Telling How Libertarians Are Different from Liberals and Conservatives

Published January 09, 2012 in Talking Points by Sharon Harris

Recently, Liberator Online editor James W. Harris was trying to think of a way to explain libertarianism to a child. The child, though smart, was ignorant of most political concepts.

He thought over his usual stock of answers, and found them lacking in this situation.

Finally he came up with something like this:

"Liberals and conservatives both believe the government should force peaceful people, at gunpoint if necessary, to live the way they think they should. Libertarians are against this."

 (Read More)

Dave Barry

Published January 05, 2012 in Celebrities by Zach Varnell

No, we are not making this up! Humorist Dave Barry is a libertarian, and has been for years. In a 1994 interview with Reason magazine, Barry credited writer Sheldon Richman with convincing him to embrace libertarianism, back in the 1970s.

"Sheldon and I would argue," Barry told Reason. "I mean, really argue.... Then in the late '70s, I begin to see. I think the gas crisis had something to do with it. I began to realize, this is all happening because of the government. And I began to think  (Read More)

"Cross-Dressing" For Liberty

Published January 03, 2012 in Talking Points by Sharon Harris

What if you want to convince a conservative friend that the War on Drugs should end? Suppose you want to persuade a liberal relative that anti-gun laws are a bad idea?

You'll likely get nowhere talking with the conservative about civil liberties and the right of an individual to decide what goes into his body. And you may scare the liberal half to death if you start talking about bearing arms.

There's a better way. Dubbed "political cross-dressing" by persuasion coach and author Michael Cloud, it dramatically increases  (Read More)

A Libertarian's New Year's Resolutions

Published December 28, 2011 in Outreach by Zach Varnell

by Harry Browne

1.  I resolve to sell liberty by appealing to the self-interest of each prospect, rather than preaching to people and expecting them to suddenly adopt my ideas of right and wrong.

2. I resolve to keep from being drawn into arguments or debates. My purpose is to inspire people to want liberty -- not to prove that they're wrong.

3.  I resolve to listen when people tell me of their wants and needs, so I  (Read More)