Libertarians Combat Child Pornography

The following is an unedited media release from the Libertarian Party:

The Libertarian Party is calling for increased coordination and communication between federal and state law enforcement agencies in order to help to apprehend and convict child predators and those who engage in child pornography.

“FBI Chief Howard Mueller was correct when he said we are losing the war on child pornography,” says Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory, referring to comments made by the head of the Federal Bureau of Investigation on Wednesday before a House Judiciary Committee meeting. “We have an obligation to protect children from sexual exploitation and abuse, and we can do this by increasing communication between state and federal agencies to help combat this repulsive industry. While privacy rights should always be respected in the pursuit of child pornographers, more needs to be done to track down and prosecute the twisted individuals who exploit innocent children.”

Muller stated federal, state and local agencies all needed to be integrated as one method of helping to pursue child pornographers. Mueller also stated that while the FBI had nearly 270 agents working on child pornography cases, there needed to be more resources dedicated to stopping the child porn industry.

“One way in which the FBI can free up more resources for combating child pornography is by reducing expenditures made in investigating and prosecuting victimless crimes among consenting adults,” says Libertarian Party National Media Coordinator Andrew Davis. “Instead of going after crimes where no rights are violated, and both parties involved are consent-giving adults, the FBI will be able to better go after sexual crimes involving children. Protecting individual rights is a core function of government, and that includes protecting the life and liberty of children harmed by exploitation and sexual predators.”

The Libertarian Party is America’s third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

Reduce, Reuse and Recycle Government

Reduce, reuse and recycle government

"Going green" means shrinking government and eliminating waste

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In celebration of Earth Day, the Libertarian Party issued a statement from Executive Director Shane Cory calling for a reduction in government in what he says is the best way to go 'green:'

"The best way to 'go green' is fixing environmental problems at their source, and that source is government. The federal government is by many accounts the largest polluter in the United States. By reducing the size of government and recycling redundant and unnecessary government bureaucracies, we will shrink the size of our 'government footprint,' and in turn, help our environment. More government is not the solution to environmental woes--it's the problem. Until we reduce the size of government, our environmental problems will continue to grow."

The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.LP.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

For more information on this issue, or to arrange a media interview, please call Andrew Davis at (202) 333-0008 during normal business hours, or at (202) 731-0002 during any other time.

Mike Gravel on the Issues

On the heels of Mike Gravel's move to the Libertarian Party and the subsequent skepticism over whether Gravel is actually a Libertarian or not, I've decided to look at Gravel's issues page and view, from my own libertarian perspective, whether his policy proposals work to achieve liberty.

The War in Iraq

Senator Gravel's position on Iraq remains clear and consistent: to commence an immediate and orderly withdrawal of all U.S. troops that will have them home within 120 days. The sooner U.S. troops are withdrawn, the sooner we can pursue aggressive diplomacy to bring an end to the civil war that currently consumes Iraq. Senator Gravel seeks to work with neighboring countries to lead a collective effort to bring peace to Iraq.

Whatever your position initially on whether we should have went to Iraq, Gravel's position seems fairly reasonable. We need the troops home to protect the homeland per the U.S. Constitution and end the unnecessary death and monetary cost of fighting a war against a country that did not attack the United States.

The National Initiative for Democracy

Mike fully supports the National Initiative for Democracy. The NI4D is a way to bring legislative power back to the people. In many states, citizens can put measures on the ballot and Mike believes as citizens of the United States we should all have that power.

The National Initiative for Democracy is basically the idea that like local referendum issues, there should be a mechanism nation wide for national referendum to be placed on the ballot. I do not expend much energy opposing this, but I do not support it, as I believe the federalism laid out in the U.S. Constitution is the best way to achieve liberty.

Iran and Syria

Senator Gravel opposes a military confrontation with Iran and Syria and advocates a diplomatic solution to the current situation.

Reasonable.

Global Warming/Climate Change

Senator Gravel believes that global climate change is a matter of national security and survivability of the planet. As President, he will act swiftly to reduce America's carbon footprint in the world by initiating legislation to tax carbon at the source and cap carbon emissions.

While eco-libertarians would applaud his efforts, I'm going to reserve judgment on this issue. While I do believe there is a certain amount of unfounded hysteria behind "man made" global warming, I do not believe climate change has risen to being a "matter of national security"

Progressive Taxes - A fair Tax

Senator Gravel's Progressive Fair Tax proposal calls for eliminating the IRS and the income tax and replacing it with a national sales tax on new products and services. To compensate for the tax on necessities, such as food, lodging, transportation and clothing, there would be a "rebate" to reimburse taxpayers. This would be paid in a monthly check from the government to all citizens. The focus on taxing new goods would also help tackle the global climate change problem.

