How Can You Laugh at a Time Like This? is a Dream Machine Site The Dream Machine --- The Imagination of the World Wide Web

However, the latter group has increasingly come to depend on the worst aspects of society…bigotry, know-nothing-ism and religious zealotry…all completely at odds with the constitutional principals on which this country was formed and under which it has flourished. Despite their claims to the contrary, the Republicans have almost completely abandoned the concept of limited government, being able to do so under the cover of Democrats being even worse in this respect.

If Libertarianism and the Libertarian Party ever hope to break out of the dungeon of third party politics and become a major force in America, it must choose carefully with which forces it wishes to ally. So far, the LP has been seen as either a running dog of the Republicans or as a fringe group of dangerous gun toting radical anarchists. Right now, both of these ideas are contributing to the death of so-called…but not really worth the term… Conservatism.

Basically, we have hitched our wagon to the wrong horse. Besides the obvious danger of being seen as bigots, crazies or religious zealots, there is a more basic problem. In order to convince Democrats or Republicans to switch to our side, we have to form alliances and create arguments that are most likely to appeal to those whom we wish to influence.

The trouble with prejudice, political insanity and religious fervor is that these notions are generally inculcated into people at a very young age and tend to persist throughout the lives of those so inclined. Reason or tempered debate is very unlikely to ever change their minds since their beliefs are based on emotion and are not subject to logic or evidence to the contrary.

On the other hand, the idea that the government is best able to create change in the area of freedom is…also usually entertained by folks who are young and idealistic…is extremely vulnerable to logic and reason. It is a well known fact that as people grow older and more experienced in the realities of life, they tend to become more conservative. Right now, the Democrats are buoyed by the active participation of the young. These young people are blinded to the negative results of too much government in our lives…but…and this is the key…they will not be forever.

In short, which is more likely to succeed: trying to convince racists that Obama really was born in America; gay marriage will not destroy traditional marriage; religion and government really should be separated…or…that there are many unintended and bad side effects in allowing the government to have too much control of out lives?

All Libertarians have excellent arguments and solutions to these issues. We think that going after…and allying with…Democrats is a much better political strategy than having anything whatsoever to do with the dying Republican Party.

Talk to you later…

...the best independent ISP in the Twin Cities

The Dream Machine --- Network Services

A newspaper near you.