Libertarians, I need your opinions...

[Homo Gay People]

Intro
With the GOP nominations in full swing, I'd definitely sided with Libertarians in the presidential election by choosing Ron Paul. I disagree with him on some issues, like torturing terrorists, but overall my opinions side with him. My opinion differs greatly from my family, whom are all social conservatives, and I really want to see why different libertarians think the way they do. I've noticed that libertarians tend to be free-thinkers (for the most part) and usually don't take ALL libertarian positions on topics, but rather just most or some. I want to ask fellow libertarians about their views on libertarian-ism and the country as a whole. Here are some of my stances on issues:


Stances
-I'm for limiting the government's ties with corporations, while also pro-business by lowering regulations on businesses. It's not that I think that the regulations are bad, it's just that I think that the government is incompetent of managing them correctly
-Taxes are unfair for everyone at the moment, and the IRS needs to be demolished. They need a Fair Tax/National Sales Tax which makes taxes easy on everyone.
-Welfare needs severe cuts and needs to be managed properly. Welfare should be for people in a difficult time who are trying to find jobs, not everyone in the lower class. In fact, 'classes' should just be demolished.
-Food stamps are abused, and should only be for necessities, like beans, rice, bread, milk, water, etc. NOT candy, soda, pizza, etc. High-fat foods should be banned from the list too because it creates a burden on the country when we need to pay for their obesity.
-Unions need to be severely reworked or demolished entirely. Most unions are leeches, while very few retain the purpose they originally had, which was good at the time, but not now.
-Pull the troops out of Afghanistan and the middle east. We have no specific objective there.
-Drop out of the UN and drop international aid programs. They have uses at times, but not at the moment. We should help allies when they are troubled by national disasters or invasions, but that is it. We shouldn't go to war just because an ally does unless they were specifically defensive and invaded by a country.
-Drug laws should be slowly diminished and drinking ages should be slowly lowered. Each have no point, but would result in chaos if immediately lowered.
-First fix the border by patching it up with defense before you worry about the illegals. Once patched, we should work on their citizenship papers and deport them if they don't cooperate. The border should be in our top priorities.
-No Universal Healthcare
-No Bailouts
-No Stimulus
-Allow civil rights, like Gay Marriage
-Drill in the US

My ideas would lower taxes, lower spending, and reduce foreign and corporate dependence.

[Greater Cabinda]

Republicans want to raise payroll taxes. 'Nuff said.

[North Calaveras]

Intro
With the GOP nominations in full swing, I'd definitely sided with Libertarians in the presidential election by choosing Ron Paul. I disagree with him on some issues, like torturing terrorists, but overall my opinions side with him. My opinion differs greatly from my family, whom are all social conservatives, and I really want to see why different libertarians think the way they do. I've noticed that libertarians tend to be free-thinkers (for the most part) and usually don't take ALL libertarian positions on topics, but rather just most or some. I want to ask fellow libertarians about their views on libertarian-ism and the country as a whole. Here are some of my stances on issues:


Stances
-I'm for limiting the government's ties with corporations, while also pro-business by lowering regulations on businesses. It's not that I think that the regulations are bad, it's just that I think that the government is incompetent of managing them correctly
-Taxes are unfair for everyone at the moment, and the IRS needs to be demolished. They need a Fair Tax/National Sales Tax which makes taxes easy on everyone.
-Welfare needs severe cuts and needs to be managed properly. Welfare should be for people in a difficult time who are trying to find jobs, not everyone in the lower class. In fact, 'classes' should just be demolished.
-Food stamps are abused, and should only be for necessities, like beans, rice, bread, milk, water, etc. NOT candy, soda, pizza, etc. High-fat foods should be banned from the list too because it creates a burden on the country when we need to pay for their obesity.
-Unions need to be severely reworked or demolished entirely. Most unions are leeches, while very few retain the purpose they originally had, which was good at the time, but not now.
-Pull the troops out of Afghanistan and the middle east. We have no specific objective there.
-Drop out of the UN and drop international aid programs. They have uses at times, but not at the moment. We should help allies when they are troubled by national disasters or invasions, but that is it. We shouldn't go to war just because an ally does unless they were specifically defensive and invaded by a country.
-Drug laws should be slowly diminished and drinking ages should be slowly lowered. Each have no point, but would result in chaos if immediately lowered.
-First fix the border by patching it up with defense before you worry about the illegals. Once patched, we should work on their citizenship papers and deport them if they don't cooperate. The border should be in our top priorities.
-No Universal Healthcare
-No Bailouts
-No Stimulus
-Allow civil rights, like Gay Marriage
-Drill in the US

My ideas would lower taxes, lower spending, and reduce foreign and corporate dependence.