While I have stated previously that I was going to reserve judgment on the basic economics of the FairTax, one thing is certain: replacing the IRS with a large government bureaucracy and putting every American on the dole by causing them to be dependent on a monthly check from the government is hardly a libertarian idea. Senator Gravel is asking, in his tax proposal, to create a large government bureaucracy to hand out checks monthly to American citizens. How is this even remotely libertarian?

Healthcare

Senator Gravel advocates a universal healthcare system that provides equal medical services to all citizens, paid for by a retail sales tax (a portion of the Progressive Fair tax). Citizens would pay nothing for health benefits.

Ahh yes, here's where it gets interesting: Gravel wants universal single payer healthcare. This policy proposal is so anti-libertarian that it should prevent anyone from ever referring to Gravel as a Libertarian. Also, to claim that "citizens would pay nothing for health benefits" is painfully ignorant, and frankly very stupid. Everything government does is paid for by citizens.

Reproductive Rights

Senator Mike Gravel supports a woman's right to decide if and when to have children. He also supports a woman's right to make the difficult decision about abortion without interference by government authorities.

While I am personally pro-life, there should be little doubt that Gravel's position fits into the mainstream of the Libertarian Party.

Immigration

Senator Gravel favors protecting our borders and monitoring the flow of immigrants into our country. He also favors a guest worker program and setting up naturalization procedures that would fairly bring immigrants into legal status. America must address the root cause of illegal immigration. Any discussion of immigration must include NAFTA and the concept of "free trade." The North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) has been a disaster for the working class of both the U.S. and Mexico and a boon to the international corporate interests.

His immigration stance is reasonable, but he is not going to win friends with an anti-free trade stance. There's a reason nearly every economist on the entire planet is in favor of free trade -- it works, if done right, always.

LGBT Rights

Senator Gravel supports same-sex marriage and opposes the Defense of Marriage Act. He supports expanding hate-crime legislation and opposes laws that allow discrimination on the basis of sexual orientation or one's gender identity or expression.

Again, he is reasonable on protecting the rights of LGBT people, but wants big government intervention and thought control to do it, which is what hate crime laws are. Libertarians do not believe it is ever proper to criminalize thinking a certain way -- and thats what hate crime legislation does.

Social Security

Senator Gravel wants to put real money, rather than borrowed money, in the Social Security Trust Fund. He advocates investing it properly and identifying the interests of individual beneficiaries so they can know what their retirement fund is and leave surplus funds to heirs.

The only way we're ever going to put "real money" into Social Security is to get the government out of the business all together, and allow the people to freely choose to invest and save money, safely, for retirement. Government will always keep their eye on the funds to use for unrelated projects.

Education

Access to public education is a bedrock American value. Why is it then that the United States ranks 49th in literacy and that an estimated 30% of our students don't graduate from high school? Investing in education provides a pathway to a thriving national economy, to individual and family economic opportunity, and to the reduction of poverty. A successful education system requires the commitment of families, the community, and government.

The U.S. ranks low in literacy and education is poor because of the fact that we now have bureaucrats in Washington deciding on our children's curriculum instead of local school boards. Want to make education better? Allow local school boards and parents to decide curriculum and not elected fatcats in Washington. Repeal NCLB and allow local autonomy.

Veteran's Affairs

As President, Senator Gravel would ensure that veterans receive full funding for their most important needs, including healthcare that is indexed to the increasing cost of care and medicine.

Obviously, most of us would find this reasonable.

The War on Drugs

The War on Drugs has been a failure. It is time to end prohibition and start treating addiction as a public health problem. This has ravaged our inner cities, and we are losing an entire generation of men and women to prisons. We must regulate hard drugs for the purpose of treating addicts...

This is perhaps Gravel's most libertarian issue -- if he's going to have a future in this party, he's going to have to emphasize this issue.

Net Neutrality

Net Neutrality aims to keep the Internet free from large companies, which are trying to limit the number of web sites their customers can view and the speed at which they can view them. Senator Gravel guarantees a free and open Internet with unlimited access to all sites. He will do this by supporting legislation and regulation that keeps you in control of your Internet usage and promotes free speech.

