Libertarian-Socialism: American Style
The simple fact is that both libertarianism and socialism have valid ideas to be applied to a nation’s political culture. It is also true that the universe of politically viable solutions is shrunken when limited to one or the other. It is the blending that brings about a wealth of options and solutions. It may seem like political alchemy, but libertarian-socialism is real and is a practical point of view, yet the fires of discord along the left/right axis obstruct this synergy.
The partisan wars prevent even the discussion of controversial ideas, let alone any real action to solve them. The two parties have divided the great issues of the day, without necessarily any rational reasons, other than the opponents are on other side. This knee jerk reaction for conservatives to oppose whatever liberals support, and vice versa, leads to little reasoned debate and therefore no solutions. Solutions will come from both sides. The conversation between the patriotic libertarian and the patriotic socialist seeks to facilitate the participation of both sides. This is the core of libertarian-socialism.
Once there were liberal Republicans, but those few that still exist are now known as RINOs, “Republicans in Name Only”. To be tagged as a RINO is to be marked for expulsion from their own party. Democrats, likewise, have their own litmus tests that candidates must pass and the appellation of DINO has been heard of late. The two parties have become exclusionary, costing the United States the special synergies between liberal Republicans and conservative Democrats that once brought about dynamic thinking in politics. These less ideological, earlier versions of the political parties allowed for a push and pull tension in four directions, instead of just two. The libertarian-socialist vision of American politics seeks to re-ignite natural synergies by recreating the multi-polar political tension that once made American politics functional.
The liberal/conservative chasm that divides America, largely mirroring the Democrat/Republican fault line, has fractured the nation. Libertarian-Socialists can bridge the chasm of ideology. The conversation between that patriotic libertarian and the patriotic socialist shifts the paradigm from Democrat versus Republican back to America. In the beginning, the Democrat-Republicans were one party in America. It was one party, not two, and libertarian-socialists look for reconciliation if not reunification of an “American” ideology.
Politics and the media in America have polarized society so much that the concept of a Democratic-Republican seems impossible. For the true American, even simple common sense no longer seems to exist. This situation is not entirely by accident. The partisan ideologies pushing common sense to the fringe are driven by moneyed power’s desire to protect its elite status and lifestyle. Freedom and liberty FOR ALL cannot exist in a climate of excessive government and corporate power, but privilege can be protected for sure! America is on the road toward an authoritarian capitalism that minimizes individual liberty, because that is safer for the economically privileged.
Libertarian-Socialism brings disruption for the rich and the powerful. Moneyed power will stoke the fires of discord and spend billions to oppose libertarian-socialist ideas. This discord has crippled the meritocracy that once was America’s greatest strength. The libertarian-socialist conversation is a direct threat to the wealth and power of the oligarchs. Some balancing of the current economic inequality will be a consequence of libertarian-socialism. This balancing of the economic playing field is an existential threat to the 21st century robber barons as those of lesser economic class are freed from the current monopolies of power.
It is the ideas that spring from the patriotic alliance of the libertarian and the socialist that are so very dangerous to moneyed power. Libertarian-Socialism is dangerous because it threatens these monopolies not through violent revolution, but with ideas so powerful, they change American behavior on Main Street. Libertarian-Socialism seeks to bring unity instead of division to Main Street. Only united can Main Street find the strength to resist the powerful forces that divide the 99% into warring factions.
Without peace and unity among Americans, nothing can be executed. This is a radical concept compared to what has passed for political discourse in America for the last half century. Peace among the people can open some space for the discourse required to get the ideas of libertarian-socialism out onto the street. Frankly, executing libertarian-socialism ideas will seem easy compared to any effort to bring peace to Main Street, but peace is a requirement for progress.
As has had been said many times, no army, no power can withstand an idea whose time has come. I believe the time has come for libertarian-socialism. This is a road map for the nation. It defines an adaptable path to that shining city on the hill that is still America’s ultimate destination. Come, the yellow brick road calls! We can get there!
