Here's a politics poll I can get along with
Now, who wants to explain the difference between Libertarian and Liberal?
Ok, well, many years ago, Liberal was synonymous with what Libertarians believe now, which is personal, social freedom, extremely low taxation, shackles on the government with most things out-of-bounds for them, only specific things were allowed to be in their purview, moral questions were left up to citizens. Libertarians believe that with less law, everyone is better off, because we can provide for our community, family, friends, even the world, as long as the government just doesn't get in the way.
Nowadays (at least in the US) Liberal now means Progressive: the earmarks of which are non-enforcement of social or religious based laws (not repeal thereof) anti-capitalist stances such as heavy taxation or regulation of the rich, every manner and scope of government programmes such as; food for the poor, cell phones for the poor, pensions for those in the public service, reduced price housing for the poor , lower electricity prices for the poor, better loan rates for the poor (or "disadvantaged")
As well as forced unionization, or any program that increases the scope, power or enforcement mechanism of the state, increased regulation of any business, endeavor, or anything really.
So: If a person was up on trial for dealing marijuana:
A Liberal would say that the judge should let him off, or remand him to a government sponsored detox facility.
A Libertarian would say, This is wrong, there is no reason that he should be on trial in the first place, we need to allow people to make out own choices of what to put in our body.
Basically the Liberal is very similar to a Marxist be default, although many of them would disagree until they read Marx.
A Libertarian would generally agree with Ayn Rand.That seems about right, but your last sentence is a bit of a generalisation. There are many different schools of thought regarding Libertarianism (which is an incredibly broad word anyway). Also Americans/the media propaganda machine seem to tend to pervert what the definitions of political stances are. Like the media goes on about Socialism as if it's akin to fascism or something and that Socialists just want to give all your money to the poor etc.
Check out Chomsky on 'Libertarianism' and its perverse American definition of it:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yxbeyn2xMQE As Far as Ethics go, that is where I lean conservative (not politically, but in personal life) If you read enough source documents from the early American years, you will find that the "Founding Fathers" believed very strongly that we must have a moral society based on a belief in a God that will judge their actions.
Now we don't have so much of that anymore, people want to say they are religious, but don't actually believe their own Holy Book really is the truth... that leaves people to have to split their social and religious views into a contradictory position (see Bill O'Rielly and his book "Killing Jesus")
I wonder how people can say that they don't believe the book of Genesis is a lie, can still say that Evolution happened, but since that seems to be the majority opinion, obviously they are Ok with that glaring contradiction, or can read the Old Testament and then claim that God wouldn't discriminate.
Anyhow, personally, I believe in an All-Powerful God who will judge everyone, has His own opinions (what I call Righteousness) and expectations of us. I may not know a whole big bunch of technical facts about God, but I do know that.
So, that means I have to keep in touch with what He wants for me, and I think others should as well (I honestly wouldn't want the most powerful being in the Universe being mad at you either)
But, if you just decided that there is no God, then there are no standard, and no system of government can provide freedom or equality, because it will simply go back to being wholly about "looking out for #1" and therefore without political power or wealth to purchase it, your gonna get shafted.
the "Founding Fathers" believed very strongly that we must have a moral society based on a belief in a God that will judge their actions.
Did they? I think you should maybe do some more research on that or delve a little deeper.
http://www.britannica.com/blogs/2007/02/the-us-founding-fathers-their-religious-beliefs/that leaves people to have to split their social and religious views into a contradictory position (see Bill O'Rielly and his book "Killing Jesus"). I wonder how people can say that they don't believe the book of Genesis is a lie, can still say that Evolution happened, but since that seems to be the majority opinion, obviously they are Ok with that glaring contradiction, or can read the Old Testament and then claim that God wouldn't discriminate.
That's why most religious people are hypocrites and make up their own rules to play by.
Anyhow, personally, I believe in an All-Powerful God who will judge everyone, has His own opinions (what I call Righteousness) and expectations of us. I may not know a whole big bunch of technical facts about God, but I do know that. So, that means I have to keep in touch with what He wants for me, and I think others should as well
I think there is only one 'technical fact' about god. How do you or anybody keep in touch with what god wants you or us to do?
I honestly wouldn't want the most powerful being in the Universe being mad at you either
Sounds like an abusive relationship.