Topic: Social and Cultural Issues
The Libertarian Freeman Revolution What is the prognosis for the current freedom enthusiasts? Can the movement last, or is it just a passing social phase? Will statist government assimilate the fervor and drive of modern freeman activists? Or can it persevere past entrenched attitudes and old school politics.by Gary Trieste
(Libertarian)
Monday, January 21, 2008
A recent Ron Paul blogger wrote of the freedom movement:
"Relax, even if Ron Paul doesn't win, this is only the begining....Remember this raging fire (truth, liberty, freedom, etc..) that burns inside of us only started with a spark. Now no one can stop it from growing..... "
I truly hope this is true. I remember the burning passion and conviction of positive revolution for the future, occurring 1966 to 1976 and epitomized/embodied by the Whole Earth Catalog's forward thinking societal prognosis. But then it seemingly just fizzled - the communes disbanded (except for the rigid, top-down regimented ones), the love-thy-brother everybody-get-together attitude turned into the me decade, the idealism and optimistic futurism of social activists turned into cynical statists still masquerading as alternative-type posers, the techno-hippies got subsumed into the corporate world and melded into it - their individuality and personal scintillation muted and turned into drones of the system. We were beaten down not by head-to-head confrontation with the Man, which we were prepared for, but rather by empty compromise and inexorable assimilation. On the other hand, this social revolution (Ron Paul/libertarian,anti-statist freedom), although IS a bit different, also has similarities. If we aren't aware historically how the 60's movements were eventually quelled, so may this one be as well. This revolution may be a bit more durable insofar that there are objective, well articulated principles that drive us, whereas the 60's movements were a hodgepodge of feel-good self-governmental utopian theories, populated by many non-ideologically driven participants, mainly there for the "good-vibes", who did not vote or interact much with "straight" society.
The current statist government will have a tougher time stamping down this revolution because the adherents have a well-defined durable ideological basis, and their positions are grounded as active participants in mainstream society (ie, productive workers and taxpaying voters).
Of course then there are always the old-fashioned heavy-handed methods of stamping out revolutionaries, by storm trooper raids, property seizures, imprisonment and character assassination; or maybe real assasinations if the targets are preeminent enough. All the statist government would need do, is cast the current swath of libertarians as real treasonous overthrow-the-government type deviants, much as anarchists of the early 1900's or communists of the 1950's were so characterized in mainstream society. It might not take much of a leap of propaganda to convince the average everyman that this new generation of "freedom fighters" are actually dangerous domestic terrorists. And from there it would be easy to ask the indicting question "Are you now, or have you ever been a member of the Libertarian Party" at Congressional inquests.
These eventualities are very real, as no government likes fundamental change, especially when it means returning power to the governed. But assimilation and superficial compromise might just tamp down our outrage and fervor as well, unless we are careful to place true libertarian ideologues in positions of governmental authority. If we accept changling politicians who merely promise libertarian change, our movement may well fade similarly by attrition.
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2008 Gary Trieste, all rights reserved.
Published: Monday, January 21, 2008
Last modified: Wednesday, May 28, 2008
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A recent Ron Paul blogger wrote of the freedom movement:
2008 Gary Trieste, all rights reserved.