And what about extremist libertarians?

Always the forgotten step-child when the big two tussle…

A libertarian extremist exhibits many, but not necessarily all, of the following attributes:

  1. believes that America is an hypostatized entity, conceived by coercion and fabricated from fiat declaration.

  2. believes that Saddam Hussein was a tyrant, put in power by tyrannical American hegemonists.

  3. believes that America should never go to war unless one or more specific Americans are victims of aggression.

  4. supports the immediate withdrawal of American armed forces from every foreign base.

  5. believes that capitalism is just one viable economic model among others, and that any economic model, including communism, is acceptable so long as all participants are volunteers.

  6. believes that equal men can’t be free, and free men can’t be equal.

  7. believes that government creates crime out of whole cloth when it enforces laws of prohibition.

  8. believes that a moral duty ought not to be codified into a civic duty.

  9. believes that business should not be subsidized by government.

  10. believes that there are meritorious arguments both for and against abortion, but believes that in any case, those who oppose it should not have to subside it.

  11. believes in a conspiracy led by Democrat and Republican leaders to exclude third parties from serious electoral contention.

  12. believes that homosexuals, like all other peaceful honest people, should be free to pursue their own happiness in their own way.

  13. is sick and tired of both the Bush and Clinton dynasties.

I guess I vote a straight-party “yes” across the board on these. :slight_smile:

That pretty much explains the marginalization and irrelevancy of the breed.

How anyone could tolerate living in a “hypostatized entity” (sounds like something out of Alien) is beyond me.

Thank you for participating. How did you come out in the other two?

Back on topic, I guess I should amend my response to (4): every resource should be revved up and put toward the purpose of finding Bin Laden and the other 9/11 hijackers, no matter where they are hiding.

Not really though there is possibly a grain of truth to it.

Yes

I don’t agree with this.

Not sure I agree with this.

Depends on what you mean by viable I guess.

I agree with this assessment.

I agree.

For some things, perhaps.

I’m not informed enough on this subject to have a decent opinion.

I don’t think there are valid arguments on both sides, and invalid ones as well. I don’t think those that don’t like it should be able to make it illegal though.

Never thought about it, but is sure is possible.

Yes.

Yes.
Am I libertarian?

No.

Yes to first part, no to second. (You really shouldn’t give two part statements like this-- muddies the waters).

No, but I’m not too far from this belief.

Change “every” to “most” and I’m on board.

Yes (although I don’t know I can buy into the “viable” part, if we’re talking long-term).

Define “equal”.

I wouldn’t phrase it that way, but I agree with the sentiment.

Generally, no, but I wouldn’t be comfortable in agreeing across the board.

Yes, yes, yes… a thousand times yes!

Pretty much.

Not a conspiracy, per se, but the result is the same. It’s not like they get together and decide these things with a wink and a nod, but it’s clear that the rules are set to allow only 2 parties.

Yep.

The Clintons don’t have a dynasty yet. But it does seem awfully “3rd Worldish” that we have these two political families so much in the spotlight.

I agree with that, too.

They have all the best slogans.

Every resource? Even all the closed military bases?

#1 and #4 - no

All others at least a qualified yes. :smiley:

I guess I’ll answer these since I tend to identify more with the Libertarian platform these days than the other choices.

A libertarian extremist exhibits many, but not necessarily all, of the following attributes:

1. believes that America is an hypostatized entity, conceived by coercion and fabricated from fiat declaration.
Nope. I believe good intentions for general humanity can be genuinely ascribed to the founding fathers. The United States may now be perpetuated thru coercion and fiat, but originally conceived and fabricated? Don’t think so.

2. believes that Saddam Hussein was a tyrant, put in power by tyrannical American hegemonists.
Seems likely.

3. believes that America should never go to war unless one or more specific Americans are victims of aggression.
Not sure how this distinction can be made effectively. Or even more, implemented efficaciously. Nor, why it might be necessary for an entire nation to militarily defend the interests of a single citizen.

4. supports the immediate withdrawal of American armed forces from every foreign base.
Okay. As long as the withdrawal is complemented by an equivalent reduction in troop and materiel levels. I very much dislike the idea of simply restationing a vast military inside our national borders.

5. believes that capitalism is just one viable economic model among others, and that any economic model, including communism, is acceptable so long as all participants are volunteers.
Sounds reasonable. Although I think capitalism is the only model currently known which can demonstrate a reasonably successful track record. I confess to a whole-hearted admiration of the ideas of Milton Friedman - particularly his ideas on how capitalism promotes individual freedoms.

