Posted on 06/23/2004 4:02:08 AM PDT by MikeJ75
Austin is becoming the headquarters for the Libertarian Party. The Libertarian Party selected an Austinite to run for president and several state party positions are occupied by people in Austin.
The Libertarians believe in liberty. The party platform calls for the government to get out of their lives.
"It's not the government's job to tell you how to live your life or to do things that they think are in your best interest. The only valid function of government is to protect your property," Libertarian Presidential candidate Michael Badnarik said.
Badnarik understands the odds.
"Being realistic, my job is to spread the message and make the job easier for the next presidential candidate for the Libertarian party. We can win, perhaps not in 2004, but I am advancing the message," Badnarik said.
The message is already circulating in Austin. A quick look at the national and state party shows Austin is a powerbase.
"We seem to be making great strides, primarily because of the work that's been done here in Travis County," Texas Libertarian Vice-Chair Nancy Neale said.
On Tuesday Neale was scoping out a new party headquarter office location in East Austin.
"I think it's going to do good things for our image," Neal said.
Party chairman Pat Dixon explained why Austin is generating Libertarian leaders.
"I think Austin is a very independent minded area. People don't like to be labeled as Democrats and Republicans. People are drawn to our party because we're offering independence and liberty," Dixon said.
During the party's national convention in Atlanta, Travis County sent more Libertarian delegates than almost any other area in the nation.
Badnarik will be on the ballot in the November elections in 29 states including Texas. The party is still working to get Badnarik on other state ballots as well as sharing their message.
Yeah I lived there for a few months, too liberal, too much red tape and too much unemployment
What a fringe kook. </sarcasm>
And yet not one Libertarian holds elective office in the city or county. The city is still the old liberal Democrat machine. The county is still trying to swat away the conservatives that have infested their suburbs, causing many to live in Williamson and Hays counties (both becoming strongly Republican).
AFAIK, the Libertarians exist so that folks who don't like the Republican and Democrat candidates have someone else to vote for. But they never win.
I suspect that even if Libertarians wanted to swallow their ideological pride and vote with Republicans in local elections, they still would not tip the balance of power.
I dare say Leslie the Transvestite has more visibility in Austin politics than the Libertarians do.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.