So many people who run the Libertarian Party are self-made. And I think we all know why that is. Neurodivergence among libertarians is neurotypical. I mean, how often do we meet freedom-obsessed 'normies'? Hardly ever. It's why we struggle to keep ballot access. Freedom is a popular idea, but so is safety. So is expediency. So is comfort. And most people are not do-it-yourselfers. This meme works because the government will essentialize in the obfuscation of its activities. Do-it-yourself critical thinking is going out of style. So, while it may be impolitic to say, Libertarians' obsession with employment is remarkable because it's nothing more than judging others for their ability to submit to authoritarianism disguised as capitalism. It's Darwinism at its best. It's intentionally devaluing those who are square pegs who should be accommodated. It's shaming people for not wanting to sacrifice their independent spirit on the altar of consumerism. It's seeing the "losers" as not cunning enough to escape poverty without direction. But not everyone is an entrepreneur. Blue-collar gig workers need not apply. To earn their respect as an independent worker, you must be wealthy. And that elitism is why we don't get elected. It's the dual-natured spectre of anarcho-capitalism: the idea that when it works well and the captains make sure everyone has proper equity, it works amazingly, but when it fails, those same "caring" captains don't go down with the ship. But ultimately, your value is not dependent upon your ability to take orders from those who are most likely your inferiors simply because they could stack more cash by hook or crook.

I first became aware of the Libertarian Party back in 2008. I was raised in a family of staunch Republicans, but after eight years of disappointment with the G.W. Bush presidency and the McCain candidacy, I decided that the GOP was not the place for me. Like many, I discovered the LP through Ron Paul, and after a chance encounter with a New Jersey Libertarian Party member while in undergrad, I formally joined the Party in 2010 (I literally turned 21 at my first Convention). A year later, I was on the state Board (which at the time made me the youngest to ever serve in the affiliate’s history). Entering into the world of Libertarian politics was a major culture shock in many ways, but perhaps the most glaring difference was a visual difference: Everyone was old. I was the youngest person in the room by about 15 years at most Libertarian events, and I had no other young people to caucus with. With my long hair, scruffy facial hair, and alt-rocker look, I stood out amongst the balding, greying, and wrinkled attendees. Now, some 15 years later, at the 2025 NJLP Convention, with my bald head, greying wizard beard, and creased face, I am still among the younger attendees. This is a major problem, and one that is not exclusive to New Jersey.

So, here’s the deal: New Hampshire Republicans are pushing through a bill, SB 11, that could drastically change how the state allocates its electoral votes in presidential elections. If this bill passes, New Hampshire will abandon its winner-takes-all system and move to a district-based electoral vote system. On the surface, it sounds like a harmless tweak to the system. But dig a little deeper, and it looks more like a…