We Have A Dream

Which political party was the third largest vote getter in last year’s race for U.S. President? If you picked the Libertarian Party – you’re right. Michael Badnarik the party’s nominee garnered 0.3% of the vote in the 2004 Election. That’s three times more than the Green Party with 0.1% of the vote.

Julia Gorin in Opinion Journal writes:

Most of us have heard at least vaguely the party's [Libertarian] guiding principles, which usually center on a "government out" ideology that says the government has exactly two functions: to protect citizens from foreign attackers, and to create and defend a body of law that protects citizens' property rights and physical safety. There is also an emphasis on personal liberty and individual responsibility.

Can you imagine such a wacky philosophy? How could anyone vote for a party that espouses such extreme ideas? We hazily remember learning about this ideology in school. Ah yes, we remember now, it was in the U.S. Constitution. Sad isn’t it - the ideas in our country’s founding documents - our Declaration of Independence and Constitution – are no longer considered “mainstream”.

Gorin goes on to say there’s a bit more to the Libertarian Party than the guiding principles noted above:

Libertarians generally bill themselves as fiscally conservative but socially liberal. But that's the straight-faced answer. When those who still haven't quite grasped the nature of this political party or its adherents ask, "So what's a Libertarian, anyway?" it can be summed up with any or all of the following quips:

• A conservative with an unhealthy preoccupation with sex.
• A Republican with a wild side.
• An amoral Republican.

Comedian Jeff Jena defines a Libertarian as a Democrat who wants to own a gun, or a Republican who wants to smoke pot.

Guns and pot aside, we believe there are a good number of people, calling themselves Republicans, who whole-heartily agree with the Libertarian Party’s guiding principles. The call for limited government and a judiciary bound by the Constitution’s original intent and meaning is an appealing message.

If only we could encourage more politicians to embrace this philosophy. Unfortunately, an abrogation of government and judicial power is not popular with the ruling class. But we can keep working to convince our fellow citizens that there is a better way. Just imagine the day when the two major political parties in the country are the Republicans and the Libertarians. We should live so long - but sometimes it’s nice to have a dream.