Why Libertarians Will Never Achieve Mass Electoral Success

[votesparks]

This video sums up why Libertarians will never achieve mass electoral success in the United States - They are so beholden to ideology that they apply it to every situation, many of which just don't fit the parameters of their ideology.

For example, the Libertarians in this video, while stating that it would be personally wrong for businesses open to the public to discriminate on the basis of race, nonetheless, say they support the idea based upon the "freedom" of the private property owner to do as they please.

[Atman]

1. Libertarianism is a dead, disproven ideology.

It could work in communes and small other communities, but it is wholly unworkable in a nation of millions of people. Besides, most "Libertarians" only became Libertarians because George W. Bush made them too embarrassed to admit they were Republicans. I have one friend who openly bragged about voting for W. at the time, even doing a bit of an "In your face! Haha!" victory dance after 2004. Now he swears he didn't actually vote for him, and that he's always been a Libertarian. Yeah, right.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

3. Libertarianism is far from dead. There are a number of socialist libertarians on DU

There are a number of socialist libertarians on DU but due to the stigma centrists throw on both terms (the S word and the L word) they are reluctant to admit it, sometimes even to themselves.

Further, the comic book stereotype most people think of as "Libertarian" is an extremist radical caricature that does not contain the many thoughtful caring libertarians who live on both the right and the left.

It's easy to tar and feather them all with the Cruz image but it is not accurate at all.

[Laelth]

5. Libertarianism is just stupid.

And very few people who claim to be libertarians actually want to live in a country governed by libertarian ideology. Few (if any).

That said, I think the libertarian label (or brand, if you will) is most regularly adopted by relatively-affluent, socially-liberal, white men who want to distance themselves from the "liberal" and "Democratic" brands ... because those brands have been emasculated.

Just my 2 cents.



-Laelth

[votesparks]

6. A very interesting point

about the perception of emasculation. Yes, I do see quite a bit of faux tough-guy gun culture within' the Libertarian circles.

[Laelth]

7. When was the last time you met a libertarian woman?

I have never met one, personally. Where are the black, Hispanic, and Native American libertarians? I don't know any of those, either.

That should tell us something.

-Laelth

[votesparks]

8. I have

I had a good friend who was a woman Libertarian. Card carrying. But she told me that she thought Libertarian economics were bullshit, and that she was only there for the civil liberties side of the LP.

[Laelth]

10. Exactly. Not really a libertarian.

Because libertarianism ... is stupid.

-Laelth

[Atman]

9. I totally agree.

My aforementioned friend is a DINK, quite well-off, smokes pot, hangs out at nude beaches, lives a decidedly "liberal" life. He's made a lot of money in medical sales (equipment and supplies), and now talks of "retiring" at 45. His core beliefs seem rest on two pillars, much like every other so-called Libertarian: he doesn't want to pay any taxes, and everyone who is on any kind of assistance is just a leach out to get his money. Otherwise, he's a swell guy. We're actually going whitewater rafting together this weekend.

[MicaelS]

11. Libertarianism is NOT dead.

They are a lot of them in the IT industry, and Silicon Valley. Spend some time on forums dedicated to computers and tech, and you'll find lots of them there.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

2. Cruz is not a libertarian or Libertarian. Not even close. nt

[votesparks]

4. That's strange, because

he seems to get mentioned as one of the favorite Libertarian Repubs. I even heard Alex Jones talking about how great it is to now have the Libertarianism of Rand Paul and Ted Cruz in the Senate. I'd rather be endorsed by Ebola than Alex Jones.

[Bernardo de La Paz]

12. It just goes to show how the Right Wing has perverted the label of Libertarianism.

They call themselves "libertarian" when it serves them to self-aggrandize themselves as being against government intervention in the economy.

Cruz is for what is called "pro-life" and against same sex marriages. Those are not libertarian positions because they call for government interference in personal liberty.

Cruz beat the Libertarian candidate 56% to 2% for his Senate seat.

[nyquil_man]

13. And here I thought they were Tea Party.

Jesus, can't these clowns pick a name and commit?

[BillyRibs]

14. Libertarians are Pikers,

They want a free ride when the rest of us paid for the expensive part and the welthier one are the worst of all!

[Wolf Frankula]

15. American Libertarians are Just Conservative Goopers

who don't want to be drafted and want to smoke dope. That's it.

Wolf

[BillyRibs]

16. I resent the dope smoker reference!

If it wasn't for the fact I get asked (told) to pee in a cup I would have never given it up 20 years ago.