Libertarian Vs. Liberal (Whats The Difference?) – The Cold Wire

Among the political parties, the libertarian party is often confused with being either conservative or liberal.

Many even confuse libertarianism with liberalism.

Part of that is due to libertarianisms origin in Classical Liberalism.

However, there are several differences between libertarianism and liberalism.

Well dig into them and the different types of each.

The primary difference between a libertarian and a liberal is the way in which they view the government.

A libertarian believes that the government should have minimal involvement in economic and social policies.

They believe that the government coerces society too much.

Instead of the government, they believe that individuals can hold themselves accountable.

Liberals believe that the government is something society needs to help them achieve freedom and equality.

Liberals use peaceful protests to push their agendas.

However, theyre not afraid to use civilized violence to also state their cases.

Civilized violence is something like intimidation.

They differ in how they approach protesting from libertarians.

Libertarians believe in non-violent protests.

They rely on rational debate.

The very foundation of their philosophy is an ethical one.

Their belief in 100% voluntary contracts without coercion means that they are responsible for themselves and their behavior.

There are a few different ways to measure equality.

One is equality of outcome.

This type of equality means that the processes or methods used arent equal, but the end result is equal.

An example is the taxation of the rich.

A rich individual needs to pay more taxes than a poorer individual.

As a result, everyone in society is able to receive equal benefits like healthcare, security, and income.

While everyone is equal in the end, the method in which they achieve that equality is not equal.

The rich have to contribute more than the poor.

This type of concept is something that liberal philosophy adopts.

They believe in equality of outcome.

They also rely on the government to determine whats fair for everyone involved in society.

Then the government must reinforce those regulations.

The other type of equality is equality of opportunity.

This type of equality means that everyone follows the same rules.

If they break the rule, then theyre punished the same.

An example is two individuals that get caught speeding on the highway.

Theyre arrested and taken to court.

If one of those individuals is able to hire a rich attorney, then they may be able to bend the rules in their favor.

Equality of opportunity means that both individuals have the same access to the same resources for their defense.

They are both given the same punishment regardless of their wealth or identity because they broke the law.

You follow the rules like everyone else, or you receive punishment like everyone else.

Libertarians believe in equality of opportunity.

When everyone has to follow the same rulebook, then society is equal.

Originally, libertarianism was a part of Classical Liberalism.

It shared many of the same views on the economy as Classical Liberalism.

It wasnt until the 1960s and the Vietnam War that libertarianism started to branch out on its own.

During the Vietnam War, anti-war protests were common.

Americans were being drafted and forced to fight in a war that they didnt believe in.

Individuals started to see it as the government forcing itself into the lives of people when it had no business doing so.

Libertarianism suggested that society should live without most, if not all, forms of government coercion.

The idea attracted both liberals and conservatives to it.

While there are several types of libertarianism, there are two main schools of thought.

One is that society should exist without government involvement entirely.

Instead, control comes either from corporations or labor forces.

The other school of thought, one that Modern Libertarians adopt, is that the government needs minimal involvement.

Limited government control is primarily over the military defense and thats it.

Otherwise, they believe that individuals can hold themselves accountable.

Liberalism began with Classical Liberalism.

Its a school of thought that believes people are bound by their own agreements, contracts, and decisions.

They also believe in voluntary association, self-interest, and incentives.

This means that an individual has the right to make the choice to work a job that they dont want to because it pays well.

That same person also has the right to work at a job that they enjoy.

Out of Classical Liberalism came many different types of liberalism.

One of the main types that contrast from Classical Liberalism is Welfare Liberalism.

Welfare liberals believe that the people deserve certain welfare guarantees.

They also expect the government to fund and enforce those welfare guarantees.

Welfare liberals also focus on social obligations.

Theyre less concerned with basic rights.

They believe that those who are financially fortunate have a social obligation to help those who are not.

They have a right to help and serve their community.

As a result, theyre more inclined to seek help from the government to enforce those rights and social obligations.

This is different from Classical Liberalism which favors incentives.

They believe that individuals can better themselves through their upbringing and participation in certain jobs and organizations.

Libertarians have ties to both left-wing and right-wing policies.

Many consider them extreme radicals of the left or right.

In truth, they reside at the center of the political spectrum.

Some types of libertarianism are even more liberal or more conservative than the actual political parties themselves.

Some of the right-wing policies that libertarians share with conservatives are their stances on the economy.

Libertarians are in favor of tax cuts to stimulate the economy.

Their tax cuts arent reserved solely for corporations and big businesses, however.

Both conservatives and libertarians believe that the government needs to stay out of the market.

Follow this link:
Libertarian Vs. Liberal (Whats The Difference?) - The Cold Wire