Posted by Taylor Byerly at Young Americans for Liberty
Over the past election, I told people time and time again that I was a Libertarian, and much to their surprise (that is, if they were even aware of the other candidates), voted Constitutionalist. They often asked me why I broke away from my party lines; was Bob Barr that bad that I’d desert my party? Time and time again I found myself explaining no, that there is just a difference in being a Libertarian and being a member of the Libertarian party. Unfortunately, many people are under the false impression that the actual party and its namesake are simply one and the same. This is far from the truth, I would argue. The Libertarian Party arose in 1971 as an interpretation of those ideals (and a decent one; this blog is not to trash the party, merely point out a discrepancy of terminology); but there is a vital difference of which I think there ought to be more awareness. A political body is created to play the legal game in Washington for us under a certain set of rules according to the political bent. A philosophy is a way of life; a set of standards with which to guide our decisions each and every day. Next time you vote – define your state of mind first, then find the party that fits it; do not assume that the name will tell you which this is. This may sound obvious, but I’m afraid that its not so. Take a moment to consider if you’ve evaluated your candidate; rather than supported the party with a title you trust to fit your ideals. I did in the 2008 election, which is why I know that Libertarianism is a state of mind first, and a party second.
Yes, that’s irked me for years. Why has the LP always shyed away from calling for investigation of the jumbo jet fiasco?
the last thing the LP needs is a conservative “Constitutionalist†Caucus.
At the very least, we need to balance it with a greenish one. See
http://pauliecannoli.wordpress.com/2008/12/15/green-libertarian-exchange/
@Libertarian Joseph,
IMO, the last thing the LP needs is a conservative “Constitutionalist” Caucus.
It depends on which aspects of libertarianism they find most important.
For libertarians with an emphasis on peace and civil liberties issues, the Greens can make a good case that they are a better alternative.
For libertarians who are most concerned with issues like ending the federal reserve system, stopping the espionage activities of agencies such as CIA, NSA and FBI, a strong concern about the North American Union, a desire for a new investigation into 9/11 terror attacks, and related issues – especially if they are for migrations controls and/or pro-life – the CP might be the best alternative, even if they are not religious.
very**
Why doesn’t the CP just become a LP caucus?
The answer is C. They’re also vey ignorant, but I won’t say A
Andy,
Exactly. If the LP isn’t “libertarian enough,” what the hell is the Constitution Party?
People who join the CP…
A) are “libertarian enough” and are ignorant of the CP platform, membership, and history
B) are “libertarian enough” and believe the CP is the best vehicle for advancing libertarianism (although the electoral evidence doesn’t seem to support this view)
or C) aren’t libertarians.
How do you benefit from taxation, CT?
Yes Songster, I act like a libertarian in my everyday life, but politically I’m not a libertarian. On the other hand, I do benefit excessively from taxation.
I never could understand how any one could complain that the LP wasn’t libertarian enough (a plausible position in and of itself), and then go and vote for the theocratic authoritarians over at the most misnamed political party in history.
Anyone who believes that the initiation of force should be the last resort in a conflict situation may call him/her/itself a libertarian. It IS a philosophical position first, and only a (capitalized) political party since 1971.
The term means “anti-authoritarian” … it is as simple as that!
I have many friends whom I consider to be libertarians of one form or another, because of how the act in their everyday lives — seeking cooperation, consensus and voluntary action to achieve their goals in life.
(Some of them are less clear about the delegation of force-initiation — thru taxation, coercive laws enforcing behavior, etc. — and so they tend to vote for “lesser evils” instead of true alternatives when they approach the ballot box. To my mind this only makes them a bit delusional, which is neither illegal nor immoral, although I consider it somewhat less-evolved than my own path … in which I have voted libertarian every time I’ve had the option presented, even when that means NOT supporting the LP nominee.)
It has been my sheer delight every now and then to find someone new in my circles who gets this stuff innately (even without the indoctrination via Rand/Rothbard/et alia). Of late I’ve found that Wiccans and Pagans tend to possess this capacity very strongly.
Libertarianism is a philosophy
state of mind, what? The party that shares the name is a private organization