Let me begin by say that I am not now or ever been a Libertarian…..but that does not preclude me from appreciating some of their issues.
I especially like their stand on American intervention around the world……most of which I can support…..
During my daily search for the news I came across an article in the National Interest website……
Let us not be hostage to how things have been done in the past.
This year, record numbers of Americans voted for Libertarian candidates. The Libertarian presidential nominee, Gov. Gary Johnson, received over four million votes, three times the previous record. For perspective, four million votes is about the voter turnout in a state the size of Virginia. He did this without the tremendous funding and free media attention that Clinton and Trump received.
Notably, Johnson was very popular in multiple polls of active-duty military. One can reasonably theorize that this is because of Gov. Johnson’s stance on the use of military force. Gov. Johnson advocates limiting the use of our military by withdrawing from regional conflicts and focusing purely on defense.
Source: What the Libertarian Party Wants on Foreign Policy | The National Interest
These are issue that I also think important but I do not foresee Mr. Trump really giving a shit about right or wrong…..
“For perspective, four million votes is about the voter turnout in a state the size of Virginia. He did this without the tremendous funding and free media attention that Clinton and Trump received.”
1) Not to shit on an impressive accomplishment for a 3rd party but….Four million votes may represent the entire number of votes cast in Virginia. However, that’s still less than half the population of Virginia. Even with the unending, inescapable, election coverage that last starts the minute the last election ends…most Americans are completely detached from their own political system. Even when given 4 reasonably well known options, “None Of The Above” wins in a cakewalk. Any candidate who gets even just some of None’s voters will finish ahead of everyone else. Trump seems to have done that in 2016.
2) The massive media attention for Clinton & Trump actually worked as free advertising for the Libertarian Party (and other 3rd Parties). In addition to their core of right-wing potheads, the Libertarians got a strange hybrid of Republicans who couldn’t vote for Trump (or Clinton) and potheads from across the political spectrum.
Libertarianism is the last train station before Crazytown. (Or, is it the 1st stop inside Crazytown. Can’t remember.) However, in addition to their policy on legalizing certain herbs, I do respect some of their policies.
For example, Isolationism used to be THE American foreign policy, especially for conservatives. “Let other countries determine their own fate” is a very legitimate stance. As they say, “Good fences make for good neighbours.” One universal among humans is that people hate it when other people mess with their shit. Nobody likes a Butt-insky.
Unfortunately, at some point along the way, America decided it wanted to become the world’s biggest Butt-insky. It decided it wanted to meddle with, if not outright control, everything on the entire planet. It’s gotten so bad, America wants to know every single detail about everyone. Right down to tapping Angela Merkel’s personal phone because….America’s future depends on knowing what her favourite pizza topping is???
Right now, America’s stance is that the entire world is the “frontline” and nobody is safe from their wrath.
“Uh, whys do theys hates us agains?”
In most other cases…it is crazytown…..