[jbock13]

I'm all for what Paul is doing, particularly if he is able to push through some important party platform ideals such as cracking down on the Fed, pushing through actual budget cuts that don't merely scratch the surface, but hit the baseline, etc. We can't afford this crap anymore... the overspending has gone on long enough.

However, I would never be able to support his foreign policy though. While I think it's time to get out of Afghanistan, I still think the U.S. plays an important role in keeping the peace around the world. A strong national defense is always needed. Sure, heads need to roll in the Pentagon and the process of developing and procuring new weapons systems needs to be fixed, but we can't simply abandon the world and stick our heads in the sand while China, Putin, and co. do as they wish. They are the real threats in this world by the way. They are employing the exact same strategies on us that we employed on the Russians when they went into Afghanistan. The truth is we are already at war with China and Russia - most Americans just have the awareness of a 3rd grader and can't understand it.

NEO-CON NEO-CON NEO-CON!!!!!

All kidding aside though... the world does not view America as a "global force for good." And even if it had, I personally do not want young men dying in a sand box where primitive people throw rocks at each other all day. Afghanistan represents no threat to us whatsoever, and the people there clearly don't want us there. We are not the world's police force, and it wasn't until the Korean War that we were. It is not our problem what other primitive cultures do... you're not just going to invade a country and change the culture they've had for thousands of years.

[From the class of 09]

The truth is we are already at war with China and Russia - most Americans just have the awareness of a 3rd grader and can't understand it.

Really? Do tell.

[ALUmnus]

Libertarians sure do agree on a lot of stuff. You guys should, like, form your own party, and, you know, nominate candidates to run for public office....any public office. You could even call it something like the "Libertarian Party". That way you'd be able to have your own convention, have candidates debate by agreeing with each other, and then nominate the most socially awkward one.

[jbock13]

Libertarians sure do agree on a lot of stuff. You guys should, like, form your own party, and, you know, nominate candidates to run for public office....any public office. You could even call it something like the "Libertarian Party". That way you'd be able to have your own convention, have candidates debate by agreeing with each other, and then nominate the most socially awkward one.

But Libertarians don't agree on much.

[Humble_Opinion]

NEO-CON NEO-CON NEO-CON!!!!!

Okay so I was a little dramatic...

All kidding aside though... the world does not view America as a "global force for good."

This comment can't be quantified really on either side. From the 1930's on though, most people in the world saw us this way. I suppose you could say that I subscribe to the "Shining city on a hill" that John Winthrop described and that Reagan often espoused during his time in office.

And even if it had, I personally do not want young men dying in a sand box where primitive people throw rocks at each other all day. Afghanistan represents no threat to us whatsoever, and the people there clearly don't want us there

I agree that our nation building strategy is flawed. We shouldn't be in Afganistan today, but to say they represent no threat to us is to completely ignore most of the 1990's - early 2000's. Also, to say that they simply throw rocks at one another is pretty naive. Talk to any military personnel on the front lines and I think they might tell you a different story.

We are not the world's police force, and it wasn't until the Korean War that we were. It is not our problem what other primitive cultures do... you're not just going to invade a country and change the culture they've had for thousands of years.

I sort of touched on the 'world's police force comment above and I still disagree with you on that, but I agree that you can't change a culture - unless the people themselves are willing to change. Like I said... our strategy on this is flawed and needs to be addressed.

[Humble_Opinion]

The truth is we are already at war with China and Russia - most Americans just have the awareness of a 3rd grader and can't understand it.

Really? Do tell.

Read up on the daily hack attacks that occur on U.S. government agencies and high-tech defense companies such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Have you seen the newest tech coming out of China (i.e. the JF-17 and JF-20). Notice the striking similarities with our F-16 and F-22/YF-23.

When I say we are 'at war' with them I'm not talking about declared war in a conventional way, because they know they are outmatched. Rather, I'm talking about a sort of proxy/asymmetic type of warfare sort of like we saw in the Cold War. They protect the countries in the world that are direct enemies with the U.S., and they sell arms to these countries, that wind up in the hands of people in Afghanistan and Iraq. There's a lot to be said about this, and I realize I was probably a little over-dramatic with my initial statement, but I've seen enough to convince me that they want to see a dramatically weaker U.S. and they are actively pursuing strategies that would encourage this.

