Explaining our ideology to other people

[AggieforPaul]

I was talking politics with some Masters of Public Service Majors at A&M last night at a party, and as soon as my roommate ragged on me for bitching about the census, it was like 5 on 1. But later when I stuck to talking about perpetual war, printing money, taxes, etc. everyone was extremely receptive. People were also generally positive about Ron Paul. I talked at length with this girl who had worked for Heritage and was considering applying at Cato, and she was extremely pro-liberty on the vast majority of issues we were talking about even though she had been one of the ones talking about the necessity of the census.

I guess the point is, Im just gonna focus on the big issues like Iraq, the deficit, Fed opaqueness, etc. in the future. We can win a national election if we dont allow the MSM to paint us as fringe loons. As much as I'd live to live in a world with no census, no drug laws, etc. I'd still be elated to settle for just no more war, Fed transparency and a balanced budget.

[Indy Vidual]

I'll take it, and it sounds like you were at a pretty fun party. :)

[malkusm]

I was talking politics with some Masters of Public Service Majors at A&M last night at a party, and as soon as my roommate ragged on me for bitching about the census, it was like 5 on 1. But later when I stuck to talking about perpetual war, printing money, taxes, etc. everyone was extremely receptive. People were also generally positive about Ron Paul. I talked at length with this girl who had worked for Heritage and was considering applying at Cato, and she was extremely pro-liberty on the vast majority of issues we were talking about even though she had been one of the ones talking about the necessity of the census.

I guess the point is, Im just gonna focus on the big issues like Iraq, the deficit, Fed opaqueness, etc. in the future. We can win a national election if we dont allow the MSM to paint us as fringe loons. As much as I'd live to live in a world with no census, no drug laws, etc. I'd still be elated to settle for just no more war, Fed transparency and a balanced budget.

I agree 100% - and great job, sounds like everything went well! :)

[AggieforPaul]

I'll take it, and it sounds like you were at a pretty fun party. :)

Yeah, it was kind of weird. My roommate's doing his masters in public service, and invited some of his friends from class over. It was probably the one social setting where people weren't looking for an excuse to move when the topic of politics came up.

[silus]

You should have just called them socialists and walked out of the room.

[Reason]

You should have just called them socialists and walked out of the room.

negative.

[AggieforPaul]

You should have just called them socialists and walked out of the room.

That wouldnt have accomplished anything. I myself was a neo-conservative until someone (Ron Paul at the first debate) planted the seed in my mind that maybe I was wrong, and suggested further reading on the subject. Had he said that everyone who opposes immediate withdrawal from Iraq is a neo-con and left the stage, nobody would have changed their mind.

[AggieforPaul]

And btw, this actually was an "earth hour" party too where we turned off all the lights, and drank in the candlelight. I knew my friend behind the idea was a big climate change guy, but I chose to just view it as us voluntarily conserving energy and knocking a few cents off the utility bill.

[silus]

Sarcasm...


sorry.

[slothman]

As much as I'd live to live in a world with no census, no drug laws, etc.

You want no census at all, or just not one with all the weird questions?

[PBrady]

Great thread! Some liberty folks need to be more open-minded on what to approach people with. As you said, you can't really start off with "no income tax", "no drug laws" or "eliminate the Dept. of Education" right off the bat. It turns too many people off.

Basically, more liberty people just need to use some common sense (oh, and not be so abrasive) :-)

[specsaregood]

And btw, this actually was an "earth hour" party too where we turned off all the lights, and drank in the candlelight. I knew my friend behind the idea was a big climate change guy, but I chose to just view it as us voluntarily conserving energy and knocking a few cents off the utility bill.

So you saved money and the climate by burning candles instead of using the electricity? I'm not sure that adds up. :)

[Icymudpuppy]

So you saved money and the climate by burning candles instead of using the electricity? I'm not sure that adds up. :)

I suppose it depends on where your electricity comes from.

Mine is primarily Hydroelectric. Clean, renewable.

Candles by contrast are dirtier, and less efficient.

On the other hand, if your electricity comes from coal or diesel, but your candles are hemp thread in bees wax, I'd say the candle is your better bet.

[AggieforPaul]

You want no census at all, or just not one with all the weird questions?


Id be cool with the one authorized by the Constitution.

[silus]

Great thread! Some liberty folks need to be more open-minded on what to approach people with. As you said, you can't really start off with "no income tax", "no drug laws" or "eliminate the Dept. of Education" right off the bat. It turns too many people off.

Basically, more liberty people just need to use some common sense (oh, and not be so abrasive) :-)
People just need to take Ron Paul's example. Never confrontational, always stays focused on the issues, never attacks individuals, never thinks labeling an individual will help his cause...

Now if only we can get Christians to follow Jesus' example...

[slothman]

People just need to take Ron Paul's example. Never confrontational, always stays focused on the issues, never attacks individuals, never thinks labeling an individual will help his cause...

Now if only we can get Christians to follow Jesus' example...
You're more likely to get RP elected to president then that.
:D

[ibaghdadi]

I guess the point is, Im just gonna focus on the big issues like Iraq, the deficit, Fed opaqueness, etc. in the future. We can win a national election if we dont allow the MSM to paint us as fringe loons. As much as I'd live to live in a world with no census, no drug laws, etc. I'd still be elated to settle for just no more war, Fed transparency and a balanced budget.

Totally agreed and well done. We should really ask: what are people MOST pissed off about? And then pick that one issue as a starting point to ease them into the liberty movement.

One caveat though - just because someone agrees with you on some issues, does not mean they are your "intellectual brothers". They have to agree with you, for the right reasons too.



People just need to take Ron Paul's example. Never confrontational, always stays focused on the issues, never attacks individuals, never thinks labeling an individual will help his cause...

The amazing thing about Dr. Paul is that you genuinely feel that he's not gathering votes or even supporters - he's working on a deeper level to change ideas and mentalities.


Iyad

[MN Patriot]

My standard script when people ask what libertarianism means is: "Libertarianism is derived from the word liberty. I believe people should be free to live their own lives as long as they don't harm anyone else. The proper role of government is to prevent people from harming and stealing from one another."

Then when they ask about specific issues, I elaborate from the libertarian perspective.

Of course some infantile intellects say things like: "So you want to go back to 1776 when we had slavery and women couldn't vote? Big business is dominated by monopolies. Poor people starve in the streets."

No, libertarianism is built on the ideas of the founders, but has evolved over the last 70 or 80 years from Austrian economics and many influential philosophers. History has proven that governments cause starvation like Stalinist Russia, Mao's China, etc.

Some people are intellectually and morally stunted, they will never even try to understand libertarianism, just attack it.

[Live_Free_Or_Die]

Any argument about intervention can be rooted in this:

http://i44.tinypic.com/6zsxzl.jpg

Make fun all you want but this is one wise dude: :)

http://encefalus.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/yoda.jpg