Press release at LP.org:
WASHINGTON – With prospects of a Republican takeover of Congress, Libertarian Party (LP) Chair Mark Hinkle posed this question: "In order to balance the budget, where will the GOP pull the plug first: on Granny, or on foreign wars?"
Hinkle continued, "Of course, Republicans may have no serious intention of cutting federal deficits or spending, and their complaints about ‘out-of-control spending’ might be hypocrisy."
Over 60% of federal spending is in three areas: Social Security, Medicare/Medicaid, and the military. It would be impossible to eliminate the federal deficit without cutting entitlements or military spending, such as the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Tea Party leader Dick Armey recently called Social Security a ponzi scheme.
LP Executive Director Wes Benedict said, "Social Security is universal mandatory welfare for seniors. It’s very un-libertarian."
Benedict continued, "I suppose one way to maintain the Social Security scheme would be to rapidly grow the U.S. working population, such as by opening up our borders to increase immigration. However, Republican congressmen have tried to duck their responsibility for the bad economy by scapegoating illegal immigrants, so allowing a massive influx of immigrants is politically infeasible in the near future.
"Each child born in the U.S. immediately faces a debt of over $40,000. Ironically, it might not be long before American youth start ditching this debt foisted on them by their parents and grandparents, and start leaving America in search of better opportunity abroad.
"To make Social Security solvent as our population ages, the federal government either has to raise the tax, or cut the benefits. The last significant change to Social Security was a tax increase approved by Ronald Reagan. Libertarians favor cutting Social Security benefits, and we oppose tax increases. Libertarians would prefer to allow workers to opt out of Social Security. Perhaps entitlements can be cut gradually, rather than slashed abruptly, but that depends on taking action sooner rather than later.
"On the October 17 ‘Fox News Sunday,’ I saw that Republican senate candidate Carly Fiorina was repeatedly asked what parts of entitlements she would cut to balance the budget, and she repeatedly dodged the question."
The recent Republican ‘Pledge to America’ makes no mention of cutting entitlements or the military.
Benedict continued, "Republicans refuse to say where they would cut entitlement spending, and of course Republicans oppose cutting military spending or ending America’s foreign wars. Therefore, I’d say that Republicans are hypocrites who aren’t serious about solving the federal debt problem."
A video lampooning John Boehner and the Republican ‘Pledge to America’ was created by Travis Irvine, Libertarian for U.S. Congress in Ohio District 12.
Benedict continued, "Only Libertarians recognize that we can’t have it all for much longer. The longer Republicans and Democrats flush money down the toilet in Iraq and Afghanistan, the sooner the government will have to cut benefits for Granny. Of course, Congress may never have the courage to pass legislation to cut entitlements. In that scenario, Granny will eventually start experiencing ‘rolling blackouts,’ or perhaps a total system collapse.
"Libertarians stand ready to cut spending across the board. Perhaps the question Granny needs to answer is, ‘Which do you love more: your Social Security check, or foreign wars?’"
The Libertarian Party has 21 candidates for U.S. Senate and 169 candidates for U.S. House in the upcoming November 2010 elections.
For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 begin_of_the_skype_highlighting 202-333-0008 end_of_the_skype_highlighting ext. 222.
The LP is America’s third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
###
Leslie,
Entitlements aren’t the problem. Runaway spending under the last three Republican administrations coupled with huge tax cuts is the problem.
Entitlement spending is certainly part of the problem. Runaway spending under both Democrats and Republicans – Entitlement, military, and other – is another part of the problem. Tax cuts, however, are not the problem.
Republicans are just awful at governing. Americans should put them out of their misery and vote them out of office.
Yes – and Democrats too.
Red,
It is not in the best interests of the LP to use demagogic language like “pulling the plug on Granny.” It empowers the advocates for continuing entitlement programs. You would think they would realize that.
Yeah, I kind of question whether playing into that is a wise choice as well.
Gary,
Just remember, the LP wants YOUR frail and feeble 70-90 year old grand-parents and great-grandparents to go back out on the street, right now, looking for jobs at McDonalds, Pep Boys, Auto Zone and Spearmint Rhino in the name of the free market economics.
Incorrect. Quoting from the release, “Libertarians favor cutting Social Security benefits, and we oppose tax increases. Libertarians would prefer to allow workers to opt out of Social Security. Perhaps entitlements can be cut gradually, rather than slashed abruptly, but that depends on taking action sooner rather than later.”
It sounds just like what you say the CP wants,
“How ’bout we give Granny a break and bringing our troops home from all over the world and getting out of all these friggin’ wars. Then we can have an orderly disengagement, over time, from socialistic entitlement programs that does NOT threaten the well-being of our senior citizens–YOUR grandparents– who are dependent on these programs, through no fault of their own.”
There are, of course, issues where Libertarians and Constitutionalists disagree. This isn’t one of them.
Too late, Red!
It’s official: The LP has pulled the plug on Granny!
The Constitution Party says, ” How ’bout we give Granny a break and bringing our troops home from all over the world and getting out of all these friggin’ wars. Then we can have an orderly disengagement, over time, from socialistic entitlement programs that does NOT threaten the well-being of our senior citizens–YOUR grandparents– who are dependent on these programs, through no fault of their own.”
Just remember, the LP wants YOUR frail and feeble 70-90 year old grand-parents and great-grandparents to go back out on the street, right now, looking for jobs at McDonalds, Pep Boys, Auto Zone and Spearmint Rhino in the name of the free market economics.
Free Market economics?…yes! We are all for it…but after nearly 100 years of socialism, it is a bit unrealistic to expect it to happen immediately and all at once. We’ve had Fabian Socialism for a century in America…so maybe some “Fabian” Constitutionalism for awhile will be necessary, until we get our Republic all the way back?
Vote Constitution Party! The Party that cares about America’s grandparents.
(Oh-oh–I wonder if Gene Berkman will let me back into Renaissance Books now–the BEST used book store in the entire Inland Empire!)
Entitlements aren’t the problem. Runaway spending under the last three Republican administrations coupled with huge tax cuts is the problem. Republicans want a suicidal mix: low taxes, massive increases in federal spending. They’ve nearly destroyed the American economy. Now they want us to elect them so they can finish the job. Republicans are just awful at governing. Americans should put them out of their misery and vote them out of office.
It is not in the best interests of the LP to use demagogic language like “pulling the plug on Granny.” It empowers the advocates for continuing entitlement programs. You would think they would realize that.