I used to be a hard-core conservative. I loved Rush Limbaugh, Ronald Reagan, and Fox News. Although Ronald Reagan is still my favorite president thus far, my conservative tendencies have given way to a more logical political spectrum: libertarian.
I have always despised the liberal viewpoint, namely for its self-contradictory belief statements and it's stigmatization of success and wealth. That being said, I began to realize some of the same things that I hated in the liberal viewpoint were also the same things that I adored in the conservative viewpoint. For example, I hated (and still do) how liberals are desperate to tax rich people on a misguided principle of economic justice. However, conservatives are desperate to enforce their own standard of morality on everyone, and leave little room for those who fall outside their standards of right and wrong. Either way, both liberals and conservatives used an authoritarian measure to enact a desired outcome. In the case of liberals, excessive taxation equals a socially-engineered result (equality), and in the case of conservatives, excessive moral enforcement equals a socially-engineered result (ethics).
For me personally, I have always favored a very limited form of government. Every time the government has gotten involved in the affairs of the people and the private sector, things have become worse. Historically, there are hundreds of precedents that show how the government has overstepped its constitutional boundaries, and has resulted in a bigger mess or a greater problem. That being said, conservatives don't hold the key to small government. It takes a big government to build a big military, build walls, or enforce moral standards. Liberals want an even bigger government, one that borders on socialism (or in Bernie Sanders' case, is actual socialism in a repackaged format). Either way, the government is the winner, while the individual and society as a whole loses.
Freedom is defined as the right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness-the Declaration of Independence made that very clear. Therefore, any time the government impedes on someone's ability to live according to what makes them happy, the government becomes something far too big and powerful. If I want to live my life believing homosexuality is sinful, I should have the freedom to do so. If I refuse to sell a wedding cake to a homosexual couple, it should be my right to do so. If I refuse to hire someone based on their sexual orientation, I should be free to do so. The government shouldn't tell me what is right or what is wrong in my worldview.
Likewise, if I want to criticize someone for not hiring someone of a different sexual orientation, I should be free to do so. If I want to smoke pot, I should be free to do so. If I want to own a fully automatic rifle, I should be free to do so. If I want to drive without a seat belt, I should be free to do so. If I earn millions of dollars a year, I shouldn't be taxed unfairly simply because I have more money. If I am poor I shouldn't be forced to rely on government aid that fosters dependence. If I want to enter a civil union with someone of the same sex as me, that should be my freedom too.
These are just a few examples that modern politics has harped on for the last presidential election. On one side, there is Donald Trump, whose authoritarian/fascist government would restrict freedom. On the other side, there is Hillary Clinton (who embodies everything that is wrong with contemporary American politics) and Bernie Sanders (a decent but dangerously socialist politician) whose policies would restrict civil and economic freedom.
Needless to say, I don't want any part of the freedom grabbing. I want people to have the freedom to disagree with me and live differently than me. I want to be entitled to the fruits of my labors, not have them taken away for some misguided social program. Although I personally hold to conservative Christian views, I don't want a liberal atheist to be forced to live according to my principles. Freedom is choice, and in the 2016 presidential election, the only choice we have to uphold our precious freedom is to vote libertarian. #GaryJohnson2016 #freedom
Feel free to comment or critique.
What Girls & Guys Said
Opinion
2Opinion
We are stuck in a two-party system that is manipulated to the extreme.
I honestly believe the fix is in and crooked Hillary has already been elected. Those who push the buttons and turn the knobs on deciding our world will never, ever let someone uncontrollable as Trump become president. Trump can't be bought and that is the last thing they want.
Just ask yourself... How and where did the Clintons get their hundreds and millions of dollars from? They sure as hell did not get it the old fashion way...
Great take... but you know you are throwing your vote away.
I am aware. But I'd rather vote based on my principles than vote for someone who I disagree with. Either way, we are going to end up with a terrible leader in office, so I'd rather keep my integrity than vote for someone who I don't like as a candidate.
Go ahead and do something totally idiotic.
Translation: I want to ban the muslims and deport the beaners.
