They're not voting because...
- For the first time since I have had ...
For the first time since I have had the vote I shall not be voting, simply because, as a Libertarian, there is no serious party standing that I can support.
I would normally vote Conservative, but I shall not be doing this this time, simply because I want the current Conservative Party to fail at this election. Why? Because their current agenda is totally unimaginative and not even remotely radical enough. Furthermore, Michael Howard has shown himself to be a crass populist (see his comments re: the Boris Johnson / Liverpool affair), an egomaniac, and a bandwagon-jumper extraordinaire (immigration? booooooring!)
I cannot risk voting Conservative even though I hate all the other parties a thousand times more because there's a small chance they could get in, and if they did so, they would have a mandate to implement the current lacklustre manifesto, and the cause of genuinely radical libertarian conservatism
would be set back decades - far better than they fail now, and come back when they've seriously thought things through. Even in the (more likely) event of a Conservative defeat, a vote for them now might be enough to convince the party that there is enough support for the current leadership to keep on going - which, clearly, I don't want.And before you say it, I can't vote UKIP, because, let's face it, they are a bunch of nutters who belong in a nut-house.
So, it looks like I'll have to grin and bear another five years of freedom-hating statist buffoons.
Anarchy for the UK!
- Dr. Mabuse
written 25th Apr 2005
Responses
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JR replies: You're a Libertarian and you would normally vote CONSERVATIVE? Does not compute, Captain.
written 26th Apr 2005
Conservatives, especially the Republican ones in the US, are minded to force their preferences on others with weaponry!
This includes Conservatives who call themselves New Labour, of course. -
Dr. Mabuse replies: The fundamental tenet of libertarianism is the reduction of the size of the state - less state interference in our economic lives and our personal lives. The Conservative Party are the only (serious) party that endorse the former, though they are lacking in the other.
Even though the Republican Party was originally based on the Tory Party, it is far less libertarian than today's Tory Party - e.g. the Republicans endorse trade tariffs against imports in selected industries - which is a completely statist, anti-free trade, and left-wing thing to do.
The libertarian party in the US is called, perhaps unsurprisingly, the Libertarian Party - there is no direct equivalent here - the Conservatives are the closest we have. There are no conservatives who call themselves New Labour, btw - New Labour has done nothing to reduce the size of the state and everything to increase it.
hth.
written 26th Apr 2005
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Matt B replies: We need our libertarian party here! where do I sign up?
written 26th Apr 2005 -
Tiger43 replies: Correct me if I`m wrong, but did the original poster say that he or she is a Librarian? If so, the poster can damn there eyes, damn there briches and go back to the books.
written 27th Apr 2005 -
FSOBR replies: Libertarian - never have heard of it - are there any books about it?
So to reduce the size of the state - what does this mean? i'm presumably state control / power - but what then? Where does all this dissolved control / power go to?
written 27th Apr 2005 -
Tiger43 replies: To FSOBR....Librarian, or have I read it wrong and need glasses. Thats why I mentioned books.
written 27th Apr 2005 -
FSOBR replies: yeah I got it the first time - saying the gag again doesn't make it any better...
written 28th Apr 2005 -
tiger43 replies: To FSOBR......Yes it does.
written 28th Apr 2005