This is another issue that Gravel might use to emphasize his libertarian credentials. However, as shown above, getting over some of his immense anti-libertarian economic principles will be a challenge for him gaining support.

Bob Barr on AntiWar Radio

Yesterday, the Scott Horton Show yesterday, AntiWar radio had LNC region 4 Rep Bob Barr as a guest, and the archived stream is linked above. I would advise anyone who is interested in the war or libertarianism to give it a listen.

Vote Libertarian Illinois Petition Drive

Vote Libertarian Illinois Petition Drive Starts Today

Dear Libertarian,

Would you like to vote for liberty in the November election? The Vote Libertarian Illinois committee is bringing together people like you to get our candidates for U.S. President, Vice President, and Senate on the ballots of Illinois voters.

Success requires us to collect 42,000 petition signatures between March 25 and June 15. That's over 500 signatures per day, every day. It's a big challenge, but with a lot of Libertarians contributing we can make it happen.

Here's how you can take part:

- Collect signatures. It's not hard to ask people to sign a petition. You just need to be at least 18, a U.S. citizen, and not have circulated petitions for other political parties in this election cycle. All the information to get started is available on our Web site, including the petition form, which can be found at http://www.lpillinois.org/downloads/petition.pdf; Five Steps to Petitioning Success, which can be found at http://www.lpillinois.org/downloads/petition_instructions.pdf; and Petitioning FAQs, which can be found at http://www.lpillinois.org/downloads/petition_faqs.pdf. Print up a few petitions and start collecting signatures today!

- Donate to the drive. For every signature we cannot obtain through volunteers, we will pay contractors to obtain for us. We expect our costs to average $1.80 for each signature. So, for example, a donation of $360 would pay for 200 signatures, $180 brings 100 signatures, or $90 for 50 signatures. You can donate through our Web site by accessing http://www.lpillinois.org/donate.php, or by mailing a check to: Libertarian Party of Illinois, P.O. Box 1605, Chicago, IL 60690-1605. Please send your most generous contribution today!

- Volunteer your time. We need people to coordinate signature collection, mentor newbie petitioners, notarize petitions, stuff envelopes, and more. If you would like to volunteer, please contact me at vli@lpillinois.org.

There will be a conference call on Thursday, March 27th from 7 -7:30 p.m. to review the Five Steps to Petitioning Success and answer any questions about collecting signatures or the petition drive in general. To join in, all you have to do is call 218-486-1300 a few minutes early and enter the bridge number 355861. (Each person is responsible for the cost of their own call.) If you can't make the call, contact me at vli@lpillinois.org with any questions you have.

There will be constant talk about the election between now and November. Imagine telling your family and friends that they have a better choice than the Demoblicans. Image yourself in the voting booth, knowing that you contributed to putting Libertarian candidates in front of every voter in Illinois. Then make it happen by collecting your first signature (it can be your own) or donating to the drive today.

In Liberty,

Crystal Jurczynski
Chair, Vote Libertarian Illinois
630.876.1935
VLI@LPIllinois.org

PS – If someone you know is honest, friendly, and dependable and interested in collecting signatures for us as an independent contractor, review our Contractor Information at http://www.lpillinois.org/downloads/independent_contractors.pdf. Affiliation with the Libertarian Party as well as petitioning experience are desirable, but not required.

PSS - It's particularly urgent to get the petition drive off to a strong start. Some of our funding depends on us meeting our target of at least 3000 volunteer signatures in the first 30 days of the drive. Please download the petition form at http://www.lpillinois.org/downloads/petition.pdf, or donate at http://www.lpillinois.org/donate.php right now to keep us on the path to your ballot in November.

Mike Gravel Officially Joins Libertarian Party

While Democratic Presidential candidate Mike Gravel has been flirting with the Libertarian Party for a while, it's now being reported that Gravel has officially joined the LP.

Stephen Gordon over at Third Party Watch is reporting:

I just got off the phone with Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory and he confirms the following information: Former US Senator and Alaska House Speaker Mike Gravel has joined the Libertarian Party. Cory says he’ll provide more in a media release to be expected over the next few hours.

As of yet, there is no indication that he intends to throw his hat into the ring for the Presidential nominating race in the LP.

While his civil libertarianism is much to be commended and his social policies will fit into the mainstream of the Libertarian Party, it's not clear what many will make of his very anti-Libertarian economic beliefs. Stay tuned, updates to follow...

