Over at Cato Unbound, Markos Moulitsas is making the case for libertarians to vote Democratic. I’ll weigh in a bit later.
I’m pretty skeptical of the Kos conception of a libertarian Democrat — it seems pretty light on the libertarian and pretty heavy on the Democrat. But, as I get into in my book, something along these lines is taking shape in the West. Now’s the time for Republicans to start taking the threat seriously.
The duality of our political system is not an assumption but historical and game-theory-based fact. Duverger’s law, which states that a single-member first past the post districting system will inevitably produce a two major coalitional parties who overwhelmingly dominate the system, describes Americans politics perfectly. So the assertion, if not GOP, then Democrat, isn’t faulty at all. Libertarians have no power in American politics except by alliance with one of the major parties. Kos is simply pointing out that Libertarians will reach more of their policy goals by coming into the Democratic tent.
There is a hierachy of liberty interests. Arguably, political rights against state intrusions are superior to mere economic liberties, such as the right to pollute the commons, or defraud customers, or even to use one’s property in an unrestricted manner. You may feel differently, but history has demonstrated over and over that political rights, once lost, are much harder to restore than economic rights, and that economic rights are inevitably lost once political rights are destroyed. Kos therefore posits that Libertarians should be far more alarmed, and organize to oppose, those restrictions on political rights which the GOP is currently pursuing, even though they may disagree with some or all of the limitations on economic rights which are attendant to Democrats’ desire to regulate and police free markets.
In short, Kos is asking Libertarians to accept the lesser evil.
Libertarians in the Democrat Party is an absurd concept.
Libertarians have always been historically tied to the GOP, since even before Goldwater. The Founder of the Libertarian Party David Nolan was State Chairman of the Young Republicans. The Founder of the Modern Libertarian Movement, Dana Rohrabacher is now a Republican Congressman. Every single Libertarian Party Presidential candidate history save one (Harry Browne - Independent), was a Republican. In fact three returned to the GOP: John Hospers, Roger MacBride and Ron Paul. Every single state legislator ever elected as a Libertarian was aligned with the Republicans. Andre Marrou, for instance, in the Alaska House “Caucused” as a Republican during his term, 1986/87. Don Gorman, former elected Libertarian Party state legislator in New Hampshire, is running as a Republican this year and is expected to win.
No less than three libertarians have an excellent shot of winning their respective Governor’s races this year running as Republicans: Butch Otter in Idaho, Sarah Palin in Alaska and Charlie Crist in Florida.
Five Libertarian Party members just secured the GOP Nomination for Vermont State House, and have an excellent shot of winning.
At least 5 to 6 libertarian Republicans currently serve in the US Congress: Otter, Jeff Flake, Ron Paul, Tom Feeney and of course Rohrabacher.
Now compare all this to “libertarian Democrats” in public office or as candidates.
In the history of the libertarian movement only one single Libertarian has ever been elected to a state legislature as a Democrat. His name is Steven Villaincourt. He won a seat to the New Hampshire House in a fluke, as a Democrat. But ironically, a year later he switched to Republican.
This year, only one single Libertarian is running for public office under the Democrat line: Frank Gonzeles for the Florida House. And he has zero chance of winning.
So when you consider the facts, and not just empty platitudes from policy wankers like Ryan Sager the case for a “libertarian Democrat” strategy falls right on its face.
Eric Dondero, Former Senior Aide
US Congressman Ron Paul
www.mainstreamlibertarian.com
I hereby challenge Ryan Sager to a debate anytime anywhere in the United States.
He asserts that the GOP is no longer a good home for libertarians.
Fine, let’s talk politics Mr. Sager. Show me an elected libertarian Democrat Congressman. Even an elected libertarian Democrat state legislator.
Waiting…