I've always been a hardcore conservative bush supporting pro-gun guy, but the Republicans are becoming more and more like the guys that I really...dislike, the democrats. They are all touchy feely now. It almost seems that the GOP is giving up, or at least ignoring, gun control issues, which really bothers me. Everyone is also making a huge freakin' deal over the gay marriage thing, my opinion is that even though I don't like it, I shouldn't be able to tell them what to do, that's against the entire idea of the US, unconditional freedom. They are also both becoming so big-business oriented, and they just keep adding new parts to the government that aren't really needed, and just raising taxes more. I was thinking about changing over to the Libertarian party and I was wondering if any of you all are libertarians, or even conservative. Even if you aren't I'd appreciate any thoughts on libertarians ya'll might have.

I believe I'm a moderate/libertarian. Just be aware that nothing would get done if the Libertarians were ever to gain the presidency or majority in congress.

Honestly, I'd just like to see more choices than the current two-party system. I don't like having to chose between social and economical freedom...

Libertarians ( http://www.lp.org ) are what the Republican party used to be decades ago. Small government with maxium personal freedom. Which even though i am a Democrat does have some appeal to me. However if by an act of god there was a libertarian majority in the government, nothing would be done as said above. These guys are pretty free maket, against many social programs, but very pro freedom.

^^ That's what I'M talking about. ^^

I thought the Constituition Party was for all rights in the constitution? Because they sure are against pornography, and for obsecnity laws, which should be protected under free speech.....

I consider myself libertarian. I don't like people telling me what to do...and I don't think others should be told what to think, what to do, or how to live their own lives.

I value your choice of religion or political affiliation...but I shouldn't have to agree to it or abide by it.

-S

I don't really have any understanding of politics, but I actually think that if the libertarians did get into office and kinda cut off some of the unneeded parts of the government, and then didn't do much, it wouldn't be such a bad thing. A lot of state and federal institutions could be privatized and then they would work a lot better. Social security should definately be put into the hands of the people instead of acting like a big piggy bank for the government to use. Also, letting public schools be funded by businesses, so they could compete on offering a better education, and have the money to do it with, might be possible.
I do agree that 1st amendment speech can't be split up, it should be that all speech, even if profane, and definately porn, should be protected, and if someone doesn't like it they just don't have to pay attention.

Some speach has to be restircted. You can't yell that you have a gun in an airport or repeatedly mail people death threats. Saying that you can do whatever you want whenever you want just doesn't work in a structured society. So there has to be some metric that you can use to determine where the line is.

Yea, Libertarian is definetly how I'd like the government run. Just enough stuff to keep society working (military, police, etc. - no welfare and such), and leave the rest for people to figure out. Yea 1895.

Many of you agree with the Libertarian and/or Constitution Parties in principle (and I do as well on several issues), but you must have missed several points in their platforms that seem, at the very least, poorly thought out.

Libertarians (from their platform):

1) Support the right of any individual or group to secede from the U.S. or any of its programs.

2) Oppose government imposition of any kind of occupational certification programs. This means doctors, lawyers, child care providers, demolition experts, etc. just have to hang out a shingle to practice.

3) Oppose commitment of individuals to mental health care facilities and the forced consumption of medication. That means crazy people can stop taking their pills. Sounds like a good idea....

4) Support legalization of all drugs, including heroine, crack, LSD, and anything else you might consider snorting, drinking, shooting up, huffing, smoking, or whatever. Apparently this measure will drastically reduce crime because crime is caused by expensive drugs. Nevermind the fact that people on hard drugs can quickly become absolutely nuts (ever watch those police chases on RealTV?).

5) Support the elimination of all public schooling and the creation of a separation of school and state. All education will be private. There is no mention of scholarships or grants to poor people so that their children can go to school.

6) Are completely pro-choice. You might be too, but I just thought I'd point that out.

7) Wish to eliminate laws abolishing insider trading. Oh, that sounds really fair.

8 Wish to allow juries to decide not only whether someone broke a law, but whether that law was just in the first place. What's the point of passing laws, then?

9) Wish to eliminate national minting of money. Currency will be minted privately, and I assume that practice will be barely regulated, if at all.

That's just a taste. I could go on.


The Constitutional Party (from their platform):

1) Is absolutely pro-life. No exceptions. You might be too, but you should be aware of that.

2) Opposes federal laws regulating or subsidizing education.

3) Wishes to abolish income tax and wish to make the only revenue for the federal government come from tariffs. Any additional revenue needed should come from the state governments in proportion to their populations.

4) Opposes government welfare programs of any kind.

5) Supports a moratorium on immigration.

6) Wishes to withdraw completely from the U.N. and NATO.

7) Wants to repeal protection for endangered species.

Oppose the deployment of troops without a declaration of war.

So both parties have some extremely questionable planks on their platforms. It's possible that you support parts of either party's platform. I suggest you get more involved in the primary process for either the Democratic or Republican parties. The Constitutional Party platform basically reads like a conservative Republican manifesto anyway.

my only problem with withdrawing from the UN is that the US is the only nation who isn't totally against Israel. if not for the US, Israel would have already been disbanded and split up to the arab nations or be completely run by the UN.

Which is exactly why I said nothing would get done if they were to ever gain control of the government.



Oh, right, and be forced to chose between economic freedom (republican) and social freedom (democrat). One of the beautiful things about this country is you can tell both of the dominant political parties to fuck off and go your own way.

If something drastic were to ever happen, such as us withdrawing from the UN, I don' t know how badly it would affect our other policies, such as the view on Israel. I mean really, the US provides the bulk of what the UN ever uses for operations, be that troops, money, supplies, etc.

Half of the point of the political party system is to define issues before they are on the ballot. If you want the Republican party to respect "social freedom" more, contact Republican lawmakers about your viewpoint and contribute to nonprofit organizations who espouse your beliefs on the issues you care about. If you want Democrats to respect "economic freedom" more, do likewise. You really can't whine about your choices on election day if you don't participate in the primary process in the first place. Here in Missouri, you don't even have to register Republican or Democrat to vote in the primary; you just pick a ballot at the polling place. I am happy, however, that we had a 42% turnout this primary election (although a significant chunk of that just voted on the constitutional amendments).

Third parties mainly serve to push specific issues. When they get a significant amount of support, their positions are absorbed by one major party or the other. Look at the Populist Party around the turn of the 20th century.

Here's what I'm getting at:
1) If you don't like who is elected, vote.
2) If you don't like what elected officials are doing, write a letter or make a phone call to their offices.
3) If you don't like your choices on election day, vote in the primaries (and talk to people about who to vote for).
4) If all else fails, and there are specific issues you really care about, contribute to nonprofits who push those issues. It usually doesn't hurt to have intelligent conversations about those issues either.
5) If you don't like options 1-4, go ahead and tell the dominant political parties "to fuck off." While you're at it, go ahead and save yourself 10 minutes and a little gas money by staying home on election day.