I have received hundreds of emails and letters from readers of my book, "The Conscience of a Libertarian." Incidentally, my book is still ranked #1 in the category of "Libertarian books" at Amazon for the 12th consecutive month. This is one of the more interesting letters from readers of my book- complete with a "Political Confession." I thought you would enjoy reading the mindset of a common-sense mainstream voter who is sick and tired of the 2-party system…and ready for real change…Libertarian change:
Wayne
Wayne Allyn Root
Mr. Root,
I've just finished reading your book "The Conscience of a Libertarian" Overall good read…The only issue I have is that I think you have unfairly attacked the Ford Motor Company by grouping them with Chrysler and GM…I recall that they took no money… having said that I agree with you and enjoyed the book. My background is vastly different in yours – I chose a life of pubic service – i was in the military for 23+ years. I am now in the private sector and still what you would call one of the bad guys. I work for a small female-owned business who has a defense contract for which I was specifically hired. True we have other lines of operation beyond government contracts. It doesn't change the fact that what you write about is spot on and true. Any person who understands business knows you are right. I would just say that at the end of the day "don't hate the player, hate the game." I think, outside of the constitution requirement to defend the country and secure its national interests for individuals, that federal programs exceed their constitutional mandates. I would scale back government 25% within my first four year term and another 25% during the subsequent term.
Below is my confession after reading your book, doing a self analysis and squaring what you say with my own beliefs.
My political confession….
In today’s media motivated political universe it is the exception more than the rule when someone, much less, anyone can admit they are wrong. Today is one of those instances. Here is my confession, I have been a Republican my entire adult life and have been living a lie, at least for the last 30 years. Before anyone gets excited and thinks I have gone over to the dark side and openly support the Democratic Party and the Obama Administration grab a cup of coffee, sit back, and relax while I explain the epiphany that brought me to the realization of my self- imposed deceit.
First, it would be helpful to identify who and what I am. I am a white 48 year old, solid middle class, college educated American citizen who is a retired 23+year military veteran born and raised in southern (democrat) state. I have traveled the world over, lived in Europe, the Middle East, and Afghanistan. My childhood was best characterized by living in a predominately white college campus town isolated from the rest of the world. What was unique about it was that in this secure enclave I was practically raised by a black woman who gave me a unique perspective on life…First and foremost, she taught me to accept people for who they are…To be honest, I never really saw the big deal in a person’s skin color, race, or ethnicity. It just isn’t important to me. One may call this naive, and would be true, as I found out as an adult, race, skin color, ethnicity is a big deal and our government keeps it at the forefront of our lives every day. However, this confession is not about my beliefs on race and attitudes toward it…It is about the betrayal of a political party who I thought shared the same values and beliefs that I do.
I believe I am first and foremost a conservative and constitutionalist. By those strictest definitions I am a firm believer in less government. Our framers wrote an enduring document that is as relevant today as it was over 200 years ago. The beauty of the document lies in its flexibility to adapt to the times (through the amendment process) but its basic tenets are truisms that cannot be refuted. Our constitution was written to ensure that a government established by the people and for the people, remained true to the people. At its core, it guarantees a limited form of government that ensures protection of one’s inalienable rights. This is also not a class on the Constitution so I will not continue further beyond the simple fact that our government is no longer an agent for the people.
Politically, my life’s expanse has covered President Kennedy through President Obama (Five Democratic Presidents and Five Republican Presidents). Given the exception of President Reagan you would be hard pressed to identify the differences between the political philosophies of each administration. Let’s be honest, President Reagan (a Republican) believed in American Exceptionalism much the same way as President Kennedy (A Democrat) did. The Johnson (Democrat) and Bush II (Republican) administrations are remarkably the same and are best summarized as presiding over massive social programs and expansion of the military industrial complex. President Nixon (Republican) and President Clinton (Democrat) were marked by scandals. Presidents Reagan and Obama (Democrat) presided over Banking institution bailouts which ultimately were marked by accusations of scandal. Presidents Nixon and Obama comparisons still have yet to written but it is safe to say that Obama will be compared to Nixon (and later Carter) for presiding over a country who inherited an over bloated economy supported by an even bigger government who failed to keep spending in check. I could bore you with facts and figures but I would rather not. If you refute my assertion I challenge you to prove me wrong. Who cares anyway…it is my confession.
