The recent Libertarian Party convention saw a sharp disagreement about exactly how libertarians ought to sell their ideas to the public. One type of activist might ask: Shouldn’t libertarian activism make room for the eccentric? Don’t we value experiments in living, and shouldn’t we… well… show it? Another type of activist might ask: Why don’t we put our most convincing foot forward? Why not try to reach the public, so that we can win elections and get our policy initiatives enacted? And don’t we have a significant – maybe neglected – case to make to the “normals”?

Both of these positions might to some degree be torn apart, and that’s what we propose to do this month, in a civil and thoughtful manner, with a group of activists who have faced the question professionally in a variety of venues: Professor Gary Chartier writes the lead essay, recommending that the movement remain open to diversity as a reflection of a more than merely political commitment to freedom; response authors will include Daniel Bier of the Foundation for Economic Education, Matt Welch of Reason magazine, and Timothy P. Carney of the Washington Examiner and the American Enterprise Institute.

Discussion and comments will be active through the month, and we welcome you to share your thoughts.