Why I became a Libertarian

[Bob]

shouldn't they change the name back to what it was more accurately called....the Department of War. Defense my arse!

 

[30A Skunkape]

I can assure you that if you went thru the budget of each category listed below defense you would find monies spent that benefit defense. For instance the nuclear arms this country has generally been tucked under energy.

It cuts both ways-the military is feverishly researching alternative fuels, for example.

 

[IRIETYMES]

Let me ask a question that I would like to see answered by any and all, and I mean it as a topic for discussion; I take no public sides:

is a Libertarian vote a "wasted" vote?

 

[wrobert]

Let me ask a question that I would like to see answered by any and all, and I mean it as a topic for discussion; I take no public sides:

is a Libertarian vote a "wasted" vote?

Personally, I do not believe any vote can be wasted. Rather or not it would elect a candidate, it does show a voting a block that agree on certain principals. As the size of that block increases you would start seeing the major contenders adjust their thinking as they pander to the new dynamic.

 

[traderx]

Let me ask a question that I would like to see answered by any and all, and I mean it as a topic for discussion; I take no public sides:

is a Libertarian vote a "wasted" vote?

I used to believe so but no longer. Why? Take another look at the graph in my opening post. These days, I have zero perference as to whether a Dem or Rep is elected Prez or the makeup of the Congress. Reps and Dems both have an insatiable appetive for spending my money and yours. To effect a real change in this country, it will have to come from a third party.

 

[futurebeachbum]

I used to believe so but no longer. Why? Take another look at the graph in my opening post. These days, I have zero perference as to whether a Dem or Rep is elected Prez or the makeup of the Congress. Reps and Dems both have an insatiable appetive for spending my money and yours. To effect a real change in this country, it will have to come from a third party.

I've voted Libertarian in the last few elections and I've espoused a belief that the lack of a viable third party has been a serious problem with our form of government here.

I believe that with a viablethird party, politicians would have to negotiate and compromise and behave like statesmen instead of acting solely as the hired hands of the various special interest groups that own them all. I really dislike the way that, under our current system, the party in charge is totally in charge and doesn't have to reach any form of accommodation with the minority party. I've always liked the way that, in a multiparty environment, the winning party typically has to form a coalition with one or more other groups to govern.

OTOH: I have a lot of employees from other countries (Russia, Bulgaria, Mexico, India, Turkey, Taiwan , Germany and others) and to a person, the employees who come from countries with such a model complain bitterly about it. They say that the winning party is usually held hostage by the minority party just to stay in power and they see it as a form of blackmail. They have numerous ugly anecdotes related to this.

I suppose the grass is always greener somewhere else.

As a aside, I don't know how Libertarians on the board feel about it, but I don't believe for a minute that Bob Barr is a Libertarian. He may have some conservative views on spending (and Libertarian doesn't necessarily mean being a knee-jerk conservative) but I am sure he would support FISA, warrantless searches and the general dismissal of the Constitution as much as any Democrat or Republican candidate does and that just ain't Libertarian to me.

Frankly, I don't see how someone who was a Federal Prosecutor, much less a lawyer can ever reasonably cast themselves as a Libertarian.

 

[ckhagen]

Personally, I do not believe any vote can be wasted. Rather or not it would elect a candidate, it does show a voting a block that agree on certain principals. As the size of that block increases you would start seeing the major contenders adjust their thinking as they pander to the new dynamic.

I totally agree with this statement.
As long as we keep telling people their vote "doesn't count" because it isn't for someone who could obviously win, we will never see the change we want to see. The two major parties will never adapt unless they're threatened, why would they? Something has to give. My vote counts no matter who it's for. It counts because it's a testimony to what I believe in...