Comments on: ‘The Week’ profiles ‘The Rise of the Libertarians’

By: Peter Orvetti

Peter Orvetti — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:54:25 +0000

Neither major party gives a damn about free speech except as a tool to bash the other parties. That’s one reason why I’m not a member of either of those parties anymore.

By: G.E.

G.E. — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 16:48:21 +0000

I’d say the left leads the fight against free speech, i.e. free political speech, right now. The right, of course, does nothing to defend it, though.

By: Bill Woolsey

Bill Woolsey — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 14:13:59 +0000

I think “free speech” is a position on the “left” for two reasons. One is suppression of free speech of leftists in the name of anti-communism (as in, the McCarthy era.) The other is suppression of erotic literature.

The right sought to suppress free sperch and liberals defended it.

Pretty much a dead issue. And while communists in power provide next to know free speech or expression, it has only been more recently, that suppressing rude speech, generally from the right, in the name of the civil rights of minorities, has gained traction among mainstream liberals. It is still controversial.

I thought the article was, on the whole, good. It is accurate enough, though not as “big tent” as the aspiratons of the currently dominant reformer faction.

By: Steve LaBianca

Steve LaBianca — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 13:32:42 +0000

A couple of interesting points . . . Zogby says regarding Barr, “â€œDo I think heâ€™ll get three percent? Probably not.” Barr will likely not even get 1.5%. My prediction is still that he will get 700,000 to 1,300,000 votes.

Secondly, libertarians really need to drastically change the characterization of libertarianism as some sort of fusion of parts of the left and the right. This misconception is very evident, as positions described in the piece are “left” or “right”, as if libertarianism “borrows” from THEIR positions! More correctly, modern liberalism is a ripping out of “civil” liberties from libertarianism, and conservatism is the ripping out of “enterprising” liberties from libertarianism. The rest of the modern liber and conservative programs is simply statist. Can anyone say “Bob Barr, conservative statist”!!!???

Until this backward characterization of libertarianism is diminished substantially, it will be widely viewed as a “secondary”, and somewhat confused and contradictory belief system.

By: tsipos

tsipos — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:57:45 +0000

Article says: “With ‘about 200,000 members, Libertarians actually constitute the countryâ€™s third largest political party.’ “

Not technically true. Was this an error, or spin?

(1) They’re talking about registered Libertarians, not actual dues-paying members.

(2) The Constitution Party has more registered members, if one includes California’s AIP, and one ignores the theory that many (rather than a few) of their members don’t know they’ve registered AIP.

I also find it interesting that the article says “they are decidedly on the left in their support of … But many other libertarian positions skew far to the right, including opposition to …”

Interesting that “left” issues are described as “left,” but “right” issues are described as “far right.”

By: Mike Theodore

Mike Theodore — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:29:35 +0000

I really wish a Nolan Chart perspective was acknowledged to the general populace.

Where is ol’ Nolan lately? I haven’t heard a peep since the nomination.

By: Peter Orvetti

Peter Orvetti — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:19:50 +0000

It is odd wording, but given that they were trying to sum up the history of the LP, the nomination of Barr, and why Barr is important this year all in about 1,500 words, it wasn’t too bad. I also was surprised by some of their right-left divisions. Of course, folks see the ACLU as “left” and gun rights as “right”, both of which are incorrect.

By: G.E.

G.E. — Sat, 12 Jul 2008 07:10:23 +0000

I like how support for free speech is now seen as a “leftist” thing.

And of course, it goes without saying that Libertarians are divided on the issue of abortion: Is it the initiation of force? Most say no, but some say yes.