Here I am

[gtrman66]

The transformation is complete. I am Libertarian. I didn't leave the Republican Party, they left me. I am done with them. I wash my hands of them.

My new avatar is a bear (the symbol of the Libertarians) and yes, he one ticked off bear!

I am sick of watching the United States... independent states, individual states, free states, wonderful states.... being swallowed up by a federal machine.

I freely give to charity. I am repulsed that my pocket is picked at gun point to pay for 3rd generation, able bodied, lazy, couch potato, people who call themselves "Americans" when it's convenient for them.

I am tired of us collectively sending our family to die on unappreciative foreign soil. Let's get in, take care of business and get out. No more "nation building".

I'm tired of the NEA holding our students ransom to tenure. I am furious at a Department of Education (that shouldn't exist) consuming $.83 or every $1 it takes in with nothing to show for it.

The federal government has no business owning land other than for military purposes. If states want to set up parks, then great, but not the feds.

More to come...

[MYCAR47562]

i look forward to it. as we seem to have the same opinion on things.

[cajun]

I think if the libertarian party had'nt gotton off on their drug tangent when they started up, maybe they would have gone farther. Their stance on war and drugs has kept a lot of people from seriously considering them. The way things are going at the Rep. party there will be a lot of defections, maybe a conservative party will rise out of the ashes. Oh and about ur avatar, hope you got that thang on a leash GTRman66 :)

[nelson]

Liberalism has guaranteed too many entitlements, forcing conservatives to compete in the entitlement-promising game if they wish to gain/keep power.

Because of this game, citizens now vote for whoever promises them the most ice cream. Or even more superficially, on looks alone. We have been taught to expect gifts and pandering, so that's what we want, and that's what we get. Real principle is virtually absent.

So-called conservatives aren't really conservative anymore. They can't be if they want to gain power. Too many citizens have been educated in the public school and university systems, the whole time watching media and hollywood propaganda (hence the superficiality). Too much divisiveness (i.e. diversity) has been imported, without the integration needed to find common values to agree upon - without common values, all we understand is 'what do we get?'

Unfortunately this applies to libertarians as well - how can they compete against the little girl promising ice cream to all the brainwashed cnn lemmings?

As Bill Clinton would say, 'I feel your pain' gtrman66.

[Johnny Dangerously]

Liberalism has guaranteed too many entitlements, forcing conservatives to compete in the entitlement-promising game if they wish to gain/keep power.

Because of this game, citizens now vote for whoever promises them the most ice cream. Or even more superficially, on looks alone. We have been taught to expect gifts and pandering, so that's what we want, and that's what we get. Real principle is virtually absent.

So-called conservatives aren't really conservative anymore. They can't be if they want to gain power. Too many citizens have been educated in the public school and university systems, the whole time watching media and hollywood propaganda (hence the superficiality). Too much divisiveness (i.e. diversity) has been imported, without the integration needed to find common values to agree upon - without common values, all we understand is 'what do we get?'

Unfortunately this applies to libertarians as well - how can they compete against the little girl promising ice cream to all the brainwashed cnn lemmings?

As Bill Clinton would say, 'I feel your pain' gtrman66.

Spot on! I couldn't agree more. The Republicans have fallen into the power grab trap and feel like they have to "keep up with the Joneses" on the Great American Giveaway.

To Cajun's point, I hope there is a third party soon, one that's strong enough to put both, the Dems and the Republicans in their places. If that's the Libertarian party then so be it. The only problem right now and, frankly the only reason I'm clinging to the part of guns and religion (purposeful misquote with tongue planted firmly in cheek), is because the Democratic part has become to strong to be beat by a new up and coming party. Perhaps Obama's reign will wake some people up on both sides of the aisle. I sure hope so.

gtrman - I'm with ya brother. All good points and great post!