[quote author="WINEX" date=1234000015][quote author="Oscar" date=1233993968][quote author="awgee" date=1233986600]He is just the wrong "package". You won't see a challenge to both parties until there is both a different message and an attractive platform for it. Watching Ron Paul during the debates was like listening to a disheveled homeless guy ranting about the end of the world. There is a lot of support for his libertarian views and he might have the right ideas - he just isn't the best person to advocate for it.</blockquote>
And therein lies the Libertarian Conundrum: who is going to stand up and articulate the Libertarian belief as it relates to current events and not sound like a disheveled homeless guy ranting abiout the end of the world. The kind of political system envisioned by the Libertarian Party was abandoned before Roosevelt took office... Teddy Roosevelt, that is. The moment an LP candidate begins advocating withdrawal from all international bases, they lose anyone with an inkling of what that would do to our defense and intelligence capabilities. When they begin advocating a reduction in the size and scope of the Federal government, they lose anyone who cares about public education, public lands, national health policies, clean, water, food, and air, etc. Now, I will grant that Ron Paul isn't the most telegenic candidate, but it doesn't help that the views of the Libertarians are so far afield from the status quo.</blockquote>
No, the true Libertarian Conundrum is that Libertarians favor a restoration of states and individual rights. That can't happen without influencing the powers that be at the Federal level. But that requires that powerbase to give up their influence for absolutely nothing in return.
The only practical way to enact the vision is by supporting conservative candidates and groups like the <a href="http://www.rlc.org/">Republican Liberty Caucus</a></blockquote>
If, yeah I know it is a big if, we vote out the incumbents, there is no powerbase except the American voter.