Sorry to hear that they initiated the end of the friendship. I disagree that there’s “no way” for libertarians and liberals to be friends still. Libertarianism doesn’t mean “super right wing” like some people think - it means small federal government and strong, but also small local government. The ideas are more about it being your own personal responsibility to take care of a neighbor in need, not the government’s. Not saying that this is right or wrong to believe in, but I do see that there are arguments to be made in favor and against this idealogy.
My friend and I have been friends for a while. I’ve seen myself as fairly centrist but lately voting more liberal. He’s seen himself as libertarian and seems to always vote right. We have interesting conversations about politics and philosphy, but we also don’t let it get in the way of enjoying games and hobbies outside of politics.
My experience as a leftist with libertarians in the US is that they are selfish. Every libertarian I’ve known has been privileged enough to hold views that benefit them and leave other more vulnerable citizens in the wake of it all. They sit back and wax poetic about Jordan Peterson and come to conclusions that don’t move the needle anywhere. Pushing out platitudes that solve nothing and talk about philosophy. If being a libertarian means you help your neighbors in need, I don’t see it. I see leftist communities doing that more than any libertarian. One of the nicknames I have for the libertarian brand of centrism that I’ve observed is “militant centrism”. Basically people arguing to keep things the way they were and rejecting ideas that would strive to change society to benefit a wider array of people and not just themselves.
Sorry to hear that they initiated the end of the friendship. I disagree that there’s “no way” for libertarians and liberals to be friends still. Libertarianism doesn’t mean “super right wing” like some people think - it means small federal government and strong, but also small local government. The ideas are more about it being your own personal responsibility to take care of a neighbor in need, not the government’s. Not saying that this is right or wrong to believe in, but I do see that there are arguments to be made in favor and against this idealogy.
My friend and I have been friends for a while. I’ve seen myself as fairly centrist but lately voting more liberal. He’s seen himself as libertarian and seems to always vote right. We have interesting conversations about politics and philosphy, but we also don’t let it get in the way of enjoying games and hobbies outside of politics.
My experience as a leftist with libertarians in the US is that they are selfish. Every libertarian I’ve known has been privileged enough to hold views that benefit them and leave other more vulnerable citizens in the wake of it all. They sit back and wax poetic about Jordan Peterson and come to conclusions that don’t move the needle anywhere. Pushing out platitudes that solve nothing and talk about philosophy. If being a libertarian means you help your neighbors in need, I don’t see it. I see leftist communities doing that more than any libertarian. One of the nicknames I have for the libertarian brand of centrism that I’ve observed is “militant centrism”. Basically people arguing to keep things the way they were and rejecting ideas that would strive to change society to benefit a wider array of people and not just themselves.