[Sparta]

I say at the end of the day, there is no difference between the two. Only the kooks on both sides try to distinguish the most minute of differences.

[Anti-Bubba182]

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[Fred Mertz]

Avoid labels.

[hoosierskypilot]

I don't think conservatives are as pro drugs as libertarians. But I know nothing about the latter except what I read on FR.

[Democrap]

I say at the end of the day, there is no difference between the two. Only the kooks on both sides try to distinguish the most minute of differences.

You mean like ones pro-life and ones pro-choice or that one is pro-dope and the other is anti-drug ?

[lewislynn]

Are there any differences between Conservatives and Libertarians?

Yea, conservatives are filled with hate for Libertarians and Liberals. Libertarians couldn't care less.

[The Old Hoosier]

Is there a difference between the two?

Yes. Conservatives believe in the principles set forth in the U.S. Constitution, and the vision of the Founding Fathers for our country.

Libertarians believe in a separate ideology of absolute minimal government that is sometimes in line with conservatism, but often incompatible with our seminal ideals found in English common law, and with the concept of a limited and localized but not non-existent government as set forth in the Constitution.

Most conservatives are small-L libertarians, but it doesn't work the other way around.

Conservatives don't want to legalize drugs, either.

[Pete53]

Libertarians are not the same as Conservatives. Libertarians are mostly interested in legalizing drugs.

[Jhoffa_]

Yes, there is a huge difference.

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

Usually this is with regard to social issues, abortion, drugs, prostitution.. Typically some type of prohbition.

[LiteKeeper]

read later

[Stefan Stackhouse]

Conservatives and Libertarians agree in general terms for maximal economic freedom with minimal government intrusion in the economy. There are shades of differences between us when it comes to details, but of course there are also shades of differences amongst conservatives and amongst libertarians as well.

It is when it comes to social issues that the really significant differences emerge. Libertarians are rooted in a philosophy of maximal individual liberty of all types, and thus (at least speaking of the most ideological purists) tend to favor minimal governmental controls on any and all types of social behavior, regardless of the consequences that may have for society as a whole. Conservatives, on the other hand, tend to have an organic view of society rooted in the philosophy of Edmund Burke, and thus tend to be more concerned with conserving the health and well being of society as a whole, including all of its intermediating institutions like families and churches. Thus, conservatives are more open to some governmental regulation of society when there is a compelling reason to do so, and when it does not run too roughshod upon the rights of individuals. Thus, for example, most (but not all) conservatives tend to line up pretty strongly for the pro-life and anti-drug camp, whereas you will see many (but not all) libertarians take the opposite view.

[Jhoffa_]

PS: However, every Conservative I ever met has a Libertarian streak. This sometimes blurs the line between the two.

[right way right]

All Right! This will be the Hatfield's and McCoy's thread for tonight!

Libertarians do not vote in a matter that furthers the conservative cause.

For example in my state (Washington) we would have Slade Gorton (R) for a Senator if it were not for the Libertarian candidates being just successful enough to cause Maria Cantwell to win in 2000.

The Libertarians would argue that Gorton was not a conservative anyway and that there were other factors (and there were I am sure)but any way it lead to the jumping Jeffords incident and the rise of Tom Dashole to the Senate Majority position.

[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.

[MattAMiller]

As a general rule Libertarians believe that government power is always anethma to freedom. Conservatives believe that government, when constrained within certain limits, can enhance freedom by supressing evils that prevent people from leading their lives unmolested.

Both focus on the liberty of the individual. This differentiates them from the modern left which believes that the self is socially constructed and an unimportant obstacle to erecting whatever cock-eyed utopia they have their eye on this week.

[ETERNAL WARMING]

Conservatives are largely pro-life, anti-drugs and anti-immigration. Libertarians are for all three. Conservatives also tend to reject homosexuality whereas Libertarians do not. Conservatives understand that a certain amount of government is necessary, Libertarians think everyone is capable of monitoring themselves.

[PizzaDriver]

Libertarians don't think in lock-step. We range from the "heinleinian' through "randian" to "jeffersonian" and "gallitian".
Government has purpose, but no Right to Grow. Just as my rights end short of your nose, government should be unobtrusive.
My rights include the right to suffer for my mistakes. The right to starve if I won't take a job flipping burgers. The right to freeze if I won't seek and earn charity. My right NOT to have children, I don't wish to support. My right to die from my vices, when I can not master them.
I have no right to the property or work of others. Nor do I have the right to prempt their victimless vices. I have NO right to inflict my vices on unwilling others. Nor to force my virtues upon strangers.
I have the right to offer you a price for your property, you have the right to decline. Government must do the same. I have the right to set my price for my Home, car, etc. When the Government wants taxes on a higher figure, they must be willing to buy it ASAP, at their figure.
I must be responsible for my actions and inactions. I expect the same from you.

[Conservababe]

Libertarians will not prosecute war, but Conservatives will, to protect even Libertarians.

[Diplomat]

Here it is in a nutshell.

Libertatians are opposed to any level of government having the authority to regulate any form of human social behavior that does not directly harm another already born human being.

Conservatives disagree with the above.

Thus nearly all libertarians you meet will oppose laws that make the following activities illegal: abortion, gambling, alcohol and drug use, prostitution, sodomy, smoking, etc.

As a purist Conservative, I completely agree with the libertarians that the federal drug war is unconstitutional on many levels. However, I disagree completely with them on issues such as, driving while cell-phoning and nudie bars. If my local city wants to outlaw nudie bars, they darn well should be allowed too. This game we have to play called zoning laws hot potato is b.s. and needs to end. If we don't want a business in our backyard, the federal or state judiciaries shouldn't dictate that we have to allow it. Likewise, if the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia wants to outlaw driving while cell phoning, then we should be allowed too. Frankly, these drivers are a much greater danger to my safety than the gang-bangers shooting up their LA neighberhoods. And no, I rarely agree with anything my state or my home city of Los Angeles does, but if driving while cell-phoning shows up on a ballot initiative, I'll vote to outlaw this activiy. Put me down as a Conservative and not a Libertarian.

[Godel]

I tend to fall somewhere between conservative and liberal, but my anger at our nation being slowly invaded and conquered by demographic warfare and illegal immigration is shifting me to the conservative side. Most illegal immigrants come here for handouts and will vote to enslave me with oppressive government giving them handouts, therefore I need to do everything possible to keep them out.

At the end of the day I don't care much about drugs either way. Either outlawing them, or legalizing them and letting addicts die would be better than the crazy liberal ideas of enabling destructive behavior with needle exchanges, social security checks for drug addicts, etc.

Libertarians have a nasty habit of being so idealistic that they make stupid decisions, like staying silent while our sovereignty is destroyed by illegal immigrants who vote for bigger government.

Republicans have a nasty habit of claiming they want smaller government, then voting for "compassionate programs" that create a nanny-state just like the Democrats.

I've been thinking about it lately, I think alot of people's political differences ultimately come down to what they think the meaning of life is. I believe in God and don't think life is meant to be a utopian paradise like liberals envision. I see life as a chance for us to learn and make choices and experience the results. That's what free will is all about. When government takes away our freedom to make choices, or absolves us of the consequences of our actions, it's taking the point out of living. What's the point of being alive and making choices if they don't matter. Liberals on the other hand, are so obsessed with creating their idea of heaven on earth, that they don't care if they take away all our freedoms to make choices or experience consequences.

[A CA Guy]

You are either out of your mind if you really don't see the differences after reading posted stuff here or a Libertarian, which would be the same as being out of your mind anyway.