I generally refer to my ideological stance as being “libertarian conservative.”
I use the “conservative” modification to differentiate myself from the so-called “liberal libertarians,” or “liberaltarians,” who, while espousing a stance on civil liberties with which I am mostly in agreement, at the same time are comfortable with a very powerful nanny-state government that “takes care of us” in many other ways. I frankly don’t consider anybody who espouses a power state as being libertarian at all, but I do want to make sure that people are aware of my own sort of libertarianism.
As for the general meaning of “conservatism,” who the hell knows what it means any more? Any big tent ideology that claims to encompass everything from small-l libertarians to statist religious socons is so inclusive as to be meaningless.
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The term “libertarian conservative”, I suppose, might seem somewhat contradictory to some - but it seems useful to me.
As I’ve noted before, for lack of a better term, I once billed myself (when asked) as a “creative anarchist, with conservative tendencies.” When asked (almost always) for clarification on THAT, I would state that I believed in having “…just as little government as we can possibly stand, and as much personal freedom as we can possibly handle.”
The “libertarian conservative” label would seem to pretty much fit that, too…
Can I be a Genocidal Libertarian? I want as much freedom and as little government as the people can stand. And if the people can’t stand as much/as little as I want, then I want to kill off those incapable of handling freedom.
If the result is to reduce the human population from 6 billion to a hundred million, well, that’s a feature, not a bug.
Wouldn’t that be better described as “Omnicidal Libertarian?”
Not at all. I don’t propose killing off puppies and fluffy bunnies and dung beetles, just people. And not even all people, just the stupid ones.
I’m either a conservative libertarian leanings, or a libertarian with conservative leanings, although the former is most likely correct. All that means is that both big L libertarians and arch-social cons dislike me. Screw them both.
Actually, what do you call a socon with a strong desire for liberty/freedom? Whatever that is, I am.
I’ve always defined myself, politically, and unapologetically, as a Goldwater Republican. For those who know what that means, it’s a perfect descriptor. Unfortunately, the brand is a rather weak these days within the party, and virtually unknown in the general public.
physicsgeek said:
Can you enumerate for me your socially conservative positions that are compatible with a strong desire for liberty and freedom? I can think of a few potentials, but I don’t want to put words in your mouth.
I’d second J.S. Bridges’ interpretation. My feeling is that while 0% government and 100% personal freedom may not be attainable for practical reasons, there’s no reason not to push for them.
Some basic beliefs:
Taxes should always be lowered, whenever the opportunity arises. Even (especially) if government is struggling to pay its expenses. It’s an order of magnitude easier for government to raise taxes than it is for us to lower them.
All laws should have assumed sunset clauses. If a law is not explicitly refreshed in a very short period of time (5 years would be good), the law expires. I don’t include Constitutional Amendments in this — they have their own checks and balances.
All elected officials should have term limits, and their finances while serving should be audited annually, and made public. I realize some libertarians don’t like term limits. My feeling is that it’s a small loss of voting freedom for a large gain in government housekeeping.
Lawmakers should not be able to break the law in the name of enforcing the law. Laws should be consequence-based; for example, if someone drives too quickly (”speeds”), that should only be punishable if that excess speed resulted in injury or damage.
A person should have absolute ultimate authority with regard to what goes on within the bounds of his or her own skin. This is basically a pro-abortion stance, but it applies in other areas as well.
And so on…
Doofuscidal libertarian?
I dunno, but somehow…
[harp flourish, screen wavers, Route 66 theme song begins]
…living someplace where you’re able to meander from town to town on two-lane highways in a ‘62 Corvette without visible means of support and/or anyone giving a shit who you are or what you did still appeals to me.
[sound of tone arm being ripped off record, sharp focus resumes, Homeland Security agents with guns drawn with lawyers waving hard drive subpoenas in background]
Okiedokie. I get it.
Rational Anarchist, a la ‘The Moon is a Harsh Mistress’.
Objectivist.
Sounds like Wyoming and SW Texas, the places where I divide my time. Can’t drive through town with a shotgun in the rack in your back window without attracting attention? Don’t want to live there, thankyouverymuch.