btlzu2's Journal: My "Truth"

From Badnarik's site

What is a Libertarian?
By now you've probably heard at least a little something about the Libertarian party. Libertarians have had a Presidential candidate on the ballot since 1972, and the Badnarik campaign marks a continutation of that progress, with 49 ballots (not on New Hampshire or Oklahoma). We have candidates running for local and state level positions all across the country, and currently boast over 600 Libertarians in public office. It's difficult to find a place in America where you can pick up a ballot, and not find a Libertarian running for office.

In spite of this familiarity with the party, the one question that many people still seem to have is, "What exactly is a Libertarian?"

The ideas behind Libertarianism can be traced back over 400 years, to a period in history when the concepts of individual liberty & consensual government were first finding a foothold through the writings of people like John Locke and Algernon Sidney. The right to free one's self from tyrannical government was an infuriatingly-radical notion at a time when kings were thought to be divinely-ordained rulers. It was the bravery and clear-thinking of these early libertarian writers that served as the inspiration for the American Revolution, and the founding of our country as a free and independent nation. Nowhere is this clearer than in the Declaration of Independence, which makes the libertarian case perfectly, that government should exist to secure the life, liberty, and property of every one of its citizens.

Despite the historical connection behind the ideas of Libertarianism and the roots of our own nation, today's political pundits seem to have a difficult time figuring out how to label us: People with conservative beliefs see us as "liberals" because of our outspoken defense of personal freedoms?like the freedom of expression. On the other hand, people with liberal beliefs tend to see us as "conservatives" because of our staunch defense of economic freedoms, like the freedom for people to trade with one another in a way that they decide is in their own best interest. These misconceptions say more about the prejudices of the people who hold them, than they do about the Libertarian perspective.

Despite this confusion, the Libertarian philosophy is really very easy to understand. Libertarians are, quite simply, people who believe in "Self-Ownership": You own yourself, and no one else on Earth has a higher claim to your body or your labor than you do. So long as people act in a way that doesn't interfere with anyone else's freedom, Libertarians believe that they should be free to do what they please.

The idea of "Self-Ownership" is what distinguishes us from both liberals and conservatives. Every political position that Libertarians take can be traced back to this simple idea. For example, Libertarians are opposed to "liberal" attempts to use the government to regulate people's buying practices, by imposing tariffs on certain goods & industries. We oppose this kind of regulation not because we think that all goods & industries are equally wonderful, but because we believe that people own themselves, and should be allowed to buy what they like, based on their own beliefs and values. If for some people that means buying fair-trade coffee at the local co-op grocery store, then that's great?just as long as they don't use the government's power to force other people to do the same.

Likewise, Libertarians are opposed to "conservative" attempts to use the government to regulate people's morality, by imposing laws that restrict their behavior on the Sabbath, or at the pharmacy, or in the bedroom. We're opposed to these kinds of legal restrictions not because we think that all lifestyle choices are equally worth pursuing, but because we believe that people own themselves, and should be allowed to decide how to live their lives as they see fit, so long as they aren't hurting anyone else in the process.

Good post

[Red Warrior]

It is amazing how complicated people make the idea.

Registered Libertarian

[Ra5pu7in]

I've been registered Libertarian since I first registered to vote. Recently I was questioning whether or not the Libertarian party really stood for what I thought -- mostly based on a newsletter I received that promised no income taxes and "you will be a millionaire". It was so cheesy and clearly blind to what the consequences of some of their proposals would be. So I went through the voter handbook, actually read the text of every measure and proposition, researched the candidates as much as possible an

Re:Registered Libertarian

[elmegil]

Part of the problem is that there are a subset of libertarians who think Ayn Rand was the be-all end-all, and in common with some neocons, think that a completely unfettered marketplace will solve all ills. By completely unfettered, typically they mean "free to do what they like without being able to be sued or otherwise punished for bad behavior".

The good news is, from what I've read, Badnarik is not that foolish.

Re:Registered Libertarian

[btlzu2]

I've read some of those RIDICULOUS pamphlets too and was also questioning my Libertarian views for the past 4 or 5 years. However, I now think of Libertarianism not only as the "lesser of X many evils", but A Good Thing. We need to highlight personal responsibility, freedom, and common sense and Libertarianism is it with me. I really identify with it. The main thing I like about it is that it is tolerant of ANYONE'S views as long as they don't hurt someone else. That's a great ideal.

Internet experience

[LPetrazickis]

I cannot speak for local candidates, but there is a common thread between all the self-proclaimed libertarians I have conversed with online. They all believe that there is an innate fundamental right to property from which all the other rights derive. Since they view all the other rights as corollaries of property, they cannot mean anything that would contradict property.

Freedom of speech may not be exercised in violation of property, freedom of assembly may not be exercised in violation of property, fre

Re:Internet experience

[btlzu2]

I'm genuinely interested in what the hell you're talking about? :)

Re:Internet experience

[LPetrazickis]

Uh, "Libertarians" at internet discussion boards. Philosophy thereof. Fundamental axiom thereof.

Re:Internet experience

[btlzu2]

Well, I'm not too aware of or concerned with "property" as it relates to Libertarianism. I'm more concerned about personal freedoms, tolerance, smaller federal government, and the intentions of the Founding Fathers of the United States. I'm your counter-example, so there goes the neighborhood. :)

Equal Time

[dubiousdave]

In the interests of equal time for the other corporations^W political parties:

What is a Republican?
Give me money. Vote for me. Democrats suck.

What is a Democrat?
Give me money. Vote for me. Republicans suck.