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Plainsman1963

October 15, 2004 | bwalters | Kalamazoo Gazette

America's two mainstream political parties have abandoned the wisdom of George Washington and other founding fathers, the Libertarian vice-presidential candidate said in Kalamazoo Thursday.

"Friendship and trade with all and entangling alliances with none," was Washington's admonition, Richard Campagna reminded a small audience at Western Michigan University.

That national self-sufficiency reflects the Libertarian philosophy as well, Campagna said.

"That means pulling back our troops" from Iraq, "even if our percentage of natural resources is reduced."

Libertarians believe in national defense for the purpose of self defense, said Campagna, an attorney and professor from Iowa City, Iowa. Strong homeland security and pre-emptive strikes at a true threat fit that category, he said.

"Iraq has not proven to be deserving of those definitions, and therefore we need to be out," he said.

Republicans have abandoned their traditional philosophy of non-entanglement, for an "adventuristic war," based on false and manipulative intelligence, he said, while the Democrats have some concept of "the U.S. plus world government."

"I don't know which is worse," said Campagna, calling the two main parties "Republicrats."

Ten people attended the talk, a lack of interest Campagna blamed on the national media ignoring third parties and on their exclusion from nationally aired debates.

Libertarians advocate a government that does not meddle in the personal lives of its citizens. The party opposes corporate welfare, such as the $1.6 million given to McDonald's a few years ago for advertising in Europe. It advocates abolishing the Internal Revenue Service because it is too intrusive. Campagna said there's no agreement in the party on what would replace income tax, but he favors a "consumer tax," a sort of sales tax. Libertarians also advocate allowing every citizen to carry a gun for self defense.

The party supports legalizing drugs, since it says police "spend their time arresting Marijuana smokers instead of apprehending brutal thugs," campaign literature at Campagna's talk said.

The Libertarian perspective -- "small government, free will, the government off my back -- is closer to what Republicans used to say," when the moderate, Rockefeller wing of the party was in power, he said.

The most glaring example that Republicans and Democrats alike are letting big government run wild is the federal Department of Education, Campagna said.

The U.S. Constitution left education in the hands of municipal and state governments. But today's politicians are using tax money to create a "bloated bureaucracy commanding money and programs," he said. "It's abhorrent to traditional Republicans and to the Constitution."

The Libertarian candidate for president is Michael Badnarik.

Plains: Everybody is so focused on the Dem/Rep parties that all the other folks standing up get lost in the mania. So, I found this and thought how nice to hear somebody else talking besides the "big two".

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"America is at that awkward stage. It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards." - Claire Wolfe

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Hiz Highness

Go Libertarians!

It's too bad the two major political parties have effectively locked out any other competition. I'd vote for Libertarians a lot more often if I knew it wouldn't leave me at the mercy of noecons in the end.

As it is I vote for them whenever I see them on the ballot running locally.

-HH

MickityMike

Same here.

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I'd be delighted to live in a country where happily married gay couples had closets full of assault weapons. - Glenn Reynolds

Hiz Highness

I especially try to vote in liberarians on school boards and educational offices. I think turning the young minds of the country over to the libertarians is a good idea.

Where are ya Herb Ninja? I know you have something to say.

-HH

Niteshift

I actually looked at the local Libertarian candidate for county commission......and the guy sent me into fits of laughter. His extremist plans regarding local issues, like bridge tolls, are what keeps the Libertarian party from gaining ground locally.

Well, that and how they dress up as minutemen at local events to hand out their literature.

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A burning desire for social justice is never a substitute for knowing what you're talking about. -Thomas Sowell

Sometimes the light at the end of the tunnel is muzzle flash.

 

MickityMike

Toll bridges aren't extremist issues - being against driver's licenses are. And not having paid taxes for 20 years... ugh. I have hope that one day the Libertarians will moderate their views a bit.

Herb Ninja

Drivers licenses........ You even realize how many incompetent drivers have them?

They just lowered the standards here so its easier to get one.

Ya drivers licenses...... our country would just fall apart without them.

Peace, HN-

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Ron Paul for the Long Haul

MickityMike

Not trying to argue the merits (or more pointedly, the lack thereof) of drivers licenses, just saying that until the Libertarians run candidates with more ... tempered shall we say, views, they won't have much influence. Hence my desire for a bit o' moderation. Or at the very least, they should keep some of their more interesting views to themselves and go after ones with more meaning and appeal.