Dear Libertarians…

Probably no political party in America today espouses individual liberty to the degree the Libertarian
Party does. Since it's founding almost forty years ago, the Libertarians have wandered around the
edges of our nation's political landscape, occasionally making noise but never seriously challenging
the Big Two.

Revolutions rarely happen overnight. They typically take many years or decades before coming to
pass. It seems that a possible Libertarian revolution that was brewing in the 1970's and early 80's was
preempted as the Democrats began to adopt some of the LP's socially and morally permissive
ideologies, while many Republicans more fully embraced free market concepts along with lower taxes
and reduced government spending.

Though political power in the United States is still firmly entrenched in the hands of the two main
parties, Libertarian thought continues to help mold and shape public and political opinion.

I archive my columns online at my personal website, and the heading on the home page reads,
“Conservative with a touch of Libertarianism and an occasional trip down a dirt road.”

There are millions of Republicans like myself who feel let down by our party as conservative principals
are repeatedly abandoned for political expediency or perceived political self-preservation.

The Republican Revolution of 1994 that others and I worked so hard to see come to fruition has been
squandered by the socialistic “compassionate conservatism” of George W. Bush and spineless
Republicans in congress who have refused to challenge him. We feel as though left at the altar while
the GOP sneaks a kiss with the left of center crowd.

The selection this year of a moderate John McCain as the Republican standard-bearer is more than
many conservatives can stomach. I'm one of those.

There are many like me who agree with much of the platform of the Libertarian Party's concerning
economics, taxes, smaller government and individual liberty. I'm sure I'm not the only GOP'er who
watched some of the national Libertarian Convention last weekend on CSPAN with at least a remote
thought of possibly switching parties.

In all honesty it was refreshing to see a party hold a presidential nominating convention where the
outcome had not been decided in advance and actually took six rounds of balloting before a nominee
was chosen.

On the other hand this national convention was very amateurishly run by today's standards and paled
in comparison to even a GOP state convention. If the Libertarians hope to attract more than core true
believers to their cause, they must quickly ramp up to speed on the marketing of their party or they
will never draw enough new faces to seriously challenge the Big Two.

Like all political groups, the Libertarians also have their share of party faithful whose ideologies would
be considered on the fringe. While the Democrats and Republicans work to keep theirs out of the
limelight, many of those at the Libertarian convention were front and center.

As an example, many conservatives will readily admit the war on drugs has been a failure, and that
many of our rights and liberties have been surrendered to it. Some might even be willing to look at the
decriminalization of marijuana and other measured incremental steps as we work to roll back the
federal RICO statutes and other infringements.

However when legitimate contenders for the Libertarian presidential nomination along with some state
party chairmen make legalization of pot their primary focus on camera, then the party risks completely
alienating those who might otherwise give the LP's a chance.

Another dangerous point of the convention came when the chairman from the “Big Love” state of Utah
spoke about polygamy in his state and gave the impression that it should be legal alongside
homosexual marriage.

If it is to grow, the Libertarian Party can only go one of two ways. It can tone down the rhetoric on
abolishing welfare, shrinking government, and cutting taxes in order to draw liberal Democrats to the
fold. Or it can minimize its ardent support of liberal social and moral ideologies in order to attract
conservatives from the GOP.

By selecting Bob Barr as the Libertarian nominee for president last Sunday, many of the delegates
seemed to understand that for the party to flourish and have a bigger impact, the logical step is to
reach to out to disenfranchised Republicans. It was also obvious that some hardcore “anything goes”
Libertarians don't want their tent enlarged.

There's a real possibility that over the next four years, the Libertarian Party will experience growing
pains and some shifts in its platform as Barr brings an influx of former Republicans with him. This will
either invigorate the party to new heights, or result in an internal fight between the newbies and the old-
timers that will leave the Big Two parties firmly entrenched.

A slowing economy, increasing prices for oil and food, along with an unsettled populace unhappy with
both the Democrats and Republicans presents a peak opportunity for a third party to break out of the
pack. America is crying for change and during this transitional period of 2008 thru 2012 we as a nation
will either embrace liberty or we will embrace socialism.

The Libertarian revolution has been simmering for almost forty years. Conditions in the United States
may have to deteriorate to an almost unbearable point at some time in the future before an opportunity
like this comes again for freedom minded individuals. Libertarians, seize the day!

June 1, 2008