Hi Mr Street,
I don't think I'm confusing the two, but it may be that we have different views on what exactly a Libertarian is.
Anarchism seems to me to be unrealistically idealistic.
(Talking about Real Anarchism here, not hooliganism.
---ie, Anarchy --- "A theory that regards the absence of all direct or coercive government as a political ideal and that proposes the cooperative and voluntary association of individuals and groups as the principle mode of organized society.")
Anarchists have such high hopes for humans! What a fine society they believe we are capable of creating & sustaining! Their's seem to me to be worthy ideals to ponder, but not to be expected to be realized. The human species is just not going to fit into the Anarchist dream, imho.
--I think probably very many who consider themselves Libertarians are philosophically inclined toward Anarchism but are moderating (or attempting to moderate <G>) their views so as to be more realistic.
--But they've still got the ideal in their minds and aren't happy about moderating their positions too much. They want to be realistic and accomplish something other than ranting, but feel like you can only move so far from your ideals before you might as well vote Republican.
Of course the LP, like all political parties, contains a range of positions among its members.
I guess at the other end of the LP continuum would be very differently-minded people also calling themselves Libertarians, who want a somewhat down-sized & different gvrnmnt, but don't really want radical change in the way the others do.
--- (I personally wouldn't usually call these people 'Libertarians', but if they were polite and wanted to be considered Libertarians, I'd stretch a point for the sake of civility. <G>)
you wrote ---
<<<"...I guess I would like to see the Party move towards pure Constitutionalism and States Rights. That is the key....">>>
That seems a reasonable goal that has some hope of success.
I certainly agree that the more radical Libertarians have very little chance of ever being anything other than a very small fringe group. I admire their spirit, and agree with much of their thinking, but the fact is, imho, people in general don't see things their way and aren't going to.
regards,
diana |
