Libertarianism on the rise in the last three years

Kevin_Kennedy

Defend Liberty
Aug 27, 2008
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A recent CNN poll shows that libertarianism is on the rise in the last three years in the United States, more than at any point in the last two decades.

The poll, which CNN has conducted yearly since 1993, tracks the strength of social and economic libertarianism and reveals that both ideas are gaining popular support.

Sixty-three percent of respondents believe that government is doing too much, up from 52 percent in 2008. Half of all respondents said that government should not promote any set of traditional or moral values, up from 41 percent in 2008.

Libertarianism | CNN Poll | On The Rise | The Daily Caller

This sounds nice but my problem is that while people may look at those two questions and conclude that libertarianism is on the rise nowhere was the word "libertarian" used in the questioning. Just because you think the government is generally doing to much, and you don't think the government should promote any kind of values doesn't mean you're a libertarian. It would be interesting to see what percentage of the people polled would actually consider themselves libertarian.
 
Here is a very interesting presentation given by George Mason University Professor Bryan Caplan. Basically, the gist is that in broad terms, people call themselves libertarian, and say they support spending cuts and reductions in the size and scope of government. However, data shows that when you ask most of these self-styled small government advocates about cutting specific programs or specific regulations, a very small amount actually support getting rid of such things. The only libertarian plank a large plurality and a soon to be majority support is Marijuana legalization, and a smaller amount(still not close to a majority or large plurality) support defense spending cuts. But Defense spending cuts and Marijuana legalization are probably the most popular libertarian planks. I say this as an anarcho-libertarian btw.
Public Opinion for Libertarians | Foundation for Economic Education
 
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Here is a very interesting presentation given by George Mason University Professor Brian Caplan. Basically, the gist is that in broad terms, people call themselves libertarian, and say they support spending cuts and reductions in the size and scope of government. However, data shows that when you ask most of these self-styled small government advocates about cutting specific programs or specific regulations, a very small amount actually support getting rid of such things. The only libertarian plank a large plurality and a soon to be majority support is Marijuana legalization, and a smaller amount(still not close to a majority or large plurality) support defense spending cuts. But Defense spending cuts and Marijuana legalization are probably the most popular libertarian planks. I say this as an anarcho-libertarian btw.
Public Opinion for Libertarians | Foundation for Economic Education

That's not surprising to me. I'm guessing most people who consider themselves "socially liberal" and "fiscally conservative," terms with no meaning, would not call themselves libertarians, and many of those that do call themselves libertarians are exactly what you've described above.
 
That's not surprising to me. I'm guessing most people who consider themselves "socially liberal" and "fiscally conservative," terms with no meaning, would not call themselves libertarians, and many of those that do call themselves libertarians are exactly what you've described above.

I certainly take the study with a grain of salt. Republicans like to call themselves 'libertarian' when they want seem independent, edgy, or not-at-all-like-the-stodgy-authoritarian-old-school-conservative-mainstream. Or when they want to distance themselves form disasters like Bush and the neocons.

But I do think more and more people are beginning to see real value in the libertarian perspective. I think a large factor in that realization is the fact that there is so little "hope" for "change" in swapping Democrats for Republicans. Even before Obama was elected, the most substantive opposition to Bush was coming from libertarians like Ron Paul - not from the supposed opposition party. The Democrats only beef was that they weren't running things. And the Obama administration has borne that out, as the Democrats have been reluctant to change much of anything of substance.

The sad fact is, we have two authoritarian parties running the show right now. It makes sense that people looking for a real alternative are looking for something to balance that.
 
It's not about the label of her shirt, it's about how she carries the fabric into negotiations and it's not about the car he drives it's about the game he brings. I'm so fucking tired of labels...

Fiscally, I'm looking for candidates to support who shun lobbyists and show me they understand the concept of fair taxes and appropriate regulation rather than low taxes and no regulation. I'm also looking for candidates who support a strict return to PAYGO

On social issues I'm looking for candidates of character. If taxes are fair, spending limited to what's collected and professional lobbying is relegated to the history books, maybe the states will have some money left over to keep things tidy for the tourists.
 
