The path ahead

Now that the election is over and Obama has beaten McCain, now that the inauguration is over and Obama has replaced Bush, the question for libertarians is "now what?"

There are several things that a lover of liberty must do now that the socialist and reluctant warmonger beat the warmongers and reluctant socialists.

First, it is important to keep pressure on the Democrats to remember that one of the reasons Obama won their support was because he was allegedly the peace candidate. Granted that compared to McCain in the general election or Clinton in the Democratic primary he does appear to be a peace candidate, but compared to actual peace candidates like Paul or Kucinich he’s very much a hawk.

Pressure must be kept on the Democrats to actually work to disengage militarily. During the next year they are going to discover that they do like war after all, because the President leading the war effort is of their party instead of the other party. The appointment of Rahm Emmanuel to Chief of Staff is disturbing because it shows the process is already underway.

Second, all libertarians should prepare for when Obama (and a compliant congress) tries to introduce Universal Health Care or some other version of Socialist Medicine. It may even be necessary to work with the underdog Republicans on this. A necessary step for the Democrats to take if they want to implement this will be to change the cloture rules so that the Republicans cannot filibuster the proposal. Loudly and publicly proclaim any tinkering with the cloture rules to be a power grab and vociferously denounce it.

Third, be prepared to oppose calls for national service. Obama already wants us to perform national service simply in order to graduate from high school. His Chief of Staff has different plan for forcing everyone to do community service, and it is even less voluntary than the allegedly voluntary plan of Obama.

Fourth, many Obama supporters believed he was going to act in direct contrast to his record on issues other than the war, on issues like the USAPATRIOT Act and FISA Amendment, the Wall Street Crisis, and NAFTA, as well as a few others where (perhaps by accident) Obama was actually right and his supporters still believed he held the opposite view. Every time Obama acts in a manner consistent with Obama's record but inconsistent with how his supporters thought he would act is another moment to say "see I told you so." It will not likely work as on each of those positions his supporters will discover that the position Obama actually supports was what they supported all along, just like Oceana was always at war with EastAsia.

Fifth, the Republicans are busy trying to figure out where they went wrong. Be sure to tell them that they had a candidate who could have beaten Obama, and they wouldn’t even count his votes at the convention. Be sure to remind the local Republican organizations about that. Send them the message "don't blame me, I voted Paul in the primary." Even if it isn't true it should be said. Many libertarians didn't switch to the Republicans but instead cast primary votes Ruwart or Kubby or Root or Barr. It should still be said because all Republicans need to hear that.

Sixth, work should not stop on trying to open up the electoral process, a task that is never finished.

Seventh, there will be an effort by Democrats to blame the depression on a hypothetical laissez faire attitue of Bush that must be countered at every turn. Do not allow anyone to describe the financial meltdown as the result of deregulation as Hoover leaves office and Roosevelt enters office.

Finally, never forget to ask the Reform Caucus where are the additional votes Barr was supposed to deliver.

David Larkin, RIP

On October 19, Kit Maira reported that longtime libertarian and former Los Angeles County LP Chair, David Larkin, died on or around October 8, 2008, apparently of natural causes.

I knew David to be one of the good libertarians. Principled, friendly to all, generous, helpful, without ego or malice.

He was a Vietnam War veteran who last year spoke of his war experiences and how he became an antiwar libertarian.

David was about 60 years old. He was overweight, led a sedentary lifestyle, and had long suffered from diabetes. I expect those were contributing factors to an all-too-early death.

Like the late Samuel E. Konkin III, David died all too soon. He will be missed by his many friends and compatriots.

Details on his memorial services pending.

Libertarian Democrat Eric Fine

Longtime LP member Eric Fine -- who's held numerous LP officer titles -- has a new plan for spreading libertarianism -- he joined the Democratic Party!


"I'm still a libertarian," said Fine. "Only now I spread liberty through the Democratic Party rather than the Libertarian Party."

Fine explained his logic at Los Angeles's libertarian Karl Hess Club on May 19, 2008. Armed with a Power Point presentation of recent local election results, Fine observed that most electoral districts -- congressional, assembly, or whatever -- are safely Democratic or Republican. The real contest is the primary election preceding the general.

Fine advises libertarians who want to win elective office to join the dominant party in their area, and work from within. In most of Los Angeles, that means the Democrats. So in 1999, Fine began re-registering "back and forth" from Libertarian to Democratic.

"I ran for State Assembly in the 42nd District as a Libertarian in 1994 and 1996, and in the 47th District in 1998," said Fine. His highest vote percentage was in 1994, at 5% (5,441 votes). He got fewer votes in 1996 due to a Natural Law candidate on the ballot. In 1998, he only got 2.72% (2,596 votes), despite an endorsement from the Gun Owners of California.

In 2006, Fine ran for State Assembly in the Democratic primary and got 6% of the primary votes (2,317 votes).

For his ballot job title, Fine put Marijuana Legalization Coordinator. "I wrote a 250-word ballot statement on why marijuana should be legalized. I finished third out of five candidates." Marijuana legalization is Fine's main issue whenever campaigning among Democrats. This issue causes many Democrats to listen, and open their minds to other libertarian positions.

Fine not only runs Democratic, he's active in the party. He joined the Culver City Democratic Club in 2005. They elected him treasurer -- unanimously!

"They know I'm a libertarian," said Fine. "They don't care."

Indeed, Culver City Democrats were so pleased with Fine's work as treasurer, they gave him an award -- and begged him to stay when he suggested he'd like to quit.
Longtime LP member Eric Fine -- who's held numerous LP officer titles -- has a new plan for spreading libertarianism -- he joined the Democratic Party!

Fine had previously served as LPC treasurer from 1997 to 1999. A resident of Beverly Hills, he's also variously served as the L.A./Westside LP Chair and Vice Chair. He joined the LP in 1984, and was tasked with finding speakers for the L.A./Westside LP as early as 1985.