What's Wrong with the NYC Libertarians?

New York City Libertarians are going through what may only be described as pre-pubescent in-fighting and mud-slinging. I'm a member of discussion lists of Libertarian groups throughout the country, and therefore get a decent feel on the pulse of the nation's Libertarians. I must say, of all the groups in the country, the NYCers are the one's taking this cycle's walloping the worst.

As a libertarian, I'm fairly used to being disappointed by the cycle's election returns. We had our hopes up pretty high this year, too, and the only major sucesses were Howie Rich's emminent domain initiatives passing around the country. I've discussed the minor victories we achieved in Texas and South Florida, but the results in NYC were particularly dismal for a major population center with a fairly active Libertarian core group.

Unfortunately, this group hasn't taken it very well. Instead of analyzing their work and defeats extensively, and beginning planning for next year's Muni-Elections, they've decided to turn on one another like wild dogs. It mostly centers around a fellow named Dr. Tom Stevens, who if you believe his detractors, is a ego-maniacal pedophile. His supporters call him a Libertarian purist. In actuality, he was the leader of the Queens LP group, one of the fastest growing contingents of the NY Libertarian party.

The controversy started when a quorum met to de-certify the Queens LP as no longer being affiliated with the NY State LP. Apparently, this was building up for some time by those who were either jealous of or in some way inhibited by Dr. Stevens' ambition. Unfortunately, there is now a rift in the party of those loyal to Dr. Stevens, and those who will stop at nothing to get him out of the party. The latest effort to stir up the drama pot was by Mark Axinn's resignation as Manhattan's representative to the state party convention, and an attempt to replace himself with Dr. Stevens.

The Secretary of the NY LP accepted the resignation of Mr. Axinn, but did not accept the nomination of Dr. Stevens, citing an obscure portion of party by-laws.

The details of the case are inconsequential, and are symptomatic of a bigger problem - the inability of certain sects of the LP to put aside differences and focus on the real fights; the inability to 'save it for the game' if you will. I think this is because after repeated thrashings, and the inability to really see the difference they are making, they feel the need to lash out and manipulate things in a court where they know they can make a difference - in parlaimentary politics. Unfortunately, this is ultimately counter-productive, and needs to stop.

I say to the NY LP what I said to my parents after they decided to divorce after 29 years of marriage: "Grow up, stop acting like children, and get back together."

/mark "rizzn" hopkins