# Why your party? **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [February 4, 2000, 9:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450 "2000-02-04T21:07:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![RTFirefly](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/c77e96/32.png) [@RTFirefly](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RTFirefly)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/41 "2000-02-08T13:37:00Z")
Or maybe libertarians believe that the military, police, and courts should be funded by private donations. You tell me, libertarians! :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 1:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/42 "2000-02-08T13:56:00Z")
Oh, you mean _again_? :rolleyes: ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/43 "2000-02-08T21:40:00Z")
\< getting out q-tips and rubbing alcohol for RTF’s ears \> er that should read \< getting out paper towel and glass cleaner to clean off RTF’s monitor \> squeek, squeek, squeek Ahhhhhhhh better now? Lib said: [QUOTE] Libertarians, for instance, believe in a military to defend the country, and [presumedly] believe in taxes to pay for it.[/QUOTE} Libertarianism is not an anarchist based system. It reconizes that there is a role the government must play in our lives, but the Libertarians what to keep it as lean as possible. Socialism is thrown out and moral based laws are thrown out. Libertarians and Republicans are born of the same leaders, but unfortunately, Republicans have not stood for what Jefferson and his fellow Republicans of the time had in mind for our country. A government based on the rights of it’s citizens. A government that does not interfere or coerce people. And most importantly, a government that works _for_ the people and is not it’s master. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/44 "2000-02-08T21:45:00Z")
Um, TechChick, better get out your flame helmet. The one with the extra strength shield. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 9:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/45 "2000-02-08T21:48:00Z")
Employment posting: Hiring a message board editor. Must know what I am thinking, be smart and intelligent. Correct my typos, spelling errors and obvious stupid words that make no sense in the context of the sentence. Pay not good, but the benefits are outstanding. Here’s a sample of what’s needed: > [@](#): > > It reconizes that there is a role the government must play in our lives, but the Libertarians what to keep it as lean as possible. Socialism is thrown out and moral based laws are thrown out. Should have been edited to reflect: > [@](#): > > It reco **g** nizes that there is a role the government must play in our lives, but the Libertarians **want** to keep it as lean as possible. Socialism is thrown out and moral based laws are thrown out. \< I am so embarassed \> ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/46 "2000-02-08T21:51:00Z")
Lib, are you saying I have to make a jaunt over to the BBQ Pit? Dayum, and I thought it was a good day… ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/47 "2000-02-08T22:34:00Z")
ruadh, I was responding to your comment > [@](#): > > I just have an aversion to hippie liberal yuppie type people and I can’t shake that association So I was thinking “if you don’t like hippies or liberals, then maybe you wouldn’t like the labor party either.” I do accept your statement that the Labor Party is more in accordance with your political beliefs. I personally choose a party by party platform more than by individual charisma. If for example I had lived during the time of the USA civil war, and I had met Robert E. Lee and thought he was a charming individual, and that Ulysses Grant was a jerk, that doesn’t mean that I would have fought to defend slavery. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/48 "2000-02-08T22:41:00Z")
OK, teckchick, I understand what you’re trying to say. Some of the libertarians I talk to seem more like anarchists to me, but maybe I misunderstood your position. So Libertarians agree that the government can use laws to enforce security of private property. Let me ask you this then. How far can the government go to ensure that society is just? e.g. I own the only bus company in town A. I want to make it a rule that people from group B (racial, religious, whatever) can not be employed by my company or ride my buses. Would a libertarian say the government should intervene? ---
**Author:** ![nebuli](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/0ea827/32.png) [@nebuli](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nebuli)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 10:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/49 "2000-02-08T22:59:00Z")
Libertarian: > [@](#): > > Um, TechChick, better get out your flame helmet. The one with the extra strength shield. Techchick68: > [@](#): > > Lib, are you saying I have to make a jaunt over to the BBQ Pit? Techchick- perhaps Libertarian merely anticipated some less-than-gentle posts pointing out that it is today’s Democratic Party, not today’s Republicans, who are the lineal descendants of Jefferson’s Republican Party. ---
**Author:** ![meara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@meara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meara)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 11:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/50 "2000-02-08T23:00:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried: > I own the only bus company in town A. I want to make it a rule that people from group B (racial, religious, whatever) can not be employed by my company or ride my buses. Would a libertarian say the government should intervene? Generally no. Here’s a quote from the [party platform](http://www.lp.org/platform/): > [@](#): > > While we do not advocate private discrimination, we do not support any laws which attempt to limit or ban it. > > The right to trade includes the right not to trade – for any reasons whatsoever; the right of association includes the right not to associate, for exercise of this right depends upon mutual consent. ---
**Author:** ![meara](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/df705f/32.png) [@meara](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/meara)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 11:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/51 "2000-02-08T23:03:00Z")
Then again, as we can see here, there’s a wide range of opinion even among those who associate themselves with the Libertarian party. ---
