[quote name='fatherofcaitlyn']Less than 1% of the population. Maybe less than 25% of the population.
If one group of people is trying to control or is controlling another group of people for no obvious positive reason, that might be enough.
For example, Group A stops Group B from shitting in Group A's water supply is a good reason to exert control. However, Group A destroying Group B's houses because Group B used the wrong color of paint doesn't sound like a good reason.
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I think this is a good point, but doesn't our government have a system of checks and balances within the different branches to prevent one group from controlling another?
I believe the 3 branches were established to limit the power of the federal government and give the states and citizens a proper voice. Do you think it works?
Cited in Liberty and Tyranny, James Madison wrote in Federalist 51
"In framing a government which is to be administered by men over men, the great difficulty lies in this: you must first enable the government to control the governed; and in the next place oblige it to control itself. A dependence on the people is, no doubt, the primary control on the government; but experience has taught mankind the necessity of auxiliary precautions." Just a quote that I liked.
[quote name='fatherofcaitlyn']Conservatism isn't really about smaller government. They're pushing towards a consumerist theocracy. You know, "one nation under God" and big business. Libertarianism is about smaller government, but that "party" has no real power and never will unless there is a major decentralizing event in this country.[/QUOTE]
I'm not really familiar with Libertarianism, but aren't some of the core beliefs in line with the rights outlined in the Declaration of Independance? Individual rights and small government sound like conservative values to me, however are they being implemented today? That is debatable.