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This article, first published ... Winter 1980.... "LIBERTARIANISM is the fastest growing political creed in America today."

Hmmmm...published over 21 years ago, and a lot of socialists later--what's happened to that fast growth? (and I say that as (small L) libertarian myself). I think a lot of folks with libertarian ideas have a large gap between their head and their heart! The drug war is a case in point...

Hmmmm...published over 21 years ago, and a lot of socialists later--what's happened to that fast growth?

I found that rather funny too. For 20 years the Libertarians have been stuck at between 0.5-1.0% of the vote. I would hate to see how the slowest growing political party is doing.

I liked this article even though it came from LewRockwell.com, because it predates Lew by about twenty years. I am a Libertarian and a libertarian. The strongest criticism of the LP comes from within. I vote for Republicans and for Libertarians, depending on the circumstances.

For people who wonder what small-L or big-L means, it's a way of identifying yourself as having that political leaning, without buying it hook line and sinker. How many Republicans or Democrats agree with every platform plank down to the letter? Some things go too far, other things don't go far enough. Everyone has their pet issues and divergance from party orthodoxy. The problems with the Libertarian Party is that there is intolerance for moderates.

This is why the Libertarian Party is self defeating. I consider myself a moderate by Libertarian standards. I don't agree with all of the platform planks of the LP platform, though I agree with good portions of it. For my heresy, I am told that I am not a "real" libertarian. Poppycock. Blaming the LP's failure on election law and media inclusion only goes so far. Ultimately you have to take responsibility for your success and failures. My point goes like this: If we are all individuals, aren't we all going to be different? Why have a litmus test to make us conform. It's hypocritical and self-defeating. It's hypocritical because the political philosophy demands tolerance, but many in the party are intolerant of people who aren't "pure." It's self-defeating because the party is not going to grow if people aren't encouraged to join, and people aren't encouraged to join if you tell them they aren't "pure" enough to be a "real" libertarian.

Now, not everybody is like this, but enough people are this way to be a turn off. I am taking a long, hard look at the Republican Liberty Caucus, and might even drive to La Grange to see what they're about.