IPFS
A Note From Ernest Hancock to LP National Delegates
Written by Ernest Hancock Subject: Politics: Libertarian Campaigns(BTW – I am writing from a small caravan going to St. Louis and we are east of Gallup, New Mexico on I-40 right now, 10:00pm Wednesday. We plan on driving straight through so that we are at the hotel in time for the Suns/Lakers game Thursday night :)
Those that know me, and others that have witnessed my previous efforts, likely understand why I do the things that I do and what I aim to accomplish in St. Louis.
Very soon (if not already) the vast majority of Americans (along with the rest of the planet) will come to the realization that they are all victims of the largest swindle/robbery in human history,... and they will be searching for an accurate explanation. Libertarianism provides a very useful road map to what happened, who/what was responsible and how to avoid the same mistakes in the future. But 'off ramps' to detours that take us meandering through the same unprincipled wilderness that got us in this mess will be of no use to a 'Generation Next' that has a detailed 3D online map in their hip pocket.
This decentralization of information is only beginning to be felt by a liberty starved planet and attempts to negotiate our principles for a place at the establishment's media table will backfire just as it did in the 2008 presidential election cycle.
Another election cycle of LPUS' documented compromises on libertarian principle will make it very unlikely, as a political party, we'll legitimately be able to compete at a national level in the future as a standard bearer for libertarianism. I am of the opinion that information availability is so ubiquitous now, that the 'Liberty Nexus' that was the best trait of the LPUS will be replaced by too many sources of contacts and information to keep track of. Politics is about to be replaced with communities that will attempt to create the freedom denied them by layers of government,... without asking permission.
What if I really really believe that the future will have fresh young minds embracing libertarianism as the only consistent and understandable path to peace and prosperity? Then positioning ourselves so that we are the obvious destination for those seeking exactly what we offer is a very good idea. Since many (enough) that I associate with are also of this opinion, we chose to make our advocacy of no-compromise libertarianism a blazing torch everywhere possible.
In the near future, freedom communities will likely be virtual and without borders or boundaries. Governments, states, countries and even languages will have less and less to do with an individual's interactions than a simple listing on the contemporary cousin of craigslist with servers based in orbit or on the Moon.
Libertarianism is 'the philosophy for the stars' and to think in smaller terms is an abandonment of the future for the LPUS. The future is why St. Louis is so important to many that support my effort. The economic tragedy coming, that is only in the early stages, provides a rare opportunity to help many millions,... not just when they need it the most, but when they are also seeking it the most. And they have already abandoned the 'lame-stream media,... the media that is soooo last century' in search of the truth.
We have done our best to make our advocacy clear, and our long track record of principled activism has accomplished several things; government abuses of individual rights have been exposed while branding us as defenders of individual freedom, available resources in support of such advocacy are directed towards the most effective uses of those resources, inspiration of an entirely new generation of freedom activists have been continually nurtured.
I am prepared and eager to represent the future and inspire a flood of fresh and energetic activists, that are already experienced and networked with each other, to come and make use of the Libertarian Party at a national/international level to free as many minds as possible in as short a time as possible to save as many lives as possible. But should the LPUS' words/silence and actions/inactions allow the perception of it being less effective a tool as the many others available, then it will continue to wither.
My documenting of all LNC chair debates and appearances across the country of every candidate participating has been a deliberate act of making it very clear to future freedom activists that the choice in St Louis was a fully informed one. These documented discussions will be of much greater importance months, years and even decades later to those needing to determine where and how best to direct their time and resources to expand human freedom. I'm working very hard to make that investment the Libertarian Party of the United States.
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17 Comments in Response to A Note From Ernest Hancock to LP National Delegates
Quite a few years later this is all still interesting and (to a certain extent) relevant. At the time these posts were made, and that convention was happening, I had so far removed myself from "Libertarian politics" and politics in general, that I didn't even know that Ernie was running for Chair of LPUS. Had I known, I might have gotten involved. But, I had already come to the conclusion, after decades of LP activism, that "just taking freedom" was a considerably better alternative than "begging our masters for liberty". Freedom you can have. Liberty you have to beg for. The difference is in the definitions. So, while helping Ernie would have made me feel good (because I do admire that man), cooperating with the quagmire of compromise that is the bulk of LP politics would be painful. Been there. Done that. It doesn't work. Nobody Nemo HaltVote.com
Sorry for referring to you guys as "F heads". That just doesn't look good in print this morning. I always forget that nobody can see me smile (grin, laugh) in print. My word are often rough but my conversational tone is jovial. In person it's clear that I'm having way more fun talking to you than indicated.
When someone tells me that they believe government should exist, I have to wonder why supporting a form of terrorism and coercion, at the end of a barrel of a gun, is acceptable. Government's natural tendency is to grow and gain power. When a government grows and gains power, that power comes from somewhere... the elimination of rights by the people the government rules over.
