Definitions of "true" libertarianism will vary. I haven't read up enough on Paul to know his stances on various issues, so I can't comment on him personally.
I occasionally call myself libertarian, but I usually mean it in an economic sense...the economist Milton Friedman, though he rarely used the word, is credited with popularizing libertarianism to an extent through his writings on free market economies and freedom of choice. I generally don't talk about it in a political sense, since we're so dominated by the 2-party system that it almost becomes a moot point.
Gender: Unspecified Location: With Cinderella and the 9 Dwarves
Did I ever tell you that you are hot?
On a different note, I'd be delighted to call myself liberal, but the word was stolen and tainted by American socialists, so no one would really understand anymore what it means. "Libertarian" is just a word to still have a name for a political ideology formerly known as liberal, I don't even like the word that much, but people understand more or less where one is coming from if you use it.
very strange, I have an almost identical feeling about conservatism. Neo-cons and theocrats have taken the term and twisted it into something that conservatives even 50 years ago wouldn't recognize.
I'd love to be able to say "I'm a conservative" without having to follow it up with numerous qualification of how I'm not one of "those" types of conservatives.
To me, libertarianism is about small and accountable government that is highly limited in the ways it can affect the lives of an individual, and I personally feel that is an extension of classical conservative ideology. I'm interested in where you get the liberal interpretation from (not that I am challenging it, just interested in some context).
In your opinion, was Adam Smith a conservative or a liberal, because I have heard him described as both.
Gender: Unspecified Location: With Cinderella and the 9 Dwarves
I wouldn't deny that the word "conservative" has been hijacked as well, I am a fan of traditional conservatives, though, they always relied more on tradition and slow change, as well as oftentimes altruistic ideals, which I do not subscribe to. Adam Smith, in the little knowledge I have of him, strikes me as a liberal though, he is often considered one of the fathers of classic liberalism anyways.
Well, I care a lot more about what Bardock thinks, than I do about what Backfire and Shakya do. More than likely Backfire's thoughts will involve sexual innuendo, and Shakya's will involve some Buddhist philosophy.
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Dec 13th, 2007 06:35 PM
