It is lunchtime on Friday. I have so much racing through my mind about an amazing experience this past weekend at the Libertarian National Convention, my first such even. I am a relative unknown in political circles, I don’t run any kind of organization to push a political agenda…hell, I hate politics and have no aspirations for office; mostly because I don’t really like to mingle and glad-hand and bullshit people…except for work…because I’m in sales…and that just comes with the territory. So, what is it that keeps me thinking about politics, the convention and checking Facebook every 30 minutes? I’ll tell you, it is a debate and soap opera about who runs the party, who will run the party and the unending question of who SHOULD run the party. I have one answer to all three questions, and it is this: I don’t give a damn. I don’t. I don’t know them, I don’t interact with them on a regular basis, and I don’t care what they think…because I don’t really like politics, and I don’t give a shit if anyone thinks I’m good enough to be in their party. So why am I writing this? I’m not sure…I’m spit-balling here because I can’t stop thinking about one frustrating question:
Why aren’t Libertarians getting elected when I see our principles being espoused and talked about more than ever before? This is the nature of all the drama that happened at the convention, and subsequently what is being discussed and debated on the social media websites. I have a theory… I think the party is based on individuals and independence, so it is philosophically against organizing and the “follow the leader” mentality which is fundamental to growing a party and building support. If there is one thing “Occupy” has shown us, it is leaderless organizations descend into chaos and disorder. So as long as the “leader” is actually a servant to the cause, and not a “ruler”…it should be seen as a step towards progress. There is a visceral response I have though, when I hear a voice preaching to me that we are a family. We are not a family, we are a political party. I get the sentimentality of it, I just don’t believe in it…it is why I am a Libertarian. I didn’t register to join a family, and I don’t need a daddy telling me what to do, how to think or vote. I registered and donated to support a movement to get libertarian minded individuals elected who will be independent and honest and who won’t answer the call from the Establishment Republicans and Democrats to compromise our values to support issues that further the growth of government. That’s it in a nutshell…so when I hear that there is an evil “Kabal” and a “Radical/Purist” faction fighting for control, I can’t help but slap my own forehead and think that we are missing the opportunity to exploit the absolute retarded jack-holes being forced on us by the other political parties. So, what is the answer?
Let’s approach this from the perspective of a business. We are not succeeding in our goal of electing libertarian minded people…so what do we change? Who IS getting elected, and what are they doing differently? The money is a big difference between the LP and the RP/DP. Fundraising comes when you inspire people who have money to support your goals and they see a potential return on their investment. This “kabal” has organized and gathered impressive support for Gary Johnson and Jim Gray, and with these two on our national ticket, we can expect good publicity and press coverage compared to past tickets. Can we agree, so far? Can we all sit down and discuss the possibility that organizing the party in the way the RP and DP are organized is the more effective way to run a political party, but stipulate that the individuals in this party will not abide being told to hold their nose for substandard candidates and establishment dictates that are anathema to the tenets of libertarians? If we can, and if we do…we are on the precipice of changing politics in America for the better. There is a hunger in this country…in this world…for leadership based on the values of our party. We are sitting on political gold…the liberation of millions if not billions with the idea that we are free and capable individuals and don’t need someone telling us how to live. The belief that we are inherently good people, and don’t need the shackles of countless regulations to “keep us in line”. The hunger is growing, and we are starving with every election we allow internal bickering about methodology to keep us from success. Those of us who are afraid of success, clinging to ideology…I understand why you feel the way you do. Nobody fears and hates tyranny more than me…including in our own party. But libertarians’ individuality and independence can be a hindrance to expansion…and if we don’t evolve our methods of growth…we will starve to death, with the hopes of the world dying with us. I imagine if a Republican, Democrat and Libertarian were all sitting down and talking, it wouldn’t matter which faction of the LP was represented, he or she would be the only one sitting there with a consistent position of “That isn’t the role of government” answer to most topics…and that is what binds us, makes us kindred (a reference to family?) and that is what is important…at the end of the day.
-Rev
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