2012 was an incredible year for politics. The political arena was not only exciting in Maine, but it was in all of America. The excitement came due to a series of storylines that played out over the course of the year, with one of the major ones being the unique nature of the Ron Paul movement.
An influx of new activists joined the Republican Party to help advance liberty and nominate Ron Paul for President. They are a diverse group of people, largely libertarians, but many not Libertarians. Some within this push for liberty are also conservatives, or even liberals and anarchists. It’s a political melting pot full of individuals who just want to live free from government interference. Government, first and foremost, protects the people and their interests, not controls them.
Early on in the primaries, back in 2011 when it was less clear there would be this much of an impact, the liberty movement faced two potential directions: Ron Paul or Gary Johnson. An early rift in the liberty movement that Congressman Paul would win, with Johnson bowing out of the race and later joining the Libertarian Party. Paul would become a political legend for the immediate impact and will likely be remembered in history for the long-term influence his philosophy and career wields over the political arena.
Gary Johnson has his own legacy however. After Paul failed to secure the nomination in a bitter delegate fight, with the resistance of the Republican establishment fracturing the party, supporters looked elsewhere to cast their vote in November. The clear choice for many was the 5% threshold needed to open the door for the Libertarian Party in the mainstream. Johnson, who already had a name as a successful governor in New Mexico and former candidate for the Republican nomination, stood out to many Ron Paul supporters. While some would write-in Paul in the end, Johnson also picked up a huge number, exceeding one million votes.
While neither Johnson or Paul will become President in 2013, they have a lasting legacy that millions of people across America will carry on. Here in Maine, the Libertarian Party is quietly restructuring and preparing for a rise. The Republican Party is undergoing an identity crisis with an ongoing philosophical civil war raging within. All the while, the Democratic Party has the short-term political control. The future looks grim for them however, as the liberty movement is slowly advancing through the political arena and working to forever change the game.
There are a number of issues to address and consider moving forward to the liberty movement, which Undercover Porcupine will cover here in a series of articles. The liberty movement needs to assess leadership, future candidates, its principles, and strategy moving forward.
Stay tuned here to Undercover Porcupine starting November 14th, for the discussion into the future of liberty.
THE “SAVING LIBERTY” SERIES
1. Liberty Is Not Insane
One of the difficulties in advancing the liberty movement is communication, with the mainstream often misunderstanding the concept of liberty. With Ron Paul, the misconceptions regarding philosophy and principles are endless, with some of this due to Paul himself. One of the top jobs for those within the movement is to correct misconceptions and clarify why freedom makes sense. Liberty itself, is far from being insane and crazy.
2. (To Be Announced 11.14.12, coming 11.15.12)
