Post-Conservative America

To the Editors:

Though Kevin Phillips is generally one of the most perceptive observers and accurate reporters of electoral politics in America, he made some errors in his analysis of Libertarian Party potential constituencies in “Post-Conservative America” [NYR, May 13].

Though Libertarian candidates often do well in college town and/or “high-tech” economy districts, appealing to the “progressive” college-educated voter, this is not their main area of support. The two states where the 1980 Libertarian presidential candidate received his highest percentage of the vote were Montana and Alaska. Voting analysis of the Montana vote indicates that Libertarian votes in that state came from blue-collar neighborhoods.

Libertarians currently hold office across the country, from Fairbanks, Alaska, to Houston, Texas, to Frenchtown, New Jersey. I do not think that their potential constituency is as limited or as predictable as that of the two other alternative political groups.

Bruce Majors

Students for a Libertarian Society

Washington, DC