Libertarian or Libertarian?

realclearpolitics.com ^ | December 19, 2006 | Bruce Bartlett

[neverdem]

In a recent column, I discussed the disaffection of libertarians within the conservative coalition, suggesting that many might be more at home on the political left. A number of readers wrote to say that they agreed with my analysis and had left the Republican Party for the Libertarian Party. Among these is former Republican Rep. Bob Barr of Georgia, who officially joined the Libertarians last week.

Of course, people are free to do what they want to do, and if they want to join the Libertarians, that's their business. But if their goal is to actually change policy in a libertarian direction, then they are making a big mistake, in my opinion. The Libertarian Party is worse than a waste of time. I believe it has done far more to hamper the advancement of libertarian ideas and policies than it has done to advance them. In my view, it is essential for the Libertarian Party to completely disappear before libertarian ideas will again have political currency.

The basic problem with the Libertarian Party is the same problem faced by all third parties: It cannot win. The reason is that under the Constitution a candidate must win an absolute majority in the all-important Electoral College. It won't do just to have the most votes in a three- or four-way race. You have to have at least 270 electoral votes to win, period.

Theoretically, this is no barrier to third parties at the state and local level. But in practice, if a party cannot win at the presidential level, it is very unlikely to achieve success at lower levels of government. In short, the Electoral College imposes a two-party system on the country that makes it prohibitively difficult for third parties to compete.

[monday]

"SO you're saying Kerry would have been better?"

Of course not. I am saying he would be just as bad, perhaps worse, but Republicans are responsible for losing control of congress because they acted just like the Democrats when in control. The Democrats certainly didn't do anything to win it. Republicans cannot win elections unless they behave like Republicans when in office.

As for myself, I saw Kerry as Dr. evil 1 and Bush as Dr. evil 2. Whats the point in choosing between the lesser of two evils if what you end up with is still evil. The US deserves better. I seem to be repeating myself though. Perhaps you are too slow to understand. If so I apologize for confusing you.

[Paige]

Let me get something straight here... you are passing the buck (so to speak).

When all is said and done "THE PEOPLE" are the reason we are having these problems.

Why run to a third party instead of working to retake the GOP back for the Conservatives? I'll never understand the "cut and run" attitude of the one issue people.

[monday]

"Who decides on the individuals who become Libertarian candidates for office?"

They will take pretty much anyone in local races. For state and national elections the conventions decide but again there usually isn't much competition so if you can pass a basic background check and pass yourself off as fairly competent to convention goers you are probably in.

[capitalist229]

Majority rule is a socialistic political disease that infects all factions of all parties.

It seemed to work before the 19th amendment.

Wonder why ? (flamesuit on)

BUMP

[AmishDude]

But, in Bob Barr's coming out party, he isn't talking about any of those things, is he? What's his first topic?

Yep. Pot.

[katdawg]

:Finally, we asked what the difference is between conservatives and libertarians. He couldn't come up with a single thing that was different."

I feel the difference between the two are that libertarians lean more left on social views and right on taxes...

[Gaffer]

....Second of all, Libertarianism is the heart and soul of the GOP. Limited gov't, low taxes, individual responsibility....so the GOP should disregard these voters?...

No, the GOP shouldn't disregard them. Neither should it pander to some of the other kookball planks, legalization of drugs, for instance....

[Sam Cree]

Basic libertarian ideals are the closest to our original ideals of any modern American political philosophies. To the extent that the Republican Party distances itself from libertarian ideals, it also distances itself from the original American traditions.

Of course, the Libertarian Party itself makes a mockery of those ideals by applying them to the stupidest causes...sort of a reverse ACLU if anything.

[monday]

"Why run to a third party instead of working to retake the GOP back for the Conservatives? I'll never understand the "cut and run" attitude of the one issue people."

It's far more than one issue. I am libertarian. I like Republicans as long as they cut spending and taxes, protect gun rights, and fight to outlaw abortion, but if they act like socialists when in office, then I have nothing in common with them. Nothing.

[LowCountryJoe]

You do not know what the word means, then. Liberalism --classically defined -- is about the individual. The typical, modern-day meaning of the word has been perverted to mean something entirely opposite of what its true meaning is. I prefer its classical usage and will use it myself whenever possible. Today, far too many people, whether they call themselves 'liberal' or 'conservative' prefer the state to wrestle control over individual rights and freedoms. Far too many people in America like paternalism, Left or Right...the true liberal want to change that, to liberalize things, and to take the definition back.

[Paige]

I see you are ignorant like many others but thanks for proving my point.

[tpaine]

Communitarian vs libertarian always is an interesting clash.

Majority rule is a socialistic political disease that infects all factions of all parties.

It seemed to work before the 19th amendment.
Wonder why ? (flamesuit on)

Community style majority rule 'worked' before women got the vote?

I'd say its never worked, and the feminist vote aggravated the disease.

[jmc813]

You want to know how to run as a Republican for office? Go to the proper office and fill out the forms to run as a Republican. That's it. In most states, if you win the primary, you're the nominee, that's it. But the Libertarian party, by definition, represents libertarian philosophy. It is such a top-down organization. It does enforce its will on its candidates.

Could you possibly fre-word that, perhaps? I honestly do not get the point here.

[LowCountryJoe]

You had a point? Then maybe I am ignorant; ignorant to the philosophy of Dumbass...the philosophy that must be prevalent in your line of thinking.

[Eric Blair 2084]

The parliamentary system in the US might at first glance seem to be radically different than the ones used in Western Europe or Israel. Over there, it seems like you have to have 4,769 different parties together in order to form a governing "coalition".

NEWS FLASH: It's the same here in the good old USA. It's just not as transparent yet. Within both the Republican and Democratic parties there is a huge rift. What else would you expect? Anytime you try to fit 160,000,000 voting age Americans under one of two umbrellas, you are bound to get soaked with millions of competing ideas and philosophies.

LIBERTARIANS MATTER. Don't let them fool you.

But golly gee willikers, this idea of attaching yourself to the looney left and their Big Government social engineering programs in the name of progress and the "common good"?

I'll say the same thing to fellow Libertarians (Milton Friedman was my idol and I'm only a quasi-Libertarian) that I say to the Evangelicals:

[cowtowney]

Ayn Rand did not like the Libertarian Party either.

[the OlLine Rebel]

"You know, back when there were no labor laws, no education departments, no FAA, no Dept of Transportation, no FBI..."


Sounds good to me.

After all, how ever did we get to be the huge success we are without them? Hhmmmm.....

[the OlLine Rebel]

"Liberals: promiscuous sex, heterosexual or homosexual, should be a-ok. The government should supply the funding to cure any diseases that result."


I would add: "...and/or provide financial support, etc, to the mother and child as a result of sex."

[Eric Blair 2084]

If Libertarians or Evangelicals want to cast their lot with the Secular, Progressive, social engineering left wing Democrats, I double dare you. We all believe that "Government is not the solution to the problem, government is the problem." like Ronald Reagan said or that "The Government that governs least, governs best." As Thomas Jefferson said. We're stuck with each other. For better or worse. Till death do us part![H1]

[Paige]

You do not have a clue about political ideologies other than you are anarchist. Please move along, people with a tiny bit if education (especially true Conservatives) understand the "Intent of the Framers."

Now move along and go fight with a liberal. You guys will probably see eye to eye since you're on the same level.