As a Libertarian I wanted to review how my party did in the 2012 election.
Before I begin my review of events I want to say something to my Democrat and Republican friends. I don’t think you were fooled by the media. I don’t think you were tricked into voting against what you wanted. I don’t think the powers that be filled you with so much fear that you voted against your own interests. I think you voted for various candidates with full knowledge of both their strengths and weaknesses. I think you are intelligent, interesting people, and good friends. While I hope you consider Libertarian candidates in the future I’m not under the illusion that you are sheep nor do I blame you for all the ills this country faces. I think you want what’s best for the United States of America. I’m glad you voted and chose to willingly participate in the election.
Now, as to the final results. Libertarians are bragging about how Gary Johnson got the largest total number of votes ever for a Libertarian candidate but the reality is he got about 1% of the vote. This is better than usual but not particularly good. This was a major defeat. We Libertarians failed to get our message across to most voters. We failed to convince you that our policies are best for the United States. Libertarians failed to win a single seat in the United States House of Representatives or the Senate.
In order to further our agenda we must engage the American public and convince them that our policies are in line with their own. I’m convinced that the policies of the Libertarian party are actually more compatible with the majority of people than are those of either the Democrats or Republicans. Yet we have failed to make a connection with voters. It’s not completely unfair to blame current election laws that favor the two parties are even media outlets for not reporting Libertarian ideas but the reality is that we live in a free country where there is an ever-increasing ability to disseminate information to anyone and everyone without the necessity of an established press presence. That we continue to fail is no one’s fault but our own.
Right now people do not want to vote for Libertarians. We must find ways to explain our positions to the American people.
We don’t blame Republicans for this failure, we don’t blame Democrats for this failure, we don’t say that people are stupid, we don’t blame the press. If we failed to engage the American people then we take the blame. I, Tom Liberman, did not do enough. Gary Johnson did not do enough. We need to work harder. I need to work harder.
See you soon!
Tom Liberman
Sword and Sorcery fantasy with a Libertarian Twist
Current Release: The Hammer of Fire
Upcoming release: The Sword of Water
Don’t you think America views voting for Independents or Libertarians as an attempt to avoid choosing a ‘real’ candidate (terms I have heard as of late, not my own). I believe they view choosing one of those who you vote for when you don’t have the balls to make a real decisions. I tend to be more Indpendent or Libertarian in thinking, but rarely vote that way. I did almost vote Libertarian this year. But, ultimately, I voted for Obama. I did so because I think he has a social worker/social reform heart and because I would like to see where he takes this. I think there is value in where he is going. Perhaps not where he is now, or his short term goals, but I think betterment doesn’t necessarily happen in 3 years or even 10 years. I’m not sure about the who, what, when, where, but I do know something has to change. I also know I love reading your thoughts. Even if I don’t agree with everything, I do love that you make me think….Thanks.
Hey sjb1994,
Thank you for the comment and I welcome those who disagree!
I do think there is a “practical” reason to vote for a Republican or Democrat candidate over one not of the those two parties. I’m sure there are those who vote for Libertarians or other Independents because they don’t like the two mainstream candidates but I don’t think it is a lack of courage. I think voting for Libertarian candidates requires fortitude in that you are voting not necessarily to win the race, but perhaps to be an inspiration to your friends, perhaps delivering a message of dissatisfaction to the powers that currently control the political spectrum.
Your reason for voting, that Obama is far better than Romney, or a Republican who says they voted for Romney for fear of Obama, is in my opinion the primary reason we remain saddled with politicians who are out of tune with what most Americans desire. I can’t speak for all Libertarians but I voted for Gary Johnson for three reasons. Primarily I thought he was the candidate that best represented my political views, secondarily as an inspiration to family and friends to do the same, and finally in the the hopes that an increasing percentage of voters turning away from Democrats and Republicans will force those politicians to alter their policies.
So we end up with pragmatism and idealism clashing. I’m often in the pragmatic corner, as you are. I can’t categorically say that such an approach is wrong. In this case I’m in the idealistic corner because I think it has a real chance of becoming a reality.
Thanks for the comment! 🙂
I hope to hear from you again soon!
Tom
First, please call me Sara.
I agree, I don’t think it is a lack of courage either, but that is the rhetoric I hear.
While I may disagree with people, I certainly value their right to express the opinions they hold so dear—even those opinions I do not agree with. I will say, what sparked me to respond to your post, and write my own several days ago, was the complete disregard for that right by others. The amount of bullying that took place was almost more than I could stand. The bullying was direct and deliberate. Shame on whoever participated in such events. Even people I call friend tried to bully me and others like me.
I don’t consider myself to be particularly politically savvy. I do, however, have a brain, common sense, and a core foundation created by a set of principles that I live by. I use those principles to guide me through my life. That includes who I choose as my president. I take that seriously. I was disappointed to see that others didn’t vote with that in mind. Instead, it seems, many voted with the intent to ruin the others person’s chance of winning. People voted against someone, not for someone. That says a lot about the culture we are creating. While this mentality has probably always existed, It seems to me that way of voting became more prevalent in the Bush (GW) years. I think it needs to stop now.
I am all for change (my primary reason for voting the way I did) and I agree, neither one of the dominant parties has the answers. I don’t think we will see a significant difference in the number of votes for Libertarians, or any independents, until there is a chance for a win. I think there are enough of us floating around the country to make it happen. I think the rest are terrified of what that would mean. By nature, people don’t like change. It’s uncomfortable. Boy, what a change that would be.
Thanks for the discussion!