**Author:** ![techchick68](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@techchick68](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/techchick68)\ **Post date:** [February 8, 2000, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/52 "2000-02-08T23:48:00Z")
nebuli, My brain seems to be functioning on limited capacity. My posts are screwed up, and even admit to it. You are right, the Demos are outposts of the original Republican party. \< thwaping self on head \> ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 12:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/53 "2000-02-09T00:12:00Z")
If libertarians say > [@](#): > > While we do not advocate private discrimination, we do not support any laws which attempt to limit or ban it. Then that would be one of my reasons not to choose that party. I think private discrimination should be prevented by law. ---
**Author:** ![Cooper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/50afbb/32.png) [@Cooper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cooper)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 12:40am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/54 "2000-02-09T00:40:00Z")
Arnold: You believe businesses should not be able to hire people based on the qualities of that person? ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/55 "2000-02-09T00:42:00Z")
No, I believe that businesses should be prevented from hiring (for example) asians because the owner doesn’t like people from japan. ---
**Author:** ![Arnold\_Winkelried](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3d9bf3/32.png) [@Arnold\_Winkelried](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Arnold_Winkelried)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 12:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/56 "2000-02-09T00:43:00Z")
No, I believe that businesses should be prevented from **refusing to hire** (for example) asians because the owner doesn’t like people from japan. ---
**Author:** ![ruadh](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/d2c977/32.png) [@ruadh](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ruadh)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/57 "2000-02-09T01:15:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Originally posted by Arnold Winkelried: > \*\*ruadh, I was responding to your comment So I was thinking “if you don’t like hippies or liberals, then maybe you wouldn’t like the labor party either.” I do accept your statement that the Labor Party is more in accordance with your political beliefs. > I personally choose a party by party platform more than by individual charisma. > > If for example I had lived during the time of the USA civil war, and I had met Robert E. Lee and thought he was a charming individual, and that Ulysses Grant was a jerk, that doesn’t mean that I would have fought to defend slavery.\*\* Well, you don’t see me going over to the American Independent Party, do you? I’m just trying to find a party that meets both the platform **and** charisma tests. (No, charisma’s not really that important, but it’s not like which party I check off on my voter registration form is really that important either.) The Labor Party seems to have a militant edge which I like. ---
**Author:** ![Peter\_North](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/65b543/32.png) [@Peter\_North](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Peter_North)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 3:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/58 "2000-02-09T15:22:00Z")
From the Labor Party platform: > [@](#): > > We therefore propose a Job Destruction Penalty Act modeled after the one proposed by the New Jersey Industrial Union Council, AFL-CIO (which covers all workers except those in hiring hall types of employment). > > Under the Act corporations with 100 or more employees globally will be required to pay each eligible laid-off worker two months severance pay for every year of service. And they will be required to pay $25,000 per eligible laid-off worker to the local community to offsetrising social costs. > > This Job Destruction Penalty Act will make Corporate America think twice about layoffs. My God ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 9, 2000, 3:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/59 "2000-02-09T15:35:00Z")
TechChick: Actually, I thought someone might call you to task for quoting me as saying that libertarians “believe in taxes” to pay for the military. It was RT who said that. A libertarian, by definition, is a person who opposes coercion and economic fraud. Therefore, someone who believes in taxes — for what purpose is irrelevat — is something other than a libertarian. Meara: Sometimes, the Libertarian Party is kind of like the Christian Church. The underlying ethic can be blotted out by the overt politics. Cooper: In my opinion, peaceful honest people ought to be free to discriminate in any way they see fit with respect to their own property, including their businesses. Peter: I shudder along with you. ---
**Author:** ![Spiritus\_Mundi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c68b51/32.png) [@Spiritus\_Mundi](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spiritus_Mundi)\ **Post date:** [February 10, 2000, 6:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450/60 "2000-02-10T06:42:00Z")
> [@](#): > > A libertarian, by definition, is a person who opposes coercion and economic fraud. Therefore, someone who believes in taxes — for what purpose is irrelevat — is something other than a libertarian. Ah, 'tis Libertarian’s libertarian litmus test. > [@](#): > > In my opinion, peaceful honest people ought to be free to discriminate in any way they see fit with respect to their own property, including their businesses. This is one of my major breaks with libertarian philosophy, especially since libertarianism, as I understand it, also opposes anti-trust laws. To me, this is a recipe for social disaster. * * * - The best lack all conviction The worst are full of passionate intensity. \* [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450.md?page=2) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-your-party/17450.md?page=4)