I have not seen the new platform. I checked the LP Web site and couldn't find it, and haven't seen it anywhere else. All the LP site has is a note that Bill Redpath was elected chair. I saw a brief note on the Politics1.com blog that the "moderates" had ousted the "purists," but have not been able to find much information elsewhere. I've been trying to figure out whether this result is good or bad. The old regime brought us the Harry Browne fiascos and at least the appearance that some people were using the LP to profit personally while weakening the organization as a side effect (think "The Producers"), so ousting the old seems like a plus at some level at least.
As for the platform, while I generally think platforms are meaningless, to a degree they do indicate the sense of a party. I detested the old platform because I not only disagreed with a lot of it, but found much of it downright offensive and impossible to defend to family members. Without having seen the new platform, I cannot say whether it's better or worse. If anyone has a link to it, please post it.
I've long since stopped paying attention to what the LP was doing. I'm just trying to figure out whether I should start again. BTW, as for the subject header, let's be honest, in most areas the LP has been irrelevant for several years.
Doug
Frank Reichert wrote to David Terry:
> Thanks David,
>
> Finally something that actually has a little critical substance to it
> regarding the decline and decay within the LP Party. Unfortunately, this has
> particulary true in various state affiliates, as is the case here in Idaho.
Doris Gordon wrote, also to David Terry:
Doris: Do you have the text of the new "Reproductive Rights" plank? From
what I've seen of a draft of it, it says plenty to offend many people of
various political persuasions.
>
*David Terry wrote:
>> I attended my first National political convention in 1964 with a contingent of
>> collegiate members of YAFF [Young Americans For Freedom] at the GOP convention
> in San Francisco.As with one voice, we all screamed
> our affirmation as Barry Goldwater uttered that immortal dictum; "Let me
> remind you that extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice. And let me
> reming you also that moderation in the pursuit of justice is no virtue!
>
> It was a glorious time to be a libertarian, even if we didn't know we were
> libertarian and had never heard or used the word in a sentence. The statists
> of that time, both within and without the Republican Party feared the idea of
> "absolute" justice and "total" freedom, just as they do now. Now, sadly we can
> also add the opportunists within the Libertarian Party to this list of fear
> mongers.
>
> In 1964, it was "extremism" that was the boogy man that had to be avoided and
> silenced, not because the views expressed were wrong, but simply because they
> were extreme. Today, it is the "purists" who are the boogy men who must be
> exorcized and for EXACTLY THE SAME REASON.
>
> I just attended my first and last Libertarian Party National Convention [well,
> half of it, anyway]. It is NOT a great time to be a Libertarian, in my
> opinion. After the wholesale gutting of the platform by a well organized and
> financed group of Madison Avenue obfuscators, the platform says nothing that
> might offend anyone of any political persuasion.
> It, it fact, says almost nothing and means almost nothing. A perfect, generic
> formulation of FDA approved bromides.
>
> Welcome to the new Reformed Party. We have become the political equivelant of
> "NOTA"!
>
> It is clear that the Libertarian National Committee has no idea what it is
> doing or where it is going. It has abdicated any responsibility for curbing
> the excesses or malfeasance of state affiliates or requiring conformity to
> what is still left of the bylaws.
>
> It is equally clear, for better or worse, that the future of the "Libertarian"
> movement is up to the various affilliates and if it going to HAVE a future,
> the battles will be fought precinct by precinct, town by town, city by city,
> county by county, one state at a time. The National Libertarian Party, like
> everything else in Washington DC, is a black hole into which - not light - but
> time, effort and lots of money is lost.
>
> I have been proud to bear the label of Libertarian for over 30 years.
> I have no interest in representing this "big tent" generic "Reform" Party of
> political hacks who believe nothing and will say nothing, for fear of
> alienating the very people who have usurped our freedom and sold the future of
> our children for temporary political power.
>
> David Terrry, Chair
> LP of Yamhill Co. OR
> Candidate, OR State House of Reps.
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