Now for my confession. I wrongly believed that the Republican Party coveted ideas in strong opposition to the Democratic Party. At least that is what they say – but actions speak louder than words. As the so called party of “conservative ideals” I believed, wrongly as it would prove itself, that they were the defenders of individual liberties, that they would scale back government, turn much of their usurped power back over to the states and local governments where they belong. Boy was I wrong….I held out hope that when the Republican finally took over Congress in 1994 and then briefly controlled both houses and all three branches that we would see a return to minimalist government. Again, I was wrong. Newt Gingrich’s “Contract with America” turned out to be a farce and given what the Republicans actually did should have been re-titled “Contract on America” because in reality, it was a hit piece. What is amazing is that the only period in American History over the last 40 years where our leaders scaled back government by any significant measure was during the Bush senior era – and that was only relegated to the Defense Department. Never mind that the budget didn’t decrease. Now comes Bush II on the heels of 9/11 and creates the DHS that all but negates the DoD drawdown of the late 80’s and early 90’s. Couple the Bush II expansion with the current administrations massive expansion health care and the subsequent growth in the IRS and HHS I challenge anyone to explain to me the difference between the two parties. Democrats railed against violation of individual liberties with the passage of the Patriot act and warned against the intrusive tactics of both its policies and DHS but when they got in power did they do anything to scale it back. No they didn’t . Quite the contrary, they one upped the Republicans with Obamacare. Only this time the roles were reversed and the Republicans railed against the Democratic plan of usurping individual liberty and privacy.
I could go on and on about the similarities between the two parties. Their only differences lie in their campaign promises and who they portray themselves to be in order to get elected. I for one no longer believe them. It is sad in that there may actually be a republican candidate who supports and believes what I do but won’t get my vote. They can thank the candidates that over the last 20 years played this bait and switch game with me . As the saying goes, fool me once, shame on you, fool me twice, thrice, four times to twenty and shame on me. Never again. The only way any of the two Major Parties will ever get my vote again is once they complete the following 12 step program (the normal model for a recovery program, right???)
Step 1: Repeal Obamacare, remove laws that require business provide healthcare. It is an individual right. Companies don't provide auto insurance but people have to drive back and forth to work. Reinforce, under the interstate commerce clause the ability for insurers to sell across state lines. Cap litigation settlements unless gross negligence can be proven. Adopt laws that say if you don't win, you pay.
Step 2: Defeat Cap and Trade
Step3: No more Stimulus except to small businesses – a five year moratium on payroll or any other taxes.
Step 4. Simplify tax code – Eliminate personal income tax, establish a flat tax, or institute a national sales tax. Either or but no combination. Coupled with that is Personal Property Rights
Step5. Repeal the 17th Amendment and return senatorial elections back to the states
Step 6: Drill Baby Drill
Step 7: Abolish the Department of Education – It is a joke and waste of taxpayer money
Step 8: Convert Welfare to Workfare: Reinforce the difference between those who can’t work vs those who won’t work. Raise SS to age 72.
Step 9: Secure Border/no amnesty but work visas. Draconian measures against companies who hire illegals.
Step 10: Reduce Government by 25% within the next four years and another 25% over the four following that. Abolish Government Unions. Taxpayers are their Union.
Step 11: Turn College Student Loans back over to the private Industry
Step 12 : Term Limits for Congressman and Senators. No more professional politicians.
Now, many in the GOP will try to convince me that I am foolish, that not supporting them is ensuring a Democratic Victory. My response is, No, your failure to support me ensures a Democratic Victory. That knife cuts both ways. But my side is sharper in that I have the power of the vote and neither party does. You see, it doesn’t matter to me anymore, whether or not a candidate can win or lose. What matters most to me is will that candidate stand up and be counted, support my ideas, and promote the individual over the government. Whether he wins or loses in moot. Voting for the lesser of two evils is still voting for evil. I guess what I am trying to confess is that at the end of the day, after 30 years of denial, I am a Libertarian.
Thank you
Maurice “Brent” Cox
York County, Virginia
