Libertarians in 2013: The Even Whiter, Wealthier, WASPier Bastion of Republican Party

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http://www.alternet.org/tea-party-and-right/libertarians-2013-whiter-wealthier-waspier-bastion-already-white-republican

You could call it the wealthy white fratboy wing of the GOP. Or perhaps its masters-of-the-universe subset, as exemplified by Wall Streeters who regularly rank private profits above the common good and whose credo is “get government out of my way.”

Libertarians make up a small but enduring slice of the Right, a nationwide study by the Public Religion Research Institute confirms. Of course, they have their own party that nominates presidential candidates—like the Greens. But, practically speaking, libertarians line up with Republicans most of the time.

They are the economic conservatives and privacy rights adherents that existed before the Tea Party emerged in 2010, PRRI finds, and today—as in years past—they split with the religious right on regulating morality, and they are not always Tea Party fans.

PRRI’s “ 2013 American Values Survey” is the latest reminder from respected pollsters that “committed libertarians”—who comprise seven percent of all voters, with another 15 percent leaning their way—have an out-sized influence. Libertarians feel that there is almost nothing good that government can do for them personally or for society, PRRI reports. In contrast, the GOP’s evangelical wing wants government to ban abortion, reject same-sex marriage and bar assisted suicide for the terminally ill.

[beachbum bob]

1. libertarians have always amused me

they believe in this hypothetical reality of a libertarian society that has never existed and believe that we only if have to follow their dogma it will lead us all to Nirvana....they are as detrimental to the rightwing and as the kum-by-a crowd the left wing has. Neither can point to any type of success past or present. Depending on human nature to do the "right thing" is doomed to failure and to hope for it is really silly.

Unfortunately, the libertarians are the root of the hate-govt crowd that has fueled the teaparty.