The Libertarian Effect

In America, no one recognizes third parties has having a legitimate chance to catapult their candidates into the White House. However, it is impossible to forget the effect that the third parties in America can have on the electorate.

For example, many credit Ralph Nader with defeating Al Gore in 2000. There is certainly merit to the argument that Ross Perot gave Clinton the office in 1992. Theodore Roosevelt wrecked the Republican Party in 1912, giving Woodrow Wilson a spin at the helm.

This year should be another year of third-party fun.

The Libertarian party, once a backwards-looking group of New England and Western conservatives, has got some serious momentum this year. Rep. Ron Paul of Texas gave the movement a jolt with his surprisingly successful campaign that garnered national attention for Libertarian issues.

The Libertarians have the right position on several issues right now. Firstly, they are anti-war. Many Americans are tired of the war in Iraq, and the Libertarian belief that we should stop meddling in foreign affairs is soothing, if unrealistic.

Secondly, the Libertarians are firm believers in a smaller, more accountable government. Americans are aware of the huge pile of debt that has accumulated on the head of the American government. Roosevelt, Johnson, Reagan, and Bush all have distorted Keynesian economics to justify consistent deficit spending. However, Americans are aware of the dangers of borrowing against our country, especially to the tune of $31,100 per capita (as of April 2008). Fiscal responsibility has traditionally been the hallmark of Republican and Democratic campaigns; unfortunately, it has not been so for their governments.

In addition, Libertarians are firmly opposed to the snooping allowed by the Patriot Act. Our society is growing increasingly concerned about the intrusions by the federal government into our personal lives that have been justified by the need to secure our defenses against terror. Our present situation draws to mind a quote from Benjamin Franklin, "He who sacrifices liberty to gain security will lose both and deserves neither."

However, we will have to see how effective former Rep. Bob Barr is in conveying that message. He would do well to piggyback on Ron Paul's libertarian campaign machinery which combines the powers of a motivated pool of young voters with older, experienced activists of principle.

Bob Barr could be a force that the GOP needs to reckon with. Many conservatives are either upset with Bush's economics or suspicious of John McCain's maverick reputation. This could be a Barr's gain and McCain's boon, especially in the big western square states and Barr's home state of Georgia, a state that is crucial to McCain's re-election. In addition, if Barr's campaign gains any real momentum, a state like New Hampshire, which would probably favor McCain, would be harder for to GOP to win.

The Libertarian platform is right to twist the playing field for the 2008 election. If Bob Barr is the right candidate, and he runs the right campaign, it could spell real trouble for the GOP and make some predictable and some not so predictable changes to the 2008 election scene.