On Unity and Division

Uniting with others to do right requires separation from those who would do wrong.

Dear Friends,

There is a quote from Frederick Douglass that so perfectly encapsulates my values that I had it placed on the back of my business cards when founding the Libertarian Policy Institute.

“I would unite with anybody to do right; and with nobody to do wrong.”

There’s a unity problem within the Libertarian Party right now, but it’s not like the unity problems we’ve seen before. Past splits have been over left or right leanings, or whether no government was superior to small government. This one’s over something much more dangerous to the future for a political party dedicated to individual self determination that can attract broad support from American voters.

It’s a split over bigotry.

Some people want to eliminate government because there are laws or regulations that prevent helping people or starting new businesses or peaceful self expression. Other people want to eliminate government because there are laws or regulations that prevent a restaurant from denying service to black folks or prohibit the segregation of neighborhoods or discrimination in housing.

Both groups of people want to eliminate government, but for very different reasons. Not just different, actively contradictory.

A house divided against itself cannot stand.

If we are to take Frederick Douglass’s values for our own, we must not unite with anybody to do wrong. Bigoted behavior is wrong. It is the antithesis of treating individuals as equal before the law and judging people as individuals. It is vile and opposed the very Declaration of Independence that sparked our country’s founding.

In our projects and programs, we don’t tolerate any bigoted behavior. By making it clear that we expect all team members and participants to treat each other with mutual human respect, we make people of good will feel safe and we make bullies feel unwelcome.

All organizations should set standards for behavior that is acceptable and behavior that is unacceptable. Voluntary standards let all members of the organization know what they can expect when participating. Making it clear that sexism, racism, and all forms of bigoted behavior are not acceptable attracts people who share those values and repels those who reject those values.

It’s good for people to work with other people who share their values.

If enough Libertarians agree, we can adopt a new platform plank at the Washington, D.C. convention coming up in May 2024. It could simply state:

While we oppose any legal punishment for bigoted speech or belief, the Libertarian Party rejects bigotry as irrational and repugnant. People who engage in bigoted behavior are unwelcome in our party.

Clear, simple, and to the point.

If a person can’t refrain from bigoted behavior, they lack the discipline to represent a national political party dedicated to the equal rights of all people.

I think that this simple change could go a long way in reconstructing a Libertarian Party that can attract more support from the nearly 47% of the American electorate that has chosen not to affiliate with either the Republican or Democratic parties.

What do you think?

Yours truly,

Nick