Opinion of the Libertarian Party (United States)

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

Not the libertarian ideology, mind you, but the Libertarian Party itself.

Given what I know of it, I seem to agree more with its leadership than with the vast majority of its members.  That isn't saying much, but their overall platform sounds a lot more moderate than the rhetoric I've heard from some of them.  On the other hand, I think nominating Bob Barr in 2008 was a very stupid idea, and I'm still at odds with the vast majority of the tenets in their platform.  Horrible party overall, but not too horrible.

[DC Al Fine]

HP because a large portion of the party seems to think they're in a contest to see who can be the most unelectable.

[Goldwater]

I've read the Libertarian Party platform, and I don't see how it's any more moderate than most libertarians...

[The world will shine with light in our nightmare]

I've read the Libertarian Party platform, and I don't see how it's any more moderate than most libertarians...

Well, I'll give you an example.  Just a few minutes ago I was viewing their Facebook page to see how they reacted to the Supreme Court decisions yesterday.  The page officially praised the rulings, but several users denounced them as further entrancement of government power and said that there would be no need for the tax benefits married couple receive if the government would just abolish the Personal Income Tax.  One person even said that the LP endorses actions that are counter to the "actual goal."  I'd bet that these folks are in the minority, but I'm only speaking from personal experience.

[Old Man Svensson]

FP simply on the basis that they're a third party, and that I do agree with some of their ideals.

[TNF]

Their platform calls for the repeal of child labor laws.

[windjammer]

Horrible Party

[freefair]

Huge FP, though they seem to take everything I believe in and take it way too far (or rather, I believe what they believe in diluted way). I wish they had more influence and elected persons, though not a majority, just a strong 3rd party thing.

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

Freedom Party, but very disorganized and factionalized like most third parties. I think the Greens have a better future election wise than the Libertarians.

[Maxwell]

I think the Libertarian Party goes too far honestly. I mean, Gary Johnson was a great nominee even if he was light on charisma, but he's an exception, not the rule. Bob Barr was utterly dreadful.

[RedSLC]

Neutral overall. IMO, the party has both good and bad.

Good: Most of their official social positions seem to be fairly socially liberal. Pro-choice, pro gay rights, and supportive of open immigration policies. I like that they generally reject the religious right. Plus, I thought Penn and Teller: B**llsh**t! was pretty damn funny.

Bad: A sizable portion of the party appears to be Republican/Tea Party expats who are trying to appear "independent" by giving themselves this label (Wayne Allyn Root is a good example), which has sort of tainted the label. The party also has a large fringe component including rabid anti-tax activists, anti-immigration activists, and global warming deniers, plus a few paleocon fundies who joined mainly for economic reasons.

Overall, while there are a lot of perfectly sane people in the party, there are a lot of crazy people as well.

[TNF]

Neutral overall. IMO, the party has both good and bad.

Good: Most of their official social positions seem to be fairly socially liberal. Pro-choice, pro gay rights, and supportive of open immigration policies. I like that they generally reject the religious right. Plus, I thought Penn and Teller: B**llsh**t! was pretty damn funny.

Bad: A sizable portion of the party appears to be Republican/Tea Party expats who are trying to appear "independent" by giving themselves this label (Wayne Allyn Root is a good example), which has sort of tainted the label. The party also has a large fringe component including rabid anti-tax activists, anti-immigration activists, and global warming deniers, plus a few paleocon fundies who joined mainly for economic reasons.

Overall, while there are a lot of perfectly sane people in the party, there are a lot of crazy people as well.

Because support for economic policies that would literally kill hundreds of thousands of people and lower the living standards of basically everyone except is just fine if the party in question is okay with gay marriage and doesn't want to restrict abortion rights.

[RedSLC]

Neutral overall. IMO, the party has both good and bad.

Good: Most of their official social positions seem to be fairly socially liberal. Pro-choice, pro gay rights, and supportive of open immigration policies. I like that they generally reject the religious right. Plus, I thought Penn and Teller: B**llsh**t! was pretty damn funny.

Bad: A sizable portion of the party appears to be Republican/Tea Party expats who are trying to appear "independent" by giving themselves this label (Wayne Allyn Root is a good example), which has sort of tainted the label. The party also has a large fringe component including rabid anti-tax activists, anti-immigration activists, and global warming deniers, plus a few paleocon fundies who joined mainly for economic reasons.

Overall, while there are a lot of perfectly sane people in the party, there are a lot of crazy people as well.

Because support for economic policies that would literally kill hundreds of thousands of people and lower the living standards of basically everyone except is just fine if the party in question is okay with gay marriage and doesn't want to restrict abortion rights.

There's a reason those were the only things I mentioned in the "good" section. Admittedly, social issues are my biggest issues. Economic issues aren't exactly my strong point (Where I am strong is usually with monetary policy), but you could probably file the supporters of the policies you mentioned under the the fringe groups I mentioned in the "bad" section.

[nolesfan2011]

Neutral, they are getting better I think, I liked Gary Johnson, didn't care for Bob Barr though, and some of their Senate candidates (like Marc Victor in AZ) were decent.

[H. Ross Peron]

HP due to their laissez-faire absolutism on economic issues and foreign policy isolationism. If they were to accept the basic welfare state and be like say the German FDP or the Dutch VVD, they'd probably do far better.

[Leftbehind]

F**kin atrocious party.

[traininthedistance]

I like when they play spoiler and help elect Democrats in places like Montana.

[Torie]

It's the silly party.

[Peter the Lefty]

Horrible Party.

[rejectamenta]

I like when they play spoiler and help elect Democrats in places like Montana.

Yes! On these grounds alone I wish them satisfyingly minor success in all future endeavors.

[SPC]

Ron Paul's presidential campaigns demonstrated what a failure it is.

[Donerail]

Neutral overall. IMO, the party has both good and bad.

Good: Most of their official social positions seem to be fairly socially liberal. Pro-choice, pro gay rights, and supportive of open immigration policies. I like that they generally reject the religious right. Plus, I thought Penn and Teller: B**llsh**t! was pretty damn funny.

Bad: A sizable portion of the party appears to be Republican/Tea Party expats who are trying to appear "independent" by giving themselves this label (Wayne Allyn Root is a good example), which has sort of tainted the label. The party also has a large fringe component including rabid anti-tax activists, anti-immigration activists, and global warming deniers, plus a few paleocon fundies who joined mainly for economic reasons.

Overall, while there are a lot of perfectly sane people in the party, there are a lot of crazy people as well.

This is my general position. Gary Johnson was exceptionally good.

[TDAS04]

Neutral, since I like Gary Johnson. 

[Lief 🗽]

About as bad as a party can be without being openly anti-democracy or racist as well.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

While I fundamentally disagree with them on a lot of issues, I still say they're a Freedom Party for standing up for limited government, although I feel the want to limit it a little too much.