Libertarians
VINNY GOOMBA
Posts: 1,818
Is anyone on here a member of the Libertarian Party, or if not, consider themselves Libertarian-minded when describing your political beliefs?
Count me in.
Count me in.
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"Life Is What Happens To You When Your Busy Making Other Plans" John Lennon
I consider myself Libertarian-minded. I'm a registered democrat though, because the republicans scare me too much. Their absurd swaggering foreign policy and Jesus-fueled moral hypocrisy at home are far more of a threat than the democrats pose as far as I'm concerned.
Generally though, I'm for less government, ESPECIALLY in my private life. I don't like drug regulation or outlawing prostitution, I don't like the Bible taught in classrooms. I don't like outdated religious-based prejudices depriving my fellow citizens of their rights.
That said, I'm not a total free market acolyte. I think we let corporations and banks and the like have far too much power and influence and it's absurd that we allow them to have rights and engage in practices that a regular citizen would be arrested for doing. That's bullshit. You can't trust industry to regulate itself.
I also think national health care is a pretty good idea and think we should phase out most other federal programs to fund it... like medicare, medicaid, the dept of education, 3-4 of our 20 diff intelligence agencies, etc.
Too much freedom = the wild west?
When do you think this was actually tried? I wasn't there, but the last time any type of system resembling free markets was in place (in America anyway) was probably when this land still belonged to the natives.
I don't know enough about any of those countries' economic histories to be able to agree or disagree with you, or be able to agree or disagree whether or not they were really as "free-market" as you say. But, you've got me highly interested to do some research. Thanks, actually. I would like to know what the pitfalls were in this system, if it has any that are truly significant. It is true that free markets are prone to adjustments, but they are just that, adjustments, unlike the huge fake bubbles that are created and manipulated through over-regulation as you see here in America, which in turn leave half the country jumping on the bandwagon when it's ready to collapse.
To me, whether something is considered a free market is very black and white. "Bastardized" definitely disqualifies it instantly. What I'm willing to wager, without knowing 100% factually is that none of NZ, Argentina, and Chile had truly sound money in their attempts at a real free market economy. That is, money that is 100% backed by gold, silver, or some other stable commodity that has endured the test of time as having actual value. This is one of the major cornerstones of a real market economy, and to my knowledge, no country has had this type of system in place for years.
Now, I'm not one for rules or laws, in fact I tend to break them (an instinct I tend to have) and also have issues with authority. That said, I believe in community, sharing, and taking care of one another. The Libertarian idealism of "I don't want anyone to interfere with my life"...well, what do they plan on doing, living in a hole? Granted, this is extreme Libs, but that's what it would come to in a nation that had a Libertarian style gov't, not being involved at all. Also, I agree with SS:
He's right, corps and banks will never regulate themselves. They need guidelines that follow covering environmental and human health sustainability. If we don't have rules prolonging the health of our own species, we're screwed and our time here is much shorter overall. I'm also for nat'l health care and set guidelines for businesses pertaining to worker health and time off (America is the most over-worked and stressed out country; we do not take care of ourselves). Some would call this Socialist behavior...It's simply recognizing who we are (social animals) and emphasizing human care. We can't live in a hole and prosper.
I admit that this sounds a bit extreme, but if they're that isolated, who cares? They obviously aren't hurting anyone, they aren't having any impact on anybody, really... Life doesn't change for you, and how you do things because these people want to be hermits, right? If our nation had a Libertarian style government everyone would be living in the way they saw fit, whether they wanted isolation or not. Libertarians have no problem with other people being straight communists. I would go so far as to say that we don't care if other people in the same country lived under communist conditions localized to their town / city if that's what the people in that town / city determined was best for them. Just don't let it infringe on my liberty and my wallet.
The problem is, is that the "regulators" are as corrupt as any business they attempt to regulate-- or in their attempt to "regulate" they only end up writing and enforcing laws that on the surface appear to be keeping these companies in check, but are really only stifling competition, and lining their own pockets. Their is this huge misconception that Libertarians are for anarchy. This is not true. Libertarians don't believe in lawlessness, they want just laws that ensure that people can do pretty much whatever they want so long as someone else isn't being harmed by these actions. Sounds fair doesn't it? I am of the belief that business can be "regulated" fairly enough under basic laws against theft and fraud. "Regulation" has legalized fraud in this country. "Regulation" has allowed banks to counterfeit money. Having an-all powerful authority capable of overseeing business is inherently corrupt. The business being regulated only needs to grease the palms of it's overseer so much for it to be completely ineffective. What are we left with then but paying more money to the government so they can reap the rewards of falsely overseeing corrupt big business? It is only the people and the market place itself that should 'police' business with their choices. The reason this never gets to happen is because too many of these conglomerate businesses have deep roots in a crony-capiltalistic system for far too long. Too many advantages have been thrown their way by way of government to ensure that they will always survive, namely at the expense of the people.
Your remarks are way TOO funny!. BOTH The Leftists and the Rightest "scare" me. Not a "Libertarian" though - or would be unable to vote here in Florida - for some elections. I remain Independent. And while my "leanings" may "scare" some of YOU - some of your "leanings" equally scare ME as well.!
"Empty pockets will Allow a greater Sense of wealth...." EV/ITW
"Vinnie Goomba" That is such a funny "user name." You sound all "mafia."
"Empty pockets will Allow a greater Sense of wealth...." EV/ITW
"What" "mafia" "are" "you" "talking" "about?" "I" "don't" "know" "anything" "about" "this" "mafia" "you" "speak" "of..."
the problem is corporations are institutions with authority-companies like wallmart make more money than countries like Greece, and they don't sit on that power. they spread, like a goddamn virus.
so libertarian capitalism is out. if there is any doubts as to whether or not the free market is best for society, study US history in the 1900's. it failed. the workers rights we enjoy today were paid for in blood.
capitalism, where profit is more important than life or the environment. fuck all that.
i'm a libertarian socialist, small government, share the wealth, etc.
Hey commy, I was wondering if you would help me out with my rent this month Im a little short.
yeah because that makes sense.
its about labor, and being compensated fairly for it.
guaranteed the coal miners are sweating more for that coal than the fatcats in their offices. but the fatcats are the guys making all the profit. and fuck all that. that's what i was referring too.
It is my personal belief that if you first limit the size of government and leave more money in the hands of the people, that the people WILL be more charitable to the causes of their choice.
i wonder about that. its a good theory, and people for the most part are good, i believe, but if there is no motivation for doing something, most of the time that something doesn't get done. i believe.
if people are compensated fairly for their labor, say under a libertarian socialist model, and if that labor benefits something other than a corporation or an individual, if that labor benefits a community instead, directly, a motivator emerges. its in an individuals best interest to help their neighbor, because their neighbor is laboring for the benefit of the community. you help the neighbor, you help the community- and ultimately yourself, which is kind of important.
good theory, you could be right. i would leave nothing to chance, were it up to me.
Sorry to you as well - Jenwah - I want to do laundry and thoroughly clean/bleach my house when I read any of YOUR posts. FUNNY as hell - isn't it?
"Empty pockets will Allow a greater Sense of wealth...." EV/ITW
I will always be a Chris Farley fan! Much love to you. Seriously.
"Empty pockets will Allow a greater Sense of wealth...." EV/ITW
Because I'm Irish. I still think you rock!
"Empty pockets will Allow a greater Sense of wealth...." EV/ITW
Your comments (like numerous others) make me laugh. I really like to laugh. Despite differences.
"Empty pockets will Allow a greater Sense of wealth...." EV/ITW