Dispatch: Libertarians hope to parlay discontent into votes

• eersandbeers

  The party that advocates the small -- small taxes, small government, small infringements on personal freedom -- is trying to grow up and play with the big boys.
  
  Seemingly better organized, and riding a wave of anti-government sentiment fueled by a poor economy, rising deficits and a national Tea Party movement, Libertarians want to harness the public's dissatisfaction with the two major parties to become a true force in Ohio politics.
  
  Libertarians are running in every nonjudicial statewide race and have filed in a number of congressional and state legislative races where, even if their chances of victory are remote, some think they could play a role in close outcomes that could help determine which party controls both Congress and the Ohio House.
  
  "The discontent with the two parties has stirred a lot of interest in people who want to get involved and are seeking an alternative," said Charlie Earl, the Ohio Libertarian Party's communication director and a candidate for secretary of state.
  
  http://www.dispatchpolitics.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2010/02/20/copy/Libertarians.ART_ART_02-20-10_A1_L0GL6C7.html?sid=101
  
  
  The LPO has done a fine job growing the party in that state and hopefully that can translate into some electoral victories in the near future.
• believer

  

  While I think it's time for a viable third party in this great nation, I just don't see that happening any time soon.
  
  So while the party of small taxes, small government, small infringements on personal freedom may be riding the current wave of discontent with the two major parties, they ironically and ultimately end up tapping into votes that might otherwise have helped propel candidates of the one major political party that comes closest to libertarian political ideals thus helping to insure that this country continues rushing down the path of higher taxes, Big Government, and less personal liberties.
  
  Even if the Libertarians were able to begin taking Congressional seats away from the two major parties it would not take long for these politicians to succumb to Beltway power, money, corruption, and self-interest. It's the American Way.
• Gobuckeyes1

  While I think it's time for a viable third party in this great nation, I just don't see that happening any time soon

  As long as the R's and D's can convince people that they are throwing away their vote by voting third party, you are exactly right.
  
  The R's and D's are two heads on the same monster, and we keep electing the monster.
• believer

  

  ^^^And a viable Libertarian Party would add a third head to the monster. As I said the libertarian do-gooders would smell the money too.
• eersandbeers

  believer wrote: ^^^And a viable Libertarian Party would add a third head to the monster. As I said the libertarian do-gooders would smell the money too.

  The more the better. You create a duopoly by voting status quo. Well really, we only have one party at this point.
• believer

  

  ^^^Agreed