Why Dean is NOT a Libertarian...

[gully]

I've listed below some of the positions of the Libertarian Party Platform. Howard Dean does NOT hold these positions.

Dean isn't any more Libertarian then Clark, Kucinich, Edwards Sharpton etc.

Howard Dean is a Democrat!

The War on Drugs
The War on Drugs is a grave threat to individual liberty, to domestic order, and to peace in the world.

Government and Mental Health
We oppose the involuntary treatment for mental health by health officials or law enforcement.


The Right to Property
All rights are inextricably linked with property rights. Property rights are entitled to the same protection as all other human rights.


The Economy
Government intervention in the economy imperils both the personal freedom and the material prosperity of every American.

Taxation
All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We oppose all government activity that consists of the forcible collection of money or goods from individuals in violation of their individual rights.

Inflation and Depression
Government control over money and banking is the primary cause of inflation and depression.

Government Debt
We support a constitutional amendment requiring government budgets be balanced by cutting expenditures and not by raising taxes.

Subsidies
The unrestricted competition of the free market is the best way to foster prosperity. We oppose all government subsidies.

Trade Barriers
Tariffs and quotas give special treatment to favored special interests and diminish the welfare of consumers and other individuals.

Domestic Ills
Current problems in such areas as energy, pollution, health care delivery, decaying cities, and poverty are not solved, but are primarily caused, by government.


Pollution
Pollution of other people's property is a violation of individual rights. Strict liability, not government agencies and arbitrary government standards, should regulate pollution.

Poverty and Unemployment
We support the repeal of all laws that impede the ability of any person to find employment. The proper source of aid to the poor is voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.

Health Care
We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We advocate a complete separation of medicine and State.


Agriculture
Farmers and consumers alike should be free from the meddling and counterproductive measures of the federal government -- free to grow, sell, and buy what they want.

Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHA)
We call for the repeal of OSHA, which denies the right to liberty and property to both employer and employee and interferes in private contractual relations.

Social Security
Replace the fraudulent, bankrupt Social Security system with a private, voluntary system.

Foreign Affairs
The United States government should return to the historic libertarian tradition of avoiding entangling alliances, abstaining totally from foreign quarrels and imperialist adventures, and recognizing the right to unrestricted trade and travel.

Diplomatic Policy

Negotiations
The important principle in foreign policy should be the elimination of intervention by the United States government in the affairs of other nations.

Human Rights
We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights against governments or political and revolutionary groups.

Economic Policy

Foreign Aid
We support the elimination of tax-supported military, economic, technical, and scientific aid to foreign governments or other organizations.

International Money
We favor withdrawal of the United States from all international money and credit schemes, the World Bank, and the International Monetary Fund.

International Relations

Colonialism
We favor immediate self-determination for all people living in colonial dependencies and the termination of subsidization of them at taxpayers' expense.

Foreign Intervention
We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid, guarantees, and diplomatic meddling. We make no exceptions.

These are a mere 'few' of the positions the Libertarians hold that DEAN does not...

[WillyBrandt]

1. Who said Dean is a libertarian?

Now I've still not heard that one...

[joeybee12]

3. I haven't heard that, either, and I'm glad he isn't!

They're all nuts--haven't met one who actually holds to what libertarians are supposed to stand for.

[gully]

5. Here you go..

One of many such discussions today ;)

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_mesg&forum=104&topic_id=536051&mesg_id=536051

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=show_topic&forum=104&topic_id=539234

[WillyBrandt]

6. Wow--

Quickly glanced through. Dean isn't a Libertarian. They are another species--politically, and possibly even biologically--altogether.

Dean is a centrist Democrat, with a few idiosyncracies, some of which are progressive, some of which are more centrist. He's a million miles away from Libertarianism.

[Sephirstein]

2. As far as I'm concerned...

No true progressive supports the War on Drugs.

[gully]

4. I depends on how one defines 'war'.

For some it's treating drug addicts, for others it's locking up drug users.

I can't find the link now, but Dean has a reasonable position that you should not treat drug addicts like criminals, you should treat their disease.

[rudeboy666]

7. small 'l'

You must make a distinction.

Hell, even many libertarians are not Libertarians i.e. the political party.

Although, Dean does have libertarian tendencies on some issues, he is definitely not a libertarian.

[KittyWampus]

8. Like It Or Not Dean CUT TAXES & Believes in DEREGULATION

Like it or not, Dean was lionized at Cato Institute which is LIBERTARIAN.

Dean:

"You folks at Cato," he told us, "should really like my views because I'm economically conservative and socially laissez-faire." Then he continued: "Believe me, I'm no big-government liberal. I believe in balanced budgets, markets, and deregulation. Look at my record in Vermont." He was scathing in his indictment of the "hyper-enthusiasm for taxes" among Democrats in Washington.

Dean was apparently obsessed with balancing the budget... even though it wasn't mandated by Vermont Law.
He also worked to deregulate Energy in Vermont.
He also has a habit of disrespecting Washington Democrats who worked to get money to Governors in the States.

Maybe Dean is just a chameleon.

[gully]

9. Dean's no chameleon b/c he thinks for himself on the issues.

I don't have any issues with what he said to the folks at Cato. And, if Libertarians want to vote for Dean so be it.

I do have an issue with what Clark said about Bush though.

"Dean was apparently obsessed with balancing the budget... even though it wasn't mandated by Vermont Law."

Thank goodness for Vermont he was, as they are one of the few states not in total financial crisis now.

"He also worked to deregulate Energy in Vermont."

So.

"He also has a habit of disrespecting Washington Democrats who worked to get money to Governors in the States."

"Disrespecting???"

[Hippo_Tron]

10. Libertarians way less hypocritical than the GOP.

None of this things need to be illegal because the church says so, small government means small government. Some libs do happen to be insane though.