A philosophy held by people who fundamentally fail to grasp that human beings are social animals.

Libertarianism is not to be confused with Objectivism, a philosophy espoused mostly by privileged 18-year olds who believe that a toddler's "Mine!" phase is the best time of his life and should therefore be encouraged in adults as well.
You might be a Libertarian if:

1. You believe that over 200 years of economic regulations were put in place just for the heck of it.

2. You believe that roads and bridges build themselves, or that water is safe to drink by default.

3. You believe, for reasons known only to God, that living in a country virtually devoid of governance, such as Somalia, is preferable to living in a country with strong government oversight, such as Sweden.

4. You believe that the wealthy and successful built their success from literally nothing, with no help from taxpayer-funded infrastructure, police, firemen, schools, military protection, investment in science, etc., and so by this logic taxes are a form of "stealing".

5. You would prefer that citizens be controlled and dominated by large corporations over which they have no control than a single government over which they have at least some control.

6. You believe that profit motives can in no way conflict with the public good. For example, you believe that privately run prisons with a profit motive will naturally focus on rehabilitation and minimizing recidivism, because they totally want to reduce the prison population for some reason.

7. You believe that people living in a country in which they have to work two or more dead-end jobs just to make ends meet are free just because those same people would hypothetically pay less taxes if they magically got rich.
by Could_be_anyone August 19, 2014
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Alice: So you're voting for the asshole?
Bob: Yes! This country needs a vapid asshole who's true to the ideals of libertarianism!
by SteveBob McJohnson November 5, 2007
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Libertarians are nothing more than economic
conservatives (Privatize all government services, end public schools,
screw the poor) who are simply not religious fuck-tards. They can be
anywhere from mainstream christian to atheist, but the only thing they
have in common is that they do not want to pay any taxes for anything,
and they would rather have the government just cater to business.

A typical libertarian is someone who doesn't care about religious or
moral issues, but who wants to eliminate public schools, because
education is "not a right under the constitution", and who wants to
eliminate all government regulations on business, because "businesses
can just police themselves"

In other words, they are amoral sociopaths who don't give a fuck about
humanity, or about using government to build a fair, just, equitable
society that serves all the people equally.

I bought into the whole libertarian thing a while back, but when it
came down to regulations, I realized they had a serious disconnect.
Most of the libertarian literature I've seen, and most of the
libertarians I've talked to believe in "business self-regulation" like
a religion. They seem to think that businesses always have the best
interests of the people in mind, and that we don't need minimum wages,
zoning regulations, safety regulations, or any regulations, because
"the market must be free to go in whatever direction it goes in", "let
workers decide which businesses have the best policies by not working
for bad companies", and "taxes only inhibit growth and prosperity".

It's all total bullshit. Everyone knows that self regulation is
bullshit -- it ALWAYS has resulted in corporate aliances that
deliberately screw customers. Just look how the self-regulation of the
stock brokers and auditors, and energy companies ended up -- MCI, Tyco,
Enron, Anderson-Little, and others. If a company has an opportunity to
get away with screwing it's customers without accountability, THEY
WILL. If a company is allowed to operate a facility with dangerous
practices that endanger workers or the surrounding community, IT WILL.

Regulations were invented for very good reasons -- to protect workers,
to protect communities, and to make people and companies accounatable
when things go horribly wrong. Libertarians want us to forget our past
run-ins with monopolies and industry self-regulation.
Barry Goldwater is a libertarian.
by LoreAlmighty December 12, 2006
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a person who thinks that they have all the answers to the US government. In actuality their ideas would cripple the US, ans we would never be able to be part of the world economy again. libertarians believe there should be no taxes, which would end the government and structure and economy of the United States

also, they support vouchers, giving money to kids to go to private schools. if there is the money to send these kids to private schools, why not use that money to improve the public schools?
Libertarians crippled California's education system by pushing through prop 13
by coolgmem December 6, 2006
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Closet racist with a penchant for living in his/her mother's basement and espousing ideals on freedom while summarily shitting on the right of anyone who isn't white or at least middle class.
I knew he was a libertarian because he kept using quote fingers while discussing "world bankers" who "control our media."
by Waltttttttttttttttt July 24, 2008
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A person that dresses up their desire to get pot legalized into a quasi political party. No matter what they say or do all they want is dope legalized.
All you need to do to get rid of the Libertarian party is legalize dope.
by HokeAJ December 30, 2011
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Anyone who doesn't believe that the government should be used for control and oppression, but firmly believes in the right of walmart-style corporations and the wealthy to do so.
by Jimmy February 22, 2005
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