As far as supporting the US Constitution... I support the general idea of what was going on, trying to make a box that the federal government couldn't escape, the implementation of the document leaves much to be desired. The monarchists/federalists/tories of the day implanted a few clauses that ruin the document and make it not better to me than... well, it means nothing to me. The fact that our "representatives" cannot be held liable for the horrible bills they push to pass, the interstate commerce clause, necessary & proper and general welfare RUINED the document. It only took a little bit longer for their dreams of a gargantuan monster of a federal government to come to fruition.
I call the question :)
Weasel words.
Ed, Chip and others - Please re-read my comments. I am again accused of either having un-libertarian principles, or compromising libertarian principles. I reject both arguments. My principles that are simply different than Ernie's. My principles are well formed and are not in any way a compromise.
The fundamental question always boils down to this - do you believe that government should exist? My answer is yes, anarchists like Ernie answer no. The answer to that question is the fundamental divide in the LP.
^^^^^ I just wanted to know what my Freedoms Phoenix "Real ID” number was. #15347 I can hang with that.
I support Ernie but I kinda like the idea that LOV3 ans W.A.R. ripped each other apart and the more moderate candidate will win in the end (ie) not Root or Hancock. Has a more fitting outcome to the race if you ask me... LP = moderate.
Never have found much use for the LPUS and still don’t think I would even if Ernie wins.
But as they say LOV3 NOT WAR! and I’m a supporter of that!
Mr. Wills,
I have posted my rebuttal to your comment on my YouTube channel, and you can find it here, sir:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_71cDUx8myE
Sincerely,
Ed Vallejo, Editor
THE R3VOLUTION CONTINUES Edition
Freedom's Phoenix
Oyate says "The calculated risk has had its blow-back...nobody left of Jesus Christ trusts us now, for we have the mark of the GOP and Foxnews upon us." Yeah, and furthermore, if we elect to look at mainstream media endorsement as a desirable outcome, a commodity to be coveted, we will inevitably corrupt the whole framework. If we posit, as Ernie does, that the MSM is on the way out, that it is soooooo last century, then the tactic of hitching ourselves to a slick leader with a high profile is even that much more completely, utterly pointless. Still, blow-back is the least of our worries. It's losing our way! Compromise, when it comes to dealing with your neighbor, or large bears, is a great principle, but the MSM, particularly the so-called Left Lib majority, exult compromise as a good moral and spiritual principle, which it is generally not. And this corrupts. For instance, having an incest taboo around is a rock-solid idea no matter how you slice it, period. I hope the Libertarian party remembers not to copulate with the mainstream parties. Whoring out its high profile leaders as apologists to the lamestream media would make it like any other party. Any other suitcase with a handle. These approaches have been covered by our brothers and sisters, the other parties, in their various and incestuous power-money-media orgies. The people, especially the youths, don't want to see more of that. We don't need to do it in order to impress them. So, then. Shall we really tone down the anti-war message? Oh, heck no! (to quote Ernie). Soft-pedal 9-11, the hinge-pin, powder-keg issue of the whole military police apparatus? Oh, heck no! Or if you really, really think it over: "Does freedom have a central plan, or could it, and if it could should it?" Heck no! Does is really matter what the question is? Freedom's still the answer. Ernest makes sense across party lines, if you ask me. I must find out how to join up and vote in the LP as a US ex-pat living in BC Canada. Anyone already know how this is done?
Further, I am an armed libertarian who has looked into the law.
Our Arizona Constitution states the evey person between the ages of 18 and 45 are part of our state militia.
It used to state that all men and boys of fighting age are part of the milita but we amended it. We became politically correct at one point by saying "persons" so you gals are part of the milita too.
And we are so advanced and liberal in our thinking that we considered that involuntary servitude was beneath us so we included an "opt out clause" so our law now reads someting like "all persons between the ages of 18 and 45 who do not opt our are by definition Arizona militia and you will report to duty unless you don't want to"
Ponder that fuckheads.
I'm a libertarian. By Gods. Never popular, ever misunderstood and I come among a company.
Oh great.
I could talk a lot but I'm going to register libertarian if we decide it's a good idea.
I have had ENOUGH of running on the coat-tails of the GOP. I knew it was a strategic gamble to support Ron Paul in the first place, I went along with it because it looked to help spread the message.
Well that paid off because now everybody is arguing about what a libertarian is. OK. Pretty good payoff. Actually not bad because nobody even knew we EXISTED until a year or so ago.
Now we're on a different plane of battle. What I sense from you (us) elders is we're not flexible enough as a whole to let the youth lead. In Arizona, we're kind of immune from this (we/they are all youth) but these ugly vesitges of shit like this bullshit immigration law by that sock-puppet Pierce just shows me that even in Arizona, tiny minds prevail.
80% were in favour of what we see clearly as another rights-robbing national ID scam.
