Bob Barr?

[theonetrueruss]

Ok, so as many of you probably know I cast myself as a Libertarian. I've been watching the Libertarian National Convention on C-SPAN this afternoon and they have selected Bob Barr as the Libertarian nominee for President in the 2008 election. I am trying to decide wether or not to continue my support. Bob Barr has a history of voting and being on

Comments

[nausved]

The only reason I don't call myself a libertarian is because of the Libertarian Party. The bulk of the party is far, far too rightwing and authoritarian for me, and I don't want to be associated with it in any way.

I just call myself a liberal instead, since that word implies most of my libertarian positions (abortion, drugs, immigration, imminent domain, rights of the accused, etc., etc.) without aligning me to any particular party.

[logiphage]

The problem with that is that the left is far more authoritarian.

What is it that you think the LP seems to want to force you to do?

If authoritarianism is your real concern and you think the LP is too much so, then you've really no place to go but some flavor of anarchism.

[theonetrueruss]

I do agree.. I'm just concerned about the future of the party and commitment to liberty that people like Bob Barr have.

[nausved]

Er...the Libertarian Party doesn't want to force me to do anything. I'm not even a member of the party. What do they care what I do?

However, the views held by many of its current and former members (including some prominent individuals, such as Ron Paul) conflict with my own and, as such, I choose not to be associated with it.

The left is generally associated with protecting the rights of individuals, as well as providing various protections necessary to achieve such ends. This is my big issue; all of my political views are auxiliary to my opinion that every individual should be given as much freedom as possible, without infringing on the freedoms of others. (This, by the way, makes me far from anarchist. I am perfectly supportive of any government action, as much as any anti-government action, that serves this end

[logiphage]

Yeah Barr is far from optimal but what are the options? I liked Obama before I researched him and now he's the scariest of the lot. From a libertarian perspective he's the freaking antichrist.

I read an interview with Barr and he did soften some of his stances. I wnnder if he will revert now that he's got the nomination.