Daily Archives: March 26, 2021

While the Libertarian Party may be a political afterthought, libertarian ideology is not. Many Republican voters have assimilated libertarian ideas into their understanding of conservatism, so are irked by much of the American rights turn away from free-market orthodoxies and toward economic populism. Although I am sympathetic to this shift toward more family-friendly economic populism, I still believe that libertarianism may offer important insights.

If a new synthesis between conservative and libertarian ideas is to develop, however, it will have to begin with humility, which is where conservative and libertarian political philosophy should overlap in shared recognition of human fallibility and finitude.

Last century, right-leaning intellectuals and writers sought to unite American conservatives and libertarians by asserting the interdependence of liberty and virtue. This fusionism urged conservatives to recognize that virtue could only be fully realized under liberty, and it urged libertarians to acknowledge that liberty was unsustainable without virtue.

Of course, there was a problem: whose virtue, which liberty? The old fusionism required a shared, or at least broadly overlapping, understanding of liberty and virtue.

This commonality diminished over the decades, and the collapse of the Soviet Union abroad, as well as cultural changes at home, have left the two camps with fewer common concerns and priorities than before. A renewed fusionism will require conservatives and libertarians to find a common cause, beginning with a shared humility and awareness of human limitation.

There will still be differences. Conservative humility emphasizes deference toward the tried-and-true of what has worked in the past; libertarian humility emphasizes the propensity for even the most well-meaning plans, and especially government initiatives, to go awry. But each side should be able to recognize the others merit, and a shared appreciation for human limitation can bring admirers of Edmund Burke and of Friedrich Hayek together.

Such an alliance will be weakened, perhaps even broken, by hubris, which tempts each side in its own way. Thus, although I have sympathies in their direction, I fear that many of the rights emerging economic populists and nationalists have forgotten the need for humility.

In projecting the efficacy of their proposed programs for the revitalization of family, the bolstering of the working class, the succor of the poor, and other worthy goals they often appear to ignore the risks of regulatory capture, moral hazard, and similar problems. Effective government is difficult, and even successful programs will have trade-offs and unintended consequences. These dangers are sometimes overemphasized to the point of paralysis, but this is no excuse to err in the opposite direction.

Conservatives know that society is complex, and governing well, or even passably, is difficult; this is why we prefer reform to radical, revolutionary change. Thus, Anglo-American conservatism has emphasized that those who haughtily presume that they will easily bend government and society to their will are likely to fail, perhaps disastrously. Those on the right who are newly willing to deploy government power in the style of the European throne-and-altar right would do well to humbly reflect on their own limits before beginning. Rulers, as well as the ruled, are sinful creatures in need of restraint.

Libertarians, in turn, delight in reminding conservatives of the limits and dangers of government power, but they often indulge in their own forms of hubris. Philosophically, instead of focusing on human limitations, many libertarians rely on rigid and absolute systems that ignore the realities of human nature and life. Conservatives are right to be skeptical of libertarian arguments based on abstract systems of rights derived from an ahistorical, imaginary state of nature or social contract.

We are not, for instance, born as rational, autonomous individuals. Rather, we only attain limited degrees of independence and reason through often-difficult effort and instruction. A political philosophy that presumes a populace of rational, independent individuals without accounting for how such persons are formed is self-sabotaging. As the old fusionism insisted, those who would defend liberty must attend to the preconditions for sustaining liberty virtue, family, faith, and community.

Thus, among the ironies of modern libertarianism is that, although its flagship publication is called Reason, that magazine frequently features articles presuming that reason is the slave of the passions a tool for fulfilling our idiosyncratic desires, rather than what should control them. There and elsewhere, much of todays libertarianism has a propensity toward techno-utopianism and a preoccupation with porn, pot, and prostitution. The prudential case for liberty is replaced by a celebration of juvenile libertinism sex, drugs, and maybe some electronic dance music thrown in for good measure.

This libertine outlook is justified by apparently humble reasoning: who is to judge whether one way of life is better than another? But this relativistic pose proves more than it means to. After all, who then is to say that liberty is better than the alternative?

The assertion that human beings deserve liberty, or have a right to liberty, presumes truths about human beings and what is good for them. These truths cannot then be ignored by a regime that legitimates itself through them. It is arrogant to reject the wisdom of the ages about human flourishing and the life well-lived.

In the end, the libertarian insistence that all shall be well if we just let free minds and free markets do their thing is a mockery of religious belief. It puts man and the market in place of God. It is hard to govern well, but that does not mean the attempt should be forsaken in a drugged haze amidst the glow of streaming webcam sex shows. Such a society has simply embraced another form of tyranny and is content to be enslaved to base desires.

