2) The Libertarian Party is a joke.

Another problem with the ideology of the libertarianism movement today is that it's often associated with the perennial failure: The Libertarian Party.

Now don't get me wrong, I'm not blaming the leadership within the Libertarian Party for lack of effort or political savvy. It's just that a third party hasn't been taken seriously in America since TR's Bull Moose Party, and even that's a stretch.

The solution isn't to build a strong Libertarian Party to compete with the already firmly rooted Democrats and Republicans -- this clearly isn't going to happen, especially with all the primaries and redistricting that they've enacted to actively obstruct all would-be upstarts to power.

Rather, the solution is to influence enough people that the two existing parties are forced to respond by changing their platform to be more in line with popular opinion. This is the end in which this organization is trying to achieve, and a far more useful one.

Nearly 60% of Americans identify as "socially liberal and fiscally conservative." That's a libertarian landslide, if the leaders of the movement would open their eyes and see it.

3) There are no famous libertarians outside of Penn & Teller, Trey Parker, Drew Carey and the guy who hosted Super Market Sweep.

Let's face it -- if you don't have a celebrity hocking your cause, you don't have much of a cause.

Can any libertarian fathom just how popular the movement would be if Paris Hilton, Kim Kardashian and Dr. Phil were attending Ron Paul rallies and pricey funding dinners? The sad truth of the matter is that Paris Hilton could do more with one endorsement on TMZ than Dr. Paul could with 1,000 hours on Fox News. Hell, even Mike Huckabee had Chuck Norris.

4) There's no charismatic leader.

The libertarian movement is missing a (relatively) young, engaging and charming public advocate. Essentially, libertarianism is just one Barack Obama away from mainstream credibility and acceptance. No offense to Dr. Paul, but libertarianism needs a well-branded political campaign, combined with a personality that's magnetic enough to evoke emotion (and action) from an audience.

5) Generation Y isn't rich enough... yet.

The chief reason why libertarianism isn't popular is due to the fact that the Baby Boomers haven't relinquished control of the government yet. Whether we like it or not, Rove and his clique of pasty and elderly neoconservative advisors probably still have a decade or so left of power before Generation Y takes over Congress.

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written by IMM, May 27, 2008

To the previous commenter:

All truth bears relation to the real world. Discovering truth - moral, political, economic, etc. - is vastly important. without such discovery, talks of "compromised" or "realistic" plans and actions are meaningless. You have nothing to compromise if you have no ideal first.

Discovering what is right is foremost. Next comes deciding which compromised actions and policies move us closer to it, though not all the way.

You are right that "serious politicians" (is there such a thing?) do not do this. They do begin with an end in view - power. Every decision and compromise they make is based on getting more power.

Libertarianism is the most realistic of political views, because it is the only one that doesn't rely on the goodwill of leaders to achieve good results. It relies only on human nature as it is, not as we wish it to be. As Mr. Smith wisely informed us, it is not cause the butcher loves us that he gives us our dinner, but because he loves the money we offer him.

Entertaining post.

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written by scott mcdonald, May 27, 2008

It relies only on human nature as it is, not as we wish it to be.

???

The opposite of the above statement is what is true.

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