Libertarianism isn't a country club

Over at the Washington Post, Aaron Ross Powell chews out the fair weather Republicans for daring to jump onto the Libertarian bandwagon. The nerve of those people for wanting to vote for us!

Who says all the elitists are just Republicrats and Democans?

Austin Petersen's reply was priceless:

@JediRayjay @TXPeter @ARossP This attitude of exclusion changes when I lead my party in this year's general election.

— Austin Petersen (@AP4LP) May 25, 2016

But this is what Powell says to justify his exclusionary ideas:

If all that these [#NeverTrump Republicans] see is a safe house where they can ride out the storm, they’re missing the point: The libertarian ideal and the Libertarian Party stand as reminders that neither of the two major parties is committed to the principle that individuals are superior to the state. And in this election year, if fear of a President Trump results in libertarianism morphing into Republicanism-lite, it would cease to serve that purpose.  

Great idea Powell! Let's flip all Republicans the bird for daring to vote for us, just because we want ideological purity!

That'll get us elected...

But then he goes on to explain:

While I’m not active in Libertarian Party politics, as a small-“L” libertarian, I want no part of diluting this core principle just to boost electoral success. 

Time for "Political Parties 101". The purpose of  a political party is to get elected to public office, in order to advance a political idea or ideals via use of the tools of government power.

Basically, Powell is saying he is an ideologue with no interest in advancing his ideology.

Finally, he says:

My concern isn’t ex-Republicans voting for Libertarian candidates. I’d welcome that.

Then he continues with his ideological purity b.s. He would have been fine stopping there.

Look Powell, I have nothing against ideological purity. But that is an issue for talking heads. Libertarianism (big "L") isn't a country club being overrun by hobos. If anything, it's an inner city alleyway getting overrun by country clubbers. Personally, I am hoping for enough handouts to get some Thunderbird tonight...