The election has come and gone and, despite all our efforts, we fell short of 3%. In fact, the combined total of both the Libertarian and Green Parties fell short of 3%.
What does this bode for the future?
Unknown.
By a strict reading of Ohio Election Law we should still have access until the 2020 Presidential Election, but when has government ever followed the law?
Should they deny us access yet again, what then? Do we roll over and play dead? De we surrender to the politics of fear that drive the mainstream Parties?
In a word, NO!
A friend of mine majored in History, with a particular interest in Church History. One night, several months ago, he spent almost an entire hour explaining in great detail his belief that the worst thing that ever happened to the Christian Church was it being not only legalized by the Emperor Constantine but being made the official religion of the Roman Empire. Until that time, he argued, believers had to be committed to the cause because their very lives were at stake. Afterwards, as a legally recognized religion it became fat, lazy and corrupt in just a few generations. He argued that the loss of religious liberty feared by so many today might be the best thing that could happen to the church because the dead wood would be cut away and only those most committed would remain.
So, if we lose ballot access will that spell our doom?
Again, NO.
Some might be tempted to walk away from the Libertarian Party in frustration, believing we will never have a chance, but those who remain will be those most committed. And those most committed can work wonders.
Ballot access or no, our core message of liberty will remain the same. Others will say that our votes are doubly wasted and all we’re doing is shouting at brick walls, but walls have been known to crumble.
All the loss of access will mean is our task will be a little bit harder.
But worthwhile causes usually are.
Ken Holpp, Communications Director, FCLP
