The following is a response by Libertarian Party National Chairman William Redpath
Tonight's
State of the Union address went much as expected. Instead of calling
for a more limited role of the federal government in American society,
the President laid out plans that would only increase the government's
intervention into the realm of economics, health care, education and
foreign policy. It is unfortunate to see that after seven years of
increasing the size of government and increasing the government's
presence in the day to day lives of all Americans, the President
refuses to limit the scope of the federal government, a once championed
virtue of the President's party. The President's last State of the
Union address encapsulated his legacy of an abandonment of the
principles of limited government and individual freedom.
While
the Libertarian Party applauds the President on taking a stand against
wasteful government spending--though his administration has been a
large contributor to this problem--and opening up more foreign markets
to trade, we offer the following solutions to issues the President
brought up in his address:
Economics:
The President's economic stimulus plan is based on a flawed and
outdated economic premise. The best solution to an economic slowdown is
increasing the ability for businesses to grow and reinvest in the
economy. Instead of increasing the federal deficit by $150 billion
dollars, the federal government should focus its energy on eliminating
taxes that restrain economic growth. Eliminating taxes such as the
death tax and capital gains taxes, and lowering income tax rates on
private citizens, will free up vital capital that can be reinvested
into the economy. Additionally, the federal government should remove
all trade barriers that prevent free trade with other nations. This is
a more sound economic policy that presents real solutions instead of
the window-dressing that is the President's stimulus package.
Education: The
President's 'No Child Left Behind Act' has failed from the very
beginning, and its reauthorization would be a travesty to the American
education system. Instead of unfunded, federal mandates with the
intent of fixing our failing public schools, alternatives involving the
private sector should be explored. Increased local control over public
schools and the increased use of private alternatives will increase the
quality of education for all American children. We call for abolishing
the Department of Education and removing the federal government from
educating our children.
Health care:
Far too long have our politicians tried to find a government fix for
the health care problem we have in America. Government interference in
the health care system is the root of the problems we face. Only in
eliminating government subsidies of health care will we find relief
from increasing costs. The Libertarian Party calls for the elimination
of all government entitlement programs related to health care.
Foreign Policy:
America will spend more than $1 trillion dollars in foreign wars
started during the Bush administration. Because of such, the economy
is in jeopardy and America's reputation abroad has suffered traumatic
blows. On top of this, Americans have seen their civil liberties
violated time after time. The Libertarian Party calls for a withdrawal
from Iraq following the proper lines of withdrawal, executed by our
commanders on the ground. We also call for an abandonment of the
reckless policy of pre-emptive war, and a restoration of civil
liberties lost under such laws as the Patriot Act and the amendments to
FISA. The Libertarian Party reminds our leaders in power of the great
words of Samuel Adams:
In
this perilous time, when our freedom is attacked from both inside our
borders by corrupt politicians and from outside by foreign aggressors,
we call for prudence, wisdom and above all, an adherence to the United
States Constitution, which reigns sovereign over all individuals of
American society.
