Political analysis
Dear Libertarians, Enough Kidding Around
- By The Beast
- July 02, 2007
I disagree with you philosophically. We will not agree on many issues. But we (leftists and libertarians) find ourselves in a peculiar conjuncture in history where we might coordinate our actions toward a commonly agreed upon end. Here are some key points on which we might agree.
(1) We oppose the war; and we oppose using the military for anything except the direct self-defense of the territory of the US.
(2) We oppose setting up and maintaining military bases abroad.
(3) We oppose the huge subsidies that are routinely provided by tax revenues to corporations. Lleftists consider this the essence of capitalism, and libertarians consider it a betrayal of capitalistic “free market” principles… who cares… we oppose the subsidies to nuclear power plants, to transportation infrastructure — like interstate highways and airports, and in particular to Agribusiness, Pharmaceuticals, and Big Energy.
(4) We oppose the Security State apparatus that spies on its residents; and the outrageous “Drug War” that has resulted in phenomenal incarceration rates in this country.
(5) We oppose the enforced and continued monopoly on political power exercised by the two dominant parties (one party with two names).
The aforementioned conjuncture is the 2008 General Election. We are seeing crises emerge in the bellies of both parties — Republicans on immigration and reproductive choice, and Democrats on both “free trade” and the war.
Senators Obama and Clinton recently engaged in the cynical maneuver of voting against war funding after the vote count confirmed that the measure would pass. This was a clear indication that the antiwar movement’s threats to withhold votes for those who refuse to withhold war funding has made them very anxious. At the same time, the Republicans, who would have people believe they are the “free marketeers,” provide billions in subsidies (open and hidden); and their primary process has led, once again, to the hegemony within the party of its most theocratic and intolerant faction.
We on the left do not want to vote for Democrats who refuse to stop a hideous war or who run like frightened children away from simple common-sense ideas like marijuana decriminalization. You among the libertarians are surely weary of alliances with theocrats and with the autocrats of the neocon Security State.
The issues where we will find major agreement are not minor. Surely there is a way for us to agree upon a limited program of mutuality, roughly outlined above, and set aside our differences, long enough to break the Republicrat duopoly. Support for Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich in the primary season is a beginning; but after the existing apparatus spits them out, where do we go from here? Can we convince these two to stand together to talk about a basic five-point program? Can we threaten the parties with mass abstentions? Can we combine resources at the local level (I am in the relocalization wing of the left; and oppose Big Government every bit as much as you in many respects) to run fusion tickets on everything from medical marijuana to challenging eminent domain abuses (taking private property on behalf of WalMart, for example)?
There is no need for us to love each other, nor to hate each other. We can continue our debates on philosophy, epistemology, and so forth. But at this particular time, precisely because there are deep fissures emerging in both parties, we might be looking into a window of opportunity to begin the process of putting new debates on the table, and breaking the power of the political establishment.
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Written by Stan Goff
The Beast: America’s Best Friend
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The Question now is: Who?
Ron Paul or Dennis Kucinich?
If you are trying to get a winner, which one is more likely to get that all important win within there primary?
Since I am a Ron Paul supporter, of course I can point out Debate wins in California and New Hampshire with the online polls, and a second place in South Carolina in the text message polls..
Plus with McCain disappearing into obscurity, Ron. Paul is coming in second in several straw polls and now has broken through the 3% name recognition barrier.
Of course Mr. Kucinich ran 3 years ago and did fairly well plus he has better name recognition. This time around with three front runners well ahead of the pack I don’t know if Mr. Kucinich can come out of obscurity. Now while Elizabeth his wife is (insert appropriate HOT description here) this is now his third marriage. Will this affect his electability this time around?
The last question is splitting money amongst two candidates. Would putting it all on one person be the best bet or trying to get enough to cover two campaigns work.
Food for thought.
507 days ago by Texas Little El
(1) We oppose the war; and we oppose using the military for anything except the direct self-defense of the territory of the US.
That’s refreshing news.
(2) We oppose setting up and maintaining military bases abroad.
But you keep voting for people who gleefully take my money and give it to this exact purpose.
(3) We oppose the huge subsidies that are routinely provided by tax revenues to corporations. Lleftists consider this the essence of capitalism, and libertarians consider it a betrayal of capitalistic “free market” principles… who cares… we oppose the subsidies to nuclear power plants, to transportation infrastructure — like interstate highways and airports, and in particular to Agribusiness, Pharmaceuticals, and Big Energy.
But that’s just a small part of the picture. You’re all for tons of other subsidies, like socialized medicine.
(4) We oppose the Security State apparatus that spies on its residents; and the outrageous “Drug War” that has resulted in phenomenal incarceration rates in this country.
You vote for people who keep funding the machine while you complain.
(5) We oppose the enforced and continued monopoly on political power exercised by the two dominant parties (one party with two names).
I’m suspicious.
We on the left do not want to vote for Democrats who refuse to stop a hideous war or who run like frightened children away from simple common-sense ideas like marijuana decriminalization.
_Yet you have, and do. _
The issues where we will find major agreement are not minor. Surely there is a way for us to agree upon a limited program of mutuality, roughly outlined above, and set aside our differences, long enough to break the Republicrat duopoly. Support for Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich in the primary season is a beginning; but after the existing apparatus spits them out,
This apparatus, the one you’ve voted into place and empower with “clean election” laws that all but guarantee the exclusion of any but main-line Democrat or Republican candidates.
(I am in the relocalization wing of the left; and oppose Big Government every bit as much as you in many respects) to run fusion tickets on everything from medical marijuana to challenging eminent domain abuses (taking private property on behalf of WalMart, for example)?That’s a start, but how about let’s just limit government to its constitutionally-limited funciton?
But at this particular time, precisely because there are deep fissures emerging in both parties, we might be looking into a window of opportunity to begin the process of putting new debates on the table, and breaking the power of the political establishment.Part of the problem is that people won’t vote for candidates like Ron Paul saying “Nobody will vote for him.” or “He can’t win.” And when you don’t vote for him, he doesn’t get votes. The other problem is of course, “If we don’t vote for the Democrat, a Republican will get in!” which just reinforces the two party argument further. I welcome anybody who wants to shrink government and its vile influence in our lives. You might just be a closet Libertarian.
506 days ago by John
As a ‘Goldwater’ Libertarian, I don’t agree with all your five points. More importantly I would feel like an idiot supporting Ron Paul and Dennis Kucinich. Our politics may be stupid and corrupt, but they lead the parade of Clowns.
504 days ago by James E. Fish