If we are to avoid this, as well as the follies of governmental good intentions gone awry, conservatives and libertarians must both check their pride to work toward a new fusionism. Their common ground begins with humility.

Nathanael Blake is a senior contributor to The Federalist and a postdoctoral fellow at the Ethics and Public Policy Center.

Read more here:

Humility Is Where Conservatives And Libertarians Can Still Find Fusion - The Federalist

Published: 3/25/2021 1:31:57 PM

Modified: 3/25/2021 1:31:55 PM

MASSACHUSETTS A pair of North Quabbin voices joined a chorus of nearly 40 fellow Libertarians statewide, who gathered Saturday for the third-partys annual state convention.

The Libertarian Association of Massachusetts (LAMA) State Convention 2021 convened remotely on March 20 to nominate and elect officers, vote on resolutions and discuss increased political progress. According to a press release, the five-hour convention was visited by prominent national figures as well, including the partys 2020 Presidential running mate, Jeremy Spike Cohen, and National Libertarian Committee Chair Joe Bishop-Henchman.

Charles Larkin of Athol and Ann Reed of Orange served on the days ad hoc Resolution Committee, and Larkin was also re-elected as LAMA Archivist. Both Reed and Larkin also serve on a local LAMA affiliate, the Libertarian Party of Worcester County (LPWC), which formed last year and meets monthly by remote.

Worcester County residents interested in possibly joining LPWC may contact affiliate chair and LAMA Communications Director, Janel Holmes at communications@lpmass.org or Larkin at 978-248-9899.

Franklin County residents interested in possibly forming their own affiliate may contact LAMA Political Director Michael Burns at political@lpmass.org.

Detailed information on the Libertarian party, which espouses self-ownership and non-aggression, is accessible at https://www.lpmass.org.

LAMA is the Massachusetts affiliate of the National Libertarian Party. As noted at Saturdays state convention, 2021 marks the partys 50th anniversary.

More here:

N. Quabbin represented at political state convention, as growing third-party marks 50th anniversary - Athol Daily News

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.

The Republican Committee for Armstrong, Butler and Indiana counties has nominated Abby Major as their candidate to run for former state Rep. Jeff Pyles seat.

The Democrats committee was scheduled to vote on its candidate Thursday evening.

A special election for Pyles seat will be held on the same day as the primary election, May 18. The winner of the special election will serve through next year.

A longtime lawmaker from Ford City, Pyle retired suddenly because of health issues earlier this month. He had just begun his ninth, two-year term in January.

Pyle endorsed Major, his chief of staff.

Obviously I am so honored that they picked me and grateful to be given the opportunity, said Major, 36, of Ford City. Prior to her working for Pyle, Major was an Iraqi war veteran who served as an Army intelligence analyst.

Major said she already started her campaign. She looks forward to meeting constituents and getting them out to vote.

She was among five candidates considered Wednesday night by the Republication committees. The candidates included Armstrong County Commissioner Don Myers, Anthony Shea, Jack Bowser and North Buffalo Township Supervisor Michael Valencic, according to Michael Baker of East Franklin, chair of the Armstrong County Republican Committee.

Baker said the turnout of five candidates so quickly after Pyle announced his retirement shows the enthusiasm for the Republican Party.

The committee conferees, with about 25 voting by secret ballot Wednesday night, unanimously endorsed Major, according to Baker. The conferees were impressed by Majors 12 years of experience in a state legislative office and her military background, he said.

Libertarian candidate named

On Tuesday night, the Libertarian Party endorsed Drew Hreha, 22, of North Apollo to run for the seat.

The Libertarian Party of Armstrong and Butler counties met Tuesday night online. They interviewed and nominated Hreha, said Sam Robb of Frazer, the Western vice chair for the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.

Hreha is a senior at Waynesburg University and editor of the campus newspaper, The Yellow Jacket.

We spent about 45 minutes asking Drew questions and learned how well he lined up with Libertarian values, and we are very satisfied, Robb said.

Libertarians account for about 1% to 2% of registered voters in most counties, he said.

Hreha said he hopes to bring a younger perspective to the General Assembly.

As a Libertarian, I can work both sides of the aisle, he said.

Hreha is looking to limit the state governors powers and to better protect the Second Amendment at the state level.

Mary Ann Thomas is a Tribune-Review staff writer. You can contact Mary at 724-226-4691, mthomas@triblive.com or via Twitter .

Categories:Local | Top Stories | Valley News Dispatch

TribLIVE's Daily and Weekly email newsletters deliver the news you want and information you need, right to your inbox.

