Political meme
This one comes from my friend redneckgaijin, a Libertarian Party member who is politically active in his home state of Texas. I'm a very radical libertarian (too radical for the party), but he was interested in seeing this propagated, and I found it interesting (his answers and mine) enough to make a rare entry of this type.
PART A: A series of third party questions.
1. Do you have a political party affiliation? If so, what?
I am a financially contributing member of the national Libertarian Party and its New Jersey state affiliate. This may change if the LP focuses too much on winning elections at any level by making compromises I find unprincipled.
2. Would you ever consider voting for a third party (NOT independent) candidate?
I have in the past, but I will no longer vote.
3. Would you ever consider joining a third party? If so, which?
See question 1.
4. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Libertarian Party?
The Libertarian Party (LP) is only as good as its members, as with any other party. Its positions tend toward greater individual liberty and less government intrusion on that freedom. However, there are many self-described libertarians who support (and not as a tactic, saving them for later dismantling) government schools and a social safety net. The Libertarian Party is much less clear on these issues now than I remember it being years ago. However, the LP stands head and shoulders over the Republican or Democratic halves of the US Permanent Governing Party.
5. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Green Party?
Typically, they're what we call "watermelons." Green on the outside, red on the inside. Greens tend to favor coercive means of achieving their anti-industrial goals. I can get along with the ones who want to address pollution within a general framework of property rights, and the ones who approach issues such as conservation in a market-oriented fashion.
6. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Constitution Party?
The Constitution Party (CP) is the party most consistent in its desire to have the federal government operate strictly within its constitutional limits (better than the Libertarian Party in that regard), which raises them in my esteem. However, though we would agree that the federal government must not do what the Constitution does not permit, the Constitution does permit a lot more than a libertarian would like to see done. The CP tends to the populist and theocratic.
7. Do you think a third party can ever achieve parity with the Democratic or Republican Parties in the United States?
Sure, but not any time soon. The Democratic and Republican parties can be impressively bipartisan when it comes to boxing out third parties. And as long as the federal government keeps up its enormous (and mostly unconstitutional) operations, the majority of the electorate will have a vested interest in not splitting the coalition party that is at least incrementally closer to getting spoils for them.
PART II: Questions about controversial political opinions- opinions more controversial than the legalization of klembachery.
8. Do you believe, for whatever reason, that the federal income tax is illegal?
No, because of the 16th Amendment. I wish that amendment had never been ratified, and I wish it would be overturned, but it's there. I do know that were I sitting on the jury of someone being tried for tax evasion, I wouldn't even pay attention to the presentation of the case, and simply vote to acquit. Jury nullification is a beautiful thing.
9. Do you believe in a plan to create a North American Union?
There may be such plans, but I oppose all supranational organizations. I want political units to break up and dissolve, not aggregate and grow. I support secession movements, not union movements. I do support free trade between and among all nations and people, however.
10. Do you believe that George W. Bush and the federal government created the September 11, 2001 attacks in order to gain power?
No, and find the ideas far less credible than JFK assassination conspiracy theories. I do believe that the September 11th, 2001 attacks would never had occurred had the US not intervened in Middle Eastern politics for decades. For a bit more on this, see question 13 below.
11. Do you believe, regardless of their moral justification, that the states forming the Confederacy had an inalienable legal right to secede in 1861?
Absolutely, unequivocally yes. The states created the federal government when they ratified the Constitution, and nothing in the Constitution prevented them from leaving then, or prevents them from doing so now. The very idea that they needed any permission to secede defies reason, constitutional tradition and law, and the utterly uncontroversial secession movements prior to 1861. The vile Mr. Lincoln's unnecessary war, with its unprecedented assaults on civil liberties and the principle of federalism, hundreds of thousands of soldiers' unnecessary deaths, and incredible destruction of property, was by far the worst thing that ever happened to the United States of America and to the Confederate States of America.
12. In your opinion, does global warming or climate change exist? If yes, is it caused by natural effects or man-made conditions?
We may be in a moderate warming trend, but anthrogenic contributions to global warming are demonstrably insignificant compared to heliogenic ones. The global warming fanatics and hysterics are engaged in Gaea-worship, which is harmless per se, but I don't want them making policy prescriptions.
