Many Libertarians seem to believe that the world will one day wake up libertarian, without election victories or media coverage. What hogwash! by Ron Bain
(libertarian)
Friday, October 24, 2008
Most of the Libertarians I know are non-religious atheists or agnostics, but I find that an amazing number of the party faithful display an almost worshipful faith in what I like to call the Libertarian 'Poof!' Theory.
This is derived from my pet name for the Judeo-Christian creation myth, which postulates that a God of mysterious origins takes a bunch of nothingness and "Poof!' - makes the material universe appear like a magician's trick.
Usually rational and skeptical Libertarians, however, will insist that the only thing we have to do is maintain party 'purity' and suddenly - 'Poof!' - the world will wake up one day libertarian: personally responsible, respectful of others' rights, unwilling to accept largesse from other taxpayers, hostile to demagoguery and war, never initiating force.
No need to win elections, no need to walk precincts, no need to break through with the media, no need to learn public relations, no need to recruit and train quality candidates, no need to master the art of persuasion - just 'Poof!' and the world will absorb pure libertarianism through some sort of psychic osmosis.
What utter and complete hogwash!
It's going to take hard work, people! There is no easy path to freedom, there is no silver bullet and there's certainly no magic genie that's going to simultaneously touch everyone in the world on the forehead and turn all into libertarians!
Our presidential campaigns represent us to the entire nation. What purpose does an invisible presidential campaign serve when there's no media coverage, no crowds at speeches, no yard signs, no bumper stickers, no sign at all of the existence of the Libertarian candidate?
None whatsoever, I tell you!
Why did I ultimately vote to support the nomination of Bob Barr, a man I basically dislike, in Denver last May? Because I knew a Barr candidacy would draw media attention to the Libertarian cause. CNN was there at the convention to interview Barr the moment he was nominated! Glenn Beck! The Colbert Report! PBS! NBC! They've all covered the Barr candidacy!
What will America remember about the Barr candidacy? Not much. Just that he opposed the bailout, the Iraq war, the Patriot Act, more taxes, the war on marijuana and Barack Obama. They won't remember that he's not a perfectly pure Libertarian because they do not know what a perfectly pure Libertarian is. Nor does the American public care what the Libertarian Purity Police think of their own candidate, because guess what?
Typical of the Libertarians who worship purity and the 'Poof!' theory, the Libertarian Purity Police do not know how to convey a persuasive message to the membership or the public. All they know how to do is rant in obscure e-mail chat rooms and blogger feedback forums against the impure blasphemers...
Meanwhile, people who believe in pragmatism and gradualism that the American electorate will actually vote for ARE taking over the party, much to the chagrin of the Libertarian Purity Police.
Again, the LPP should either gear up for the education and assimilation of all the new, incoming Libertarians or else join the Objectivists or the Society for Individual Liberty or some other ivory tower group that likes to sit around and speculate about "How nice it would be if only people would..."
The Libertarian 'Poof!' Theory is disproven and debunked every four years. How many times do we have to run invisible, no-name, no-media, anonymous, generic presidential candidates before people learn that it simply doesn't work and is a waste of time and money?
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Posted By: Jake, the champion of the constitution
Date: 2008-10-24 21:15:10
"What will America remember about the Barr candidacy? Not much. Just that he opposed the bailout, the Iraq war, the Patriot Act, more taxes, the war on marijuana and Barack Obama."
Umm, I am pretty sure most Americans have no idea who Bob Barr is, or where he stands on the issues. Or how badly he has run his campaign, which is probably a good thing for the LP.
Other than that no disagreements based on my understandings of the LP. Check you later! Poof!
Members of the Libertarian Party (at least those who opposed Bob Barr's takeover); it is time to get out, and admit that your party has been changed for ever!
The hard-core statists, like Bob Barra or Ron Bain, took over your party. They do think you are a bunch of dummies; Ron Bains insults you article after article. Bob Barr thinks that Ron Paul is a old morron and proved it brillantly by snubbing him.
But why is this bag of political opportunits after you with their cheap arguments ("You spoof", "afraid to win...")? Even my stockbroker is more subtle. What are those conservative activists doing with the Libertarian party?
Of yeah, you've got, well you had, one of the few clean political brands. Meaning that is had not been soiled by the political ideas of Bob Barr, Ron Bain and all the conservatives who cannot stand themselves as member of the Republican Party (with good reasons) but are ready to enforce the same policies under a different banner. They did not have the courage to fight inside their party, so they found an easy prey to give another leg to their adventures.
The trick is to have you forget your principles and your ideas in order to achieve political victory. Who cares what you think or say, so long you get the votes! Government always needs new outfit to commit its crimes.
Ron Bain, enjoy your Libertarian party; let's see how long it takes to have it as corrupt as the Republican or Democratic Parties.
Most Americans aren't ready for Libertarian ideals. Most of them either want free stuff from government or they want our military to kick the hell out of somebody. Ideas like freedom and constitutional government just don't appeal to them. The possibility of America becomming either a socialist tyranny or a fascist tyranny just doesn't register with them. They will not believe that it is happening already and they have no clue as to how horrible it could become. They will have to experience it first hand to understand. Maybe then they'll be ready for a return to constitutional government... maybe. Let's hope it's not too late when they finally wake up.
Ron, your analysis of the situation is correct, and detractors will merely say that you're confusing a group of adults playing "make believe" politics (a game which they enjoy) with serious efforts for electoral success. However, Barr will not bring into the fold people that want to be educated. Conservatives will not "poof" change into libertarians for running Barr.
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