The Libertarian Party needs to broaden its appeal in order to attract a wider spectrum of voters. It can do this by embracing classical liberal principles that are an integral part of America’s tradition. Its messaging should convey the idea that voting Libertarian is a vote for these time-honored principles. Even though most people may not be familiar with the term, classical liberal principles are quintessentially American and should appeal to a broad segment of the population.
- Classical liberalism is a tradition that grew out of the Enlightenment of the 17th and 18th centuries and was articulated by thinkers like John Locke and Adam Smith among others. Their ideas of individual freedom, limited government, free trade, and democracy were embraced by America’s founding fathers and embodied in the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution. Modern day libertarians should be “squarely in the great classical liberal tradition that built the United States and bestowed on us the American heritage of individual liberty, a peaceful foreign policy, minimal government, and a free-market economy.”[1]
- In its messaging, the Libertarian Party should emphasize that it’s part of a broader national and international pro-liberty movement, a movement that consists of think tanks like the Cato Institute, legal defense groups like the Institute for Justice, academic societies like the Mises Institute, publications like Reason, and numerous other groups, including a few elected politicians like President Milei in Argentina. We need to convey the idea that voting Libertarian is not just a vote for obscure candidates that have no chance of winning – it’s a vote that supports a much broader pro-liberty movement and the policies it advocates.
- The Libertarian Party supports practical approaches to today’s problems that are advocated by other pro-liberty groups in areas such as:
- Limiting the federal government’s activities to those authorized by the Constitution, thereby providing greater autonomy to state and local governments, private associations, and individuals.
- Upholding civil liberties by opposing victimless crime laws, civil asset forfeiture, eminent domain abuse, excessive government surveillance, the “war” on drugs, and qualified immunity for government officials.
- Upholding free trade by opposing tariffs, trade sanctions, import quotas, export subsidies, the Jones Act, and restrictions on travel and immigration.
- Promoting a freer economy by supporting school choice, privatization of public enterprises, and opposing government price controls, occupational licensing and restrictions on building homes.
- Upholding freedom of speech by opposing any government attempts to suppress speech that some may consider hateful, racist, homophobic, untruthful, or originating from a “foreign” entity.
- Promoting a peaceful international order by opposition to war and foreign intervention.
Most of these positions are supported by expert opinion and have been implemented to some degree in various states and other countries. They are practical and doable, but don’t receive adequate support from most politicians and the mainstream news media. (They will be spelled out in more detail in an upcoming platform.) The Libertarian Party should emphasize its support for practical solutions rather than proclaiming that “taxation is theft” and espousing fanciful notions of abolishing the state.
- A fundamental pillar of classical liberalism is respect for others. We respect the right of people to make their own choices in life. It is also important to respect the opinions of others and their “good intentions”. Rhetoric that demonizes opposing viewpoints and blames our problems on an evil-minded “establishment” should be avoided. We should not stoop to the same level as other politicians who routinely vilify their opponents.
Any comments or suggestions? Interested in our monthly lunch gatherings, usually in the Hillsborough area? Contact Steve Friedlander at
[1] Murray Rothbard, For a New Liberty, page 320.