No one would invite to run for political office, I would be too volatile. I will be looking into running for a local school board position because of young people being enamored with socialism. It's got me curious to find out what's being taught at the local high school.

Maybe Bernie will do us a favor and bring out a good debate on socialism

Libertarian Party publicity-seeking does nothing to advance Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism. A political campaign is not education and Libertarian Party pseudo politics are not Ayn Rand's philosophy. When Leonard Peikoff said it's about education he said education for fundamental philosophical ideas required before a better politics is possible. He was not endorsing the Libertarian Party's antics, which Ayn Rand denounced, trying to bypass the requirement for philosophical change. Politics, including Libertarian slogans, is not philosophy.

If someone wants to run for a political office for the purpose of winning, he had better know what he is in for, in both the campaign and holding office, and whether he can tolerate that kind of life, let alone substitute it for a productive living as a rational individual. It is sometimes possible to make a difference from the typical statists at a low enough level of governemnt, but it requires so many compromises that it winds up only trying to implement statism anyway in order to satisfy the voters. It undermines and is not a way to support Objectivism.

It is more feasible to engage in grass roots action on some specific issues where influencing policy is still possible, but that is not what the Libertarian Party does.

I understand completely. Hoping it doesn't come to that. What we need in the next four years is for a lot of Conservative and Libertarian politicians to come to the forefront.

Yes. They know no democrat can beat him, with the possibility of a Bloomberg financed rerun of Hillary at a contested convention. And that worries me

I respect trump for taking a stab at it. I enjoy a respite from the advance of socialism. I do think however that the scenario presented in AS is going to be played out to the end in the USA. If trump wins in 3020 we get 4 more years to enjoy before becoming socialist in 2024

Boy is that true. Socialism is about control and once instituted isn’t subject to being voted out

Today the USA government is my enemy. It steals my money, wastes my time, ,restricts my freedom, and steals my savings through inflation

Do you understand what is really happening? The Conservatives are actually what we originally (our founding fathers) called classic liberals. This is good. The liberals and socialists today are actually progressives which means Communists and Marxists. This is bad. So be sure you know where you are going. it is pathetic that our ballot carries something that says 'prevent chemical usage to change the gender of our children.'

First, do you support libertarian policy? To what degree? I ran the media side of a campaign for a friend running as an independent in my area, he finished 3rd of 5 choices. (the winner was a bought & paid forgone conclusion) We found that it presented opportunities to speak to the public that the average American does` nt get. We had success with single topic video clips, kept under 3 minutes posted on social media pages and accepted every offer of interview, or speaking event. If you are reasonably well spoken, motivated and informed, it may be a good opportunity.

I understand your sentiment, but would also qualify what you said with "TODAY's government is all about controlling people."

The ideal government is not here to control people, but simply provide a safe environment in which its citizenry can live, be free and pursue happiness. When it becomes a monopoly dedicated to controlling its people, it is no longer a suitable environment.

Government as currently constituted; not government as it should be constituted. It's only purpose is protection of individual rights. We're on a path to socialism that I don't see us avoiding, which reminds me of this: "You can vote your way into socialism, but you'll have to shoot your way out!"

For taking it on, The Don has a helluva lot more guts than I would have. I think, now, that he considers [all the $#^! they have put him through] to be a challenge. He's a businessman, not a lawyer or politician, better than them and out to prove it.

I wouldn't be surprised if they don't impeach him again before elections. I think Pelosi would love nothing better than to be able to try to keep him out of office and to give him that special distinction of being the only President to be impeached two or more times.

Wow is everyone so negative! First, do you have the interest to do so and the willingness to do all the work it would take to win the position? If not, it doesn't matter. If you did, do you think you could win with support from the party, family, etc...?

Leaving the positions to be won by default by collectivists on either side just allows the evil to continue to spread. Ron Paul may have not accomplished what he wanted, but he got to spread ideas and be a thorn in their side. Look at what Rand Paul has done - due to how the numbers fell - he was able to push a pull a bit on some of the issues since Trump has been in office that may have helped - and again gave him air time to spread ideas. To gain attention enough to publish his book "The Case Against Socialism". But, in the end, changing the political tide in office holders is a matter of changing the tide in society. I think Objectivism and those ideas are currently expanding. The more of those people who get into office - the bigger the impact they will have.

Leonard Peikoff said it's about education - and I believe it. The education system is the core issue as we are pumping out "indoctrinated in collectivism" students at an alarming rate. Change the education system and teach people and the tides will change. But with the defeatist attitudes here - even if the tide shifted - you'all are telling those people who have the right mindset to not go into office. It has to start somewhere.

Politics is difficult. I am close to a handful of politicians - and every election cycle you get people out here running for office that want to change x, y, z, and so on. The simple matter of fact is that much of what they want to change can't be done - there are regulatory issues, state issues, etc that makes it impossible to do what they want. Or they have no jurisdiction over the bodies/entities they want to control. Now this is at the County level - so their would be more restrictions - but that would still happen at the state and federal level as well. The committee positions you get will impact the policies you can effect. Constitutional and Supreme Court rulings are there - and so on. And if this is in regard to this November's election - you are VERY TIGHT on time! You would have to practically drop everything at this point and focus on nothing else. In all reality this would be a move you should have had in the works since the middle or early part of last year. Coming in this late will make it a whirlwind proposition. BUT - if the Libertarian Party is behind you and willing to help - that would definitely help overcome the short time frame you have left.

Much thinking to do on your part - but if you are a real non-collectivist and think you have a shot - why not?!? It's a good pay-check, you can use the position to further Objectivism much more than you likely can at the moment, and you can at least be a thorn in their side and may come across the occasion to really make a difference.

maybe he wants to see if he can at least get some positive things done this time. I really doubt it. He will be impeached again in the second term.

I think since he is running for his second term that he would have.

Not much.

Great question! There's no question, however, that the life of a politician - campaigning, sucking up to donors, etc. - is going to necessitate some soul-searching on your part. The other question is do you still think that America can be saved through action or is it time to Go Galt?

I bet Trump never thought the swamp was so deep and wide that he couldnt really do much. I wonder if he would have wasted his time in government if he knew then what he knows now.

Absolutely. I think Trump is slowing down the spread of collectivism, but I never thought he could actually stop or reverse it. If he succeeds in 2020 election, perhaps we get at least 4 more years of a slowdown. But the dems are mounting a real campaign to keep him out of office, and probably will eventually win out- definitely in 2024, and maybe sooner

I would never run for political office. I dont want to control other people, and government is ALL about controlling other people.

I would never do it. Even if you win and you are an objectivist and promote those ideals you will never accomplish anything. Ron Paul stated that after all his years in congress he was not able to even persuade anyone to join him let alone undo any legislation or bureaucracy. He stated that as far as accomplishing a return to liberty his work amounted to nothing.
The system is structured to promote evil and cannot be defeated from within anymore than joining the politburo would have enabled an individual to stop Stalin or even turn it around.

I'd take an endorsement anytime to "run" in a marathon "for Office" Depot...Oh, my bad...you were talking about political office.

Still, hope you're a good runner...laughing

I learned a long time ago as an adult leader of my kids’ 4H club that public service is NOT for me. I never saw such ugliness in parents as I saw in these. The concepts of fairness and common sense just fly right out the window when people are faced with any sort of decision that affects the populace as a whole.

So, I would respectfully decline, knowing that to do so means that I shouldn’t be TOO hard on the one that is finally convinced to run.