Are there any differences between Conservatives and Libertarians?

1/12/03 | Sparta

[Sparta]

I've been reading posts by people who use the term Conservative and others who use the term Libertarian. I have a question for all FReepers, is there a difference between the two?

[krb]

lol...

[Robert_Paulson2]

he slips when he's off his meds...

prescription, of course.

[Bernard Marx]

Your "Lord of the Flies" comment was my second big laugh of the evening! (I enjoyed the comic too but chuckled and nodded instead of laughing).

The first great laugh was this, which is apropos to nothing on this thread:

"Alas for poor dear hubby,
His face has paraplegia.
For what he thought was Aqua Velva,
Was really aqua regia."

If anyone doesn't know what it is, look it up.

[nopardons]

That is funny ! What thread, or other place did you find that bit of doggeral ? LOL

[Texasforever]

I just found the reference. LOL

[nunya bidness]

His name was Robert Paulson.

[Little Bill]

Willy at his multisylablic best.

Under all those words, the idea that Libertarianism is about ME, as a person, and that I should feel good, rather than we doing something because it the right thing, though the government may be doing it.

[Bernard Marx]

I'm a goldsmith in real life, and aqua regia has uses in that line of work. It was posted in a professional forum but I figured it could use wider exposure. I was waiting for the "Burma Shave" tag - it's in the exact same style and meter.

[Texasforever]

It is a sacrilegious parody for which poor poster will be severely chastised. LOL

[hoosierskypilot]

I took your quiz. I'm a right conservative. (Nice to find out I finally belong somewhere.)

[nopardons]

Yes, that was my first thought too. I LOVE the old Burma Shave road sign doggeral. :-)

You're a goldsmith ? How interesting !

[Conservababe]

Libertarians will not prosecute war, but Conservatives will, to protect even Libertarians.

[nopardons]

It IS funny, though. :-)

[Diplomat]

Here it is in a nutshell.

Libertatians are opposed to any level of government having the authority to regulate any form of human social behavior that does not directly harm another already born human being.

Conservatives disagree with the above.

Thus nearly all libertarians you meet will oppose laws that make the following activities illegal: abortion, gambling, alcohol and drug use, prostitution, sodomy, smoking, etc.

As a purist Conservative, I completely agree with the libertarians that the federal drug war is unconstitutional on many levels. However, I disagree completely with them on issues such as, driving while cell-phoning and nudie bars. If my local city wants to outlaw nudie bars, they darn well should be allowed too. This game we have to play called zoning laws hot potato is b.s. and needs to end. If we don't want a business in our backyard, the federal or state judiciaries shouldn't dictate that we have to allow it. Likewise, if the Peoples Republic of Kalifornia wants to outlaw driving while cell phoning, then we should be allowed too. Frankly, these drivers are a much greater danger to my safety than the gang-bangers shooting up their LA neighberhoods. And no, I rarely agree with anything my state or my home city of Los Angeles does, but if driving while cell-phoning shows up on a ballot initiative, I'll vote to outlaw this activiy. Put me down as a Conservative and not a Libertarian.

[Bernard Marx]

Problem is, I'm old enough to remember the ORIGINAL Burma Shave signs. They were a great relief to kids who tired of long road trips at 40-50 m.p.h. tops -- downhill.

[Bernard Marx]

It is a sacrilegious parody for which poor poster will be severely chastised

Huh???

[nopardons]

That's NO problem; the original Burma Shave signs were around so long, that I saw them on family road trips too and you could be almost any age to have seen them. :-)

[Godel]

I tend to fall somewhere between conservative and liberal, but my anger at our nation being slowly invaded and conquered by demographic warfare and illegal immigration is shifting me to the conservative side. Most illegal immigrants come here for handouts and will vote to enslave me with oppressive government giving them handouts, therefore I need to do everything possible to keep them out.

At the end of the day I don't care much about drugs either way. Either outlawing them, or legalizing them and letting addicts die would be better than the crazy liberal ideas of enabling destructive behavior with needle exchanges, social security checks for drug addicts, etc.

Libertarians have a nasty habit of being so idealistic that they make stupid decisions, like staying silent while our sovereignty is destroyed by illegal immigrants who vote for bigger government.

Republicans have a nasty habit of claiming they want smaller government, then voting for "compassionate programs" that create a nanny-state just like the Democrats.

I've been thinking about it lately, I think alot of people's political differences ultimately come down to what they think the meaning of life is. I believe in God and don't think life is meant to be a utopian paradise like liberals envision. I see life as a chance for us to learn and make choices and experience the results. That's what free will is all about. When government takes away our freedom to make choices, or absolves us of the consequences of our actions, it's taking the point out of living. What's the point of being alive and making choices if they don't matter. Liberals on the other hand, are so obsessed with creating their idea of heaven on earth, that they don't care if they take away all our freedoms to make choices or experience consequences.

[Bonaparte]

I think you've charged Buckley with making a call for collectivism. He said no such thing. He was speaking throughout about the individual. He ends by expressly calling for strict limits on government.

[A CA Guy]

You are either out of your mind if you really don't see the differences after reading posted stuff here or a Libertarian, which would be the same as being out of your mind anyway.