The views expressed in this opinion editorial are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Independent Political Report or its publisher, the Outsider Media Foundation.
The great battle of our time is coming to a head, and I plan to win.
Our nation faces several conceivably existential threats. First, our government is careening toward a financial collapse capable of plunging the world into a devastating depression. Second, our government’s repeated military engagements with undefined limits, if not reformulated for a multi-polar world, will eventually invite others’ undefined escalation. Third, a government which would undermine civil rights to the point of violent revolt in an increasingly divided nation, could set-off a downward spiral of civil unrest. Fourth, artificial intelligence.
Other than AI, each of these threats is a residue of a two-century ideological confrontation. On one side is a demand for limited government and free markets, predicated on a philosophy of individual libertarianism. On the other side is support for activist government, predicated on a philosophy of distributional equity and an acceptance of interventionism.
After a string of victories launched by the American Revolution, libertarianism finds itself on the ropes. Having defeated Nazis, outlived Soviets, proven Marxists wrong, and lifted the world’s majority out of abject poverty, it would seem that all that should be left for our side is to contain the Chinese Communist Party while waiting for its economic collapse. Then declare victory and usher in the AI era of abundance.
Yet here we are.
Those of us who see the danger (honestly, is this not all of us?) are obliged to do something about it. The alternative is a bleak picture, not for millions but for billions the world over who deserve a better future than one undermined by bad decisions made by short-sighted politicians in our nation’s capital.
The only political battleground of relevance for the next few years will be inside the Republican Party, to define the legacy of Donald Trump. The Democratic Party seems unable to even understand what went wrong last year, much less mount a successful challenge. And the Libertarian Party, my home for the past fourteen years, suffers from what I believe to be insurmountable structural problems.
The LP, as the third party in a two-party system, cannot help but to attract a cadre of members who are indifferent to how the party is perceived by voters. Nor can the LP attract the scale of resources necessary to reverse the recent backsliding in ballot access at the hands of the two-party system. The Libertarian party’s fifty-year history of infighting portends debilitating cycles of feuding well beyond the foreseeable future.
The vacuum created by President Trump’s departure from the GOP will be filled by either an embrace of all of his idiosyncrasies as valid policy initiatives, or by a take-him-seriously-but-not-literally attitude. The problem for the current Administration, in contrast to the first Trump term, is that so many have taken too many of his statements literally.
The leading example is the Treasury Department’s failure to engage foreign governments in trade talks prior to the White House announcement of tariffs. So too did the Department of Homeland Security fail to pursue due process or legal authority before large-scale deportations. And DOGE’s fire-aim-ready approach failed to save significant amounts of money precisely because it mistook personnel for policy and speed for substance. In each case, the President has been failed by his staff reacting unreflectively to his quite legitimate, though often theatrically expressed, objectives.
All Republicans embrace the rise of common sense in the form of fiscal conservatism, institutional skepticism, military restraint, and border control. But Republicans from outside the Administration will have the flexibility to pursue a more sustainable approach to fulfilling such long-term goals. Outsiders will not have to accept ownership of shortcomings in economic performance nor forced to explain the distractions of unnecessary conflicts driven by Donald Trump’s more personal agenda.
The Republican Liberty Caucus is just that intersection of Republican common sense, adherence to libertarian principles, and flexibility to avoid ties to the missteps of the Administration. This is the brand positioned to move the party toward a successful future in a way that members of the Trump team are not. Neither sycophantically cooperative nor reflexively oppositional, call it the “loyal coopposition.”
Today I am announcing that I and thirty-nine others have joined the Republican Liberty Caucus. Many of us are alumni of my Libertarian Party primary campaign for president the past two years and my general campaign as the LP nominee for vice president last year.
As a former Republican, this is a homecoming for me. But whether coming from the left or right, the Republican Liberty Caucus is the natural home for political activists who support the principles of freedom, limited government, and personal responsibility on which the Republican Party grew into a political powerhouse.
We will be recruiting hard from among Republicans, Libertarians, independents, and even Democrats to grow the RLC ahead of the 2026 and 2028 campaign seasons. Our objective is to keep the Republican Party focused on liberty, steering away from ultra-nationalism, protectionism, and all forms of authoritarianism.
Joining the Republican Liberty Caucus is a change in strategy, not philosophy. Given the stakes, this team feels we have no choice but to join the organization with the best opportunity to affect the battle we now face together as a nation.
Independent Political Report occasionally publishes opinion submissions from individuals, candidates, and activists. These are provided for informational and educational purposes. The views expressed are solely those of the author and do not reflect the official position of Independent Political Report or the Outsider Media Foundation, a nonpartisan 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization.
>>Our nation faces several conceivably existential threats. First, our government is careening toward a financial collapse capable of plunging the world into a devastating depression. Second, our government’s repeated military engagements with undefined limits, if not reformulated for a multi-polar world, will eventually invite others’ undefined escalation. Third, a government which would undermine civil rights to the point of violent revolt in an increasingly divided nation, could set-off a downward spiral of civil unrest.<<
That's what the GOP with all its Trump sycophants is doing as I type. You really expect to change that?
I have seen this happen many times over the past 40 years. I won’t be following you, Mr. ter Maat.
Good writing, Mike!! There are many others who feel the same way as you do – recognizing that being part of a third party in a two-party system is hardly what you would call fun or rewarding. There are a lot of good people in the Libertarian Drinking Club, but the fun time has run its course. There is nothing wrong with trying something new.
I was a paid member of the Libertarian Party for 25 years (my membership lapsed in 2022) and, while I have no regrets about it, maybe it is time to change strategy or switch tactics – while keeping my same principles, values and beliefs. Some in the LP won’t like the idea of people leaving the reservation, but isn’t there always more than just one route to take in order to reach your destination? Different strokes for different folks.
What remains to be seen is if the “purity test” will be inflicted on the RLC too. Best of luck to you, sir!
If he actually thinks this will work he should speak with Ron Paul. He enjoyed tremendous success with this strategy! (;
I’m saddened to see this level of sycophancy from Mr. ter Matt.
Have fun storming the castle!
This has been tried before, multiple times. It has never succeeded.
What’s the definition of insanity again? Something about a head trying repeated percussive maintenance on a wall?
Amy Misko has stated that her name should not have been included on that list. She remains in the LP and is an officer in the LP of Mississippi.