What's a libertarian to do?
While perusing The Cato Institute's webpage today, a heading advertising a new research series concerning the voting habits of Libertarians caught my eye. Libertarians, although formally independent from both prominent American political parties, are at least informally associated with the conservative wing of the Republican party during election season for the sheer practicality of casting a vote for someone with a chance for victory. This, apparently, is changing.
Many Libertarians who voted for George Bush in 2000 have since become disenchanted by his fiscal irresponsibility and disregard for individual rights, civil liberties, and privacy. During his term in office, George Bush has greatly enhanced executive powers in the name of security and despite the unconstitutional nature of this unprecedented expansion (i.e. He and his lawyers declared the entire country a battle field to legitimize the more intrusive powers touted by the administration). His supporters defend such policies with the argument that he is essentially a good man who would never abuse such power, but even if this is the case, such unsound policies set dangerous precedents for all presidents of unknown discretion from this point forward.
Although I can completely relate to the frustration felt by Libertarians in regard to the obscene magnitude of government spending along with the trampling of individual rights, I do not necessarily agree that realigning with the disjointed Democrat party is a wonderful solution. Instead of attempting to support the lesser of two evils during each election season, the Libertarian party should exert a greater effort to make its own ideals more accessible (realistic) for the American public and begin finding and supporting promising leaders of its own. A party cannot thrive while piggybacking on the shoulders of other faltering parties. As the Republicans alienate their core base and as Democrats are struggling through an identity crisis, independent parties should jump at the opportunity to separate themselves from the mess in Washington and appeal to those individuals who want a real change.
Many Libertarians who voted for George Bush in 2000 have since become disenchanted by his fiscal irresponsibility and disregard for individual rights, civil liberties, and privacy. During his term in office, George Bush has greatly enhanced executive powers in the name of security and despite the unconstitutional nature of this unprecedented expansion (i.e. He and his lawyers declared the entire country a battle field to legitimize the more intrusive powers touted by the administration). His supporters defend such policies with the argument that he is essentially a good man who would never abuse such power, but even if this is the case, such unsound policies set dangerous precedents for all presidents of unknown discretion from this point forward.
Although I can completely relate to the frustration felt by Libertarians in regard to the obscene magnitude of government spending along with the trampling of individual rights, I do not necessarily agree that realigning with the disjointed Democrat party is a wonderful solution. Instead of attempting to support the lesser of two evils during each election season, the Libertarian party should exert a greater effort to make its own ideals more accessible (realistic) for the American public and begin finding and supporting promising leaders of its own. A party cannot thrive while piggybacking on the shoulders of other faltering parties. As the Republicans alienate their core base and as Democrats are struggling through an identity crisis, independent parties should jump at the opportunity to separate themselves from the mess in Washington and appeal to those individuals who want a real change.
posted by Michelle at 4:46 PM
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