[MARIS61]

After being undermined, censored, and ignored by the Dems for not playing politics-as-usual, Mike Gravel has left the Democratic Party to join the Libertarian Party.

The corporate-controlled two-party system is on it's last legs.

[Dan]

Originally Posted by MARIS61

After being undermined, censored, and ignored by the Dems for not playing politics-as-usual, Mike Gravel has left the Democratic Party to join the Libertarian Party.

The corporate-controlled two-party system is on it's last legs.

On it's last legs? Because Mike Gravel left?

I think we really need a 3rd party, but let's be real here...this (poor) system isn't on it's last legs.

[crandc]

I certainly agree Democrats and Republicans are both capitalist parties and often see little difference. But the Libertarians? They oppose any public programs and any laws that constrain business at all, including:

minimum wage
8 hour day
social security and unemployment compensation
health and safety laws
anti-discrimination laws
environmental protection
public schools and colleges
public highways
public health system
federal disaster assistance
public fire departments

Although they take stands on individual action that sound progressive - supporting legal abortion, legalizing personal marijuana use, opposing censorship - they are a thoroughly reactionary outfit unlikely to get a lot of support. I mean, most of us are in favor of having a fire department available to all and not just to those who can personally pay for protection. Saying get rid of the fire departments and the minimum wage is not going to exactly make the Democrats and Republicans shiver with fear of becoming obsolete.

[MARIS61]

Originally Posted by crandc

I certainly agree Democrats and Republicans are both capitalist parties and often see little difference. But the Libertarians? They oppose any public programs and any laws that constrain business at all, including:

minimum wage
8 hour day
social security and unemployment compensation
health and safety laws
anti-discrimination laws
environmental protection
public schools and colleges
public highways
public health system
federal disaster assistance
public fire departments

Although they take stands on individual action that sound progressive - supporting legal abortion, legalizing personal marijuana use, opposing censorship - they are a thoroughly reactionary outfit unlikely to get a lot of support. I mean, most of us are in favor of having a fire department available to all and not just to those who can personally pay for protection. Saying get rid of the fire departments and the minimum wage is not going to exactly make the Democrats and Republicans shiver with fear of becoming obsolete.

You are correct that they advocate less government through more personal responsibility, hence less taxes, but the main thrust is good honest compassionate people don't need to be policed and controlled and have their lives micro-managed by corporate America.

Mainly they're about restoring the personal freedoms this country was created for.

Here's their website just in case you'd like to know how far off (light years) you are on understanding the Libertarian Party's Platform.

http://www.lp.org/issues/platform_all.shtml

[Minstrel]

Originally Posted by MARIS61

the main thrust is good honest compassionate people don't need to be policed

That's a nice concept, but I don't think it is feasible because everyone is not good, honest and compassionate. Also, you link the unneeded policing and control to "corporate America" but, in my opinion, Libertarian policy leads to far more corporate power. It returns society to the ancient maxim "Might makes right," where might is economic might.

[barfo]

Originally Posted by MARIS61

You are correct that they advocate less government through more personal responsibility, hence less taxes, but the main thrust is good honest compassionate people don't need to be policed and controlled and have their lives micro-managed by corporate America.

Mainly they're about restoring the personal freedoms this country was created for.

Here's their website just in case you'd like to know how far off (light years) you are on understanding the Libertarian Party's Platform.

What is it about libertarianism that causes its followers to reject all forms of moderation? A moderate libertarian party might actually be pretty successful, but the current libertarian party - and every individual libertarian I've ever known - pushes the philosophy far beyond common sense. It leads to crazy statements like this (from the platform you linked to):

Current problems in such areas as energy, pollution, health care delivery, decaying cities, and poverty are not solved, but are primarily caused, by government.

Some of that you could make an argument for, but pollution is primarily caused by government? C'mon.

When libertarians start making sense, people will pay attention. Until then, it's just a freak show.

barfo