Interviewing LNCC Chairman Wayne Allyn Root, Pauline Arrillaga writes, in part:

Something’s going on in America this election year: a renaissance of an ideal as old as the nation itself — that live-and-let-live, get-out-of-my-business, individualism vs. paternalism dogma that is the hallmark of libertarianism…

…But what looms are far larger questions about whether an America fed up with government bans and government bailouts — with government, period — is seeing a return to its libertarian roots. And, if so, what that might mean in a potentially close presidential race and long after election 2012 is a mere memory…

…”Libertarian” at its essence means an advocate of the doctrine of free will and individual liberty. Or, as the Libertarian Party states on the banner of its website: “Minimum Government, Maximum Freedom.” Just how many Americans actually endorse the philosophy has never been easy to measure. The Libertarian Party claims some 250,000 registered voters among the more than 235 million voting-age Americans…

…In its annual governance survey conducted last fall, Gallup found that a record-high 81 percent of Americans were dissatisfied with the way the country was being governed. There were increases, too, in the responses to questions that gauge a more libertarian-view of governance: A record 49 percent said they believed government posed “an immediate threat to the rights and freedoms of ordinary citizens”; 57 percent believed the federal government had too much power; and 56 percent said they would be willing to pay less in taxes and accept fewer services (a position advocated during the campaign by Paul)…

…The libertarian message is especially attractive to younger Americans who are war-weary, socially liberal and skeptical of government interference in their lives. They’ve grown up paying into Medicare and Social Security but hearing — endlessly — that they’re unlikely to receive the benefits of those programs. They see many government initiatives as unnecessary evils, and believe social issues such as abortion and gay marriage are matters of personal choice not political debate…

…Big “L” Libertarians hope their party will be the vehicle for that, and activists such as Wayne Root — the party’s 2008 vice presidential nominee — are looking to bring more people into the fold by emphasizing fiscal policy over more controversial libertarian issues such as decriminalization of marijuana.

Root writes a libertarian blog from his home outside of Las Vegas and calls himself a commonsense “suburban Libertarian” who supports home-schooling, low taxes and personal freedom (a la legalized online gambling). He is looking to make his own run for president in 2016 or 2020. A longtime Vegas oddsmaker, Root’s prediction is the American public will be ready for a viable third-party candidate sooner rather than later.

“What’s that old saying? First they mock you, then they imitate you and then they become you,” he said. “And that’s how I feel about libertarianism….

Go here to read the full, at-length, feature story.

• 65 percent overall worry a great deal about gas prices; 63 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats agree.

• 60 percent overall worry a great deal about the budget deficit; 84 percent of Republicans and 42 percent of Democrats agree.

• 60 percent overall worry a great deal about the affordability of health care; 46 percent of Republicans and 69 percent of Democrats agree.

• 55 percent overall worry a great deal about unemployment; 61 percent of Republicans and 55 percent of Democrats agree.

• 46 percent of Americans overall worry a great deal about the size and power of the federal government; 71 percent of Republicans and 31 percent of Democrats agree.

Source: A Gallup poll of 1,024 U.S. adults conducted March 8 to 11, reported by The Washington Times Jennifer Harper.

Here’s what voters want to hear from you on.  So what is your campaign talking about?

“…In the fall survey, which drew 1,500 participants from California, Texas, Florida, and the Southwest, the top-rated concern among all respondents was “our kids are not getting the quality education they need.”  The education issue reached across ideological boundaries — 36 percent of Republicans, 36 percent of Democrats and 37 percent of swing voters named it as a top concern.

Immigration wasn’t even second on the list of concerns — two spending issues ranked below education. The second-rated concern: cuts to Medicare, which was a top concern for 35 percent of respondents.  At the same time, respondents were also concerned about government spending. A third named it as a top concern.

Government spending – an issue where the GOP traditionally holds an edge — was even more a concern among Hispanic swing voters. Forty-two percent named it as a top concern, and the numbers were even higher among respondents from Texas and the Southwest – areas where Republicans picked up House seats in 2010.

The other issue that consistently ranked near the top was jobs — 33 percent of respondents ranked it as one of their top concerns. Everyone is concerned with having good jobs, but this is particularly a concern in the Southwest, where 39 percent of swing voters expressed concern over finding employment…”

Defying conventional wisdom, candidates who try to win Hispanic votes by talking about immigration may be barking up the wrong tree.  On that issue, Hispanic voters care more about tone than position.

“…In total, 21 issues were provided to respondents in this survey, five of which related to immigration. The top immigration-related concern among all voters connects to the recent crackdowns in some GOP-led states. “More states are passing anti-Latino immigration laws like Arizona’s,” ranked 10th. That’s right, 10th.

The other four came in at 14^th, 15^th, 16^th and 19^th. And one of these concerns was ‘illegal immigration is out of control,’ which 17 percent said was one of their top concerns. Swing voters showed even less interest in immigration issues.”

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AllVoices reports Johnson says by shutting out its libertarian voices, “The Republican Party is abandoning a lot of the electorate. The Libertarian Party is more in tune with the American electorate than any other party at the moment.”

We agree.  And so do a growing number of Americans.

But being right isn’t enough to win an election.

You have to be able to organize and mobilize millions of voters.

The Libertarian Party needs to give it’s local and state, as well as federal, candidates the tools they need to win.

Do your part to bring America back to its libertarian founding values.

Be a libertarian hero.

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• 17 percent would be “pleased,” 38 percent “neutral,” 19 percent “displeased” and 14 percent “scared.”

• 8 percent of Americans say they would be enthusiastic if Herman Cain is elected president.

• 15 percent would be “pleased” 32 percent “neutral,” 14 percent “displeased” and 18 percent “scared.”

• 4 percent of Americans say they would be enthusiastic if Rick Perry is elected president.

• 13 percent would be “pleased,” 34 percent “neutral,” 17 percent “displeased” and 21 percent “scared.”

Source: A Harris Poll of 2,463 adults conducted Oct. 10 to 17, reported by The Washington Times‘ Jennifer Harper

Additionally,

• 73 percent of Americans are not confident that the White House will “produce policies to help fix the economic crisis.”

• 93 percent of Republicans, 89 percent of conservatives, 48 percent of Democrats and 53 percent of liberals agree.

• 77 percent overall give President Obama a negative review for his job performance related to the economy.

• 95 percent of Republicans, 93 percent of conservatives, 56 percent of Democrats and 57 percent of liberals agree.

Source: A Harris Poll of 2,463 adults conducted Oct. 10 to 17, reported by The Washington Times‘ Jennifer Harper.

Voters don’t like Obama, and they don’t like the GOP field.

Will you support the LNCC and give them a slate of elected Libertarians to choose from?