General Discussion
In reply to the discussion: Assange/Wikileaks talk about who they admire…wait for it…& the answer is Ron/Rand Paul & Matt Drudge [View all]struggle4progress
(118,282 posts)the libertarians do not represent a "non-establishment" voice: they represent a movement that would further consolidate corporate power, by eliminating any remaining regulation, and that would further increase existing power disparities, between those who have money and those who have none, by leaving the so-called "free market" as the major arbiter of struggles -- which is to say, the wealthy would win even more often than they do now
For decades and decades, I've heard right-wing millionaires expound the views we hear from the Paulites. Some of them are, no doubt, very nice people, if you can get to know them. Some of them will like you and sociably enjoy your company right up to the minute they cut your throat. Electing more libertarians will actually move the country to the right
What the libertarians have is a clear and easy-to-understand slogan that addresses every complex problem. This appeals to lazy, low-information voters who want a simply formula for proposing solutions to issues, but don't want to do the hard work necessary to understand issues so one's proposed solutions might actually have a chance of addressing the problems considered
People who want a viable left in the US, with political clout, need to do the hard work of building such a movement, person by person, at the grassroots level and of constructing usable organizational structures enabling the movement to set strategic goals and work towards those goals with flexible tactics. Idolizing rightwingers won't help us with that