The Legacy of George W. Bush

This is the legacy of George Bush:

- 4000 Americans dead in Iraq
-Tens (hundreds by some estimates) of thousands of innocent lives lost in Iraq, and written off by the administration as "collateral damage"
- Perhaps the biggest increase in government, ever.
- Perhaps the biggest spending President in history
- A history of reckless, uneducated economic policy, including the exploding national debt.
- Increase in government intervention in your private life and your wallet, in nearly every way.
- Flat out admitting that this administration does NOT have to follow the law.

It's getting to that point; if you believe in Freedom, and want to live your own life, there is only a single choice for Liberty: the Libertarian Party.

So How Would Libertarians Govern?

Thomas L. Knapp over at Third Party Watch has a great post to try to discuss that age old question, "So, how would Libertarians govern if elected?" by discussing the a budget proposal from Springfield, Missouri councilman Doug Burlison. Great read.

Chris Bennett, Libertarian for Vice President

Over at Crazy for Liberty, they have a press release regarding Chris Bennett, who is seeking the Libertarian party Vice-Presidential nomination and needs help.

The press release follows:

Dear Friends,Supporters and Fellow Libertarians,

Back in October, I announced my candidacy for the Libertarian Party's
vice-presidential nomination. Now, I'm asking for your support at a
critical time in my campaign.

Our party's national nominating convention is less than three months
away. Between now and then, I intend to campaign at several state
conventions, reach out to prospective delegates with mailings and
phone calls, and produce quality literature to promote my candidacy.

The problem is simple: I'm not an independently wealthy individual.
I'm a family guy who's been working my way through college (I expect
to graduate in May with a BA in Political Science and minor in
Economics) while working a blue collar job to support my household. So
far, I've financed my campaign mostly out of my own limited budget,
but now I need your help to make it to the Wisconsin and Indiana
conventions, the Heartland Libertarian Conference in Kansas City
(where the Iowa, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska LPs will hold their
state conventions), and the national convention in Denver.

Nobody likes fundraising less than I do, but there's no way around it.
The only way I can continue my campaign all the way through to Denver,
stand at the podium, and ask the delegates to nominate me is with your
help.

Why should you help?

* Because you want to grow the party, and so do I. As your
vice-presidential candidate, I'll make myself available for the local
events that bring new members into contact with the LP, revive local
and campus organizations, and get the energy level up and keep it
there long after November.

* Because you want a more diverse Libertarian Party, and so do I. I'm
not telling you to choose a candidate because of his race. I'm willing
to pass all the other tests, too. But if we want to be a party that
includes a broad cross-section of America, we have to show that broad
cross-section of America that we're the same kind of people they are.

Among Republican candidates in this year's early primaries, Ron Paul
polled highest among African-Americans. The black community is looking
for us, but we have to show them they're welcome. I don't know if I
would have had the courage to approach the LP if I hadn't seen Dick
Boddie on C-SPAN's 1991 national convention coverage. Like Dick, who
became a friend and mentor of mine, I want to bring more people of
color into the LP by showing them that some of us are already here and
loving it. I've already been doing that -- I got front-page coverage
in Springfield, Illinois's daily newspaper when I announced my
candidacy.

Over the last 16 years I've done my best to support my party. I've
been an active volunteer worker on LP projects since Andre Marrou's
1992 presidential campaign. I'm currently the Illinois LP's
Legislative Chair. Now I'm asking you to support me in a campaign that
I believe will help grow and strengthen the LP. Please make your best
contribution to my campaign, whether it's $10, $100, or the maximum
legal contribution of $2,300 per person or $4,600 for a couple.

Thank you so much for your support. If you have questions for me or
would like to discuss my campaign, please feel free to contact me by
email at chrisbennett2008@yahoo.com, or call my cell at 217-801-3367.
I'm blogging my campaign at chrisbennett2008.blogspot.com.

Yours in liberty,
Chris Bennett

Finished Reading -- Brian Doherty, "Radicals for Capitalism"

I have just finished reading Brian Doherty's massive epic Radicals for Capitalism: "A Freewheeling History of the Modern American Libertarian Movement".

Yes, it took me a while. Reading this book is like exercising -- it takes a while and might be painful sometimes, and you will want to stop and do something else every once in a while -- but the next day, you're damn glad you did it. And while I thought some parts of the book were stale, it wasn't because of the book itself. The book is magnificent, and Doherty is an absolutely amazing writer. If some parts feel stale, it's because some parts of the modern American libertarian movement are stale (like any other movement with significant history). The book itself does a fabulous job of reporting on that history.

