----- Original Message ----- From: "matthew_reider" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
It's refreshing to see a former democrat / peacenik fly the Libertarian banner. I agree on all points you made. I think the previous post from an active "Republican Libertarian" is what I am concerned with. I believe the Republican platform is nothing but a slight-of-hand. They preach the Libertarian ideals: free market, no regulation, diminished federal involvement etc. These things appeal to most Americans. Yet the slight of hand is that they represent a very small fraction of americans - the monied and powerful fraction. They do the bidding of corporations. I agree that Democrats are no better - they are also slaves to the corporate agenda but there are more exceptions in the Democratic party than there are those in the Republican party. Take the late Paul Wellstone, for example, or Waxman. These guys might not favor the right side of the gun argument - but they are critical voices for tipping the scales back towards working class people. If you visit Vermont you will meet lots of Democrats who hunt and are card carrying NRA members. **** SRL: Waxman??? He is a big supporter of the war(s). And a big drug warrior, probably his biggest claim to fame. There really are quite a lot of former democrats and peaceniks in the LP. Go to http://www.libs4peace.net if you are in doubt. **** Everything in context - I see no reason why anyone would work towards a libertarian agenda by voting for the GOP. I can halfway understand why someone would vote Democrat since it is doubtful that the current system is going to change radically - at least the Wellstones of the Democratic party are attempting to wrestle power from the corrupt corporate hands who have returned the country to the Robber Baron days. I guess my point here is that you can't support it half way. If you vote Republican you might THINK you are voting for the party of de-regulation and gun rights but you are basically dismantling HALF of the people who suffer under regulatory control. The half you are dismantling is the rich half - the corporate half. I am skeptical of the Libertarian candidates as well. If they are faced with voting for deregulatory bills they will vote for them - but is it fair to deregulate one side without empowering the other side? There is no political will to dismantle Taft-Hartley. If a Libertarian were faced with that decision - they might support it - but they won't be. Only Democrats or Greens seem to be interested in working class people. ***** SRL: I'll give the Greens their props. But I think somebody would be deluded to think that democrats are in any way interested in the welfare of the working class. Unless they find a way to get patronage jobs out of it. Democrats can sometimes talk a good line about helping the poor or the working class, but it is only for the power. Likewise their rhetoric about civil rights, it is only rhetoric and focus group tested sound bites. ***** It's hard for me to get my head around. But the bottom line for me is that the Libertarian agenda seems to be hurting the working people of the country. Were the Libertarians to take control (doubtful) and dismantle the federal government then workers and owners would be equals and I would be happy. But since this is not happening any time soon - it appears that the Libertarian platform is being used by people with very nefarious intentions. Speed up the clock 10 years and there will STILL be a federal government - but all of the regulations protecting workers against WalMart wages and labor practices will be gone while the GOP laughs all the way to the bank. ***** SRL: Well, the Libertarian agenda can hardly help or hurt anyone when we aren't even in power. I can only wish that the GOP would adopt the libertarian agenda, rather than just some of our rhetoric. As much as I despise the GOP, they really are pretty good at reading focus groups and will say anything to gain greater power. They still have to get their votes from those WalMart workers, and will find a way to pander to them. If it means using a socialist or a libertartian focus group tested argument, they'll do it. Like the democrats, the republicans have no underlying philosophy to guide them. PEACE Steven R. Linnabary, Treasurer Franklin County Libertarian Party (614) 891-8841 P.O.Box#115; Blacklick, OH 43004-0115 "When you make peaceful revolution impossible, you make violent revolution inevitable" John F. Kennedy ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/ <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
