From: lhughes@b11.b11.ingr.com (Lawrence Hughes)
Subject: Comparison of Liberal, Conservative and Libertarian Views
Organization: Intergraph Corp. Huntsville, AL
Distribution: hsv
Date: Wed, 30 Sep 1992 20:36:21 GMT

	Comparison of Liberal, Conservative and Libertarian

	From: Libertarianism in One Lesson, David Bergland

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SHOULD THERE BE CONSCRIPTION, A DRAFT, FOR MILTARY PURPOSES?

Liberal: Yes, but not in peace time.

Conserv: Yes, America must always be strong to deter potential enemies and
	 young people need it to learn patriotism.

Lib'tar: Absolutely not, under any circumstances. The draft is slavery.
	 Slaves make poor defenders of freedom.

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SHOULD GOVERNMENT OWN OR CONTROL NEWSPAPERS, RADIO OR TELEVISION?

Liberal: Yes. We need PBS to make sure there is some high quality programming
	 and government should control advertising aimed at children and other
	 gullible people.

Conserv: Government should not own the press or TV, but should control it to
	 prevent obscene programs and to ensure balanced reporting by the
	 liberal dominated media.

Lib'tar: No. Government ownership or control of press or electronic media has
	 no place in a free society. Owners of papers and broadcasters should
	 be responsible for what they they publish. Let parents and other
	 consumers be responsible for what to allow into their homes.

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SHOULD GOVERNMENT REGULATE ANY SEXUAL ACTIVITY OF CONSENTING ADULTS, INCLUDING
PROSTITUTION?

Liberal: Generally not. But, if prostitution were legal, it should be regulated
	 to protect public health.

Conserv: Yes. Prostitution, homosexuality, adultry and fornication should all
	 be illegal because they destroy family values.

Lib'tar: No. Sexual activity involving consenting adults violates the rights
	 of no other person. The right of adults to make their own decisions
	 in this most private area must be respected.

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SHOULD DRUGS LIKE MARIJUANA, CONCAINE AND HEROIN BE LEGALIZED?

Liberal: A qualified yes. Start slowly, perhaps with marijuana first, but the
	 production and sale should be regulated and taxed. Tax money should
	 be used for drug treatment programs.

Conserv: NO! Are you nuts? Everyone knows that everything bad in the world is
	 caused by drugs, dope dealers and stoned out gangs. What we need is
	 stricter laws and more prisons.

Lib'tar: Yes. Peaceful drug use violates no other person's rights. People have
	 the right to control their own bodies. The drug laws support organized
	 crime, cause more crime, corrupt law enforcement, destroy rights and
	 DO NOT WORK!

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SHOULD IT BE LEGAL FOR PEOPLE TO TRAVEL OR MOVE INTO AND OUT OF THE U.S.
WITHOUT LIMITATION?

Liberal: We should give more help to people trying to escape poverty and
	 political oppression so they can come to America, but not without
	 limitation because they take jobs from Americans.

Conserv: No. We have too many immigrants already. Everyone will want to come
	 to America. They increase welfare costs, take our jobs, increase crime
	 and disease, and refuse to learn English.

Lib'tar: Yes. All individuals have the same rights, regardless of where they
	 were born or where they live right now. Anyone willing to take
	 responsibility for himself or herself has the right to travel and
	 seek opportunity, including across international borders. America
	 has always benefitted from immigrants who arrive with nothing, work
	 hard, start businesses, become educated and improve America's 
	 economy.

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SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT PROVIDE PRICE SUPPORTS AND OTHER SUBSIDIES TO FARMERS
AND REGULATE WHAT THEY GROW?

Liberal: Yes. Farmers need protection from low prices for their crops and 
	 these farm programs help supply food to the poor and needy.

Conserv: Some support is needed so that family farms are not lost but in
	 general, farm programs are too expensive and wasteful.

Lib'tar: No. No one in business is entitled to have the government force
	 taxpayers to support him. Farmers should operate in a free, 
	 competitive market, just as all others in business should.

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SHOULD THE GOVERNMENT IMPOSE TARRIFS, QUOTAS, OR OTHER RESTRICTIONS ON
INTERNATIONAL TRADE, OR SHOULD WE HAVE FREE TRADE?

Liberal: Tariffs and quotas should be used to save American jobs.

Conserv: Trade barriers may be necessary to protect industries vital to
	 national defense or keep American industry competitive.

