Magnifisyncopathological

[Updates below.]

Despite several posts on this blog that generally lament the voting process and the system it upholds, I have decided to help the Travis County Libertarian Party and the Libertarian Party of Texas to get ballot access for Texas libertarians this election. I asked for and received the volunteer packet in the mail and have begun asking people to sign. Picturing myself helping others jump through the imposed hoops of government interference is unsettling.

Why am I doing this? For one thing, last year I promised the TCLP I'd help the ballot access effort through a donation. Since my finances can't support donating in any useful amount, I figured gathering my own set of signatures would make up for the $100 I pledged. I gave them my word and I intend on following through with it.

For another, I wish to see the Texas's political direction change. I'm under no illusions as to the impact I have on Texas politics with my website. If libertarians aren't even on the ballot for the November 2004 elections, then the vicious cycle of mainstream Republican-Democrat dominance can continue. It isn't likely major positions will be drawn to libertarian candidates and I'm also under no illusion just having libertarians on the ballot will solve any problems. Individuals still have to vote for these candidates and if individuals don't understand the core principles that drive libertarians and can't comprehend the importance of their application, then this effort is wasted. But if it can be done, making the statement that there is a significant number of people fed up with the way the duopoly works is a good thing.

It comes down to the question of how do you want to change the way things work. The choices are limited to just a few:

1. Violent resistance and overthrow.
   
2. Democratic resistance and the peaceful exchange of elected positions.
   
3. Politically inactive education and voluntary disassociation with the system.

The second is what is commonly accepted as the best means of accomplishing political change. But the entire basis is on majority rule. Even though the United States of America is a republic and not a democracy, in the end, political change is at the discretion of whatever voting block has the largest number of supporters. So, in order to get anything done that way, your supporters have to have reasons to support you. If they don't agree with your stances, you've got nothing but the shell of potential hope without votes to fill it. The last general election Texas held was in November, 2002. The results were dismal and fairly consistent: most Libertarian candidates earn less than 3% of the vote in their district. And this is in good 'ol pro-property rights, individualistic Texas. It's this political reality, fueled by intellectual rot, that makes participating in the ballot access drive so hard.

The third is what principled market anarchists would likely prefer. It's the collective "screw off" and willful self-extrication from the system of government meddling and the deliberate attempt to change the minds of others through reason and debate. This confronts the problems of the second approach more directly, but in all likelihood, will have even less of an impact than the second approach.

There is a fourth option. One can just give up attempting to change society for the better (thus shedding yourself of an easy "social planner" label) and focus on making your own life better. It's tempting in the face of such overwhelming opposition. But I won't give in to it yet.

UPDATE(5/26/2004 2:24pm)
The final tally is in. On Monday the 24th, 80,107 signatures were handed over to the Secretary of State's office. John Williams, the reporter for this Houston Chronicle article, "Libertarians in;, Green, Reform out," got the numbers mixed up and attributed the signature count to Nader's ballot effort.

UPDATE(7/22/2004 1:16pm)
News8Austin: Libertarians will be on Texas election ballot

Election officials on Tuesday announced the Libertarian Party has met the requirements to get its candidates on the Nov. 2 ballot in Texas.

As a third party, the Libertarians were required to submit a petition with 45,540 signatures of registered Texans who did not vote in the GOP or Democratic primaries.

Secretary of State Geoff Connor said Libertarians produced more than 82,000 valid signatures.

Copyright 2004 Associated Press, All rights reserved.