Funny, it took seven years in Austin and a Badnarik birthday party
for me to (however temporarily) resent everyone in the Texas
Libertarian Party. You Californians, being much much sharper,
managed to drive me crazy in seven months. I posted the following
on my website. Bitch and moan if wish but it beats me getting up at
the next Ex Com meeting to shout, "Fuck you. Fuck you all."
08/08/06--World Leader Pretend
Author: Angela
"If I'm told I have the burden of proving to you that I'm not
wasting my time, well, f-ck you. You can quote me on that."
--David Bergland
No,no, I didn't do it. No open letter to the LPC. No insisting that
our national chair ban the entire state party from the LNC due to
hooliganism, sad sackery, neuroses, quirky mysticism and a ruling on
slippers. No smarmy remarks (e.g.,"If M.H. is so rich, why didn't he
buy himself some shoes and a little deodorant.")
If you haven't guessed, I am sick and tired of the Libertarian Party
of California. On its best day it is a force for comedy and on its
worse it is simply an impediment to a free society.
No, I don't mind that each and every member past and present of the
LPC Ex Com possesses a personality defect or some completely
untoward eccentricity. What I mind is that every faction insists
that its vision of the LPC is the true and only heaven. Meanwhile,
Keaton is merely some anarchist crank with an increasingly tight bum
(thanks Badnarik people for the kick in the ass.) If anything, I am
developing a fondness for this collection of kooks hence, I am
issuing not so much a fatwa but a guide to how and why I will vote
any goddamn way I want for the remainder of my term.
No emails, no plaintive phone calls. I'm done with the plots, the
therapy sessions and the tormented revelations. Like the rest of
you, I am voting however the hell I want and if you don't like it
you can vote me out come 2008 when we have our convention in an
efficiency off of Wilshire or a cargo ship off of Novaya Zemlya.
1.) Operation Breakthrough--It is distasteful however well meaning
to create a professional class of libertarian bureaucrats through
elections to non-partisan administrative boards. While I maintain
the deepest respect and affection for our chair, Operation
Breakthrough is antithetical to the goals of a libertarian society
and merely adopts the strategy of our oppressors.
2.)The excluded LPC middle, reformists and moderates--I have often
heard the cry of "we want people who want to be part of something
larger than themselves." "We want to do whatever works." "We want
freedom now!" "Wouldn't you rather have some freedom than none?"
First, this is the language of the collectivist, the "democrat," and
ultimately the mob. The fight for freedom is often a solitary
struggle. While we come together to promote libertarian values, the
desire for liberty must emanate from within each rational man. The
language we use must reflect our ultimate goals.
Second, the shift toward "holistic values" is a dangerous
development as it slouches ever so slowly with its promises
of "moderation" and "incrementalism" to a libertarianism without
liberty as its primary value. Without liberty the other values are
meaningless and more importantly as radical individualists each man
must decide for himself what is his hierarchy of values.
Finally, as we slide toward a moderate platform with an increasing
reluctance to stand by our radical principles, we demonstrate no
understanding of the Hegelian dialectic, human psychology or recent
political history. Those yet unknown fellow travelers among us
crave, "a choice, not an echo."
We dissuade freedom fighters from the bold move of casting a vote
for liberty if we demand that they accept a bland rehash of failed
GOP policy.
As for the big tent, well, "We can't accept all the shit that walks
in off the streets."
3.) "Pro War Libertarian" is not an acceptable deviation for those
in leadership posts. This is not 1971. We are no longer a club for
Randians angered with Nixon's price controls. The Libertarian Party
has developed a clear and consistent message and those in leadership
posts should reflect it. While we should offer our hand in
brotherhood to those thoughtful conservatives, we should work to
persuade them that the non-aggression principle is the lynch pin of
a civilized people.
4.) In an effort to stay true to my anarchist moral core, I have
disaffiliated with the Grassroots Caucus. While I unquestionably
support the caucus' principles, I must give a "no confidence" vote
to its leadership which remains mired in trivial and petty stylistic
conflicts with the Ex Com while police brutality, government theft
of private property and the occupation of foreign soil remain the
order of the day. None of which will change if we merely concern
ourselves with the "corporate image" of our current Ex Com
leadership. While we argue over what to wear, the revolution takes
place outside without us.
In Liberty,
Angela Keaton, West Hollywood, CA
At Large Member LPC
email 