[jnbiche]

After a lifetime of considering myself a "civil libertarian" liberal, I've also recently come to identify as left libertarian, although I'm pretty sympathetic any thinking libertarian (cue the insults...3 2 1).

Anyway, do you know of any good Internet communities for left libertarians? IRC, message boards, blogs, etc?

[protomyth]

It's pretty hard to label yourself since the labels seem to move faster than any of my beliefs have changed. Hell, saying your a member of a party isn't good enough given some of the conflicts between the "leadership" and the rank & file.

no insults and no idea where to find people.

[jnbiche]

Sorry, I didn't mean to imply the insults would come from you. Rather, I was expecting I would get the typical "thinking libertarian is an oxymoron" insult that I see everywhere these days from a random commenter. Apologies for making an ambiguous statement.

Agree that labels aren't always the most helpful, but absent a better system, seeking ideas and kinship with those of similar political beliefs is still a good thing overall, IMHO.

[protomyth]

"Sorry, I didn't mean to imply the insults would come from you."

Didn't think you did, I just was pointing out I intended none just as I failed to provide a reference for where to find a group / organization meeting your needs.

"Agree that labels aren't always the most helpful, but absent a better system, seeking ideas and kinship with those of similar political beliefs is still a good thing overall, IMHO."

Oh, I don't disagree with that, words act as banners to organize. It is just that labels seem to morph. Back in the day, writing a grant to the government that had certain words that worked 5 years before would be an auto reject. Its like fashion, except I have no clue how the words get drifted.

Currently, depending on company, I could go with the label "classically liberal capitalist" or "tea party republican". Of course, the problem with the later is the assumptions one makes based on what you've "heard" as opposed to what I and others actually believe. This seems to mirror your experience with "thinking libertarian is an oxymoron" insult for Libertarian.

The defense seems to be adding words or conditions that make people try to figure out the changed definition. I would bet you've heard the "I'm a little l libertarian". To which people go "uhm, explain that?!?".

Words come out and sometimes back into fashion. Opponents of a belief heap added (mostly untrue generally derogatory) meaning on a word until the definition changes. Then people get tired of defending that word and pick a new one to define them. I know its happened with Occupy and the Tea Party.