I love you I like Ron Paul to btw

[Valrez]

Intro
With the GOP nominations in full swing, I'd definitely sided with Libertarians in the presidential election by choosing Ron Paul. I disagree with him on some issues, like torturing terrorists, but overall my opinions side with him. My opinion differs greatly from my family, whom are all social conservatives, and I really want to see why different libertarians think the way they do. I've noticed that libertarians tend to be free-thinkers (for the most part) and usually don't take ALL libertarian positions on topics, but rather just most or some. I want to ask fellow libertarians about their views on libertarian-ism and the country as a whole. Here are some of my stances on issues:


Stances
-I'm for limiting the government's ties with corporations, while also pro-business by lowering regulations on businesses. It's not that I think that the regulations are bad, it's just that I think that the government is incompetent of managing them correctly
-Taxes are unfair for everyone at the moment, and the IRS needs to be demolished. They need a Fair Tax/National Sales Tax which makes taxes easy on everyone.
-Welfare needs severe cuts and needs to be managed properly. Welfare should be for people in a difficult time who are trying to find jobs, not everyone in the lower class. In fact, 'classes' should just be demolished.
-Food stamps are abused, and should only be for necessities, like beans, rice, bread, milk, water, etc. NOT candy, soda, pizza, etc. High-fat foods should be banned from the list too because it creates a burden on the country when we need to pay for their obesity.
-Unions need to be severely reworked or demolished entirely. Most unions are leeches, while very few retain the purpose they originally had, which was good at the time, but not now.
-Pull the troops out of Afghanistan and the middle east. We have no specific objective there.
-Drop out of the UN and drop international aid programs. They have uses at times, but not at the moment. We should help allies when they are troubled by national disasters or invasions, but that is it. We shouldn't go to war just because an ally does unless they were specifically defensive and invaded by a country.
-Drug laws should be slowly diminished and drinking ages should be slowly lowered. Each have no point, but would result in chaos if immediately lowered.
-First fix the border by patching it up with defense before you worry about the illegals. Once patched, we should work on their citizenship papers and deport them if they don't cooperate. The border should be in our top priorities.
-No Universal Healthcare
-No Bailouts
-No Stimulus
-Allow civil rights, like Gay Marriage
-Drill in the US

My ideas would lower taxes, lower spending, and reduce foreign and corporate dependence.

^ like this!

[Tubbsalot]

This is painful to read.

[North Calaveras]

This is painful to read.

Let us enjoy it for once okay? I hardly get this kind of thread on NS >.>

[Greater Cabinda]

This is painful to read.

Indeed. Might as well be copypasta, because we've all seen it before.

[North Calaveras]

This is painful to read.

Indeed. Might as well be copypasta, because we've all seen it before.

You mean like every republican/ right-wing hating thread on NS seems to be every day?

[Johz]

Eh, I disagree with you on almost all those point except a couple of the generals such as Afganistan. I'm vaguely with you on food stamps as well, but that's because I'm quite authoritarian.

[Robert Magoo]

Intro
With the GOP nominations in full swing, I'd definitely sided with Libertarians in the presidential election by choosing Ron Paul. I disagree with him on some issues, like torturing terrorists, but overall my opinions side with him. My opinion differs greatly from my family, whom are all social conservatives, and I really want to see why different libertarians think the way they do. I've noticed that libertarians tend to be free-thinkers (for the most part) and usually don't take ALL libertarian positions on topics, but rather just most or some. I want to ask fellow libertarians about their views on libertarian-ism and the country as a whole. Here are some of my stances on issues:


Stances
-I'm for limiting the government's ties with corporations, while also pro-business by lowering regulations on businesses. It's not that I think that the regulations are bad, it's just that I think that the government is incompetent of managing them correctly
-Taxes are unfair for everyone at the moment, and the IRS needs to be demolished. They need a Fair Tax/National Sales Tax which makes taxes easy on everyone.
-Welfare needs severe cuts and needs to be managed properly. Welfare should be for people in a difficult time who are trying to find jobs, not everyone in the lower class. In fact, 'classes' should just be demolished.
-Food stamps are abused, and should only be for necessities, like beans, rice, bread, milk, water, etc. NOT candy, soda, pizza, etc. High-fat foods should be banned from the list too because it creates a burden on the country when we need to pay for their obesity.
-Unions need to be severely reworked or demolished entirely. Most unions are leeches, while very few retain the purpose they originally had, which was good at the time, but not now.
-Pull the troops out of Afghanistan and the middle east. We have no specific objective there.
-Drop out of the UN and drop international aid programs. They have uses at times, but not at the moment. We should help allies when they are troubled by national disasters or invasions, but that is it. We shouldn't go to war just because an ally does unless they were specifically defensive and invaded by a country.
-Drug laws should be slowly diminished and drinking ages should be slowly lowered. Each have no point, but would result in chaos if immediately lowered.
-First fix the border by patching it up with defense before you worry about the illegals. Once patched, we should work on their citizenship papers and deport them if they don't cooperate. The border should be in our top priorities.
-No Universal Healthcare
-No Bailouts
-No Stimulus
-Allow civil rights, like Gay Marriage
-Drill in the US

My ideas would lower taxes, lower spending, and reduce foreign and corporate dependence.

[Farnhamia]

Indeed. Might as well be copypasta, because we've all seen it before.

You mean like every republican/ right-wing hating thread on NS seems to be every day?

No, but every right-wing Republican lover seems to tout these same wrong-headed ideas. But please, wallow away. Who am I to spoil your fun?

[North Calaveras]

You mean like every republican/ right-wing hating thread on NS seems to be every day?

No, but every right-wing Republican lover seems to tout these same wrong-headed ideas. But please, wallow away. Who am I to spoil your fun?

Who are you indeed sir!

[Farnhamia]

No, but every right-wing Republican lover seems to tout these same wrong-headed ideas. But please, wallow away. Who am I to spoil your fun?

Who are you indeed sir!

Not a "sir," to be sure.

[North Calaveras]

Who are you indeed sir!

Not a "sir," to be sure.

My apologies ma'm

[Servantium]

So what exactly are you asking other libertarians? Just our stances? Do you want a critique of your stances?

[Aeronos]

Who are you indeed sir!

Not a "sir," to be sure.

One day we should have the default pronouns set to "She/her" and see how the males like it!


As for Libertarianism, I would consider myself libertarian, but far from an orthadox one. I'm for a radically reduced government, where the government only ensures defense, police, and a base level of education and health care provided universally, funded through a progressive tax. Likewise, I deviate from you: trade unions are not to be opposed, they just shouldn't receive federal funding or otherwise be involved with government. They are to float on the free-market.

I guess I principally differ from "libertarians" because I put most of the focus on social freedoms. I would be considered "left-leaning" compared to the likes of Ron Paul and so fourth.

[Homo Gay People]

So what exactly are you asking other libertarians? Just our stances? Do you want a critique of your stances?

I just want some other stances from other people who call themselves libertarians. I've found that some libertarians tend to be a little bit fiscally liberal while others tend to be hardcore fiscal conservative. Also, I've seen libertarians consider themselves left wing, while others call themselves right wing.

Republicans want to raise payroll taxes. 'Nuff said.

Ron Paul is only running as a Republican because it gives him a chance to be known a bit more. If you look at the debates, Paul doesn't side with the republicans 1/3 of the time. He could run as a Dem if he wanted. He also will probably be an Independent if not nominated for the Republican seat.

Honestly, I'm sick of the Palin/Hannity/Perry/[insert posers here] people. Their social arguments are just terrible and they are generally all hypocrites. On the left, I'm sick of the Maddow/Schultz/Mahr people for being so damn ignorant and not providing any facts within debates. Fox and CNN annoy me occasionally, but MSNBC is just... bad. They've twisted facts before, but so has O'Reilly. Overall, both sides annoy me with the posers. That's why I'm a libertarian.

[Autash]

-I'm for limiting the government's ties with corporations, while also pro-business by lowering regulations on businesses. It's not that I think that the regulations are bad, it's just that I think that the government is incompetent of managing them correctly

If the problem with regulation is lack of ability to enforce it, how does deregulation solve that problem? What regulations do you consider essential enough to keep, if any? What makes a given regulation non-essential or expendable? If the government can not manage regulatory systems, who would you entrust to do so, and how would you empower them to do it?

-Taxes are unfair for everyone at the moment, and the IRS needs to be demolished. They need a Fair Tax/National Sales Tax which makes taxes easy on everyone.

How does dissolving the IRS improve this situation? How would taxation be enforced? If a "Fair Tax" is imposed, who decides what is and is not fair, and on what basis? If a national sales tax is imposed, how does this improve over the current system?

-Welfare needs severe cuts and needs to be managed properly. Welfare should be for people in a difficult time who are trying to find jobs, not everyone in the lower class. In fact, 'classes' should just be demolished.

