A few posts back I announced to the world that I was pretty much done with the voting gig and immediately noticed some rather odd behaviour from certain quarters. Some folks have thought that my voting cessation is equal to a resignation from the fight and have even gone so far as to wish me well, as if I were leaving for new pastures. A couple of websites affiliated with political libertarianism have removed links to UnCivil Defence ( apparently not voting somehow makes your words less than they were. Go figure.), a couple of people have pretty much ceased all communications and there is a definite feeling coming from some quarters that I am no longer part of "the body".It's all rather odd, when I stop to think about it. Nowhere have I announced a cessation of my previous activities, (other than voting and supporting the purely political) or even intimated that such was the case. I have simply taken the decision to pursue the battle for hearts and minds rather than waste efforts on vain political pursuits. That some people within the same organisations wish to pursue politics is of no matter to me and I wish them well with that aspect of our, (I hope) mutual journey towards deconstructing the State, (as opposed to becoming the state).
I, like many people whom I have come to know and respect, recognise that the political not only is not working it is antithetical to libertarianism and the movement for freedom in general. As a friend recently told me,
"One can't vote more freedom into existence..."All we can really hope to do is educate more people. Kindle the flames of freedom in a few more hearts and hope that they, too will become missionaries in the battle for hearts and minds and spread the word. Political libertarianism is one small facet in the battle to dismantle the anti-freedom machine. It is not, and never should be the end all and be all of libertarianism. Without winning the battle for hearts and minds and letting folks know exactly what libertarianism is, (and is not) political libertarianism shall never succeed in any meaningful way. I, like a few others think we need to get back to the basics.
You see, folks I haven't given up. I've just chosen not to surrender to the system. If that somehow makes me and the place I rest my writings less your style of libertarian, then so mote it be. If this is the new "big tent" Libertarianism then it must be pitched upon the grounds of some country club rather than in the green fields where everyone can get to it and that's rather sad. I choose to not hide who and what I am for the sake of a few pieces of paper in a ballot box, nor do I wish to sit silent when people ask what libertarianism is, because of political expediency. Political libertarianism will continue to fail unless we engage the hearts and minds. Yes, we're going to scare them. It's inevitable that some will be frightened when we offer to take away their lollipops and replace them with something more wholesome.
Lies are lies. Theft is theft is theft and armed robbery is no less so when the people doing it are "elected". These are things we believe and should always be proud to stand on. I haven't changed my spots, significantly...have you?
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Libertarianism, Politics, Movement of the Libertarian Left, Freedom
6 comments:
Congratulations!
One line of reasoning I find it helpful to keep in mind is that my goal is a market anarchist society -- a lawful world without the biggest criminal gang around, government. We understand that "courts", "police" and "legislators" can be provided via the market, without the systematic "crime" (violation of individual rights) that governments engage in.
Our task, then, is to bootstrap the new legal system. The process of doing so is a "revolution" in the expansive, not-necessarily-violent sense of the word. Once in place, government will be suppressed like any other bandit activity.
The first step to accomplishing that task is the ideological defense and advocacy of the revolutionary ideal -- abolition of the State. Engaging in electoral politics by such advocates compromises their perceived integrity and ability to promote that ideal.
You're doing good work. God speed.
Michael
The Indiana Libertarian Party website has dropped your link. I started reading your blog from that link.
Many Libertarians in my area sound more Republican than libertarian and I guess that had everything to do with it.
I did vote, but had your "Anti-Electorate Manifesto" in mind as I do so. I just wanted to vote against the war and other madness.
I also used to get here via the LPIN website. No problemo! I'll do it via my own site!
Jeff- Sorry you lost that link to get here. It's odd that a minor change such as this removes one from certain lists. What makes it odder still is that I am still involved with my local county affiliate and have no intentions of ceasing to be involved with them. The folks there are friends and comrades, even tho we are coming at the issues from slightly different directions. We all manage to come together, especially on local issue which concern us.
I find it strange that so-called "purists" are accused of exclusionary practices by many "pragmatists" and then I get to see something as amusing as this occur. Adherence to principles now constitutes being less "libertarian". It's really quite funny in a strange way.
Mike- Sorry you lost your link, too. Ah, well...what can we do? Look for a link to Kole Hard Facts as soon as I get past a new post!
As a candidate, you go from being Top Dog to Yesterday's News on the day after the election. That's fine by me. It's time for someone else to rush forth and sieze the baton!
Yes, people are odd ... and inconsistent and emotional and any of a host of other things that might be inconvenient or unpleasant for one to try to deal with. I know I am ...
And I, for one, greatly appreciate your sticking to your principles.
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