* 10% Self-identify as libertarian
* 23 % responded to questions about the role of government in a way that categorizes them as libertarianLibertarian Me
A survey conducted by Zogby for the Cato Institute has put the libertarian vote at around 15 percent. Loosen the wording, and the pool expands. When the Zogby survey asked voters if they would describe themselves as fiscally conservative and socially liberal, also known as libertarian, the number rose to 44 percent. When it simply asked if they were fiscally conservative and socially liberal, a full 59 percent responded yes. (http://nymag.com/news/politics/70282/)
I have turned libertarian over the past few years. There are many strains, but I tend more towards the Hayek/founding fathers variety. That makes me an “impure” medium-core libertarian, although I’m an avid fan of anarcho-capitalist and modern-day libertarian patriarch Murray Rothbard. The man is brilliant and his logic is unassailable, but I still believe in a state as envisioned by the founders.
Christian Me
Social conservatives consider us turncoats and libertines, especially those of us who are conservative Christians. I make my moral decisions based upon my Christian beliefs, but I make political ones based upon our nation’s secular bible, The US Constitution. This leads me to personally oppose gay marriage, but to also declare that the state should not interfere. I also believe, based on the same constitution, that the state may not punish churches that refuse to conduct same-sex ceremonies.
“Libertarianism gets marginalized in American politics because it doesn’t fit into the two-party paradigm. Libertarians want less state intrusion into the market, which aligns them with Republicans, but also less interference in social choices, which aligns them with Democrats. As Massachusetts governor William Weld put it in 1992, I want the government out of your pocketbook and your bedroom.” (http://nymag.com/news/politics/70282/)The author goes on to note that “libertarianism is more internally consistent than the Democratic or Republican platforms,” which is what makes it so appealing to rational minded individuals. Tyranny is tyranny, regardless of which party wields it. If I oppose liberal democrats hijacking the power of the state in the name of social justice, how can I support George Bush’s Office of Faith Base Initiatives?
“At least the highwayman would take your money and leave you alone. The government takes your money, then stands around and tells you what to do with it” -- Douglas French, President, Mises InstituteYou may be more libertarian than you think. Christopher Beam has written a pretty good article about libertarianism today entitled, The Trouble With Liberty. He takes a skeptical view, but he's fairly even-handed, taking only a few gentle cheap shots. If you're curious about libertarianism and the tea party tie-in, you should go read the whole article.
If you're hungry for more, here are my favorite libertarian links. There are many, many more than these, but these best accord with my "brand" of libertarianism.
The CATO Institute is America's preeminent libertarian think tank. CATO@Liberty is their blog.
Reason Magazine is my favorite libertarian publication. Full of fun and interesting stuff updated daily, with writers such as Drew Carey, Penn and Teller, John Stossel and David Harsanyi.
The flagship of Austrian School Economics is The Ludwig von Mises Institute. It's not just wonky economics, so don't be scared off. Fresh articles on freedom and liberty daily, as well as classic writing from the past that are relevant to today's topics.
For a principled criticism of Austrian School Economics, you can read Professor Bryan Caplan's paper, Why I am Not an Austrian Economist
