Since other blogs have chimed in on this subject, I will weigh in on it too. Kos has written an rationalization for libertarians to work inside the Democratic party. Since the Democrats are out of power, they will be hungry for fresh, radical ideas to get them back into power. But that is all they will use them for.
While I can appreciate someone trying to be a 'virus inside' the Democrats, similar to how the R.L.C. tried to be a vehicle for libertarianism in the Republican party, ultimately, both parties exist to obtain and maintain one thing and one thing alone: power. Until the mercantilist power structures in place are brought to an abrupt halt or collapse in this country, liberty will not be realized and anyone attempting to try to influence one of the 2 major parties may make some progress but it will not be enough to change the culture of the party itself since the Republicans and Democrats are heavily tied to the state one way or another.
I can speak from experience on this since I was a Republican for 4 years starting in 1994 and saw how the Arizona Republican party was not committed to Barry Goldwater's vision of limited government and individual liberty. In 1998 I switched to the Libertarian Party since I came to the healthy conclusion that neither of the two parties would do anything to preserve our liberties. I had been active in Democratic politics from 1992 to 1994 and had been a registered Democrat when eligible to vote at 18 years old.
While the idea of influencing the Republicans or Democrats is a great idea in theory, in practice it does not work. The true home for libertarians is the Libertarian Party and it is the best vehicle to further liberty.
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Subscribe to:
Post Comments (Atom)
6 comments:
Interesting to see right and left try to claim libertarians as their own. It's quite a song and dance routine to at once praise libertarian philosophy and trash the Libertarian Party.
But I like the fact that they are fighting over us. It draws much needed attention to our policy ideas while acknowledging us as the good.
The LP now has the challenge and opportunity of demolishing the Wasted Vote Syndrome myth for once and for all, and drawing libertarians were they belong- in the Libertarian Party.
On the topic of Democrats, I'll be attending the regular Thursday meeting of Drinking Liberally at My Florists Cafe at 534 West McDowell Road, Phoenix, AZ. It starts at 5:30 PM. I will, as Ernest Hancock puts it, be doing my bit to provide a Libertarian injection into the bone marrow of Arizona politics, one conversation at a time.
I find it most irritating that the two big parties fall back to the Libertarian Party and libertarian principles only after they get in trouble with their respective bases. It reminds me of the Christian who only goes to church after he/she has really screwed up his life and needs their help in putting the pieces back together. Its almost like libertarianism is the one true religion while conservatism and liberalism are hybrid offshoots--both being characterized as more liberal with an individual's rights, liberties, and property when it comes to state's control over them.
I don’t agree that the "true home" for libertarians is the Libertarian Party. Most people seem to think that the only way to change society is through political means, i.e., through party politics. That only shows that most of us are addicted to politics. What is needed for a free society is the elimination of political influences on our lives. Politicization of decision-making in all areas of life is the collectivist way of running a society.
Joining the Libertarian Party is joining the political process. As in all parties, the end result will be political careerism and political deal-making. Capital-L Libertarians are not necessarily different from any other political operatives. They are subject to (and many will acquiesce in) the pressures on all politicians to keep their jobs and take money for favors.
Relying on the political process to free us from the corrupting and anti-liberty consequences of the political process is a fundamental mistake and a contradiction of libertarian principles.
Mark,
I do not think that the only way to change things is through electoral politics. It is clear that voting with ones dollars is more effective than voting at the ballot box.
Electoral politics is one of many mediums to further freedom. I happen to be one of the libertarians that is into electoral politics as an interest.
I have no doubt that there would be some Libertarians who would bend their principles in the name of expediency. Fortunately, it seems the pragmatists who hold this view seem to be wanning in their influence in the libertarian movement.
That being said, I think that the movement (especially the LP) will become more radical as time goes by.
Well, Mike Kole, in a way I hope you are right. However, as long as the Rs and Ds dominate the political process in this country, I believe that they have little incentive to change registrations but have a bigger incentive to vote Libertarian when the time comes. Best of luck on your campaign.
Post a Comment