I just voted, and I saw a lot of Libertarian candidates. I’m not super thrilled with Republicans’ spending, and I’m not super thrilled with Democrats.... well anything. I researched Libertarian stances and they are most inline with mine. Small government, solve problems at the lowest level, do what you want as long as it doesn’t effect others. I asked a family member about it and it turned into a Perot rant about how Libertarians are the reason Clinton won.

What say you? Why don’t Libertarians currently stand a chance? Will they be competitive in the future? Are your views more inline with Republicans or Libertarians?

For me they just don't present viable candidates. For instance, in my neck of the woods, there's a libertarian running for some office with a last name of Groo. It's running motto is "It's Groo time." Too childish for me.

Secondly, but more importantly, I find libertarians to be isolationists. There will never be a head/leader of any office who is an isolationist. That thought is 18th century. I think Rand Paul's father is a perfect example. Ron Paul.

It's black and white.

I went down that rabbit hole once.
They do not run a candidate worth a damn.

I recall Ross Perot running as an Independent in 1992. He didn't stand a chance, but IMO he helped get "Slick Willie" into office.

Well that was part of his goal... or more accurately, to keep Bush out.

One of the most important things to remember is that the party with the most members in the house or senate gets to choose the chairmen of the various committees.

The (L) will likely never have enough party members to be able to choose the chairman so the (L) drains off republicans leaving the communists with the majority and the committee chairman.

Another reason the (L) rarely amounts to anything is because they have almost no members willing to do the hard work of campaigning or financing the campaign. My impression is the (L) just expects people to vote for it because the (L) exists, kinda like getting a participation trophy.

Not enough people vote for them...

The major parties have developed too much in the way of resources (money, people who will regularly donate money, people who will work for them, both paid and volunteer, name recognition, patronage power, etc.) for any third party to likely overcome.

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:
Not enough people vote for them...

Winner!

The Libertarian values don’t appeal to enough of the population..

They have no money to run an effective campaign.

Money/donations equals votes/power.

I think the primary reason is that most people who would be inclined to vote for a libertarian do not because they feel it's too important to make sure the Democrat doesn't get elected. Every election is the election of a lifetime. Every time we need to keep the evil D out, and therefore vote for the lesser of two evils.

In short, it's a two party system, and to not vote for either of the two feels like a wasted vote, or not participating in the system. That is a challenge for most people.

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
The Libertarian values don’t appeal to enough of the population..

What values? Small government? Protecting 2A? Low taxes? Less regulation? Personal freedom?

quote:

Originally posted by kz1000:
Not enough people vote for them...

I personally would like to see a multi party system. Neither of the current parties is a standout. The President is a Patriot and is bringing most of the Republicans with him and really should win. I could go on but you get the drift - and I don’t want to drift the subject.

In my limited experience with Libertarians, quite a few L candidates are pushed by Democrats to pull votes from Republicans.

they don't do enough work at the local levels. many of them want to up and run for big offices without every having proved themselves, either as individuals or as a party, by effectively governing at the local level, which are races that they actually do stand a chance of winning.

quote:

Originally posted by zipriderson:

quote:

Originally posted by CQB60:
The Libertarian values don’t appeal to enough of the population..

What values? Small government? Protecting 2A? Low taxes? Less regulation? Personal freedom?

Or as my brother says libertarians are just Atheist republicans who want to smoke pot and not get busted. I’m neither an atheist and I’ve never smoked pot. But pretty much don’t care what anybody else does either. About the only place I part ways with the Libertarian party is on the open borders. Although true hard core anarcho libertarians would say there should be no borders anywhere and no government so move anywhere you want

Just imagine if Trump had run as an independent. I think he would definitely have drawn enough votes to cause president Hillary.

quote:

Originally posted by YellowJacket:
they don't do enough work at the local levels. many of them want to up and run for big offices without every having proved themselves, either as individuals or as a party, by effectively governing at the local level, which are races that they actually do stand a chance of winning.

Agreed. They lack the earned experience and grassroots from years of participation.

^^ Yep. They also don't have the years of making contacts and swapping favors that would make it easy for the local GOP to back them in the absence of a viable, or even good, Rep for any given race.