NationStates Jolt Archive

So I'm not a Libertarian. In fact I really have a hard time understanding them. Just for me to start trying to understand libertarians I thought I would ask where they came from? But I'm also interested to know what kinds of jobs you have. Do you tend to be young or old. Married or single. Etc. Basically I want to know what types of people become libertarian and why they do so.

So I'm not a Libertarian. In fact I really have a hard time understanding them. Just for me to start trying to understand libertarians I thought I would ask where they came from? But I'm also interested to know what kinds of jobs you have. Do you tend to be young or old. Married or single. Etc. Basically I want to know what types of people become libertarian and why they do so. #1 reason: Preternatural distaste for hypocrisy. I dispise Republocrats and Democan('t)s

As for me, I'm an over-educated, under-employed, ex-military white-guy from a Wyoming (US) "Indian" Reservation, with a chronic/medically disabled spouse.

I've worked for and against Government in a variety of capacities my entire life. I've lived in both the US and Europe.

My experiences have led me to believe the axiom that the government that govern's best, governs least - if for no other reason than it makes People take responsibility for themselves.

Not that I concider myself a "libertarian," or any political label at that, I do agree with many of the principles and ideas, so here it is:

Where from: Rockville/Aspen Hill, 20 min north of Washington DC, Maryland, USA.

Kinds of jobs: Currently unemployed, but formerly: bag boy/cart herd at Giant, clerk at TCBY, karate camp councler, construction laborer. Still do the construction things, but not with any sort of regularity

Young or old: 19

Married or single: Single, but I am with a girl I intend to marry (years down the road, when we are not so young and unready).

As to why, well, I am against, as a general rule, any government which trys to get too involved in the lives of indevidual citizens, or puts too many restrictions on your free will. Government is nothing more then a group of people, and I see no reason why this group knows how to live my life better then I do. I believe that you have the right to do whatever you want, so long as it does not harm or infringe on the rights of another. The whole "your rights end where mine begin and no sooner" thing. The only reason government can be justified in it's existance is if it exists to safeguard the rights of indevidual people. Otherwise, I see no justification why one group of people should have authority over the rest of the people.

Humans have the capacity to think and reason. We all have a right to make our own choices, and with it a responcibility to live with the concenquences. Besides, when government trys to make things better, they just mess it up. When they get too powerful, they become curropt, no way around it. I just look back through history and see government failing at every turn, and therefor it must be up to each of us to live our own lives.

Basically I want to know what types of people become libertarian and why they do so.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9866172&postcount=19

I'm 28 single white male from Florida. I've been registered as a Libertarian since I was able to vote, and the political philosophy appealed to me from a young age (16). Why am I a libertarian? Because it makes more sense to me, that's why.

I'm a 19 yr old Penn State University sophomore from everywhere (Air Force brat, we moved a lot) with a major in history, minor in military science; Army ROTC cadet and future officer. Oh and I'm single.

Why libertarian? Because I think that as long as the individual is not causing harm to others or other's property they should be allowed to do whatever they want. I value the rights of the individual above all else, and resent any encroachment on those rights. I'm also a firm believer in "The government that governs best, governs least."

Although I'm actually registered republican because in Pennsylvania I can't register independent and vote in primaries. Otherwise, I'd definitely be registered independent.

I'm a 24 year old, white homosexual New Zealander, university educated, who used to be a socialist, but realised at the ripe old age of 20 that the government seems to have the capacity to stuff up almost everything it touches.

I swear, its as though government is some sort of masssive cancer on the countries landscape that seems to want to regulate anything that breathes, makes money etc, tells it citizen what to do - when to take a shit, how many kids to have; and if that isn't enough, we have various factions claiming that they should use the state apparatus to push their particular moral beliefs.

Personally, I'd rather have freedom and live on the streets in a cardboard box, than beholden a moreass of a government run by elitists who think they know what is best for me.

West Michigan!

Young, single, seasonal life-gaurd that has not yet graduated.

I place much value in the personal freedoms of the people, however, I do not associate with any particualar party, and am somewhat politically active.

Not particularly a libertarian, and I still am very much refining my ideology (I don't think I will ever actually get it refined).

However, I am generally associated with libertarians because of my views. I was raised in the midwest, and in high school was very suspicious of capitalism. Like a lot of socialists, I questioned whether those who were wealthy deserved their wealth and saw profits as possibly being exploitative.

Then I went to college as a finance major, with several courses in economics. After being emmersed into the nature and innerworkings of corporations, financial markets, and both micro and macroeconomics. I began to see justification for the cash and resource flows of a capitalistic society. It was all a cynic like myself needed to complete lose faith in government.

http://forums.jolt.co.uk/showpost.php?p=9866172&postcount=19
Bravo.

Well, I'm from Michigan (west side, yo). Grew up in a middle class home, with the middle class lifestyle.

I came to libertarianism (little l) after getting fed up with the lack of respect for individual rights that the republican party esposed, while liking their commitment to economic freedom.

I'm single (:( ) and 18.

Would you like my social security and bank account numbers, as well?

I lied, while i'm niether European or American (thank Gawd) and i HATE Libertarians i do LOVE polls...