6. believes that equal men can’t be free, and free men can’t be equal.
Brilliant. As self-evidently true as something can be.

7. believes that government creates crime out of whole cloth when it enforces laws of prohibition.
Absolutely. Perhaps just as self-evidently true as #6.

8. believes that a moral duty ought not to be codified into a civic duty.
Stridently so.

9. believes that business should not be subsidized by government.
The only “subsidies” should be actual purchases of demonstrably necessary goods and services. And nearly all demonstrably necessary government activities should be purchased on the open market (assuming free-market capitalism is the economic model selected in item #5).

10. believes that there are meritorious arguments both for and against abortion, but believes that in any case, those who oppose it should not have to subside it.
Don’t think so -at least I don’t believe there are any genuine merits to the arguments against abortion.

11. believes in a conspiracy led by Democrat and Republican leaders to exclude third parties from serious electoral contention.
Yes sir.

12. believes that homosexuals, like all other peaceful honest people, should be free to pursue their own happiness in their own way.
Indeed.

13. is sick and tired of both the Bush and Clinton dynasties.
Yep. And even further, a complementary exasperation at the coercive “bi-opoly” foisted upon the American public by the Republicans & Democrats.

  1. believes that America is an hypostatized entity, conceived by coercion and fabricated from fiat declaration.
    That goes too far.

  2. believes that Saddam Hussein was a tyrant, put in power by tyrannical American hegemonists.
    I don’t know if the US can take all the credit for Saddam

  3. believes that America should never go to war unless one or more specific Americans are victims of aggression.
    No. Under this idea, the rest of the world should have ignored Hitler’s march into Poland.

  4. supports the immediate withdrawal of American armed forces from every foreign base.
    I think some bases are necessary to allow for quick mobilization in other parts of the world when needed.

  5. believes that capitalism is just one viable economic model among others, and that any economic model, including communism, is acceptable so long as all participants are volunteers.
    I can go along with that.

  6. believes that equal men can’t be free, and free men can’t be equal.
    Needs further definition. Equal in what? Property? Self-esteem? I probably disagree but do not fully understand.

  7. believes that government creates crime out of whole cloth when it enforces laws of prohibition.
    Depends on what it is. Some drugs are illegal for very good reasons.

  8. believes that a moral duty ought not to be codified into a civic duty.
    Disagree.

  9. believes that business should not be subsidized by government.
    Depends on the business. Farmers, for example, might not produce certain crops unless subsidized.

  10. believes that there are meritorious arguments both for and against abortion, but believes that in any case, those who oppose it should not have to subside it.
    Disagree. I oppose the war but don’t get to withhold that part of my taxes that support it.

  11. believes in a conspiracy led by Democrat and Republican leaders to exclude third parties from serious electoral contention.
    It is Democratic leaders, thank you, but I disagree. When a worthy third party emerges, it will get consideration.

  12. believes that homosexuals, like all other peaceful honest people, should be free to pursue their own happiness in their own way.
    Yep I buy this 100%.

  13. is sick and tired of both the Bush and Clinton dynasties.
    Yes. In 2008, there will be people voting who were not alive the last time that neither a Bush nor a Clinton appeared on the ballot as a presidential or vice presidential candidates.

This reminds me of that old movie “Suppose They Had a Political Party and Nobody Cared?”

Actually, I could probably get behind about 75% of this stuff. Is this really “extremist” libertarianism? When I think of extreme libertarianism, I think more along the lines of the stuff they actually say when they are campaigning, like about how we shouldn’t have driver’s licenses, and that sort of thing.

Please elaborate as to who these “tyrannical hegemonists” were, and how they put Saddam in power.

1. believes that America is an hypostatized entity, conceived by coercion and fabricated from fiat declaration. No.

2. believes that Saddam Hussein was a tyrant, put in power by tyrannical American hegemonists. Definitely yes to the first part, not so sure about the second.

3. believes that America should never go to war unless one or more specific Americans are victims of aggression. No.

4. supports the immediate withdrawal of American armed forces from every foreign base. Not necessarily. Maybe some, but probably not all.

5. believes that capitalism is just one viable economic model among others, and that any economic model, including communism, is acceptable so long as all participants are volunteers. While I appreciate the sentiment that no one should be coerced/forced into a system such as communism, I am not sure how it would work to operate it on a volunteer basis, except on a very, very small scale.

