stephensmith
Member
- Joined
- Nov 23, 2007
- Messages
- 84
Please drop the blanket stereotyping of boomers. I'm a boomer who has voted in every Presidential election since 1972. Here is how I voted:
1972 - George McGovern, Democrat
1976 - Roger MacBride, Libertarian
1980 - Ed Clark, Libertarian
1984 - David Bergland, Libertarian
1988 - Ron Paul, Libertarian
1992 - Andre Marrou, Libertarian
1996 - Harry Browne, Libertarian
2000 - Harry Browne, Libertarian
2004 - Michael Badnarik, Libertarian
When Ed Clark came to my town in 1980, I drove him around to media interviews and other events. In 1984 I hosted David Bergland in my living room and drove him around. I drove Russell Means around when he was seeking the 1988 LP nomination; later, after Ron Paul won that nomination, I also drove RP around and arranged media interviews for him, as well as (with his permission) edited one of his most powerful pro-liberty speeches to a length that the local daily newspaper would publish as an op-ed. In 1992 I drove Andre Marrou around to interviews, etc.
I have also run for office myself, from city council through U.S. Congress through governor, at least a dozen times. I helped lead a campaign that defeated a proposed sales tax increase. I have voted against every tax increase that has ever been on a ballot wherever I happened to be living.
I have spoken before city councils to oppose tax increases, new regulations on business, and efforts to close down adult bookstores. I have written numerous letters to the editor and op-eds to advance libertarian ideas and oppose further encroachments on freedom by city, county, state and federal governments. I have been a guest on local radio talk shows to talk about libertarianism.
In college I attended rallies against the Vietnam War. Later I took part in rallies against the first Gulf War, against Bill Clinton's war in the Balkans, and against the current Iraq War.
I could talk about much more that I have done in this arena, but my point is not to make myself out to be the world's greatest libertarian warrior or something. There are many, many individuals -- some of them still only in the 20s or 30s -- whose achievements on behalf of freedom far outshine anything I have done. When I come here or go on YouTube or check out some of the other pro-RP sites, I am absolutely astounded, delighted and humbled by what some of the relative newcomers and recent converts are accomplishing.
Still, I hope you will keep in mind that the modern libertarian movement, counting from the late 60s/early 70s when many of today's libertarian think tanks as well as the Libertarian Party were founded, was launched largely by boomers, then in their early-to-mid 20s. What we are doing today builds on that foundation, in addition of course to the lifelong work, character and fierce determination of RP himself.
I don't like it nor find it helpful to our mutual cause to come on these forums and see people lambasting those "fucking young people" for not getting out to vote, nor do I like to read attacks on "fucking boomers" who are too selfish or stupid to get on the side of freedom.
There are people who "get it"--the philosophy of freedom--in every generation, and others--perhaps, unfortunately, the vast majority at this time--who do not. Stereotyping entire groups of people based on age or any other demographic criterion is collectivist thinking. We need to approach every person we encounter as an individual capable of understanding and embracing liberty regardless of his or her age, racial heritage, religion, class, occupation or whatever other pigeonhole you might want to put them in.
-- A boomer, venting
