"Your efforts are futile. You lost control of the [Libertarian Party] long ago."
Yes, it's unfortunate that such a large, loud faction of the liberty movement have prioritized their fear/hatred of immigrants/blacks/gay people over liberty.
Yes, it's disappointing that the LP has been a dismal failure at electing anyone to office in its 50 years of existence.
And it's certainly possible our efforts are futile.
Entropy is a terrible enemy, and will come for us all eventually.
After all:
* 99% of all species that have ever existed have gone extinct.
* Almost everyone now alive will die of old age in a few short decades.
* Most humans are irrational, immoral, and ignorant with little incentive to improve themselves.
However, I believe circumstances can improve, and that it's worthwhile to try to improve the world.
I certainly prefer to be alive now than at any previous time in history.
Visit HumanProgress.org for ample evidence that the world has improved for humans over time.
And despite short-term setbacks, libertarians have many reasons to be optimistic.
In particular, seasteading (The Seasteading Institute), charter cities (Charter Cities Institute and Free Cities Foundation), and the Free State Project give me hope.
(See link in comments for more.)
Adopting an attitude of fatalism, cynicism, and pessimism guarantees you'll lose, in any case.
I choose to fight for the world I want.
Writing is one of my strengths, and I have a compulsion to learn, teach, and proselytize. So writing is how I fight.
I encourage others with a thirst for liberty to fight in whatever way suits their strengths.
For example, one could fight for liberty by:
* Writing a note of appreciation to to a pro-liberty activist / politician / volunteer
* Writing a review of a pro-liberty book / movie / TV show
* Working a 9-to-5 job and donating to a pro-liberty cause.
* Volunteering for an agorist alternative to government services.
* Being a supportive spouse to a pro-liberty entrepreneur.
* Raising libertarian children.
* Selling self-defense drones.
* Organizing a conference.
* Developing a charter city.
* Buying a seastead.
* Moving to New Hampshire and running for office.
* Buying a Substack subscription to a pro-liberty author. (* cough* )
Much of the world is beyond our control.
Instead of tying your mood to outcomes outside your control, define "winning" in terms that are entirely within your power.
For example, you could define "winning" as "making a good-faith effort to improve the world as best I can with the resources I have."
That way, no matter how lucky or unlucky you may be, no matter how dire external circumstances become, you can "win" by this standard.
So, harness your strengths, choose your battles, and fight—because it is the only way we will achieve liberty in our lifetime.
Yes, it's unfortunate that such a large, loud faction of the liberty movement have prioritized their fear/hatred of immigrants/blacks/gay people over liberty.
Yes, it's disappointing that the LP has been a dismal failure at electing anyone to office in its 50 years of existence.
And it's certainly possible our efforts are futile.
Entropy is a terrible enemy, and will come for us all eventually.
After all:
* 99% of all species that have ever existed have gone extinct.
* Almost everyone now alive will die of old age in a few short decades.
* Most humans are irrational, immoral, and ignorant with little incentive to improve themselves.
However, I believe circumstances can improve, and that it's worthwhile to try to improve the world.
I certainly prefer to be alive now than at any previous time in history.
Visit HumanProgress.org for ample evidence that the world has improved for humans over time.
And despite short-term setbacks, libertarians have many reasons to be optimistic.
In particular, seasteading (The Seasteading Institute), charter cities (Charter Cities Institute and Free Cities Foundation), and the Free State Project give me hope.
(See link in comments for more.)
Adopting an attitude of fatalism, cynicism, and pessimism guarantees you'll lose, in any case.
I choose to fight for the world I want.
Writing is one of my strengths, and I have a compulsion to learn, teach, and proselytize. So writing is how I fight.
I encourage others with a thirst for liberty to fight in whatever way suits their strengths.
For example, one could fight for liberty by:
* Writing a note of appreciation to to a pro-liberty activist / politician / volunteer
* Writing a review of a pro-liberty book / movie / TV show
* Working a 9-to-5 job and donating to a pro-liberty cause.
* Volunteering for an agorist alternative to government services.
* Being a supportive spouse to a pro-liberty entrepreneur.
* Raising libertarian children.
* Selling self-defense drones.
* Organizing a conference.
* Developing a charter city.
* Buying a seastead.
* Moving to New Hampshire and running for office.
* Buying a Substack subscription to a pro-liberty author. (* cough* )
Much of the world is beyond our control.
Instead of tying your mood to outcomes outside your control, define "winning" in terms that are entirely within your power.
For example, you could define "winning" as "making a good-faith effort to improve the world as best I can with the resources I have."
That way, no matter how lucky or unlucky you may be, no matter how dire external circumstances become, you can "win" by this standard.
So, harness your strengths, choose your battles, and fight—because it is the only way we will achieve liberty in our lifetime.