More Valley News Dispatch Stories

Continue reading here:

Former state Rep. Jeff Pyle's staffer wins GOP nomination for special election, Dems choose Thursday night - TribLIVE

Join usat the 2022Libertarian Scholars Conference in Septemberin New York City.

The first Libertarian Scholars Conference was held in New York City in 1972 under the aegis of the Center for Libertarian Studies. The conference was held annually (except for 1973) throughout the 1970s in New York or Princeton, New Jersey (1977, 1978), with the 8th and last national conference taking place at the Hotel Diplomat in New York. In the early 1980s regional Libertarian Scholars Conferences were held in Chicago and other cities. The conferences featured papers by the founding fathers of modern libertarian scholarship, including Murray Rothbard, Leonard Liggio, Walter Block, Ralph Raico, Ron Hamowy, Roy Childs and Walter Grinder. Other prominent scholars who presented papers were Henry Veatch, Leland Yeager, Hillel Steiner, Douglas Rasmussen, David Calleo, Bruce Russett, and Samuel Brittain.

The Libertarian Scholars Conference was originally conceived as a forum for scholars from different disciplines to meet and exchange ideas on the study of liberty. The ultimate goal was to integrate their diverse insights and approaches into a broad interdisciplinary perspective on liberty, what Murray Rothbard called the discipline of liberty.The founders of the conference hoped that this discipline or systematic body of knowledge would give shape and direction to the growing ideological movement of modern libertarianism, much as British classical and French liberal political economy had guided the movement of classical (laissez-faire) liberalism. This series of conferences succeeded admirably in stimulating scholarly research from a libertarian perspective and attracting many new scholars, young and old, to the scientific study of liberty.

The libertarian movement has grown tremendously since the early 1980s and so has the need for intellectual guidance from experts in the social sciences and humanities, whose several disciplines help elucidate the nature of human liberty and its importance in nurturing and sustaining the social order that permits human civilization to flourish.

With this in mind, the Mises Institute, as heir to the Center for Libertarian Studies, has revived the Libertarian Scholars Conference, which will take place in September of 2022 in New York City.

Proposals for individual papers, complete paper sessions, and symposia are encouraged. Papers should be well developed, but at a stage where they can still benefit from the groups discussion. Preference will be given to recent research papers that are intended for submission to scholarly journals and have not been given at major conferences. All topics related to libertarian themes in the social sciences and humanities are welcome. Abstracts should be limited to 750 words. All proposals are peer reviewed by the Libertarian Scholars Conference Program Committee. Details on paper submissionsforthcoming.

Registration and venue details forthcoming.

View post:

Libertarian Students Convention | Mises Institute - The Shepherd of the Hills Gazette

Bad things could happen

Editor:

Senate Judicial Resolution 8 or the Nevada Equal Rights Amendment passed the Senate Committee on Legislative Operations and Elections by a vote of 4-1 on March 9. The only no vote came from new Republican Sen. Carrie Buck. If this proposed constitutional amendment passes the Legislature twice, it will go on the ballot to a vote by the people in 2022.

SJR8 would add the following to the Nevada Constitution: Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by this state or any of its political subdivisions on account of race, color, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, age, disability, ancestry or national origin.

The vagueness of the language in this resolution could open the door to laws that would uproot the freedom of many Americans, including the unborn, and put young women at risk.

The Nevada State ERA could be used to mandate taxpayer funded abortions. This occurred in New Mexico when the New Mexico Supreme Court mandated this in 1998. This also occurred in Connecticut under the guise that restricting abortion is a form of sexual discrimination.

By promoting gender identity in the state constitution, it could mandate that men who identify as women be allowed to compete with biological women in sporting events. This would destroy womens sports and undermine the chances for young women to advance in their athletic field and receive scholarships to further both their athletic and scholastic goals.

Moreover, this amendment could risk the safety and violate the privacy of young women by allowing biological males to use female locker rooms andrestrooms.

Religious freedom could also be threatened by forcing businesses and faith-based organizations to bend to anti-family and sexual norms that violate their religious and personal convictions. This has happened elsewhere and could happen in Nevada under this amendment.

According to Alliance Defending Freedom for Faith and Justice, SJR8 would deny state financial aid to students at faith-based colleges and universities unless they abandon policies and practices reflecting their sincerely held beliefs about marriage and sexuality It could forbid religious schools and organizations from ensuring that their employees abide by their doctrines or beliefs about marriage, sexual behavior, and the distinction between the sexes.

Physicians take an oath to do no harm and follow their conscience when treating their patients. SJR8 could force physicians to violate their oath and values and prescribe sex-altering therapies to young children who are struggling with gender identity. This could cause irreversible harm to the physical and mental well-being of our children into their adult lives.

The potential for significant harm is evident in this amendment.

