Are libertarians more likely to be Republican or Democrat,

[MaryBear]

if they join one of the big two?

For example, why is Ron Paul not a Democrat?

[redqueen]

1. republican

why: greed

[ixion]

2. neither

which is why they are libertarian. :-)

[slackmaster]

3. I know librarians in both major parties

:D

[snowbear]

17. A Republican Librarian?

I didn't think they could read..

........

[rucky]

4. Are they the pot smokers or the tax dodgers?

that's the way it breaks down, essentially.

[GreenPartyVoter]

5. LOL true

[valerief]

6. they're more likely to be Libertarians. nt

[HereSince1628]

7. Libertarians are more like Libertarians.

They are the anti-tax, anti-law party.

[valerief]

8. I've heard they're anti-aunts, too. They make everyone cry uncle. nt

[monktonman]

9. Republics

I always thought Libertarians are the worst kind of republics.
The kind that wont admit they're assholes.

Liberals can be libertarians for a short while, until the find out about libertarian fiscal policy.

Ron Paul is not a Democrat because he's a dick. All he did was say a few obvious and opportunistic things in a debate and Liberals are all in a tizzy. Ask him how he feels about choice or prayer in schools for starters and you'll see that this guy is just another douche-bag.

[stevedeshazer]

10. I agree with Thom Hartmann's take on Libertarians

They're just Republicans who wanna get laid and smoke pot.

Seriously, the Libertarian philosophy is flawed at best and, in my opinion, dangerous.

They think government should be limited to law enforcement, national defense, and not much else.

They would do away with social security, medicare, public transportation, pensions, unions, and ALL that.

They would replace it with the same laissez-faire, non-regulated robber baron mentality. Anything goes, no rules, just a for-profit society.

Ron Paul is right, as far as I can tell, on exactly one issue: The illegal invasion and occupation of Iraq.

That's not good enough.

[Hekate]

22. They don't believe in public education either.My intro to libertarian ideas...

...was at a party. 25 years ago? I was a single working mother with my two kids in daycare, and seriously re-assessing American public policy with regards to things like daycare, which is of course that you are on your own and s**t out of luck.

This intelligent young man, also single, started in on his political philosophy, which he identified as libertarian. When he got to the part where he didn't believe that HIS tax money should go to educate OTHER PEOPLE'S KIDS because he seriously didn't believe there was some kind of common good or social contract, my mind kind of exploded.

Words absolutely failed me, because I was so struck with the horror of a society that didn't believe there was any kind of common good in educating every child K-12.

Ah well. They're out there in abundance now, mostly calling themselves (or at least voting) Republicans, and as regards public education they have company in the theocrats.

Hekate

[SergeyDovlatov]

11. Republicans

For the most part republicans are using libertarian rhetoric (small government, low taxes, balance the budget, federalism, etc) though they don't follow through.

So on economic side libertarian might feel more at ease with republicans.
On social issues, naturally, libertarians are more aligned with the left.
On the issue of war, libertarians aligned with democrats of today (though war seems to be a bipartisan issue and different parties support wars and different times)

Before Ron Paul joined the race a bunch of libertarian friends of mine were thinking of voting for democrats since they could not stomach any more republicans after 7 years of Bush administration.

[kenny blankenship]

12. They're more likely to vote Republican--and usually do

Most Libertarians are Republicans who think
A) Even the Republicans want to provide too much in the way of social services through government--according to them the government should be stripped down to just its military and policing functions. This is an old-school "Ron Paul" Libertarian. If a government collects taxes beyond what is needed to cover defense and police functions, that government is "out of control" according to these Libertarians. Anything aside from police and defense which you might raise as a concern that should be a legitimate object of policy, such as what about safeguarding the environment?, education?, food and product safety?, what about old people & orphans dying of starvation in the streets? what about planning to transition our economy off of fossil fuels? or whathaveyou?, this kind of Libertarian believes all that would be best addressed by "the magic of the marketplace", and in rare instances the court system and principles of English Common Law. In fact their objection is not that they think that it would be best if those things were addressed solely by market forces of businessmen trying to get rich, it's more like they object that government has no right to do them, even if the private sector has no interest in doing them. They do not often evince hatred for the poor, but instead they display an absolute faith that some great immutable abstract principle will be violated if the government notices that there are poor people, or notices problems with the environment, etc, and then tries to do something about it. Government, they stammer, just ought never to interfere in matters that don't concern common defense of our lives, borders or property. Just ought not to. If you got them to agree that there was evidence of widespread poverty existing somewhere, they'd simply reply that was merely evidence that the government needed to stop trying to assist those people and the problem would eventually "correct itself". Although these Libertarians embrace (and often personify) an extreme utopia of isolation, they have a great deal in common with diagnosed autistics. They could form a club together if someone would just introduce them.

