Both liberals and conservatives view and use government as a way to control people, and this must really make them shiver when they see libertarians as viewing government as pure waste and bureaucracy. What do you think?
David37, boss
Favorite Answer
I don't know if we frighten Liberals, but we confuse them.
Liberals can't wrap their head around people who feel gays have the same rights as everyone else, are opposed to Nation Building, want to de criminalize drugs, prostitution, and for civil liberties, just to name a few.
Yet because we believe in free markets, 2nd Amendment, and smaller Government we are thrown into the Republican camp. They don't understand individual thought and they are used to group think.
So hence, we are evil, greedy, and racists.
babbie
Conservatives do not see government as a way to control people, where do you Libertarians get this garbage you spew on here? Conservatives believe in the people controlling the government. We just want the government to do what it says in the Constitution, and that's all about protecting us from foreign aggression and upholding our civil rights. Period. The only real problem Conservatives have with Libertarians is that politically, you're a bunch of spoiled flower children living in an ivory tower talking about how superior you are and refusing to come down and help the rest of us fight for those "liberties" you keep yammering about unless you can have everything your way. Well, your way got us Obama, and just how long do you think you're going to keep any of those liberties if you don't help us get rid of him in 2012? Or are you going to do your usual, and leave the rest of us to fight off tyrrany while you sit up in your tower and kibitz? "make them shiver"? Not hardly, Libertarians are about as threatening as Bambi.
The (Teddy Roosevelt) Republican
Um, I think you mean do Libertarians FRIGHTEN Democrats or Republicans more. Libertarians have both liberal and conservative views depending on the issue. And considering that Libertarians are more aligned with the Republican Party...I would say if they were going to "scare" anyone, it would be the Democrats.
Btw, I think you are a bit confused (if I am interpreting you correctly). If you think Libertarians view government as completely useless, that is, you think they are a bunch of anarchists, then you are absolutely wrong in that assumption. Pardon me if I misinterpreted what you were trying to say here.
Anonymous
I think the GOP is more scared. As an example I'll use my state. Ron Paul reignited libertarianism during his campaign. After the campaign was over he started the campaign for liberty and young americans for liberty. These groups work to increase the emphasis on the constitution in local, state, and national politics. Many are registering with the GOP and are showing up at caucuses and voting our own liberty lovers into party positions, and running for city councils. Some of the older GOPers see this as a threat to their business as usual.
Bigsky_52
The social freedoms people would have under a libertarian government would annoy conservatives, but they'd learn to live with it. The economic freedoms people would have under a libertarian government would make liberals crap themselves. No welfare? No corporate regulation? No socialized safety nets? The very thought makes liberals scream like newly castrated cattle.