Hey, thanks! I really appreciate an in-depth explanation of what Libertarianism means to you and probably many. It doesn't surprise me that a movement can be distorted as it gains a following and that a very loud portion can only further create an image that doesn't truly represent its cause. I also appreciate the addition of a real-world example to take a look at. I'm always interested in learning more and you've done a great job encouraging me to do so

I see society as a relationship that requires a certain give and take. To make sacrifices for it and those within it and gain the advantage and services it provides.

I think we can easily agree on that something needs to be fixed currently and we want change. Just completely different views. I would absolutely love to be proved wrong if it created a better life for all, in which I'd gladly embrace whatever shape it took. Again, have a good day, it's been an enriching discussion.

I love how you can translate "I want the best for everyone" and call that selfish. It's honestly a really shallow attempt at taking something out of context to try to discredit an argument that explicitly states the opposite. But you do you, man. Vaccines aren't a personal choice simply because you live around others and your defiance of health and safety standards puts others at risk. IE it's selfish and does a disservice to those around you. Now, if you lived alone, completely isolated from society, I would have no qualms with that choice. We don't allow for people to set their houses on fire because it has the potential to harm others and their property, not due to a lack of freedom and personal choice.

I don't want control over others, I want a society that wants to work together to be the best it can. I don't think it's healthy for a large, sophisticated, and extremely complicated network of people, businesses, and services to only care for themselves, especially at the expense of others.

But I understand the fears of a large entity that controls it all, it's obviously faltering in many key aspects. Doesn't mean we should destroy it and return to human's previous state of individualism and tribalism. We only achieve what we have as humans because our societies that continue to grow as we do culturally.

We can balance control/power with accountability and creating a system that keeps it in check. We currently have systems that try to do that, although, again, it's far from perfect and something that needs to be worked on, not completely abolished. I appreciate your arguments and assumptions about my politics and wish you the best. Cheers.

I don't want individuals to thrive alone. I want the best for everyone. I'm willing to sacrifice personally for the betterment of everyone. If you can't stay healthy indoors, that's a personal choice decided by the individual, a notion that should be appreciated by libertarians. No one's forcing you to stuff your face with food and to not find new avenues for exercise during a time where information is readily available and often free. In fact, if libertarians had their way, highly addictive, obesity-causing food would be even more popular than it is currently. Libertarians want freedom of choice and addiction comes easy. Those options put freedom in front of everything and it comes at a cost for everyone within the society, regardless of how much you try to ignore it and focus on yourself. Power comes from your vote, that's the proper way to make the change you want to see. Putting individual freedoms over everything else is a great way to allow the selfish to live more carefree and create a society that only serves those with means. I want a more empathetic, caring government. Not one that puts me, myself, and I as the only thing I should care about. I want to help others if I have the means and I want more of that from our government.

Why are our individual rights above the health of the general public? How is wearing a mask and adhering to health precautions for your country any different than serving it any other way? Why put your own comfort over the lives of your fellow country people? That's not even to mention the stress and money wasted going to hospitalizing those inflicted who likely won't have the proper insurance coverage to pay those bills themselves? Why is the government regulation so scary when free roaming capitalism has created horrendous working conditions and a larger wealth dispairty than we've seen in our lifetimes? We need a government, just a better one. The last thing we need is more libertarians telling us to worry about ourselves and ourselves alone when no great society ever succeeded with that mentality.