re: If someone tells you they’re a Libertarian

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The argument against the death penalty that makes sense is that it's permanent. If we screw up and put an innocent guy in jail, there's still a chance the truth can come out and we can at least offer compensation and attempt to make it right. If they're dead and they get exonerated then there's no remedy.

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I assume — and I assume Ron Paul assumes — it is a priori knowledge that the death penalty is permanent. And unlike my response above, the rest of your post is nothing but a massive straw man argument.

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And unlike my response above, the rest of your post is nothing but a massive straw man argument.

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Do you understand what a straw man is? I used Ron Paul's own words.

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Anarchy is the most pure form of freedom

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Incorrect. You are not free if you're in a state of Anarchy. In a state of Anarchy there is no organized body to enforce contractual obligations, no one there to provide security against foreign invasion, no organized militias or government law enforcement or judiciary to protect and administer Justice.

No, Anarchy is not freedom.

“Government is instituted to protect property of every sort; as well that which lies in the various rights of individuals, as that which the term particularly expresses. This being the end of government, that alone is a just government which impartially secures to every man whatever is his own.” – James Madison,

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I ask them questions.

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If more people did this, it would solve so many of today's problems.

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An argument stressing the possibility of government error in administering the death penalty is a perfectly lucid and reasonable argument against capital punishment in and of itself.

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I don’t disagree, but it’s also an argument against fines, imprisonment and any other punitive action the government takes. If Paul doesn’t have a problem with all of those then he’s inconsistent and his larger philosophical context fails. “The government is fallible when it restricts our rights so it should never be allowed to restrict our rights” is a recipe for anarchy, not libertarianism or small government.

If you’re paying attention, you can only be libertarian. Government at all levels is enormously too big. The government owns more than a quarter of the land in this country. The government owns your income. The government determines how you should live your life. It doesn’t matter which party is in power, they both play to the same interests.

I’ve voted L in numerous statewide elections and will continue to. Usually when it’s a RINO that I really don’t like. I voted for a number of democrats in the 90s an 00s that were blue dog.

I’m probably pretty L at heart but I can’t get behind their abortion and immigration policy to vote for one at the national level.

The R party has issues aplenty but I can’t vote for a D in today’s age.

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Replace never with only when necessary.

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I agree, but then people have very different ideas about what "necessary" means. A lot of people think universal health care is "necessary", unfortunately.

Libertarianism properly understood is just government on a continuum, let's say somewhere between anarchy and traditional conservatives. That probably describes a lot, if not a majority of this forum. It describes me, but I recognize that's a huge chunk of political real estate and people within it will still disagree on issues.

Libertarianism as it's frequently sold by the "you want to enforce values and we don't" crowd doesn't exist, has never existed and probably can't exist on any sort of scale larger than Mayberry. And if it did it would STILL force certain values on the majority on the minority, whether they admit it or not.

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Because those libertarians believe the State should not have a legal sanction to kill and see opposition to the death penalty as part of a consistent pro-life and pro-liberty position.

Ron Paul: The Death Penalty Is The The Ultimate Corrupt, Big Government Program

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Ron Paul is wrong. Badly so. Libertarianism is not disorganized anarchism. Government is expected to intercede in order to preserve individual rights. That expectation correlates to preemptive deterrence.

I have no problem with an extremely high standard of proof required in death sentence cases. However, some crimes demand death as a consequence. (Warning: Do not open that link unless you're ready to be nauseated)