I have to admit, the email from the San Diego Libertarian Party intrigued me, as it included this headline:
“Mike Benoit video on the IRS stealing his home at the Daily Paul”
Benoit is a perennial candidate for office as a Libertarian against Duncan Hunter, meaning both Duncan Hunters over the years.
Wanting to understand his alleged abuse at the hands of the IRS, the apparent taking of private property by the feds, I clicked on the 20 minute video.
Before you click on it yourself, I’d rate it a ten. Out of 100, mind you:
A full nine minutes into the “production,” after a mind numbing history lesson, I still had no explanation as to how the IRS stole Benoit’s home. After another four minutes, I wanted to hang myself, but not because the IRS was coming after me.
At 13 minutes I could take it no longer and ended the torture, seven minutes early.
I have no idea if Benoit has a legitimate beef with the IRS and I’m now none the wiser.
In this day and age, yes, anyone can post a video online. I get it.
But, this coming across in an official email from the Libertarians, a party with which I share many a belief, gave me a false sense that it may contain something worthwhile.
If any Libertarian Party views are going to be legitimized, it might help if the leaders try to understand some PR 101.
In the meantime, I’m pleased to see libertarian-minded peeps (even if not registered as such), those with a much better sense for communicating a message — Richard Rider, Brian Brady, Gayle Falkenthal, Eric Andersen, Michael Schwartz, B-Daddy, and others — writing for Rostra.
Comments 9
Naaahhhhh. Not the reason I left.
People choose their paths of resistance, and Mike Benoit chose his. Basically he bought into the idea that legally the IRS does not have the right to tax us. As I understand it, he refused to pay income taxes as a result. A detailed, logical, legal case can be made for this position, but it’s irrelevant because most of the time the courts will not enforce the Constitution on taxes. IF the income tax were to be successfully challenged, it would have had to be done generations ago. Not today.
I have spoken to Mike about his chosen path over the years. I have told him that the chances of winning (based on the premise that this income tax is being applied illegally) will likely not fly today. But I DO admire Mike for being willing to take such a long shot risk — pretty much a doomed risk, to be sure.
I can’t speak for Richard Rider, but I can say this is the reason I’ll never be registered Libertarian again. Mike Benoit’s unattainable Libertarian purity standards and countless self-promoting and goodwill-destroying Facebook comments are part of the reason Republicans have such issue even getting small, incremental wins against the growth of government. Benoit and Libertarians like him are caught within the same short sighted bubble that the DC establishment-ers, Tea Party-or-nothing-ers, and the Occupy Wall Street-ers are caught in.
I’m a Republican, but I’m also sympathetic to many of the issues Benoit raises. Hell, I even voted for Ron Paul in the 2012 primaries. The Republican Party is, and will continue to be, the best vehicle for libertarians, conservatives, and moderates to come together to advance their own goals incrementally. Republican headliners like Rand Paul know this, our amazing local GOPers like Richard and Brian know this, but Mike Benoit is on course to spend the rest of his life fighting for absolute victories while government continues to grow. I wish him well and I hope he comes on over to help the GOP.
I “left” the LP for two reasons:
1. I like the more fiscally conservative positions the state and local GOP has been taking on taxes in recent years. I have worked with Republicans on such issues many times, and felt that today I can be more effective pushing small government within the GOP.
2. An ancillary consideration was that third parties in CA have been gutted by “top two” candidate reforms (though I switched to the GOP before that took effect). Third parties will likely no longer be a factor (even a small factor) in CA politics, except to the extent that they concentrate on the propositions.
Mind you, I’m a prickly Republican. If asked, I still support most core libertarian positions. I’m far from being an anarchist, but I could live with a government 80%-90% smaller than what we have today. But my primary issues are fiscal, and the GOP (if it ever gets smart) hopefully will make that THE priority of the party.
I should add that I don’t think the GOP will EVER be the plurality party (none will ever be the MAJORITY party) in California. EVER.
I’m convinced that conservative Republicans’ very real social intolerance coupled with the perceived anti-Hispanic image of the party will FOREVER doom it to uber-minority status in the Golden State. Unless the state splits up (not gonna happen), we Californians will always live in a Democrat-controlled Workers’ Paradise.
Get used to it. Or get out.
But that’s just my upbeat assessment.
@RR:
As I guessed might be Benoit’s argument. My headline was kind of rhetorical. The point is you just explained in two paragraphs the IRS issue he has, while 13 minutes of a video couldn’t get me there!
I appreciate the kind words Steve but I’m a Mike Benoit fan. He pursued a path, took his shot, and lost. That doesn’t make the government right.
Mike is not always the best communicator but the message is clear– the 16th Amendment ushered in tyranny and his case is a prime example of the immorality of that Amendment. Mike may be fumbling through the story but I admire him nonetheless.
I’m also grateful he runs against Hunter because I think it keeps Hunter sharp.
@BB:
I didn’t say the government was right or even that I don’t admire Mike.
I’m suggesting that his points would be far more effective with a broader swath of citizens by using a a refined message. The point was that you who are excellent communicators could help with the message. The LP message could be helped with better communication tools. The GOP could be far more open to the libertarian message with those tools.
Please take it as constructive and a suggestion that like-minded people pool their talents to improve what could be a very outstanding and viewable message about that very tyranny.
It’s not about the points, it’s about the delivery.
“but Mike Benoit is on course to spend the rest of his life fighting for absolute victories while government continues to grow. I wish him well and I hope he comes on over to help the GOP.”
I”m going to quote a great but underappreciated movie from the 80’s, Eddie & The Cruisers:
‘Woodman, we need each other.. Words and music’
Mike Benoit is never going to join the ranks of the GOP. If you’re reading this Mike, I never forget that movie line–I hope you don’t either.
“Hell, I even voted for Ron Paul in the 2012 primaries.”
That vote for Ron Paul wasn’t a cast-aside comment to me. It was the most important thing I’ve done in my 30 years of political activism–more important that the volunteer work I did on President Reagan’s re-election campaign.
This is the difference between you, Unionbuster and Mike Benoit. Benoit gave his soul to that campaign. He gave his time, what little money he had, left after his legal fight, and his heart. He did that because he thought he was serving the cause of this great Republic (he is). He risked his treasure and his reputation on a VERY noble cause.
I did one-tenth of what Benoit did and was named a delegate and the County Co-Chair of the campaign…because I was a Republican and Benoit wasn’t..
Words and music, folks. We need each other.
“Please take it as … a suggestion that like-minded people pool their talents to improve what could be a very outstanding and viewable message.”
“Words and music, folks. We need each other.”
There you have it.
Steve – your points are well taken. It is not enough to be right or to understand the issues. We must be winsome, active and be better communicators. You are right.
I also agree with Brian. Wish I was half the man Benoit is and was willing to risk everything on what I so outspokenly profess.
Richard Rider must be feeling better.