Trump’s appearance at the Libertarian Party convention spotlighted the most impactful opportunity available for growing and strengthening Libertarian influence in this election cycle. In the current political climate the right breaks down into three basic subgroups:
–Traditional Conservatives (aka movement conservatives, RINOs, country club republicans, Chamber of Commerce, establishment, etc.)
–Populists (aka Tumpers, MAGA, deplorables, Silent Majority)
–Libertarians (aka anarchists, isolationists, the Pauls younger and elder)
Definitions aside it might be useful to look at the three groups through a less fraught behavior based lens. Using coercion as a sort mechanism the three groups can be redefined as follows:
Conservatism— Limited government, low taxes, minimal regulation, free markets, sound money, balanced budgets, low inflation. Some government intervention may be necessary under certain circumstances. As a practical matter under what circumstances and how coercive the intervention is has always been ill defined. The whole construct eventually devolves into Justice Stewart’s execrable “I’ll know it when I see it” standard.
Populism—Coercion is perfectly fine as long as it benefits ‘the people’, ‘the common man’, ‘the silent majority’ et al. The populists diverge from the establishment conservatives along two main vectors. First, there is no ideological aversion to coercion. Second, the acceptability of coercion is derived from the identity of the beneficiary versus the circumstances attached to a specific act.
Libertarianism—Coercion is unacceptable unless absolutely necessary for the prevention of harm to another.
Understanding the differences between these three segments of the current version of the Republican Party exposes the basic messaging flaw affecting the Libertarians. Policy positions like limited government and low taxes that are often used to define Libertarians are really just second order effects arising from the core anti-coercion, free will organizing principle. There is also the chronically stupid trope equating libertarianism with anarchy. Clearly the opposite is true. Coercion results in anarchy. Liberty results in order.
If Libertarians want to materially impact the Republican Party specifically and the long-term foundation of the political right in the U.S. it’s time to take a more tactical approach. That approach begins with practical messaging. Speak clearly to your natural base about what matters to them. Personal free will, political liberty and the existential battle against coercion in all of its insidious manifestations.