Or B) They love our highly unequal society and don't give a shit about the poor the environment etc, but think they should be allowed to smoke pot because they are "free, white and 21" , and it should be their right to enjoy themselves with their money as they see fit. These are "lifestyle" or South Park Libertarians. They are more commonly called South Park Republicans, because that's the way they vote. And everybody else in their frat thinks that name is cool. They benefit from the status quo, it's just that they don't think they are benefiting enough.

Or C) They like our highly unequal society just fine, but they don't care about abortion and/or they are militant atheists and hate the Republicans for wedding themselves to the religiously insane fundamentalist Xtians. These are the "Zarathrustran" Libertarians like Penn Gillette, who believe Nietzsche prophesied their coming as god-men bestriding the Earth to dazzle and rule over the herds of common idiots with their awesomeness, and who although they despise anything "socialistic" like the Democratic Party, ultimately find it beneath their dignity to make common cause with the Bible Thumpers within the GOP who drool and holler. They are far, far above having converse or truck with such superstitious savages.

Obviously, you can get mixes of different Libertarian personality disorders in one person. Types B&C often travel together behind one face.

[PurityOfEssence]

15. That was delicious, especially "C"

"Gee, Mr. Lamarr, you use yer tongue prettier'n a twenty dollar French whore."

They're generally also adolescents (regardless of chronologic age) who consider themselves better than others and resent having to ever give a damn about their fellow creatures, regardless of how much they benefit from their efforts. They completely ignore the stability and predictability that regulation brings, without which we'd never be able to advance as a species and without which we'd waste all of our time haggling, looking over our shoulders and testing everything we attempt to put into our bodies or cars.

Force them into describing the actual mechanism of these corrections and watch them splutter and equivocate. If a product is faulty or dangerous, the market mechanism will cause the product to cease being produced. The unfortunate reality is that this "correction" is had by death and maiming of innocent people, with the attendant social disruption.

I'm glad you mentioned that blowhard Jillette. Listening to him growl that nobody's ever been proven to have died from second-hand smoke shows the simplistic arrogance of this mindset. Anything short of certified, undeniable death just doesn't matter. Never mind the lost work and revenues for people whose asthma flares up due to this crap in the air. Never mind the disruption in people's lives. Never mind that this irritation combines with other maladies to degrade people's health, if there's not a proven gasping death on the bar room floor, it's just silly liberals keeping me from my personal freedom.

Yes, they tend to be Republicans, but the real issue isn't so much greed as it is pure unadulterated SELFISHNESS.

Thanks again; good read.

[OHdem10]

13. True Libertarians are closer to Republicans

except onthe Social Issues.The Smallest Federal Government
No Safety Net (SS, Medicare, Welfare). These are not the
functions of government.

They do not want the government in your pocketbook or bedroom.
Liberty in every area.

[wakemeupwhenitsover]

14. Republicans who just wanna boink & hit the bong. n/t

[MonkeyFunk]

16. Republican

Democrats believe that government can be a force for good.

Republicans and Libertarians believe government is always bad.

[Hollow Shells]

18. Republicans speak of small government

but they don't mean it. They take the big government stance on gay marriage, abortion, censorship, corporate welfare, flag burning, the war on drugs, and not to mention things such as "The No Child Left Behind Act", "The Patriot Act", and that whole wire taping thing.

Everyone I know that claims to be Libertarian votes Libertarian. I have voted Libertarian many times in my past, but I can not bring myself to do it anymore. I feel that their policies are delusional and self destructive.

[MaryBear]

19. Thanks for the considered responses.

I really like what Ron Paul says about consequences of our behavior abroad.

I wish one of our candidates would be just that clear.

[slampoet]

20. Are Oranges more likely to be strawberry or banana?

[LordJFT]

21. they generally vote republican

but it depends on the libertarian and I can't believe you ask why Ron Paul is a republican rather than a democrat. He's anti-choice, anti-stem cell research and anti-gay adoption. For a libertarian he's pretty conservative on social issues.

[nickgutierrez]

23. I would think they would trend Republican...

...based on their opposition to government-funded social services. Like the post office. :eyes:

[ToeBot]

24. Economics trumps social issues -> Republican. nt

[election_2004]

25. It depends on the issue and candidate

Bill Maher calls himself a "Libertarian," but he supported Ralph Nader in 2000 and is really more leftist in his positions.

Some libertarians are very conservative on "values" issues, while others believe in a "laissez-faire" approach to social issues.

The common trend of libertarians seems to be the minimization of federal government and increased economic sovereignty for private citizens.

I believe the Libertarian Party has some good ideas, but that it's not feasible to eliminate the role of the federal government to the extent they would prefer.