Once you change the definition of gender (identity/expression) in the Constitution, legislators cannot address the unintended consequences, said Karen Barton England, executive director of Nevada Family Alliance.

Please contact the following Senate members requesting they oppose SJR8.

James Settelmeyer, Heidi Gansert, Ben Kieckhefer, Scott Hammond, Keith Pickard, andJoe Hardy. Contact information can be found at https://www.leg.state.nv.us/App/Legislator/A/Senate/Current

Bob Russo

Gardnerville Ranchos

Mitigating factors in Engels-Meyer match

Editor:

Pardon my eye roll and sigh when I encounter yet another published bombshell from Danna Meyer (March 18, 2021 R-C) regarding an encounter she had with John Engels years ago. Yes, the commissioners reaction was overheated, but in the lead up to that face off there were what in a court of law would be classified as multiple mitigating circumstances.

The innocent female to whom she refers (who is Meyer herself) had been publicly harassing and insulting the commissioner for months. I witnessed this. What happened is he ran out of patience. A far more appropriate title for the YouTube clip might be, Worn Down Commissioner Finally Vents His Frustration at Relentless Female Antagonist.

Whats more, she hasnt stopped. Since the unfortunate incident, I have been in more than one group situation where Meyer took the floor and showed great delight in ridiculing the commissioner. And each time this happened when he was sitting with his wife among friends and quietly enjoying the gathering.

I suppose if Meyer wants to be known in the community as a one-note crybaby, thats her choice, but I wish shed take it someplace else, and give the R-C readers a break.

Virginia Starrett

Gardnerville

Placing things in context

Editor:

During one of the first county commission meetings after John Engels was elected, Meyer criticized Engels from the public comment podium, claiming that it was improper for John Engels to wear a hat while seated as a commissioner. Engels defended himself, pointing out that it displays the insignia of his Army service rank, captain, and his branch of service while in Vietnam, artillery.

Ever since picking this fight, Meyer has continued a public criticism campaign against Engels, which says way more about Meyer than it does Engels. Its a wonderful country that grants anyone the First Amendment protection of freedom of speech. Its too bad this woman serially abuses that privilege.

Bev Anderson

Fish Springs

Douglas Libertarians organizing

Editor:

Last November, one-third of Douglas County voters surprised the status quo by supporting a Libertarian candidate for commissioner. Thats more than any non-Republican candidate has won in this county in decades. One of the big reasons is because that candidate made himself visible, waving a huge sign at the 395 and 88 intersection every commute hour, posting signs, calling active voters, investigating issues, meeting with officials, and passing out literature at events.

Last Friday, he joined other liberty-minded people in Minden to find people interested in making the Libertarian Party more visible as an alternative to the GOP and Democratic Party.

Those at the gathering explored ways to get the partys philosophy of personal freedom and minimal government out to disillusioned and non-partisan voters.

Libertarians come from all political persuasions, from extreme liberal to ultra-conservative. What they have in common is the desire to pursue their interests, operate businesses, educate their children, and strive for prosperity without interference from intrusive government regulations.

Basically, the partys mantra is Do what you want as long as you dont hurt anyone. As simple as that sentence is, it seems to be a radical idea in this age when both the GOP and the ever-more-progressive Democratic Party want to control everyones health care, business activities, and use of private property. Libertarians just want to be left alone and allow you the same freedom.

In Douglas County, 53 percent of voters are registered as GOP; 22 percent as Democrats, and 25 percent as Libertarians, nonpartisan, and other. With the party schisms that are developing lately, there are undoubtedly members of both parties who are looking for an alternative.

Up until four years ago, when Gary Johnson ran quite visibly for president, Libertarian candidates were only on paper. Voters rarely met or learned anything about them. Then Charles Holt entered the local election and stirred up an over-confident GOP ticket. He mustve hit a nerve because signs were destroyed or removed and vicious letters against Mr. Holt filled the local editorial page.

Those attending Fridays meeting had a good laugh about it all in retrospect because it was a strong indication that Holt woke a sleeping lion. Spurred by that realization, they brainstormed ideas to make the Libertarian alternative more visible for Douglas County voters.

If youre one of those who want an alternative, investigate the Libertarians, either on Facebook or http://www.lpnevada.org. Or come to the next meeting April 23 at 6 p.m. at Cookd in Minden.

Meanwhile, be on the lookout for Libertarians at local events, fairs, farmers markets, wine walks, anywhere where you can meet and discuss issues with people who want to return America to a time where people said, its a free country rather than there oughta be a law.