6. believes that equal men can’t be free, and free men can’t be equal. Yes. A free society can offer equality of opportunity, but that’s all.

7. believes that government creates crime out of whole cloth when it enforces laws of prohibition. Yes.

8. believes that a moral duty ought not to be codified into a civic duty. Generally speaking, yes.

9. believes that business should not be subsidized by government. Yes.

10. believes that there are meritorious arguments both for and against abortion, but believes that in any case, those who oppose it should not have to subside it. Morally, I do not believe that there are valid arguments for abortion. However, I accept that not everyone is of this opinion, and therefore, government regulation of it is problematic. I do strongly agree that those who oppose it should not have to subsidize it.

11. believes in a conspiracy led by Democrat and Republican leaders to exclude third parties from serious electoral contention. Not sure I would call it a conspiracy, but it seems obvious that they would work towards their own self-interest, just as any individual or organization would.

12. believes that homosexuals, like all other peaceful honest people, should be free to pursue their own happiness in their own way. Sure.

13. is sick and tired of both the Bush and Clinton dynasties. I wouldn’t argue with this, but unfortunately I think it is a by-product of an extremely large, diverse, and complex society. People like familiarity…it makes them feel comfortable.

1. believes that America is an hypostatized entity, conceived by coercion and fabricated from fiat declaration.
Americas conception and fabrication were, imho, a shining star in the history of mankind. It started going downhill in 1789

2. believes that Saddam Hussein was a tyrant, put in power by tyrannical American hegemonists.
That’s a little extreme. Short sighted self interest maybe.

3. believes that America should never go to war unless one or more specific Americans are victims of aggression.
Never? Rarely.

4. supports the immediate withdrawal of American armed forces from every foreign base.
Yup. We have caught no end of hell for wanting to stick our fingers into everyones pie, and we should stop. A few bases that exist purely to protect Americans and/or American interests (like that one little island over there, no the one south of that, from which we can deploy)

5. believes that capitalism is just one viable economic model among others, and that any economic model, including communism, is acceptable so long as all participants are volunteers.
Ok. I don’t think just any economic model is viable, but it should be allowed to succeed or fail on its own merits rather than propped up by the gummit.

6. believes that equal men can’t be free, and free men can’t be equal.
Obviously.

7. believes that government creates crime out of whole cloth when it enforces laws of prohibition.
Yes.

8. believes that a moral duty ought not to be codified into a civic duty.
Yes

9. believes that business should not be subsidized by government.
Yup

10. believes that there are meritorious arguments both for and against abortion, but believes that in any case, those who oppose it should not have to subside it.
Religious beliefs don’t have a place in government. If healthcare is subsidized, then abortion should be as well.

11. believes in a conspiracy led by Democratic and Republican leaders to exclude third parties from serious electoral contention.
Not just the leaders, their people throw temper-tantrums when any 3rd party gets enough votes to make a difference. Remember Perot and Nader.

12. believes that homosexuals, like all other peaceful honest people, should be free to pursue their own happiness in their own way.
All people, unless it infringes on others.

13. is sick and tired of both the Bush and Clinton dynasties.
Yes.

Here’s a little bit on that. If you want more, it’s easy to find for yourself. :slight_smile:

Regarding the “subsidy” issue, should all those who believe in abortion rights have to subsidize the raising of children who are unwanted/abused/born with severe or ultimately fatal birth defects, because one or more parents believed that abortion was unmeritorious but could not cope with the consequences of their decision?

Turnabout, fair play, etc.

Certainly not. Not in this extremist’s opinion. :slight_smile: People should take care of their own shit.

  1. Um, not really.
  2. He was a tyrant, for sure. I don’t belive the second part.
  3. No
  4. Like someone above said, change “every” to “most” and I agree.
  5. Agreed.
  6. Not sure what you mean by equal - probably agree.
  7. Many times it does, but not always.
  8. Heavens, yes. This is one of my pet peeves - it is impossible to legislate morality.
  9. Absolutely.
  10. Agreed.
  11. I’m sure a ‘consipiracy’ doesn’t exist, but they sure ain’t helping things any.
  12. Of course. Altho, are you sure all homosexuals are ‘peaceful and honest’? :wink:
    Disclaimer: this is not a slam! It’s a joke!
  13. I’m tired of the Bush & Clinton circus; not sure if I’d call them dynasties.

How’d I do?

Better than a gussol, I’d say, but not as well as a wick’s tot. :wink: