The Libertarian/Independent Alliance

We'll call it LIA. I've been independent since I was old enough to think about politics. I was first a liberal independent in the sense of social liberalism -- I was against the military/industrial complex and all forms of authoritarianism -- mostly a mixture of yippee/libertarian/liberal/anarchist/rabble rouser/hedonist/cowboy. I didn't understand all the concepts but I knew I liked the rebelliousness and craziness of Lenny Bruce, Bob Dylan, Jack Keroauc, Abbie Hoffman and all the other 60s icons representing a chaotic freedom -- it was mostly an impulse.

Much later I was turned on by the speeches of Ronald Reagan -- I'd read Ayn Rand, and the combination, although there were big differences, moved me toward libertarianism with a little "l". The left in this country had gone so far toward government dependence, and I had gone through a Jerry Rubin/ Eldridge Cleaver type of conversion, that I thought liberal restrictions on free enterprise were too Russian for me.

There was a time I thought the Republican party might be limited-government enough to join and support, but then I saw the whole right/left game as a sham to hide a growing statist movement. So, I remained outside, an independent unwilling to give my support to one party or the other, but also not able to support the Libertarian Party which appeared torn between anarchists, minimal government types and liberals who'd never drank the koolaid.

I have a feeling there are a lot of people like me who've evolved politically but have never found a home to give full support and dedication. Perhaps we're perpetually homeless and not suited for organized political parties. I think we're a large group which merely wants to live free and make our own choices -- we don't mind a minimal government and we believe that the private sector will work through associations to voluntarily deal with our common societal needs -- libertarian in spirit, principles and thought, but not so doctrinaire as to be organized into a political party.

However, with the advent of the web, there's an opportunity for a loose alliance and association which can be powerful enough to influence the makeup of government.  We don't really need to donate large sums of money to representatives to buy influence or to lobby for favors because we don't need favors from government, just for them to get out of the way. LIA can have an effect simply by voting for representatives who understand the libertarian/independent need for a limited government. If representatives get into office then shift to statist mode, they would quickly learn they won't stay in office long unless they walk like they talk. In the Information Age, we can know what they're doing at all times and never have to leave the computer to find out.

Information is easy to access and sites are forming all the time to pull all that information together to make it more useful and easier to access. I could type in a representative's name and get an immediate report card, all done from a Blackberry during a lunch break. We just need to elect better government workers, ones who have limited powers through Constitutional restrictions, and then hold them accountable -- our displeasure over their performance could be registered and transmitted to them in seconds -- enough transmissions of displeasure should send them the message they're straying. The easier it is for people to get involved, and the more people see that our government is of the people, by the people and for the people, the more people will get involved.

Perhaps partisanship will be weakened, as it relates to ideology, since the common "idea" would be limited government, and competition between parties will be based on efficiency of maintaining a limited government -- which party represents us the best at the lowest cost and provides the best protection and the best court systems.

This can be done -- the beast can be beaten down and limited. As long as we have a government with the power to favor some groups over others, democracy will only create division, violation of rights and a larger more powerful state which eventually becomes so powerful it will control as the statists see fit regardless of the public's wishes. First, government must be limited. The 100,000,000 who don't vote can make it happen.

Pretty soon the Republicans will buckle because they'll freak out over being left behind in a seachange of government control and power and they won't want to be left behind with empty pockets -- so, it's up to LIA, I'm afraid.