But in a sense, this pales by consideration that our movement, the R3VOLUTION and "tea party" and our points have been handily co-opted by the likes of Glen Beck, who used to attack us. The calculated risk has had it's blow-back not: nobody left of Jesus Christ trusts us now, for we have the mark of the GOP and Foxnews upon us.
And I'd repudiate myself at this moment, but all the time, I honestly believed that Ron Paul would defect and run Libertarian or independent.
Now I have to defect to protect my brown and red people. Seeeeya!
Disclosure:
Donated to Ron Paul
Donated to Rand Paul
Donated to Peter Schiff (Schiffy Pop)
I'm a life long Republican who supports Ernie. Why?
There already is a Republican Party. Don, people like you belong in it.
The LP has one and only one raison d'etre which is to serve as the conscience of liberty. The LP will NEVER win elections. The LP will NEVER be a viable electoral party on a consistent basis nor be a player in "the system." t will not be if Ernie wins. It will not be if Wayne Allen Root wins.
Anyone who says otherwise is either stupid, a liar or a government operative - willing or inadvertent.
The LP's one reason for being is to keep the torch of liberty burning and alive.
By compromising, the LP will become nothing more than an auxiliary of the Republican Party. Why? If you want to be Republican, then be Republican.
If you want to be Libertarian, then be a Libertarian.
The mealy mouthed RINO Republicanism of W.A.R. or Don Wills is useless. It's retreaded, rehashed and uninsightful. We have far better intellectual libertarian Republicans than W.A.R. He's not needed anywhere, really.
Let the LP be the LP and do what it does best. If you believe in the free market, then this division of labor would be obvious to you.
Send Bob Barr back over to the GOP. If RP were not running, I'd support Bob. But as an LPer, W.A.R. and Bob are has-been retreads.
"The Constitution is what keeps the government from doing all the terrible things it does."--Butler Shaffer "Your Constitution is all sail and no anchor." --Lord Macaulay ERIC NEWChip, I'm not sure what point you are trying to make.
1. Ernie calls himself an anarchist. Ask him.
2. Anarchism as defined by the American Heritage Dictionary - The theory or doctrine that all forms of government are oppressive and undesirable and should be abolished.
With respect Don, you seem to not comprehend what is and is not an anarchist.
I am a libertarian. I am not an anarchist. I believe that government is an inevitable aspect of human culture, and that government can be good and evil. In a generally free society, politics is the way the people control government, and attempt to have it do good, and not do evil. I believe in the principles the underly the Constitution of the United States which is the finest political framework created by man.
I fall into the group that Ed accuses of having no principles. I am offended by that; I have principles - they are simply different than those of anarchists like Ernie and Ed. No, I do not believe the ends justify the means; I believe that limited government is a good thing. And I believe that the LP should work toward the goal of electing politicians who will work to limit government to the functions intended by the founders.
As a 'common-sense' kinda guy (and a National Delegate currently at the Libertarin National Convention) I am having a hard time even believing that any 'principled' libertarian would ever DREAM of abandoning those same principles that make them who they are - for the sake of growth, wealth, size, popularity...
POWER in ANY FORM
If you are new (like I was in 2008) be advised that there is a POWER STRUGGLE currently going on for the soul of libertarianism itself, between two basic groups with decidedly different mindsets:
those who stand on their principles, no matter how unpopular the truth, refusing to 'candy-coat' reality - for any reason, and work almost continually night and day spreading INFORMATION to an inundated populous that was 'educated' by the very powers that are bound and determined to reach the goal of total domination,
and those who believe that 'The Ends Justify The Means', that sacrificing some (for now) of those Principles in order to increase membership (and therefore donations) and make the Party a bigger collective than that currently in power - in order to TAKE that power, and wield it for 'good'...
Boromirs.
What Ernie has tried to do is to help others to understand that the 'ring' (the mighty power of the largest collective) can NEVER be used for good; it IS 'Absolute Power', and corrupts ABSOLUTELY.
It MUST be destroyed!
The vulnerability of the collective is THE UNDERSTANDING OF THE INDIVIDUAL THAT IT IS MIGHTIER THAN ANY COLLECTIVE - but this is only true when THE BIGGEST COLLECTIVE IS THE NUMBER OF SOVEREIGN INDIVIDUALS acting in 'separate union'.
Ernie Hancock gets it. It is his mantra. He has tirelessly worked to empower those individuals of the second group and highlight the follies of the first, and I believe that he is the BEST CHANCE for the survival of the LPUS and libertarianism as an ideal, and I will do my best to help him achieve this goal.
Now I'm off to hang banners that say "Freedom's the Answer - WHAT'S THE QUESTION?" with info about the LNC between the airport and the Hotel, and pass out flyers and DVD's in downtown St. Louis.
Ed
Hello to Ernie and intrepid company from Arizona. Great to hear from you. Good luck, good adventure and please keep us all posted as to what goes on in Saint Louis!