Lib'tar: Trade barriers violate the rights of Americans and foreign people who
	 desire to trade. Trade barriers cut everyone's productivity and cost
	 more jobs than they save.

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SHOULD GOVERNMENT SET A MINIMUM WAGE ENFORCED BY LAW?

Liberal: Yes. Otherwise, employers will exploit workers by paying only
	 subsistence wages. Everyone is entitled to a decent wage.

Conserv: No. Employers should be able to hire the best employees they can get
	 at the lowest price set by market competition.

Lib'tar: No. Such laws violate the right of employees and employers to strike
	 their own deals. Economics and history show that minimum wage laws
	 *cause* unemployment.

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IS THERE SOMETHING FUNDAMENTALLY WRONG WITH TAXATION, WHICH ALL SEEM TO THINK
IS THE ONLY WAY TO PAY FOR GOVERNMENT SERVICES?

Liberal: Without taxes, not enough people would be willing to pay for welfare
	 for the poor, or education, or taking care of the environment, or so
	 many other important things which only government can provide.

Conserv: Without taxes, not enough people would be willing to pay for America's
	 and its allies' defense, or for our domestic security, or so many other
	 important things only government can provide.

Lib'tar: Taxation is immoral, indistinguishable from theft. We should replace
	 taxation with voluntary methods of providing services. All "government"
	 services can be provided by private sector business, charities or other
	 organizations and techniques.

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INFLATION IS A RECURRING PROBLEM, WHEN WE SEE PRICES RISING RAPIDLY. WHAT
SHOULD THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT DO ABOUT IT?

Liberal: Impose wage and price controls on interest rates to keep big
	 corporations and banks from gouging the public.

Conserv: The Federal Reserve Board should increase the money supply at a slow
	 and steady rate and control interest rates also rather than allowing
	 wide flucuations in either.

Lib'tar: We must stop the government money printing press. Return now to a 
	 fully convertible gold standard for the dollar and ultimately
	 establish a stable, market-based monetary system to replace government
	 control of money by eliminating the Federal Reserve system and 
	 repealing the legal tender laws.

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SHOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SEND TROOPS OR OTHER MILITARY AGENTS TO INTERVENE
IN THE AFFAIRS OF OTHER COUNTRIES?

Liberal: Yes, if it will advance the cause of human rights.

Conserv: Yes, if it will help contain the spread or resurgence of communism or
	 protect other U.S. interests such as oil.

Lib'tar: No. The U.S. government has no authority to intervene militarily in
	 the affairs of other countries except in response to a military attack
	 on the American homeland.

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SHOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT SEND FOREIGN AID TO OTHER COUNTRIES?

Liberal: Yes. to help the poor in third world and developing countries which
	 have good human rights records.

Conserv: Yes, to help those governments trying to resist communism or trying
	 to convert from socialism to democracy.

Lib'tar: No. American taxpayers should not be forced to pay to support other
	 governments at all.

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SHOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT CONTINUE TO PARTICIPATE IN AND SUPPORT THE U.N.?

Liberal: Yes, because it is the last best hope for peace.

Conserv: Yes, but only if it will take a more pro-American stance.

Lib'tar: Not as presently constituted and financed by tax dollars. A 
	 voluntarily financed forum for international discussions would not 
	 be objectionable.

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SHOULD YOUNG AMERICANS BE COMPELLED TO SERVE IN SOME CAPACITY IN THE NAME OF
"NATIONAL SERVICE"?

Liberal: Yes, everyone has the obligation to serve others for social welfare.

Conserv: Yes, when it can be justified for national defense purposes.

Lib'tar: No. Slavery is slavery regardless of whether it is masked by the
	 euphemism "draft" or "national service".

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SHOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT BAIL OUT SAVINGS AND LOAN INSTITUTIONS AND BANKS TO
PREVENT THEIR COLLAPSE?

Liberal: Yes, because all the depositors have depended on government deposit
	 insurance to protect their savings.

Conserv: Yes, because if these financial institutions collapse, our entire
	 economy will follow and it will be like the 1930's depression.

Lib'tar: No. Taxpayers should not be compelled to bail out either financial
	 institutions or individuals who make bad investments.

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SHOULD THE U.S. GOVERNMENT HELP AMERICAN BUSINESSES THROUGH HARD ECONOMIC
TIMES WITH LOW INTEREST LOANS?

Liberal: Yes. This will save jobs and American workers need all the help they
	 can get during a recession or depression.

Conserv: Yes. Government should help business to stay in business. That's free
	 enterprise.

