Could the Democrats become the new Libertarians?

[The One and Only...]

Let's think about this for a second.

We all know that the Democratic Party has drug policies a lot closer to the Libertarians than the GOP does. A lot more moderate, sure, but still closer.

Many of the Democratic candidates have come out a lot looser on gun control.

The Dems despise the Patriot Act, as can be seen through Gore's speech.

Two candidates have refused public funding, and it is highly likely that it may be repealed in the future because it has not prevented what it was intended to.

Most candidates call for the repeal of Bush's tax cuts, but not for the addition of new taxes.

Very few Dems support the Iraq war.

AND HERE'S THE REAL KICKER:

Few Dem's are in favor of the Rep. plans for the expansion of Medicare.

It seems that while one party is getting worse, the other is getting better - and the distinction between the two parties is getting harder to see every day.

[camacazio]

Their policy is very similar anyway. Most economic policies and political policies are almost dead on the same, and only a few key social (assisted suicide, abortion, etc) and economic policies (taxes, welfare) differ. It's almost completely the same otherwise.

You're right, though: even though in my opinion the distinction is already slim, it's getting even harder to see the difference. This is part of why I don't like political parties altogether: they don't really help anything, or push forward all that different views, just create two groups of people competing for power.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Many of the Democratic candidates have come out a lot looser on gun control.

What's "many"? Howard Dean does it because he was the governor of Vermont, and he's pandering to the Southern vote. Most Democrats at least advocate maintaining the laws we already have on the books, and few get a favorable rating from the NRA.

Two candidates have refused public funding, and it is highly likely that it may be repealed in the future because it has not prevented what it was intended to.

One candidate who has a huge constituency that believes very heavily in strong campaign finance reform. However, they believe in beating Bush even more. The idea most of the Dean people have convinced themselves of, as have many other Democrats, is that there's no reason to "play by the rules" while the rules suck. This doesn't mean your typical Dem. opposes publicly financed elections.

Most candidates call for the repeal of Bush's tax cuts, but not for the addition of new taxes.

Because they like their salaries, as well as the "parking for life" they get at the Capitol building.

AND HERE'S THE REAL KICKER:

Few Dem's are in favor of the Rep. plans for the expansion of Medicare.

It seems that while one party is getting worse, the other is getting better - and the distinction between the two parties is getting harder to see every day.

Again, for reasons completely contrary to what you're hoping for. Go back, from FDR, to Truman, to LBJ (hell, even Republican Eisenhower). People of all walks of like have agreed on expansive health coverage, particularly for children and seniors. Democrats do not oppose this in theory, at least most don't. I think many, in an "ideal world," would prefer a universal system. But right now, they need to oppose Bush on SOMETHING, and an expensive medicare expansion during a time of post-war and recession seems like a likely target. I think your hopes for the Democratic Party are a bit off. You should stick to doing what the Cato Institute types have done for years now: Take over the Republicans, and join a merged plank with the moralists. It brought on the Reagan revolution, and it's the one way to maintain the Southern vote. Trying to get the conservative South to vote Democrat again may be a toughy....

[KevinTheOmnivore]

OAO, btw: I tried looking around politics1.com for it, but had no luck. To my recollection, there is a Congessional caucus, or at least a Democratic "club" of Dem. Libertarians. Maybe you'll have better luck on finding it....

[The One and Only...]

Are you sure of they are referring to the American version of the term libertarian? In Europe, libertarian was more or less synonymous with socialist...

[KevinTheOmnivore]

I'm pretty sure it was Libertarian in the "American" sense.

[KevinTheOmnivore]

Hmm, on second thought, these guys might not be quite what you had in mind....

http://www.progress.org/dfc/

I dunno, you check it out.

[The One and Only...]

I've always been against business fraud. I imagine that their environmental policy is quite different from mine, but everything else is pretty libertarian.

Unless they take protection against fraud to the next level.

[Zebra 3]

I've always been against business fraud. I imagine that their environmental policy is quite different from mine, but everything else is pretty libertarian.
:lol - If you cannot accept the notion of business fraud at a massive scale, you cannot suport the Libertarians, it's that simple. And I might add, comparing them to the Democrats is truly laughable.

[The One and Only...]

Oh really? Why? What do you consider fraud, anyway?

I consider all of our banks to be fraudulent.

[Zebra 3]

Oh really? Why? What do you consider fraud, anyway?

:lol - You passing yourself off as "The One and Only."