The Importance of Cadre
March 10th, 2007
A Libertarian Party presents many difficulties. For one thing, there is the constant temptation to substitute numbers of votes for profits as the test of success, and this means the dilution of principle to appeal to the lowest common denominator of voters. This temptation has been yielded to with great enthusiasm by the Clark campaign. But the price of liberty is eternal vigilance, never more so than in a libertarian political party… The struggle against opportunism is not going to be easy, and it may not even be successful. But the LP is a valuable enough institution that the battle is worth it. Which is why it needs the Radical Caucus.
–Murray Rothbard, referring to the 1980 version of the Radicals.
My initial position as a self-identified libertarian was that of the “moderate” or “pragmatic” mindset. I didn’t sign the controversial pledge right away - I have an aversion to contracts, and I didn’t fully buy into the NAP. When I heard what David Nolan had to say about the pledge, I overcame my contractphobia and joined the LP.
I had read just enough about the ideology to understand the lazy version of libertarianism - that government was going too far we were there to try and put it back in check. I scorned the “lifestyle libertarians” and anyone espousing extremisms, such as a completely free market society. As a non-activist, who did nothing more than vote and write the occasional check, I was fairly isolated from any possibility of further introspection. I sat in that space, philosophically stagnant, for twelve years.
It wasn’t until I returned to my hometown and started getting involved with the local LP that my thinking started to change. In most parts of the country, the committed LP activists are few and far between. In many states, the state ExCom meeting is the only choice. I was fortunate to live in one of the few places that does have a pocket of experienced, smart, and principled partyarchs to flesh out a county affiliate. People like Michael Acree, Dr. Edelstein, David Rhodes, Starchild (not technically an anarchist but close enough) and many others had spirited discussions in meetings and online. I slowly developed an interest in the philosophy. I began to read some of the articles on LewRockwell.com. And while I don’t have every detail of my own beliefs ironed out, I have gone from utilitarian to solidly moralist, from gradualist to abolitionist. And for prompting that personal growth, I am grateful to my cohorts at the LPSF. May we never become jaded and lose our radical edge.
Now I live in New Hampshire, as a graduated participant of the Free State Project. I’m adjusting to the culture shock of small town life. I’m adjusting to the weather. I’m working on building up a social circle outside of activism. [Actually, that last one isn’t true. But it’s on my to-do list.] What I don’t have here is cadre, and neither do the others, (apart from our small voluntaryist contingent.) They never did, because they came from places where libertarians are isolated from any possibility of inreach.

And here we are now, a relatively large group of staunchly moderate libertarians. Like me, they were committed enough to the cause to move, and they are working for liberty in what they believe to be the most effective way. God bless ‘em for that. The tactics however, are so blatantly opportunist that I sometimes feel dejected from my own movement. One group in particular might consider the following as a statement of principle: “Soft on the issues, firm on attire.” Was that a cheap shot? Sorry. It’s just that when a self-avowed pro-liberty organization refuses to advocate anything but the assured wins, I wonder if the measure of effectiveness is really worth anything at all.
Anyway, back to the main point. I remain aligned with the Rothbard Caucus, but there is no organization behind it. Saying it to myself just isn’t enough. So, to assuage my philosophical loneliness, and keep my own passion alive, I’m looking toward getting involved with the LP Radical Caucus. Initially, I was turned off by the group, seeing the guiding statements as too vague to be useful, just as with the Boston Tea Party. After some discussion with the founder, I think that it is possible that the group could become the conscience of the LP, and perhaps the movement at-large. I will certainly give it a try.
That’s it for tonight. See you again in six months or so when I feel the need for another soapbox rant.
Online at http://morey.wordpress.com/2007/03/10/the-importance-of-cadre/#comment-1312
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