Consider options - Run for Office (Third Party)
Category: News and Politics

Most of you who are reading this would probably agree that the prevailing idea of a "two party system" in American politics is a myth. One of the primary reasons I became a Libertarian Party activist is because I saw no substantive difference between the Republicans and Democrats. The 2008 election cycle was my 3rd foray as a candidate and by far my best learning experience. On the positive side I learned that the mood of voters (particularly independents) has changed and they are starting to consider options outside the mainstream. The "wasted vote" syndrome is not as prevalent as it was a few years ago. I also had a dynamite group of volunteers to help me canvass and spread the word about the campaign. Unfortunately I ran into coverage problems with the local media, and had to allocate some of my campaign time to try can correct these problems. The bottom line was also a mixed bag. The overall result of 5.4% was disappointing to me, but it appears we did very well (7-13%) in the precincts we canvassed. It does help my psyche that the efforts made a difference in the vote count.

The key questions now are whether to continue to work outside the political establishment and whether to work within the party system at all. Working within the GOP is tempting to some. However the treatment of Ron Paul and his supporters gives us a clue to how receptive the GOP establishment is to liberty. The reality is that 90-95% of the GOP (and all of the leadership) has no interest in restoring freedom. I do believe it may be possible to change some county (and a few state) party organizations. I prefer to not have to explain the "type" of Republican I am. In fact it's hard for me to even stomach even calling myself a Republican. Admittedly this may be a personal hang-up that clouds my view of this strategy. Bottom line - ask yourself how many true pro-liberty Republicans there are in Congress, the Kansas legislature, etc.

Many in the freedom movement have decided to work on issue-oriented projects. This is necessary and can be very effective with a targeted strategy. It is also critical to follow your passion as this is where you will be most effective. Unfortunately any lasting change requires a new crop of elected officials. The temptation is to focus on federal races (which is where the majority of problems are), but the short-term reality is that the resources to compete and win at the federal level are just not there. Any movement must build credibility at the grass roots level with the voters before tackling Washington. It may not be as sexy to talk about mill levies, eminent domain and taxpayer-funded lobbying, but this is where we are earning our stripes. Most important the local, county, and state races are where we can actually get candidates elected (a Libertarian was re-elected attorney of Anderson county – running unopposed!!). Volunteers, networking and activism have more influence at this level. Money (although still very important) is not always the deciding factor.

Currently the national third party movement is somewhat adrift, but I expect this to change over the next year. The inevitable disappointment of the electorate will drive more civil libertarians out of the Democratic Party. The fiscal conservatives from the GOP are already jumping ship to escape the nightmare that was the last 8 years. There is a legitimate opportunity to build momentum that has not been available since the Socialist Party movement a century ago. There are many tools that can and have already proved to be effective (you tube, facebook, etc.), but it is important to understand that it will also require heavy lifting and direct contact with the public. The voters are receptive to both the ideas and the candidates. Now it's up to us.

Patrick Wilber is the treasureer of a Libertarian Party in Kansas and ran for 3rd District for Kansas State Senate.