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Document:LP News 1973 May-June Issue 14: Difference between revisions
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Document:LP News 1973 May-June Issue 14 (view source)
Revision as of 19:13, 9 July 2021
, 9 July 2021→EDITORIAL
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==EDITORIAL== | ==EDITORIAL== | ||
In the past few months, there have been increasing rumbles about the emergence of a "Libertarian Establishment" -- an unholy troika made up of LP, SIL, and Reason, which is supposedly conspiring to dominate 11t he Movement, | In the past few months, there have been increasing rumbles about the emergence of a "Libertarian Establishment" -- an unholy troika made up of LP, [[Society for Individual Liberty|SIL]], and [[Reason]], which is supposedly conspiring to dominate 11t he Movement, "imposing a "party line" and driving dissenting organizations and publications into ruin. | ||
into ruin. | |||
Since it appears that this notion is not about to wither away spontaneously, we think it is time to set the record straight. | Since it appears that this notion is not about to wither away spontaneously, we think it is time to set the record straight. | ||
there is co-operation between the three--perhaps closer co-operation than between most groups. | First, it must be admitted that LP, SIL and Reason are indeed the most "established" libertarian outfits -- in all senses of the word. Further, it must be admitted that there is an increasingly close degree of co-operation between the three outfits, as each specializes in the areas where it is most successful. | ||
But what of it? Survival of the fittest, consolidation, specialization and co-operation are the traditional hallmarks of a free market. The developments we are now witnessing are nothing more than the market at work. | |||
But is there any kind of conspiracy? Is there even any real truth to the charge that the "terrible trio" constitute a "libertarian establishment" in the sense that [[National Review]], [[Young Americans for Freedom|YAF]] and the [[Conservative Party]] make up the "Conservative Establishment"? | |||
Certainly, one could do worse than draw this parallel. But there are several crucial differences. Most importantly, the three libertarian outfits in question were founded independently, remain autonomous, and even disagree publicly on occasion. Of course, | |||
there is co-operation between the three--perhaps closer co-operation than between most groups. But what of it? Survival of the fittest, consolidation, specialization and co-operation are the traditional hallmarks of a free market. The developments we are now witnessing are nothing more than the market at work. | |||
Let us be brutally frank; most of the outfits which have gone under deserved to do so. They failed because of poor planning, poor manage ment, and, often, an inability to break free from narrow orthodoxy and provincial outlooks. | Let us be brutally frank; most of the outfits which have gone under deserved to do so. They failed because of poor planning, poor manage ment, and, often, an inability to break free from narrow orthodoxy and provincial outlooks. | ||
No, Virginia, there is no conspiracy, and no plot afoot to crush dissent. And those who maintain that there is are motivated mostly | |||
by sour-grapery, outraged purism, or an inability to adapt to the idea of success; too many libertarians are so used to losing that they've come to enjoy it. | No, Virginia, there is no conspiracy, and no plot afoot to crush dissent. And those who maintain that there is are motivated mostly by sour-grapery, outraged purism, or an inability to adapt to the idea of success; too many libertarians are so used to losing that they've come to enjoy it. | ||
But whatever the reasons for these dark utterances, we respectfully suggest that they be treated as the fantasies they are, and that the shooters-from-the-sidelines grow up and ally themselves with one or another of the organizations and publications which have attained some measure of success in the battle to achieve Freedom In Our Time. | But whatever the reasons for these dark utterances, we respectfully suggest that they be treated as the fantasies they are, and that the shooters-from-the-sidelines grow up and ally themselves with one or another of the organizations and publications which have attained some measure of success in the battle to achieve Freedom In Our Time. | ||
-/- DFN | -/- DFN | ||
CYNICAL DEFINITIONS by Jean Dewees | ==CYNICAL DEFINITIONS by [[Jean Dewees]]== | ||
Money: That which loses value every second·; it is, therefore, much in demand. | Money: That which loses value every second·; it is, therefore, much in demand. | ||
Open Mind: A vacuum, ripe for any old prejudices--preferably yours. | Open Mind: A vacuum, ripe for any old prejudices--preferably yours. | ||