The most eye opening aspect of the book for me was how the efforts of so many different people and organizations are what make up the libertarian movement. It seems that today most of us in the movement have one idol, such as Friedman, Rand, Rothbard or Ron Paul, and we believe that one idol has everything to do with the movement. This book will reinforce the truth; the libertarian movement is more than one person. It's more about one set of beliefs. It's about freedom, baby.

This is one of those books that you must read if you want to be a part of the libertarian movement in this country.

Ron Paul Suspends Presidential Race

Last week, Ron Paul announced he was suspending his Presidential race, and most overtones say that Ron Paul has now officially dropped out of the race.

Whether or not Paul supporters actually believe he is out is irrelevant; he no longer will be covered in the media like an active candidate, and will no longer be actively campaigning.

My question is simple, and has been posed before: what is next for the Revolution? Where will the Paulistas go next? A different party? A different candidate? Back to apathy?

Libertarian Presidential Candidates; What is the end goal?

In each election cycle since 1972, the Libertarian Party has nominated and ran a candidate for President of the United States. In each of those elections, the Libertarian candidate has lost considerably and had little effect at all on the outcome of the race.

Yet, each election cycle we run a candidate. So then, my question is, what do you believe the goal of running a Libertarian Presidential campaign is? I have my own ideas, but I'm looking for other points of view. In my mind, there are four options.

Do we run a Libertarian Presidential Candidate to:

(1) Win the election?

(2) Build up the Libertarian Party?

(3) Move public policy in a Libertarian direction?

(4) Effect the outcome of the race?


So which is it? In your mind, which of the four choices is the reason you want to vote Libertarian this fall?

Barry Goldwater, Conservativism and Libertarianism

Among those in the Libertarian right, much is often made about the late Barry Goldwater, the former Presidential candidate and Arizona Senator.

Some claim that Goldwater was the first modern Libertarian; some claim he was nothing more than the forerunner of the social conservative movement which dominated the Republican Party currently.

As a Libertarian, reading Goldwater's classic 1960 book The Conscience of a Conservative can often be inspiring, and often be troubling. I am currently reading his book and will use this entry to highlight significant passages and provide commentary.

First off, there are definately passages in which Libertarians could be proud.

"The Conservative looks upon politics as the art of achieving the maximum amount of freedom for individuals that is consistent with the maintenance of the social order"

This is a passage which beautifully illustrates the battle between minarchists and anarchists in the Libertarian Party. A minarchist would agree wholeheartedly with the passage above. An anarchist would claim that social order is nothing more than a construct of government, and all government seeks to tear down liberty. I am not an anarchist, therefore, I agree with Goldwater's assessment.

"The delicate balance that ideally exists between freedom and order has long since tipped against freedom practically everywhere on Earth"

This is undoubtedly true, and most Libertarians would agree.

More quotes Libertarians will love:

"[Those in government] propound the first principle of totalitarianism: that the State is competent to do all things and is limited in what it actually does only by the will of those who control the State."

"Throughout history, government has proved to be the chief instrument for thwarting man's liberty"

"All too often we have put men in office who have suggested spending a little more on this, a little more on that, who have proposed a new welfare program, who have thought of another variety of "security." We have taken the bait, preferring to put off to another day the recapture of freedom and the restoration of our constitutional system. We have gone the way of many a democratic society that has lost its freedom by persuading itself that if "the people" rule, all is well"

"There is a reason for [the Constitution's] reservations of States' rights. Not only does it prevent the accumulation of power in a central government that is remote from the people and relatively immune from popular restraints; it also recognizes the principle that essentially local problems are best dealt with by the people most directly concerned."

More to come...

What is the best vehicle for Libertarians and Liberty-minded activists?

One of the areas of the libertarian movement of which I am most concerned is what the best vehicle is for libertarians to achieve pro-liberty goals.

Most self-described libertarians I encounter want to work within the Libertarian Party. In my travels, I've found that if the person is willing to use the term "libertarian", they are probably active with the national Libertarian Party.

However, minor party politics is tough, and victory is damn near impossible considering ballot access laws in most states and the two party mindset of the electorate. So, some libertarians look to the confines of the two major parties to achieve classically liberal goals.

The more obvious choice was the Republican Party. The small government rhetoric from many Republicans often will bring in those who want limited government. However, this option has become less favorable due to the very unlibertarian actions of the Republican Party in the last 20 years, from the exponential increase of government spending that Republicans support, to the loss of civil liberties and social rights. The Republican Party is now the party of big government, taxing and spending their way into your pocketbooks. The recent failure of the Ron Paul Presidential race should show libertarian activists that the powers that be in the Republican Party do not support liberty-minded candidates.

