Libertarian Party News
October 1999
Why are -some Libertarians so negative?
I love liberty, but I don't like some Libertarians," said the man across the table from me.
"You must have a good reason for feeling that way. What is it that you dislike about some Libertarians?" I asked.
"They're too negative. They're always complaining about taxes or government spending or government programs or politicians. They blame government for just about everything that's wrong. They tell me how awful government is. And every time I talk with them, they play the same old broken record: 'Government is always wrong, Government is evil, Government is the enemy/ " said the man.
The man has a point. Some Libertarians fill conversations with the failures and flaws, the costs and consequences, the errors and evils of government. And that's all they talk about.
So their .friends and co-workers cringe when they start ranting, railing, and raving against anything and everything the government does.
They are......................... misery merchants. Gloom and doomers. Bearers of Bad News.
They foment frustration and anger and hate. They darken ken the rooms they enter. They pollute conversations with spiritual toxic waste.
Their friends and families and coworkers silently suffer at first ... then they stop listening.
Perhaps you know one of these Nega-tarians.
How can you help them be come persuasive and positive?
Should you ask them to stop talking about the destructive impact of government programs and policies? Or maybe compromise and water down what they believe? Praise government?
None of the above. Neither negativity, nor compromise, nor silence, nor surrender.
Persuasive
Why not recommend a persuasive Libertarian approach?
1. Diagnose the disease and describe its dangers 2. Recommend our remedy 3. Spell out its strengths.
For example: 1. Minimum wage throws inner city African-Americans and .other minorities out of work. It prevents them from getting badly needed job experience. It keeps them from auditioning for higher paying jobs. Minimum wage keeps them from grabbing the bottom rung of the economic ladder. . 1
2. End the minimum wage and let untrained and unskilled workers start at low-paying jobs so they can develop job skills, create job histories, and demonstrate that they deserve higher wages and promotions.
3. Removing the minimum wage barrier lets new workers begin their climb limb up the earnings ladder. It lets them climb as fast and far as their work ethic and skills develop. The small business that can't afford a $7-an-hour dishwasher can afford a $4-an-hour dishwasher. And the dishwasher can earn while he learns ... to be a waiter or cook. Without a lower bottom rung, he'd never get on the ladder.
If we do not diagnose the disease, no one will feel they want or need the remedy.
I If we only diagnose the disease - and spend all evening telling our listeners how awful it is - we'll be one of those negative Libertarians.
We must briefly diagnose and describe, then fully recommend the remedy and rewards.
We need only briefly sketch out the harmful government program, and lay out the high costs and bad consequences.
Benefits
Then we must emphasize our Libertarian solution, and the benefits it brings.
We must accentuate the positives of a free market and very small limited government, the blessings of personal responsibility and individual liberty, and the strengths of self-governing individuals.
We must describe and dramatize the direct, personal benefits of our Libertarian solutions.
We must promote positive Libertarianism.
Editor's note: Reprinted from the 'Libertarian Persuasion Column in The Liberator Online, an e-mail publication of the Advocates for SelfGovern men Government Michael Cloud was the Keynote Speaker at the 1998 Libertarian National Convention.