Sue Cauhape

Minden

Duffy going to be missed

Editor:

Im writing to acknowledge the retirement of Deputy Theresa Duffy, an outstanding member of the Douglas County Sheriffs Office. I first met Duffy when she was coordinator for the week-long Sheriffs Citizen Academy, a five-day evening orientation class held in the Judicial & Law Enforcement Center conference room. This program provides Douglas County citizens a comprehensive overview of the sheriffs various departments directly from the deputies and command staff who manage and provide services from K-9 to Lake Tahoe patrol, street patrol, citizens patrol, search and rescue, and many other DCSO operations, all ably coordinated by Duffy.

In what I believe was her last assignment before retiring, Sheriff Coverley assigned Duffy to assist Sgt. Bernadette Smith, coordinator of the DCSO Caring Neighbors program that was experiencing a growing workload. Smith coordinates a group of selfless volunteers to deliver non-law enforcement assistance to those in need, but Duffys availability allowed the program to help those who needed law enforcement assistance.

Duffy had various other assignments during her law enforcement career, but probably none that delivered the compassionate assistance to our countys most vulnerable residents. This program includes various services from delivering meals to those with mobility issues, to coordinating assistance with other county departments, to protective interventions.

I gather Duffys last assignment before retiring was working with Smiths Caring Neighbors program, a fitting finish to a most honorable career. May God bless the retiring Duffy and Smith for their service to the countys most vulnerable citizens.I dont envy Coverleys task of picking a member of the command staff to inform Smith that she will never be allowed to retire.

Lynn Muzzy

Minden

Glad to be back in the Valley

Editor:

My husband and I moved to the Carson Valley in 2010 to enjoy the beauty and the closeness to children and grandchildren. Unfortunately, after 10 years we decided to move to greener pastures. At that time in our lives, we realized our error and needed to return to our doctors and network of friends in the Carson Valley.

We have received a fabulous welcome. These people and businesses have gone above and beyond to assist us with this transition. Teddy Carlson Mc Kone-Intero Real Estate; Anthony Bartone-Finance of America; Mary Kelsh and Kim Figueroa-First American Title; Donna Presto-Signature Title; Carla. Barry & Micky Jones- Carson Valley Movers; Natalia K. Vander Laan-Attorney; Carson Tahoe Health Care; and our wonderful, supportive friends of the communities of Saratoga Springs and La Costa.

As we continue our journey through life, we have determined that the Carson Valley provides us the support, professionalism, friendship and love not found elsewhere. Thanks to everyone who assisted us with this transition. The Carson Valley is truly a gem.

Lois Bock

Minden

Scouts always prepared to help

Editor:

On the afternoon of Feb. 27, my facemask attacked one of my hearing aids and apparently deposited it in the grass at the Minden Park where Cub Scout Troop 33 and BSA Troop 20 were gathered for a BSA annual Blue and Gold Ceremony.

After the event, some of the Scouts saw my wife and I crawling through the grass, acorn shells and miscellaneous debris that accumulates in our beautiful park over the winter months. They found it interesting to follow two senior citizens as they slithered and crawled around their festivities like a pair of wounded armadillos.

When they learned the reason for our circuitous rambling they immediately joined forces along with dozens of well meaning, supportive parents and Scout leaders. After a few hours of well-coordinated recovery drills we succeeded in convincing them to return to their refreshments and fellowship, although the hearing aid was still missing in action.

These young Cub Scouts and their devoted families are what makes the Carson Valley such a wonderful place to live. One of their parents, Shandra, drove to her home in the Johnson Lane area and returned with a metal detector which she loaned us over night. Our thanks also go to their troop leader, John and his great group of volunteer pack leaders. Michelle from the Town of Minden Office, as well as countless dog walkers, our neighbor and family members were also in the ranks.

Oh, in case youre wondering, we found the mischievous hearing aid the next day in the basement stairwell of our 115-year-old home across from the Park.

Keep up the good works Carson Valley

Gary and Judy Williams

Minden

Beginning of the end

Editor:

The beginning of the end of the United States as we know it.

The avalanche of illegals into this country by President Biden will have far reaching effects as stated in Guy Farmers column. How can we accommodate and support these people when we cant help and control our homeless population and fail to provide real assistance to our veterans?

American taxpayers have had their rights taken away by the Democrats who continue to use the pandemic as an excuse to control us. This coupled with the border crisis, unemployment, business and school closings is changing the way we live in the United States.

The current administration is all about control as evidenced by the enormous number of executive orders issued by Biden or those who control him. His mental health appears on the verge of collapse and we will be his beneficiaries.

Kenneth M. Bezich

Minden

Help those at home

Editor:

I would like to share my thoughts on the so called border crisis.

America has its own crisis: Hunger and homelessness.

We see these sad stories every day. We also see the governments, local and federal, stating there is no money to help these people. Mostly they give lip service only.

