Your opinion/definition on the difference

[Ronin13]

So there's been some talk lately among me and my friends, and it nearly got to a tipping point this weekend... Short story is, my friend's girlfriend (who is a very liberal hippy type- thankfully she's a clean hippy and not a "I don't shower" hippy) asked how my single life was treating me and if I'd met any ladies lately that I expressed interest in. Before I could answer she said "because maybe you should become a democrat and you wouldn't have so much trouble..." I understand she was kidding but it brought to light that a lot of my liberal friends really don't know the difference between a libertarian and a republican. One of the key differences that I see is that libertarians are really all about liberty and freedom- ending the drug war, letting people make their own mistakes without the government regulating every aspect of life, and similar ideas. Granted conservatism is predominantly influenced by christian ideals (not 100% but if you think about it the republican party is heavily grounded in Christianity). I'd like your guys' input on what the difference is between libertarian and republican and how you would define them.

I more align myself these days with libertarian beliefs, but I do think it's wisest for me to side republican for this election...

[TS12000]

I'm in the same boat, repub/demo are just two sides to the same coin in my opinion. It sometimes seems they took all of the issues and threw them into a hat to pick who would be for liberty on that issue and split them 50/50. Love it when right types talk about freedom and personal responsibility then in the same breath spew something about dictating the rules of someone else's life. If the republican party didn't have to pander to the middle part of the country's old fire and brimstone types it would be awesome...but it can't because those people having nothing to do but vote so they tend to carry a bit of weight.

[TFOGGER]

Democrats: Closet communists. Liberal and open minded about everything, as long as you don't happen to disagree with their viewpoint, and someone else is footing the bill.

Neo-Republicans: Give lip service to "fiscal conservatism", but continue to spend other people's money with abandon. Unfortunate tendency to want to legislate morality. Also utterly inflexible when it comes to seeing opposing viewpoints.

Libertarians(with a capital L): Lots of pie-in-the-sky optimism, with a naivety that borders on ludicrous. Many good ideas are co-opted by the Libertarian party, but they seldom gain any traction with the mainstream because the Libertarian party is about as organized as a herd of cats on crack.

libertarians(small L): Just want the Fed to stop trying to run their lives, and provide only the services outlined in the Constitution. I put myself in this group. I don't believe the Fed has any business deciding what kind of fat I can cook my food in, as long as I take responsibility for the end results, and I'm not infringing on the rights of others.

[RonMexico]

Sorry for the typos, I am using my phone.

Libertarians are individuals who Are for less government interaction in commerce and want free markets or pure capitalism, yet they also believe that the government should help out with social programs.

[RonMexico]

If politics are getting in the way of your dating life maybe u should lay off the subject when you go on dates.

[polski]

Both Democrat and Republican parties are driving America over the cliff. The difference is that the Democrats are going to get us there much faster.

[BPTactical]

Politics is like Herpes, you generally forget about it but it occasionally rears its ugly head and reminds you of the screwing you got.
And are gonna get again.
So..........choose one:

D- Gonnoreah
R- Crabs
L- Syphilis



Pick your favorite

[cstone]

So there's been some talk lately among me and my friends, and it nearly got to a tipping point this weekend... Short story is, my friend's girlfriend (who is a very liberal hippy type- thankfully she's a clean hippy and not a "I don't shower" hippy) asked how my single life was treating me and if I'd met any ladies lately that I expressed interest in. Before I could answer she said "because maybe you should become a democrat and you wouldn't have so much trouble..." I understand she was kidding...

Last point first. If she is a liberal hippie, no, she was not kidding. Second, what kind of friend are you to let your friend date a liberal hippie? Third, when people feel like commenting on your relationship status, or your current transitional phase, and the commenter is an acceptable looking female, the best retort is "are you volunteering for a test ride?"

Politics are for politicians. The rest of us just have convictions and beliefs that we try to live by.

Be safe.

[Waywardson174]

thankfully she's a clean hippy and not a "I don't shower" hippy

No conviction in hippies these days.

Republican - Fiscally conservative on matters of social welfare. Spendthrifts in the military and corporate welfare. Wish to increase some freedoms, so long as they align with a particular social agenda that depends heavily on Judeo-Christian ethics. Viable, though flawed.

Democrat - Fiscally very liberal. Want to spend money extensively on anything that is a "good cause". Redistribution is the name of the game. Social equality under the law is not enough, reparations must be made to make sure everyone is actually equal, down to the last penny. Historically, the dominant party in the US since FDR, and the conditions are ripe for them to become again.

Libertarian - Idealist to a fault. Read the Constitution taking every single concept to its logical conclusion, and demanding nothing less. These guys manage to piss everyone off simultaneously while drawing on the best ideas (I say that because I agree with a lot of the platform) from both ends of the spectrum. Not a viable party because the American legislative system does not structurally support the viability of 3rd parties.

Even though Congress could absorb a third party fairly easily, to quite positive effect, the Presidency and modern Administrative state (Over 55,000 duly approved and functioning governmental agencies in the US to date) give too much power to the Executive branch. The voting structure is one in which run-offs are viable. We've melded the two highest offices, VP and Pres, into a single ticket, so splitting the jobs between the two highest vote getters is not longer an option. Even if we did, the VP is almost imputent in his power compared to the Presidency, and little balance would be realized by splitting the offices.

leaving me really loving the Libertarian party but because I cannot logically bring myself to vote anything but two-party.

[blacklabel]

...yet they also believe that the government should help out with social programs.

OK, maybe I'm just completely off today but I don't remember hearing a libertarian or Libertarian act as a proponent of social programs. Personal responsibility with minimal government involvement is the idea. Not more social programs.