Could someone explain the main differences between the two politics? Are libertarians liberals with a rightwing stance?
Could someone explain the main differences between the two politics? Are libertarians liberals with a rightwing stance?
The big problem is what do you mean with liberal? Economic liberal, social liberal, classical liberal, liberal conservative? But in most of these cases libertarianism seems to be a more far reaching version of the liberal one .
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- Liberal: Believes in governmental regulation of the economy and is against legislation of morals. (Think welfare, progressive taxing.)
- Conservative: Is against government regulating the economy but supports the government taking a role in encouraging morals. (Think laissez-faire economics, family values.)
- Liberatrian: Believes the government should not legislate either morals or the economy.
There are probably as many definitions of Libertarian as there are Libertarians. To me, a registered Libertarian, a libertarian is simply one who believes that that government is best which governs least (short of anarchy) and closest to home. Thomas Jefferson was a liberal/libertarian whether he called himself that or not. That's why I also call myself a 19th Century Liberal. Both the name liberal and conservative have been perverted.
Rick
18th Century Liberal
21st Century Reactionary
http://PhreedomPhan-lostliberty.blogspot.com
http://phreedomphan-americasenemies.blogspot.com
Todesengel. That sounds more like an ultra simplistic American vieuw.
Because the Classical Liberalism, the oldest version, did not believe in government regulation of the economy. And the description sounds more like social-democracy.
The description of conservative is more along the lines of Classical Liberalism, because they had social Conservative values. The description you provided is more for what the Conservative philosopher Scruton called free-market fundamentalists. A Conservative does not necessarily consider the free-market a goal towards itself.
Liberalism has meant different things at different places & time. It use to mean laissez-faire economics. Now, in America at least, it means heavy regulation of the economy. And a permissive morality agenda. Liberals are not neutral on social issues but on the contrary are on the forefront of societal change, like pushing for the legalization of same-sex marriage. This from the America perspective.
Libertarians want minimal government including no social services like public education & for the government to get out of the business of issuing marriage licenses.
Let's give the Dutch perspective. The biggest group of liberals are still pretty laissez-faire economics. minus concessions needed to form a government. But morality they are a bit confused. But most are on the same line as the American liberals.
Ironically the homosexual Fortuyn was against same-sex marriage.
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