While we have a breather from political season I have a question

[engatwork]

Do any of ya'll think there is a chance in heck that we will ever have a Libertarian as prez?

[spdrun]

Depends if New Hampshire/Vermont and Idaho/Montana secede from the union and form their own countries. If by "we" you mean Georgia, the USA, or the reborn Confederacy, then my magic 8-ball says "no."

[Honus]

I hope not. I have yet to hear someone who calls himself or herself a Libertarian who was able to articulate a philosophy for running the government. Regulations are no fun, but it seems to me that some of the worst problems we have now are the result of the deregulation fad that began under Reagan. Were the libertarian philosophy to gain control of the government, the result would be economic depression. IMHO.

[spdrun]

The problem with Reagan wasn't deregulation. It was deregulation of the WRONG things and increased regulation of the wrong things.

I would love to see someone who's socially libertarian but economically left-leaning in some respects (nat'l health insurance, commitment to maintaining and expanding infrastructure, a non-fossil energy policy, strict application of anti-trust laws, regulation of banking/reinstating Glass-Steagall, working hour/mandatory vacation time/min wage reform).

Basically, if we could have any number of "New England conservatives" as opposed to "Christian conservatives" or "Tea Partiers" as President, it would make a good start.

[Jorn]

Originally Posted by engatwork

Do any of ya'll think there is a chance in heck that we will ever have a Libertarian as prez?

Even that I consider my self in many ways a Libertarian/anarchist; Libertinism will only lead to absolute failure and disaster, like any other political thinking based on an utopian dream; communism comes to mind in that regard. No need for experimentation anymore, we know by now what works and what doesn't.

So I hope not.

[Botnst]

The current clown system has been alternatingly fooking us over for around 200 years.

Inviting somebody else to have a go would at least increase the variety.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by Jorn

Even that I consider my self in many ways a Libertarian/anarchist; Libertinism will only lead to absolute failure and disaster, like any other political thinking based on an utopian dream; communism comes to mind in that regard. No need for experimentation anymore, we know by now what works and what doesn't.

So I hope not.

What about a libertarian with a small L? Willing to maintain government services, but also committed to respecting individual civil rights, privacy rights, and generally staying out of people's business unless they're hurting someone. It's a spectrum not a religion.

[Skid Row Joe]

Originally Posted by engatwork

Do any of ya'll think there is a chance in heck that we will ever have a Libertarian as prez?

No.

What makes more sense is that as the Country slides further and further toward the left/Communism one-party rule, the opposing party will undoubtedly take the form of a party or cause that will eradicate it from power - one way or another. As happened in Germany in the 1930s. This became the Nazi Party headed by Adolf Hitler. The goal was to get rid of the Communists. Which was in part a big success.

[Jorn]

Originally Posted by spdrun

What about a libertarian with a small L? Willing to maintain government services, but also committed to respecting individual civil rights, privacy rights, and generally staying out of people's business unless they're hurting someone. It's a spectrum not a religion.

Was that not America before the 80's? I'm all in favor of it.

[spdrun]

Skid Row Joe ... What "Communism?" Obama is a Wall Street whore, bought and paid for, not a Communist in any meaningful sense of the word. This is probably a GOOD thing.

[spdrun]

Originally Posted by Jorn

Was that not America before the 80's? I'm all in favor of it.

Well, maybe in the mid to late 70s. Before that, you had racist laws, firehoses being turned on people who were marching for equal rights, COINTELPRO, a draft for a way that wasn't needed, red scares, etc. No era was perfect, but the pendulum needs to start swinging the other way ASAP right now, because we're headed the wrong way.

[rscurtis]

Originally Posted by spdrun

What about a libertarian with a small L? Willing to maintain government services, but also committed to respecting individual civil rights, privacy rights, and generally staying out of people's business unless they're hurting someone. It's a spectrum not a religion.

Like Ron Paul or Gary Johnson?

[engatwork]

If by "we" you mean Georgia, the USA, or the reborn Confederacy, then my magic 8-ball says "no."

That's JawJa to you sp.

You know I did not mean that.

I do agree with Honus. The economy would suffer for a period of time.

[elchivito]

Gary Johnson is a liberal in the best sense of the word. I was disappointed he got so little play last time. I believe I'd vote for him if he doesn't get caught whoring himself to the know-nothing base of the Repulsican party.

[engatwork]

One thing about it is that if we don't change up using the old tried and true way (voting) then the other way is going to be a little more cumbersome. Hint - the way we did it the first time.