Dan Cotter reports in from the P.A.U.L. Festival:
Jesse Benton is clueless.
I was at the P.A.U.L. Fest and can give you a more accurate description of what kind of element was there. It was a very diverse group with one common trait, a hunger for the truth.
I met a lot of Rothbardians this weekend. They varied on the scale of how well they could explain the philosophy, but all were believers in the NAP. You know, the crazy idea that you shouldn't commit acts of aggression against the innocent.
I got to debate some of the different controversies in libertarian theory with these people, and even when we vehemently disagreed, both parties walked away enjoying the discussion of ideas. It was extremely enjoyable to talk to people who were trying to make sure they held logically consistent beliefs and didn't let their emotions get the best of them.
I also met a lot of less hardcore libertarians. The majority of the people who came to this event fell in between the minarchist to Gary Johnson "libertarian" (I put that in quotation marks because I don't really consider anyone past a minarchist to be an actual libertarian).
Most of these people had never heard of Rothbard or his ideas on anarchocapitalism. The nice thing about them, for me, was that a lot of them were very receptive to Rothbardianism when they became aware of what it meant. I had numerous people write down books like Democracy the God That Failed and For A New Liberty. I believe Rothbard's ideas are winning the battle and it is really amazing how many people were already ancaps. This is what scares people like Benton.
Still, a few people just blew the idea off without any consideration. These people tended to be older and more set in their ways. Nice enough people, but it seemed like some of the libertarian arguments make them uncomfortable. Still, they would be on our side on most issues.
The Gary Johnson supporters tended to be coming to the liberty movement because of Dr. Ron Paul but were going to support Johnson because he was pretty good too. I met a couple younger guys who were supporting Johnson and were very new to the movement. They believed the State was needed and that it could be better managed. I am hopeful that people like this are going to keep reading further and become a little more bold.
Overall, it was a friendly, diverse group of libertarians of differing scales. They were all in this liberty movement because they value peace and freedom. It was the same type of crowd I've seen at every Ron Paul event or libertarian gathering. If Jesse Benton thinks we are "bad news" it is simply because he isn't part of the liberty movement.
Great commentary; especially regarding the diverse nature of the "libertarian" movement. Regarding
ReplyDeleteBenton, Wead and the other gatekeepers surrounding Ron Paul: If the campaign has become so compromised, watered down and steered towards a for profit arm of the GOP is it best that Dr. Paul didn't make it to the Oval Office? Imagine Chief of Staff Jesse Benton. Those surrounding Dr. Paul are catering to a organization that has defrauded Ron Paul and spit in the face of his supporters.
I'm on a bit of a rant but to call Lew Rockwell, Thomas Woods, and Chuck Baldwin fringe is ridiculous. Benton and his ilk will be assigned to the dustbin of history. Ron Paul and more importantly the principles and ideas he promoted and exposed to millions will endure.
I agree on all counts. Except I like and trust Doug Wead. Maybe he is flawed and is wrong on a number of things, but I don't think I would ever put him in the same category as Benton.
DeleteWhat's "bad news" about the P.A.U.L. Fest is that Jessie Benton doesn't control it. Libertarians are not at all exempt from the insecurities of people in leadership positions that they will somehow lose the leadership influence. It as always been this way and always will and in any institution you can imagine, not just political ones.
ReplyDeleteBut note that the vast majority of these "rebellious" participants have never even heard of Murray Rothbard and are actually quite turned off by the idea of anarchism.
Ron Paul ran as a constitutional conservative which is essentially a candidate who wants to return to the rule of law, and that law is positive law, not natural law. Had he run as an "anarcho-capitalist" the P.A.U.L. Fest would have been a lonely place.
There simply aren't enough people out there who give any credence at all to anarcho-capitalism to mount any serious challenge to the establishment. The liberty movement has to be much broader than that.
That is almost the opposite of what I said. While most people had not heard of Rothbard the vast majority of them were receptive to the idea when they heard it for the first time. Thus the reason I said Rothbard's ideas are winning the battle. Next time just read what I actually wrote instead of spinning my words to fit your preconceived notions.
DeleteAs I have tried to tell many people, Ron Paul's coalition was, in essence, libertarians and paleocons - and there are more paleocons than libertarians still. And it was a good strategy: he almost broke into the lead because Iowa and NH are two lasting strongholds of paleocons. Thus, we must not forget that a majority of Paul supporters are not anywhere near support for anarchism, and most of those over 50 probably never will be.
DeleteThe closest we will ever get to a libertarian-like president in the current political environment is a paleocon who can reassure some of the establishment while bringing the less radical of us into the inner sanctum. But all the guys like Pat Buchanan are getting old...
That is exactly how I evolved in politics. When I moved to AZ I was a pro-gun Republicrat and fell into the Libertarian crowd because the likes of Ernest Hancock and Marc Victor were hanging around making too much sense. They led me to L. Neil Smith, Vin Suprynowicz, and then Lew Rockwell. Lew is the gateway drug for all that is Mises and Rothbard. He is the red pill.
ReplyDeleteIt takes time. It takes the desire to seek the end from the means. However, if you don't have a vested interest in the status quo, the state eventually shows itself for what is truly is: theft, corruption writ large, a monopoly on mayhem and murder. These are all the opposite of what we are led to believe throughout life.
That is exactly how I evolved in politics. When I moved to AZ I was a pro-gun Republicrat and fell into the Libertarian crowd because the likes of Ernest Hancock and Marc Victor were hanging around making too much sense. They led me to L. Neil Smith, Vin Suprynowicz, and then Lew Rockwell. Lew is the gateway drug for all that is Mises and Rothbard. He is the red pill.
ReplyDeleteIt takes time. It takes the desire to seek the end from the means. However, if you don't have a vested interest in the status quo, the state eventually shows itself for what is truly is: theft, corruption writ large, a monopoly on mayhem and murder. These are all the opposite of what we are led to believe throughout life.
I don't think it had anything to do with ideology. Didn't Lew speak at the Sun Dome? I think it had to do with Benton not wanting people, especially influential people like Schiff, hanging around an event where disgruntled libertarians might be criticizing Benton and the campaign. I have a feeling that in Benton's mind, 'fringe' means anyone who doesn't approve of Benton's actions.
ReplyDeleteDo you want Gary Johnson to be your President? http://celebrity-plugs.com/t/
ReplyDelete