PART III: Questions about the five most urgent political issues in Americans' minds.
13. What is your position on the war in Iraq?
The same as my position on every war after 1783. I oppose it, and want it ended immediately. We should apologize profoundly as our soldiers withdraw, and seriously consider reparations payments for the destruction and death we brought since overthrowing their dictator. There should be no US forces permanently based overseas. We should be trading with everyone, and allying ourselves with no one, as George Washington wisely recommended.
14. What do you think should be done to reform immigration policy?
This one is easy. Open borders, and no social welfare spending of any kind for anyone. I welcome productive Americans born here or elsewhere, and oppose protectionism in every form, including immigration restrictions.
15. What do you think needs to change about America's healthcare system?
America needs a truly free market in health care. The federal government must do absolutely nothing, first and foremost. The Constitution does not permit any federal involvement in health care whatsoever. However, I would like to see all licensing abolished, all mandates and prohibitions abolished, all subsidies ended, etc. A complete privatization of all goods and services would be my ideal.
16. In what way do you think our tax system should be reformed, cut, or expanded?
Eliminate all taxes, except for a per capita tax that is the same amount for every taxpayer. You pay $X, I pay $X, Bill Gates pays $X. I oppose sales taxes, income taxes (which are basically taxes on the sale of one's labor), tariffs, etc. Ideally, the federal government would do so little that the $X figure wouldn't need to be very high. Starting at around $2000 per American per year would yield the feds around $600 billion per annum, which is more than enough for paying interest on the debt and other constitutional federal spending. As the debt was retired, that figure could (and should) be reduced.
17. Have the actions of the federal government over the past six years served to protect or destroy freedom?
Most of the actions of the federal government over the past eighty years, and many of the years before then, served to destroy our freedoms. This administration is hardly unique in its assaults on our civil liberties.
PART IV: Questions about impeachment.
18. Should George W. Bush be impeached, and why?
Yes, for failing to follow his oath of office. Most of the legislation he signed was unconstitutional, and he made war without a Congressional declaration. And again, that is not unique to this president; we could nail everyone back to Truman on this, pretty much.
19. Should Richard "Dick" Cheney be impeached, and why?
If it can be demonstrated that he actively participated in the unconstitutional transgressions of his boss, then yes.
20. Will the Democratic-controlled Congress impeach either Bush or Cheney? Why?
They've already said they wouldn't, and I'm not surprised. First, it would require political courage and principle (they haven't got much of either). Second, they know that there would never be a 2/3rds vote in the Senate against either Bush or Cheney.
PART V: Final Question
21. What one thing annoys you the most about the United States' current political system?
The fact that most Americans neither know, nor care, about how little the federal government operates within its constitutional limits.
PART A: A series of third party questions.
1. Do you have a political party affiliation? If so, what?
I am a financially contributing member of the national Libertarian Party and its New Jersey state affiliate. This may change if the LP focuses too much on winning elections at any level by making compromises I find unprincipled.
2. Would you ever consider voting for a third party (NOT independent) candidate?
I have in the past, but I will no longer vote.
3. Would you ever consider joining a third party? If so, which?
See question 1.
4. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Libertarian Party?
The Libertarian Party (LP) is only as good as its members, as with any other party. Its positions tend toward greater individual liberty and less government intrusion on that freedom. However, there are many self-described libertarians who support (and not as a tactic, saving them for later dismantling) government schools and a social safety net. The Libertarian Party is much less clear on these issues now than I remember it being years ago. However, the LP stands head and shoulders over the Republican or Democratic halves of the US Permanent Governing Party.
5. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Green Party?
Typically, they're what we call "watermelons." Green on the outside, red on the inside. Greens tend to favor coercive means of achieving their anti-industrial goals. I can get along with the ones who want to address pollution within a general framework of property rights, and the ones who approach issues such as conservation in a market-oriented fashion.
