I did something the other day that I have never done before: I watched some of the Libertarian National Convention from Denver. Interesting! One thing that struck me was that even in a relatively small political organization there were factions and disagreements over what they should stand for. If they ever become as big as the Democratic or Republican parties, they may make the 1968 Democratic Convention in Chicago look tame. And remember, they all tote guns!
I heard a lot of pleas that the delegates vote for a real “Libertarian” which supposedly alludes to the recent and convenient conversion of Bob Barr from defeated Republican to Libertarian. Well, I know Bob Barr and he ain’t no John Kennedy!!
Of course, no one believes Barr or any Libertarian is going to be elected in ‘08. The purpose of the Libertarian campaign is to spread the Libertarian message of freedom and less government, much less government, as in no government, save the army. Gain some support, convert some dissatisfied Republicans or Independents, and build the party brick by brick until, at that magic moment in the future, a Libertarian is elected. Sounds like a plan.
By the way, if you read the Libertarian Party Platform (at least the one from 2006), you will find it much clearer and easier to understand than the Democratic or Republican platforms.
I will give Bob Barr the benefit of the doubt, since, after all, I disavowed the abusive Republican party and became a Democrat overnight. It can happen! People can change parties on a dime and be sincere and earnest. Having said that, Bob, can I get an interview? I want one real bad. But, I don’t want an interview as part of some ego trip. No, no, no! I want to interview Bob Barr, now head of the Libertarian Party, to ask him one, simple question. Bob, can you give me some idea when the Libertarian Party will enter the 20th Century?
Bob, I don’t understand how the LP can damn the government and worship business. Oh, I don’t mind damning government, but damn bad business practices, too. Right now, in many areas, laws and government agencies are the only protection ordinary citizens have against business misfeasance. Business in the form or lobbyists and the US Chamber of Commerce are buying up all the government they can so that they can get a law that lets them screw me and forbids me from suing them when they do so. Bob, I need a law in my favor.
Clean up government. Make it more efficient. Radicalize it. Let heads role. Kill the lawyers, I mean bureaucrats, but lets not turn the country over to the uncontrolled greed of big business. Dear Lord, Bob, while I want more and more individual freedom, big business is doing all sorts of evil things in the name of capitalism. I don’t understand how the LP can talk about the free market and economics as if little Johnny is selling lemonade on the street. That is the kind of economy we had before WWII. It’s like the LP never heard of Walmart or all the other multi-national corporations that have a lot more negative influence in the daily lives of Americans than the government.
Tell me Bob, if you abolish the Food and Drug Administration and other government agencies, who is going to protect me from big business that would sell me toys with lead in them, drugs that will kill me, and expose me to all sorts of deceptive advertising in the pursuit of a buck.
And that is why the Libertarian Party is at its peak. Maybe one more presidential cycle, 2012! But until the LP finds a way to oppose government and protect us citizens, it is going to be composed of misguided souls who have a job and feel they can take care of themselves. Until the LP can figure out a way to actually solve a problem, rather than denying it needs to be solved, I am afraid it is doomed to a diminishing role in American politics.
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