Are there any differences between Conservatives and Libertarians?

1/12/03 | Sparta

[Sparta]

I've been reading posts by people who use the term Conservative and others who use the term Libertarian. I have a question for all FReepers, is there a difference between the two?

[tpaine]

Libertarians want to thwart the right of people to decide what kind of a society they are to live in. They want to make mandatory the toleration of evil. -CJ-


"Most Americans are moving to the idea that drugs and guns are evil and should be prohibited. Encouraging one way of thinking supports the other because the logic of the arguments is the same."

Thus, we see the real face of evil. -- CJ's advocacy of socialistic prohibitionism.

[Badray]

" Responsible governments are supposed to do things , such as pass such Acts, that actually save lives and do good for ALL people."

Well, thank God for government issued driver's licenses. Not one person has been injured or killed in a car accident since the government stepped in to make sure that all drivers are competent. And insured.

[eshu]

"Social conservatives" are often willing to use the power of the state to enforce their idea of "morality" or "decency". Libertarians are not. That is the primary difference.

Well put!

[The Old Hoosier]

Except for an income tax, drug laws, gun laws, very strong fed govt with very weak state power. etc

Unfortunately the Constitution has been stained by the income tax already. But conservatives would prefer its abolition.

As to the other matters, as I stated elsewhere, conservatives don't support gun control. Drug laws, on the other hand, can be constitutional, since there is no constitutional right to keep and bear reefers, and there is the enumerated power in the foreign/interstate commerce clause. States can have the power to ban drugs as well, and every good conservative agrees that states should be stronger vis-a-vis the fed govt, which should be much weaker.

I should add that many libertarians are against policing our borders at all, since they claim it isn't one of Congress' powers.

[Dave S]

Well, thank God for government issued driver's licenses. Not one person has been injured or killed in a car accident since the government stepped in to make sure that all drivers are competent. And insured.

May not be perfect but it certainly would be worse if every 13 yr old kid was able to drive, especially without any driver ed. As far as insurance, making it a legal requirement and making proof of it mandatory for getting plates etc means that a higher percentage of drivers are actually going to be insured than would be otherwise.

No one ever said a law was going to lead to perfection. Libertarians, however, just assume that if a law cant immediately solve a problem than you might as well decriminalize the behavior: legalize drugs, prostitution, and driving under age and without insurance.

[rb22982]

Unfortunately the Constitution has been stained by the income tax already. But conservatives would prefer its abolition.

Really? When was the last time it was seriously attempted by 'conservatives' in office?

As to the other matters, as I stated elsewhere, conservatives don't support gun control.

Indeed

Drug laws, on the other hand, can be constitutional, since there is no constitutional right to keep and bear reefers, and there is the enumerated power in the foreign/interstate commerce clause.

Only if you believe in the New Deal interpretation of the commerce clause. Before that, it wasn't not interpeted that way, hence the reason for the 18th and 21st amendment. If you can ban a substance without an amendment, no reason for the 18th or 21st.

States can have the power to ban drugs as well, and every good conservative agrees that states should be stronger vis-a-vis the fed govt, which should be much weaker.

Oh I agree that they (states) can, that wasn't my point, the founding father's were not in favor of drug laws.

[rb22982]

I should add that many libertarians are against policing our borders at all, since they claim it isn't one of Congress' powers

Not all libertarians are for open borders, I being one of them. However, that isn't the arguement that they make, most open border libertarians are simply taking capitalism to the extreme.

[rb22982]

You realize in the history of our country that drugs were legal for far longer than illegal, and that use has gone UP since criminalization and that Democrats were the ones that started the whole drug war in the first place (WW/FDR)

[rb22982]

Not all libertarians are for underage driving and driving without insurance. As for prostition, I don't see it as much different then what's going on at bars, clubs, beaches, etc all over the country.

Moreover, most libertarians would still be ok with local enforcement of these issues, what libertarians primarily hate is the federal government getting involved.

[Cultural Jihad]

CJ's advocacy of socialistic prohibitionism.

LOL! I stand squarely with the Founding Fathers, O historical revisionist.

[Sparta]

I'm Sparta not spartan. Get it right.

[Sparta]

Most libertarians are not for public intoxication. I believe in the current laws against public intoxication on the local level.(I'm not even sure about legalizing crack or harder drugs than marijuana, because I don't know enough about the harder substances.)

[Sparta]

LOL! I stand squarely with the Founding Fathers, O historical revisionist.

Anything to back that statement up?

[Democrap]

You may be referring to a political document. It has nothing whatever to do with me.

So you're another libertarian who doesn’t believe in the LP platform. Fair enough then, but I would sure be interested to know who all you fellows vote for if you don’t vote for libertarian candidates. Could it be that libertarian candidates don’t believe in their own platform. But I’ll give you a pass on that for now.

[Cultural Jihad]

That fab pre-MTV melodious sensation,
Banned in Boston,
played live before the ganja-smoke-filled Continental Congress.

[Sparta]

Well the Decleration of Independance and the Constitution were written on hemp paper. Again, where's my answer to question on my last post to you?

[Cultural Jihad]

Well the Decleration of Independance and the Constitution were written on hemp paper.

Bzzzt. Anarcho-urban legend, pal.

[Democrap]

Specifically (and why I like the CP better than the LP) the military, abortion and open borders I'm at about the opposite end.

The Constitutional Party is not a bad choice and I have a hard time understanding why all these libertarians that don’t go along with the LP platform move to the CP. But each time I dig into it I find that the person has a problem with the CP stand on one of the biggies:

Drugs (sometimes disguised as property rights)

Abortion

Sexual deviancy

It is amazing that a person that believes that abortion is murder would choose marijuana over the life of a child.

[Badray]

"Eff em."

Ahh. A compasssionate conservative, I see.

[Badray]

" Read their published platform. It's why I can't become a Libertarian."

So the GOP platform is perfect and you agree with it 100% in content and implementation?