There are charities like Wounded Warrior to help underfunded American hero veterans with their problems. It appears that this American crisis cannot be solved.

However, it appears that there is plenty of money to help the open border people get food, housing, schooling and medical assistance. This crisis has the unlimited support and funding to be resolved from federal and sanctuary city sources. Its obvious what their priorities are and it is not us.

The next time you walk by American citizens who are homeless, cold, sick and hungry, or see a long food line, just think that they are only American citizen in crisis, not foreigners. Just ignore them. Too bad for them that they were born in American and are in crisis.

I know my thoughts are not politically correct. Those poor people looking for a better life boo hoo. How about a better life for needy Americans? Ill be surprised if this letter is printed. I also expect hate mail from people who think that borders are not required and should be open to the world and it is Americas responsibility to take care of them rather than solve our own crisis.

Charity begins at home. God bless America.

Ron Savinski

Gardnerville

Read more:

March 25, 2021, Letters to the Editor | Serving Minden-Gardnerville and Carson Valley - The Record-Courier

In November, a user named Dominic D wrote something akin to a mission statement for the anti-lockdown protest group he runs on the messaging app Telegram.

Dominic had been accused by another member of being associated with a far-right group, which he flatly denied. His group, Dominic wrote, was a place for moderates, libertarians, conservatives, and all other advocates of Freedom to have discussions about protesting.

I have one face. This is it. I am not Far-Right. I am a Libertarian Populist, and I support Freedom of Speech, Dominic told the dissenting member.

But a Guardian investigation has revealed Dominics engagement with a number of far-right groups online, including one used by the far-right Proud Boys group to vet new members and another made up of white supremacists including neo-Nazi Tom Sewell, who last month was charged after an alleged assault of a Channel Nine security guard.

Dominic Ds real name is Harrison McLean, a 24-year-old IT programmer, blockchain architect and former competitive cheerleader from Wantirna South in Melbournes outer suburbs.

Using his pseudonym, he has outlined plans to introduce his freedom group to more radical political views, while expressing deeply antisemitic opinions.

In an interview with the Guardian this week, McLean denied that he was seeking to radicalise his followers or to introduce them to antisemitic material, but said he wanted to unify people on the basis of peaceful protests and under the idea of freedom.

[The aim] is to empower people so that if theyre not necessarily politically active before, then a political protest might be some way for them to sort of begin their process of engaging in this space, but Im absolutely not trying to radicalise anybody, he said.

McLean began attending anti-lockdown protests in September and has since become a key organiser, helping to drive a rebrand after the lockdown lifted by shifting the movements focus to the broader themes of freedom that have come to typify the protests.

His group is now one of the largest and most organised in the movement, with more than 2,000 followers on Telegram, and attracts hundreds of people to the Melbourne protests.

On the surface, the freedom movements broad aim has been to end Covid restrictions. At a rally in Melbournes Flagstaff Gardens last Saturday, several hundred protesters waved anti-vaccination placards and called for the Victorian premier, Daniel Andrews, to resign.

But the movement has also become a beacon for conspiracy theorists, emerging as the real-world manifestation of a rabbit warren of online misinformation that has run rampant during the pandemic.

While McLean uses an alias online, he has recently begun using his real name at the rallies. On Saturday he railed against so-called vaccine mandates, claimed there was no pandemic and said the freedom movement was done with the cabal which runs this country.

We are going to purge this country of every single incumbent politician who does not support freedom, he told the cheering crowd.

In collaboration with anti-fascist research group the White Rose Society, the Guardian has tracked McLeans activity through the rabbit warren of largely unregulated Telegram groups and found that he describes a vastly different version of his intentions.

In groups he has described as devoted to serious Anti-Zionist chat and about digging into the relationship between Jews, and the NWO [new world order], McLean has explained the need to be cautious about exposing his allies in the anti-lockdown movement to antisemitic content yet.

McLean has offered counsel on effective ways to introduce people to entry level research on antisemitic conspiracy theories, given advice on how to create effective antisemitic memes and explained how he helped introduce followers in his anti-lockdown movement to more radical views.

In a series of messages sent in November, McLean told the serious Anti-Zionist chat that while he shared many of the concerns about the ... present role of the Jews, members of his group were not ready for the JQ yet, using a common shorthand among white supremacists for the Jewish Question.

We have a LOT of very NORMIE people coming in from banners and [Facebook] groups that are not ready for the JQ yet, and may attack us as highly anti-Semitic and stop promoting us all together to their friends and family, he wrote.

The members of his group, he wrote, are new to this side of politics and discourse and were not comfortable with the idea that Hitler had some good points ... or that they are a major controlling force in the world.

