A political landscape like no other… I keep hearing that over and over, but what does that mean? This is a year that has left the status quo in the dust. A fight exists between the perceived establishment and the wild card rebels. America is in a state of unrest with millennials, who have one of the oddest political makeups in recent history, and the previous generations, who had become adapted to a relatively static political environment. No one quite knows how to predict the outcome of this perfect storm.
But what is glaringly obvious is that now is a time to build a third party. This third party, to be exact. With muddled lines between the top two parties and the internal fights that are tearing apart coalitions under each umbrella, now is the time to build the Libertarian Party. It holds much of the values of each larger party without inclusion of the biased coercion of the seedy underbelly. We promote fiscal responsibility and social freedom… Less government and more individual choice. With the bloated, intrusive government we currently have, very few moderate Americans would argue with these concepts. These moderate Americans are the people who are re-registering in droves as “politically homeless” because the two major parties aren’t representing the people any longer.
The general vibe is that this is the year of Hillary. Terrifying! Even for Bernie supporters. Word is, the GOP would rather sabotage Trump than support his candidacy. I’m happy to build a third party in this environment because it’s the time to build… But the sway towards Libertarianism will actually help Hillary (unless Bernie supporters also revolt). The first female POTUS is slated to be this woman. After all these years and my whole life waiting for this moment. And it’s her. But still, we build. Because revolutions are not won on the battlefield or in a split second. They are won, inch by inch, through the constant tug-of-war that takes place during times of chaos when people wake up to the truth and begin to move in one direction or another. It’s time we determine that direction.
Cruz’s departure from the race has caused a flurry of activity throughout the political world. Somehow, even though Cruz was intended to be the rebel candidate, he became the status quo, establishment candidate when Trump arrived and now we’re seeing a burst of activity on the Libertarian front. Headlines include such verbiage as, “Google Searches for ‘Libertarian Party’ Surge After Ted Cruz Drops Out” “Live Free or Trump” and “Libertarian Party Membership Applications Double After Trump Becomes Nominee.” All I have to say is, keep searching, keep signing up, get involved, and help us change politics! It’s time.
The best part is that we don’t have to agree on every issue. When you subscribe to a philosophy that doesn’t attempt to use coercion in order to impose one’s moral values on other people, you no longer need to seek complete agreement. You can have your values and I can have mine and we can coexist. And that’s okay. So let’s stop getting jerked around by people who don’t have our best interest at heart and let’s begin to rebuild America. Like I said, it’s time.
-Janine Kloss
Executive Director, Libertarian Party of California
While largely politically minded, Janine’s most recent efforts have been geared towards nonprofit work focused on cultural changes that will bring light to the connection between how we behave in our personal lives and what behaviors we accept from and expect from our political leaders. She is a colleague with the Foundation for Harmony and Prosperity (a nonprofit organization assembled to persuade people to act in concert with social principles that advance human happiness, harmony and prosperity), the Chairman and CEO for Vote LP Today (a general committee that supports the development of Libertarian candidates in California), and the Executive Director for the Libertarian Party of Sacramento County (a well-rounded, county-wide political party organization rooted in the Libertarian philosophy) as well as The Libertarian Party of California. She is passionate about working through communities in order to change the culture of local government and beyond.