On Becoming a Libertarian
Something weird is happening - I'm becoming a Libertarian and I don't know how to stop. Let's take a look at their presidential candidates for 2008. It's a joke. There is a sleazy former host of a "Girls Gone Wild" video, a singer/model/actress, and a former fugitive from the United States government. Only one of them, George Phillies, looks good on the surface but I'm sure given another half hour of research I would find he used to be a stripper named Coco.Have things gotten this bad? Since turning 18 I've always gone with the Republicans but what has it gotten me? Thanks to an obscene national debt and overwhelming taxes, almost half of the money my family makes never crosses our door and our retirement prospects are bleak. We're in a senseless war and public education is going down the tubes. So do I keep hitching my horse to the same old broken wagon year after year? Seems like a no brainer.
The country would be drastically different under the Libertarians. Their party platform begs for reduced interference of the government. This would mean the end of prosecution for drug usage, allowance of homosexual marriage, no guaranteed minimum wage, and basically letting me make most decisions for myself. The government would abandon its role as my snooping parent and treat me like an adult. Even though I may not agree with how other people use the freedoms this party would give them, I believe that taking away personal choice is not the answer. I don't want a government who legislates my morals. Libertarians are all about putting the choices back in our laps and cutting many of the ridiculous government programs that are currently making them for us.
Then I look at the actual members of the party and I get a little sick. It's helpful to remember that there are thousands of sleezebags in the Republican and Democratic parties as well. A major strike against Libertarians is that Howard Stern ran on the Libertarian ticket for governor of New York back in 1994. Do I really want to be on Howard's team?
I'm still deciding whether or not to use my 2008 Presidential vote for Coco, er - I mean George. He's guaranteed not to win the election against the two major parties, but I want to stop hiding behind the majority and actually vote for what makes sense to me peronsally. Maybe in 15 years a Libertarian will have a realistic shot. As a good Mormon I know I'm supposed to vote for Mitt Romney but I just can't swallow the idea of more tiresome Republican b.s. from D.C.. I've spent countless hours looking into the Libertarian thing and can't seem to talk myself out if it. Please tell me what I'm missing? I'm on a slippery slope here folks, Coco for President!
Comments
Vote for who makes sense to you.
BTW, Howard Stern toyed with the idea of running for governor, but dropped out due to the fact he'd have to disclose his finances. So he's NOT on the team.
As for the wackos in the party: wackos get 99% of the attention, so the 'normal' folks who are Libertarians are ignored. Be a normal person and help put the Libertarians back on the right track. Take back the party from the wackos!
Actually, by running for President, George can help other serious Libertarian candidates. Our campaign has already provided radio ads free to any Libertarian candidates to use. In fact, I helped place one on the radio in Des Moines, Iowa. Please consider giving us your volunteer time and donations and we will give you a respectable, and serious Presidential campaign.
Regards,
Jake Porter
National Mobilization Facilitator
Phillies for President
E-mail: natmobfac1@phillies2008.com
I did so as a message that it was time for a change. I was tired of having to choose between bad and worse.
In effect, I threw my vote away.
At the time, the race was running close, with exit poles showing Al Gore winning, which we all know he did, yet Bush got the Presidency. (I think he could run again in 08 and win, despite the fact that constitutionally he can’t. The Constitution hasn’t stopped him from doing anything else he desires).
The choice at the time was between, (in my opinion), a half wit that couldn’t string a sentence for more than three words, and a big geeky dork.
I agree with a lot of Libertarian principles and beliefs, I just don’t think they have a viable candidate at this time.
Keep an eye on Barak Obama.
Like your blog.
Check my crap out if you’ve got some time to throw away.
http://infantrydad.blogspot.com
JR
In many respects, at least when I was there thirty years ago, there was a lot more freedom in Guatemala than there was in the United States. If you owned property, and sometimes even if you didn't, you could usually do more-or-less anything that you wanted with it. You wouldn't have the problem that some owners in my home town have, that their property sits has to sit unused for years because they can't get city approval for the uses that they have approved. If you wanted to buy a legal drug, you didn't need to bother with getting a prescription. You could just go to the pharmacy and ask for it.
Some of the downsides were that most of the people were very poor, that basic political freedoms could disappear at any time, and that an ongoing political struggle raged between local families who controlled much of the wealth and sometimes much of the political power, communists who claimed to represent a broader community of otherwise unrepresented citizens, Americans who wanted a favorable political climate for their business interests, and military leaders who wanted to perpetuate their own power for its own sake. Constant civil war continued for more than three decades.
When I think about our world and the problems that need to be solved, starting from my own family and neighborhood and moving outward, it seems obvious to me that individuals and organizations need ample freedom to go about their activities without excessive interference. It also seems obvious that some of the problems and needs at every level require cooperation, coordinated planning, and if necessary, an appropriate degree of coercion. If the power of the government is cut too much, the winners in in free competition will gain enough power that they effectively become the new government, or the leaders of the existing government will see what is happening and reclaim their hold on power before it is lost completely, and the cycle will start over in a new form.
With the past pace of change in today's world, there is a strong need for cooperation to fight against war, poverty, disease, and environmental damage. Mass extinction of many of the species on the earth is an overwhelmingly urgent danger. Some of the solutions, if they are to be had at all, will come from governments and international organizations, and some will come from individuals and businesses. It isn't just a matter of choosing the right balance between liberty and coercion. Somehow, we have to learn to choose the right goals and work together to achieve them, before the opportunity is lost forever.