Huckabee attacks Libertarianism

[Iosif is a COTHO]

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/will-mari/huckabee-on-the-next-repu_b_103556.html

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He also has some praise for Obama.

I have to say again, if he wasn't a wacko religious loony, I'd have a lot of time for Huckabee. He's a genuine straight-talker.

[memphis]

Republican in-fighting. I love it.

[ChrisFromNJ]

Mike Huckabee articulates his points very well, but I can't help but think that moving the party more towards social conservatism and less towards fiscal and economic conservativism is not a recipe for a healthy party going forward. The GOP needs to focus on bread and butter economic issues and move away from issues like abortion if they want to continue to win elections.

[bgwah]

lol Huckabee! I'd never vote for him, but I kind of like him. Libertarians are awful.

[dead0man]

Republican in-fighting. I love it.

They're amateurs compared to the Dems.

As for the OP, I don't care.  The Republicans sold out to the Fundies a long time ago.

[Хahar 🤔]

My opinion of Mike Huckabee is constantly increasing.

[dead0man]

The left likes fundies more than Libertarians?  How odd.....and why?

[Хahar 🤔]

The left likes fundies more than Libertarians?  How odd.....and why?

Because I think economic issues are more important than social issues. But that's just me.

[Lief 🗽]

Hm. Mike Huckabee needs his own TV show.

[jesmo]

Huckabee was probably my favorite Republican for the 2008 Primaries.

Libertarianism is a mental disorder, and they are evil.

[dead0man]

hahaha

[Meeker]

Hm. Mike Huckabee needs his own TV show.

[cannonia]

Good for Huckabee, the Republicans need some soul-searching.

If the Reagan coalition breaks up, this is how it will happen.  Reagan pulled together different groups under the premise that government should just leave them alone.  Religious conservatives didn't want values imposed by the government; free-market types did not want regulations imposed on them.

2008 could be the year when the Republicans kick their libertarian wing out of the "big tent."  It could also be the year the Republicans permanently lose the West.  I think the biggest question is where the conservative libertarians have to go.

[Eraserhead]

The left likes fundies more than Libertarians?  How odd.....and why?

I certainly don't.

Anyway, I can't say that it's very shocking to see a populist attacking libertarianism. The world keeps turning...

[Iosif is a COTHO]

The left likes fundies more than Libertarians?  How odd.....and why?

I wasn't really looking at his social policies, I was just broadly agreeing with his critique of libertarian economics.

Obviously on social policy, give me libertarians over fundamentalists any day.

[dead0man]

But who would rather have in charge of the Republicans? Fundies or Liberties?  I think that would make a good thread.

edit-spinoff poll

[Bleeding heart conservative, HTMLdon]

I agree 98%.  (the 2% disagree is where he associates this libertarian form of "conservatism" with fiscal conservatism/social liberalism)

[Ban my account ffs!]

There are a lot of people where the main basis of their economic thought is basically "I only care about me.  Me me me me me.  Everything wrong in the world can be solved by me having more opportunities to screw you over.  Because it's your fault."

That's my basic view of a very reactionary form of libertarianism.

I have to agree though that most libertarians come to their thought more out of a hatred towards big brother government who still do want to help the less fortunate... but I still think it is flawed... because of so many people with the first type of thought outlined above. 

There are those that would take advantage of charity by using it when they don't really need it, and there are those that would take advantage of a situation where all charity would be voluntary by not giving any money at all, instead hoarding it for themselves.. which is despicable.

[John Dibble]

There are those that would take advantage of charity by using it when they don't really need it,

And those same people do that with government programs too - neither system is perfect, unfortunately. But then again few things in life are.

[memphis]

 Religious conservatives didn't want values imposed by the government

LMAO. They want the government to ban abortion, drugs, pornography, gambling, and every other "vice" they don't like.

[Brandon H]

How long will it take for Huckabee to realize that socially liberal and economically conservative is not a completely description of libertarianism?

[memphis]

How long will it take for Huckabee to realize that socially liberal and economically conservative is not a completely description of libertarianism?

Oversimplified for sure, but that's basically it. I find the two biggest issues among libertarians to be promoting home schooling and gun rights.

[RouterJockey]

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I think that is an overly simplified (and pessimistic for that matter) view of libertarianism.  Yes, Libertarians tend to focus on individuals - individual rights, individual responsibility - let me live my life and I'll let you live yours, etc...  But I don't think that necessarily makes us selfish.  My wife and I (both registered Libertarians) donate to local charities.  I don't have a problem with helping someone who is truly in need.

Basically, where I have a problem is the forced charity aspect.  I don't have a choice - I have to pay taxes to the government.  Then the government gives that money to whomever it deems needs it.  I don't have any say as to whether or not the "charity" is warranted.  I don't think it would be well received if I came to your door, pointed a gun at you, and said "give me $500 - Joe down the street needs new tires for his truck."  Yet, that is essentially what government does.

[Ban my account ffs!]

You must be logged in to read this quote.

I think that is an overly simplified (and pessimistic for that matter) view of libertarianism.  Yes, Libertarians tend to focus on individuals - individual rights, individual responsibility - let me live my life and I'll let you live yours, etc...  But I don't think that necessarily makes us selfish.  My wife and I (both registered Libertarians) donate to local charities.  I don't have a problem with helping someone who is truly in need.

Basically, where I have a problem is the forced charity aspect.  I don't have a choice - I have to pay taxes to the government.  Then the government gives that money to whomever it deems needs it.  I don't have any say as to whether or not the "charity" is warranted.  I don't think it would be well received if I came to your door, pointed a gun at you, and said "give me $500 - Joe down the street needs new tires for his truck."  Yet, that is essentially what government does.

I also believe in personal freedom.  I believe you should be free to do as you please as long as it does not harm someone else or their right to do as they please.  This includes polluting, murder, stealing..

But I also believe that we need to act as a community and look out for one another.  I differ greatly from libertarians in this aspect.. we are not a country made up of individuals (though we are increasingly becoming such a nation), but one made up of communities that share a common identity of being American.

As such, we look out for one another.  I don't see paying my taxes as stealing or an undue burden, but as my duty to ensure that we can have a functioning society (and economy, for that matter).  The government is not some faceless authority there to tell you how to spend your money, but as a representative voice of the people that provides public goods and services that are best left to the public realm as well as helping those who would otherwise be helpless.

I believe it is the job of government, and ultimately the people, to ensure that everybody can rise to their potential.  This will result in a better economy, better innovation, and happier people.

I would define these as very "Minnesotan" values. 

[Fmr. Pres. Duke]

I like Mike, but the GOP does not need to move in a populist direction. They need to care less about social issues and focus on economic ones. I do agree with him that a lot of the libertarians are crazy as hell because their views are so extreme, but I agree with some of their policies. If the GOP were to move to a more populist economic policy, they would just become blue dog Democrats. In fact, that's what Huckabee sounds like half the time.