I lied, while i'm niether European or American (thank Gawd) and i HATE Libertarians i do LOVE polls...
Hate is a very strong word.

Location: Chicago
Status: Married
Age: 23
Job: PsyD candidate

Guess that leaves the why. I'm a libertarian because I believe in my freedom, I have a general distrust of authority, and I am instictively hostile towards turning over anything but the bare minimum of control over my existance to those I do not personally choose. Somtimes I am a libertarian for practical reasons: if someone breaks into my home I believe that I am justified in assuming they mean me or my family harm and I don't feel I should be treated as a criminal if I kill them outright. Sometimes I am a libertarian for philosophical reasons: I believe it is the responsibility of the individual to police his own life, so I look at organizations like the FCC or the DEA as intrinsically dangerous to liberty. Basically, I just want to be left alone by government and allowed to live my life as I see fit so long as it does not infringe upon the liberty of others.

*snip*
Would you like my social security and bank account numbers, as well?

Yes, you can TG them to me. :cool:

Perhaps more neo liberalist on my part.

35 not legally married with one spouse (religious ceramony only) and a potential second. Christian (plain Christian, no denomination) with Wiccian and Druid siblings. Born and raised on Delmarva. Spent almost 10 years inthe Navy. I've also driven Rigs, worked retail, computers, food service and basic phone/electrical wiring.

I never had any real political leanings till about 3 years ago. I personally believe in maximum freedom so long as it doesn't infringe on someone else's rights. Of course what some people are claiming as rights are pretty bloody foolish (you do NOT have the right to not be offended). I would say I am a libertarian and while I am registered Libertarian there are a lot of things the Party esposes that I disagree with. Therefor I vote for the person and never for the party. I also believe that if you vote for the person you truely believe to be the best then you never waste a vote.

So I'm not a Libertarian. In fact I really have a hard time understanding them. Just for me to start trying to understand libertarians I thought I would ask where they came from? But I'm also interested to know what kinds of jobs you have. Do you tend to be young or old. Married or single. Etc. Basically I want to know what types of people become libertarian and why they do so.

Southern (Virginia).

As for my industry. I work in Information Technologies, mostly hardware. I'm 32 years old, and married. Prior military, caucasian (primarily, though have some Native American blood in me) and male.

I tend to be vehemently opposed to what I have seen as overuse (and misuse) of federal governmental power, military or otherwise...

Age: 18
Location: Alabama
Marital status: Single (straight)
Religion: Christianity (Lutheran)
Job: Currently a cook at Beef O'Bradys
Reasoning: I used to be a stanch Republican, but George W. Bush was a blight to a party I could once easily identify with. Also, I believe that Republicans aren't fiscally conservative ENOUGH and their TOO conservative on moral issues.

Northern US, my "job" is a student reporter, and I'm single

So I'm not a Libertarian. In fact I really have a hard time understanding them. Just for me to start trying to understand libertarians I thought I would ask where they came from? But I'm also interested to know what kinds of jobs you have. Do you tend to be young or old. Married or single. Etc. Basically I want to know what types of people become libertarian and why they do so.

do you mean liberal labertarian, anarchic libertarian, christian libertarian, ....?

do you mean liberal labertarian, anarchic libertarian, christian libertarian, ....?
They mean American libertarians (personal AND economic freedom/capitalism)

I live in Canada, and as far as I know I am the only Canadian libertarian on this forum. Everytime I participate in a Canadian centred thread it feels like it's just me and a whole lot of NDP supporters. (Libertarianism is hardly limited to the US or to the American Libertarian Party, by the way: Canada has a Libertarian Party too and many "right-wing" people and organizations in Canada are essentially libertarian.)

I turned twenty yesterday, I'm single, I'm a Christian (Mennonite), and I'm currently studying Engineering Physics at the University of Saskatchewan.

what is a libertarian for those of us not quite so in touch with whats happerning across the pond

what is a libertarian for those of us not quite so in touch with whats happerning across the pond

Libertarian:

-Minimal government (for US, small enough to fit in Constitution -- i.e. protect our rights; no superfluous programs.)

-Maximum civil liberties (legalization of drugs, privacy, privacy privacy!, etc.)

-Maximum economic freedom (laissez-faire economics; this does not mean corporate welfare which is just as a big of a no-no nor does it mean no unions nor does it mean corporations can violate the rights of people)


Libertarian: East coast
Age: 16
Job: Hmm...
Reason: I was first somewhat of a Communist; then I looked at the situation and realized that it was extremely hypocritical. Why allow people to do what they want with their lives, but not their money? I looked at the Libertarian party and realized that's what I truly believed in. It is my goal to make the Libertarian party more popular and more influential.

East Coast Liberatarian. Specifically, I live about 350 miles NW of NYC.

what is a libertarian for those of us not quite so in touch with whats happerning across the pond

Over in Europe and the UK we would likely be called classical liberals. Think John Locke and Adam Smith.

okay then i'm not then

Age: 37

Marital Status: Single

Employment: EFL teacher, with a side line in acting (several times a year - yes for cash money - good cash).

Education: Texas public schools, 2 years private college, 1 year abroad, 2 years public university BS in Poli Sci, concentrating in political philosophy and internatiuonal relations

My libertarianism stems from many sources.