Libertarians to Local Governments: Shape Up!

The latest release from the Center for Libertarian Press Information:

Jefferson County, Alabama, is a perfect demonstration of what’s wrong with local government and how it can begin to be put right, say members of the Libertarian Party. Facing tough economic times like the rest of country, Jefferson County is looking for ways to cope. The county is projected to run out of cash July 31 due to the loss of its occupational tax and business license fee, which a judge declared invalid.

Rather than rejoicing at the liberation of professionals throughout the county from crippling fees, the County Commissioners have chosen to see this as a calamity, and to look for other sources of income. One Commissioner placed the priorities of the County government exactly when she said:  “If we can’t make payroll, only the revenue department employees will be working, to collect taxes.”

The County government is doing some things right, by strict necessity. Rather than continue to hold nearly 1,200 individuals per-day in pre-trial detention, the County government is asking criminal court judges to cull the county jails of people awaiting trial for nonviolent crimes.

Loretta Nall, Libertarian activist and former candidate for Governor applauds this action: “Unlike most I actually consider this good news. Most of the non-violent people in jail in any county in Alabama are there for drug offenses. They should never have been sent to jail to begin with. If the county can see the monetary benefit of minding their own damn business when it comes to non-violent drug users perhaps they will refrain from warehousing them again after the economy turns around. That the county is about to release them says to me they should never have been locked up in the first place.”

The County government has also responded to the budget woes in negative ways, such as by refusing to participate in the statewide Back-To-School Tax Free Holiday, a new American tradition in this high-tax era. Refusing taxpayers this small respite will only send consumers out of the county to shop and lower revenues for businesses in the County, at the expense of the poorest who cannot easily travel 30-40 miles to a more reasonable shopping choice.  Even one of the County’s own Commissioners disagreed with the move, saying that “everybody knows that sales tax hurts those that can least afford it.”

Libertarian Party activists throughout the country will be working through this difficult summer and fall to persuade their local governments to use the budget crunch to make government smaller and less intrusive. “Politicians who refuse to learn the lessons of the budgetary crises they are now facing and respond appropriately will be facing a tough battle come the next general election,” predicts Paul Frankel, At Large Member of the LP of Alabama Executive Committee.