What does "Libertarian" mean to you?

[Sibirsky]

Where are people getting the connection between libertarianism and social conservatism from?

A vast majority of libertarians are socially conservative. See Rand Paul, for one.

The Republican Senator from Kentucky? Libertarians are socially progressive, to a point, and fiscally conservative.

[Meryuma]

Except for the fact Ron Paul is a Republican.

...thus libertarians are mostly social conservatives? That's really faulty reasoning.

[Sibirsky]

What does libertarian mean to me?

Angry individuals who are masters of American History, Law and the Constitution.

Disclaimer: The ones I have met personally that is......

*I'm only angry because of you.

*I'm kidding of course.

[The Congregationists]

Actually I think Leftists (Specifically Marxists) do understand it's the economic system that determines the layout of classes which in turn determines the overall order of society.

Less so these days. Prior to the collapse of the U.S.S.R, yes. Since then, not so much. Identity politics and social liberalism have eclipsed political/economic analysis as the dominant tendancy on the left.

[Sibirsky]

To me "Libertarian" means: Gay Republican.

I am not Republican, or gay.

[Sibirsky]

Libertarianism cant exist with an ignorant population. Non coercion is the basis for libertarianism. If you have a society of people coming together with no central authority and participated in society with non- coercion as the only rule then that society would flourish on all levels. Charity would surpass any welfare state and no means to make money as long as it didnt involve coercion would be banned. The economy would be so robust and innovative that a libertarian society would be the most advanced in the world. People confuse a free market with corporatism (todays world) where government enables most of the the "corporate evils" we see. In a true free market reputation is a business's greatest asset and the consumer is the regulator. Without the state a corporation would have to compete on its own merits.

Unfortunately, if the corporations aren't restrained we'll have more fannie/freddie/lehman/etc. incidents.

Fannie and Freddie were created by the government and given all sorts of privileges. Lehman was given incentives by the government to be stupid, and they failed partially because of that.

[Sibirsky]

Those all came about by the state

By the lack of state, actually; if there were proper regulations they wouldn't be able to make so many risky (and, in the end, catastrophic) loans.

[Sibirsky]

To me, libertarian means compassionate people against war and coercion.

That seems to bear no relevance at all to the libertarian political ideology.

[Sibirsky]

That seems to bear no relevance at all to the libertarian political ideology.

Libertarians are, generally, pacifists, even Ron Paul is against the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. And coercion is a central theme to libertarianism since they are socially libertarian.

North Suran thinks the Soviet Union cared for it's poor.

[Panzerjaeger]

Libertarian = Obnoxious Redneck who wishes to stockpile weapons and inbreed.

[Conservative Alliances]

So how would you define "libertarian" then? I'll weigh in momentarily, but first let's hear from you NSG.

I think the definition is a bit subjective. Here in the US, I would define it as people who support liberalization of the market and the individual, similar to how liberalism is defined in the rest of the world. In the rest of the world, I think it is more of an ambiguous term that can refer to both people that support liberalization of the market and the individual, though not necessarily both. Personally, I think it should be defined as the belief that human interactions should be consensual agreements. That way, at least it applies to many forms of libertarianism.

[Sibirsky]

The "progressive" label is a century old. Libertarians have nothing to do with conservatives.

Except for the fact Ron Paul is a Republican.

Your point?

[Sibirsky]

Libertarian = Obnoxious Redneck who wishes to stockpile weapons and inbreed.

I am not a redneck and don't wish to inbreed.

[Conservative Alliances]

Libertarian = Obnoxious Redneck who wishes to stockpile weapons and inbreed.

You forgot about the drugs. Gotta have plenty of the devil's lettuce.

[Wamitoria]

Libertarian = Obnoxious Redneck who wishes to stockpile weapons and inbreed.

Interesting. The John Bircher's in my area hate Libertarians.

To me, Libertarianism is a term being used as a replacement for conservatism.

[Dumb Ideologies]

Libertarian = Obnoxious Redneck who wishes to stockpile weapons and inbreed.

Maybe these things are connected. A child with webbed feet might perform better if the militia has to fight nearby a lake.

[United Dependencies]

People who support more freedom than groups/individuals should be allowed.

[Wamitoria]

Libertarian = Obnoxious Redneck who wishes to stockpile weapons and inbreed.

Maybe these things are connected. A child with webbed feet might perform better if the militia has to fight nearby a lake.

[Techno-Kat]

People who support more freedom than groups/individuals should be allowed.

No such thing as too much freedom.

[Panzerjaeger]

I am not a redneck and don't wish to inbreed.

Are you sure? Maybe it is latent urges then.

Interesting. The John Bircher's in my area hate Libertarians.

To me, Libertarianism is a term being used as a replacement for conservatism.

Ah you have Bircher's in your area as well? The only group in my ever so humble opinion that make Libertarians look rational.

Maybe these things are connected. A child with webbed feet might perform better if the militia has to fight nearby a lake.

This calls for....SCIENCE!

[United Dependencies]

People who support more freedom than groups/individuals should be allowed.

No such thing as too much freedom.

Businesses free to sell a product without testing it=too much freedom.

[Techno-Kat]

No such thing as too much freedom.

Businesses free to sell a product without testing it=too much freedom.

Nope.

[United Dependencies]

Businesses free to sell a product without testing it=too much freedom.

Nope.

Well we're just going to have to disagree on this one.

[Dumb Ideologies]

This calls for....SCIENCE!

Dis shit's 'bout to go empirical, yo.

[The Black Forrest]

Businesses free to sell a product without testing it=too much freedom.

Nope.

'
Eh? You believe in the "market" fixing things?