How Many of You Consider yourself to be a Libertarian?

[DevilsAdvocate]

Many of the loudest voices on RPF seem to be at odds with the libertarianism, although they do tend to hold many libertarian principles. So the question is, do you consider yourself a libertarian? And if you don't, what is it specifically that sets you at odds with libertarianism?

[PierzStyx]

On a good day I'm a libertarian, when I think something about the system is salvageable. On the worse days I see the whole corrupt structure of all governments as nothing but scaffolding to convince us to consent to servitude, and I am an anarchist.

[Ronin Truth]

Are you meaning a member of the Libertarian Party (so called) [oxymoron]?

If so, NO!

[DevilsAdvocate]

Are you meaning a member of the Libertarian Party (so called) [oxymoron]?

If so, NO!

No, just the philosophy in general

[Ronin Truth]

No, just the philosophy in general

Then YES, for 40 some years now. That is, when I'm not too busy now also being an anarchist.

Q: What is the difference between a libertarian and an anarchist?

A: 20 years.

[tod evans]

I don't.

[edit]

The minute a person identifies with a preconceived label, especially a political one, they've opened themselves up for some other person's interpretation of that label.

Why would a sane individual choose to associate themselves with a philosophy someone else feels entitled to define?

[Southron]

No.

[Ronin Truth]

I don't.

[edit]

The minute a person identifies with a preconceived label, especially a political one, they've opened themselves up for some other person's interpretation of that label.

Why would a sane individual choose to associate themselves with a philosophy someone else feels entitled to define?

Why would any libertarian give a crap about some goober's bogus BS half-assed definition? Who gives a crap about what they feel entitled to do either?

[tod evans]

Why would any libertarian give a crap about some goober's bogus BS half-assed definition? Who gives a crap about what they feel entitled to do either?

I don't know seeing as how I don't identify as one...

[fisharmor]

Why would any libertarian give a crap about some goober's bogus BS half-assed definition?

I shouldn't have to, because they're objectively wrong about it.
But reality is reality. And in this reality, "anarchist" has a specific, commonly used, completely incorrect usage.
I try to use the word "stateless" whenever possible. Yes, it's only because people are too stupid to agree on definitions before making judgments, but "stateless" is not a loaded word to begin with.

[Sola_Fide]

On a good day I'm a libertarian, when I think something about the system is salvageable. On the worse days I see the whole corrupt structure of all governments as nothing but scaffolding to convince us to consent to servitude, and I am an anarchist.

Same.

[Ronin Truth]

I shouldn't have to, because they're objectively wrong about it.
But reality is reality. And in this reality, "anarchist" has a specific, commonly used, completely incorrect usage.
I try to use the word "stateless" whenever possible. Yes, it's only because people are too stupid to agree on definitions before making judgments, but "stateless" is not a loaded word to begin with.

anarchist

/ˈænəkɪst/

noun 1. a person who advocates the abolition of government and a social system based on voluntary cooperation

Different strokes for different folks. <shrug!>

[Terry1]

Many of the loudest voices on RPF seem to be at odds with the libertarianism, although they do tend to hold many libertarian principles. So the question is, do you consider yourself a libertarian? And if you don't, what is it specifically that sets you at odds with libertarianism?

There's so many levels to "libertarianism" obviously that it make the question sort of moot. I mean within the continuum of Libertarianism, there's a myriad of beliefs as to what level anyone chooses to subscribe to.

I mean just what is your frame of reference for anyone to be considered a "libertarian"???

[Brian4Liberty]

[Ronin Truth]

There's so many levels to "libertarianism" obviously that it make the question sort of moot. I mean within the continuum of Libertarianism, there's a myriad of beliefs as to what level anyone chooses to subscribe to.

I mean just what is your frame of reference for anyone to be considered a "libertarian"???

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” -- Albert Einstein


"Complexity is the essence of the con and the hustle."

[Terry1]

“Everything should be made as simple as possible, but no simpler.” -- Albert Einstein


"Complexity is the essence of the con and the hustle."

And then there's always the true facts that seem to ruin illusions about how things should be. --Terry1

[fisharmor]

Different strokes for different folks. <shrug!>

Where did you get that? The definitions I pull up are all negative.

I mean just what is your frame of reference for anyone to be considered a "libertarian"???

Obviously, we mean Glenn Beck, Bill Maher, and people like that who have claimed to be libertarian.

[Aspie Minarcho-Capitalist]

Yes, I consider myself a conservative leaning Austro-minarchist who believes in free will, the imperativeness of self reliance, and voluntary association; I have a hunch that the people who voted "No" are paleoconservatives as they are the only closest ideological group to believe in such individualist principles.

[heavenlyboy34]

Yup. But my own "flavour" of it. Like most libertarians, I'm a hard-to-herd cat.

[Ronin Truth]

Where did you get that? The definitions I pull up are all negative.

Sadly, most dictionaries seem to have a very strongly negative erroneous statist bias.

anarchist definition

https://www.google.com/search?hl=en&...17.rrDX4Vj7FE8

mixed bag.

Compare the histories of the statist violence to the anarchist violence. They are not even in the same universe.

[specsaregood]

//

[jllundqu]

Many of the loudest voices on RPF seem to be at odds with the libertarianism, although they do tend to hold many libertarian principles. So the question is, do you consider yourself a libertarian? And if you don't, what is it specifically that sets you at odds with libertarianism?

labels

[RJB]

Basically yes. Mostly I just want people to leave me alone.

And I'm even more willing to leave others alone just because it ain't worth my time worrying about others. I have my own stuff to worry about.

[jllundqu]

If Glenn Beck and Greg Gutfield are libertarians... I want nothing to do with it

[Aspie Minarcho-Capitalist]

Anyone believing Glenn Beck is actually a libertarian is a bit like saying: "Tony Blair is the man of the people."

[TheTexan]

I marked yes, even though I more identify as a neo-conservative, because liberty and freedom are cool ideas that I like alot

[Sola_Fide]

If Glenn Beck and Greg Gutfield are libertarians... I want nothing to do with it

Agree.

[Ronin Truth]

If Glenn Beck and Greg Gutfield are libertarians... I want nothing to do with it

They're not. So therefore??????

Forget it, those reasons are just so incredibly lame. The feelings are mutual.

[Terry1]

Where did you get that? The definitions I pull up are all negative.



Obviously, we mean Glenn Beck, Bill Maher, and people like that who have claimed to be libertarian.

I remember years ago Bill O'Reilly making that same claim too--of all people! Yeah--the guy who chose Romney over Dr. Paul---LOL

[r3volution 3.0]

Yea, I consider myself a libertarian.

I use the term in two different ways, depending on the context of the conversation.

1. If we're talking academically, then a libertarian is someone whose ethical ideal is a purely voluntary society (i.e. a society where property rights are universally respected). I meet this description. Within this group there are two broad sub-categories: minarchists and anarchists. Each believes that their system is the closest possible approximation to the ideal. I'm a minarchist, incidentally.

2. If we're talking about practical politics, elections, etc, then I use the term more broadly (ala libertarian-ish), to mean anyone who's in favor of radically smaller government (even if the part they want to preserve is a bit larger than what we doctrinaire libertarians would like). Obviously, I'm in this group as well.