We start at Dan Bad and go right through to No Coercive Vaccines and get into the Pedo suppression orders and NWO agenda and One world government as a concept to be opposed, he wrote, echoing a laundry list of baseless and antisemitic conspiracy theories that have found a fresh audience during the pandemic.

I wish it were different [but] we need to take it one step at a time.

Police and security agencies have repeatedly warned that far-right groups have used the pandemic to recruit, but the rise of anti-lockdown groups that blend wellness influencers, libertarians, anti-vaxxers and those who mistrust governments into a heaving conspiracy-laced soup has made distinguishing the motives of those actors increasingly confounding.

In its submission to an upcoming federal inquiry into extremism and radicalism, Victoria police say extreme leftwing and rightwing individuals have joined conspiracy-based groups espousing conflating ideologies during the pandemic, something it says has proved a challenge for law enforcement.

The head of Asio, Mike Burgess, announced this month that the intelligence organisation would dump terms such as rightwing extremism because of a growing number of individuals and groups that dont fit on the leftright spectrum.

But the Guardians investigation found a significant overlap between the so-called freedom movement and far-right groups.

In an interview with the Guardian, McLean denied that he wanted to introduce his followers to the kind of antisemitic material he expressed support for online and emphatically denied having any white supremacist sympathies. He said his group supports freedom of religion and freedom from religion and argued his comments were made in the context of not wanting those discussions to occur on his own group.

I direct people to that Telegram group so they can see that argument and almost certainly see the flaws in that argument, he said.

But in the course of an hour-long interview, McLean also made antisemitic claims about Jewish overrepresentation in the higher echelons of media [and] business.

Im not saying that those discussions shouldnt occur, just not in [my group], he said.

Obviously its controversial and I have a view on it, which is people should do that research themselves and make that decision.

What I was saying was that this is a discussion for people to have on their own terms and sort of make their own mind up and see both sides of the argument ... theyre not wrong about everything but they do highly over-attribute those issues to Jews, which I dont think they should do and I dont support.

But the Guardians investigation also found McLean is a member of the Telegram group used by the Australian Proud Boys to vet new members. Founded by the Canadian-British far-right activist and Vice magazine co-founder Gavin McInnes in 2016, the Proud Boys describe themselves as Western chauvinists. In February the Canadian government designated the Proud Boys as a terrorist organisation, describing it as a serious and growing threat.

Asked whether he was a member of the organisation, McLean said: I cant answer that question at this time.

Though the Proud Boys remain relatively small in Australia, the group has become much more active during the pandemic. McLean admitted members were involved in his freedom movement, and revealed that he had met some of the Australian leaders during protests.

There are Proud Boys in [the group McLean runs] but it is not a Proud Boys operation per se, he said.

There is some overlap on a lot of principles [within the groups] but not all of them ... we have had the Proud Boys come to our events, they were invited, they didnt infiltrate us.

As the Guardian has previously reported, in October the president of the Borderlands faction of the Proud Boys, Jarrad Searby, used the same Telegram group administered by McLean to put a call out for people trained in some form of combat to clash with police at a rally in Melbourne.

A month later, Searby was arrested and pepper-sprayed at a protest on Melbourne Cup day at which several hundred people were arrested.

Searby was not the only Proud Boys member present. Internal messages sent between members of the group obtained by the Guardian reveal that before the protest the groups Victorian president encouraged other Proud Boys members to attend.

Its time to rise up, he wrote on 28 October.

Victoria needs a Pinochet and we need it fast If youre on the fence about supporting this on Tuesday because Dan eased restrictions then you have Stockholm syndrome.

In private messages seen by the Guardian, the president, who goes by the alias Versace Cowboy online, has also hailed the US gunman Kyle Rittenhouse for doing gods work and discussed conducting patrols of Melbourne suburbs during the African gangs scare.

Might be able to help do what the cops cant, he wrote at the time.

McLean has also maintained a list of freedom groups that he circulates to thousands of followers on Telegram. The list includes members of the Proud Boys organisation, and another group that is populated by a number of white supremacists, including Sewell.

The list is shared widely throughout so-called freedom groups on Telegram, creating what Cameron Smith, an independent researcher who has tracked conspiracy movements throughout the pandemic, calls a cross-pollination point between it and the far right.

Were talking about a group of people with no real political framework to make sense of the response to the pandemic. They have a feeling that something is amiss but they dont know what. Its not hard to point them in a particular direction and that particular direction being the Jews is not a new concept, Smith said.

Its also a group that largely had no real political experience to be able to recognise things like entryism. This all combined to make them easy pickings for the far-right.

