The libertarian movement should not compromise its ideals.
That’s the argument that was made by Prameet Kumar in an article that was published in the March 24th online edition of the University of Pennsylvania’s Daily Pennsylvanian. In his article he suggested that the libertarian philosophy is becoming increasingly attractive to Americans in the 18-29 year old age range, a voting bloc that tends to be more socially liberal and fiscally conservative than their parents. However, he warns that as the libertarian movement grows bigger, it must be careful not to sacrifice libertarian principles–principles that are often misunderstood by the rest of the voting public:
The libertarian label has been appropriated by so many disparate groups that it often acts as an umbrella organization for those who feel disenchanted with or victimized by Republicans or Democrats. In popular usage, it has almost become a catch-all for any deviation from the standard two-party system. But while the party is growing, it needs to make sure it doesn’t sacrifice its principles in favor of increased membership.
Young people are especially drawn to the ideology because they find it harder to pin themselves down on the linear spectrum between liberal and conservative. Libertarianism is increasingly appealing to college-aged students who disfavor Democratic economic theory because they support a free market and are tolerant enough of liberal social values to disapprove of Republican intrusions in the private sphere.
It’s a great article, and I recommend that TMV readers read it in full over at the Daily Pennsylvanian.
I will only add that it is my opinion that if anyone needs to read this article, it’s the Libertarian Party Leadership itself, which has slowly allowed the party to drift away from its principles, starting with the infamous gutting of the Party Platform during the 2006 Libertarian Party convention and culminating with the rather sordid events of the 2008 Libertarian Party convention, which led a significant number of longtime members to leave the party. While it was somewhat amusing to see former Democratic Senator Mike Gravel and former Republican Senator Bob Barr diss their former parties, no one should be under any illusions that either of these two men are true libertarians. After some rather nasty party infighting, Bob Barr ended up securing the Libertarian Party’s presidential nomination, while Republican-turned-Libertarian Wayne Allyn Root ended up securing the party’s vice presidential nomination. Barr went on to alienate a good swathe of libertarians and libertarian-leaning-conservatives when he snubbed current Texas Republican Congressman and two time presidential candidate Ron Paul, regarded by most libertarians as the most libertarian-leaning politician in congress.
The 2010 midterm elections represents an opportunity for the Libertarian Party, who are hoping to channel the Tea Party movement’s energy and anger into support for Libertarian candidates just as Ron Paul was able to channel the energy and anger of libertarian-leaning voters who joined the Ron Paul movement. However, the growing popularity of the Tea Party movement also represents a potential pitfall for the self-proclaimed Party of Principle.
It would be a tremendous shame to see Libertarian candidates surrendering their political principles in order to pander to the more unlibertarian elements of the Tea Party movement, only to watch the Tea Party vote in droves for big government, pro-war Republicans in November.
NOTE: Nick Rivera can be reached for comments and/or questions at [email protected].
Birthplace: San Diego, CA
Birthdate: That’s for me to know
Political Party: Independent
Political Philosophy: Libertarian-liberal