Is Libertarianism the New Black?

"I don't vote," he says. "I find both parties to be appalling and OK at the same time. I find it harder for anybody as they get older to feel 100 per cent strongly behind one party. There's lots more grey than when I was younger. I'm a libertarian."

That's Graydon Carter, editor of Vanity Fair and late of Spy, one of the very most influential magazines of its day in terms of style, design, and tone, talking in the Financial Times. [Link courtesy of Drudge]

Comments

[John]

Rich wrote:

>>The comments above are illustrative of why the Libertarians are considered a fringe group and get so soundly thrashed every election.

[Russ]

Whoever? Pete Bagge's name is right there!

Libertarian hard-liners have a Taliban sound to them.

I don't have to show you any stinking badges. Why don't you try to be a little more polite?

[Brad S]

rich - I agree. Our venom should be reserved for those many Liberals and so-called Conservatives who want nothing more than to expand the reach of the federal government ad infinitum.

[Jason Shaffer]

Rich, did you actually go to the link before posting your response? I quote Carter's credo: "I like freedom, the environment, big government in some areas, small government in some areas...Good education. I don't mind paying my taxes." I don't think you have to be an LP-hardliner to admit that this is a pretty vague melange of political convictions. The Bill Maher comparison is a good one; he's at best a "civil libertarian." More likely he's what a lot of readers of his magazine are: a David-Brooks-tested, standard issue BoBo.

[Brad S]

I agree with Mr. Carter insofar as I find both parties to be "appalling." I disagree with Mr. Carter insofar as I do not find both parties to be "OK". The only thing I am 100% in support of is blowing up the majority of our government and starting over, guided by the principles of our Founding Fathers. Unfortunately, there are very few in America who think the same way.

[Mark S.]

To quote the article:

He orders the ubiquitous after-lunch kicker seemingly preferred by all men - double espresso. "I like freedom, the environment, big government in some areas, small government in some areas," he says. "Good education. I don't mind paying my taxes. I think they are all charlatans; they think they can tell you how to live your life better than you can. They're bossy." We both laugh. "I've never met a politician I've actually liked."

"Libertarian" my ass. He sounds like a typical political schizophrenic who is too stupid or cowardly to take a consistent stand about what he wants politically. As a result, he talks out of both sides of his mouth.

[Matt]

Mark S. nailed it. Mr. Carter sounds like a "Bill Maher libertarian", and I'm not impressed.

[Jim Treacher]

What would be a "consistent stand"?

[Brad S]

I agree. Bill Maher's version of "Libertarianism" is to go on your national TV show (ironically titled "Politically Incorrect") and continually spew off ultra-PC sound bytes almost straight from the pages of Liberal Democratic propaganda: "rich people suck", "big oil sucks", "Christianity sucks" etc etc etc.

Mr. Carter sounds like a kid-tested, mother-approved version of a Libertarian.

[John]

Kind of like "A Conservative is a Liberal that has been mugged" and "A Liberal is a Conservative that is being investigated"; anyone from the Infotainment business who is a Libertarian just had an appointment with his tax accountant.

He will get over it as soon as some hot babe he wants to doink appears at a congressional hearing demanding federal funding for something or other.

[rich]

Carter believes that government should be scaled back and that politicians shouldn't be dictating personal choices to everyone. He's on the side of liberty and clearly believes in it as a guiding principle. Just because he's not in lockstep with the LP on exactly where the line should be drawn doesn't make him deserving of such contemptuous remarks.

The comments above are illustrative of why the Libertarians are considered a fringe group and get so soundly thrashed every election.

[Madog]

I see his views as a sort of "moderate libertarianism", like being a moderate liberal or moderate conservative.

[Steve]

"Moderate" is just another term for "wishy-washy".

[Anonymous]

The only 'qualification' is the signing of the non-agression principal -- do you or don't you agree with that principal?

The platform is agreed to by democratic process, like all parties.