Daily Kos

View Story | 179 comments

  •  Clinton was the avatar... (none / 0)

    ...for turning the Democratic Party into that 'moderate libertarian' party. If Kerry gets elected and governs as a fiscally conservative moderate, he will take us one step closer to true political dominance.

    That is, if we don't lose the left flank to the Greens or some similarly pointless left-wing party...

    "Sorry this is such a long letter, but I didn't have time to write a short one." -- Rudyard Kipling

    by Reviser on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:10:35 PM PDT

    [ Parent ]

    •  Exactly (none / 0)

      All the Greens do is cause the Democrats to lose.  They share a lot with Ralph Nader in this regard.

      by Geotpf on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:27:13 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

    •  What exactly is a (4.00 / 2)

      "moderate libertarian."  Sounds like someone who only supports taxes that provide services he uses (public schools but not universal health care?).

      Sounds like someone who only supports subsidies from which he benefits but not others (mortgage deductions, but not welfare?)

      Sounds like someone who believes budget balancing is more important than problem-solving.

      My Democratic party should be one that is aimed at the common good, the public interest.  If the Democrats become a libertarian party, moderate or otherwise, the Greens will become the second major party.

      by plunkitt on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:45:01 PM PDT

      [ Parent ]

      •  Not exactly what he meant... (none / 0)

        ...but I consider myself a "Democratic Libertarian"-almost a "Socialist Libertarian".  I'm trying to make as big a contradiction as possible here at first glance...:-p

        Basically, I think the government should encourage and discourage things, and provide lots of stuff for the general welfare of the nation (schools, roads, police, firefighters, public transit, a safety net for the poor, and socialized medicine).  I think the government charge taxes to pay for all of the above, and pass laws to prevent people from hurting each other and punishing those who do (indirect means count; IE, antipolution laws, laws that require companies to build safe products).  But beyond that, the government should get out of the way.  Things like recreational pharmeceuticals, gamblign, prostitution should be legalized, although moderately high taxes on them are fine.  Regulations and laws shouldn't be passed for thier own sake, but for a specific purpose.  I think the military is too big, and there are a lot of laws on the books that need to be removed.  I hate censorship of any kind.

        by Geotpf on Mon Sep 20, 2004 at 05:58:53 PM PDT

        [ Parent ]

View Story | 179 comments