"Oh my God, I'm so fat!"

[Alceste]

"Oh no! Quick, you better have some more cake!"

That's American libertarianism in a nutshell.

 

[Breathe]

Mmm. Cake.



As an outsider who doesn't know, follow, or usually care about politics (much less US politics): why do you think this is the case?

 

[dawny0826]

I'm not following you and would genuinely be interested in your point of view on this...

 

[Skwim]

"Oh no! Quick, you better have some more cake!"

That's American libertarianism in a nutshell.

Care to 'splain?

 

[Iti oj]

por que?

 

[Renji]

Huh?.

 

[Alceste]

Mmm. Cake.



As an outsider who doesn't know, follow, or usually care about politics (much less US politics): why do you think this is the case?

The proposition that a fiscal meltdown caused by insufficient regulation of the banking sector, or environmental catastrophes caused by insufficient regulation of the energy sector, will magically disappear if only the government repeals the remaining regulations, is like telling a fat person that eating some more cake is a surefire way to drop a few pounds... and having them them believe you.

 

[sandandfoam]

The proposition that a fiscal meltdown caused by insufficient regulation of the banking sector, or environmental catastrophes caused by insufficient regulation of the energy sector, will magically disappear if only the government repeals the remaining regulations, is like telling a fat person that eating some more cake is a surefire way to drop a few pounds... and having them them believe you.

Whingeing pinkos, all you really want to do is take my gun away. First you want to make society fair and next thing you'll want my dang gun.


Universal healthcare goes against Jesus don't you know.

 

[Alceste]

Whingeing pinkos, all you really want to do is take my gun away. First you want to make society fair and next thing you'll want my dang gun.


Universal healthcare goes against Jesus don't you know.

I know, I hate freedom. That's why I do what I do.

 

[MD]

Although I think that American system is absoltuely nuts there needs to be a balance. I find some of the European states are too socialist, creating welfare states. Welfare states are not sustainable in the long term. America is the other opposite, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

I think Canada is the perfect in between. You work hard, you get ahead. If you don't work hard, the govt helps out but nothing crazy. Health care is free (although they should really include dental). Education is cheap (for university) and excellent. It's the perfect system imo.

 

[Alceste]

Although I think that American system is absoltuely nuts there needs to be a balance. I find some of the European states are too socialist, creating welfare states. Welfare states are not sustainable in the long term. America is the other opposite, the rich get richer and the poor get poorer.

I think Canada is the perfect in between. You work hard, you get ahead. If you don't work hard, the govt helps out but nothing crazy. Health care is free (although they should really include dental). Education is cheap (for university) and excellent. It's the perfect system imo.

I'm pretty happy with it. Although, really, we Canadians tend to envy the Scandinavians, on account of their free university educations. Maybe people tend to want a system that's just a little more socialist than the one they already have, but nothing too "extreme".

 

[Renji]

Does this not pertain to someone I know?

 

[Father Heathen]

Universal healthcare goes against Jesus don't you know.

Except libertarians (of the U.S. variety) aren't typically christian fundamentalists. If they opposed things that they thought were un-christian, then they wouldn't be supporting gay rights, now would they? It's okay to criticize libertarianism, but at least know a little bit about what it is you're actually criticizing.

 

[Revoltingest]

The proposition that a fiscal meltdown caused by insufficient regulation of the banking sector, or environmental catastrophes caused by insufficient regulation of the energy sector, will magically disappear if only the government repeals the remaining regulations, is like telling a fat person that eating some more cake is a surefire way to drop a few pounds... and having them them believe you.

You so don't understand.
I've explained it so often before, yet never does actual discussion happen.

But what I find so much more interesting is that you referred to "libertarianism", not the "libertarian left",
"libertarian right" or "libertarian socialism". Hast thou acquiesced to my preferred definition? Progress!

 

[Alceste]

You so don't understand.
I've explained it so often before, yet never does actual discussion happen.

But what I find so much more interesting is that you referred to "libertarianism", not the "libertarian left",
"libertarian right" or "libertarian socialism". Hast thou acquiesced to my preferred definition? Progress!

I called it American libertarianism. Libertarianism means something else outside your borders.

You might find discussion happens a little more readily when you make a few meaningful contributions.

 

[Shadow Wolf]

I still wonder why Libertarians don't make a more decisive split from the Republicans. It really makes just as much since for them to team up with the Democrats, since either party only lives up to at best about half of the Libertarian agenda. Or maybe the next big political party split with be the Republicans splitting into two groups, with social Conservatives and Tea Partiers forming their own party, and fiscal Conservatives and Libertarians forming their own.
Especially now, with the Republican party leaning more and more to the right socially, I would think a strong Libertarian party could all but snuff the GOP out of existence since fewer and fewer people want a right-winged social agenda as policy, and the younger generation of voters typically identify as Libertarian or Liberal. Except then, an LNC may risk getting a bizarre Eastwood performance of their own.

 

[Father Heathen]

I still wonder why Libertarians don't make a more decisive split from the Republicans. It really makes just as much since for them to team up with the Democrats, since either party only lives up to at best about half of the Libertarian agenda. Or maybe the next big political party split with be the Republicans splitting into two groups, with social Conservatives and Tea Partiers forming their own party, and fiscal Conservatives and Libertarians forming their own.
Especially now, with the Republican party leaning more and more to the right socially, I would think a strong Libertarian party could all but snuff the GOP out of existence since fewer and fewer people want a right-winged social agenda as policy, and the younger generation of voters typically identify as Libertarian or Liberal. Except then, an LNC may risk getting a bizarre Eastwood performance of their own.

Agreed.

 

[s2a]

"Oh no! Quick, you better have some more cake!"

That's American libertarianism in a nutshell.

Wel, I've seen better and more apt allegories offered... and I really enjoy cake

 

[Revoltingest]

I still wonder why Libertarians don't make a more decisive split from the Republicans.

Well....we do have our own political party.

It really makes just as much since for them to team up with the Democrats, since either party only lives up to at best about half of the Libertarian agenda. Or maybe the next big political party split with be the Republicans splitting into two groups, with social Conservatives and Tea Partiers forming their own party, and fiscal Conservatives and Libertarians forming their own.
Especially now, with the Republican party leaning more and more to the right socially, I would think a strong Libertarian party could all but snuff the GOP out of existence since fewer and fewer people want a right-winged social agenda as policy, and the younger generation of voters typically identify as Libertarian or Liberal. Except then, an LNC may risk getting a bizarre Eastwood performance of their own.

A reason that small "l" libertarians might prefer Republicans is that they're less authoritarian economically, & that the Dems
are more authoritarian socially than they care to admit, eg, speech regulation, pro-military draft, pro-foreign adventurism.
But I can only speculate, since I've no desire to change either party from within. Dems are also less libertarian-friendly....
...their "big tent" ain't that big.

 

[Willamena]

Well....we do have our own political party.

A reason that small "l" libertarians might prefer Republicans is that they're less authoritarian economically, & that the Dems
are more authoritarian socially than they care to admit, eg, speech regulation, pro-military draft, pro-foreign adventurism.
But I can only speculate, since I've no desire to change either party from within. Dems are also less libertarian-friendly....
...their "big tent" ain't that big.

So, in what way are the Libertarians authoritarian?