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I Was a Card-Carrying Libertarian
Posted by Stephen Green · 25 October 2007
My latest PJM column/confessional was posted this morning -- and I missed it. My boss seemed to like it, though. Anyway, go read my Confessions of a Black Sheep Republican. Comments
Good essay. For me, W was the first non LP I voted for, and that was in 2004. I still think taxes are too high, the federal government is much much much too big (No Child Left Behind is an unconstitutional federal intrusion) and drugs should be legalized/regulated. But first, we got some real enemies to deal with. Neither the Dems nor Liberts seem to realize that. Which leaves me with the choice of W. Ugh. Posted by: rbj at October 25, 2007 01:48 PMSure glad to have your voice back in the blogosphere. I went through a very similar intellectual development, and shared my thought on it back in December 2003 (early in my blog's life): Clothespin Republicans. Posted by: JohnL at October 25, 2007 02:41 PMThe trouble with capital-L libertarians is that they tend to ignore liberty and its growth outside our borders. Find sand, dig hole, insert head. We small-l libertarians (who choose GOP candidates as the bad-over-worse alternatives) should get that capital L back someday. Posted by: caveat bettor at October 25, 2007 03:18 PM"the pulpy Liberty was for ponytailed radicals like me" Pictures please. Posted by: Michael B at October 26, 2007 11:46 AMTO: Stephen Green ....I saw it there. And commented on it, there. Let me just say this.... It's easier to correct 'wrong' than it is to correct either 'stupid' or 'crazy'. Regards, Chuck(le) Unfortunately, none of this is an account of what the LP's position was, or the actions of Libertarians internationally. The post and comments do seem to reflect what extreme conservatives presume is happening with libertarians. The sources quoted have nothing to do with the LP, and are even Republicans.
Libertarians believe that coercive government is to be replaced or circumvented by voluntary action, and view coercive government as essentially impotent or backfiring. The major interest of Libertarians at that time or today is not in taking a position on inane conservative or socialist war policies, but encouraging their own Libertarian view of continued citizen action as paramount:such as creating democracy and Libertarian movements abroad, and encouraging Sister-City type exchanges--what Eisenhower called the true defense of free countries (and also was how we contacted Boris Yeltsin with important effects). The US does not need vast militaries to fight 'our' battles. We do need to encourage Libertarian-oriented thinking abroad so they organize to fight our battles by action in their own country. As to the events in question, I was on the Executive Committee of the LP USA at the time. Our reaction was to urge Libertarians to donate blood, period. In short order we voiced limited and critical support for military response, but more important we co-ordinated with Libertarians in Afghanistan, who had been leading a struggle against the Taliban, to begin action. In fact, on 9/11, there was a picture on our front page we had just uploaded of Libertarians working in Kabul to develop Grameen style banks with the endorsement of Aslam Effendi, a distinguished member of the Afghan royal family. It is forgotten that by the time the US arrives, revolt was in full swing, and then Libertarians there worked with other groups in summoning the jurga AGAINST US wishes that created free elections there. The situation in Afghanistan has moved to an international nation building phase. In Iraq the US--meaning the GOP--has unwisely not repeated the strategy in Afghanistan with mixed results. Meanwhile, the US government and NED have taken to sending activists from other countries to LP HQ to learn about us. Meanwhile, State LP's have begun participating in an LIO program adopting Sister groups abroad. The Florida LP, for example, has worked closely with Costa Rica resulting in a strong Libertarian-Liberal party there instead of a trouble spot. No Saddam Husseins there. Big government cannot help you, small government cannot help you, but self-government can help you. If you want to have a Libertarian 'position' on the war or foreign policy, join a local Sister City or similar program trying to help a struggling country and donate to www.ISIL.org to bring young students to Libertarian conferences where they can meet and learn from people who have changed their nation because of Libertarian help. National defense by the spread of freedom is ultimately too critical to be left to government, as Eisenhower suggested. Prevent the IRAQ's of the future by citizen action you can start today as others have: get yourself appointed to a Sister City advisory board,help the leaders of to-morrow learn about freedom and rights, and effective activism to better their countries. You don't need to be a card-carrying anything to understand or do that. Posted by: M. Gilson-De Lemos at October 26, 2007 08:11 PMTO: M. Gilson-De Lemos Kuwel. I'll be back to you on this. Later tonight or sometime tomorrow. It all depends on how much time it takes me to throw together this Vietnamese dinner of broil flat-fish (flounder) with a spicy sauce accompanied by Vietnamese eggrolls. It all depends on how drunk I get in the process. In the meantime, I'm also attempting the 'hack' the recipe for Thai Hep's Bun Thit Nuong (barbecued pork tenderloin). The latest effort is quietly maranading in the frig, in preparation for tomorrow's cooking adventure. Yeah....I'm on a SE Asian kick right now. I think I've got the Thai down pretty good. Regards, Chuck(le) P.S. Speaking of platforms.... ...and in accordance with your complaint about a failure to 'recognize' the LP's political theory.... ....please provide the election-cycle-2008 platform; plank-by-plank. I'll choose a plank and we can 'discuss' it....HERE....or on ground of your choosing...if Stephen resents our use of his bandwidth. Posted by: Chuck Pelto at October 28, 2007 03:43 PMTO: M. Gilson-De Lemos “Unfortunately, none of this is an account of what the LP's position was, or the actions of Libertarians internationally. The post and comments do seem to reflect what extreme conservatives presume is happening with libertarians. The sources quoted have nothing to do with the LP, and are even Republicans." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos As I requested (above), please provide what EXACTLY the LP platform is for the 2008 election cycle. Or, if that is not available as yet, what it was for the 2006 general election. "I co-ordinate the Libertarian International Organization." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos I don’t care if you clean out their waste baskets for the NSA. And I’m sure you don’t care that I’m a very active precinct co-chair for my county. “Far from being indifferent to what is outside US borders, our activists have worked closely with both the LP and members of the Government in working to bring down dictatorships of every description by spreading ideas, mentoring activism, and direct citizen diplomacy." