Pundits constantly refer to a supposedly binary “political spectrum” with extreme conservatism on one end and extreme liberalism on the other. Often libertarians are talked about as if they fall somewhere between these two extremes.

Especially for libertarians, given the divide between hardcore libertarians and left-leaning apologists for the regime, it can be useful shorthand to talk about "right libertarians" and "left libertarians."

But this is a false paradigm. Conservatives, libertarians, and the people we now call “liberals” have three completely different views of human nature and ideas about the purpose of government. Libertarians do not fall anywhere on a "spectrum" between conservatism and liberalism. They are a completely separate philosophy.

It's true that at certain points in history - the American revolution being one - conservatives and libertarians formed alliances to defeat an external foe. But as soon as the external enemy was gone, they immediately came into conflict.

That's because the two philosophies are ultimately incompatible. The Federalist vs. Jeffersonian Republican clash was very much a conservative vs. libertarian clash.

I break down the tenets of each of these three unique ways of viewing the political world on today's episode of Tom Mullen Talks Freedom. This is one you don't want to miss!

Watch the video version of Episode 203 here...

Audio and Show Notes for Episode 203 here...

Tom Mullen is the author of It’s the Fed, Stupid and Where Do Conservatives and Liberals Come From? And What Ever Happened to Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness? 

 Tom