An Open Letter to Justin Webb

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An Open Letter to Justin Webb

by AlvarezGalloso @ 2008-08-25 – 19:12:13

I had the honour of reading Justin Webb’s Blog on the BBC News Website. Justin Webb wrote an article about Biden being an antidote to the “lack of foreign policy expertise” from Obama. I have decided to reply to Mr. Webb in his blog. The question in my opinion is the fact that the current choices for President [within the Republicans and Democrats] as well as the governing elite are out of touch with the domestic body in America as well as the International Body [The World]. The following is my letter to Mr. Webb and the need for the Press to address the true alternatives to the current malaise affecting America.
Dear Justin Webb: I would like to congratulate you for a great article for the BBC News. I do not agree with you that Biden would be a necessary antidote. The problems facing the USA are deeper and cannot be resolved by the current candidates from the Republicans and Democrats. The BBC [as well as other Western Media] would best be served by reporting on other candidates such as the Libertarian Party Ticket of Barr and Root. After all, the Libertarian Party had their convention and chose Barr and Root in free party elections. The governing elite chose their candidates ahead of the convention which means that the convention is more like a coronation. The USA must open its political process to the alternative political parties such as the Libertarians or Greens. Instead, we have the Republicans and Democrats using Ballot Access Laws [like the ones used in Venezuela and Zimbabwe] to prevent the emergence of alternative voices to what has become a society that silences real dissent.

The alternative would be the end of the USA in 100 years if there is no political opening toward alternative parties such as the Libertarians and Greens.

REFERENCE:

Webb, Justin; BBC News: “Biden A Necessary Antidote”

http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereporters/justinwebb/2008/08/biden_a_necessary_antidote.html?moduserid=movabletype104_35508&pid=67920143&upm=False&asb=False&pmp=False#dnaacs
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13 Comments on An Open Letter to Justin Webb

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- SeasideMan ^Pro
- 2008-08-25 @ 19:20:42
Libertarianism is far too extremist to ever stand a chance of wide acceptance.

Tom.

The blog owner changed this comment on 2008-08-25 20:15:46
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- AlvarezGalloso
- 2008-08-25 @ 20:17:12
Libertarianism isn't extremist. In fact, CNN has been interviewing Bob Barr [the Libertarian Party Candidate for President of the USA]. It would be the mistake of the USA if it did not include Libertarians and Greens in the National Debate in America. America's Life as a Nation is at stake.
- - SeasideMan ^Pro
  - 2008-08-25 @ 20:26:49
  It is both extremist and unelectable. It's what is called the "lunatic fringe" in the UK.
  
  The 2-party system over there is completely messed up and undemocratic, but that doesn't mean that dismantling the state is the right thing to do.
  
  Tom.
  
  The blog owner changed this comment on 2008-08-26 12:29:12
  - - technomist
    - 2008-08-25 @ 20:31:41
    Tom, Boris is almost certainly a libertarian of sorts, as are many in the Conservative Party. There is also a libertarian tradition of sorts on the liberal left.
    - - SeasideMan ^Pro
      - 2008-08-25 @ 20:38:17
      I'm aware of that, thanks, but this discussion is specifically about the American Libertarian Party - see the OP.
      
      Tom.
      - technomist
        
        2008-08-25 @ 21:31:49
        
        I think they aren't a lunatic fringe, here or in the states. Their ideas are far more influential than the voting numbers suggest.
        
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        SeasideMan ^Pro
        
        2008-08-25 @ 22:11:08
        
        I'm all for something that will destabilize the 2-party systems. But dismantling (most of) the state infrastructure, getting rid of benefits, eliminating taxation and fully legalizing all weapons is never going to be a big vote-winner in the UK. And after over 35 years of effort in America they're still doing well to get half a million votes.
        
        The huge problem that libertarians will always have is that it's far too easy for their opponents to make them look selfish and uncaring about others. Those are charges that are difficult to defend against because they are rooted in truth.
        
        Tom.
        
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        technomist
        
        2008-08-25 @ 22:22:08
        
        One man's selfishness is another man's unwillingness to be bullied.
        
        I am not sure that all libertarians are as interested in fully legalising all weapons as you think, or indeed in everyone being armed per se. Most are interested in ending the prohibition on drugs that has caused our criminal classes to prosper and arm themselves to protect their interests (rarely from the state, mainly from each other).
        
        There is a sizeable section in the states who believe in arming themselves as a reaction to the crime they have around them, and some seek to be able to organise to protect themselves against an over-powerful state (though interestingly, they fall back on adherence to the constitution of that state to justify this).
        
        As for eliminating taxation : when was taxation ever a good thing in itself. It is a necessary evil, only ever a means to an end, not an end in itself, surely?
        
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        SeasideMan ^Pro
        
        2008-08-25 @ 23:04:42
        
        Sure, there are almost as many different libertarian sects as there are Christian ones.
        
        I certainly wouldn't call taxation a "necessary evil". I would call it essential. The utter chaos, hardship and suffering that would occur without it tends to be glossed over rather too glibly by libertarians. I'd go further and say that chaos, hardship and suffering are hallmarks of the more radical forms of libertarianism. It's interesting to note that the supporters are almost exclusively well-educated people with valuable market skills.
        
        Tom.
        
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- technomist
- 2008-08-25 @ 20:28:51
No British persons cares about the USA unless they are a strong ally, on our side. If the USA continues to fail in its side of the transatlantic bargain (which it has done regularly in the last few years) and looks like it will not recover its sense enough to serve our countries' mutual interests, the British national interest will require us to abandon the USA as an ally. You don't really suppose the British Broadcasting Corporation cares about the end of the USA in 100 years, do you?
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- AlvarezGalloso
- 2008-08-26 @ 12:35:12
I want to thank Tom and Technomist for their comments. Libertarianism is not a lunatic fringe, it is one of the few ways that the USA can preserve itself. The Republicans and Democrats always talk about human rights but never practice it. Here, we have an excess of government to the point of a police state.

The selfish ones are the governing elite. Maybe there are people in the UK that could care less what happens here in America but they should since America under the Republicans and Democrats have lead the world to war and a gradual implosion of America would either mean professionals leaving America or a in house fighting.

If I was not living in Miami Florida [and I was not Libertarian], I would have left America a long time ago
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- technomist
- 2008-08-26 @ 17:25:39
People certainly care about what goes on in America at present, because, as you say, of the war, and also to a huge extent because there is so much British investment overseas, including in the USA.

I don't think people in the UK are so bothered about how the USA organizes itself internally, except when this makes the country an unstable one or an unreliable ally.

If current trends continue, the level of new British investment in USA may well drop off, as some of the BRIC countries become more attractive (notwithstanding Bush's adventures with Putin).
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- John Axel Forsman (Visitor)
- 2008-08-26 @ 20:54:23
Well, coming from Sweden I think I'll give my Swedish point of view.

The problem with Libertarianism, as well as the republic way, is the economic freedom. I am all for personal freedom, people should live their lives the way they choose, but to function as a society the government need to control certain aspects.

I guess libertarians wants the government to control peoples rights and uphold law, but not so much more (correct me if I'm wrong). Well, call me a pessimist, but I don't have that much faith in the common man. Without the government as somewhat of a financial advisor/enforcer, too large percentage of the population would not be able to take care of themselves and the society would decay.

Sure, both the democrats and republicans are a governing elite, I'm all for a more peoples government, but lets treat the infection instead of chopping of the legs. I'm all for getting some more political parties to have a serious role in the united states elections, but I would never wish to live in a libertarian society.
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