Lib'tar: No. Government can only help some businesses by stealing from 
	 taxpayers and other businesses. No one has the right to be subsidized
	 at the expense of others.

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WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO DEAL WITH BUDGET DEFICIT PROBLEMS?

Liberal: Raise taxes and reduce military spending.

Conserv: Don't raise taxes, but reduce social spending.

Lib'tar: Reduce all federal spending. Confine the federal government to
	 national defense and the protection of constitutional rights from
	 violations by state and local governments.

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WHAT IS THE BEST APPROACH FOR DEALING WITH PROBLEMS OF POLLUTION?

Liberal: Stricter laws and better beaurocratic management paid for by tax
	 dollars

Conserv: Tax financed cleanup of industrial waste.

Lib'tar: Respect for private property rights and legal protection against
	 pollutants and polluters through traditional common law remedies of
	 injunction and damages for trespass.

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THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM KEEPS GOING BANKRUPT. IS THERE A LONG TERM SOLUTION
TO THE PROBLEMS OF THE SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEM?

Liberal: We will need to keep increasing the taxes because older people are
	 entitled to retire with dignity.

Conserv: We need to reduce benefits, make the system more efficient, and make
	 the age of retirement later to salvage it.

Lib'tar: The Social Security bankruptcy requires we end the system by granting
	 older workers and retirees the choice of a lump sum payment or 
	 private insurance annuity to replace future Social Security benefits.
	 Ending the bankrupt system will relieve younger workers of the tax 
	 and avoid the economic collapse which will surely result from 
	 increasing Social Security taxes.

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SHOULD CHILDREN BE REQUIRED BY LAW TO ATTEND SCHOOLS?

Liberal: Yes, otherwise parents would not provide for their children's
	 education.

Conserv: Yes, otherwise children will not be educated as required for national
	 defense and to compete effectively in business with foreign companies

Lib'tar: No. Compulsory attendence laws violate the rights of parents and
	 children to decide for themselves on educational programs.

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SHOULD PARENTS BE ALLOWED TO TEACH THEIR CHILDREN AT HOME RATHER THAN HAVING
THEM ATTEND SCHOOLS APPROVED BY THE STATE?

Liberal: No. Some parents would teach their children bigotry and unscientific
	 bizarre religious doctrine.

Conserv: A grudging yes. Although some parents would fail to give their
	 children the proper moral education with home schooling, it appears
	 the public schools are hopeless for parents who want their children
	 to have proper religious and moral education.

Lib'tar: Yes. The government has no proper role in education. There should be
	 no government penalties or regulation of parents who prefer to teach
	 their children at home.

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SHOULD THE OWNERSHIP OF FIREARMS BE PREVENTED OR RESTRICTED BY LAW?

Liberal: Yes. No one but law enforcement and the military should be allowed
	 to own guns.

Conserv: Some limitations on hand guns and military "assult rifles" would be
	 appropriate, but not otherwise.

Lib'tar: Ownership of a firearm violates no other person's rights, and 
	 therefore should not be subject to any criminal penalty or government
	 restriction. It is the agressive use of firearms that should be
	 punished, not responsible ownship.

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WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENT POLICY BE TOWARD ABORTION?

Liberal: A woman has the right to an abortion, and if she can't afford it, 
	 taxpayers should subsidize her abortion.

Conserv: Abortion is murder and should be subject to appropriate criminal
	 penalties, except perhaps in the case of rape or incest.

Lib'tar: Under no circumstances should government force anyone to subsidize
	 another's abortion. Many libertarians and the Libertarian Party
	 platform hold that there should be no legal panalties for a woman
	 who decides to terminate her pregnancy. Other libertarians hold that
	 abortion does involve a violation of rights and should be illegal.

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WHAT SHOULD GOVERNMENT POLICY BE TOWARD NUCLEAR POWER?

Liberal: Because of high risk and the insoluble problem of nuclear waste
	 disposal, no more nuclear power plants should be built and existing
	 plants should be shut down.

Conserv: Nuclear power is cheap, safe and less polluting that other power 
	 sources. Government policy should do more to encourage its development.

Lib'tar: Nuclear power is currently a government industry subsidized by
	 legislated limits on liability, not a private industry. Government
	 should get out of the nuclear power business and let private power
	 companies compete in the energy marketplace while bearing full
	 responsibility for actual or potential liability.

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Larry "trying to clear the air even more" Hughes - uunet!ingr!b11!lhughes
Newsgroups: hsv.general