NationStates

Libertarianism is growing, as seen in the last election where the Libertarian party reached 1% for the first time*. Many young people are adopting libertarian ideals, and almost all are rejecting social conservatism. I think that in 20 or 30 years, the Libertarians will either have replaced the Republicans, or the Republicans will have essentially become libertarians.
I would not be surprised if, within the next 50 years, we have a Libertarian president.

Your thoughts?


*I know, 1% is small, but in our corporate/union/lobbyist/special-interest controlled government that is a significant achievement.

Well, most young people will actually grow up. The follies of youth often disappear with age.

Regnum Dominae wrote:in our corporate/union/lobbyist/special-interest controlled government

don't forget the jews

Tubbsalot wrote:

Regnum Dominae wrote:in our corporate/union/lobbyist/special-interest controlled government

don't forget the jews

And the reptilians.

Also: ponies. Mind you, there is a certain overlap between conspiracy thinkers and the rather fragmented libertarian communities.

A Libertarian president?

Nah, an increase in the libertarian voter base will only make it easier for more democrats to get in office. The Republicans and Libertarians are pulling from the same base.

Zweite Alaje wrote:A Libertarian president?

Nah, an increase in the libertarian voter base will only make it easier for more democrats to get in office. The Republicans and Libertarians are pulling from the same base.

No, not true at all.

I am often more sympathetic to Democrats than Republicans. The Akin/Mourdock fiasco has left me with nothing but disgust at the GOP. Rand Paul seriously needs to defect.

Zweite Alaje wrote:A Libertarian president?

Nah, an increase in the libertarian voter base will only make it easier for more democrats to get in office. The Republicans and Libertarians are pulling from the same base.

and the Greens could do the same for the Democrats

Regnum Dominae wrote:I am often more sympathetic to Democrats than Republicans.

Yet it's still true that the Republicans and Libertarians pull from the same base. One exception doesn't make it false.

Regnum Dominae wrote:Rand Paul seriously needs to defect.

Now I don't pay so much attention to US politics, but isn't Rand Paul that particular brand of moronic Republican "libertarian" who consistently makes the worst choice possible in every situation?

I'm sure there're some libertarians in the US who aren't totally ridiculous.

Tubbsalot wrote:I'm sure there're some libertarians in the US who aren't totally ridiculous.

The Republicans make sure to weed all of them out of their party.

Regnum Dominae wrote:

Zweite Alaje wrote:A Libertarian president?

Nah, an increase in the libertarian voter base will only make it easier for more democrats to get in office. The Republicans and Libertarians are pulling from the same base.

No, not true at all.

I am often more sympathetic to Democrats than Republicans. The Akin/Mourdock fiasco has left me with nothing but disgust at the GOP. Rand Paul seriously needs to defect.

Meh, what do I know? From my point of view the libertarians combine to worst elements of the two major parties into a horrid clusterfuck. They're social liberals like the Dems and fiscal conservatives like the GOP..... *barf*

Tubbsalot wrote:

Regnum Dominae wrote:I am often more sympathetic to Democrats than Republicans.

Yet it's still true that the Republicans and Libertarians pull from the same base. One exception doesn't make it false.

Republicans being vote split with Libertarians is a great thing.

Zweite Alaje wrote:Meh, what do I know? From my point of view the libertarians combine to worst elements of the two major parties into a horrid clusterfuck. They're social liberals like the Dems and fiscal conservatives like the GOP..... *barf*

If they dropped the fiscal conservatism it wouldn't be bad at all, but we know that isn't going to happen.

Luveria wrote:

Tubbsalot wrote:Yet it's still true that the Republicans and Libertarians pull from the same base. One exception doesn't make it false.

Republicans being vote split with Libertarians is a great thing.

A lot of libertarians are college students who are mainly focused on social issues and would almost never vote Republican.

Luveria wrote:

Tubbsalot wrote:Yet it's still true that the Republicans and Libertarians pull from the same base. One exception doesn't make it false.

Republicans being vote split with Libertarians is a great thing.

No, it isn't. It will be bad for the Dems to go unchallenged, we need a strong GOP.

Regnum Dominae wrote:

Luveria wrote:Republicans being vote split with Libertarians is a great thing.

A lot of libertarians are college students who are mainly focused on social issues and would almost never vote Republican.

