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A Libertarian Primer

© Joy Johnston

Founded in 1971, the Libertarians have emerged as a viable third party in U.S. politics. Some basic tenets of Libertarian philosophy include: engaging in a free-market economy, free of tariffs and personal taxes; committed to enforcing the civil liberties and personal freedoms guaranteed in the Constitution; and non-intervention in international disputes.

For the past 20 years, the Libertarian Party has made modest inroads in city, county, and state elections for public office. Perhaps the inherent individualism that is so embedded in the Libertarian philosophy makes it difficult for Libertarians to unite as a party and throw support behind one main candidate, but only in the 1990's have Libertarians seen their political vision get the attention of the media and the public.

This newfound interest in the Libertarians has surfaced from two unlikely sources: an eccentric Texas billionaire named Ross Perot, who charmed voters in the 1992 presidential election; and more recently, ex-wrestler Jesse Ventura, who shocked everyone by winning the gubernatorial election in Minnesota. As members of the Reform Party, both Perot and Ventura have rejuvinated interest in libertarian philosophy. Ventura's recent statements in which he criticizes organized religion among other things, has caused a furor in the high ranks of the Reform Party. Some have asked Ventura to resign from the party; Conservative Christian Pat Buchanan seems poised to jump ship to the Reform Party, if they will have him. If this happens, it would cause a rift in the party and confuse the general public as to just what the Reform Party stands for.

Another reason for the renewed interest in Libertarian principles(which have been in circulation for hundreds of years, and can be traced through the classical liberal writings of John Locke, Thomas Paine, and Adam Smith, among many others), is the recent resurgence of a social conservative movement in America. This has led to an obsession with political correctness, and subtle forms of censorship, thereby fueling citizens to find a way to combat these transgressions upon their liberty.

While the Reform Party may never gain a cohesiveness of the more entrenched Republican and Democratic Parties, watch for Libertarian candidates to gain strides in local and state elections, and influence the current state of political philosophy more than ever before.

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