What's the difference between the Tea Party and the Libertarian Party?

You are confusing the compass model of American Politics for the linear model of American Politics.

Tea Party's are ultra-conservative Republicans who are upset at the Obama administration. They are economically conservative (To an extent) and they are socially conservative as well.

Libertarians on the other hand are economically conservative (Like Republicans) and socially liberal (Like Democrats). For examples, see Ron Paul.

Where as the Tea Party wants a better government, we Libertarians believe that government is usually the problem. Although true Libertarian philosophy is essentially anarchy, its practical application usually involves a very limited government and, in America, a strong focus on a state's power over the fed's power.

I really don't know why Libertarians are stereotyped as super-Republicans. We support Gay Marriage (Actually, we don't support the government recognizing or regulating marriage as anything more than a legal contract), we support legalization of several recreational drugs and we do not support the wars in Iraq or Afghanistan. In fact, Ron Paul (Who is a Libertarian-Leaning Republican) is one of the only members of Congress to vote against the war in Iraq.

Libertarian Tea Party

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RE:

What's the difference between the Tea Party and the Libertarian Party?

Seems to me like the Tea Party is nothing more than the newest iteneration of the same old disgruntled "we lost and we're pissed" ultra-conservative Republican agenda that we've already seen in the Libertarian party. Is this new? If so, how?

There is not much difference between the Tea Party and Libertarians. If you look at their platforms, the Tea Party pretty much just takes the government and economic principles of Libertarians and stops there. It says NOTHING about social issues, except to say that it desires to stay out of them...let the Libertarians, Liberals and Conservatives fight over those. The Tea Party is only interested in government power. Period. All these other comments are people's wrong impressions of the core movement..."guilt by association" I suppose. But it is easy to just look up the platforms of both, yourselves!

The "tea party" is not a political party. Just a way to show disgust about the taxation and waste of tax money the corrupted congress and senate have approved and signed by the president for wasteful spending. Study the "tea party" (protesting taxation without representation) that started the revolutionary war for independence. You do not have a clue what the Libertarian Party is all about. Get yourself educated or do not vote.

Bill Maher is a libertarian.

He would not be caught dead at a Tea party gathering.

The Tea Party is mostly being led by neoconservatives and right wing talk radio. Most tea partiers I imagine believe in small government only on economic issues which I support but they probably believe in big government involvement in your personal life and forcing their moral values on you like most social conservatives are into doing.

Libertarians don't want the government forcing their "moral values" on the rest of the country, and are also commonly against imperialist wars such as in Iraq... the Tea Party is really just Republicans who don't like that they have a black President who is trying to help the poor in this country (especially the minority poor) but can't officially say that so they speak in vague generalities like "He's not a Real American" or "He's changing this country and bringing it towards Socialism" ... Libertarians, I disagree with on some things, but they have my respect, and have a respectable ideology. Tea Partiers are Republicans, nothing else, and the worst the GOP has to offer for the most part (some exceptions)

In answer to your question--ahem, statement--you can educate yourself on who they are. Seems to me you have already formed an opinion, ahem...beed force fed an opinion, and if I thought you were looking for an honest debate, I'd tell you the difference. And Libertarians are not ultra conservative.