What does "Libertarian" mean to you?

[Psychotropius]

The problem with capital L Libertarianism is that they don't understand that "fiscal liberty" is a contradiction in philosophy. Laissez-faire capitalism liberates the wealthy and enslaves the poor. You cannot be free in a system that forces people to choose wage labor or starvation.

When people talk about being "socially liberal" and "fiscally conservative" remember that while it's important to support gay rights, and we shouldn't put people in jail for smoking reefer, most social repression comes from economics anyway. Folks who don't understand that, just don't understand society period.

"a contradiction in philosophy"? WHICH philosophy are you talking about there buddy? There are two philosophies, those of the PRIVATE, and those of the GOVERNMENT. Publicly traded companies, for example, are PRIVATE, because they are owned by individuals, not the state.

Communist.

Ummm yay for healthcare?

[Fr33domland]

To me, libertarian means more or less anti-violence.

[Hassett]

its the freedom to do what you want

[Psychotropius]

to me it means delusional people who think that a country of 300million+ people can have a small government.

Well congratulations on winning smug leftist wanker of the thread award.

You really couldn't have just offered a constructive and objective contribution?

[Natapoc]

Anyone who:
1. Opposition to authoritarianism.
2. Wishes to maximize individual freedom.

[New Huxlian Orwell]

A libertarian, a variation of the more correct term "lolbertarian". A pseudo-political ideology based in ignorance, and of the opinion that the free market can cure everything. Please also see homeopathy, and Scientology for other examples of idea that should be discarded.

[Psychotropius]

Imagine a bunch of old homophobic, racist rich white guys escaping from the old folks home, putting on some snazzy clothes and some fancy aftershave, turning up at a club, putting their hips out on the dancefloor and hitting on all the most attractive women as if they belong amongst the trendy, young and radical.

That's what Libertarian means to me.

What the fuck? Libertarianism is based around complete freedom for everyone, regardless of race or sexual orientation.

Economic and social issues, if you take most of the main representatives of the so-called Libertarian movement.

If by that you mean Ron Paul (who's not exactly a shining example of libertarianism) and Glenn Beck (who isn't a libertarian and doesn't identify as one), then that's still false.

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

Rand Paul isn't a libertarian. He's a conservatarian abomination.

People aren't identifying with 'libertarianism' because of people like you. You're either a socialist or a communist or some kind of non-ego, non-private, non-normal...who knows. Its some kind of old anti-bourgeois anti-property hacker crap. it is oozing through your pores.

Sidenote:
- the sum total of the history of libertarian identity struggle within the last decade (the dawn of the true democratization of knowledge, wikipedia, etc.) has consisted of this--- a lack of capacity for an overlap in the fundamental logic, more specifically, a lack of agreed upon rules for the discussion of "freedom", the question being, is that freedom of the individual, or freedom of "the people".

Freedom of the individual, or freedom of the people?

A lot of libertarians are just pissed off that they can't smoke pot legally.

Take out the anti-corporate (poor, immature, bitchy, ugly, unsexed, oxytocin-issues, whatever) crowd and you're pretty much just left with socialists and communists who don't know shit about innovation and the nature of motivation. Flat taxes, no medicare/medicaid. We'd all pay the same thing for medicine, instead of one guy paying 2000 by never paying his bills and fucking up his credit, or the next guy forking over 10,000 because he didn't want to fuck up his credit. and all the while it only costed 3000 dollars, because there are 10 times more 2000 dollar joes than 10000 dicks. and if it wasn't for the insurance companies who had to deal with this crap, the healthcare providers just MIGHT be able to provide it for 2000 ANYWAY because they don't have to worry about insurance fees! And MAYBE a private sector would act more efficiently, thus decreasing costs more!

The key to government is to control the money, monitor how its used, and GET THE FUCK OUT OF THE WAY. Twalala. Lol libertarianism is going to take a big hit after the Republicans (in libertarian spirit) legalize pot. I see it coming.

[Psychotropius]

A libertarian, a variation of the more correct term "lolbertarian". A pseudo-political ideology based in ignorance, and of the opinion that the free market can cure everything. Please also see homeopathy, and Scientology for other examples of idea that should be discarded.

Ignorance.

Oh yes, two words which should be redflagged in this discussion: 'ignorance', 'freedom', and, oh yes, THREE words, 'logic'.

Logic is based off of induction and deduction. But it completely ignores ABDUCTION, which is the root of liberty. And abduction, is private. I fucking hate communists. I really do. Why don't you replace your hammer and sickle with a dildo and a rainbow.

[Radictistan]

Libertarians are a bunch of rich CEOs who don't want to pay taxes and think they can make an ideology out of it.

[Wamitoria]

Oh yes, two words which are redflagged in this discussion should be 'ignorance', 'freedom', and, oh yes, THREE words, 'logic'.

Libertarian economics requires one to entirely ignore logic and statistics, so it's pretty ironic for you to claim superiority in logic.

[Fr33domland]

Oh yes, two words which are redflagged in this discussion should be 'ignorance', 'freedom', and, oh yes, THREE words, 'logic'.

Libertarian economics requires one to entirely ignore logic and statistics, so it's pretty ironic for you to claim superiority in logic.

^Ignoring logic and statistics by stating that.

[Robert Magoo]

Mainstream, moderate libertarianism is basically a concept advocating for individual rights, so long as you don't interfere with anybody else's freedoms. Moderate libertarianism is basically synonymous with classical liberalism, which is what both modern liberalism and conservatism grew out of. Radical libertarianism is a bit more extreme, and basically advocates letting people do whatever they want, even if it interferes with others' freedoms. I used to consider myself a libertarian, but then realized that many of them are much more extreme than I am. Today I identify myself more with classical liberalism.

[Jari Head]

I've read their platform and after all the cuts they'd like to make you'd end up with a 19th century government trying to run 21st century country.