Welcome to DU! The truly grassroots left-of-center political community where regular people, not algorithms, drive the discussions and set the standards. Join the community: Create a free account Support DU (and get rid of ads!): Become a Star Member All Forums Issue Forums Culture Forums Alliance Forums Region Forums Support Forums Help & Search

xchrom

(108,903 posts)
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 07:19 AM Sep 2014

You Don't Know What 'Libertarian' Means

http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/you-dont-know-what-libertarian-means




If you want to know what libertarianism is all about, don’t ask a libertarian, because most of them don’t know. A new poll from Pew Research found that only 11% of those surveyed who identified themselves as libertarian were correctly able to identify the very basic meaning of libertarianism as “someone whose political views emphasize individual freedom by limiting the role of government.” Even though that's often an oxymoron, that's what libertarians say, and their followers apparently don't know it.

Weirdly, that same poll found that 41% of libertarians believe that the government should regulate business, 46% of libertarians believe that corporations make too much profit, and 38% of libertarians believe that government aid to the poor is a good thing.

Similarly, of the so-called libertarians polled, 42% believe that police should be able to stop and search people who "look like criminals," and 26% think “homosexuality should be discouraged.”

What happened to limited government and more individual freedoms? Basically, people in America who call themselves libertarians have absolutely no idea what libertarianism is really about.
13 replies = new reply since forum marked as read
Highlight: NoneDon't highlight anything 5 newestHighlight 5 most recent replies

chervilant

(8,267 posts)
1. Perhaps it's the word "Libertarian."
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 07:42 AM
Sep 2014

After all, the root word is "liberty." As in: "Give me liberty, or give me death!"

(Really, though, I'm not surprised.)

MH1

(17,537 posts)
3. Really? "41% of libertarians believe that the government should regulate business"?
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 08:47 AM
Sep 2014

Those must be the relatively silent, powerless part of those who call themselves libertarians.

My observation of the Libertarian party is that it's highest legislative priority is de-regulation of business. (Its highest campaign priority is whatever will get votes, just like any other party; currently being against any military action overseas whatsoever for any reason, what many of us would call "isolationist" although they won't label it that themselves).

Back in my very early adult life I briefly identified as a Libertarian. Then I got some life experience and grew up.

GoneFishin

(5,217 posts)
5. They have no moral imperative to reconcile their various attitudes to be consistent.
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 09:28 AM
Sep 2014

They advance whatever talking point they hear or think they agree with, and feel no obligation to admit when two ideals they advance cannot co-exist.

Cosmocat

(14,543 posts)
7. I have little patience for this "libertarian" bullshit
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 09:52 AM
Sep 2014

it is a horribly superficial concept outright, but is simply just a fall back position for republicans who don't want to call themselves republicans.

That said, I think it is viewed as the most viable alternative to the two major parties. It is hard for some of us to get, because we are geeks about this stuff, but most people simply don't put much time or thought into politics, so if the simple "they are all the same" thing comes with Rs and Ds, they default to "libertarian" without really knowing what it is.

CSStrowbridge

(267 posts)
8. Real Libertarians...
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 10:01 AM
Sep 2014

Real Libertarians are some of the dumbest people on the planet. One of the tenets of Libertarians is without regulations, the free market will come up with the best solution. Do you know what has zero regulations? Governments. If Libertarianism worked, then governments would all be libertarian paradise.

But in reality, most "Libertarians" are simply Republicans who want to smoke pot.

 

OnyxCollie

(9,958 posts)
9. Most people don't know what "Liberal" means, either.
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 10:10 AM
Sep 2014

The Nature of Belief Systems in Mass Publics
http://ftp.voteview.com/The_Nature_of_Belief_Systems_in_Mass_Publics_Converse_1964.pdf

Converse: The nature of belief systems in mass publics
http://wikisum.com/w/Converse:_The_nature_of_belief_systems_in_mass_publics

A great majority of people neither adhere to a full, complete set of beliefs which produces a clear ideology nor do they have a clear grasp of what ideology is. This is measured by a lack of coherence in responses to open-ended questions. Ideology of elites is not mirrored by the masses and voter revolt to a political party does not reflect ideological shifts.

Converse analyzes open-ended interview questions to measure conceptualization of ideology. He concludes that the liberal-conservative continuum is a high level abstraction not typically used by the man in the street because of response instability and lack of connections made between answers. There is no underlying belief structure for most people, just a bunch of random opinions. Even on highly controversial, well-publicized issues, large portions of the electorate do not have coherent opinions. In fact, many simply answer survey questions as though they are flipping a coin.

kmlisle

(276 posts)
10. my favorite response to the anti government crowd is to agree with them
Mon Sep 1, 2014, 10:40 AM
Sep 2014

I then say I want big government out of my bedroom and my doctors office and my church. I don't want them deciding who I should marry or if I should have children.

I also call this Republican Big government.

In reality we need to be able to have a rational conversation about the required balance between government regulation and individual freedom. But someone either doesn't want this to happen or has hijacked our discourse for their own selfish reasons. either way we as a nation can work together on problems or be destroyed flaming each other over them.

Latest Discussions»General Discussion»You Don't Know What 'Libe...