Don't Panic about the Libertarian Party's Future
Many people are worried about the future of the Libertarian Party, and I don't see things going as badly as some overthinkers do. But, as we will talk about on my podcast tonight, the party has been through many convulsions and survived. That was without the cultural recognition or institutional knowledge that exists today.
What will happen is what has always happened in every organization since the beginning of time: The more hyperbolic members of a faction embarrass the dealmakers. Then, because they understand networking is the key to power in politics, they start jettisoning the trash and begin in-group policing. Finally, the sides identify the dealmakers, conversations start happening, and the factions fold into a more conciliatory bloc. Finally, the social misfits get pissed and leave.
Then new kids come along ten years later and get mad at the "establishment." The difference between now and the early 80s, late 90s, and late 2000s? More people are showing up than ever before. As more in-person interactions happen, the friction lessens as people connect one-on-one, and it results in more people working together than in the past.
That's been my criticism of the "takeover" from the beginning. Save everyone a lot of time and get to know the people you're inevitably going to work with instead of the factional bullshit that frays the social bonds and leads to effective people leaving or not joining. The grassroots of the Mises Caucus, the ones that show up to meetings and do work, have far more in common with longtime members than either realize. When they see everyone isn't against them and that most people want to win too... It's going to cause heartburn for the online outrage peddlers. (Never forget that Twitter is not real life.)
The LP is small because the average volunteer quits in three years, or people don't join because of the drama, which has left most LP affiliated organizations anemic.
Indiana is successful because there is a lot less ego, and many of the leadership has been around for 15-40 years. It's kept new people from making the same mistakes repeatedly, thanks to institutional knowledge. Most LP affiliates are goldfish. They start from scratch every 5 years. When Don Rainwater's message connected last year, he had 50 years of infrastructure to call on instead of two years, and he placed second in 32 counties in a Gubernatorial race.
The LPIN has more opportunities to engage with the public than other LP affiliates. Why? Because our tactics are networking and not bomb-throwing. The media, government officials, politicians, and "establishment" people know and respect those people.
Think like networkers and not bomb-throwers. It's more effective.