Don't let the title fool you, I am Libertarian and little in this world would make me happier (certainly nothing politically would make me happier,) than ballot box success for the Libertarian Party, and like minded advocates of Liberty. I have recently been coming our of my post election hiatus from politics, trying to focus on work and family after a very busy wedding, holiday season, and taking the CISSP exam. I figured it was time to start reading and keeping up on thins socio-political, I started by picking up and reading Neil Boortz's new book Somebody's Gotta Say It, and today I also greeted the Libertarian Party News letter with an enthusiasm that was missing over the the last few months. This particular issue featured an overview of the eight candidates seeking the Libertarian Party nomination for president. Each of the candidates were asked to submit a 150 world blurb introducing themselves and explain why they are seeking to be the nominee of the Libertarian Party. I sat there reading each introduction with looking for a differentiator, but as I read the article, something else jumped out at me. Among the talk of goals for growing the Libertarian Party, rolling back taxes, winning in or pulling out Iraq, I noticed talk about reaching the liberty minded voter, “most Americans will respond to messages of freedom.” One candidate wanted to capture the right-centrist majority. Thinking back to reading Neil Boortz's book in particularly a chapter called “Freedom Loving- I Think Not,” I had to ask are they, that is do the majority Americans really love freedom. I know on its face the question seems absurd, but its worth examining.
As I stated earlier what had given be pause about this premise was recalling what I had read in Mr Boortz's book. In that chapter he recalled why he had given up doing his radio show on the fourth of July because inevitably he would loose his cool listening to various callers proclaim the virtues of our Freedom loving society, and dismiss that idea saying that by and large we are a nation of hypocrites. He would start out with the usual (and rightly so) arguments that most citizens of this country can't name their representation in congress, name the vice president, and get their news from the Daily Show on Comedy Central (he put it as Entertainment Tonight). We have all heard these charges before in way shape or form, from various late night man on the street interviews to just talking amongst your friends. Mr. Boortz then started to cite specific examples of opportunities Americans had the chance to embrace freedom albeit in limited ways. Americans turn to the government willingly it seems to regulate what we see on TV, the Medicine we take, and retirement. The privatization of Social Security was the center piece of the argument. When President Bush tried to propose that Americans get 2 % of the 14% of the money taken from them so they can invest it as they see fit, the Idea was overwhelmingly rejected. Neil figured that a freedom loving people would not only embrace the idea but demand it and expand it. He made a pretty good case that the vast majority of Americans want no more responsibility other than what to have for dinner, watch on TV, and what to do over the weekend. I think his argument does have some merit, and as a result I am not sure that most Americans only want the amount of Freedom/Liberty that they are willing to take responsibility for, and by and large that isn't much.
Where does that leave Libertarians running for office, on a message of freedom and personal responsibility? If Neil is right then we find our selves selling a very unpopular message that you are responsible for your own happiness, success, and life, that if you elect us, we will try our best to take away your ability to blame others for your position in life, no longer will the government, the rich, minorities, or your neighbor. Can the Libertarian message ever motivate a majority of Americans if most Freedom Loving American embrace the welfare state in some way shape or form. Most never question Schools, the FCC, the SEC, but they sure seem to have opinions on 911 conspiracy theories, the Iraq war, the Attorney General non-scandal, to me these are all short term distractions from the long and slow erosion of our freedoms, but that is a topic for another day.
I am not sure the public is ready for our message, while I will still go forward and press on, however I will no long make the assumption that Americans are a Freedom loving people. I have said before that there has to be a philosophical change before there can be a political change. The Politics of it all are still necessary as politics serve as a vehicle to discover philosophy for many people. Outside of that attitudes need to change, and this is going to be a long and slow process. The Progressives, Socialists and other enemies of Liberty have spent the better part of a century and half dismantling the under pinnings of freedom piece by piece. The process to restore it will be similar. We cant just cast a vote for Libertarian and be done with it. In our daily lives we must take every opportunity to stand up for Liberty, when you out on the town and people are discussing an issue, don't be afraid to take the side of Liberty. Don't let cute little sayings designed to undermine the individual go unchallenged. Just today I voiced my objection to quote posted on a friends blog, (sorry heather,) what seemed tame enough, was really evil at its core and intent, and I sure my friend didn't mean it in a harmful way, but the idea gets out there. The quote for those interested was “There is somebody smarter than one of us, and that is all of us,” seems nice maybe even comforting, and I may have come off as a nut as a result of criticizing it, but I just can't let that kind of thing go any more. It always starts small, the longest most lasting ideas do, and then they grown. I will end this now as I am starting to drift off topic. So what do you think? If you are Libertarian or Libertarian leaning are we selling an unpopular message? If you are not a Libertarian do you really love Freedom?
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