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos Nice concept that. As some wag once said, “The pen is mightier than the sword.” But tell us, how much money does LP put into such operations? Annually? And where can we verify your report? Preferably from an unbiased source. “Numerous leaders elected in those dictatorships say the "L" factor was essential in getting change. Groups such as www.isil.org and www.FEE.org played very key roles." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos If that’s the case, you’ve got a really crummy publicist. Which dictatorships are you taking credit for overthrowing? "Libertarians believe that coercive government is to be replaced or circumvented by voluntary action, and view coercive government as essentially impotent or backfiring. The major interest of Libertarians at that time or today is not in taking a position on inane conservative or socialist war policies, but encouraging their own Libertarian view of continued citizen action as paramount:such as creating democracy and Libertarian movements abroad, and encouraging Sister-City type exchanges--what Eisenhower called the true defense of free countries (and also was how we contacted Boris Yeltsin with important effects). The US does not need vast militaries to fight 'our' battles. We do need to encourage Libertarian-oriented thinking abroad so they organize to fight our battles by action in their own country." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos That sounds all well and good. However, the question remains....What ARE the LP views? You’ve not answered that, as yet. Instead you throw up some tripe about ‘Sister-City Exchanges’. I watched such an ‘exchange’ occur in my first visit to a public hearing of my newly adopted (via a move to this community) city council. I saw three men describe how this steel-mill city, of 100+K, should establish a ‘sister-city’ relationship with a goat-herding, 300+village in Sicily. When one of the brighter points on the City Council asked why our community that was 333% larger and had a completely different economic going for it, the three replied, “Well. There are ‘Family’ ties.” At this point the entire City Council approved the exchange relationship. [Note: This place is, allegedly, the seat of the Mafia in this state.] As I understand it, the City Council is nonpartisan. So politics don’t enter into this sort of think. However, politics, as you see it, should. Your example didn’t fair very well in the face of reality. Got another? Something that might fair a tad better? "As to the events in question, I was on the Executive Committee of the LP USA at the time. Our reaction was to urge Libertarians to donate blood, period." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos In the spirit of that old Southern Belle joke, “Hooooowww niiiiiiccceee.” [Note: The polite way to say ‘F--- you’. Donate blood? How? Going to the local blood bank? Or volunteering to be an airborne-ranger; standing on the front line, ready to defend this country with their very lifeblood. The answer to that question speaks volumes. “In short order we voiced limited and critical support for military response, but more important we coordinated with Libertarians in Afghanistan, who had been leading a struggle against the Taliban, to begin action.” -- M. Gilson-De Lemos As I thought....you gutless wonder. Nothing more than a pacifist under the guise of a misnomer. You and the so-called ‘Liberals’. There is not a word of truth to your moniker. However, I am intrigued by your report of an LP presence in Taliban-Afghan. What were they doing? Tracking bin Laden? Capping the honchos? Spreading leaflets? Getting executed in front of the crowds at soccer games, as part of the half-time show? Inquiring minds, with MI experience, want to know. “In fact, on 9/11, there was a picture on our front page we had just uploaded of Libertarians working in Kabul to develop Grameen style banks with the endorsement of Aslam Effendi, a distinguished member of the Afghan royal family.” -- M. Gilson-De Lemos Ooooooo...that’ll impress em. Pictures of the royals. Yeah. That’ll get them dictators every time. VEEEERY ‘effective’, that. “It is forgotten that by the time the US arrives, revolt was in full swing, and then Libertarians there worked with other groups in summoning the jurga AGAINST US wishes that created free elections there. The situation in Afghanistan has moved to an international nation building phase. In Iraq the US--meaning the GOP--has unwisely not repeated the strategy in Afghanistan with mixed results. Meanwhile, the US government and NED have taken to sending activists from other countries to LP HQ to learn about us." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos Please specify what the LP was doing in Afghanistan BEFORE US arrived. For all we know, I could claim I was working in Afghanistan before US forces arrived on the ground. "Meanwhile, State LP's have begun participating in an LIO program adopting Sister groups abroad. The Florida LP, for example, has worked closely with Costa Rica resulting in a strong Libertarian-Liberal party there instead of a trouble spot. No Saddam Husseins there." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos Please explain “LIO” to us neophytes. Yeah. Costa Rica. They’ve got REAL problems. Much greater than Cuba or Venezula. Right? Wrong. "Big government cannot help you, small government cannot help you, but self-government can help you. If you want to have a Libertarian 'position' on the war or foreign policy, join a local Sister City or similar program trying to help a struggling country and donate to www.ISIL.org to bring young students to Libertarian conferences where they can meet and learn from people who have changed their nation because of Libertarian help. National defense by the spread of freedom is ultimately too critical to be left to government, as Eisenhower suggested. Prevent the IRAQ's of the future by citizen action you can start today as others have: get yourself appointed to a Sister City advisory board,help the leaders of to-morrow learn about freedom and rights, and effective activism to better their countries. You don't need to be a card-carrying anything to understand or do that." -- M. Gilson-De Lemos Yeah. Big government can’t help me. I know better. But, based on everything I’ve seen todate, the LP can’t help either. And here you go again, throwing up that ‘sister city’ canard. Citizen action IS the answer. However, so far, your ‘platform’ is pretty much ineffectual. And if there is anything that I loath, it is being ‘ineffectual’. Why? Well....because it just doesn’t seem to ‘work’. Regards, Chuck(le ) |
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