Ramblings of a Pragmatic Libertarian
Welcome...
Thank you for visiting.
The purpose of this site is two fold...first, to provide an outlet for the
political ideas and philosophy that have been bouncing around inside my head for the past several decades,
and secondly, to create the opportunity for a dialogue on some of the most important issues facing our nation, as well as the
Libertarian Party, in the 21st Century.
Our nation and states (Texas, in my case), have wandered aimlessly for most of the last one hundred years.
Gradually, we have lost the meaning and intent of the concept of "Republican Government" as defined in our Constitution.
The Federal Government has expanded its tentacles into areas never envisioned, or even expressly forbidden,
under the Constitution; as succeeding Congresses and Presidents have ever sought to enhance their power and prestige at an
increasingly unbearable cost to the citizenry. State government, no champion of Liberty itself,
has followed suit.
Through the imposition of ever-more complex tax codes and regulatory schemes, government on all levels has
acted to choose winners and losers; creating subsidies and loopholes for favored groups and industries that end up being paid
for in numerous ways by the rest of us.
Michael Badnarik, the 2004 Libertarian candidate for President, has said "The Democrats and Republicans
stand at two extremes, characterized by which parts of our lives they emphasize their desire to control. Libertarians
reject both extremes in favor of the government leaving control of your life to you." And that, in a nutshell,
is what has driven me into the Libertarian Party.
Democrats seek to control our financial lives, currying favor and support from some groups through appeals
to class warfare and schemes to redistribute wealth.
Republicans at least say they oppose such schemes, even though their actions in both Washington, DC and
Austin, TX give lie to such claims. Instead, they thrill in imposing their peculiar woldview on our personal lives...seeking
to determine for us what is good and proper. There is no corner of our lives that they do not seek to control, the promises
of Liberty set out in the Constitution long abandoned.
Public Schools have been an important party to our decreasing political I.Q. Most products of our
schools are not even aware the Constitution exists, much less what it contains. And as for any knowledge of how our
government works? Suffice it to say that Educators as a class seem to believe that the less someone knows about such
issues, the better it is for the Nation.
Neither is my Libertarain Party blameless in this diminution of Freedom. By defining Liberty
in the most strident and uncompromising of terms, the LP has driven itself beyond the possible acceptance of mainstream voters,
and thus has missed the chance to influence policy and have a seat at the table. I will address this also.
My, that was a long diatribe. Hopefully you were able to wade through it, and have become at least
a little curious about what I mean by it all, and what suggestions I might have for "righting the ship of state", as it were.
If so, please enter. But beware, Liberty is taken very seriously here. Some things herein
will challenge what you think you understand about government and how it is supposed to work. Some comments may infuriate
you. Hopefully, all will provide a deeper understanding of the Liberty the Founders bequeathed us.
