I’ve been meaning to ask this question here for a long time now: Issue for issue, what are the true differences between Conservative and Libertarian viewpoints?
As a follow-up question: For each issue, which viewpoint best matches those of the Founders?
I’m not altogether for or against either position, necessarily, but I am curious to hear how fellow FReepers sort out the distinctions.
“I’ve been meaning to ask this question here for a long time now: Issue for issue, what are the true differences between Conservative and Libertarian viewpoints?
As a follow-up question: For each issue, which viewpoint best matches those of the Founders?
I’m not altogether for or against either position, necessarily, but I am curious to hear how fellow FReepers sort out the distinctions.”
You’ll probably get as many different answers as there are freepers. Some GOP around here look at any leaning toward libertarianism as akin to inviting the anti christ into your house.
Now, you can use different barometers...let’s take ACU for instance. They give Rand Paul & Rubio 100% conservative, but don’t give it to Ted Cruz.
So, it all depends on who you’re asking. I believe it more in line with the founding fathers than GOPe.
Libertarians are socially and morally liberal. The Founding Fathers were big on private morality, seeing such people as the only ones that the US Constitution can govern successfully. Libertarians are unaware (or perhaps not) that the Constitution cannot govern amoral and immoral people; I do not see them believing that the welfare of the USA depends on whether the majority in the USA is a moral people who look to God for protection, nor believing that an amoral/immoral people will have God removing His protection from them.
Where matters go astray would be the fair number of Libertarians who are in fact libertine, on the one hand. Not all are, there are pro-life socially conservative Libertarians. But to the libertines who at times appear to predominate, they're openly hostile to any sort of social sanction or taboo pertaining to morals or behavior. This is unlike the Founders who more or less institutionalized an ability to shape the public square and acceptable behavior from the State level on down the line. Freedom of association also means not being forced to associate with those of whom you disapprove.
On the other hand, we have very ardent social conservatives who become decided champions of authoritarian heavy-handedness pertaining to certain moral issues. They don't like it or believe it to be immoral, they immediately want to bring the coercive power of the state to bear, in order to stamp it out. This is very unlike the Founders as well.
There is middle ground to be found, and the Founders exemplify it. Freedom of conscience doesn't mean just what the oddly lockstep “Free Thinkers” say it does. Freedom of association does not only apply to individuals and groups historically marginalized, it applies to all.
In my opinion, the libertarians are right on, but in our culture it wouldn't work anymore. America was built on personal freedoms, but without self accountability, those personal freedoms become a burden on everyone else. The masses become slaves to the fallen.
IF the libertarians were to end all social programs today, so people would be held personally responsible for their own choices, it would be great, but I don't see that happening.
Social liberalism leads to destroyed lives. People don't always make the right choices. Today, those who choose to destroy their lives are rewarded with a life time of care. They not only get what they need - they even get those things they want. It's destroying the nation rather than strengthening it.
IF libertarians were able to free people from being held responsible for other peoples bad choices, we'd have the country our founding fathers left for us. We'd all be free.
While I don’t claim this to be any definitive answer, it’s a point to consider that, if you really think in depth about it, holds completely true... One of my political mentors described modern libertarianism (paraphrased) as thus: “The quest for drugs”.
Modern Ls ALWAYS have drug legalization somewhere in the mix. When you look at their border stance, you get the free movement of drugs on the backs of illegals. When you look at their opposition to conservatism, even though they share a great number of our views, the drug legalization issue ALWAYS comes up as a bargaining chip. ALWAYS.
I could go on with examples, but just look at any time a libertarian gets a podium. Drug legalization is always in the mix. And the nanosecond anyone speaks against it, the ‘libertarian’ suddenly becomes a ‘moderate’ who ‘sees the other side’...AKA LIBERALISM.
We all have various views on the drug war. But the Ls have codified this as their line in the sand and will put all other issues subservient to their progress relating to it. History has shown that to be the case. Just look at RonPaul’s army. It was ALL ABOUT the drug issue. And they are the core of modern libertarianism.
The reason Conservatives have strayed from the Founder’s view on international affairs is because today’s world lives in instant worldwide communication, not to forget communications with those outside our atmosphere; bioengineered plagues, and ballistic missiles, all of which the Founders couldn’t dream of in their time. I, like the libertarians, and I’m sure most here, would prefer to live in a world where bio-weapons and nukes aren’t needed, but that will never be the case, and as such, strong deterrents like that are needed, as well as a properly-funded, standing military.
Simple and helpful libertarianism test:
“Do you believe the federal government should or does have the power to strike down state laws covering personal behavior (such as homosexuality, drug use, marriage, abortion)?”
If any answer yes they are not libertarians- they are advocates for government power.
The view of the Founders needs no discussion.
There is as wide a variety of libertarians as there is conservatives. Everyone you ask -- libertarian or conservative -- will give you a different answer.
Libertarians are to the left of the left on social issues and the border, perhaps even on national defense issues.
Libertarians agree with conservatives on economic issues or claim to, although their leftist social agenda would destroy conservative economics.