American Political Realignment?
USCAdad @ Fri Oct 06, 2006 12:29 am
There's some heavy flirting going on between the Libertarians and the Dems over at Catounbound. Markos is making a bit of hash of it, but I think this discussion might take off with a resulting shift for one of the two parties. One of them has to come to their senses.
I found one interesting proposal at TCS Daily:
$1:
Dear Libertarian Democrats,
Thank you for your recent overture. Libertarians are not very good at accepting overtures. We tend to be purists, and there is much in your essay that violates my ideas of libertarianism. Nonetheless, I would like to offer a constructive response. What I would propose is that we adopt a pragmatic, experimental approach toward working together.
I am ready to acknowledge that Republicans have not served libertarians well the past six years. In fact, I recently made a controversial Case for Staying Home this November, because I am fed up with Republicans' focus on power politics and "big-government conservatism."
My guess is that the Democratic Party is not going to suddenly convert en masse to libertarianism. But I can see the possibility of at least a temporary alliance between libertarians and Democrats, provided that both are willing to experiment.
Thank you for your recent overture. Libertarians are not very good at accepting overtures. We tend to be purists, and there is much in your essay that violates my ideas of libertarianism. Nonetheless, I would like to offer a constructive response. What I would propose is that we adopt a pragmatic, experimental approach toward working together.
I am ready to acknowledge that Republicans have not served libertarians well the past six years. In fact, I recently made a controversial Case for Staying Home this November, because I am fed up with Republicans' focus on power politics and "big-government conservatism."
My guess is that the Democratic Party is not going to suddenly convert en masse to libertarianism. But I can see the possibility of at least a temporary alliance between libertarians and Democrats, provided that both are willing to experiment.
TheFoundersIntent @ Sat Oct 14, 2006 4:50 pm
This tactic is nothing new, since the Democrats are not the ones keeping the libertarians from reaching mainstream status. The libertarians have to fight against the Republicans, because they and the libertarians have the most in common. When conservative Americans look for a party, they wouldn't be chosing between Reps and Dems, but between Reps and Libs.
Hardy @ Sat Oct 14, 2006 5:15 pm
Well, there was a time when the Republicans stood for a cheap, unobtrusive government and lots of individual rights, but those times are gone. If it weren't for that, most Libertarians could probably be happy as one wing of the Republican party. Instead, the changes in the Republican agenda has thrown them into a limbo not unlike what happened with Red Tories, and they have formed their own party since nobody else seemed very in tune with them.
For them to ally themselves with the Democrats makes some sense, regardless of where the votes may come from. Aside from issues related to gun registration, the Dems are looking like the less socially authoritarian party right now, and that's what counts to Libertarians.
TheFoundersIntent @ Wed Jan 31, 2007 4:12 pm
Hardy Hardy:
Well, there was a time when the Republicans stood for a cheap, unobtrusive government and lots of individual rights, but those times are gone. If it weren't for that, most Libertarians could probably be happy as one wing of the Republican party. Instead, the changes in the Republican agenda has thrown them into a limbo not unlike what happened with Red Tories, and they have formed their own party since nobody else seemed very in tune with them.
For them to ally themselves with the Democrats makes some sense, regardless of where the votes may come from. Aside from issues related to gun registration, the Dems are looking like the less socially authoritarian party right now, and that's what counts to Libertarians.
For them to ally themselves with the Democrats makes some sense, regardless of where the votes may come from. Aside from issues related to gun registration, the Dems are looking like the less socially authoritarian party right now, and that's what counts to Libertarians.
Looks can be deceiving and the libertarians are the suckers.
USCAdad @ Wed Jan 31, 2007 8:16 pm
They've certainly fallen for the theocrats and neocons lies so far. Let's see how long that lasts. I don't think Santorum will be joining the Village People, and I don't think Libertarians will be voting for a socon "Republican Base" sort of candidate in the near future. Until the Republicans can remember their roots, it will be a Southern Theocratic Christian party with little cross over. I'll write in Ron Paul before I vote for another big government conservative.