in sanitary conditions).
Jefferson said: "The fundamental principle of the government is that the will of the majority is to prevail."
Again, get a clue! He most certainly was NOT talking about a majority decision to deprive a person of Constitutional rights! There's a friggin' AMENDMENT process to do that! When the federal government has a law against me smoking crack (not that I'm interested even in smoking marijuana)...that is a violation of my RIGHTS, under the 10th amendment, to be free from federal government interference in that matter. There is NO WAY Jefferson was saying that a majority could legitimately vote to take away Constitutional rights! (Only a Constitutional amendment can do that!)
You (or friggin' John Ashcroft) want the FEDERAL government to criminalize drugs? Change the #$@% Constitution! Follow the @#$% law!
You're a born pessimist.
If I was "born" a pessimist, my extensive reading (of Julian Simon, among others) has made me quite optimistic. The entire course of history is headed towards Libertarianism. Like I said, Costa Rica just elected over 10 percent of their Congress with Libertarians. In the Netherlands, List Pim Fortuyn--the party in the Netherlands closest to Libertarians--has just scored a tremendous victory in elections...coming in essentially a 3-way tie for the 2nd largest party.
In the long run (50 years) essentially the whole planet will have moved dramatically towards Libertarianism. As it already has in the last 30 years, since our Party was founded. Because we Libertarians are right. About everything. The most efficient form of government is a government that protects people from harm by others, but otherwise leaves them alone. Simple economics shows that The People will tend towards the most efficient form of government. That's why so many economists (Thomas Sowell, Walter Williams, James Buchanan, Milton Friedman, and others) are libertarians.