Should the Libertarian Party make an real effort to convert other like minded third parties or ally with them (ether it be left or right leanning)?

I think we can ally ourselves on an issue by issue basis, and continue to try and win them over with reason.

- Rick

The Party may agree with Greens on such issues as ballot access and drug legalization. And the Party may agree with the Constitutionalist Party on issues like ballot access and the right to keep and bear arms. But I see no reason (considering that that the Party is a 1-2% Party anyway) to sell out our souls to Atheist Communists or Christian Facists, in a pathetic effort to increase our vote totals to 2-3 % of the electorate. I'll vote for legal free-market capitalism, legal drugs (for adults), and legal pornography (likewise for adults) over coerced social engineering and bible thumping morality anyday! Until then I will support the ever so slightly less freedom-erasing lesser of two evils. Thanx for the 5 % tax cut GW. I just paid off another debt and had money left over for a fat sack of No. Cal's best skunk!

Leadership and party members are often two different things. For example, I know several Constitution Party members who are in the constitution party rather than the Libertarian party because of their strong Anti-Abortion beliefs. On at least 80% of the issues they are in the same ball park as Libertarians. As for the Greens, I know a few who could be Libertarians, if not for their strong Pro-Environment beliefs, and their ideas on how to protect it, usually on the backs of corporate America. Otherwise they likely support 60% of the Libertarian platform.

What could be done, is consider going to these parties (and others) now, before the 2008 elections and discussing the possibility of fielding one candidate and running mate for all the third parties.

I know it's a pipe dream, that won't happen. I'm not even sure I would want it to happen. But hey, I can now post here so I figured I needed to give it a shot

To those that care, yes, my check is in the mail as of today to the Missouri Libertarian Party. I would join the national party, but until they drop the "no force" signature requirement (Missouri does not use it) I can't do so without lying. After all, the founding fathers put the 2nd amendment in place for a specific reason, and I agree with that reason, not just the amendment.