Posted on 06/02/2004 11:47:48 AM PDT by LiberalSlayer99
Republicans vs. Libertarians I was asked by someone the other day why I consider myself a Libertarian, but vote Republican...and what the differences are in the 2 philosophies. Well, I'll break it down for you.
To answer the first part of the question, I vote Republican because I feel they have the most realistic opportunity to win...and I feel that liberalism is destroying this country. I despise everything the Democratic party stands for and they'd be the last party I'd want in control of anything (I'll save details on this for a later rant).
What are the differences between the Libertarian Party and Republican Party? What are the basic differences in philosophy?
To distill it down to bare elements, Republicans feel morally responsible or a moral obligation to the public in some instances, whereas Libertarians use a more objectivist or pragmatic point-of-view.
As Ayn Rand wrote, "The only proper purpose of a government is to protect man's rights, which means: to protect him from physical violence....The only proper functions of a government are: the police, to protect you from criminals; the army, to protect you from foreign invaders; and the courts, to protect your property and contracts from breach or fraud by others, and to settle disputes by rational rules, according to objective law."
Obviously, most Republicans do not agree with that philosophy.
(Excerpt) Read more at liberalantithesis.blogspot.com ...
bump
Just a minor quibble.
You say you vote Republican because they are most likely to win.
Bandwagoning is a strange response for someone who appears to have well-thought-out beliefs.
If you despise democrats as you say you do, then you'd never vote for them whether they were likely to win or not.
So, in a year when republicans might not win, and 2004 looks to be one of them, how will you vote? A libertarian vote for president may as well be for the democrats you despise.
Someone who quotes Ayn Rand while voting other than libertarian is a mystery. Will you concretize your beliefs and vote honestly, or mindlessly bandwagon, or vote democrat by proxy?
I thought I was being clear as to why I vote Republican for the President. I do vote Libertarian for all seats below the President. However, because I loath Democrats and fear them gaining the Presidency, I vote Republican for President.
I won't deny that I'm conflicted between my heart and my head when it comes to voting. Ultimately, I'm being a pragmatist in the Presidential elections by voting Republican.
I have become active locally in the Libertarian party and I've successfully converted a few Republicans to the cause. Unfortunately, I don't see the Libertarian party successfully challenging for the Presidency in the near future unless we can successfully grow at a local level or recruit a prominent Republican to switch parties.
On the bright side, I see more and more people disillusioned with the 2 party system. My disillusionment springs from the Republican party moving to the center...while the Democrats have moved farther to the left.
Please see my thoughts on that.
Well, there's no doubt that the platform needs to be modified in terms of national security. Immigration and a strong military are also issues that concern me with the party. But working to change that mindset at a local level will help to change that at a national level.
The party is relatively young and unknown...so there is an opportunity for growth. Many people are fed up with the 2-party system and may be willing to make the switch...only if the Libertarian Party addresses those major issues.
I agree with what you are said in your commentary....but those issues are something that can be modified. I believe the best way to do that is by being active at a local level. The rest of the platform I agree with, but those 2 issues related to national security I am diametrically opposed.
Both major parties fall short, in my estimation, in furthering our freedom and liberty. Republicans, to some degree, seek to limit what I call social freedoms. They often oppose issues relating tp sexual freedom, they support the War on Some Drugs etc. Republicans do favor economic freedom. Democrats seek to limit our economic freedom. They raise taxes, limit our right of contract and are supportive of tarriffs and price supports. Their interest in social freedom is basically characterized as benign neglect. I am opposed to both party's limit on our freedom but I vote Republican because, honestly, they are more inept when it comes to limiting our freedom. Their efforts to impose their morality have largely failed, just look around. Democrats however are very capable of taking our money and they do it well and often every chance they get.
My comments will offend some people and I am sorry for that. My own life style is very much in accord with traditional Republican morality. I don't drink, use drugs have had only one wife to whom I was faithful until she died but I dislike any attempt at intervention into what I believe should be private areas of our lives where the government doesn't belong. I vote Republican because they are not very good at achieveing their stated and desired limits to our freedom.
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