In America, I am a liberal. I vote as liberal democrat, but people often tell me I seem more libertarian than democrat. This assessment generally comes from Republicans. People see me as libertarian because I’m an individual, and I do my own thing, not wanting my actions to be dictated by others. I like the word libertarian, as a personal descriptor. When I was younger I was even more about freedom. But my politics are way different from most libertarians you would meet!
I think that libertarian as a lifestyle is different from libertarian as a political party. I vote in most elections as a liberal democrat. I have progressive ideals: I believe equality, feminism, and LGBT rights. I believe that abortion should be legal. I believe we should have free, expansive public education. I believe that we should preserve the environment for future generations by mitigating climate change and promoting renewable energy. Finally, I believe that the tax reform bill was a huge mistake that Americans will have to clean up for several generations.
But I’m not liberal on every single issue. When it comes to things such as banking laws and gun rights, I’m probably a bit more moderate.
I like my freedom, but the word “conservative” makes me wince. Some liberals can be a little extreme – for instance on college campuses with safe zones, etc. I think there needs to be room for other views on college campuses. No one deserves a total liberal silo… But I can understand why college students might stick to a liberal bubble… Progressive is literally the way of the future!
I wish I lived in a world where I had the privilege and the liberty to be a libertarian… In an ideal world, a world where people respected each other; in a world where some people didn’t believe they followed the only true religion; in a world where we were truly free to be ourselves, I would be a libertarian. But I’m not in that world. Good thing I like brownies AND cheesecake….
Well said. I would like such a world.