Could the Compact for Liberty Start a National Movement?

By Darrell England

What could become an historic event took place in Indianapolis, Indiana, Saturday when eight national Libertarian candidates met to sign what they call the “Compact for Liberty” at the Antelope Club. The Compact, an expression of libertarian values, is a way of informing voters what the Libertarian Party stands for; but at least one candidate has suggested Democrats and Republicans should sign too.

The event was being recorded and moderated by Rob Kendall, the host of Central Indiana Today on WYRZ 98.9 FM.

Libertarian Drew Thompson. running for Indiana Congress, District 7, had pitched the idea of this compact to the other Libertarian candidates. The Libertarian Republic contacted Thompson via personal messenger. When asked what inspired him, he said:

In 1994, I worked really hard with a Congressional campaign that was involved with the signing of the Contract With America. I always felt the Contract With America fell short in three ways. One, they ultimately gave up on it when they could have continued to pursue it. Two, there were a couple of things (or items) that weren’t really liberty-minded. Third, the candidates weren’t really pledged in a way that put themselves on the line for the voters. It just became a tool of demagoguery, and it was the beginning of the end with my Republican Party relationship. We don’t want to go back and do what they did. We want to show Hoosiers who we are, that we’re unified and committed. We want to elevate public knowledge of what it means to be a Libertarian and that we are the Party of principle. We want to make a statement around our core ideal of freedom that doesn’t change.

Signers the Compact for Liberty:

Senate Candidate Lucy Brenton

Indiana congressional candidates:

District 1 – Donna Dunn
District 3 – Pepper Snyder
District 4 – Steve Mayoras
District 6 – Rich Turvey
District 7 – Drew Thompson
District 8 – Andrew Horning
District 9 – Russell Brooksbank

Matt Wittlief of District 5 was the only one not attending, due to unforeseen circumstances, but vowed to sign the Compact at a time to be announced later. “Creating an agreement like this will help voters understand a list of things that we stand for and that we will fight for in Washington.” Which was conveyed to me in a personal message from Wittlief.

In hopes this will be important not just to the Libertarian Party, but to all Americans, Drew says, “I would like to invite the Libertarian Candidates around the country to join with us in signing this Compact for Liberty. The greater our numbers, the stronger we will be, and the more effective our message.”

When asked if the invitation was extended to the other political parties he answered, “I challenge the Indiana Democrat and Republican candidates to sign the pledge too. There is nothing in our planks that they should be afraid of pledging to. It’s about freedom for the people, protecting individual liberties, and limiting Government to its proper intended role in our country.” Thompson also feels we need more Libertarians invited to debates. “I’m ready whenever my opponents are willing. Let’s get it on!”

Republicans and Democrats have had control of the House of Representatives for 18 years each in the last 36 years that I’ve been voting, and they’ve managed to take the debt all the way up to 19 trillion dollars. It’s time to give us a chance at fixing the problems they’ve created. You can only serve badly for so long as a political party before you give people a reason to want a change.

Mark W. Rutherford, Chair of the Libertarian National Campaign Committee also announced today, that his committee officially endorses all of the Indiana House Candidates. The Libertarian Republic is honored to be the first publication to publicize this announcement.

If this Compact for Liberty can spread across the Nation, this would’ve been the start of something incredible for America!