Fuck Trump!
ban Muslims Immigrants until we have a proper screening process to weed out the extremists? (what Trump actually believes) how is that a bad thing?
Deporting ILLEGALS how is that a bad thing?
@dave1558 the US already has the most extreme weeding process in the world.
And our FBI said they can not properly vet the Syrian refugees. So your all for ignoring the FBI and put Americans at risk?
@dave1558 it's not the deporting illegals part... It's the part where he's a fuckin' racist
@Mario21 actually he's deporting them cause of their race not cause they're illegal. Cause you know, they're bringing drugs, crime, and rape...
Exactly
@Mario21 ok so it should be pretty easy for you to quote a racist remark he has said
@dave1558 pretty much all that comes out of his mouth
@Mario21 dave is right. How dare you accuse Trump of racism just cause he says racist things?
Nvm this convo is getting confusing 😂
@Mario21 @Shiiz then it should be very easy to quote him right?
Deporting ILLEGALS is not racist so find me an actual raciest stance or comment he has made.. I mean if all that comes out of him mouth is racist it should take you about 20sec to find right?
@Mario21 @Shiiz 17 hours latter and you both could still not find a single racist quote from Trump. Maybe you guys should stop regurgitating liberal buzzwords and actually think for yourselves?
@dave1558 no just that not all of us are on all the time 😂
@Mario21 and still no quote..
@dave1558 I ain't got to prove shit to some random guy on the web
@Mario21 its fine I know for a fact your a registered sex offender so I dont care what you think
@dave1558 lmao what r u talking about?
@Mario21 you are a sex offender
@dave1558 bro that Trump attitude isn't working lol you should come up with your own insults XD
@Mario21 you said yourself that you are a sex offender so why should I care what you really think?
@dave1558 I'm no tho...
@Mario21 you have said it several times and your actions and how you write to people are more proof that you are
@dave1558 what when? I haven't said anything to anyone to say I'm a sex offender... cuz I'm not 😂
@Mario21 so you want me to show you your quotes?
@dave1558 lmao sure?
@Mario21 lol isn't it rich that you want me to back up what I said about you but you won't do the same for the things you said about Trump? lol
played you like a fiddle kid.. thank god your too young to vote
@dave1558 bruh you're accusing me of being a sex offender! 😂 you secretly mirin' bro lmao
@Mario21 I made up any negative thing to say about you and refused to back it up.. kind of like what you where doing. see the connection? probably not..
@dave1558 yeah the thing is... everyone knows all the defects of Trump even you! So there's no need to explain
@Mario21 not true, there is been 0 anti Trump person who can quote any anti women or anti racist remarks or actions just like you can't back up your claim.
Here this is real simple I'm voting for Trump.. if he is really a raciest then I will vote independent.. so if you hate him now is your chance to take a vote away from him. give me real proof and I will change my vote..
@dave1558 he wants to build a wall in Mexico to stop immigrants (I get that's not racist) but he also said that we're rapists and I know he "and some I assume are nice people" - that doesn't mean shit! He also wants to ban all Muslims (which I also understand) but then again, that is racist to call them terrorists (although I do agree to ban them but not for good). Muslims themselves had said they are not terrorists and it's ISIS ruining they're image! (Again I could be wrong cuz I'm not Muslim). This doesn't really mean anything but he's also callen his black supporters as "my African American supporters"
But hey I'm not trying to be your enemy! I won't judge you or hate you for it (and thank you for not being one of those pussies who comments then blocks people) I'm just saying... and a fun fact you might wanna know... he sees his daughter as attractive (in a creepy way) and wants to fuck her lmao
@Mario21 80% of Mexican women crossing the boarder are raped by the Mexicans smuggling them across, thats a fact. Which means the only women not getting raped are children and the elderly other then them 100% of women are raped.
Our FBI told us that they can't currently tell the good for the bad.. Trump said he want them to stop all muslim immigrants "our country's representatives can figure out what is going on" so it won't be permanent.
Is calling a black person African American racist now? I though it was the PC way to say black?