The Libertarian Party is dedicated to confining the U.S. government to what is necessary to defend Americans and their property in America, rather than helping the British to meddle in the affairs of her former colonies around the globe.
Persons who respect our American traditions of personal responsibility, earning your way, and working hard to make a better future for your family - instead of expensive and clumsy government control and intervention - have been turning to the Libertarian Party. The LP wants a world in which all of us have the greatest possible opportunity to make our own plans and achieve our own goals. Our founders aimed for self-ownership and self-government, not the opposite we're getting today. As the great writer Tom Paine said, "War is the gambling table of governments, citizens the dupes of the game".
Wars, stimulus and deficits
Perhaps nothing is more symbolic of the joint failures of the Republicans and Democrats than the Bush administration's war spending that the Obama administration has continued. The ongoing loss of life and taxpayers' money in Afghanistan, Iraq and now Pakistan has cost more than 5,000 American lives, and more than $1 million in U.S. war debts with Ohio on the hook for $30 billion alone.
On January 2001, George W. Bush became our Chief Executive promising peace and prosperity but intead gave us lies, wars and massive debt while enriching certain corporation owners. Before leaving office eight years later, President Bush had driven deficits to unprecedented levels by his wars and three stimulus bills.
Bush's failures haven't stopped President Obama from doing his own Bush-styled stimulus bills or from continuing to do Bush's wars. The bipartisan actions of the borrow-and-spend party and the tax-and-spend party have led to a quasi-martial law at home while they continue to pursue empire abroad, with disastrous results for our economic futures.
Job creation
Libertarians maintain that federal budget deficits are the result of Republicans and Democrats in government spending more money than they collect in taxes. Borrowing to make up the difference, as Republicans do, is not a solution because the interest the government pays on the national debt already exceeds $1 trillion a year. Raising taxes, as Democrats do, is not a solution either because taxation stifles business investment and growth. There is only one solution. The government must spend less, stop waging costly wars and get back to American basics. By reducing the burden of unnecessary and bloated government upon the private sector, jobs will expand.
I urge readers to vote Libertarian. At the top of the Ohio ticket is gubernatorial candidate Ken Matesz, who is the only candidate for governor to have produced a detailed budget plan for Ohio. The numerous Libertarians on Ohio's ballot this year are dedicated to restoring American ideas, principles and values that hardworking individuals of good will, from our founding fathers, have used to build and support this union of free and independent states.
Early voting results already show that increasing numbers of voters are switching from independent, Republican and Democrat to the Libertarian Party of Ohio. Today and through Nov 2, I urge readers to visit their Board of Elections and vote Libertarian. Vote Libertarian now so that we may all reap the benefits of trade and peaceful relationships that promote liberty, free markets and prosperity throughout Ohio and America.
[Editor's note - This column is in response to state Rep. Terry Boose's visiting viewpoint published in the Norwalk Reflector. Bob Williams is the Libertarian candidate for the 58th House District.]