Sorry. This one is a week late.
August 8, 2011
Dear Friend of Liberty,
I’m sure you have heard the news about the Standard & Poor’s downgrade of the U.S. government’s credit rating.
I’m not a finance expert, so I don’t know exactly how important the downgrade itself is. I think it’s one more sign of what Libertarians have known for a long time: the Democrats and Republicans have created a giant welfare-warfare state that is beginning to collapse under its own weight. And I see no sign that they are going to change their behavior.
However, I think it’s important to remember that these politicians aren’t operating in a vacuum — they’re elected (and re-elected) by the people. And I believe that, by and large, they’re giving the voters what they want: lots and lots of government benefits, regulations, and programs.
Even the Tea Party groups claim to demand spending cuts, but polls show a large majority of Tea Party supporters oppose cuts to Social Security, or Medicare, or the military.
As a Libertarian, I’d like to believe that most Americans are libertarian at heart, and only vote for big-government politicians because they think there’s no alternative. However, I have to admit that most Americans just aren’t there yet. They still think government is the answer (even if they won’t always admit it).
For example, I’m dismayed by how frequently local bond measures pass, putting local governments further into debt. Those measures seem to pass whether local politics are dominated by Democrats or Republicans.
I believe that part of our goal as a party is to change the hearts and minds of Americans with reason, eloquence, and evidence. We need to deliver the message that statism is not only wrong, it’s also unsustainable. The S&P downgrade gives us one more piece of evidence.
As long as Americans keep voting liberals and conservatives back into office, this decline will continue.
Sincerely,
Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee
“As long as Americans keep voting liberals and conservatives back into office, this decline will continue.”
You got that right Les !!!
Retirement and Income Security – Retirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government. Libertarians would phase out the current government-sponsored Social Security system and transition to a private voluntary system. The proper and most effective source of help for the poor is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals. We believe members of society will become more charitable and civil society will be strengthened as government reduces its activity in this realm. – http://www.lp.org/
Securing Liberty – The protection of individual rights is the only proper purpose of government. Government is constitutionally limited so as to prevent the infringement of individual rights by the government itself. The principle of non-initiation of force should guide the relationships between governments. – http://www.lp.org/
All over the world, governments are busy selling airlines, power plants, housing, and factories to private owners. Where inefficient government bureaucrats lost money and squandered tax dollars, hard-working private owners now make profits and create new jobs. Why can’t we do the same thing in America?
– http://www.lp.org/
Dear Friend of Liberty,
Will you donate to help fund ballot access petition drives in New Hampshire, South Dakota and many more states?
https://www.lp.org/contribute
Always just give until it feels GOOD, Thx !!!
RE$I$T stop the thieves while you can………