Serious Question...how can you possibly NOT be a libertarian?

[PugnacAutMortem]

Easy.

Thanks for the well thought out, thoroughly explained response to my question. I really appreciate what you've added to this discussion, and I think we will all be better people going forward if we can keep your wisdom and insight close to our minds and our hearts.

[hurley842002]

Thanks for the well thought out, thoroughly explained response to my question. I really appreciate what you've added to this discussion, and I think we will all be better people going forward if we can keep your wisdom and insight close to our minds and our hearts.

You question why many of us are bitching about the election, yet you have one of the most disgruntled and hateful attitudes towards people here. Seriously, what IS your problem?

[centrarchidae]

In my heart, I'm a libertarian. I favor MJ legalization, treating the Fourth Amendment as though it were dictated from a burning bush, TABOR and limited government in general, strangling the EPA, removing government from healthcare and education, etc.

I register as a Republican for the same reason that cruise ships register in Panama: a flag of convenience. Declaring a party affiliation allows you to participate in that party's closed caucuses and primaries. That means getting a voice in who that party's candidates are, and the platform that those candidates are expected to support. And from my precinct, there were a whopping THREE LOUSY PEOPLE in attendance! THREE!

Something different might have happened had every libertarian who voted Big-L showed up to their major-party caucus to argue (and vote!) in favor of small-government candidates and small-government principles. There are so few people who show up and participate that each individual voice and each individual vote carries a lot farther than it does in the primaries and the general elections.

Picture it: a bunch of RINOS sputtering on fudd-guns-colorado.com about how the Republican Party keeps putting up those dangerous small-government candidates because those damn libertarian people hijacked the party machinery, when the RINOs got outnumbered and out-shouted at the caucus.

The two-party system isn't going anywhere in my lifetime. That's the terrain we're stuck with. We can either fight on the ground that we have, or we can stamp our feet, yell that it's not fair, and take our bats and balls and go home. You don't win any games by going home in the second inning.

[tim-adams]

This statement assumes that the libertarian you're talking with holds the same views you do, and to the same level of belief.

That's simply not the case.

no politician I have seen lately has even 75-80% of what I want... but I settle for the basics.. fiscal conservancy, less government, stay out of people's lives.

perhaps a bit of integrity..

[PugnacAutMortem]

You question why many of us are bitching about the election, yet you have one of the most disgruntled and hateful attitudes towards people here. Seriously, what IS your problem?

Jim gave a smart ass response to my question, so I responded in kind. So I can't respond in kind when someone is a smartass?

[Dave]

Jim gave a smart ass response to my question, so I responded in kind. So I can't respond in kind when someone is a smartass?

No

[Ronin13]

In my heart, I'm a libertarian. I favor MJ legalization, treating the Fourth Amendment as though it were dictated from a burning bush, TABOR and limited government in general, strangling the EPA, removing government from healthcare and education, etc.

I register as a Republican for the same reason that cruise ships register in Panama: a flag of convenience. Declaring a party affiliation allows you to participate in that party's closed caucuses and primaries. That means getting a voice in who that party's candidates are, and the platform that those candidates are expected to support. And from my precinct, there were a whopping THREE LOUSY PEOPLE in attendance! THREE!

Something different might have happened had every libertarian who voted Big-L showed up to their major-party caucus to argue (and vote!) in favor of small-government candidates and small-government principles. There are so few people who show up and participate that each individual voice and each individual vote carries a lot farther than it does in the primaries and the general elections.

Picture it: a bunch of RINOS sputtering on fudd-guns-colorado.com about how the Republican Party keeps putting up those dangerous small-government candidates because those damn libertarian people hijacked the party machinery, when the RINOs got outnumbered and out-shouted at the caucus.

The two-party system isn't going anywhere in my lifetime. That's the terrain we're stuck with. We can either fight on the ground that we have, or we can stamp our feet, yell that it's not fair, and take our bats and balls and go home. You don't win any games by going home in the second inning.

[Bailey Guns]

I've avoided this thread for lots of reasons. I'll just say this... Read the party platform. That should answer any question as to why most people aren't libertarian. Most people don't live in that sort of fantasy world.

[Ronin13]

I've avoided this thread for lots of reasons. I'll just say this... Read the party platform. That should answer any question as to why most people aren't libertarian. Most people don't live in that sort of fantasy world.

Touche! Some of their principles are great, and I support them, but others are just way too far off in la la land.

While I align with a lot of Libertarian ideals, I will never vote for a libertarian candidate UNTIL they can garner at least 20% of the vote. Otherwise, it's basically the same as not voting.

[Bailey Guns]

The ideals in the libertarian party platform aren't bad in and of themselves. They're just not workable or realistic. I love all of the talk of taking responsibility for one's actions but come on...take a look around. How do you think that's working out in our society?