Murray Rothbard is probably the best known libertarian writer who advocated a position of no compromise.  In For A New Liberty, Rothbard said, “the day-to-day compromises of supposedly ‘practical’ politics get pulled inexorably in the collectivist direction.”

I tend to agree.  If we, as libertarians give up our positions for short-term political gain, we have inherently lost the debate over Freedom vs. Tyranny.  When taking a position of compromise, your integrity will forever rest on a foundation of sand.  At a moments notice, the specter of contradiction will rear its ugly head, destroying any credibility you may have thought you had.

This is especially important when introducing young people to the ideas of Liberty.  When your philosophy is barely more than a series of concessions to fit the status-quo, you will be just another political hack happily strung-up on Internet forums, video sharing sites and Twitter posts.  Libertarians are competing in a crowded market.  Raised on a healthy diet of instant fact-checking and the ability to spread information at the speed of thought, the opportunity for a competing ideology to grab the attention of a disgruntled new-comer is guaranteed.

If politics is the art of compromise, why have anything to do with it?

The temptation is clear.  You will be called close-minded, told that you live in a fantasy land and that ideology never solved any real problems.  Example after example will be trotted out in front of you extolling the folly of radicalism.  At first glance, it will be easy to realize the benefits of compromising on a few “less important” issues.  Social acceptance with your friends & co-workers or a nice Thanksgiving dinner with the in-laws can all be very alluring.

When studying free-market economics, one of the first things you learn is that economics consists of not merely looking at the immediate but at the longer effects of any act.  Keep this in mind when talking to your younger sister who is swept up in Obama-mania or your uncle who thinks staying in Iraq a great idea.  Inevitably, when those people start feeling frustrated with the powers that be, you will be there to pick up the intellectual pieces.  It is at this point that you can really begin to build the foundations of Liberty in your own life.

Connecting with other Liberty Lovers who share your principles is crucial in the fight for Freedom.  Head over to Bureaucrash Social and link-up to discuss tactics, plan events and promote these ideas.

Of course, if libertarianism is wrong, ignore everything I just said.