Nov 2023 Mod notice:
There may be other, more specific, threads about some aspects of US politics, but this one tends to act as a hub for all sorts of related news and information, so it's usually one of the busiest OTC threads.
If you're new to OTC, it's worth reading the Introduction to On-Topic Conversations
and the On-Topic Conversations debate guidelines
before posting here.
Rumor-based, fear-mongering and/or inflammatory statements that damage the quality of the thread will be thumped. Off-topic posts will also be thumped. Repeat offenders may be suspended.
If time spent moderating this thread remains a distraction from moderation of the wiki itself, the thread will need to be locked. We want to avoid that, so please follow the forum rules
when posting here.
In line with the general forum rules, 'gravedancing' is prohibited here. If you're celebrating someone's death or hoping that they die, your post will get thumped. This rule applies regardless of what the person you're discussing has said or done.
Edited by Mrph1 on Nov 30th 2023 at 11:03:59 AM
Libertarianism, at its most basic, is "government should be as large as it needs to be and no larger", which isn't a bad thing in and of itself. It's not wrong to push back against government getting over-involved in areas where it does more harm than good. Government for government's sake is, indeed, a bad thing.
The problem is that people who identify as Libertarians tend to think that government does more harm than good in basically everything except military defense and criminal justice. Which is where disagreements arise with... everyone else.
edited 29th Aug '16 5:10:49 PM by NativeJovian
Really from Jupiter, but not an alien.Libertarianism has absolutely no valid positions that doesn't collide with reality and/or human nature.
I see it as the opposite. At least Libertarianism is for personal freedoms. What's Conservatism good for?
edited 29th Aug '16 5:37:36 PM by Antiteilchen
Conservatism in its (sadly near-extinct) classical incarnation for useful for telling those on either side of the spectrum to sit the fuck down and think things through. It was the negation of ideology, closer to what we now call moderates or centrists.
Granted, the progressive left is a lot less crazy than it used to be.
Politics is the skilled use of blunt objects.Classic Definition of Conservatism: A general preference for the existing order of society, and an opposition to efforts to bring about sharp change.
New Definition of Conservatism: A general preference for a previously existing order of society, and a opposition to any sort of change, sharp or otherwise, that has been made to that order, even if said opposition is batshit insane.
I think it's pretty darn accurate myself.
edited 29th Aug '16 6:14:39 PM by kkhohoho
Mexico, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama are all Latino, that's 9 out of the 23 countries in North America, and Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Dominica, Grenada, Haiti, Jamaica, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, and Belize are Black, that's 12 out of the 23 countries in North America. Over 3/4's of the continent is Black or Latino.
I'm flabbergasted. It's hilarious due to how utterly farcical it is.
This man could have been President, but he just couldn't stop sexting.
And he'll go right back to sexting after this settles down, because at this point Carlos Danger has nothing left to lose.
FBI says foreign hackers penetrated state election systems.
It was for things like this no one assumed I was Latin American when I was living in Baltimore, and I am a black harried male with a light tan, apparently I was still quite off for what passes as Latino in the US.
Garcon is quite spot on, our left and right for what matters simply forgets Canada exists, at best Canada is the 53th state or US lapdogs if they somehow people remember it exists.
Inter arma enim silent leges![]()
You know, if he can put p ua video saying that vaccinations can lead to autism, then I might as well just put up a video saying not getting a vaccination can lead to rampant stupidity. Though to be honest, I'm not sure I really have to, because he seems to be doing a pretty decent job of making my case for me as is.
edited 29th Aug '16 9:05:27 PM by kkhohoho

Well, there's different degrees of libertarianism, like any other political belief. Some more sane than others, and with priorities on different things. Though I don't approve of Penn and Teller's anti-environment stances.
edited 29th Aug '16 9:55:53 PM by AlleyOop