Regarding the Mises Caucus' Victory

 

          It was only two weeks ago when I last spoke about the Libertarian Party. My comments on the Party were entirely disapproving, believing the Party to be an embarrassment to libertarian values. From a strongly anarchist and quasi-agorist position, I viewed the LP as an illegitimate entity. In my, and others’, view, an ideology opposed to politics and the State has no place participating in politics and the State. While this view of mine has not changed, the Libertarian Party itself has in fact changed in the past few days, and that’s why I wanted to sit down and write up this article.

          To put it briefly for the outsider or whoever might be reading this, a few days ago the Libertarian Party hosted its national convention down in Reno, Nevada. The LNC brings together Libertarians across the country to discuss libertarianism (or rather, as is mostly the case in the LP, classical liberalism), and to elect the members of the Libertarian National Committee. What happened at this convention is that the National Committee has been filled with members of the Mises Caucus, which, unlike the “pragmatist” (i.e., compromisarian) faction that has been in control of the Party for years now, is truly libertarian (at least up to the point of condoning political participation) and authentically Rothbardian (especially since some of its advisors - such as Tom Woods, Walter Block, and Ron Paul – had direct relationships with Rothbard).

          This is very good for those who understand what libertarianism is, as a descendant of classical liberalism, a sapling nurtured by Murray Rothbard, and inextricably connected to the Mises Institute (which Ron Paul, his chief-of-staff Lew Rockwell, and Rothbard himself were key figures in the beginning of). It is very bad for the many compromisarian and left-libertarian roaches who’d been given a home under the auspices of Nick Sarwark’s chairmanship, who are already squealing on Twitter over the Rothbardian reforms that have already happened, such as removing mention of abortion and bigotry from the Party’s platform.

          The Mises Caucus, in Ron Paul’s words, is the libertarian wing of the Libertarian Party. Under their guidance for the next two years, and hopefully much longer (forever, even!), the Party will hopefully turn down a brighter path. Left-libertarianism and compromisarianism will be reproached, silence or compromise on problems caused by the State will be rejected, and the merits/rights of decentralization and secession will be given especial priority. I have truly been given a boost of confidence due to this most recent development, even if it hasn’t changed my fundamental reasons for opposing the existence of the Party in favor of private institutions.

         

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