The Problem With Libertarians

So, lots of talk these days among voters who are disgusted with both major party candidates of voting for the Libertarian nominee, former New Mexico Governor Gary Johnson, instead.  Lots of chatter in the chattering classes that this year Mr. Johnson will receive a record number of votes for a nominee of that Party.

That may happen, but I doubt it.

Look, we see this every four years to one extent or another.  A certain number of voters are always dissatisfied with both major parties, and a significant number of them always threaten to take their vote and basically waste it on a Libertarian nominee who cannot win.

As Election Day approaches, polls will show the Libertarian moving to 5% or even higher (Johnson currently polls around 6-8%), and folks start getting excited that this year could be a game changer for a party that has never been remotely competitive in presidential politics.  But then, Election Day comes and the Libertarian nominee invariably ends up with 1 or 2 percent of the overall vote.

Why? Because at the end of the day, most voters don't really want to waste their votes.  Most people want to vote for a candidate who actually has a chance to win, and here is the thing about the Libertarian candidate for president in any election cycle:

He or she CANNOT WIN.  Period.

No matter how much time passes, and no matter which former RINO or Country Club Republican the Libertarians roll out there in any given election year, the Libertarian Party will NEVER elect a president of the United States. 

This is simply an immutable reality of American politics, and there is one simple reason why it exists:  the vast majority of American voters have been conditioned by the education system, our fake news media, and the two major parties to go out and vote based on which candidate is going to get into office and have the government do things for them as individuals, rather than what is best for the country.

That's great for Democrats in particular, but also for big government, establishment Republicans, who are always trying to use the government to do things it should not be doing in a free society.

But it's terrible for Libertarian nominee, because the entire Libertarian philosophy and message is about telling voters that the government won't and indeed can't do things for them.  In an age during which individual selfishness has reached the point of mass narcissism when it comes to voting, that message is simply death to any Libertarian nominee.

So if you're excited today about polls showing Mr. Johnson and his fellow country club Republican VP nominee, Bill Weld, getting 6 to 8 percent of the vote, God bless you.  Just know that, when Election Day rolls around, those numbers are not going to materialize.  If they get 3%, consider it a moral victory.

Disclaimer:  My own personal politics would be described by most people to be Libertarian in nature.  I do believe in that philosophy of government.  I just don't want to waste my time casting a vote for a Libertarian nominee who is not actually a Libertarian at all, and who cannot win in any case.