Anyone plan on voting Libertarian?

Pu-239 · Post by **Pu-239** » 2004-09-11 08:32pm

As the thread title says. I can't vote since I'm only 16 (17 tomorrow).

Post by **Alyrium Denryle** » 2004-09-11 08:41pm

WHy yes, Yes I am. The are the closest to my actual beliefs and I will vote libertarian until I form my own party.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2004-09-11 08:46pm

Libertaian? No. Republican or Democrat, no. Atleast for the Presidential race. I'm at a toss up whether I'll 'fill in the blank' or just skip that part. Then again, I might, just might vote for Bush, but I doubt it.

For the rest of the ballot, I will probably go from independent to Elephant to Donkey.

Durandal · Post by **Durandal** » 2004-09-11 08:46pm

No, I'd rather not fuck over the country by voting for Bush.

Frank Hipper · Post by **Frank Hipper** » 2004-09-11 08:49pm

Nope.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-09-11 08:53pm

No, not really.

Hamel · Post by **Hamel** » 2004-09-11 08:55pm

Not I, says the guy~

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2004-09-11 09:44pm

No way.

Thirdfain · Post by **Thirdfain** » 2004-09-11 10:04pm

Hell yeah! If enough people vote libertarian, we may give the White House to Kerry. That will but our party on the newspaper pages, and establish us as a minor political power. At this stage, that's what's necessary. It may even help push the mainstream "republican" party to it's more libertarian roots. Aynthing to get American conservatism away from religious zealotry and governmental bigotry.

Knife · Post by **Knife** » 2004-09-11 10:19pm

Thirdfain wrote:Hell yeah! If enough people vote libertarian, we may give the White House to Kerry. That will but our party on the newspaper pages, and establish us as a minor political power. At this stage, that's what's necessary. It may even help push the mainstream "republican" party to it's more libertarian roots. Aynthing to get American conservatism away from religious zealotry and governmental bigotry.

I recant, I will NOT vote libertarian.

Seggybop · Post by **Seggybop** » 2004-09-11 10:36pm

Anyone plan on voting Libertarian?

Anyone plan on voting Communist? ^_^;;

Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi · Post by **Asst. Asst. Lt. Cmdr. Smi** » 2004-09-11 11:14pm

I don't see the point. If someone seriously hates both major-party candidates, they should write in themself. And if it makes them feel even better, they will have just as good a chance as becoming president as any of the third party candidates.

PrinceofLowLight · Post by **PrinceofLowLight** » 2004-09-11 11:37pm

Voting third party isn't necessarily just throwing your vote away. When an independant gets a non-trivial amount of votes, the Big Two take notice and wonder what went wrong. Look how much the democrats started courting socialists after Nader cost them the election.

Symmetry · Post by **Symmetry** » 2004-09-11 11:53pm

I'd consider it, but this year's libertarian party candidate seems like more of a nutcase than usual. The problem with an ideological party is that they seldom attract good candidates...

I'm certainly not going to vote for GWB, since he embodies what I dont' like about the GOP (homophobia, etc), without embodying many of the things I like about it (fical conservatism, etc).

As to who I will vote for... I suppose Kerry, since I doubt the GOP is going to lose its house majority. If he does anything to change my mind 'till election day, I have a list of politicians I'd like to write in.

Bugsby · Post by **Bugsby** » 2004-09-12 12:14am

Im voting democrat because I actually believe in the democratic ideals, even if many (even in the party itself) do not. Although I do like Thirdfain's point. I would have a LOT more respect for the Republicans if their emphasis was on smaller government and not on the bullshit they like to push forward now.

Galvatron · Post by **Galvatron** » 2004-09-12 12:19am

I'd vote libertarian if I thought there was good chance that it could get a libertarian elected. Unfortunately, my choices are limited to two other parties that both want to tax the living shit out of me and take away my rights. Fortunately, the choice is easy because one of the candidates is also a war-mongering religious zealot...

Talon Karrde · Post by **Talon Karrde** » 2004-09-12 01:15am

Ah... I shall vote Republican.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-09-12 03:45am

No, I'd rather vote for a political party that does not rely on pie-in-the-sky fantasies about the function of government and that is not full of self-righteous little shits who think that don't stop clamoring about how a market driven soceity is nothing short of perfection.

Rye · Post by **Rye** » 2004-09-12 08:45am

As a "left liberal" with some borderline socialist leanings, I think a big "FUCK NO!" would apply here. It all looks insane to me, the companies would just screw the fuck out of everyone, hell, they do it now and it's big news if they're actually caught breaking laws. They need more constraints, not less.

Unless they paid me an assload of money so I can hide away on a compound somewhere, and not have to contend with their world, then I would.

Andrew J. · Post by **Andrew J.** » 2004-09-12 09:36am

Even if they weren't whackos with no sense of how the real world works, I wouldn't vote for them because Libertarians are self-righteous know-it-all jerks when it comes to politics. (Some of them are self-righteous know-it-all jerks all the time, but that's neither here nor there.

)

Keevan_Colton · Post by **Keevan_Colton** » 2004-09-12 10:32am

Vote Libertarian, Vote 19th Century!

