But it seems to be true. Certainly true of PJ O’Rourke, who couldn’t be more Liberatarian. He once wrote that Republicans were like God and Democrats were like Santa Claus, and that Santa Claus was preferable in every way except one – there is no Santa Claus.
This wasn’t a statement of faith (I think he’s agnostic), but of his belief that liberal Democratic types are living in a fantasy land. Additionally, he finds them more dishonest intellectually; that is, he thinks many liberals’ preoccupation with certain causes is not based in altruism but ego and the desire to control people.
Anyway, this is well in line with other Libertarians I’ve known. They are very conservative fiscally and into small government, and socially liberal. Actually, I’m surprised you’re surprised. What do you think a Liberatarian is?
Oh my god, what did I do, just type l-i-b and then let my fingers flail at the keyboard until the word seemed done? I’ve never wished more for the ability to edit. LIBERTARIAN.
You know how folks say that when someone self-identifies as an Independent, they’re really a Democrat in disguise?
Many a right-Leaning person I’ve known has self-identified as a Libertarian rather than a Republican. They’re happy to attack the left much more often than the right but they call themsevles Libertarians. I would assume these people would be more apt to vote Republican than Democrat. Hell, I’ve heard ole Rush Limbaugh himself call himself a Libertarian (no cite, I heard it). Anyway, I see later posts past yours where others agree with me so I know I’m not so far off the mark.
Another race in which a Libertarian arguably played a spoiler role was Indiana’s 9th Congressional District, won by Democrat Baron Hill, who had served from 1999-2005 until being ousted by Republican Mike Sodrel two years ago. From this article:
I don’t live in this district, but I got to see ads for both candidates courtesy of the Indianapolis TV stations my cable provider carries, and would have voted for Schansberg just because he didn’t enter the mudslinging fray. (My district is the “safe seat” 4th, in which the GOP’s Steve Buyer was re-elected by nearly a 2-1 margin over Democrat David Sanders despite the fact that membership in the Republican Party seems to pretty much be Buyer’s sole “qualification” for the job.)
What? Are you unable to understand the very structure of the American voting system makes this arrangement totally unstable? It’s like saying the ideal position for a pencil is balanced on it’s tip. It’s excellent in theory but the first past the post system means that the political process is only stable as a two party system. If you truly care about the independant voter, lobby your local district to adopt some sort of runoff voting.
If the Libertarians had any say in the matter, he could be smoking whatever the fuck he wanted, couldn’t he?
I suppose I’m an ‘O’Rourke libertarian’. I believe the government should stay out of my wallet as much as possible, and out of my bedroom completely. It used to be that I identified more with the Republican party, but given the Republicans’ recent willingness to play ‘tax and spend’ with the worst of 'em, these days I’m feeling more sympathic to the Democrats. At least they tax and spend peacefully.
And count me with those who get really irked when I’m told that by following my conscience, I’m ‘wasting my vote’. I’d rather stand by my principles than cast a ‘lesser of two evils’ vote just to appease a particular party for being almost worth voting for. You can blame me for ‘making your side lose’ if you wish. After all, the absent are never without fault, nor the present without excuse.
It was (practiced) this election. cracks whip It took me just a second to realize that it’s not more widely practiced because of lobbyists, rather than being ‘complicated.’ How depressing.