SOCIALIST! ...But in all seriousness, there are lower-classmen who can't pay the bills in spite of having a steady job. If you downsize welfare, how can you guarantee that these people will not suffer for it? What reforms would you make to enable it?

-Food stamps are abused, and should only be for necessities, like beans, rice, bread, milk, water, etc. NOT candy, soda, pizza, etc. High-fat foods should be banned from the list too because it creates a burden on the country when we need to pay for their obesity.

You have good intentions. How do you plan on enforcing this? Will federal intervention be required to supersede state authority in the matter? Who will decide what is and is not a necessity, and on what basis? How will you finance the additional budget that will be required to enforce the new restrictions?

-Unions need to be severely reworked or demolished entirely. Most unions are leeches, while very few retain the purpose they originally had, which was good at the time, but not now.

Unions were created to keep business and corporations in check where the government was unable or unwilling to do so. If you forcibly dissolve the unions (which may itself be a violation of the right to petition and assembly), what can you offer as a substitute? Will it require a new government agency and/or government funding? How will the substitute be more effective and/or less corruptible than the unions? If you choose to reform labor unions, how will you do so? How will you guarantee that once reformed, the unions which are corrupt will not become corrupt again? What will it cost to enforce the new system?

-Pull the troops out of Afghanistan and the middle east. We have no specific objective there.

I have no argument with this.

-Drop out of the UN and drop international aid programs. They have uses at times, but not at the moment. We should help allies when they are troubled by national disasters or invasions, but that is it. We shouldn't go to war just because an ally does unless they were specifically defensive and invaded by a country.

What benefit is there to the United States by withdrawing from the UN? What are the potential consequences of doing so? How will this affect the decisions of the UN, and more specifically of the Security Council? What message does our withdrawal send to the other member states, and how does it affect our foreign relations?

There are self-sufficient countries in the world where we are sending unnecessary foreign aid. Israel, our largest recipient, is one of them. Will you make an exception for Israel to ensure related legislation is passed? If not, how do you plan to popularize the idea of discontinuing Israeli aid, especially among the conservative political base? Are you and representatives who share that stance electable without AIPAC as an ally; and if so, how?

-Drug laws should be slowly diminished and drinking ages should be slowly lowered. Each have no point, but would result in chaos if immediately lowered.

Where would you begin with relaxing drug laws? To what extent would you do so? How do you plan on preventing the commercialization of drugs from creating a greater epidemic of addiction nationwide; how will you regulate advertising, educate children, etc. (if at all)? How does this affect rehabilitation; are you prepared to approve additional funding for public rehabilitation programs if necessary?

-First fix the border by patching it up with defense before you worry about the illegals. Once patched, we should work on their citizenship papers and deport them if they don't cooperate. The border should be in our top priorities.

Interesting idea. How do you plan to "patch up" the border (I assume you're referring specifically to Mexico)? How does your plan fix the problem? How much will it cost to build, maintain, enforce, etc.? Assuming your plan for the border works, what is your plan for dealing with illegals already in the country? How will you locate them? How will you avoid racial profiling by government agencies and law enforcement? Will there be any reform of immigration laws to better facilitate a path to citizenship? How much will it cost to enforce your plan? How will you finance it? Will it require federal funding?

-No Universal Healthcare

Why not? What would you recommend instead? How will your recommendation be more effective?

-No Bailouts

I have no argument with this.

-No Stimulus

Assuming you still intend to lower unemployment, what is your alternative strategy for job creation? Does your stance include no creation of public sector jobs? If it does, how do you plan on repairing the nation's degrading infrastructure, if at all?

-Allow civil rights, like Gay Marriage

I have no argument with this.

-Drill in the US

How will this improve our economic situation or our access to petroleum? What savings on gasoline (if any) would the average American driver receive as a result? What savings would corporate entities receive in comparison? How do you plan to offset the environmental impact of local drilling, if at all? How will you guarantee the safety of drilling operations, especially in light of deregulation? Will there be any investment in alternatives to petroleum and/or more fuel-efficient technologies?

[AiliailiA]

Intro
With the GOP nominations in full swing, I'd definitely sided with Libertarians in the presidential election by choosing Ron Paul.

Tea "party" aren't libertarians really.

When Ron Paul drops out of the Republican race, you should write to him and encourage him to seek the nomination of the Libertarian Party.

He's run for President before you know. 1988, where he did middlingly-well for the LP.

I disagree with him on some issues, like torturing terrorists, but overall my opinions side with him.

Wha? You're a "libertarian" but you're in favor of government torture. That's ... nice?