Libertarianism is such a huge fuckload of bullshit it should carry some kind of biological hazard warning. It relys on bullshit assumptions with no real back up for them that's almost as bad as the shit communists throw out. We tried a lot of the stuff they want, we called it the 19th century, people didnt really care for it....is it time to talk to Mr.E.Scrooge again?

"Ah, thank you Mr. Scrooge for agreeing to this follow up interview. I'd like to take this opportunity..."
"Yes, yes, what do you want? My time is precious."
"Ah, well, in light of the upcoming presidential election in America, I wanted to talk to you about your positions on various issues as a fine spokesperson for the libertarian cause."
"Well?"
"Might we start with a key platform of the Libertarian party, lower taxes. How do you propose to lower taxes without loosing the services government currently provides?"
"Ah, my lad, we don't intend to do any such thing. Government is a terrible wasteful thing, if we cut away a lot of the things it was never meant to do we can cut taxes drastically, in fact some thing we could do away with them completely."
"Quite...optimistic...might I ask for the benefit of our readers, what sorts of waste you would be cutting away?"
"The government is only here to protect our rights and defend us from foreign devils. A government that did just these two things could do it for next to nothing."
"Ah, so what would you be cutting then?"
"We need to look at the world, governments everywhere are privatizing airlines, and power plants and..."
"Power plants? But, didn't the recent massive blackouts show that privatized interests are at loggerheads with providing an adequate service with sufficient redundancy?"
"Nonsense, people will just switch providers if they..."
"And, the grid itself? Who would maintain the redundancy in it?"
"The private corporations."
"The ones who find no profit in redundancy in a system?"
"Yes."
"Ah...er...you also mentioned airlines there, what about Air Traffic Control?"
"Things like that are best in the hands of private enterprise, they will run things more efficiently."
"Ah, of course, I'm sure 'just-in-time' models will go well in ATC. I'm sure you have some, other, plans to reduce taxes?"
"Of course, of course. We plan to put an end to the government bailing out of wealthy corporations."
"Ah, that sounds quite sensible...what sorts of corporations in particular?"
"Well, those such as railroads, and banks and..."
"Banks?? Surely you cant be serious? Isn't it in the public interest to protect peoples savings and investments? Likewise, isn't it also a vested interest to protect the infrastructure of the nation in things like roads and railroads?"
"No."
"Any other...good...ideas for reducing taxes?"
"Don't take that tone with me young man. We Libertarians believe everything government does right now can be handled far better by private enterprise. Take welfare for example, most of the money in welfare is spent on administration, almost nothing goes to the needy."
"I'm sure the readers here would love some figures to go with that assertion."
"Yes, well, charities do a far better and more efficient job of tending to the needs of the less fortunate."
"All of the less fortunate?"
"No, but if we remove welfare, I have no doubt charities will receive the benefits."
"How much would you be willing to donate?"
"Me? Don't be silly...I work hard to earn every dollar of mine, I'm not going to give it away to freeloaders and...ah...I would not be disposed towards such an application of my funds."
"Hm, quite."
"Look, before the start of the 1900's income taxes were almost unheard of and people took responsibility for themselves, the government did not nanny people from cradle to grave, people cared for themselves and their communities."
"Yes, and in the 19th century, people starved, and died of rampant disease, poverty was massive, standards of living were appalling, do you have a particular point?"
"The welfare system is a failure and no amount of tinkering will fix it, those that cannot support themselves and their families will need to learn to do without."
"Of course, learn to do without food, without shelter, and so on."

Libertarianism is fucking pie in the sky BULLSHIT, it is based on an idealistic view of the world, utopian dreams of the free market making everyone rich and prosperous. It doesnt work that way, they state that charity and friends will be able to replace the welfare system...and if not? People starve and die.

Money is never more important than life.

Gil Hamilton · Post by **Gil Hamilton** » 2004-09-12 12:13pm

The problem is that you can't be truly libertarian if you want to get anywhere in America. I knew this one guy who was going on about how he wasn't going to rely on anything from the government that comes from tax dollars of the public and said it was socialism... right until it came time for him to pay for college. Then that FASFA and PELL grants looked really good, because there was no way he could afford to go to the colleges he applied to without them.

It seems to me that the libertarians only bitch about "socialism" and "taking other peoples tax dollars" when someone else is benefiting from them.

RedImperator · Post by **RedImperator** » 2004-09-12 12:16pm

The Libertarian Party is full of lunatics, but if they won enough votes to cost a Republican the election, that might convince the Republicans that enough of their constituancy is serious about this small government stuff that maybe they ought to, oh, I dunno, actually attempt to be the party for small government. Of course, it might also convince the Republicans that enough of their constituancy is in favor of electing lunatics that they nominate Ann Coultier, but I consider that a remote possibility.

The Kernel · Post by **The Kernel** » 2004-09-12 03:02pm

Libertarians always remind me of this excerpt from the comic about Supply Side Jesus:

salm · Post by **salm** » 2004-09-12 03:13pm

nope, i´ll vote the democrats.