[Osborn F Enready]

I thought many of you would find this interesting, especially concerning many of the questions covered.

I will list a sample of what is listed, but if you are curious of the comparison, please click on the link to check out the entire article, as well as the website itself.

Comparing political philosophies

(homepage)
Advocates for Self-Government - Libertarian Education

Should there be a draft for military purposes? Liberal: Yes, but not during peacetime. Conservative: Yes. America must always be strong to deter potential enemies. And young people need military service to learn patriotism and discipline. Libertarian: Absolutely not, under any circumstances. The draft is slavery. Slaves make poor defenders of freedom. Should government own or control newspapers, radio, or television? Liberal: Yes. We need the Public Broadcasting System (PBS) to guarantee high-quality programming. In addition, the government should restrict advertising aimed at children. We also need laws to ensure balanced coverage by the conservative-dominated talk radio networks. Conservative: Government should not own radio or TV networks but should make it a crime for them to broadcast offensive material. We also need laws to ensure balanced coverage by the liberal-dominated television networks. Libertarian: No. Government ownership or control of press or electronic media has no place in a free society. Owners of newspapers and broadcasters should be responsible for what they publish. Let parents and consumers decide what may come into their homes. Should government regulate sexual activity among consenting adults, including prostitution? Liberal: Generally not. But, if prostitution were legal, it should be regulated to protect public health and to make sure that women are not exploited. Conservative: Yes. Prostitution, homosexuality, adultery, and fornication should all be illegal because they are antithetical to family and religious values. Libertarian: No. Sexual activity involving consenting adults violates the rights of no other person. The right of adults to make their own decisions in this most private area must be respected. Should drugs like marijuana, cocaine, and heroin be legalized? Liberal: Perhaps. Marijuana could be legalized, but the production and sale should be regulated and taxed. Tax money should be used for drug-treatment programs. Conservative: Are you nuts? Drugs cause crime, harm families, encourage criminal gangs, and promote other social ills. We need stricter anti-drug laws, longer sentences, and more prisons. Libertarian: Yes. Peaceful drug use violates no other person’s rights. People have the right to control their own bodies. Drug laws subsidize criminals, cause more crime, corrupt law enforcement, destroy civil rights, and do not work. Should it be legal for people to travel or move into and out of the U.S. without limitation? Liberal: We should allow people trying to escape political oppression to come to America, and give them government aid to help them get settled. But we should strictly limit their number because they take American jobs. Conservative: No. We have too many immigrants already. They go on welfare, take our jobs, increase crime and disease, and refuse to learn English. Libertarian: Yes. All individuals have the same rights, regardless of where they were born. Anyone willing to take responsibility for himself or herself has the right to travel and seek opportunity. America has always benefitted from immigrants. They tend to work hard, start businesses, become educated, improve our economy, and make America a more culturally dynamic place. Should government subsidize farmers and regulate what they grow? Liberal: Yes. Farmers need protection from low prices for their crops and against bad weather. Also, these farm programs help supply food to the needy. Conservative: Some support is needed so that family farms are not lost, and to protect American farmers against unfair foreign competition. Many farm programs are expensive and wasteful, but they can’t be completely eliminated. Libertarian: No. Business are not entitled to have the government force taxpayers to support them. Farmers should operate in a free, competitive market, just as all others in business should. Should government impose tariffs, quotas, embargoes, or other restrictions on international trade? Liberal: Tariffs and quotas are needed to save American jobs. Trade embargoes can also be used to punish right-wing dictators who oppress their people. Conservative: Trade barriers are necessary to protect industries vital to national defense and to keep American businesses competitive. Trade embargoes can also be used to punish left-wing dictators who oppress their people. Libertarian: Trade barriers violate the rights of Americans and foreign people who desire to trade. Trade barriers cut everyone’s productivity and cost more jobs than they save. Should the government mandate a minimum wage? Liberal: Yes. Otherwise, employers will exploit workers by paying only subsistence wages. Everyone is entitled to a living wage. Conservative: No. Employers should be able to hire the best employees they can get at the lowest price set by market competition. Libertarian: No. Such laws violate the right of employees and employers to strike their own deals. Economics and history show that minimum wage laws cause unemployment. Isn’t taxation the only way to pay for necessary government services? Liberal: Without taxes, not enough people would be willing to pay for welfare for the poor, or education, or environmental protection, or so many other important things which only government can provide. In fact, the government should probably raise taxes so it can do more good. Conservative: Without taxes, not enough people would be willing to pay for a national defense, or subsidies to vital industries, or to fight the War on Drugs, or so many other important things only government can provide. However, taxes are somewhat high, so it may be possible to reduce them slightly. Libertarian: Taxation is immoral and indistinguishable from theft. We should replace taxation with voluntary methods of funding legitimate govenment functions. Besides, most “government services” can be provided by private sector business, charities, and other organizations. Should the U.S. government send troops to intervene in the affairs of other countries? Liberal: Yes, if it will advance the cause of human rights, topple oppressive right-wing dictators, or help poor and starving people in third-world countries. Conservative: Yes, if it will help fight terrorism, topple oppressive left-wing dictators, or protect vital U.S. interests such as oil. Libertarian: No. The U.S. government has no authority to intervene militarily in the affairs of other countries except in response to a military attack on the American homeland. Should the United States government continue to participate in and support the United Nations? Liberal: Yes, because the U.N. is the last best hope for world peace and because it performs valuable humanitarian missions. Conservative: Yes, but we should pressure the U.N. to take more pro-American stances. Libertarian: Not as presently constituted and financed by tax dollars. A voluntarily financed forum for international cooperation would not be objectionable. Should young Americans be compelled to serve in some capacity in the name of “national service”? Liberal: Yes, everyone has the obligation to “give back” for what society has done for them, and to learn the importance of helping others. Conservative: Yes, when it can be justified for national defense purposes. Libertarian: No. Mandatory labor is slavery regardless of whether it is masked by the euphemisms “draft” or “national service.” Should the U.S. government help American businesses during hard economic times with low-interest loans or subsidies? Liberal: Yes. This will save jobs, and American workers need all the help they can get during a recession. However, corporations shouldn’t be allowed to use such support to make excessive profits. Conservative: Yes. Government should help business stay in business. Such a policy promotes free enterprise. Libertarian: No. Government can only help some businesses by stealing from other businesses and taxpayers. No one has the right to be subsidized at the expense of others.

Many people see me personally differ with a few issues here, but only in certain points concerning international affairs. I am not partisan, but I for the meantime support the canidates, and party that most protects my core values, which are the Bill of Rights, and Constitutional Justice. That puts me squarely in the side of Libertarians currently.

Where do you fall between the expressed opinions to the questions?

Generally Conservative?
Generally Liberal?
Generally Libertarian?