You Don't Know What "Libertarian" Means

[sinkingfeeling]

http://truth-out.org/opinion/item/25877-you-dont-know-what-libertarian-means

A new poll from Pew Research found that only 11 percent of those surveyed who identified themselves as libertarian were correctly able to identify the very basic meaning of libertarianism as "someone whose political views emphasize individual freedom by limiting the role of government."

Weirdly, that same poll found that 41 percent of libertarians believe that the government should regulate business, 46 percent of libertarians believe that corporations make too much profit, and 38 percent of libertarians believe that government aid to the poor is a good thing.

Similarly, of the so-called libertarians polled, 42 percent believe that police should be able to stop and search people who "look like criminals," and 26 percent think "homosexuality should be discouraged."

Basically, people in America who call themselves libertarians have absolutely no idea what libertarianism is really about.

Back in 1980, David Koch, one half of the Kochtopus, ran as the Libertarian Party's vice presidential candidate.

And the platform that he ran on back in 1980 provides a great summary of what libertarianism is really about.
**********************************
And what follows is the summary of the 1980 Libertarian Party platform..

[Warren Stupidity]

1. That is the definition of right wing

Individual libertarianism.

[MythosMaster]

2. Most of the time

they have no clue who the L candidate was for president, since they voted R....

but they are libertarians.

[malthaussen]

3. Libertarians are bastard feudalists.

Bastard feudalism differed from regular feudalism in that in the former, one had only retainers who had no recourse in law to exploitation. In the latter, there was recourse, however limited, and obligations both ways, however much honored in the breach.

But Libertarianism, as a form of social Darwinism, is particularly appealing to the US mentality, because the Libertarian thinks he is the Fittest who will survive, just as we in this country have been taught to believe that we're all millionaires just one break away from fulfillment. We've been taught by the House to bet the long shots, and only a few seem to realize that's a chump's game.

-- Mal

[blkmusclmachine]

4. "Libertarian" is where you accept about 85 to 90 percent of the GOP platform.

[muriel_volestrangler]

5. Oh dear - the article authors can't understand the poll

(that's "The Daily Take Team, The Thom Hartmann Program&quot

only 11 percent of those surveyed who identified themselves as libertarian were correctly able to identify the very basic meaning of libertarianism as "someone whose political views emphasize individual freedom by limiting the role of government."

Wrong.

About one-in-ten Americans (11%) describe themselves as libertarian and know what the term means. Respondents were asked whether the term “libertarian” describes them well and — in a separate multiple-choice question — asked for the definition of “someone whose political views emphasize individual freedom by limiting the role of government”; 57% correctly answered the multiple-choice question, choosing “libertarian” from a list that included “progressive,” “authoritarian,” “Unitarian” and “communist.” On the self-description question 14% said they were libertarian. For the purpose of this analysis we focus on the 11% who both say they are libertarian and know the definition of the term.

http://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2014/08/25/in-search-of-libertarians/

Results: http://www.people-press.org/2014/08/25/libertarians-topline/

Since we only have the percentages, what we can say is that, roughly, 11 out of 14 libertarians could get the right answer in the multiple choice question (being multiple choice, some may have got it right by guessing, of course). But that is nothing like "only 11 percent of those surveyed who identified themselves as libertarian were correctly able to identify the very basic meaning of libertarianism".

[TheKentuckian]

6. I think a lot just want to be something that isn't a Republican or a Democrat

These folks look to be all over the map at serious percentages.

[Blue_Tires]

7. thanks for this

been saying it for years...