It's been a week since returning from the Libertarian National convention in Portland Oregon. Forty four of sixty planks in the party's platform were rejected by the body. In large measure this was due to a deep to desire for change and electoral success. Many people feel the radical intellectual legacy of the party from the early seventies has hurt the party's chances in elections.
It only takes a majority to remove a plank, but 2/3 to modify it. At the closing dinner we sat at a table with members from Illinois, Kentucky and Indiana who felt that the change would help their candidates. I hope that it will, but I don't think it will. Third parties and there efforts are marginalized for a number of reasons. Lesser of two evil voting, Electoral College driven politics and no media empathy.
The spirit of the party is Liberty. The thinkers and practitioners within feel there is a principle at stake. That is, the initiation of violence to achieve one's political goals is unacceptable. All too often we accept new taxes and programs as necessary for the public good. We forget that those in the minority opposed to any plan or idea are included none the less. You have no choice but to surrender money or yourself when the taxman shows up at the door.
Most people are not willing to sacrifice the security that they think the state provides. Liberty is just not that important in their lives. Having a decent job, a house and a car can happen in either environment. Some of us protest the fact that our lives are diminished on a very practical level when those who do advocate the taking by the state in their projects and designs.
It may only be a cranky minority that feels they should not have to contribute to the robbery writ large that the state is. It does not mean that we do not want healthy or educated citizens. Surely the policy practices of those who have the control fails widely in this regard. So why do some hold a philosophy more accountable then the bad practices of those who wield the stick of power ? The answer is that fewer would rather lose their Liberty then the security blanket of the state. Welcome TU readers.