The Libertarian Party was founded in late 1971 by a group of former Democrats and Republicans who were fed up with the relentless growth of government. Since then the Libertarian Party has grown in size and influence to become the dominant third party in America. Although the national media often has ignored it, it now stands poised on the brink of becoming a major party. Here are just a few of the reasons:

• Harry Browne and the Libertarian Party will spend more than $8.5 million on their national campaign in 2000 -- more than twice what was spent in 1996. This sum is two thirds as large as what the Reform Party candidate will receive from the government. But the Libertarian Party's money will not come from taxpayers, billionaire candidates, or special interests; it will come entirely from grassroots supporters.

• Harry Browne qualified for federal matching funds in 1996 and has already qualified again in 2000. He didn't take the money in 1996, and he won't take it in 2000 -- as a matter of principle. As he says, "I don't believe in government welfare for individuals or for corporations, and I certainly don't believe in it for politicians." In an age when politicians are judged to have little integrity, Mr. Browne's consistency sets him apart from the other candidates. He doesn't condemn government intervention in one area and then bask in it in another area. Every contribution he receives is voluntary from people who aren't looking for government favors, they're looking for freedom from government.

• Voter turn-out and interest are in steep decline. Most current office-holders (including President Clinton) were elected by a minority of the eligible voters. Numerous polls indicate that voters want more choices than they're getting. But all they hear about from the media are Democrats and Republicans, billionaires and celebrities. In addition, other polls indicate that as much as a third of the voting age populace hold libertarian views, but many of them don't realize it because anti-competitive ballot access laws and campaign finance laws have made it difficult for the Libertarian Party to make itself known to these people. But that is about to change.

• The Browne campaign has produced a 30-minute TV show that will air throughout the 2000 campaign. There also will be 30-second and 60-second spots and extensive advertising on the Internet. Several million dollars will be spent on advertising. This campaign is the first time the Libertarian Party has been large enough to buy national visibility. The long-term impact of a party offering clear-cut proposals to reduce government dramatically could be huge.

• Libertarian candidates have succeeded in lower-level races. Where the Libertarian candidate has been able to match the spending of the opposition, the Libertarian frequently wins. The public wants what the Libertarian Party is offering -- but it has to hear about it. The Party currently has more than 300 people serving in public office -- more than all other third parties combined.

• The Libertarian Party is far better organized than any other third party. For example, FEC filings for the first half of 1999 indicated that the Reform Party had only $50,000 in income, while the Libertarian National Committee reported $1.45 million. As of January, 2000 the Reform Party was on the ballot in only 21 states, while the Libertarian Party had already qualified in 31 states, and undoubtedly will be on the ballot in all 50 states ballots for the third presidential election in a row -- an unprecedented achievement for a third party. The LP already has permanent ballot status in far more states than any other alternative party. The Party is also the leading third party in terms of voter registration.

• Mr. Browne will be joined on the ballot by nearly 2,000 other Libertarian candidates, including candidates for a majority of the U.S. House seats. Most likely this will be more candidates than the total of all other third parties combined.

• Harry Browne is an articulate, knowledgeable, and persuasive candidate. In 1996 he received positive coverage from numerous national columnists -- such as David Broder, Coleman McCarthy, and Steve Chapman. He received outright endorsements from a hundred radio talk show hosts and journalists. A poll of talk-show hosts taken by Talkers magazine found him to be one of the most popular guests on talk radio. He finished first in most Internet presidential preference polls in 1996. The response to his message suggests that there's a large pent-up demand for what he is proposing.

Conclusion

Support for the older parties is a mile wide but only an inch deep. Democratic and Republican registrations are shrinking in most states while Libertarian registrations are growing. The media-approved alternative, the Reform Party, is really just an empty shell propped up by tax dollars. By contrast, the Libertarian Party is a substantial organization that is building its base one step at a time -- constantly gaining new members, electing new office-holders, and beating back ballot-access barriers. The Libertarian Party is united, determined, and tenacious. It and its candidates, such as Harry Browne, are in a position to command more media attention than ever before. Harry Browne and the Libertarian Party represent the great untold story of American politics. But the story is now about to be told.