[Dean's World] Shay: Dem-Libertarian Lures?

[notify at powerblogs.com]

Posted by Shay:
Dem-Libertarian Lures?
http://www.deanesmay.com/posts/1165334570.shtml


   [1]Robert A. George, a moderate-conservative Republican blogger,
   discusses an essay in New Republic that poses the question whether
   libertarians should ditch the Republicans in favor of the Democrats,
   because the GOP increasingly reflects the values of its stronghold in
   the South and has lost its libertarian tinge and grown more religious
   and traditionalist. He remains skeptical about such a union: "Of
   course, on one 'social' issue liberals and libertarians are in very
   much different camps -- affirmative action. Libertarians don't like
   the idea of counting by race or trying to get defined racial and
   gender outcomes in college admissions or hiring practices. Clearly,
   Republicans are on the side of the libertarian 'angels' on that issue.
   Another area that poses problems for a Democratic-libertarian alliance
   is that Mallaby notes how conservatives were victims of their success
   because of welfare reform. Well, the Holy Grail for libertarians is
   entitlement reform -- Social Security, Medicare, etc. Mallaby seems to
   think that libertarians will happily just smile and enjoy the
   'inevitable' expansion of health-related costs. Put me down as dubious
   on that score. However, Lindsey and Mallaby may be on the right track
   IF libertarians have become like many conservatives and liberals who
   are more interested in the role of government plays in overseeing (or
   not) cultural and lifestyle issues -- economic issues be damned. If
   that is the case, then, yes perhaps libertarians will line up with
   donkeys rather than elephants."

   My response: as an independent voter with a strong libertarian
   impulse, this is an interesting article to me. Your average
   libertarian is with Democrats on many social issues. For instance, I
   agree with the parrty on issues like abortion, the War on Drugs,
   opposing the flag burning ban, and gay marriage. However, on economic
   issues...hell no, because of the very strong impulse toward big
   government in most of the Democratic Party. I also disagree with the
   Democratic Party on social issues like affirmative action and school
   choice, where it does not take a libertarian position. Which is why I
   will probably continue to do my split-ticket voting habits (last month
   I cast 58% of my ballot for Republican candidates and 42% for
   Democratic ones, but had voted in the Democratic primary earlier this
   year) since both economic and social issues are important to me.

References

   1. http://raggedthots.blogspot.com/2006/12/dem-libertarian-lures.html