NationStates Jolt Archive

Yes, the title is intentionally misleading.

Don't get me wrong. I'm a Libertarian. But why are there so many Libertarians here and not at other political forums? Why don't we hear from any members of the Green party, the Constitution party, the Reform party, the Socialist Workers party, etc.? For that matter, why don't we hear from any Democrats or Republicans?

Everybody here is either a liberal, a conservative, or a Libertarian, and, compared to other sites, there are an awful lot of people who know they're Libertarians.

The LP is the third largest party in the US. The Dems and Reps got tired of endlessly debating each other. Now it is our turn to play.

I think the party might be growing followers because people are becoming disillusioned with the two parties.

The LP is the third largest party in the US. The Dems and Reps got tired of endlessly debating each other. Now it is our turn to play.

I think the party might be growing followers because people are becoming disillusioned with the two parties.
Thanks for saving me the time to type the same thing.
Besides, since this is a pretty intelligent board here, who'd admit to being a freakin' Naderfan?
*shivers*

Political parties suck, no matter which one.

Thanks for saving me the time to type the same thing.
Besides, since this is a pretty intelligent board here, who'd admit to being a freakin' Naderfan?
*shivers*

Haha...nothing is worse than dating a girl and then finding out she voted 'green.' Immediate grounds for dismissal.

Everybody here is either a liberal, a conservative, or a Libertarian, and, compared to other sites, there are an awful lot of people who know they're Libertarians.
There is a fair share of communists as well.

There is a fair share of communists as well.

Yes, exactly. This board has more Socialists than the EU.

Yes, exactly. This board has more Socialists than the EU.
*Wham* That'll teach 'em.

Bah, America is just as socialist as the EU. We just make guns instead of feeding the homeless.

In 2004, the US govt took $400+ billion and redistributed it to the military machine.

Bah, America is just as socialist as the EU. We just make guns instead of feeding the homeless.

In 2004, the US govt took $400+ billion and redistributed it to the military machine.
Not thrilling, but at least they're doing their job there.
Helping the homeless and downtrodden is supposed to be our job as decent, kind citizens. If the churches were doing their holy job instead of lining their pockets...

This is the only place I've ever come into contact with Libertarians. Seems to be a mainly north american thing.

Not thrilling, but at least they're doing their job there.
Helping the homeless and downtrodden is supposed to be our job as decent, kind citizens. If the churches were doing their holy job instead of lining their pockets...

This is true, but they are both equally useless (in times of peace that is). I suppose the military does come up with new technologies on occasion. Unfortunately they tend center around how to turn people to dust in the most efficient matter.

This is the only place I've ever come into contact with Libertarians. Seems to be a mainly north american thing.

It's rare in the US, except for net forums and college campuses. When visiting friends around DC, they always ask who Badnarik is (referring to my bumper sticker). Without fail they think it is some joke that they don't get.

The LP is the third largest party in the US. The Dems and Reps got tired of endlessly debating each other. Now it is our turn to play.

I think the party might be growing followers because people are becoming disillusioned with the two parties.

Are you a Democrat? Tired of being f**ked in the ass because they want you (gay, black, Hispanic, women, rich Hollywood idiot, fill in the blank) to vote for them, and then when they get in office, they not only fail to fulfill their promises, they turn around and a**rape you without the courtesy of a reacharound?

Are you a Republican? Tired of being f**ked in the ass because they want you (gun owner, Christian fundamentalist, suburban soccer mom, white male, rich corporate felon, fill in the blank) to vote for them, and then when they get in office, they not only fail to fulfill their promises, they turn around and a**rape you without the courtesy of a reacharound?

Don't you find it odd that both parties claim and promise to be the party of more personal freedom (abortion, guns, religion, you name it) and then depending on which party it is, they want to take away those personal freedoms (abortion, guns, religion, you name it).

Isn't is strange that both parties claim to want smaller government, but both vote for more and more spending, depending on whether or not it's for their pet program that's sure to get them votes and kickbacks in their home district? The last politician to actually say smaller government and actually get a few pieces of legislation through along those lines was Gingrich, and even he was waffling, inconsistent, and generally ludicrous.

I've had it with parties that both claim to protect me against potential tyranny. We can see what the Republican method is at this point in time. And having read Hillary's recent statements, she's just John Ashcroft in a dress.

This is the only place I've ever come into contact with Libertarians. Seems to be a mainly north american thing.
I don't know about any other countries, but the Libertarian Party is the 3rd largest party in America, and growing big time.

I consider myself to be a libertarian. Just not a Libertarian.

From a European perspective it seems very right wing. I suspect that if you decribed it to a random person in Europe they would probably say the US is already like that (compared to here) and that for people in the US to want to go even further down that road would sound like extremism. It all depends where the political centre is in a country.

From a European perspective it seems very right wing. I suspect that if you decribed it to a random person in Europe they would probably say the US is already like that (compared to here) and that for people in the US to want to go even further down that road would sound like extremism. It all depends where the political centre is in a country.
It's right wing, but not authoritarian. If you're familiar with www.politicalcompass.org you'll know what I mean. And, sadly, the political center here would be considered to be right wing in Europe.

I don't know about any other countries, but the Libertarian Party is the 3rd largest party in America, and growing big time.
Doesn't it make you mad that, even though this is clearly true, the Reform party gets more votes (but only slightly)?

It's right wing, but not authoritarian. If you're familiar with www.politicalcompass.org you'll know what I mean. And, sadly, the political center here would be considered to be right wing in Europe.
Um, no. It's not right wing. It's North, even according to the political compass.

Um, no. It's not right wing. It's North, even according to the political compass.
Are you referring to the issues of the Libertarian party, or the political center of the U.S.?

I'm a left-wing European (communist), and my perception of USA is that u dont really have a left wing party. Maybe it's because americans never had dictatorships (or at least thir dictatorship is hidden by media) and never had to fight for their rights... We have a longer story about social fights, that's all.
U dont even think that there could be something else than capitalism and free market, we do.

I'm referring to the libertarian philosophy.

It's right wing, but not authoritarian. If you're familiar with www.politicalcompass.org you'll know what I mean. And, sadly, the political center here would be considered to be right wing in Europe.
Yes, I think the distinction with authoritarianism is important one - both political wings suffer from the problem of their opponents deliberately missing this kind of "detail". I wonder if this kind of politics grows out of our different experiences of Government. For us it is a tool that can be used to balance things - on the whole we want not too much and not too little. The exact ideal varies from nation to nation. For example in the UK people like less and in France they like alot. On the whole though it is generally seen as a positive thing. The arguments are less over reduction through cutting and more over efficiency. Whereas in the US it seems like there is a lot of beauracracy and government expenditure and little social benefit. It is then logical to say that less government would be better as it seems to bring no benefit. This is the result of that shifting centre - the european one is further left so the debate is about how to use government but not whether to, and in the US it is furhter right and becomes the opposite - whether to use government but not how.