1. (n.) One who believes that the ultimate good in a political system is to keep government regulation at an absolute minimum, particularly by eliminating laws based on their validity (or lack thereof) within a free society.
2. (n.) A member of the U.S. political party of the same name.
3. (adj.) the state of adhering to the principle of libertarian politics. "This bill is based on libertarian values."
2. (n.) A member of the U.S. political party of the same name.
3. (adj.) the state of adhering to the principle of libertarian politics. "This bill is based on libertarian values."
Libertarians contrast with the Republican and Democratic parties because the libertarian belief is that government should be minimized or eliminated in all areas, even those that they don't personally support, while other political parties tend to promote freedom in some issues but government control in others. While the Democratic party believes in freedom for matters of recreational drug use and the Republican party believes in the freedom to own guns, libertarians are typically against regulation for both issues.
Libertarians themselves do not all necessarily share equal standards for personal behavior (though some may be common), as their philosophy is based almost entirely on knowing when something isn't anybody else's business. For example, many do not think recreational drug use is a good idea, but do not want to enact laws making that choice for others.
Libertarians themselves do not all necessarily share equal standards for personal behavior (though some may be common), as their philosophy is based almost entirely on knowing when something isn't anybody else's business. For example, many do not think recreational drug use is a good idea, but do not want to enact laws making that choice for others.
by ed July 25, 2004
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An individual who supports and believes in liberty. Libertarians believe that people should be free to do whatever they want to do, just as long as their actions do not harm other people or infringe on the rights of others.
Libertarian Misconceptions:
1) "All Libertarians are stoners." Just because we want to legalize something, that does not mean we condone that behavior. People should be free to put whatever they want into their own bodies without the government's say-so. I may not agree with certain behaviors, but that doesn't give me the right to dictate other peoples' actions.
2) "Libertarians are fine with poor people starving in the streets." Actually, we think that's terrible. Libertarians typically oppose government welfare because it relies on force. It is immoral to forcibly take money from an individual in order to give it to another person. That is theft. Libertarianism promotes voluntarism and private charities. It is compassionate when one chooses to donate money to the poor, however, when the government forces people to do this, the act no longer becomes sincere.
Libertarian Misconceptions:
1) "All Libertarians are stoners." Just because we want to legalize something, that does not mean we condone that behavior. People should be free to put whatever they want into their own bodies without the government's say-so. I may not agree with certain behaviors, but that doesn't give me the right to dictate other peoples' actions.
2) "Libertarians are fine with poor people starving in the streets." Actually, we think that's terrible. Libertarians typically oppose government welfare because it relies on force. It is immoral to forcibly take money from an individual in order to give it to another person. That is theft. Libertarianism promotes voluntarism and private charities. It is compassionate when one chooses to donate money to the poor, however, when the government forces people to do this, the act no longer becomes sincere.
Libertarian misconceptions (continued):
3) "Libertarians are isolationists." False. We're non-interventionists. We promote free trade and diplomacy with other nations. We do not support intervening in the internal conflicts of other nations. Doing so creates enemies and leads to potential blowback; which, in effect, does isolate us from the rest of the world.
4) "Libertarians hate old people." We don't hate old people. We just believe that social security is a bad deal for everybody. Todays retirees are getting less and less money than from what they were 'forced' to pay into the entilement program. If social security is such a great thing, why is it mandatory? We believe that people should be able to save for their own retirements however they see fit.
5) "Libertarians want a society where Wal-Mart controls everything." We're pro-free market. Not pro-corporation. Libertarians believe that corporations should be separated from the state. Therefore, there shouldn't be any special government hand-outs, protections, or priveledges. Monopolies very rarely occur in a pure free market. They almost always arise because the goverment grants special priveldges to a business. Contrary to popular belief, large corporations actually lobby the government for more regulations to hurt the competitors.
3) "Libertarians are isolationists." False. We're non-interventionists. We promote free trade and diplomacy with other nations. We do not support intervening in the internal conflicts of other nations. Doing so creates enemies and leads to potential blowback; which, in effect, does isolate us from the rest of the world.
4) "Libertarians hate old people." We don't hate old people. We just believe that social security is a bad deal for everybody. Todays retirees are getting less and less money than from what they were 'forced' to pay into the entilement program. If social security is such a great thing, why is it mandatory? We believe that people should be able to save for their own retirements however they see fit.
5) "Libertarians want a society where Wal-Mart controls everything." We're pro-free market. Not pro-corporation. Libertarians believe that corporations should be separated from the state. Therefore, there shouldn't be any special government hand-outs, protections, or priveledges. Monopolies very rarely occur in a pure free market. They almost always arise because the goverment grants special priveldges to a business. Contrary to popular belief, large corporations actually lobby the government for more regulations to hurt the competitors.
by Dancing with Fire June 12, 2013
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Get the Libertarian mug.a person who lines his books along the hallway to prove how smart he is, possibly compensating for the same reason hicks buy big trucks.
This person will undoubtedly grow up to be a librarian and spend his entire life telling people of really awesome old books to read and really weird hipster nineties music to listen to.
Someone who flashes a kicthen full of people his prince albert after drinking a bottle of wine.
This person will undoubtedly grow up to be a librarian and spend his entire life telling people of really awesome old books to read and really weird hipster nineties music to listen to.
Someone who flashes a kicthen full of people his prince albert after drinking a bottle of wine.
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