On Social Media, I was accused of not being a real Libertarian because I would have booed Donald Trump at the Libertarian Convention.
Uh, really?
We need to sort some things out because Libertarianism seems to have lost its meaning.
First of all, let's start with Donald Trump. Donald Trump is not a Libertarian. Not on the record, not off the record. Not personally, not professionally. Donald Trump has been, and always will be, a POPULIST.
The first mention of his political affiliation was in 1987, when he declared he was a Republican.
Not to be confused with 1999 when he declared affiliation with the Reform Party.
Not to be confused with 2001 when he declared affiliation with the Democrat Party.
Not to be confused with 2011 when he declared that he was an Independent.
Not to be confused with 2012 when he declared his affiliation with the Republican Party.
Donald Trump's true affiliation is with Donald Trump.
Now let's move on to Libertarians. So as people scream at me that Chase Oliver isn't a true Libertarian, let's remind people of some of the core tenets that Libertarians should believe in. Not in an abstract way, but within the context of Western Politics today:
Abortion:
The Right Answer: Choice
The decision to abort should be between a woman and her doctor. The government should not be in the middle.
Does Fred Agree? Yes.
Guns:
The Right Answer: The 2nd Amendment
Every time someone demands specific rights, they are usually implied rights.
Gun rights are enumerated rights. It is that simple.
Does Fred Agree? Yes.
War:
The Right Answer: No War
The only just war is in self-defense of the state.
Now this is where I diverge from Libertarian Principles. In 1994, we (the United States) signed the Budapest Memorandum. The Memorandum clearly states that in exchange for Ukraine giving up their nuclear weapons, they get sovereignty. We signed it. Ukraine signed it. Russia signed it. No other country in the history of the world has willingly relinquished their Nukes. Look what happened when Ukraine did it.
As Libertarians wail that we shouldn't send Ukraine any more money, here's my reply. "Then give them back their nuclear weapons."
Death Penalty:
The Right Answer: No Death Penalty.`
Libertarians believe no government entity has the right to put someone to death.
Does Fred Agree? Ahhh, let's just say 'more or less' and keep moving.
I would never say never to the Death Penalty.
Government:
The Right Answer: Shrink the Government.
Both the Democrats and Republicans grow government. The last time government shrank? In the 1920's during the Coolidge Administration.
Does Fred Agree? Absolutely.
Taxes:
The Right Answer: Lower Taxes
This is a simple one. Government shrinks, taxes should shrink.
Does Fred Agree? Yes. Who are these people who think government should be bigger and we should pay more taxes? I don't meet them, I don't know who they are.
Drugs:
The Right Answer: Have Fun.
The most hardcore Libertarians agree that all drugs should be legal.
Does Fred Agree? No. Every Libertarian I have ever met is secretly a pot-head. If tobacco is legal, marijuana should be legal. To me, those two should be a package deal. Heroin can never be legal. Cocaine shouldn't be legal. There HAS to be certain lines in society.
There is a pain management crisis in this nation. Doctors need to have their hands untied to address it. With that being said, should mushrooms be illegal? Should microdosing be illegal?
I don't know where that line is. It isn't the recent Portland Model.
Religion:
The Right Answer: Go and Pray
Most Libertarians want the liberty to follow the religion of their choosing.
Does Fred Agree? Sure, have your wacky, off-the-wall religions. You think I'm being glib? I can't tell you how many people I know call the Bible a "book of Fairy Tales."
Everyone should be free to follow their Moral Core. (Except Scientologists---Only half kidding.)
Gay Marriage:
The Right Answer: Should be allowed.
Technically, it's a trick question. Libertarian purists believe that the government should be out of the marriage business all together.
Does Fred Agree? There are a lot of gray areas here. Let's say you're Catholic, the Pope says no gay marriage, the government should not force your religion to have gay marriage. Inversely, you should have avenues for gay marriage outside of your religion.
Prostitution:
The Right Answer: Should be allowed.
Libertarians think of prostitution as 'just another job.'
Does Fred Agree? With OnlyFans, we are very close to prostitution being legal right now.
Marketplace Freedom:
The Right Answer: The market should be unencumbered by the government.
Nothing says Libertarianism more than free markets.
Does Fred Agree? Mostly. I believe in a free market...with bumpers. I don't trust the government and I don't trust giant corporations. I believe the power of the government should lie with the citizen.
True Libertarianism is NOT Republican Lite. Rush Limbaugh would pontificate that the definition of Republican Lite is a R(h)INO, a Republican in Name only.
Just because you believe in one specific issue listed above, doesn't make you a Libertarian.
About a half dozen years ago, I took an online study to see where my politics aligned. With a 79% match, I most closely aligned with Libertarians.
Now I'm also a Catholic, a terrible one. If you tried to match Catholic doctrine to my beliefs, they don't match at all. I would make a horrible priest. If Beacon of Speech was more popular, I'm convinced they'd kick me out of the church. Luckily, I'm still flying under the radar-
Did I not cover something? This is a direct quote from the Libertarian Party Platform:
"In every matter, we advocate the consistent application of the principle of the non-initiation of coercion, physical force, or fraud. Our silence about any other particular government law, regulation, ordinance, directive, edict, control, regulatory agency, activity, or machination should not be construed to imply approval."
Just so you know, pure hardcore Libertarians are really just Anarchists. They just want to be dropped near a cave and live life out like our ancestors thousands of years ago and have at it.
Dear Casey, I'd like to make a request. Just a week after speaking at the Libertarian Convention, Donald Trump was found Guilty of multiple felonies in a court of law. Could you please play Guilty by Gravity Kills for a jaded American Citizen?
Here you go Fred at Beacon of Speech. I hope this song can bring you some solace.
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