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| EATING PET FOOD | ||||||||||
| By Andrew L. Sullivan | ||||||||||
| E-mail: [email protected] | ||||||||||
| Becoming a Libertarian is a process, not a lightening bolt conversion. The beginning starts when you realize, individuals, not groups make moral decisions. Only an individual can lose their soul. Groups make politics and government makes politics of force. | ||||||||||
| The first part of the process is dropping the idea of government as a problem solver. The issues do not matter. Government has just three items to its agenda: to grow in influence, to grow in power and to increase revenue and do all three by convincing the public it is doing so for the common good. | ||||||||||
| The second part of the process is selling freedom. People forget, freedom works. Freedom is not just a concept but also a pragmatic tool. Find the problem and look at how freedom can solve the problem. Listen to people complain and eventually they will mention something about some form of government intervention causes harm. Show that person how freedom in that particular area can help solve problems in other areas. Listen to their values and show how freedom affirms their ability to spread and share those values. | ||||||||||
| The third part of the process is to refuse the government parties in favor of freedom groups such as the Libertarian Party. Again and again, people say Libertarians can't win. You are wasting your vote if you vote Libertarian, they say. Well, here is what I say. If you vote Republican and Democrat, you waste your time, money and your conscience! Confused? | ||||||||||
| If I took you out to dinner and gave you the choice of eating dog food or cat food, would you sit down and choose to eat the lesser of two 'evils?' I should hope not! I don't get any thrills from seeing people eat pet food, do you? Most Americans agree that eating pet food is disgusting. This is why the majority of Americans will not show up to vote on Election Day. They won't eat the pet food of Democrats and Republicans. But if you object to the pet food, by just refusing to eat, where are you left? If you refuse to eat, you will starve. Many Americans have become slaves to the will of government programs and politicians, and fear of saying goodbye to those government programs. Libertarians are not going to starve. That is why we come along and demand steak. Some people say we go too far, and think we should just be happy with tofu or perhaps a hamburger or even a better cut of pet food!! Sure Libertarians may not win and will go away from the table hungry, but at least we did not eat pet food. | ||||||||||
| So next time someone tells you, Libertarians can't win or you are wasting your vote, pull out a can of cat food and dog food and a spoon. Tell them to pick and choose! | ||||||||||
| By the way, PLEASE DO NOT SEND ME PHOTOS OF YOUR FRIENDS EATING PET FOOD! | ||||||||||
| [This article originally appeared in the May/June 2001 issue of THE THOUGHT.] | ||||||||||
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