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To: Sparta
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.

26 posted on 01/12/2003 9:37:11 PM PST by Stefan Stackhouse
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To: Stefan Stackhouse
So it depends on the individual case?
30 posted on 01/12/2003 9:39:26 PM PST by Sparta (Statism is a mental illness)
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To: Stefan Stackhouse
Great reply.
224 posted on 01/13/2003 11:50:47 AM PST by NittanyLion
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