Libertarians in the government.

This is one I would like to ask Ron Paul. 

How does a libertarian survive in politics?

Recently I was invited to run for Congress as some sort of backup for a semi-liberal Congressman who is running for the Senate. I haven't even processed the idea when the guy said that I should moderate my speeches. No more talking about eliminating taxes, no more attacks on socialism, just give my best smile, shake hands and kiss babies. That was hard enough to hear, but then I considered that being in the government would force to let be the scams and extortions most of those guys perform everyday.

For example, President Vazquez demanded 2 million dollars to let an Italian company put a satellite in the Uruguayan orbits. And that was right before we totally lost our orbits forever. President Sanguinetti demanded 1 million dollars to let a Korean company build a commercial complex in a marginal (even violent) neighboorhood. In both cases the companies preferred to leave. By the way, I am certain about the first case as I worked in that deal, the second is just a loud-voice rumor.

Things like those are the rule rather than the exceptions. And if you try to fight you will be dead.

There's the axiom that power corrupts. So to reject corruption you have to reject conventional power. But if the government keeps pushing us back, blocking our every attempt to "circunvale" it, there should be someone willing to enter the fight and try to prevent them from killing our ideals. How do we do that?

Democracy may hold the seed of its own destruction, as a growing libertarian movement may force the candidates to pretend they are somewhat libertarians, and to be elected again they would have to do some things the libertarian way. But if they control education and we are even seeing a trend that promotes to teach our children that it is a sin not to pay taxes, how can the movement grow?

My first idea is endorsing a candidate of our own, and leaving him (or her) alone  as soon as he becomes one of the system, but that would be to ask people to perform a ritual self-sacrifice, like jumping to the volcano to get a good harvest, and that is clearly immoral.

What if we choose a mildly corrupt person? But then, how can we trust him? 

But then the question is how do you change things from the outside, given the opposition the govt will pose. 

I am not in for violent rebellions, I don't want to end being beheaded like Robespierre, paving the way for a Napoleon. 

gussosa:

Ron Paul[:] How does a libertarian survive in politics?

gussosa:

But then the question is how do you change things from the outside, given the opposition the govt will pose. 

Make it too costly for the government to come after you. People get away with all sorts of outlawed acts. The more we get away with and the more we can protect people from, the harder it will be for the government to perpetuate itself. 

gussosa:

But then the question is how do you change things from the outside, given the opposition the govt will pose. 

I am not in for violent rebellions, I don't want to end being beheaded like Robespierre, paving the way for a Napoleon. 

One way is to find and use alternatives to government. Make your own life as free as you can. With new technologies (like this forum) people can share ideas and trade with one another. Bennefit from trading with others who share our love of liberty. That I think is more powerfull than trying to win via democracy.

gussosa:

How does a libertarian survive in politics?

First of all, do not run as a libertarian.  Run as a Democrat or Republican in the US.  If your in another country substitute the names of your most powerful political parties.  Assuming you can get the party nomination 70% of the party loyalists will vote for you by default.  Choose the party based on who typically wins in your area.  The only way to beat the machine is to get inside the power structure.  Once you are elected operate according to your libertarian ideas.  You too can be the congressman that votes No on unconstitutional bills, and introduces legislation that will tie the hands of the federal government.

Established parties are just that established.  Voters want to win.  They do this by voting for a mainstream candidate.  Through joining a powerful party you can help the voter "win" in more ways than one.  The party will ask you to swear loyalty to it.  Do it.  Praise the party, but at the end of the day vote to decrease the size and scope of government.

If you deceive me in an effort to gain power over me, then don't I have a right to defend myself by deceiving you back.