Is the American public ready to accept the consequences of freedom and liberty, or do they just want to make a lot of noise? by Raven West
(libertarian)
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Now that the street sweepers across the country have 86'd the signs and banners leftover from the tax-day tea parties, one is left to ask the unanswered question: what would have happened if anything had actually happened?
Yes, seeing a few thousand people dressed up as revolutionaries, a costumed Thomas Paine on YouTube, and the like was entertaining, but at the same time totally ineffective and completely forgotten on April 16, 2009. Much in the same way that the national excitement of Ron Paul’s Revolution which was fun to watch but was never able to translate into actual votes, or even a close third place finish.
In the most Liberty minded state, New Hampshire, with its motto of Live Free or Die, Paul came in 5th place with just over 18,000 votes, less than 9% of the total. Even though he ran as a Republican, his message was definitely Libertarian. At the very least, his campaign should have launched a surge in the number of registered voters in the Libertarian Party with the result of propelling Libertarian candidates into office across the country. But, as in past elections, not one Libertarian was elected to, or has ever been elected to any Congressional seat in the more than three decades since David Nolan founded the LP.
One could always blame the results on media’s lack of coverage of third parties, but with the increasing influence of the Internet and recent influx of political cable coverage, that doesn’t seem to be the case. One would think that those who were advocates of Liberty who consider themselves revolutionaries, would jump off the Republican and Democrat band wagons and race to join the Party of Principle. Libertarians who could actually work for freedom from Government that everyone publically claims to want and yet in the privacy of the voting booth, chicken out and vote the party line.
I use the term chicken because in spite of decades of political dissent, at the end of the day true freedom and liberty is a very frightening concept. Freedom means not only individual Liberty, but also individual responsibility as well.
Those of us who have raised, or have been teenagers at some time in our lives, have revolted against parental authority, yet once we leave home and enter the world of adulthood, most fail miserably. In many cases, we find that having rules and structure in our lives, even those we revolt against and do not wish to obey, is much easier than having none at all. Freedom is a frightening concept. For a majority of individuals, it is easier to be a follower than a leader, and while some may disagree with the course that leader chooses to take, few would chose to leave the flock and go off on their own.
The idiom 'better the devil you know than the devil you don't' means that it is often better to deal with someone or something you are familiar with and know, even if they are not ideal, than take a risk with an unknown person or thing. And although most know the definition of liberty few are comfortable with the actual concept.
So it’s no great mystery that while we all were entertained by the Ron Paul revolution, his campaign’s money bombs, the huge banners and supporters, when the smoke cleared and the votes were counted, the devils we knew of the Democrats and Republicans were elected in record numbers in every major race.
A true revolution comes about when people not only have something to fight against, but something to fight for and a solid plan to achieve that objective. After the last signature dried on the Declaration of Independence, I’m sure a small voice in the back of the room whispered; What do we do now?
After the Civil War was over and the slaves were freed, I’m certain there were more than a few voices in the cotton fields who also wondered what do we do now?
Liberty and freedom from taxes and government intrusion can only be achieved when there is an alternative in place. If we reduce or even eliminate taxes altogether, what is the plan to pay for those services the taxes pay for? If the Campaign for Liberty achieves its goal, and we are all set free by oppressive government laws, the masses will cry out What do we do now? and the response will be silence.
Until there is an intelligent and realistic answer to that question, and individuals who have the strength and the courage to not only lead, but to inspire voters to follow, all the cries for revolution will never be much more than noise and an occasional sound bite on Fox news.
Until the American public is willing to accept the responsibility that comes with true liberty we will only have the devils we know and the government we have.
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This is an excellent question that every American needs to ask of themselves while looking in the mirror or at a picture of their children. I am afraid that currently the answer for a large number is in the negative.
Concerning Ron Paul, I agree with you that his message was libertarian but that (R) by his name prevented millions for even considering his message. I am surrounded by friends and neighbors who would vote for Satan if there was a (D) after his name, and vise-versa. Would Paul have gleaned more votes with an (L)? Maybe...
