WTF is a real Libertarian?

I have a friend who claims to be a "Die Hard Libertarian"... but every-time he we argue it goes like this...

Screw the Governement [even though we need them]

Screw politician [even though we will never get rid of them]

And... I'm a libertarian... [but I'm forced pretty much vote democrat party lines]

WTF... Please help

P.S. He usually throws in a couple "I hate Bush" just for good measure.

[SheetWise]

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And... I'm a libertarian... [but I'm forced (to) pretty much vote democrat party lines]

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I can clear it up. I'm a libertarian ... but I'm forced to pretty much vote Republican party lines.

[lehighguy]

Well if he's a libraterian, he certainly wouldn't be voting Democrat.

There isn't enough information to really comment on the rest.

How old is your friend.

[lehighguy]

Starting with the assumption that your truly a libraterian, you aren't forced to vote Republican. Less and less these days can you even consider them the lesser or two evils. Moreover, the entire lesser of two evils arguement has precipitated the current political malaise in this country.

Vote libraterian, they are usually on the ballot. That's what I did last election.

[SheetWise]

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... you aren't forced to vote Republican. Less and less these days can you even consider them the lesser or two evils.

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Less and less, I agree. But when it comes to issues involving personal property rights, and economic freedom there is still a clear divide along party lines.

My vote is about not allowing the children to run the household -- the Libertarian-Republican choice boils down to choosing either Mom or Dad -- if it's clear one of the parents will win, I'll vote Libertarian. If it appears the children may win -- I'll back the odds on parent.

[DasLeben]

I'm a registered Libertarian, but my views differ a bit, mainly in regards to economics.

Your friend sounds like he's just trying to sound like a hardass. Libertarians do not think "screw the government," (though "I hate Bush" might come up [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]), since Libertarians understand that the government is a very necessary entity. They believe that the government should be scaled down, not removed. The latter would be Anarchy.

As far as voting Democrat...I honestly don't see how you would. The issue of Gun Control sticks out like a sore thumb to me. I have a right to carry a weapon, and I won't support a group of people trying to take that right away.

However, voting Republican has its downfalls as well. I won't support a party that censors and removes essential liberties from the people. The USA Patriot Act (passed under the Bush Administration) is an abomination. The constant push towards making governmental decisions based on religious beliefs is also a very dangerous and frightening thing.

I think we as Libertarians are mostly having to vote based on the "lesser of two evils." In the 2004 election, I voted Kerry simply because I didn't want to see Bush in office again. Would I have voted for Kerry under any other circumstances? Absolutely not.

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... you aren't forced to vote Republican. Less and less these days can you even consider them the lesser or two evils.

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Less and less, I agree. But when it comes to issues involving personal property rights, and economic freedom there is still a clear divide along party lines.

My vote is about not allowing the children to run the household -- the Libertarian-Republican choice boils down to choosing either Mom or Dad -- if it's clear one of the parents will win, I'll vote Libertarian. If it appears the children may win -- I'll back the odds on parent.

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This is a crock of sheet, no offense. Republicans are not any better on economic issues than Democrats, and Democrats are slightly better on personal issues.

Scoot-moderate libertarian who voted for Badnarik in 2004.

[Richard Tanner]

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This is a crock of sheet, no offense. Republicans are much better on economic issues than Democrats, and Democrats are much better on personal issues.


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FYP

Cody

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This is a crock of sheet, no offense. Republicans are much better on economic issues than Democrats, and Democrats are much better on personal issues.


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FYP

Cody

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Not really.

Republcians just prefer to borrow and spend instead of tax and spend. Both parties spend a lot so the economic issues are really negated. What good are tax cuts if you're running 400 billion dollar deficits? As for the personal issues, Democrats are slightly better on issues like the drug war, but it's not really much difference.

[lehighguy]

I see little evidence of a single reform the president has taken to protect property rights.

Moreover, his reckless fiscal policy and ultimately unpopular presidency will result in a political backlash that will put the socialist in power.

As for your analogy, I'm confused.