Let’s be honest. Libertarianism in California is nothing but as excuse to accept the status quo and indulge in hedonism. Its a way to NOT be a left-wing, self centered liberal, and yet still think that everything the government does is GROOVY. And all the government programs mean you’re TOLERANT. And since nobody in office is a libertarian, you aren’t really responsible for the messes. Hey, the other guys voted the boobs in! In California, it means “taxes are OK” and “hey, dont bother me with fixing anything wrong. ITS NOT MY PROBLEM.”
And even if it was, you’d probably be afraid of upsetting some of your social friends, who overlook your LIBERTARIAN brand as long as you keep your mouth shut about their socialist policies, cramming their values down the throats of the majority that doesnt want them, and generally being a name calling childish nuisance.
I mean REALLY. Fess up about attending a Libertarian meeting. Its guys wearing 420 shirts and bikers with gray pony tails talking anarchy.
Let’s remember a few important REAL LIBERTARIAN ideas of the past:
Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. – George Washington
The true danger is when Liberty is nibbled away, for expedients. – Edmund Burke
Timid men prefer the calm of despotism to the tempestuous sea of Liberty. – Thomas Jefferson
None are more hopelessly enslaved than those who falsely believe they are free. – Goethe
The urge to save humanity is almost always a false front for the urge to rule. – H.L. Mencken
There’s no way to rule innocent men. The only power any government has is the power to crack down on criminals. Well, when there aren’t enough criminals, one makes them. One declares so many things to be a crime that it becomes impossible to live without breaking laws. – Ayn Rand
The national budget must be balanced. The public debt must be reduced; the arrogance of the authorities must be moderated and controlled. Payments to foreign governments must be reduced. If the nation doesn’t want to go bankrupt, people must again learn to work, instead of living on public assistance. – Marcus Tullius Cicero, 55 BC
SO GET OFF THAT DAMN FENCE AND PRETEND LIKE YOU ACTUALLY WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS DEMOCRACY OR GO HOME AND SHUT THE HELL UP!
Hm. Re-reading my own post I didnt realize I was on such a bent. My real feelings about libertarianism deserves more scrutiny. More later!
Terry,
Libertarians are not the problem. The Dems and Reeps are. We might well be the solution…
Sorry Art, if you’re not part of the solution YOU ARE part of the problem. The point of the piece is, Libertarians dont WANT to be a part of the solution.
Terry,
And my point is that the Republicans are part of the problem…
Decriminalize pot.
There’s a solution.
Vixen,
Thank you for getting one of the points of my article. STOP CREATING CRIMINALS! BRAVO!
Now if we can just get some people to stop thinking that they are coming up with solutions by pointing out others as the problem, we will make even more progress!
Unfortunately for Libertarians, the vast majority of the voting public associates them with the legalization of currently illegal drugs.
That position will get Libertarians nowhere.
Red, you are so right. Good post Terry!
MP likes MJ for a good reason. He learned (when he was 19) that it’s difficult to drive while intoxicated. I’m sure the DUI taught him a good lesson; less booze, more weed makes a body good 🙂
The main post seems a little incoherent to me. And your meaning is?
While the Libertarian Party has a lot of problems, nowadays how can one possibly be a Democrat or Republican, the duopoly of tyranny? The only option is a) one of the third parties or b) don’t register or vote.
The Democrats are out-and-out socialists. The Republicans say they are for freedom and markets, but then impose socialism anyway.
True, the LP has a lot of “flakes,” as they’re called. But they never nominated McCain, who wanted “nuclear combat toe-to-toe with the Russkies,” to quote Maj. Kong in “Dr. Strangelove.” Libertarians might be nutty, but McCain is just plain nuts.
It’s not left or right- it’s the government vs. YOU! Libertarianism is on the march as the only alternative to these two schizophrenic parties we have now.
Tell me how you can claim to be for free markets, and gov’t out of the way of the economy (ala Repubs)- only to bailout detroit? Or how you are for gov’t out of people’s lives, but then legislate morality and values- as if gov’t in your business is ok as long as it’s social issues. On the other side we have democrats who think you should be able to do whatever you want in terms of social issues, so long as you resign your economic freedom. Libertarianism is the only ideology that thinks freedom should be guaranteed and gov’t should not dictate how you live your life economically, socially, totally! Spare for the essential tasks individuals cannot perform gov’t should cede decision making to the people. This stimulus bill will only elongate this recession. Let the free market heal itself. Since it was gov’t intervention that caused this downturn in the first place. I don’t think the established libertarian party is a good bell weather for libertarian ideology. There are some good people in it… but I think any true libertarian would be registered independent… since the establishment of a party seems to run contrary to our whole anti-establishment mentality. And what’s wrong with legalizing drugs? Criminalizing them has worked even better than prohibition at creating a black market- ceding control to criminals… we would be smarter to legitimize the illicit drug industry, and put the drug lords that finance terrorism abroad out of business!