Posted // July 11,2012 -

In a state dominated by Republican politics, the minority party may be the Democrats, but the runner up in ideology has to be Libertarianism, whose followers take Republicans distrust of big government and apply it to all scenarios. Not only do Libertarians not like government interfering in the market, they also dont like government interfering in peoples private liveseven if that means having to support legalized marijuana, gay marriage and other controversial views that send traditional Republicans running in the other direction.

Because of such baggage, most Libertarian political candidates are perennial third-party participants throughout the country and in Utah. Now, Libertarian activist Connor Boyack has created a Libertarian think tank to push Libertarian ideas and policiesas opposed to Libertarian candidatesin government and the Legislature. Hes also flanked by a newly formed nonprofit law firm that plans to lobby elected officials on Libertarian principles and take the government to court if necessary.

Boyack sees his Libertas Institute think tank as being one that can unite consensus support around ideasideas that may be proposed by Republicans or Democrats.

You cant put Libertarians into a box, Boyack says. And thats a good thing for us because it makes it so we can work with who we wantsuch as Republicans on free-market issues and Democrats on social issues.

The institute already plans to host educational events and is holding an essay contest on its website, LibertasUtah.org. The website also features scorecards for legislators for the past three sessions, rating them on how well their votes align with individual liberty.

Paul Mero, executive director of conservative think tank the Sutherland Institutewhich has, in the past, lobbied for such issues as compassionate immigration reform and for not allowing state discrimination protections for LGBT Utahnsdoubts that a Libertarian think tank will have much more traction than a Libertarian candidate. Mero says Libertarian ideology just doesnt mesh with the values of everyday Utahns, although Boyack has made a favorable reputation for himself as a Libertarian and a member of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, having written two booksLatter-Day Liberty and Latter-day Responsibilityabout Libertarianism and Mormonism.

While Mero says that Libertarians believe 80 to 90 percent of the same things that conservatives do, he says, If you go to their website, my guess is you wont find on the front page this disclosure that: Oh, by the way, as Mormon Libertarians, we also support the legalization of drugs, prostitution, gambling and we favor gay marriage.

But the Libertas Institute doesnt have to champion every value of every Libertarian. Thats part of the reason Boyack believes the organization can be an effective lobby for liberty, as it can get behind individual laws, policies and ideas instead of trying to push candidates for office.

Unlike a candidate that can get in trouble for having an [unpopular] position, think tanks dont necessarily have to do that, says University of Utah political-science professor Matthew Burbank. Theyre not running for public office, so they dont have to take positions on things if they dont think its in their political interest.

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Libertarians on the Rise