Comments for ALS: thoughts on freedom

Comment on Libertarians and elections (and why it is necessary to get involved now) by Dom Vasta

Dom Vasta — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 08:03:06 +0000

Shem, learning opportunities on campus are good, in fact we’ll be starting a proper Friedman club at UQ this year. But if you want real binding legislative reform, then you need to join a party and get like minded candidates pre-selected and hopefully elected.

Comment on Libertarians and elections (and why it is necessary to get involved now) by Shem Bennett

Shem Bennett — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:38:07 +0000

If people are on campus there’s learning opportunities in the form of Liberal Clubs (most of which don’t require party membership) otherwise there’s other organisations or lobby groups. Basically, for the LDP to be useful it needs more than ideologues, it needs actual campaigning, fund-raising and organisational skills. At all levels and not just in the Exec.

Comment on Libertarians and elections (and why it is necessary to get involved now) by 'Nuke' Gray

'Nuke' Gray — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 06:23:16 +0000

I’ve just found another website which should be on our list! David Harte runs something called On-line Libertarian Library, and gets mentioned on Radio National when they want to discuss libertarian things! Apparently they are speaking to radicals like Herman Hoppe, from the Von Mises Institute! If even auntie gives them a fair go, things are changing betterly

Comment on Libertarians and elections (and why it is necessary to get involved now) by Dom Vasta

Dom Vasta — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 03:44:30 +0000

thanks for that terje, I just assumed people would know how to get to the LDP as it’s in the sidebar

Comment on Libertarians and elections (and why it is necessary to get involved now) by TerjeP (say tay-a)

TerjeP (say tay-a) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:15:08 +0000

Dom seems to have omitted a link to where you can join the LDP (Australia’s only registered libertarian political party).

http://www.ldp.org.au/get-involved/join-online

Comment on Libertarians and elections (and why it is necessary to get involved now) by TerjeP (say tay-a)

TerjeP (say tay-a) — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:11:24 +0000

In rough numbers the Greens have 10,000 members and the LDP has 2,500. Shem may have a point about the majors providing some opportunities to gain experience but I suggest that people skip three years in a major party and simply join the LDP now. If they then want to make a contribution beyond simply helping make up the numbers (actually important for registration) they can learn on the job.

Comment on Libertarians and elections (and why it is necessary to get involved now) by 'Nuke' Gray

'Nuke' Gray — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 02:09:13 +0000

The Greens never joined anyone, and still got a lot of power at the last election. I’d support Santorum over Obama, if I absolutely had to vote for either of them, but that’s because Democrats are more inclined towards BIG government. The Republicans aren’t much better.

Comment on Libertarians and elections (and why it is necessary to get involved now) by Shem Bennett

Shem Bennett — Fri, 10 Feb 2012 01:50:48 +0000

If Gary Johnson serves as a spoiler for Santorum that’s probably a very good thing. Obama is bad Santorum is far far worse. Plus, a good showing by third parties in the US might encourage the major parties to move to a proportional or preferential system. If third parties never spoil there is no incentive to change the broken FPP system.

As for the LDP vs major parties debate, I question the worth of joining a major. In my experience those that join the majors are more changed than the parties are. I’d actually recommend joining a major an getting 3 or so years campaigning experience and then working to bring the LDP to at least the level of the Greens.

Comment on The Santa Claus Government by Brendan Halfweeg

Brendan Halfweeg — Tue, 07 Feb 2012 12:44:20 +0000

A title for a book “The Government Delusion”

Comment on The unforgivable stupidity of the anti-banking “libertarians” by 'Nuke' Gray

'Nuke' Gray — Mon, 06 Feb 2012 23:27:09 +0000

Since an IOU can be treated as money, if people accept it as such, then that solves the problem. Anything can be used as money, so long as others will accept it in trade. Q.E.D.