leapin' Libertarians

A while back, prompted by Timothy Sandefur's observations, I thought I'd chip in some thoughts about capital-L Libertarian demographics, eventually asking how the perpetual backrunners might someday lead the pack.

And then I discovered the national Libertarian strategic plan [HUGE pdf].

Now, most of it's pretty tame, obvious even, calling for greater visibility, better and more numerous candidates, hot-button issues, etc. But there are some interesting ideas in there:

Strategy 12: Strive to achieve a left/right balance among the Libertarian Party support base

Strategy 14: Develop and implement an internal program of ideological education

Strategy 18: Focus resources to achieve the repeal of drug prohibition at the federal level by 2010 and get substantial credit for it [Under this we find "Position the LP as the champion of innocent third party victims of the drug war," "Position the LP as the champion of incarcerated drug users who are not guilty of other offenses," and "Build a 'Parents Against Prohibition' organization."]

Strategy 20: Motivate the Libertarian Party support base to increase activism by recognizing and rewarding both effort and success and by making involvement in the Libertarian Party an enjoyable, positive experience

(Number 14 sounds positively communist.) A general way to boost numbers: water down the entrance requirements.

SPT recommends that the LP should welcome into the LP all people in the “libertarian quadrant.” This term relates to the “World’s Smallest Political Quiz” which measures one’s views on economic and personal liberty. The “libertarian quadrant” corresponds to a rating of 50% or higher in response to questions on both economic and personal liberty.

Rebranding Libertarians is part of the process. How they want to be seen:

Armed
Beneficial
Caring
Compassionate
Competent
Creative
Doers
Effective
Empathetic
Freedom-loving
Helpful
Honest
Humane
Inspiring
Just
Knowledgeable
Leaders
Likeable
Passionate
Patriotic
Peaceful
Practical
Principled
Quaker
Right (correct)
Self-Reliant
Superman
Tolerant
Trustworthy

The best part of the document comes from the brainstorming sessions. After all, in a brainstorm there's no such thing as a bad idea.

Buy an island and make it into a Libertarian society
Elimination the Socialist Party
Repeal all laws against activities of consenting adults
Challenge the cult of the omnipotent state
Successful lobbying for/against legislation
Implementation of Sun Tzu guerilla tactics
Defending the "odd ball" for attention
Going on the offensive and stop worrying about appearing radical
Reaching out to already-sympathetic high school students
Owning and running with the Bill of Rights
Looking at practices that made us strong in the 1970's
Accepting any federal money we can get
Emphasizing secession from tyrannical local, state, and federal governments
Promoting "caring" libertarians
Focusing on Internet dominance
Sponsoring a race car
Advertising in "High Times" magazine
Sponsoring a WWF wrestler
Recruiting Drew Carey
Using voter outreach teams accompanied by rock bands
Encouraging the national media to report real news
Don’t worry, be happy
Employing a poet to develop symbols and themes to sell our message
Developing a "Women of the LP" calendar
Throwing a monkey wrench into the political process whenever possible
Blackmailing other candidates to support our positions in tight races
Developing an LP beer
Encouraging activists to develop a killer instinct
Advocating the dispersal of all government land to the poor

This is why you hire consultants: to weed out the wackos.