"A true revolution comes about when people not only have something to fight against, but something to fight for and a solid plan to achieve that objective. " - This is both poetry and the gospel and should be memorized by every American.
Posted By: Jahfre Fire Eater
Date: 2009-04-23 06:57:43
Hi Raven West,
I liked your article even though I chaff at it's starting with the arbitrary constraint of an either/or question.
A certain kind of person will always seek comfort in herds, courage in mobs and persuasion through the use of force and fraud. Another kind will refuse to be associated with anyone who does those things. The bell curve is shaped by everyone in between. The art of social engineering is to refine tactics and institutions so that over time there are more people who exhibit easy to manipulate herd behavior. This isn't a master plan or a multi-generational consipiracy of evil progressives. It is just the way people are.
Americans of voting age today are the product of a century of socialist indoctrination. As children they are shaped and molded into the liberal mind-set. They are taught to conform, to behave in herds and to act in mass futility. From the pledge of allegiance to pep-rallies, sporting events, television and for some, college, Americans are constantly influenced into accepting and ultimately defending and participating in the liberal paradigm.
Children are turned into liberal zombies a decade before they have any thought about party affiliation. By they time they choose a political party, most are firmly liberal in their behavior and priorities. It doesn't matter if they choose an R, D, L, G or I they mostly do so based on their liberal indoctrination into the way of the herd.
The only reason to join any party is to influence and shape the candidates who will be elected. This is the primary reason why joining any party other than R or D is an act of political self-marginalization. If you do not participate in the R or D primary elections and in the party officer elections for those two parties you may as well be a couch potato because your political efforts are moot. You have abandoned the most powerful and effective tools for shaping and electing candidates to the enemies of liberty.
It is my practice to avoid like the plague anyone who is mooing a mantra of evangelical individualism from amongst the safety of their chosen herd.
LP members are so thin skinned when it comes to hearing another herd mooing a different mantra that they abandoned their political power to their enemies just so they can moo in unison with a herd they are comfortable in. As far as I can tell, having been libertarian myself for the past 3 decades, no member of the LP can help in the defense of individual liberty. They have each, individually, chosen to relinquish their political effectiveness for the soothing sounds of their favorite bovine choir.
The first time an LP leader decided to field a Presidential candidate rather than to promote libertarian ideals in one of the effective political parties, the libertarian movement was doomed to the margins of political futility.
No change at the top matters unless the system that creates the herd-loving individuals is deconstructed. This must happen from the local level and be pushed up as liberty defending candidates are ELECTED who can move up the political ladder. The LP's ridiculous focus on Presidential politics and the thin-skinned comfort seeking LP membership ensures this will never happen as a result of any of their efforts. What a waste. What a ridiculously self-righteous waste.
The only way to change this system is to get the liberals out of the school boards, mayoral offices, county commissioner seats, state legislatures and Governorships. This requires defenders of liberty to attend meetings where the individuals who will BE elected are speaking and campaigning. It requires their being shaped and molded through constant contact with constituents who instill in them an understanding of the value of liberty and the votes of the defenders of liberty.
Herds standing on the street corners mooing ridiculous mantras in unison is a liberal spectacle, a sign of the total defeat of the politically effective individual, nothing more. It is certainly not the manifestation of a new force for the defense of individual liberty.
I get a lot of flack for saying these things when I am under the libertarian category, but I am convinced that the majority of Americans do not want true liberty. We have almost a voting majority now in this country that pays very little to no taxes. What reason do they have to want to change anything? I think the first steps to be taken to eliminate federal income tax is a flat tax, and lets face it the people who pay very little to no taxes do not want to change anything. As much as I hate to say it I feel that the democratic party is going to be in control of things for a long time to come. Obama is not a ignorant man and I feel that he is going to grow the section of Americans that pay little to no taxes, and this section would never vote and other way but democrat.
If people wanted to be free they wouldn't flock to religion like they do in this country. People want to be controlled, no doubt in my mind.
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