To the editor:
It seems some LP members believe the purpose of the party is to get elected. This is counterproductive. We believe the purpose of running for office involves educating the public about libertarianism.
Running provides LP candidates with a forum and an audience otherwise unavailable to us. Too often LP candidates in partisan elections worry too much about getting votes. Consequently, they water down the simple beauty of our libertarian message of respecting private property rights, thinking this will help them "win." Then when their compromising garners only a small fraction of the votes they expected, they often burn out.
A companion LP belief is that if we don't get elected we can't change policy, and getting elected is the only way to move society toward liberty. Not true. Norman Thomas (Socialist Party USA) ran for president six times and never won. Yet his platform has largely been adopted by both the Republicans and Democrats.
Michael R. Edelstein
San Francisco
DrEdelstein@...
Mike Denny
San Francisco
mike@...
Michael,
Very valid points. Please add me as a signatory to this letter, if that's acceptable to you and Mike Denny.
Yours in liberty,
<<< starchild >>>
To the editor:
It seems some LP members believe the purpose of the party is to get elected. This is counterproductive. We believe the purpose of running for office involves educating the public about libertarianism.
Running provides LP candidates with a forum and an audience otherwise unavailable to us. Too often LP candidates in partisan elections worry too much about getting votes. Consequently, they water down the simple beauty of our libertarian message of respecting private property rights, thinking this will help them "win." Then when their compromising garners only a small fraction of the votes they expected, they often burn out.
A companion LP belief is that if we don't get elected we can't change policy, and getting elected is the only way to move society toward liberty. Not true. Norman Thomas (Socialist Party USA) ran for president six times and never won. Yet his platform has largely been adopted by both the Republicans and Democrats.
Michael R. Edelstein
San Francisco
DrEdelstein@...
Mike Denny
San Francisco
mike@...
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