[Robert Magoo]

Tea "party" aren't libertarians really.

Some are. But yeah, most are probably Sarah Palin-style conservatives...

[AiliailiA]

Tea "party" aren't libertarians really.

Some are. But yeah, most are probably Sarah Palin-style conservatives...

So you'd consider Ron Paul one of the libertarian faction of the faction known as the tea party?

[Homo Gay People]

Wha? You're a "libertarian" but you're in favor of government torture. That's ... nice?

I don't feel like being nice to people who wanted to blow us up and sacrifice war intelligence because of it. I don't define a person a terrorist if they are a citizen. Citizens should ultimately be treated 'nice' by government, besides felons who I think should serve in boot camp-type programs as rehab during their jail time. Lots of states have these boot camps as optional programs, and the inmates apply to join them. If they pass through the boot camp, they are let out of prison quicker. Virginia did it and they reported a 60%+ success rate with these programs, compared to the bad percent numbers regular inmates go through. The boot camps aren't torturous at all, but definitely rehab the inmates a lot through social and physical interactions.

Overall, I look at facts more than my feelings. If war intel is gained by using interrogation methods, then so be it. The government should be for the people though, which is why I prefer the boot camp rehab programs in jails. Less people in jails, higher success rate, quicker sentences... I don't see what somebody could possibly argue against this for.

By the way, by interrogation, I just mean water boarding. I'm not talking about ripping limbs off, whippings or anything.

[Farnhamia]

I don't feel like being nice to people who wanted to blow us up and sacrifice war intelligence because of it. I don't define a person a terrorist if they are a citizen. Citizens should ultimately be treated 'nice' by government, besides felons who I think should serve in boot camp-type programs as rehab during their jail time. Lots of states have these boot camps as optional programs, and the inmates apply to join them. If they pass through the boot camp, they are let out of prison quicker. Virginia did it and they reported a 60%+ success rate with these programs, compared to the bad percent numbers regular inmates go through. The boot camps aren't torturous at all, but definitely rehab the inmates a lot through social and physical interactions.

Overall, I look at facts more than my feelings. If war intel is gained by using interrogation methods, then so be it. The government should be for the people though, which is why I prefer the boot camp rehab programs in jails. Less people in jails, higher success rate, quicker sentences... I don't see what somebody could possibly argue against this for.

By the way, by interrogation, I just mean water boarding. I'm not talking about ripping limbs off, whippings or anything.

Sure, waterboarding, I mean, that's nothing, even Sean Hannity did that and ... oh, wait, he never did, did he?

You'll provide some sources for those boot-camp success rates, of course.

[Robert Magoo]

Some are. But yeah, most are probably Sarah Palin-style conservatives...

So you'd consider Ron Paul one of the libertarian faction of the faction known as the tea party?

I didn't say that, but he did inspire it and he certainly isn't the only libertarian-minded Republican in existence...

[AiliailiA]

I don't feel like being nice to people who wanted to blow us up and sacrifice war intelligence because of it.

So you also disagree with Ron Paul on the subject of war. It's his view that "people who wanted to blow us up" did that because of US foreign policy. Whereas you're for going out and gettin' em.

You like him better than the other candidates, but I bet you'll vote for whichever one is picked anyway.

I don't define a person a terrorist if they are a citizen. Citizens should ultimately be treated 'nice' by government, besides felons who I think should serve in boot camp-type programs as rehab during their jail time. Lots of states have these boot camps as optional programs, and the inmates apply to join them. If they pass through the boot camp, they are let out of prison quicker. Virginia did it and they reported a 60%+ success rate with these programs, compared to the bad percent numbers regular inmates go through. The boot camps aren't torturous at all, but definitely rehab the inmates a lot through social and physical interactions.

I don't know where you're going with that. These "boot camps" you speak of sound OK but that's coming off a very low base of a bad prison system. Seems like rehabilitation, but with a sop to the public who don't want to pay for any rehabilitation which isn't painful and humiliating.

Meh really. Jail itself is humiliating and can be painful.

Overall, I look at facts more than my feelings. If war intel is gained by using interrogation methods, then so be it. The government should be for the people though, which is why I prefer the boot camp rehab programs in jails. Less people in jails, higher success rate, quicker sentences... I don't see what somebody could possibly argue against this for.

By the way, by interrogation, I just mean water boarding. I'm not talking about ripping limbs off, whippings or anything.

Just terrifying them with the instinctual fear of drowning. And if it turns out they have no "valuable war intelligence" to give you, then what?
Say sorry?