Why Are Bernie Fans Turning Libertarian?
Posted by BroadBlogs
Why are so many Bernie supporters turning Libertarian?
Liberal and Libertarian sound alike, so they are alike?
Actually, the two parties are diametrically opposed!
Bernie and Libertarians are miles apart
Bernie is a Democratic Socialist, and Libertarians and Democratic Socialists are miles apart.
When are the parties FOR government? Here’s a chart:
Green/Dem Socialist | Democratic | Libertarian | Republican (GOP) |
Military-less Police Courts |
Military-less Police Courts |
Military-less Police Courts |
Military Police Courts |
Education: all free |
Education: mix:free+aid |
Education: less:free/aid |
|
Environment Civil Rights Wmn’s rights Help poor |
Environment Civil Rights Wmn’s rights Help poor |
Gov in bedroom
No abortion No birth control LGBT illegal Non-rich Republican: |
|
Social Security Medicare Affordable care |
Social Security Medicare Affordable care |
Social Security Medicare Affordable care |
All parties support some level of military defense, but it’s the one area where Greens, Democratic Socialists, Democrats and Libertarians all agree: less military is best.
But Libertarians want no government except military, police and courts.
Libertarians don’t even want public schools, colleges or universities. And no support in paying for school. By contrast Democratic Socialists want free education, Democrats want free public schools — even through community college, plus financial aid. Republicans want less free education and less financial aid.
And Libertarians don’t want to do anything to quell climate change either! Bernie and Greens/Dem Socialists sure do. And so do Democrats.
The Libertarian “government-free” position sustains the status quo: money and power stay with those who are already powerful.
By contrast, Republicans are fine with aiding the dominant religion of traditional Christianity, leaving them fighting against gay rights and women’s control over their reproductive lives. And they like prayer in public schools.
Where are the parties AGAINST government?
Green/Dem Socialist | Democratic | Libertarian | Republican |
No Gov in bedroom Abortion Contraception LGBT |
No Gov in bedroom Abortion Contraception LGBT |
No Gov:
Environment Civil rights Wmn rights Education |
No Gov:
Environment Civil rights Wmn rights
Wealthy GOP: |
Social Security
Medicare Affordable care
No regulation – Environment – Food & drugs – Safety – Financial
Minimal taxes No Gov in bedroom -Abortion |
Social Security
Medicare Affordable care
Min. regulation – Environment – Food & drugs – Safety – Financial
Minimal taxes No taxes to help “lazy” |
Greens, Democratic Socialists, Democrats and even Libertarians all agree on one thing: no government in the bedroom.
Otherwise, Greens, Democratic Socialists and Democrats all want laws that protect the environment and level the playing field: civil rights, women’s rights, public education and a social safety net that includes Social Security, Medicare, and affordable healthcare.
But Libertarians and wealthy Republicans are against laws that protect the environment and level the playing field: civil rights, women’s rights, public education and a social safety net that includes Social Security, Medicare, and affordable healthcare.
Power for the powerful say Republicans and Libertarians
As a result, the traditionally powerful tend more toward Republicans and Libertarians: wealthy business interests, traditional conservative Christians, men and whites.
Historically more oppressed groups – women, people of color, LGBT, financially disadvantaged — and anyone who wants greater equality — along with liberal Christians and non-Christians, tend to vote more Democratic, Democratic Socialist or Green:
Green/D. Socialist | Democratic | Libertarian | Republican |
Those seeking greater equality
But further left |
Those seeking greater equality
|
Benefits the powerful
Status quo |
*Wealthy/Business
* Religion * Cultural conservatives |
No big $ in politics | No big $ in politics | Yes: $ in politics | Yes: $ in politics |
Since Bernie Sanders has so little in common with Libertarians it’s odd that so many Bernie fans are moving into their camp.
However, there has been a strong propaganda campaign on the right to convince Bernie voters of two things:
1) Hillary is impure and attached to scandal (mostly made-up scandal)
2) Libertarians overlap with Democratic Socialists 70% of the time.
Unfortunately, a lot of Bernie voters now believe both of these things.
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About BroadBlogs
I have a Ph.D. from UCLA in sociology (emphasis: gender, social psych). I currently teach sociology and women's studies at Foothill College in Los Altos Hills, CA. I have also lectured at San Jose State. And I have blogged for Feminispire, Ms. Magazine, The Good Men Project and Daily Kos. Also been picked up by The Alternet.Posted on October 7, 2016, in politics/class inequality and tagged Bernie Sanders supporters, Democratic Socialists, Democrats, Green Party, Libertarian, Republicans. Bookmark the permalink. 14 Comments.
Magnificent site. Plenty of useful information here. I’m sending it to several pals ans also sharing in delicious.
And obviously, thank you to your sweat!
And thank you so much for your kind words — and for spreading the word!
Why? Because they’re falling for Liberalistic rhetorics, generally buing into Liberalistic answers and arguments that appear to be pulled out of . Of course, Liberalists can criticise everything and everyone under the cover of claiming that pure liberalism doesn’t exist, thus no one can disprove its results. Of course, people with a quick mind will quickly see their fallacy; the person that makes a claim should argue for it, making comparions to how society works today. Liberalists on the other hand, usually respond with hostility, ad hominem or by making some points based on hostile straw man argumentation.
I see hardcore Liberalists as dangerous as hardcore communists. Sorry to sound harsh, but in my eyes they are nothing but extremists.
Okay but I suspect that ignorance is largely at the core of this.
Hei, I’m not the ignorant here 😉 I’m talking about liberalists and how they mostly use young people that easily fall prey to their so called arguments and “interesting” definitions of words such as their definition of taxes, wealthfare state and so on.
Apparently, in my Country, their targets for recruiting members are usually schools…I think that says a lot.
I’m not saying you’re ignorant. I’m saying that the liberals who are voting for a libertarian are unknowledgeable about the parties.
I think about 80% are voting for Hillary but what I don’t understand is why some Hillary supporters browbeat Bernie supporters. 50% of the population doesn’t vote so they could go after them for votes. Just saying…
I didn’t know that they did. But it’s counterproductive if they do.
I think it is just a matter of not wanting to vote for either Hillary or Trump rather than some level of understanding of what the Libertarians really stand for. And, of course, seeing the Republican stance on things spelled out like just makes me want to pull my hair out. This would have been reactionary in 1950.
I think you are right. They want to go for “purity” without any thought for how harmful their choices could be to their values and interests. Because on issues and values millennials do veer left.
They also don’t get that the reason why Johnson seems so pure is that no one thinks he’s going to win, so no one has been criticizing him — except for completely unforced errors, like not knowing any world leaders or what Aleppo is.
Reblogged this on Rcooley123's Blog and commented:
I, too, find it mind-boggling that Gary Johnson is polling so well among former supporters. He certainly is not advocating they vote for him. Based on many of his utterances, he would probably be polling much lower if they were including him in the debates. Even his running mate and Ron Paul don’t seem that enthusiastic about him.
I’ve seen messages being sent to Bernie supporters that Libertarians overlap with Bernie about 70% of the time. That’s insane to suggest that the most pro-government party overlaps 70% with the most antigovernment party.
But since Johnson isn’t at all likely to win he hasn’t been getting very much negative press, Other than unforced errors. So he seems “Pure.” But pro-Johnson Sanders supporters need to think about how policy actually affects the country.
And thanks for re-blogging!
If your choice is between the lady who the primaries were rigged for and a flaming douchebag, that kind of leaves the Libertarian as last man standing, I guess.
Well you think they would go to Jill Stein – she and Sanders overlap a lot. But the Sanders supporters would still risk electing Trump.