I first became aware of the libertarian party in 1972 by D.S.Harford
(libertarian)
Monday, July 28, 2008
I first became aware of the libertarian party in 1972, while living in Washington D.C.
They were running a candidate for President by the name of John Hospers who had written a book titled Libertarianism. Having read the book as well as many others on the subject, I promptly joined the Party. I was then invited to be the Washington delegate to the convention in Denver. I'm fairly sure that the only reason I was asked was due to the fact that I was probably the only Libertarian In Wash., D.C. Not being able to afford the trip; I declined.
John Hospers and his running mate Tony Nathan got under 3000 votes nation wide.
For the next few years I subscribed to Reason Magazine, Ayn Rand letters and any other publication on the subject I could find, which included numerous books, which don't need mentioning here. Needless to say I became a strong advocate of Libertarian principles.
In 1976 Roger McBride ran and the party decided to have a Media event in Wash, D.C. I was asked to man the entrance desk, which I excitedly accepted. Since I wasn't part of the elite that occupied a smaller ballroom, I sadly wasn't able to participate in all of the intellectual conversations that I'm sure was going on. However I did meet Nathanial Brandon whom I insisted that he pay the $6.00 to enter the area, at which point I was informed that he was a guest speaker. Nevertheless, smiling he graciously gave me the $6.00. At his presentation, one of the few I was able to attend, I stood next to Murray Rothbard, who made humorous remarks all of which I've forgotten.
Roger got 173,00 votes, followed by Ed Clark in 1980 getting almost a million.
Then sometime in 1983 or 1984 the party went through one of those purest intellectual arguments and since then has only gotten 300,000-400,000 votes in presidential elections and I lost interest in the politics of Libertarianism as apparently the rest of the country did, until recently.
The concepts of individual liberty has been around for a long time, with the first real taste of it during the 17th and 18th centuries in England, where a 2 house parliament was developed. The structure of England was the Monarch the House of Lords and the House of Commons. It wasn't a Libertarian society, but it was better than the Absolute rule of Kings in Spain or France. The American colonies were a natural outcrop; left to their devices that taste became a craving, leading to our Constitution and Bill of Rights. None of this happened over night. It took Centuries of intellectual arguments with it gradually being implemented into society frequently with violence. If our forefathers had sat around their Taverns doing nothing other than discussing these libertarian ideas, we would be living in an entirely different world.
Liberty is never won nor for that manner maintained in a single battle. It's done by pieces in one step at a time; sometimes winning other times losing.
The people of the United States have acquired a taste. A taste that has turned into a craving and once it is known it can't be forgotten. The Libertarian movement is a natural continuation or outcropping of this taste. Will it succeed is not the real question, but when.
I don't agree with everything Bob Barr says either. However to simply believe in natural Libertarian principles will not change anything in this country, including the direction it appears to be headed. You can not win a war in one battle. It will require years of effort and many engagements to win over the populace to Libertarian principles and its political party. A utilitarian libertarian approach is the only way to succeed, doing it at one piece at a time, picking away at its enemies, while never forgetting the ultimate end.
Bob Barr is a start, who may not win, but will send a message that many people in this country still believe in the Constitution with the Bill of Rights. He flip-flops? I hope that millions more flip-flop, especially those that vote. If you are one of those many who don't vote, then it doesn't matter whether you flip or flop.
Purest Libertarian approaches are great for intellectual discussions and providing that guiding light, but are of little use in the real world. What is right is not a question, but rather how do you achieve it.
A vote for Bob Barr is a step in the right direction or you can go back to your coffeehouse and keep discussing how many angels can fit on the head of a pin as 12th century monks did.
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