Libertarian and Republican Connection

For most people there is the Republican Party and then there is the Democratic Party. Third party organizations have a difficult time winning high offices but on occasion surprise us by winning local city council elections and challenging the two major parties.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States with over 200,000 members and 600 elected officials nationwide. Compared to the two major parties this might not seem like much but there are occasions when Third parties can make a significant difference. In 2000 Al Gore lost the presidential election in large part to Ralph Nader in Florida. Republican Presidential Candidate Ron Paul once ran for president in 1988 under the Libertarian Party.

Why does Ron Paul have such great popularity with the young people? A lot of it has to do with the fact that students and young people behave very much like Libertarians when it comes to their political views. Many students who consider themselves liberal Democrats are actually Libertarians; they simply don’t consider themselves as such. Students seem to have this government hands off mentality and for good reason. Students don’t like regressive taxes; entitlement spending that doesn’t benefit them, budget deficits that they will eventually have to pay, and greater government involvement in their lives.

The Republican and the Libertarian view points collide on several points and I desire to list these points as I interpret the Republican and Libertarian mindset. I will further prove that an ultra-liberal socialist cannot be under Libertarian definition be a true Libertarian leader.

Libertarians favor tax breaks whether it be income tax, sales tax, social security tax, any kind of tax. Republicans agree as it has been shown with the Republican Ford administration, the Reagan administration, and the George W Bush administration. The Republican Congress during the years of 1995 to 2007 enthusiastically supported tax breaks and even under a Democratic controlled Congress Republicans were able to negotiate a small business tax cut in order to pass a higher minimum wage. On the California state level Republicans have generally been supportive of tax breaks and have always opposed tax increases. Governor Schwarzenegger vowed he would never raise taxes and has succeeded. In Davis however there have been constant tax increases under a progressive population and Davis City Council. There has been Measure O, P, and G which have increases taxes on the Davis population.

Libertarians favor greater economic freedom to develop and oppose government regulations. Republicans and Libertarians alike have supported greater growth in cities and have shown themselves to have a pro-business mentality. This is good, because it is business that keeps this nation as prosperous as it is, not the government. Those that opposed Measure K are not Libertarians where is those that did are more in agreement to Libertarian view.

Libertarians promote greater property rights and oppose eminent domain seizures. Republicans pushed for Proposition 90 which would have given greater compensation and protection to property owners. It failed but it was worth a shot.

Libertarians oppose taxation of religious institutions and many Republicans and myself agree. Religious organization should continue to have non-profit status and Republicans and Libertarians would be more agreeable to having welfare services flow through charity organizations than the wasteful government.

Libertarians and Republicans both agree when it comes to gun ownership. Democrats and progressives have put a great many restrictions on rural areas when it comes to purchasing various weapons. Both political parties consider the 2^nd Amendment seriously while some liberal judges have ruled that the 2^nd Amendment doesn’t even pertain to citizens.

Libertarians and Republicans agree on greater free trade. Free trade allows us to sell stuff and buy stuff from the world without restriction or tax from the government. It strengthens the economies of the Third World and makes things cheaper for us here in the United States. It doesn’t balance out the economic circumstances of the world but rather it increases capitalism and investment in the world. There is no zero sum game. The more money you have the more stuff you can do with it.

Libertarians and some Republicans have been tireless fighters of budget deficits and have decried the incredible spending under George W Bush. The amount of spending comes close to Lyndon Johnson’s Great Society programs. This kind of spending needs to be lowered in order to bring about a balanced budget. If we do not, the expense of the interest alone will hurt my generation and the generation beyond me.

When in comes to Social Security both parties agree that this institution needs to be privatized if it is to stay functional decades into the future. If it remains as it is more economic pressure will be put on the shoulders of my generation and future generations.

And finally the Republicans and Libertarians agree that we must have a secure border in order to protect the property rights of US citizens and to prevent run away spending of social programs on undocumented persons. Though these parties may disagree as to how much security is needed but they do agree on the fundamental principle that our social programs should not be held hostage by uncontrolled borders.

There are some obvious differences between Republicans and Libertarians but there are also many similarities. As such it is my belief that the two parties can work together when it comes to certain specific issues. When it comes to the city of Davis I fear that the 160 registered Libertarians and 7,000 Republicans are being ignored. Libertarians should identify that in city politics Republican social conservatism is rarely an issue but Republican economic policy is what is most important on the city level.

When it comes to myself I have disagreements on Libertarians on certain issues but I have more meaningful similarities. The two issues that have been brought before me is my ASUCD record on two bills I hope to and “will” pass; that being the So Help Me God oath of office bill and the Pledge of Allegiance.

It can be acknowledged that Libertarians believe in the Separation of Church and State but I feel that I need to give Senator-elect the public freedom to express whether they wish to say it or not and have that recognized. As I have said before ASUCD is not a state, it is an association. Those who oppose my bill have a more tyrannical nature in that they hope to silence religion in ASUCD and this was one step to do it. As for the Pledge of Allegiance I also consider this to be freedom issue. People should have the freedom to recite it and have it recognized under the system. It’s completely voluntary and I don’t see why it shouldn’t be a part of an association that is heavily entangled with the federal and state government. Even so, these two bills are minimally important in the grand scheme of things.

Now, I could change all of my positions to make everyone happy but that would insult the intelligence of the people and it would be flip flopping on the issues which I shall not do. Instead I believe that I need to keep the principles that I believe in but be open to new information and act accordingly. There is a difference between someone who acts like a fake to get an endorsement and someone who stands firm and gains respect from the general people. Despite my opposition to Giuliani’s positions I do find it respectable that he keeps to his positions and states to all those who listen, “This is who I am and you can either vote for me or not.” You can change your mind of course, but never change your political soul.