Libertarianism and The Center

plusaf -- thanks for responding. Your points are interesting and reasonably compelling -- I agree that
1) Government should let people be whenever possible -- this means eliminating laws that instruct morality
2) Government spending and programs are suspect and frequently involve waste and potentially corruption

But where I'll disagree -- Corporate law and the establishment of corporations, and indeed many governement decisions -- are hardly the will of the people. I doubt more than 15% of the electorate understands the issue.

As far as public education goes -- the question is not whether it's been perfect, but if it's better than the alternative.

The big problem I have with libertarianism is my perception ( and maybe I'm wrong, I'll leave it to you to correct me ) is that there seems to be a big emphasis on the fact that the Government can't take your property, but in the realm of wealth and income, we all 'stand on the shoulders' of those who came before us and invested and sacrificed for the common good. I think the turmoil in the markets, tainted baby food from China killing babies etc etc prove that you can't simply leave things to the 'market'. If you wrest power from the Government, it does not just revert to the people, but it flows to the wealthy and powerful. This is far worse than having the Government hold power. At least the Government is moderately bound by the will of 'the people'.

So - less corrupt, more efficient, more focused government? Yes. Inherent limitations on what the Gov can do? Yes, but relating to individual rights and liberties. The Government has a legitimate role to play in preventing abuse of economic and other power by individuals and corporations in our society.

I advocate all of my friends to register as a libertarian and i got a significant amount of them to vote libertarian this past election. Although no candidate had a chance in hell to win according the final count, I want to keep pressing on.

All in all, its really tough to advocate for libertarian candidates when their websites SUCK or are non-existent. Can they pleaseeeee fix them and make them comprehensive resources about the candidates and stances?

Erm, the "war on drugs" is pretty much a defining issue when it comes to determining your political stance. After all, it is "your" body and who are the Government to tell you what you can and can't do to it? It's all about personal freedoms.

I don't see how compromising your ideals, for the sake of winning an election, will garner anyone any respect. Quite the opposite I'd imagine.

When I fight for your freedom of speech, I don't expect there to be any exceptions. If you don't like what I'm saying, good... that's kinda the point.

http://www.dailykos.com/storyonly/2008/11/11/85651/707/213/658805

The political spectrum is best represented, not by a line, but by a nipple ring that doesn't close. In the ring example we can understand that there is not much difference between the far left and the far right.

It'd help if the Libertarians got to the center a little bit, by perhaps softening up their radical-ish drug policies. What they need to do is put their ideas into practice, which has never been done before.

I said it before and I'll say it again.
There is no better time for Libertarians and other parties to make use of the internet and build their force in politics than right now.
The growing diversity of the US is on their side and they must take advantage of it.
The two party system is outdated.