Topic: Libertarianism
How Do We Stay Together If Ron Paul Loses? I need to disagree with two of my friends on the future course for Libertarians. I want to tell my other friends why, and get your responsby rtbohan
(Libertarian)
Thursday, February 7, 2008
Gary Wood, on Nolan Chart, has raised this question, which has concerned me. He discusses several possibilities and gives his preferred solution and his reasons for choosing it. MultimediaMonitor has published his response, which illustrates the reason I disagree with his position as well as Gary's.
I have raised the same question in some of earlier articles, and stressed, as they do, the need for keeping the movement alive even if it suffers a set-back at the Republican convention.
Libertarians, on the whole, are not joiners. Multimediamonitor's article shows why. He says that he will count any person who reads his article as a "Thumbs Up" for his position. I read far enough to see that and stopped, but I assume I will be counted among his supporters even though I do not know his recommendation.
Anyone who has joined an organization which does any lobbying or takes public positions on anything knows the feeling. The AARP, for example, lobbies the Congress for legislation which many, if not most, seniors do not support and alsways states its fictitious membership rolls as proof that seniors support the position. Labor Unions, business organizations and others do the same thing. If the Paul movement converts itself into too tight an organization, at some point most of us will be saying "They said THAT?" OF "They support HIM?: or "They gave my money to THAT Bozo?"
Gary Wood has written a well reasoned article suggesting various choices for the future of the movement. He gives his reasons for rejecting most of them and makes his own proposal. I will not rehash his positions here, but urge you to read his article and see what you think.
I agree with his position in rejecting most of the possibilities. I agree, as I have said before, that the movement should be kept going. The problem with the transformation is that every organization, no matter how democratic in form or intent, comes to be run by an oligarchy. This happens, not because of conspiracy of by coup, but simply because in any organization the individual members decide how many of their personal resources they choose to invest in the organization. Those who devote more of their time, their talent, their money and their energy to it become a self perpetuating group running and speaking for the organization.
Because the leadership has decided to dedicate its resources to the organization, most members do not mind letting other people do the work. But it is in the nature of oligarchies that in addition to promoting the interests of the group they have personal interests to promote and begin to trade off the members interests for their own. After that it is a short step to basically selling the membershp to support measures which may be against the interest of the members but of benefit to the members of the oligarchy.
I think that what we need is simply a method of keeping in touch with each other, sharing ideas, suggesting actions that might be taken or not taken by individeal members, or using the communications network to organize a large scal campaig for a condidate of program which may advance the cause. To some extent this is exactly what the Paul campaign is based on, and I think it is mainly a matter of keeping this sort of ad hoc organization going that needs to be done. A libertarian commuications network which would have a directory, include Nolan Chart, the proposed Hearmythunder internet radio station and such ofhter libertarian sites as are available. and want to participate.
Leave a Thumb if you are inclined.
Read Gary's article
Leave a comment either on this column or on Gary's if you agree or disagree with either of us.
Better still, write a column on your view of the future
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2008 rtbohan, all rights reserved.
Published: Thursday, February 7, 2008
Last modified: Thursday, February 7, 2008
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Posted By: patrick henry
Date: 2008-02-07 15:50:51
I concur 100% and here is what I have been proposing. The network is already established. Send your name and email to the ron paul campaign, this is our central database. I am currently working on a LIBERTY tree website to accomplish this further. We need to keep all this info and all of these people contected. This is how we are gonna win back Congress in 2010. Dont give up hope, this is jus the begining. If we gave up after New York fell we would all be royal subjects and FREEDOM and self governance would never have existed. PLEASE keep up the fight our FREEDOM loving citizens and our children deserve nothing less. Get invovled, write your congressman or woman, call them on socialist votes and let them know we wont tolerate further decay of the REPUBLIC.
LIBERTY or DEATH
I agree. All democratic organizations eventually end with an oligarchy at the top.
For more than forty years I have been a happy member of a monolithic organization. But I have always had the right to choose to donate or participate. This organization simply offers up a monthly agenda and provides tools and strategies for accomplishing tasks.
This organization was fighting The Fed decades ago. This organization was fighting against war when our soldiers were dying in South-East Asia. This organization was inviting Ron Paul to speak at its meetings ten, twenty and thirty years ago.
This organization was vilified, marginalized beginning in the sixties when its members got Barry Goldwater the Republican nomination and helped to create enough understanding to see Barry win 27,000,000 votes.
And today, members of this organization are the leaders of many of the meet-ups. Members of this organization have given many of you copies of THE NEW AMERICAN magazine devoted to the NAU.
Of course, I'm talking about THE JOHN BIRCH SOCIETY. We have been keeping the revolution alive for five decades. Check us out at JBS.org.
Oh, and I am an automatic monthly donor to The Libertarian Party, DownsizeDC, FREE and The Liberty Committee. There are already enough organizations. But, year-in and year-out, The John Birch Society has always been out front.
Bit2Right, are you here promoting the Birchers again? You keep that up and I'm gonna have to investigate it further and you know you guys don't want my loud mouth running about your quiet little society! ;0)
A loose organization as proposed here rtbohan could work. It won't have the clout on the hill but your point on eventual oligarchy rule corrupting things is well taken, look at congress and our country. Patrick Henry is already working on something which sounds good. An involvement in a society like JBS may well be good. I'm open for anything that doesn't splinter the organization over dag~nab party politics and I see it happening and I'm really nervous about it! Anything is better than trying to work through a political party, IMHO.
One note, Mike Foster let it us know in a reply to my article (thanks for the plug on that and the upcoming Thunder Radio's March of Liberty BTW) that Ron Paul has established the Liberty PAC. He's the honorary chairman. From his Liberty PAC website, 'Liberty PAC is a political action committee dedicated to electing pro-Free Enterprise, pro-Liberty, and pro-Constitutional candidates to federal and state offices.' I've contacted his offices to see what his plans are for this PAC. If that is where he is going to rally us I'll be there. Let's save the party for celebrating liberty's restoration victory!!
What we don't need is another organization! I'm happy with the Birch Society - have been for years. But perhaps it is not for everyone - e.g. McCain supporters.
I'm for people staying active. It will be a long fight. Even if Ron were to become President, the fight will go on. Some dude called it eternal vigilance.
The internet by itself can keep people involved. Activities can be proposed. Meeting places can be suggested. All sorts of ad hoc activity without bosses. Those offering the best ideas, the best leadership will win followers - from time-to-time.
But if you want an agenda for action today - JBS.org might just be your thing. It's mine.
But, friends, whatever you do, don't expect anything from a group where you vote! While voting is necessary, it is why we can never look to the Libertarian Party for leadership. They can only supply candidates and hold a place on the ballot. And we need to help them to do just that.
Congress is the key: Read my article THE 5TH OF NOVEMBER . . . 2008 right here at nolanchart.
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2008 rtbohan, all rights reserved.