Individuality is a CORE VALUE amongst the people involved in this movement. We need to decide on core values first. After we find the common core values of the people involved in this movement, we can start talking about a label.

We have a very diverse group of people who, justifiably, are very dissatisfied with the current political system. We need to welcome all these people and reassure them that they are not alone. We want REAL change. Once we get their attention, we need to ANNIHILATE conventional "wisdom" which forces people into two ,equally worthless, political parties. The more people that we can coerce into rational thought, the stronger we become. We need to BREAK THEM OUT OF THE MATRIX.

Heres my suggestion for core values:
-- INDIVIDUALITY (Definitely)
-- REASON (Maybe)
-- DEFIANCE (Maybe)

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I don't care how it was done in California.
-- ?

Be wary of strong drink. It can make you shoot at tax collectors... and miss.
-- Robert Heinlein

I want change in this country. The place to start is with yourself. So I have. I constantly read, watch films, and talk with other people. I'm always expanded my knowledge of the world around me on all kinds of levels.

We definatly have to stop reffering to this movement as the "Ron Paul Revolution". I defianatly agree!!! Don't get me wrong. I love Ron Paul. But there should not be a polititions name attached to it. This is a "We the People Revolution". We are the Revolution. We are the force who are going to change things .

Being a long time libertarian that has been discouraged by the Libertarian Party's lack of ability or seeming willingness to get serious about strategy I've referred to myself and others as being part of "the freedom movement". I'm obviously not the first to use the term. I can't speak for anyone else, but it is an accurate description to what I've signed on to.

That being said, and in agreement with the previous post, Ron Paul helped the freedom movement make a gigantic step, but this is not Ron Paul's movement. Again, to reiterate from the previous comment, Ron Paul repeatedly said that this movement was not about him, just that he was fortunate to play a roll in it.

RIGHT NOW we all need to individually be making decisions about where we want to channel this momentum that we've built. I personally believe that Libertarian presidential candidate Wayne Root is the best direction.

Without having some place for the freedom movement to publicly tally it's numbers in the November presidential election it sends a message to the mainstream sheeple that the r3VOLution was just a short lived phenomenon and that it shouldn't be taken seriously or pondered any further.

If we however, publicly show our numbers and show that we've continued to grow even since Ron Paul's campaign began winding down, it shows the general public that there is something of substance to our message and that this is grounded in ideas and not just a one man popularity contest. Please make sure to understand: the majority of the mainstream sheeple in the US are not even hardly aware of the most basic concepts of libertarianism, individual freedom and liberty, or objectivisim. Many believe that Ron Paul has similar political positions as Nader- "because they're like a third party, right?" Many will not take a second look at the freedom movement until they see that it continues to grow in strength and size. That is simply the way the majority of the population operates. And we cannot forget that these same "bandwagoners" are the very people we need to eventually win over one way or another to win in the long run. Hopefully by them opening their eyes to objectivism, but if not, by getting them to jump on the bandwagon because so many others are.

So how do we show our numbers in November? We rally behind Wayne Root because he is the first Libertarian presidential candidate in a very long time that has what it takes to run a real presidential campaign. I've gone into the reasons why this is in other content I've written here on BTM, but in short summary: he definately has the libertarian philosophy, he has the charisma, he has the winning drive and spirit, he has a track record of working hard and succeeding, he has HUGE mainstream media connections, and he understands intimately how to win over disgruntled Republicans without selling out our libertarian philosophy.

If we can rally the r3VOLution's momentum behind Root and continue to build it through November, the Libertarian Party has a real shot at getting 5% of the popular vote. That would send an enormous message to world that freedom is popular and the freedom movement is growing fast.

Of course we will need to then take further steps from that point on to keep it going, but for this stretch of the course I believe Wayne Root is the way to go. You can check him out at www.rootforamerica.com .

BTW- Barr and Gravel would be suicide for the freedom movement. Sure, they may bring along some following from their exisitng political careers, but at the cost of a shot in the head to our libertarian philosophy. I really wonder if they are "plants" from the current powers in control intended to head off any possible continuation of the r3VOLution.

You have eloquently summized my thoughts on this whole revolution/ movement. Especially the statement about Ron Paul being the catalyst and the PEOPLE being the change. I am a hardcore supporter of Dr. Paul but an even bigger supporter of the revolution! That being said, one must recognize the courage and commitment of Dr. Paul.
-"The human raceis in it's best condition when it has the greatest degree of Liberity." --Dante'
C