Libertarians: Why are economic issues more important than social issues?

[Alcon]

I have heard many Libertarians say that they vote Republican because economic issues are more important than social ones. Why is this? I've always wondered.

(I know that this is not true of all Libertarians, but humor me.)

[Bono]

It's mostly because most libertarians are cultural coservatives, and because threats upon personal freedom are much lower than threats upon economic freedom(and since most big 'L's are a bunch of geeks, they don't have to worry about sexual freedom ).
But then again, for me, and I'm a small 'l', gun rights are an issue that's posibly even more important than economic issues.
Also, it's not true that Democrats are half libertarian. Demcorats want possibly even mroe control over personal lives then republicans do, they just want it in a way to froce everyone to accept of-the-edge lifestyles. republicans are way much more libertarian in social isues like guns. The only people in congress who want to legalize drugs are republicans, for instance.

[A18]

Because even though things like hard drugs should be legal, I'm not particularly anxious to actually use them.

The Republicans are more socially libertarian overall.

[Alcon]

I personally have libertarian social views - I am for drug legalization, against censorship (to an extent), for gay marriage (who cares?), and against gun control.

I disagree with you about the Republicans being more socially libertarian. You have a huge Christian rightist part of your party which is about as libertarian as my shoe.

Thanks for your input. I'd love to hear from some capital-L Libertarians too.

[A18]

Are you for repealing all the ridiculous anti-discrimination laws that govern the private sector? Because I can assure you most Democrats are not.

[Alcon]

Are you for repealing all the ridiculous anti-discrimination laws that govern the private sector? Because I can assure you most Democrats are not.

Anti-discrimination, no. Affirmative action, yes.

I do not feel that it is right for the government to enforce "quotas." That is a burden upon the economy and is just wrong in my mind.

Rather, I support "affirmative reaction": if it becomes evident that a company is hiring minorities at a rate that is statistically far below similar companies, there should be an investigation. Again, while I am not purely libertarian on social issues, I am more libertarian than liberal in my view. I would call myself a liberal libertarian.

[A18]

Well, that's why libertarians don't like Democrats.

[Alcon]

Well, that's why libertarians don't like Democrats.

What is?

[A18]

Your support for anti-discrimination laws, gun control, anti-tobacco legislation, high taxation, and big spending bureaucracies.

[Alcon]

Your support for anti-discrimination laws, gun control, anti-tobacco legislation, high taxation, and big spending bureaucracies.

Uh, yes, all of which I said that I did not support, except for the latter two, which I do not support either.

In any case, what about the Republicans' moralistic hyper-Christian branch, their views on gay marriage, their views on social intervention, etcetera?

[A18]

You just said you are in favor of anti-discrimination laws. As for the rest, you are the only Democrat in existance.

What social intervention? Anti-discrimination laws are the ultimate social intervention.

[John Dibble]

Rather, I support "affirmative reaction": if it becomes evident that a company is hiring minorities at a rate that is statistically far below similar companies, there should be an investigation. Again, while I am not purely libertarian on social issues, I am more libertarian than liberal in my view. I would call myself a liberal libertarian.

Any good libertarian would disagree with this view. We support the right of employer to employ based on their own policies - if they only want to hire white males, then so be it, the business belongs to them and they can employ who they think is best for the job. Now, if the NAACP or something similar cries 'foul', has a massive media campaign against that company, encourages boycotts until the company gives in and hires more minorities due to decreased profits we would be fine with that too, but we believe it wrong that the government uses the force of law to make the employer hire minorities.

Noting the above you have to understand one of the defining differences between social libertarianism and modern social liberalism is that libertarians tolerate intolerance. The majority of us think it is stupid, and also that the market will punish it when it enters the business world, but because we respect the rights of others to think as they will and run their businesses as they see fit we do not support 'anti-discrimination' laws. Such laws are a method of though policing in my view. You must also remember that the economy is not seperate from society - they affect eachother. Controlling behavior in the economic realm will ultimately affect behavior in the social realm, and visa versa.


As to the original question - neither are actually more important, for the reason stated above. Given the choice between a Republican and a Democrat, I will always go with the one who is more libertarian than the other, but I think that you will more often find a libertarian Republican than a libertarian Democrat. We see both parties as trying to control people, but I think we see that Republicans are generally friendlier to our point of view. I also think that as a GENERAL rule people are more willing to compromise on social issues than economic issues, they just accept things or turn a blind eye to it. Most social issues also tend to last for less time than economic issues, which persist as long as the economy does.

Bono stated that most liberatarians are 'cultural conservatives', I won't deny this - but to clarify that is meant in the sense of how we act rather than how we are oriented politically. We tend to be people with values, but we wish for people to make their own value choices by not forcing our values on them. Rather, we influence and convince people to take a lifestlye of intelligent choices and tolerance rather than a life of impulsiveness and prejudice. We generally are rather prosperous ourselves, and people seeing the prosperity can help show that our way of life is a good one to have.

I think I may be rambling now, so I'll stop for a while.

[Richard]

I have heard many Libertarians say that they vote Republican because economic issues are more important than social ones. Why is this? I've always wondered.

(I know that this is not true of all Libertarians, but humor me.)

You can't have social rights and values if there is no society.  You need at the very least food, clothing, and shelter.  In a country with liberal social values and a state-run economy, you won't have that.  Many people will die.  You can have all the social rights you want, but if you're going to die then I would trade them immediately just to get something to eat.

Economy comes first.  On that you build a society.  After that, society comes.  No sense fixing social problems if there is no society.

[David S]

I have heard many Libertarians say that they vote Republican because economic issues are more important than social ones. Why is this? I've always wondered.

(I know that this is not true of all Libertarians, but humor me.)

If the Libertarians vote Republican doesn't that make them  Republicans? Personally I want both freedoms and I vote Libertarian.

[J. J.]

Are you for repealing all the ridiculous anti-discrimination laws that govern the private sector? Because I can assure you most Democrats are not.

Anti-discrimination, no. Affirmative action, yes.

I do not feel that it is right for the government to enforce "quotas." That is a burden upon the economy and is just wrong in my mind.

Rather, I support "affirmative reaction": if it becomes evident that a company is hiring minorities at a rate that is statistically far below similar companies, there should be an investigation. Again, while I am not purely libertarian on social issues, I am more libertarian than liberal in my view. I would call myself a liberal libertarian.

Alcon, it's post like this that maker wonder why I you have a red avatar and me wonder why I have a blue one.  :-)