[ALUmnus]

Libertarians sure do agree on a lot of stuff. You guys should, like, form your own party, and, you know, nominate candidates to run for public office....any public office. You could even call it something like the "Libertarian Party". That way you'd be able to have your own convention, have candidates debate by agreeing with each other, and then nominate the most socially awkward one.

But Libertarians don't agree on much.

Good luck with that.

[jmdickens]

The truth is we are already at war with China and Russia - most Americans just have the awareness of a 3rd grader and can't understand it.

Really? Do tell.

Read up on the daily hack attacks that occur on U.S. government agencies and high-tech defense companies such as Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin. Have you seen the newest tech coming out of China (i.e. the JF-17 and JF-20). Notice the striking similarities with our F-16 and F-22/YF-23.

When I say we are 'at war' with them I'm not talking about declared war in a conventional way, because they know they are outmatched. Rather, I'm talking about a sort of proxy/asymmetic type of warfare sort of like we saw in the Cold War. They protect the countries in the world that are direct enemies with the U.S., and they sell arms to these countries, that wind up in the hands of people in Afghanistan and Iraq. There's a lot to be said about this, and I realize I was probably a little over-dramatic with my initial statement, but I've seen enough to convince me that they want to see a dramatically weaker U.S. and they are actively pursuing strategies that would encourage this.

America would win that war like flipping on a light switch by not buying from China.....

[jmdickens]

Libertarians sure do agree on a lot of stuff. You guys should, like, form your own party, and, you know, nominate candidates to run for public office....any public office. You could even call it something like the "Libertarian Party". That way you'd be able to have your own convention, have candidates debate by agreeing with each other, and then nominate the most socially awkward one.

No reason to do that. I think we all remember what the republican party used to be.

[jbock13]

Libertarians sure do agree on a lot of stuff. You guys should, like, form your own party, and, you know, nominate candidates to run for public office....any public office. You could even call it something like the "Libertarian Party". That way you'd be able to have your own convention, have candidates debate by agreeing with each other, and then nominate the most socially awkward one.

But Libertarians don't agree on much.

Good luck with that.

Did some Libertarian pick on you as kid? I mean you really hate them for some reason lol.

[ALUmnus]

No, to me they're for the most part on the same team as me, it's just that the feeling doesn't seem to be mutual. Look, when you push hard enough, you gotta expect pushback as some point.

[jbock13]

Not that all are this way, but I find conservatives are always mad at the government, but never do anything to change it. Libertarians do.

[LUconn]

pfffffff, which libertarians are that? The ones that plaster rEVOLution all over town?

I, myself, am not a libertarian but I think it would be good to have some hold elected office in the federal government to pull things back to the right of center. Why all the fuss about getting a viable 3rd party for presidential elections and nobody gives a rip about the other 2 branches? There are so many districts and so many "upsets" from unlikely candidates every election cycle, how is it the libertarian party can't get 1 person in office?

[jbock13]

pfffffff, which libertarians are that? The ones that plaster rEVOLution all over town?

I, myself, am not a libertarian but I think it would be good to have some hold elected office in the federal government to pull things back to the right of center. Why all the fuss about getting a viable 3rd party for presidential elections and nobody gives a rip about the other 2 branches? There are so many districts and so many "upsets" from unlikely candidates every election cycle, how is it the libertarian party can't get 1 person in office?

For one, you have some libertarians who want to create their own party, and then you have some libertarians who believe working through the Republican Party is the best option.

The Libertarian Party has always been a joke. Plus, they are mostly pro-abortion.

[ALUmnus]

That didn't address his question. What Libertarians have done something to change things?

[jbock13]

That didn't address his question. What Libertarians have done something to change things?

Take a look at the Ron Paul movement. I don't agree with all that they do, but you can't deny it. They are becoming delegates in local and state GOP parties.

[Purple Haize]

That didn't address his question. What Libertarians have done something to change things?

Take a look at the Ron Paul movement. I don't agree with all that they do, but you can't deny it. They are becoming delegates in local and state GOP parties.

Which is the way to go about it IMO.