On Where the Party Ends
It's time for the Libertarian Party to become intolerant of bigotry as the Republican Party embraces it.
Dear Friends,
One of the unsung heroes of the Libertarian Party is Keith Thompson. He is a brilliant graphic artist who distills libertarian values into powerful images for the Libertarian Party of Louisiana. This one is a personal favorite.
In the song “Your Racist Friend” from They Might Be Giants, the hook goes like this:
“This is where the party ends, I can’t sit here listening to you / you and your racist friend”
The whole album, “Flood,” is incredible, but that one song has stuck with me for the simple truth that when you tolerate bigotry, it only empowers the bigots.
“I know politics bores you / but I feel like a hypocrite, talking to you and your racist friend”
The Libertarian Party has always attracted people who appreciate the party’s support for free speech primarily because they appreciate the freedom to use hateful speech.1
The Libertarian Party used to have a platform plank rejecting bigotry as “irrational and repugnant.” When Angela McArdle of the Mises Caucus was elected Chair in 2022 at the national convention, the MAGA-packed convention also deleted that plank of the party platform, specifically to make the party more attractive to bigots.
The results have been predictable.
Revenue dropped. Membership dropped. Experienced staff resigned or were fired. Operations were cut. The headquarters building was abandoned in favor of a Texas post office box.
And the Chair embezzled a bunch of money.
Turns out that rejecting bigots not only keeps them out of your party, it also keeps good people supporting your party.
At this point, I have no official position in the Libertarian Party other than being a Lifetime Member.
From that position, the solution is clear.
We need to reconstruct the platform plank, not in its original form, but as something better.
My proposal for the 2026 convention to adopt into the platform is simple:
“The Libertarian Party rejects bigotry. Bigots are not welcome in the Libertarian Party.”
Diversity, equity, and inclusion are libertarian values. Racism, sexism, and bigotry aren’t.
Our platform should be clear, especially when a competing political party is supporting ethnic cleansing and putting white supremacists in positions of government power.
Yours truly,
Nick
P.S. Another great anti-racist song, before the band broke up, is “Let’s Face It” by The Mighty Mighty Bosstones.
“be racist, be sexist, be bigots, be sure / we won’t stand for your hate”
It’s worth a listen.