The short answer? No. In words, perhaps. But in action, no.
We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual.
-Libertarian Party Official Platform
Beautiful words, but does "the party" live up to this bold proclamation of principle? The answer is no. Not hardly.
Recently, LP enthusiast and vocal promoter,
, had this to say:
"Let's stop identifying as anarchists and minarchists completely…Let us unite under the word "libertarian."
No differentiation was made by Kokesh between the "big 'L'" "Libertarian" political party, and the simple, general term, "libertarian."
I found this interesting for a number of reasons.
One, encouraging voluntaryists/anarchists/libertarians to drop the use of the label "anarchist" seems strange, since to be a libertarian to the fullest extent, fully understanding, appreciating, and applying the axiom of individual self-ownership, one must, by default, be opposed to all rulers. That is the exact meaning of "anarchy." In the Greek language: An Archon - no rulers. That is to say, those who would initiate force to control others.
The second reason I found Kokesh's prescription for dropping the anarchist label (by the way, thanks for telling us how to identify ourselves, O great political leader) to be questionable, was that the Libertarian Party has supported, throughout the entire history of its existence, starting in the 1970s, politicians promoting anti-liberty violence.
One Shining Example of this Lunacy:
Gary Johnson-
A pro-carbon tax, pro-TPP, pro-mandatory vaccination, pro-bake the cake Jew! guy who claimed several times that the NAP (Non-Aggression Principle) "goes over my head!"
This is a libertarian? Hmmm. Well, according to Kokesh, he was the "ethical candidate."
Later Kokesh changed his mind on this and said GJ was not a true libertarian, but that he should still be supported. See this video below from the 2:37 mark:
Kokesh flip-flopping on Gary Johnson
I would encourage the reader to look into others who have run for office as "big 'L'" Libertarians.
Why doesn't
make the important distinction here? Could it be because he is now a politician running for office in the LP?
Why encourage people to stop calling themselves anarchists just to avoid debate/argument/discourse?
ANARCHY ON!
~KafkA
Graham Smith is a Voluntaryist activist, creator, and peaceful parent residing in Niigata City, Japan. Graham runs the "Voluntary Japan" online initiative with a presence here on Steem, as well as DTube and Twitter. (Hit me up so I can stop talking about myself in the third person!)