The Libertarian Party

I’ve posted before about the fact that I am a Republican with a strong Libertarian bent. I am not opposed to the two party system that voters have effectively created by casting their votes the vast majority of the time for one or the other of our two parties. I do believe though that our two party system would be immeasurably improved if the Libertarian party replaced either of our current major parties. Certainly there is historical precedent for such a change to occur.

In order for this to happen, in order for the Libertarian party to start winning elections on a widespread scale it needs two things. Positive, effective candidates, and a willingness to message on the issues the vast majority of Americans cast their votes upon.

This year the Libertarian Presidential candidate is Bob Barr. Certainly the best-known candidate in party history, but also a candidate that brings a great deal of negative perception to his candidacy from his former service in Congress.

Despite his obvious failings Bob Barr is doing something exactly right, and hopefully his candidacy is teaching Libertarians a very important lesson. He is talking about the issues that the voters care about. Doing this is vital if the party ever hopes to supplant either the Democratic or Republican parties in our two party system.

The overwhelming majority of voters will never base their votes on Libertarian theory on the issue of narcotics use. Voters will however base their votes on the “Wall Street Bailout.” Mr. Barr understands this, and is messaging upon it.

The list goes on and on. The overwhelming majority of voters care about “Energy Independence,” “Government Spending,” “Health Care.” That majority agrees with Libertarian views on such issues. They must however learn about those Libertarian views. Mr. Barr is attempting to educate the public. Previous Libertarian candidates for President have not done so in my view, instead getting bogged down trying to explain complex Libertarian theory on a wide variety of issues. Theory that the average voter neither wants to understand, nor cares about.

Let us hope that in the next electoral cycle the Libertarian slate of candidates are positive, effective candidates and that they follow Mr. Barr’s lead in talking about the issues that have the potential to sway massive blocs of voters, for that is the only path to success.