Well, i learn slow... but i do learn.

i am abandoning the Libertarian Party.

i am abandoning it only as a means of getting people elected to public office
    -- but HEY what IS the purpose of a political party??
Isn't it to get elected and make change?

i am still a libertarian philosophically.
i expect to keep my membership in the dues-paying LP organizations.
i expect to keep supporting my favorite libertarian think tanks and activism organizations.

but i think we libertarians are wasting our time and effort when we try to push the Libertarian Party over the winner-take-all barriers of the American political system.

Libertarians spent a million or two on Harry Browne's Presidential campaign...
    It got 0.4% of the vote and not much press coverage.
    [I was upset at how many times i saw "the four candidates for President" (Bush, Gore, Nader & Buchanan).]
Was that money well spent?  Or was it painting in the sand.

Libertarians pumped about $700,000 into Carla Howell's campaign against Ted Kennedy for the U.S. Senate in Massachusetts.  She got 12%, and the Republican got 13%.
Was that money well spent?  Or was it painting in the sand.

James Dan made a strong showing in his bid for Nevada State Assembly (District 28) in Nevada,
but came up short -- winning 45% in a two-way race against the Democratic incumbent.
Was that money well spent?  Or was it painting in the sand.

The best news the national party could muster is that we elected at least 7 libertarian to local non-partisan offices across the country.

Thud.

if we ever get Proportional Representation (like many other countries have),
then yes a new party makes sense.
but here in America that can only happen if the two major parties allow it.

With all our members,
    and all our money and efforts across the country,
we achieved not one single partisan victory.
Perhaps, perhaps given lots of time, enormous effort, and lots of money,
    perhaps we can find our way to success along this path...
But there are other paths.

So...  i encourage all public-spirited libertarians to register with their choice of the two major parties,
and i wish them the best of luck in their quest to get elected and bring about change for the better.

Personally i think i'll go with the Democratic Party.
It's the party of Thomas Jefferson.
And, to me, it has a radical, big-hearted feel.

Wish me luck...

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