McLean categorically denied that he supported any form of white supremacism, but said he had promoted the group because its administrator had been supportive of the movement, not because we agree with everything he says. But he conceded his aim was to shift the Overton Window, a term that describes the range of political ideas or policies considered acceptable by mainstream society.

What Im trying to do is build a big tent movement from the libertarian right to nationalists to populists to independents to moderates and even some leftwing people all supporting freedom, he said.

Its about building one unified group that can embrace a wide range of political stances [and] to expand the Overton Window to some elements of movement that are currently more fringe.

Youre probably right, I would prefer for them [the Proud Boys] to be less fringe in the context of having their views be more acceptable but not in a way that involves any sort of violence, just the rhetoric and discourse.

Joshua Roose, a senior research fellow at Deakin University, has been tracking the far right in Australia throughout the pandemic. He told the Guardian that typically there were two levels of overlap between elements of the far right and the anti-lockdown movement.

On one level there is a natural overlap in the narratives of those groups in that they are both concerned with the idea of liberal elites, you know, a wealthy and unelected ruling class who they have to take back control from, he said.

The far right typically have a harder racial edge to that, but that overlap, combined with some of the racialised elements of Covid-19 in mainstream media and politics you know, the China virus has I think opened a door for those worlds to combine.

But Roose said there had also been a more explicit attempt by far-right elements to win over conspiracy-minded groups.

There has certainly been discussions in far-right forums both in the US and Australia about how to mobilise, for example, QAnon supporters, and more broadly the people engaged in these freedom rallies, he said.

Roose said there were active protagonists within the far right who were seeking to mobilise the resentment, the sense of anger and disenfranchisement to bring people into the far-right fold.

He pointed to the example of Sewell and the former United Patriots Front leader Blair Cottrell, who have frequently posted anti-vaccination material, combined with a steady stream of antisemitic and racist content.

The 20 March protest offered a demonstration of how the pandemic has allowed those with far-right views to find common cause with more mainstream political actors.

Another attendee was Monica Smit, a former reality TV contestant who founded a group called Reignite Democracy Australia in September. Smit has not flirted with the more fringe elements of the far right such as the Proud Boys. Instead, her group rails against Covid-19 restrictions, including against mask mandates and lockdowns. Like McLean, Smit denies she is anti-vaccination, instead claiming to be pro-choice.

Reignite Democracy has built up a following of about 60,000 on Facebook. During the statewide lockdown in Victoria the group gained mainstream media attention with its Sack Dan bus, and has broadened its attention to rightwing theories including the great reset.

More recently, Reignite Democracy has sought candidates to run in elections, saying it wants to replace lazy politicians with worthy ones and be a voice for the people.

As the Guardian has previously reported, Smit has links to the Liberal party, and the group has been able to attract support from a number of mainstream political figures including the Victorian Liberal Bernie Finn, the state Liberal Democrat MP David Limbrick and the independent Catherine Cummings.

Limbrick spoke at the 20 March rally, appearing immediately after McLean to tell the crowd that Victorias long-running state of emergency had resulted in some of the greatest human rights oppressions in the states history. In a livestream video of the event, Smit said Limbricks presence really legitimises the event.

The Guardian was unable to contact Smit, and does not suggest that she holds McLeans views. But McLean said his group and Reignite Democracy definitely share a lot of ideological alignment. The groups frequently promote each others content, and McLean and Smit have appeared at a number of protests together.

The main difference between the two groups, McLean said, was that Reignite Democracy was more focused on shoring up the political element of the movement, but he described Smit as a friend and said that while the groups operate separately, we have followers across both groups.

I would say there is a 25% to 50% overlap of [my groups] supporters and RDA and vice versa, he said.

The Guardian does not suggest Limbrick or any of the MPs who have offered their support to the freedom rallies endorse the antisemitic views expressed by McLean.

Limbrick said that if he had heard antisemitic views expressed at Saturdays rally he would have been disgusted.

The main message I was hearing was that people were upset about the human rights impacts of the lockdowns and the restrictions over the last year, he said.

There has been an explosion in misinformation over the last year but part of what Im doing is to try to combat that with high quality information about some of the actual concerns people have I dont think othering people who might listen to misinformation and not listening to their concerns is the right way to deal with it.

But while Limbrick said he did not believe attempts by elements of the far right to infiltrate the movement had been successful pointing to the diverse crowd that attended Saturdays rally others argue that the interplay between the groups is changing the state of acceptable discourse.

Roose said: People on the far right are constantly talking about the Overton Window and shifting the realm of public debate, to make their ideas acceptable and normalise deep-seated racism and hostility to others.

Read more:

Where 'freedom' meets the far right: the hate messages infiltrating Australian anti-lockdown protests - The Guardian