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?

[rivercat]

At some point a Conservative will call for intervention by the state whereas a Libertarian will not.

Not so. A Libertarian believes in individual rights, so long as they don't infringe upon someone else's individual rights. Therefore the "limited Government" should only intervene when an individual's actions may cause another to lose his or her right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[Texasforever]

[nopardons]

ROTFLOL ! That's perfect; absolutely P-E-R-F-E-C-T !

[Jhoffa_]

A Libertarian believes in individual rights, so long as they don't infringe upon someone else's individual rights.

Oh, that's right.

I forgot, they are the party that has no problem with public beastality so long as the pervert in question owns both the beast and the property it's being screwed on.

Now, do you wish to split any other hairs?

[Democrap]

A Libertarian believes in individual rights, so long as they don't infringe upon someone else's individual rights. Therefore the "limited Government" should only intervene when an individual's actions may cause another to lose his or her right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

OH there you go you guys are anti-smoking, thanks for clearing that up.

[supercat]

As to FR Libertarians, most, but not all of them tend to completely disagree with the vast majority of the LP's platform, candidate for president ( as well as some of those running for other elected offices ) , and stance on the war on terror. That makes little sense ! If a party doesn't speak for one, why call one's self / be affiliated with that party ?

Because one individual doesn't choose the government; the government is formed from compromise. The hope is that the libertarians will influence the government on the issues where they're right and the other parties are wrong (e.g. gun control, no-knock drug raids, etc.) without influencing things too much on the issues where they're wrong and the other parties are right.

Frankly, I'd favor more the Constitution Party if they were on the ballot here (IL). Unfortunately, they seem even weaker than the Libertarians. Still, if one's primary issues of importance are:

1. No new gun restrictions or registration efforts
2. An end to no-knock drug raids
3. Allow states to, at minimum, restrict late-term abortion
4. "Vermont" carry

It looks to me like the Libertarian Party and Constitution Party are the only two that even come close (Libertarians generally, from what I understand, believe the federal government has no authority to prohibit abortion nor prevent states from doing so). Republicans pay lip service to #1 and #3, but seem to oppose #2 and do nothing for #4. Democrats are, of course, even worse.

[Bernard Marx]

That's funny -- and close to the bone!

[ThinkDifferent]

there you go you guys are anti-smoking

Huh? Smoking does not violate anyone's rights ("secondhand smoke" threats have been thoroughly discredited), and as such libertarians oppose restrictions on smoking such as those imposed by the Republican mayor of New York.

[Dave S]

Libertarians are usually pro-choice, for legalization of drugs, more tolerant of homo-sexuals, less likely to have traditional religious beliefs, and generally dont want to run government, they want to eliminate it. Often they act like a bunch of kooks. Bill O'Reilly is more libertarian than conservative. So is Bill Maher of Politically Correct.

[rivercat]

Hence, my self-classification as a Conservative-Libertarian (aka Republican with a mean Libertarian streak). To me, some things are just so morally reprehensible that it could be argued that they are an infringment on another's right to sleep at night! LOL

[hoosierskypilot]

"..Libertarians favor open borders.."

You've got to be kidding?!

[Bernard Marx]

Why would you question that statement?

[Dave S]

A Libertarian believes in individual rights, so long as they don't infringe upon someone else's individual rights.

Gee that sounds a lot like what the hippies preached back during the 60's. Guess its no surprise then that both groups are into drugs and free "love".

[Democrap]

Huh? Smoking does not violate anyone's rights ("secondhand smoke" threats have been thoroughly discredited), and as such libertarians oppose restrictions on smoking such as those imposed by the Republican mayor of New York.

OH but what about the pursuit of happiness?

Let’s look at the statement again.

A Libertarian believes in individual rights, so long as they don't infringe upon someone else's individual rights. Therefore the "limited Government" should only intervene when an individual's actions may cause another to lose his or her right to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

[Hillary's Lovely Legs]

Libertarians are anarchists who wrap themselves in the Constitution for shelter.

[Bonaparte]

"...what the hippies preached back in the 60s..."

Or what the wiccans preach.

[nunya bidness]

Libertarians are usually pro-choice,

Not this one.

for legalization of drugs,

More to the point of making room in the prisons for violent criminals.

more tolerant of homo-sexuals,

Huh? How can you be more tolerant?

less likely to have traditional religious beliefs,

Proud Christian here.

and generally dont want to run government, they want to eliminate it.

Reducing it to its Constitutional roots would be nice.

[budwiesest]

Libertarians are those who have the nerve to point out when a 'conservative' is without clothes.

"You gotta a hemi in that thing?"

[nopardons]

There is little difference between the LP and the GREENIES. The LP and Libertarians in general, have far less influence on the GOP, than the GREENs have on the Dems. The Constitution Party as even less of a following and zero, zilch, nada, bupkiss effect or affect on anything whatsoever. Fringe parties serve one purpose and one purposs only ( in political reality ) and that is as a " spoiler ". That has been the history of fringe parties, in the USA and I don't see the likelyhood of that ever changing.

Those political naifs and malcontents, who imagine that their ( Conservative ? ) fringe party is " someday " going to do anything, at all, to change the GOP and / or the Conservative base, are delusional.

Having been here, for quite a long time, I can tell you that every Libertarian thread here runs the same way. It never changes and refutation has become a tiresome bore to me. The arguments NEVER change; if anything, the newbie FREEPERs, who come here claiming to be Libertarians, just repeak, ad nauseum, the same old, very tired garbage that has been said 1,000s of times before. They add nothing new and neither do the old FREEPERS, who are Libertarians.

The LP's platform states, quite clearly, that they are pro-abortion, open borders, legalizing porn ( EVEN KIDDIE PORN ! ), prostitution, gambling, the selling of ALL government roads, land, national monuments to anyone who has the money to pay for it, NO MILITARY, no public schools of any kind, and on and on and yes, on ; all without a thought to what would happen when what they claim to want, was done away with. They have NO substitute plans ; N-O-N-E and NO regard for what would happen. Consiquences mean little or nothing to Libertarians; no to the upper eschelons of the party, or to FR Libertarians.

To make matters worse, few, if any here has even a tenuous grasp of factual history. As LIBERALS, Libertarianism is all about " feelings ". Facts don't matter a whole lot, revisionistic history and cherrypicked quotes used to substanciate their positions / statements, just don't hold water; try as they may to make it so.

No, for many of FR's Libertarians, Dems are NOT worse at all. Some have repeatedly said that they wanted Dems to win and win BIG ... the presidency, both Houses and everything else. They would rather that, than have any GOP doing something that is even vaguely akin to their goals, wants, and needs. This is political lunacy and dog in the manger, juvinal thinking. They see an empty glass, when, in point of fact the glass is 1/2, or more full.

Libertarians are the enemy within the Conservative Movement !