Another LPer In Office
Libertarians actually do hold public office, Rep. Ron Paul (R- Texas) being our most well known standard bearer. Yes, I know, he is a Republican, but he was the 1988 Libertarian Party's Presidential Candidate. If you want to know what it might be like having a Libertarian in Congress, look no further than Ron Paul.
Just ran into another libertarian (big L, little L, no biggie) in office I was unaware of until reading his piece in Liberty magazine, the only paid subscription to a magazine I currently maintain.
R. Kenneth Lindell is a member of the Maine House of Representatives. Also a registered Republican, apparently he used to be a card carrying member of the Libertarian Party and was quite active with the LP, leaving it in frustration after 5 years.
His account of being a libertarian legislator I found interesting. He brings up the kinds of issues libertarians need to deal with as more LPers get elected. It's easy to spout a bunch of anarchist nonsense but, to be an effective force in politics, I think Lindell is handling the situation in as an admirable manner as he can.
Well done, Ken.
posted by Fred Mangels @ 7:05 PM
16 comments
16 Comments:
Fred,And All...
Just out of curiosity,...
While most people consider the two party system a failure,it seems that a third party candidate never really gets the vote.
Oh,sure,there are always examples of small victories,but never anything of substance.
It seems that we all can complain,but in the long run,we continue to reward the people who created the problems we face today....
Was POGO correct ?
Jim
You'll have to refresh my memory as to what Pogo said.
"We have met the enemy and he is US."
Sorry,Fred.....
I should have posted the quote as well.However the correct quote was supplied by Pogo himself.:>)
The point being,While we continue to "talk" of our disappointment with the current policies being instituted by either the Democrats,or the Repulican branch of the Democratic party,in the long run,when an election rolls around the same people are returned to office.
Hence,the Pogo reference.We seem to be our own worst enemy.
True. I guess most people go with what they're familiar with, regardless of the end result. So, we are the ones to blame.
interesting...thios connection between "libertarians" and the republican party. Are you sure that "Libertarians" is the right name? Maybe we could change our name to the "Authoritarian" party, or something like that.
Thanks, Liberty, for giving me proof that there are "libertarians from the left".
There are some libs that, apparently like yourself, feel that the Democrats should be the team to back if you want to bring about a freer society. Some embrace Republicans and others, None Of The Above.
What I try to do is try and influence all sides of the spectrum to liberty oriented thinking. If everyone became more freedom oriented, then maybe there wouldn't be so much polarization amongst all the various groups?
First I have to say as a general rule, because we are overwhelmed with media only recognizing the republican(red) and the democrat(blue)it is difficult for a third party candidate to break through.
An example, beside the obvious pick up the state and national newspaper and read for yourself, is the enormous replication of the red/blue "map" identifying rep. or dem. friendly states.
We all know that a hell of a lot of people are small party, declined to state, and brace yourself, don't vote, aren't eligible, or arent on the books.
This people should be working together here but we (i am one) are pushed toward the republican or democratic party in a lot of different ways, especially if you are politically active.
Aren't libs for some sort of free market, while rep. and dems make all the rules that get in the way of that.
Locally, does anyone seriously think most greens are authoritarian (Fred?).
And 80% of local democrats voted for Feinstein June 6th- do you think that puts thems even remotely in the same ballpark as local greens.
Most third party people are independent, and we kick ourself in the foot by not working together. We are played by the red and blues.
"Locally, does anyone seriously think most greens are authoritarian (Fred?)."
I suspect MOST greens are in there with the authoritarians. That's evident from the results of their recent County Council election, although if memory serves me correct, nowhere near all the greens voted in that election.
Dianne Feinstein is an authoritarian. Anyone knowledgeable of Feinstein who knowingly votes for her is an authoritarian as well. Not that I think there's that many authoritarians in the Democratic camp. I think most democrats don't know or really care what Feinstein's all about. They just vote for her because she's an incumbent democrat.
As a Libertarian Leftist, I believe that the concentrated power of government is certainly a source of potential tyranny.
I also believe that the concentrated power of great private wealth is a source of potential tyranny.
So what political party is for me?
As a libertarian, I'll always leave that for you to decide.
I wrote: "if memory serves me correct, nowhere near all the greens voted in that election."
I was right. Looks like the largest vote getter in the Green County Council election only got 995 votes, nowhere close to the number of registered Greens in the county. How many registered Greens are there here; five or seven thousand?
4293 registered, 45% voted, over 7000 votes cast for steering commitee. Which means the average green voted for 3 or 4 candidates,
in other words, they vote for who they want to, not for who somebody wants them to vote for.
Anonymous 7:58 AM said...
So what political party is for me?
I have done just a lil research on lib lefties so my answer is not the repubs or the democs, who control the gov except when independents or small party people step in and get something done every so often, that is why small party and independents people should work together more often.
To be practical, in my earlier comments, I am hard on repubs and democs, but locally, some of those people (reps as moderates) (dems as progressives) may yet separate themselves from that two party duopoly, time will tell.
Fred, you have it wrong my friend, most greens in HC are independent,
I know, I have talked to hundreds of them. Only 45% (1900 or so) voted in the last election because their important issues were not represented, probably the same reason why less than 1/3 of libs voted (if my memory is correct).
I am working on declined to state turnout, which should be interesting, I'll will let you know.
"Fred, you have it wrong my friend, most greens in HC are independent,".
I think many might well be, but I think the leadership tends to be generally authoritarian in their view of things.
Good Fred,
Your one step closer now, just as I am one step closer to understanding libs.
Now, if you can accept in Humboldt County the General Assembly is the boss, that is not the case in most other places.
Now the General Assembly is taking their leadership role seriously and so you may gain a different impression of Greens over time.
My question to whoever happens to read this is, can any other party in Humboldt County change their representative council in one fell swoop, by holding an election that every registered Green can participate in?
That is awful close to democracy.
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