There would be a better chance advancing social issues by supporting the democratic party which actually is capable of electoral victories.

Luveria wrote:

Regnum Dominae wrote:A lot of libertarians are college students who are mainly focused on social issues and would almost never vote Republican.

There would be a better chance advancing social issues by supporting the democratic party which actually is capable of electoral victories.

And completely sell out on foreign policy.


For many people, the democrats aren't socially liberal enough.

Regnum Dominae wrote:

Luveria wrote:
There would be a better chance advancing social issues by supporting the democratic party which actually is capable of electoral victories.

And completely sell out on foreign policy.


For many people, the democrats aren't socially liberal enough.

I don't think they are socially liberal enough at all but since democrats can win against republicans that's certainly a better option than letting the GOP have their way.

Regnum Dominae wrote:

Luveria wrote:
There would be a better chance advancing social issues by supporting the democratic party which actually is capable of electoral victories.

And completely sell out on foreign policy.


For many people, the democrats aren't socially liberal enough.

It suck for people like me who are socially to the right of Dems, but left of the GOP.

Luveria wrote:

Regnum Dominae wrote:And completely sell out on foreign policy.


For many people, the democrats aren't socially liberal enough.

I don't think they are socially liberal enough at all but since democrats can win against republicans that's certainly a better option than letting the GOP have their way.

My hope is that both the GOP and Dems die off and the Libertarians and Greens bacome the main parties fighting it out.

Winland wrote:

Luveria wrote:
I don't think they are socially liberal enough at all but since democrats can win against republicans that's certainly a better option than letting the GOP have their way.

My hope is that both the GOP and Dems die off and the Libertarians and Greens bacome the main parties fighting it out.

Hell no, that'd be even worse!!!

Winland wrote:

Luveria wrote:
I don't think they are socially liberal enough at all but since democrats can win against republicans that's certainly a better option than letting the GOP have their way.

My hope is that both the GOP and Dems die off and the Libertarians and Greens bacome the main parties fighting it out.

There would likely need to be some electoral reform to give other parties a viable chance in the current american two-party system.

Winland wrote:

Luveria wrote:
I don't think they are socially liberal enough at all but since democrats can win against republicans that's certainly a better option than letting the GOP have their way.

My hope is that both the GOP and Dems die off and the Libertarians and Greens bacome the main parties fighting it out.

That's my hope, too.

Either that or the Democrats can evolve into Greens and Republicans evolve into Libertarians.

Though I'm not sure I'd want to belong to a party that 20 years ago was advocating rape.

With a Greens vs Libertarians system we'd at least have the silly foreign policy and social freedom debates (mostly) out of the way.

Regnum Dominae wrote:

Winland wrote:My hope is that both the GOP and Dems die off and the Libertarians and Greens bacome the main parties fighting it out.

That's my hope, too.

Either that or the Democrats can evolve into Greens and Republicans evolve into Libertarians.

Though I'm not sure I'd want to belong to a party that 20 years ago was advocating rape.

With a Greens vs Libertarians system we'd at least have the silly foreign policy and social freedom debates (mostly) out of the way.

I think the republicans are only going to get more extreme before they become more moderate.

Luveria wrote:

Regnum Dominae wrote:That's my hope, too.

Either that or the Democrats can evolve into Greens and Republicans evolve into Libertarians.

Though I'm not sure I'd want to belong to a party that 20 years ago was advocating rape.

With a Greens vs Libertarians system we'd at least have the silly foreign policy and social freedom debates (mostly) out of the way.

I think the republicans are only going to get more extreme before they become more moderate.

Give them 20 years, most of the old-guard dinosaurs (to borrow a British political term) will fade away and lose their remaining influence.

Never happen here is why. The Libertarians have no ability to lead. They will always be a protest vote for several reason. They do not tolerate moderation. Which in US politics is a disastrous.

A mainstream section of the Libertarian party is borderline anarchists in the view of what the government should do and shouldn't do. They have little regard to setting policy and making the government more accountable. For that reason they will never get elected en mass.


However, as a protest vote they could continue to do well. If the Libs get 3-6 then one of the major parties will start to steal their ideas and use it to keep getting elected. Like the Democrats did to the socialists in the 1930s.

If you care about non-intervention, and do not support assassinations drones and kill lists keep voting Lib. Thats the only way to make the two major parties wake-up and realize the current situation is unacceptable.