Why you would want to have Libertarianism as your fall back political position is well beyond my limited faculties. Daily Kos had a wonderful top 10 list which I will repost the top 5 reasons you may not be Libertarian.
DarkSyde from Daily Kos wrote:
- If you think the separation between church and state applies equally to all faiths except socially conservative Christian fundamentalism, you’re probably not a Libertarian.
- You’re probably not a Libertarian if you believe the federal government should remove safety standards and clinical barriers for prescription and OTC medications while banning all embryonic stem cell research, somatic nuclear transfer, RU 486, HPV and cervical cancer vaccination, work on human/non human DNA combos, or Plan B emergency contraception.
- If you think state execution of mentally retarded convicts is good policy but prosecuting Scott Roeder or disconnecting Terri Schiavo was an unforgivable sin, odds are you’re not really a Libertarian.
- If you argue that cash for clunkers or any form of government healthcare is unconstitutional, but forced prayer or teaching old testament creationism in public schools is fine, you’re not even consistent, much less a Libertarian, and you may be Michele Bachmann.
And the number one sign: if you think government should stay the hell out of people’s private business — except when kidnapping citizens and rendering them to secret overseas torture prisons, snooping around the bedrooms of consenting adults, policing a woman’s uterus, or conducting warrantless wire taps, you are no Libertarian.
I am no fan of Libertarianism or Objectivism, I’ve written a little about how inane the Objectivist ideals are. It deserves another post, which is coming soon.
bleatmop
Mystro
Dead Wild Roses 
3 comments
September 8, 2009 at 8:47 pm
Rob F
Libertarians in the US have been taken for a ride by the Religious Right/social consies. As indicated here and at DK, most of what these folks want would mean more government intrusion in our lives. Isn’t it funny how these so-called “small government” politicians can’t get enough of government when it comes to controlling your private life. They do want just the right to govern themselves, but the right to govern you.
LikeLike
September 8, 2009 at 10:36 pm
Rob F
Whoops; that last sentence should be “They do not want just the right to govern themselves, but the right to govern you.”
LikeLike
September 10, 2009 at 9:25 am
The Arbourist
I think it may just a ‘fashionable’ change of moniker for conservatives. Bush really did a number on their brand image, and I believe Palin put the nail in the coffin as far as respectability goes.
By migrating from ‘conservatism’* to libertarianism they are rejecting one batshit crazy platform for another.
* I am annoyed what the right has done to conservatism. The neo-liberal doctrines that have permeated the conservative parties in many Western nations have changed the fundamental character of what Conservatism means. We used to have conservative parties that were actually *gasp* conservative as opposed to the high flying Socialism for the rich which seems the norm today.
LikeLike