It seems to me that the only part of libertarianism which would appeal to those left of center is the laissez-faire attitude toward moral issues (pro-abortion, pro-gay marriage) because otherwise progressives seem to want a nanny state – thus you get seat belt laws, smoking bans, and the like. The isolationism Libertarians seek on a national scale would only appeal to liberals if the war is waged for the “wrong” (non-humanitarian) reasons – generally lefties don’t mind wars started under Democrat presidents but can’t stand ones begun by Republicans.

Dear Mr. Dondero, how is a separation of marriage and state in any way a promotion of affirmative action? No, Mr. Dondero, no libertarians are opposed to gay marriage. It is an objectivey unlibertarian position to support having the government steps in and starts defining marriage one way or another, since (A) the government has no legitimate authority regulating or defining marriage and (B) any attempt by the government to do so results inevitably in the creation of special statist privilege. Once the libertarian goal of fully privatising marriage has been achieved, homosexuals and voluntary polygamists will be free to marry.

Best,
Alex Peak

Many of us Libertarians are actually opposed to Gay Marriage fearing that it’s affirmative action and group rights in disguise. Many Libertarians are similarly Pro-Life. (Not me, I’m Pro-Choice.)

Yes, we do differ on Drug Legalization.

However, the bigger divide focuses on other civil liberties issues, like seat belt laws, speed limits, cameras in downtowns, smoking bans, gambling, swingers clubs, legalized prostitution and such. Conservatives don’t seem to understand why we Libertarians are so pro-freedom on these issues.

At best they pooh-pooh our interest on these issues.

Conservatives have some issues that are near and dear to their hearts. Why can’t you all Conservatives recognize that these issues are important to us Libertarians, and not sit there and denigrate us and ridicule us for our interest on these stances?