Campaign Statement - Etzel for Congress 2010

By Vernon L. Etzel

Introductory statement of candidacy.

Over the past 10 years, 44% (almost half) of the races for State Representative were uncontested by a major party candidate. The Republican and Democratic parties don't even bother to offer you a choice. And 94% of incumbent State Representatives are either re-elected or retire! Why have the major parties failed us so terribly?

Yet they place unfair ballot access restrictions on third party candidates to try to keep them off the ballot. And year after year, the Libertarian party jumps their hurdles and gives you candidates to choose from. These are common people running for office, not career politicians. They have different views on things just like we all do. But one thing we have in common is that we stand for basic, common sense principles. That's why we're Libertarians.

Which leads to the second reason that 5th District voters should have a choice on the November ballot--that voters have a third option that's different from the Republican and Democratic messages we've heard for decades. The argument of Left vs. Right, of Washington vs. Wall Street, of Conservatism vs. Socialism, is simply an argument over power. Libertarians, on the other hand, don't want to dominate your life. We advocate a government that protects and preserves your liberties.

Issues

I believe that (1) all human beings have individual rights to their life, liberty and products of their labor, that (2) these rights are the basis of Justice and are the only legitimate purpose for laws among people, and that (3) every institution of government should serve to secure these rights.

Kind of long-winded, but that's the basic principle that keeps me focused on what's right and wrong when it comes to government stuff. Here's some quick policy statements based on this principle:

1. Life. I believe in Free Markets. I believe that if government is going to assist people, that it should assist them directly, and allow the free market to provide those goods and services. Systems like food stamps, "Section 8" housing, tuition vouchers, and even government medical insurance are direct subsidy systems that rely on the market to provide services. These systems are much better than "socialist" ideas such as State Farms, State Housing, State Schools and State Hospitals. A truly free market, free from monopoly privilege, would provide direct, responsive services to people more efficiently than a system of government-run or corporate-subcontracted operations.

2. Liberty. I believe in Free and Open Government. I believe that government should protect us, and should not violate our rights in the process. We should be protected from invasion, plague, pollution, disaster, and violent criminals, and we need an effective government to accomplish that. But we shouldn't allow government to violate our rights in the process, such as with the Patriot Act and the War on Drugs. The whole idea of "accountability" is that power should be in the hands of the People, not a handful of bureaucrats and corporations. We need to look hard at the electoral system in our country, including ballot-access laws, to bring the voice of the people back to the People.

3. Labor. I believe in Free Society. I believe we should first consider alternatives to fractional reserve banking and the Federal Reserve system, which has created a debt-based system of economic slavery. That said, I would also seek alternatives to the present federal Income Tax, either by supporting a streamlined flat-tax, or by advocating a "tax the States" system. We should also consider streamlining the regulatory process, which has become a dominating, ineffectual coral reef of control that ultimately secures monopoly privilege for larger enterprises. We need to reduce the burden of government by getting to the purpose of government--our protection.

In any case of legislation on which I would vote, my primary consideration would be: "Does this advance the liberties and livelihoods of the general public?" This is in stark contrast to Republicans and Democrats who first consider their corporate or bureaucrat sponsors, and see you as cattle. Make your vote stand for something. This year, vote Libertarian.

Please support the Libertarian Party with your vote this November. And consider visiting us at http://www.lppa.org or my personal website www.libertyamerica.us

Thank you.

Vernon L. Etzel