Fair-Weather Libertarian Syndrome

As I meet more and more folks with strong libertarian leanings who, for one reason or another, won't vote for libertarian candidates, I've come to recognize what I'm dubbing the "Fair-Weather Libertarian Syndrome" in some of these curious specimens.

A conversation with those afflicted with FWLS typically goes something like this:

Jonestein: So, Mark, you say both factions of the Republocrat Party have failed you, and there are no optimal candidates to vote for in either the New Bolshevik Faction (D), or the New Roman Empire Faction (R), correct?

Mark: Correct. The Democrats and Republicans are one and the same...all about Big Government, irresponsible spending, and the redistribution of MY tax dollars to either the Welfare State, or the Crony Capitalism State. I'm sick of it! This goes for our lousy selection of presidential candidates, McCain and Obama...one and the same.

Jonestein: Sounds like you are as disgusted as I am, that's why I'm voting for Bob Barr, in fact, I'm voting a straight Libertarian ticket.

Mark: Well, I hate to break this to you, but you are seriously wasting your vote!

Jonestein: Really? How so?

Mark: Barr and the Libertarians have no chance of winning, that's why.

Jonestein: Let me get this straight, you are thoroughly disgusted with both factions of the Republicrat Party...so who are you voting for?

Mark: Probably McCain, I don't want to see Obama in office.

Jonestein: But you just said 10 seconds ago that McCain and Obama are the same. You identify more with the Libertarians; why not vote for Barr instead of McCain?

Mark: McCain has a better chance of winning, that's why.

Jonestein: So even though neither McCain nor Obama represent anything you stand for, you feel the need to vote for one of them just because they "have a better chance of winning"? Exactly how are you winning in this situation? Both just represent more of the same crap. Aren't YOU the one wasting your vote?

Mark: No, you are...your candidate has no chance of winning..
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And there, my dear readers, is a prime example of FWLS. Mark is more concerned about being associated with a contender than what his candidates stand for ideologically. Ideologically, Mark is a Libertarian, but he is infected with Fair-Weather Libertarian Syndrome.

So what is FWLS? FWLS is a mutated form of Fair-Weather Sports Fan Syndrome, a rampant disease that plagues Dallas/Fort Worth area sports franchises. When one of our professional sports teams is having a losing year, the stands tend to be pretty empty. But when one of our sports teams starts winning, suddenly the stands are packed as "loyal" fans start coming out of the wood-work. And Gawd forbid, if one of our teams wins a championship! When this occurs suddenly team logo flags are proudly displayed from vehicles, jersey sales sky-rocket and are seen on every youth that can't seem to pull their sagging pants up. Yes, suddenly, everyone on the street has "been a huge fan for YEARS".

Why? Psychologically, most folks like to be associated with a winner, no one likes to be associated with a loser. This, depending on your opinion, is fine and dandy when it comes to following sports...I'm certainly as guilty as anyone.

But sports teams are not the guardians of our personal and economic freedoms in this country. Fair-Weather Sports Fan Syndrome is a benign condition, Fair-Weather Libertarian Syndrome is far from benign, it is in fact, quite malignant. People like Mark want the rest of us to do the heavy lifting by "wasting our votes" first. If we are ever able to garner enough support to become a "contender", then and only then will the Marks of the world jump on the Libertarian bandwagon.

Unfortunately, folks with FWLS help contribute to the self-fulfilling prophecy of the "Libertarians can't win" outlook. The FWLS affects their ability to see that if the hoards of FWLS stricken voters would just vote Libertarian, we'd be able to compete with the Republicrats and break the two-faction, one party stranglehold that is choking the liberty out of our nation.

Please help fight FWLS, if not for yourself, for (everyone sing along now...) the chilllldren.

**This message brought to you by the Help Fight FWLS or Your Children Will Die Foundation**