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If you were to select 10 people at random who call themselves Libertarians, ask them what Libertarianism is or what issues Libertarians stand for, you are likely to get a full-color spectrum of answers. Historically, the most ardent of Libertarians have attempted to form a third-party coalition, but have never represented a double-digit segment of the voting population, any direct political effect they have had being on a local basis. They have had some indirect effect on the American political scene by throwing in their lot with either the Democrats and Republicans.

For the past fifty years, the Republicans have had the benefit of the majority of Libertarian votes but fanaticism of the extreme right-wing conservative faction of the GOP has become a turn off to many Libertarians and moderate Republicans as well. The question now, is where will these disaffected Libertarian leaning folks align themselves in the future? There are also the so called Regan Democrats who might feel more comfortable with a fiscal restraint policy than a more social program oriented one. Can we expect a lot of these people to gravitate towards the Libertarian party in upcoming elections, and if so, does this suggest that a growing Libertarian party might gain real political power?

Third party movements in U.S. history are probably a more common fixture on the American political scene than most people are aware of, but they have almost never been successful. But is that changing? If the Republican party continues to splinter into its radical factions, is the door open for Libertarians to take former Republican seats in the house and senate? The Republican party is not likely to totally dissolve it self, but if it continues to look to the likes of Rush Limbaugh and Newt Gingrich for its leadership, it is going to be a much smaller political party than it has been.

What the Libertarian party lacks at present is a cohesive forward looking party platform with broad based appeal. Libertarians are far more often seen as being against anything and everything than standing for any specific set of principles. Furthermore, do you know who the leader of the Libertarian party is? His name is William Redpath, but unless you are an actual card carrying member of the Libertarian party, it's not likely you've ever heard of him. In the 2008 election, the Libertarian candidate Bob Barr received only about a half million votes, not even a half of one percent of the total number cast in the election.

There is no doubt about it, as the erosion of the Republican party continues, and unless they can do something to patch the damage conservatives are doing to their party, the Libertarian party is bound to pick up some new members. But will the gain be enough to bring the Libertarian's party into the mainstream of American politics? It's possible, but a real long shot, and it's just as likely if not more so, that some new third rail party with even more political clout, like independent Ross Perot who took 19% of the vote in the 1992 election, will appear on the political horizon in 2012.

Learn more about this author, John Traveler.
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