I am currently reading a book entitled The True Believers written by Eric Hoffer in 1951. It is a fascinating study on the rise of what he calls “mass movements” over the last 5,000 years and some of the characteristics common to all mass movements. Whether a mass movement is religious, political, or national they use similar techniques to grow their movements and win converts.

On page 19, Hoffer makes an interesting comment: “If the Communists win in Europe…it will not be because they know how to stir up discontent…,but because they know how to preach hope.”

How often do we in the Liberty Movement preach hope? What do we offer potential converts? Think about the Muslim suicide bomber or the Japanese Kamikaze. They were both offered hope. You and I can agree that is not a reasonable hope, but hope does not have to be rational.

We know that Liberty like Communism was an outgrowth of the Enlightenment. We know that Democratic Socialism (communism’s close cousin) is the dominate political theory in the world today. What does it offer? Hope with a vote. The politicians can say, “vote for me and I will give you ‘free’ healthcare, ‘free’ education, ‘free’ whatever. The voters will buy it. Does the Green Party offer hope? Sure.

Hoffer goes on to say that one of the main reasons people join mass movements is to relieve themselves of personal responsibility.

On the back page of the LP’s new 24-page flyer, it lists our 3 pillar arguments as: “limited government, individual freedom, and personal responsibility.” How do we, as a movement, preach hope to a population that is desperately seeking to avoid personal responsibility?

I have also said for the last couple of years that we should sell the benefits and the features of Liberty. This is sales 101 to any of you who are sales people. For those of you who are not, it is simple. People buy benefits not features. For example, no one goes to a store to buy a washing machine with a permanent press cycle (feature); they want to buy clean clothes (benefit).

Look at our 3 “pillar” arguments/sound bites:

1. Limited government (feature)
2. Individual freedom (benefit of limited government)
3. Personal responsibility (feature)

So, from a potential convert’s point of view, our key Libertarian sound bite offers one benefit and feature, and a feature that they are seeking to avoid when they join mass movements.

As I see it, we have a 6-fold challenge to turn this thing we call the Liberty Movement into a Mass Movement:

A ) Preach hope
B ) Preach the benefits and the features
C ) Preach the message in 30 seconds
D ) Relieve converts of personal responsibility
E ) Be honest and non-hypocritical
F) Have a Libertarian solution

Is it possible to succeed given these parameters? How would we rate ourselves?