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You' re just another tax-and-spend libtard. You hate labels because you're on the wrong end of a lot of them.

It's not about the label of her shirt, it's about how she carries the fabric into negotiations and it's not about the car he drives it's the game he brings. I'm so fucking tired of labels...

Fiscally, I'm looking for candidates to support who shun lobbyists and show me they understand the concept of fair taxes and appropriate regulation rather than low taxes and no regulation. I'm also looking for candidates who support a strict return to PAYGO

On social issues I'm looking for candidates of character. If taxes are fair, spending is limited to what is collected and professional lobbying is relegated to the history books, maybe the states will have some money left over to keep things tidy for the tourists.
 
If people truly understood the roots of narco-libertarianism they would burn them all at the stake.

I agree with you man.

The last narco-libertarian president incinerated 6,000,000 Jews.

Oooooooh, wait, Adolf, was a fascistic nazi, YOUR religion. So they should burn and your ilk at the stake.

Gee, hope you concur.

.
 
If people truly understood the roots of narco-libertarianism they would burn them all at the stake.

I agree with you man.

The last narco-libertarian president incinerated 6,000,000 Jews.

Oooooooh, wait, Adolf, was a fascistic nazi, YOUR religion. So they should burn and your ilk at the stake.

Gee, hope you concur.

.
At least you admit the Holocaust actually happened. Unlike your ideological cell mates.
 
If people truly understood the roots of narco-libertarianism they would burn them all at the stake.

I agree with you man.

The last narco-libertarian president incinerated 6,000,000 Jews.

Oooooooh, wait, Adolf, was a fascistic nazi, YOUR religion. So they should burn and your ilk at the stake.

Gee, hope you concur.

.
At least you admit the Holocaust actually happened. Unlike your ideological cell mates.

Ironic you mentions cell mates and holocaust in the same post, because in many countries you can be put in a prison cell for questioning the Holocaust.
 
A recent CNN poll shows that libertarianism is on the rise in the last three years in the United States, more than at any point in the last two decades.

The poll, which CNN has conducted yearly since 1993, tracks the strength of social and economic libertarianism and reveals that both ideas are gaining popular support.

Sixty-three percent of respondents believe that government is doing too much, up from 52 percent in 2008. Half of all respondents said that government should not promote any set of traditional or moral values, up from 41 percent in 2008.

Libertarianism | CNN Poll | On The Rise | The Daily Caller

This sounds nice but my problem is that while people may look at those two questions and conclude that libertarianism is on the rise nowhere was the word "libertarian" used in the questioning. Just because you think the government is generally doing to much, and you don't think the government should promote any kind of values doesn't mean you're a libertarian. It would be interesting to see what percentage of the people polled would actually consider themselves libertarian.

For that matter? Conservatism is on the rise...
 
Embaressed republicans claiming to be libertarians has been on the rise.
Do not worry they will still vote the republican ticket when the polls open.
 
It's not about the label of her shirt, it's about how she carries the fabric into negotiations and it's not about the car he drives it's the game he brings. I'm so fucking tired of labels...

Fiscally, I'm looking for candidates to support who shun lobbyists and show me they understand the concept of fair taxes and appropriate regulation rather than low taxes and no regulation. I'm also looking for candidates who support a strict return to PAYGO

On social issues I'm looking for candidates of character. If taxes are fair, spending limited to what's collected and professional lobbying is relegated to the history books, maybe the states will have some money left over to keep things tidy for the tourists.

You' re just another tax-and-spend libtard. You hate labels because you're on the wrong end of a lot of them.

:lol:
 
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Most of the people who call themselves libertarian give real libertarians a bad name, then again advocating an end to social welfare and providing no replacement (basically telling the poor to eat cake or just fall on the street and die*), tends to do that. Waiting for the kind of libertarianism where people talk about eliminating the welfare state (and replacing all its functions with private charity and community organizations), shutting down big corporations to create a free market, as well as providing jobs and education for the poor...then again that's 'socialism' right? :rolleyes:

*Ron Paul and Sarah Palin give libertarianism a bad name.
 

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