So what then, about the Democrats? Markos over at Daily Kos has tried to make the case for libertarians to organize within the Democratic Party, which has mirrored what the Freedom Democrats have been saying for a long time. However, as someone who tends to concentrate on economic issues, at which libertarians should oppose the Democrats are nearly everything, I am skeptical. While libertarians would feel comfortable with the social stances, such as civil liberties and equal rights, the libertarian economic beliefs would be very, very foreign to the Democrats.

But what I really want to do is hear from you, so I pose the question outward:

Libertarians, what is the best vehicle to achieve libertarian goals? The Libertarian Party, the Democratic Party, or the Republican Party?

Libertarian Presidential Hopeful Christine Smith caught in anti-Capitalist rant

Christine Smith, running for the Libertarian nomination for President, had this to say recently:

Since so many Libertarians are asking me if I'm attending the Libertarian leadership conference in Las Vegas this weekend (Feb. 15-17, 2008), the answer is absolutely not...this is because of their requirement that I, as a LP presidential candidate, must pay $500 to participate in the presidential candidate debate. I was disgusted when I was informed of this exploitation of LP presidential candidates and I am not attending because of it.

Ms. Smith is referencing the Libertarian leadership conference taking place this weekend. It seems she won't attend due to "outrage" over having to pay a "fee" to participate.

Well, Ms. Smith, that fee is capitalism at its finest. These events are not free, and the cost of such an event needs to be spread among attendees and candidates both. "Fees" is often how libertarians justify abolition of most taxes. It is an important part of libertarian theory.

I know Ms. Smith is new to Libertarianism, but complaining about user fees and using Marxist language is not the way to win libertarian hearts and minds.

Libertarian Party to Ron Paul supporters: It's time to come home

I don't always agree with everything that the Libertarian Party does on a national level, but I thought this e-mail, received a couple days ago, was outstanding.

Here are some highlights:

"The GOP will more than likely move forward with the nomination of a compromising politician who does not cherish the merits of liberty and shows little interest in shrinking the size and power of government.

This leaves the Republican Party right where it started and where it has been for many, many years -- a party without principle. With its partner on the left, both parties continue to represent a compromising beast that continually thirsts for more power at the expense of our liberty, our property and our privacy."

...

"The Libertarian Party is the last remaining stronghold for liberty in American politics."

...

"Liberty is something that can be everything to one man and nothing to another. Some accept that, while they are born free, they do not live free. They go about their existence either in resignation that they cannot change their personal destiny or they have grown comfortable in their shackles."

Libertarians are different.

Our hearts burn for freedom. We wake each morning, intent on moving our nation in the direction of liberty.

Our passion cannot be diminished or compromised through party labels or the actions of cunning men. Libertarians working through the Libertarian Party will continually challenge those who mean to enslave us through taxation, fear and warfare.

It's time to come home.

It's time for the Ron Paul supporters to come home, and support the current real Libertarian candidates. I believe the best candidate currently in the race is George Phillies, but I'm mostly concerned about just getting the energy, enthusiasm and dedication of the Ron Paul Revolution movement into the Libertarian Party.

The Ron Paul Revolution from here on out

With Ron Paul now officially scaling down his Presidential campaign (Translation: He's dropping out), what is there to be left of the "r3VOLution"? I have a couple observations on the Ron Paul race for President:

1) It's pretty obvious now that he was only staying in the race to raise money for his Congressional re-election campaign, in which he is getting a tough primary challenge. It's obvious from the Chris Peden campaign that the Republican Party is moving more in the direction of authoritarianism. While it would be preferable to have a place in the GOP, it's obvious that the powers that be in the Republican Party do not, at this time, support liberty-minded candidates.

2) Ernest Hancock, the creator of the "r3VOLution" logo and message, has stated (though I cannot remember where I read it) that the "r3VOLution" concept is not a Ron Paul monopoly and after the Ron Paul campaign is over, the "r3VOLution" could continue. It's not just a Ron Paul phenomenon, but a liberty-minded organization that will find libertarian-minded candidates to support. If this is indeed the case, who will the members of the "r3VOLution" support?

So, whats the answer? Are you former Paul supporters coming back into the only liberty-minded political party in the United States, the Libertarian Party?