Eric Garris
Encyclopedia
Eric Garris is an activist in the libertarian
movement in the United States, known as the founding webmaster
of two prominent libertarian websites.
While living in Venice, California in the 60s, Garris became active in the Peace and Freedom Party, serving as National Committeman and Vice-chairman before forming a libertarian faction within the party in 1973. In 1975, he left the Peace and Freedom Party to become active in the Libertarian Party, eventually co-founding the Libertarian Radical Caucus with Justin Raimondo. In the 80s, Garris and Raimondo left the Libertarian Party to engage the Republican Party. They formed the Libertarian Republican Organizing Committee (LROC) and backed Pat Buchanan in 1992 presidential run.
as follows:
When Rothbard and his supporters began to feel that the Libertarian Party, through outfits such as the Cato Institute
, was becoming too cozy with the Republican Party and its policies, they founded the "Libertarian Radical Caucus
" which was led primarily by Garris and his most consistent collaborator Justin Raimondo
. After the Libertarian Party's major schism of 1983, they began an entryist strategy into the Republican Party, and during the 1990s they became strong backers of Pat Buchanan
.
in district 61. He received 3,488 votes for 3.8% of the vote. Garris ran for office a second time in 1974. Running as a Peace and Freedom Party candidate in the 22 State Senate district, Garris received 4,316 votes for 2.3% In 1980 Garris ran as a libertarian for the 5th district California state senate seat. In a two-way race Garris received 21,162 votes for 14.6% of the vote. In 1983 Garris ran as a libertarian in the special election for California's 5th congressional district
. He received 408 votes for 0.5% of the total vote. In 1990 Garris ran as a Republican for the California State Assembly in the 21st district. He received 25,695 votes for 29.1% of the vote in a two way race
In 1999, Garris became the webmaster of LewRockwell.com, the webmagazine of libertarian political commentator Lew Rockwell. He is also webmaster for ballot-access.org, a news site published Richard Winger that raises awareness of restrictive ballot access laws
Libertarianism
Libertarianism, in the strictest sense, is the political philosophy that holds individual liberty as the basic moral principle of society. In the broadest sense, it is any political philosophy which approximates this view...
movement in the United States, known as the founding webmaster
Webmaster
A webmaster , also called a web architect, web developer, site author, or website administrator is a person responsible for maintaining one or many websites...
of two prominent libertarian websites.
Background
Garris was born in Paris, France and raised in Southern California from the age of 2. He became politically active at an early age, organizing rallies and distributing leaflets in his Los Angeles high school and actively resisting the Viet Nam war and draft.While living in Venice, California in the 60s, Garris became active in the Peace and Freedom Party, serving as National Committeman and Vice-chairman before forming a libertarian faction within the party in 1973. In 1975, he left the Peace and Freedom Party to become active in the Libertarian Party, eventually co-founding the Libertarian Radical Caucus with Justin Raimondo. In the 80s, Garris and Raimondo left the Libertarian Party to engage the Republican Party. They formed the Libertarian Republican Organizing Committee (LROC) and backed Pat Buchanan in 1992 presidential run.
Philosophy
Garris cites his antiwar stance as the one constant throughout the evolution of his political point of view and has said that being antiwar led him to libertarianism. His view that war is the greatest violator of human and property rights is reflected in Antiwar.com’s mission to lead the non-interventionist cause in the United States and abroadLibertarian activism
In 2000, Garris described his history with the Libertarian PartyLibertarian Party (United States)
The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the United States. The political platform of the Libertarian Party reflects its brand of libertarianism, favoring minimally regulated, laissez-faire markets, strong civil liberties, minimally regulated migration...
as follows:
In 1973 I joined the Libertarian Party. I served as a National Committee member, California State Director, and candidate and campaign manager numerous times. I am still a life member of the LP, but I am no longer registered LP. I still consider myself to be a libertarian with strongly held beliefs and, as Webmaster of Antiwar.com and LewRockwell.com, consider myself an activist in the libertarian movement. I still read much of the LP's literature, have many friends and associates in the LP, often even vote Libertarian. I also subscribe to the LP's internal email discussion list.
When Rothbard and his supporters began to feel that the Libertarian Party, through outfits such as the Cato Institute
Cato Institute
The Cato Institute is a libertarian think tank headquartered in Washington, D.C. It was founded in 1977 by Edward H. Crane, who remains president and CEO, and Charles Koch, chairman of the board and chief executive officer of the conglomerate Koch Industries, Inc., the largest privately held...
, was becoming too cozy with the Republican Party and its policies, they founded the "Libertarian Radical Caucus
LPRadicals
LPRadicals is a caucus formed in 2006 within the United States Libertarian Party by Susan Hogarth and other party members who opposed removal of much of the material in the party platform during the 2006 national party convention...
" which was led primarily by Garris and his most consistent collaborator Justin Raimondo
Justin Raimondo
Justin Raimondo is an American author and the editorial director of the website Antiwar.com. He describes himself as a "conservative-paleo-libertarian."-Background:...
. After the Libertarian Party's major schism of 1983, they began an entryist strategy into the Republican Party, and during the 1990s they became strong backers of Pat Buchanan
Pat Buchanan
Patrick Joseph "Pat" Buchanan is an American paleoconservative political commentator, author, syndicated columnist, politician and broadcaster. Buchanan was a senior adviser to American Presidents Richard Nixon, Gerald Ford, and Ronald Reagan, and was an original host on CNN's Crossfire. He sought...
.
Campaigns for public office
Eric Garris first ran for public office in 1972 when he ran as a Peace and Freedom Party candidate for the California State AssemblyCalifornia State Assembly
The California State Assembly is the lower house of the California State Legislature. There are 80 members in the Assembly, representing an approximately equal number of constituents, with each district having a population of at least 420,000...
in district 61. He received 3,488 votes for 3.8% of the vote. Garris ran for office a second time in 1974. Running as a Peace and Freedom Party candidate in the 22 State Senate district, Garris received 4,316 votes for 2.3% In 1980 Garris ran as a libertarian for the 5th district California state senate seat. In a two-way race Garris received 21,162 votes for 14.6% of the vote. In 1983 Garris ran as a libertarian in the special election for California's 5th congressional district
California's 5th congressional district
California's 5th congressional district is a congressional district in the U.S. state of California. It currently covers the city of Sacramento, the state capital, its suburbs and the surrounding area....
. He received 408 votes for 0.5% of the total vote. In 1990 Garris ran as a Republican for the California State Assembly in the 21st district. He received 25,695 votes for 29.1% of the vote in a two way race
Internet activism
Early on, Garris saw the potential of the internet to advance freedom and offer hope for humanity’s progress. In 1995, he founded Antiwar.com in response to the Clinton administration’s intervention in Bosnia’s civil war. Founded on Randolph Bourne’s idea that “War is the Health of the State,” Antiwar.com aggregates foreign policy news links from a variety of perspectives to inform the American people and the world about the overseas plans of the American government and serve as a research tool for “‘citizen experts.’”In 1999, Garris became the webmaster of LewRockwell.com, the webmagazine of libertarian political commentator Lew Rockwell. He is also webmaster for ballot-access.org, a news site published Richard Winger that raises awareness of restrictive ballot access laws
External links
- "The Internet vs. The State" – Talk given by Garris in November 2005
- "The Mind Behind Antiwar.com" – 75-minute audio interview on 2006-10-30