Justin Hartfield

1. The anarcho-capitalist

The Ludwig von Mises Institute, and its president, Lew Rockwell, are examples of anarcho-capitalists who wish to privatize seemingly everything. Personally, I am eagerly anticipating a new Lew Rockwell column where he suggests we privatize breathing (poor people must take shallower inhales), or to parole Saddam. Despite his many far-out views, Mr. Rockwell is certainly intelligent and is doing his best part to fight for the same ideals (libertarianism) which we support here at the Prometheus Institute. And he does have some very sensible suggestions. However, his reputation as an extremist in Washington will forever haunt him when it comes to implementing real change. His views are just too extreme for many US citizens. Interestingly, he ignores the history-proven principle that constant gradual change trumps instant revolution. Therefore, Mr. Rockwell and followers vote libertarian because they were abandoned by both established parties.

2. The social liberal but economic conservative

These moderates represent a small sector of the Libertarian party, but they are a large voting bloc in the country at large. They support gradual reductions on the government's increasing encroachment into our daily lives. They are fiscally conservative, like their fathers. But they are also more socially liberal. Many are refugees from the Republican Party, fed up with the Christian Right or the Republicans' newly found Big Government platform. Others are outcasts from the Democrats, socially liberal but unable to support a party which disregards the benefits of the free market.

3. Ayn Rand worshippers

Ayn Rand was a great writer with a knack for writing great stories which rang true to the human experience. However, the broader political philosophy she founded, Objectivism, was decidedly less successful. Her naked pro-market, anti-state ideology finds a decent ally in libertarianism. But Ms. Rand's outspoken followers are widely unpopular in mainstream politics, mostly due to her derogation of belief in a higher being, among other ethical oddities. The Objectivists' black-and-white view of justice can simply never be reconciled with the relative or commensurate system we are already accustomed to.

4. Drug and porn addicts

If you think all Libertarians are leaf-smoking porn addicts who like to fire off unregistered AK-47s in their backyard, you are not alone. Many believe libertarians are chiefly (if not solely) concerned with drug issues, and thus would be largely nonexistent if marijuana were finally legalized in the US. Whether or not that is true, these groups are exceedingly influential in the Libertarian Party. The libertarians leading the legalization push believe they will be remembered by future generations with the same admiration as those who opposed alcohol prohibition. The trend certainly is in their favor. As the generations pass, and the War on Drugs continues to falter, the cry for its termination will be too great for Congress to bear without acting.

5. Anarchists

The seamy underbelly of the Libertarian party is pocked with anarchists and other political lepers with whom few in the official Libertarian party wish to associate. While an anarchist political party would be somewhat self-defeating, the Anarchists have somehow found a home with the Libertarians. Like the Ayn Rand followers, their perspective of reality contains many blacks and many whites but very little grey. Found in the libertarian bloc are communist anarchists, Anarcho-capitalists, and mutualists, forever resigning the LP to the public perception of extremism.