2aguy
Diamond Member
- Jul 19, 2014
- 111,973
- 52,243
- 2,290
A good article on why libertarians are paper tigers.....
Why Libertarians Don't Win Elections - Firearms News
When you look at typical Republican or Democratic candidates, you see men and women who have a burning desire for public service. Most have a long history of public engagement, often going back to their school years. They attend city council meetings, serve on school boards, intern with legislators, run and win in hometown elections.
They enjoy the political process and take advantage of every civic opportunity available to them. When it comes time to run for higher office, they have a solid resume full of accomplishments and experience and a wide network of contacts and supporters enabling them to raise money and mount a campaign.
But when you look at the typical Libertarian candidate, you see something quite different. Most seem to hate politics and rant about the corrupt "system." They often show no interest in government or public service until they suddenly decide to run for office.
That means they have little or no political experience, few contacts, and no practical means of raising money. And what offices do they seek? President. Governor. U.S. Senate. Positions that are ridiculously out of reach.
To make matters worse, many Libertarian candidates lack the social skills necessary to garner support. They'll debate you all day long, but fail to recognize the difference between argument and persuasion, which is the key to winning any election. Voters cast their ballots for people they "like," not just for those they think are "right."
The old joke about Libertarians caring more about winning the argument than winning the election tends to be true. Far too many come across as somewhere between entitled and downright rude. And their supporters tend to relentlessly troll on social media, attacking anyone who doesn't support their candidate.
Every election season, Libertarian candidates or their supporters contact Buckeye Firearms Association. Do they ask for support? Do they suggest a meeting to discuss their campaign? Do they attend our events or spend time building relationships? Nope. Right out of the gate, they email, tweet, or troll on Facebook with confrontational messages: "You guys are idiots! You're establishment suck-ups! Why don't you support principled candidates?" Not exactly a great way to garner support.
Why Libertarians Don't Win Elections - Firearms News
When you look at typical Republican or Democratic candidates, you see men and women who have a burning desire for public service. Most have a long history of public engagement, often going back to their school years. They attend city council meetings, serve on school boards, intern with legislators, run and win in hometown elections.
They enjoy the political process and take advantage of every civic opportunity available to them. When it comes time to run for higher office, they have a solid resume full of accomplishments and experience and a wide network of contacts and supporters enabling them to raise money and mount a campaign.
But when you look at the typical Libertarian candidate, you see something quite different. Most seem to hate politics and rant about the corrupt "system." They often show no interest in government or public service until they suddenly decide to run for office.
That means they have little or no political experience, few contacts, and no practical means of raising money. And what offices do they seek? President. Governor. U.S. Senate. Positions that are ridiculously out of reach.
To make matters worse, many Libertarian candidates lack the social skills necessary to garner support. They'll debate you all day long, but fail to recognize the difference between argument and persuasion, which is the key to winning any election. Voters cast their ballots for people they "like," not just for those they think are "right."
The old joke about Libertarians caring more about winning the argument than winning the election tends to be true. Far too many come across as somewhere between entitled and downright rude. And their supporters tend to relentlessly troll on social media, attacking anyone who doesn't support their candidate.
Every election season, Libertarian candidates or their supporters contact Buckeye Firearms Association. Do they ask for support? Do they suggest a meeting to discuss their campaign? Do they attend our events or spend time building relationships? Nope. Right out of the gate, they email, tweet, or troll on Facebook with confrontational messages: "You guys are idiots! You're establishment suck-ups! Why don't you support principled candidates?" Not exactly a great way to garner support.