6. What is your opinion, as a whole, of the Constitution Party?
The Constitution Party (CP) is the party most consistent in its desire to have the federal government operate strictly within its constitutional limits (better than the Libertarian Party in that regard), which raises them in my esteem. However, though we would agree that the federal government must not do what the Constitution does not permit, the Constitution does permit a lot more than a libertarian would like to see done. The CP tends to the populist and theocratic.
7. Do you think a third party can ever achieve parity with the Democratic or Republican Parties in the United States?
Sure, but not any time soon. The Democratic and Republican parties can be impressively bipartisan when it comes to boxing out third parties. And as long as the federal government keeps up its enormous (and mostly unconstitutional) operations, the majority of the electorate will have a vested interest in not splitting the coalition party that is at least incrementally closer to getting spoils for them.
PART II: Questions about controversial political opinions- opinions more controversial than the legalization of klembachery.
8. Do you believe, for whatever reason, that the federal income tax is illegal?
No, because of the 16th Amendment. I wish that amendment had never been ratified, and I wish it would be overturned, but it's there. I do know that were I sitting on the jury of someone being tried for tax evasion, I wouldn't even pay attention to the presentation of the case, and simply vote to acquit. Jury nullification is a beautiful thing.
9. Do you believe in a plan to create a North American Union?
There may be such plans, but I oppose all supranational organizations. I want political units to break up and dissolve, not aggregate and grow. I support secession movements, not union movements. I do support free trade between and among all nations and people, however.
10. Do you believe that George W. Bush and the federal government created the September 11, 2001 attacks in order to gain power?
No, and find the ideas far less credible than JFK assassination conspiracy theories. I do believe that the September 11th, 2001 attacks would never had occurred had the US not intervened in Middle Eastern politics for decades. For a bit more on this, see question 13 below.
11. Do you believe, regardless of their moral justification, that the states forming the Confederacy had an inalienable legal right to secede in 1861?
Absolutely, unequivocally yes. The states created the federal government when they ratified the Constitution, and nothing in the Constitution prevented them from leaving then, or prevents them from doing so now. The very idea that they needed any permission to secede defies reason, constitutional tradition and law, and the utterly uncontroversial secession movements prior to 1861. The vile Mr. Lincoln's unnecessary war, with its unprecedented assaults on civil liberties and the principle of federalism, hundreds of thousands of soldiers' unnecessary deaths, and incredible destruction of property, was by far the worst thing that ever happened to the United States of America and to the Confederate States of America.
12. In your opinion, does global warming or climate change exist? If yes, is it caused by natural effects or man-made conditions?
We may be in a moderate warming trend, but anthrogenic contributions to global warming are demonstrably insignificant compared to heliogenic ones. The global warming fanatics and hysterics are engaged in Gaea-worship, which is harmless per se, but I don't want them making policy prescriptions.
PART III: Questions about the five most urgent political issues in Americans' minds.
13. What is your position on the war in Iraq?
The same as my position on every war after 1783. I oppose it, and want it ended immediately. We should apologize profoundly as our soldiers withdraw, and seriously consider reparations payments for the destruction and death we brought since overthrowing their dictator. There should be no US forces permanently based overseas. We should be trading with everyone, and allying ourselves with no one, as George Washington wisely recommended.
14. What do you think should be done to reform immigration policy?
This one is easy. Open borders, and no social welfare spending of any kind for anyone. I welcome productive Americans born here or elsewhere, and oppose protectionism in every form, including immigration restrictions.
15. What do you think needs to change about America's healthcare system?
America needs a truly free market in health care. The federal government must do absolutely nothing, first and foremost. The Constitution does not permit any federal involvement in health care whatsoever. However, I would like to see all licensing abolished, all mandates and prohibitions abolished, all subsidies ended, etc. A complete privatization of all goods and services would be my ideal.
16. In what way do you think our tax system should be reformed, cut, or expanded?
Eliminate all taxes, except for a per capita tax that is the same amount for every taxpayer. You pay $X, I pay $X, Bill Gates pays $X. I oppose sales taxes, income taxes (which are basically taxes on the sale of one's labor), tariffs, etc. Ideally, the federal government would do so little that the $X figure wouldn't need to be very high. Starting at around $2000 per American per year would yield the feds around $600 billion per annum, which is more than enough for paying interest on the debt and other constitutional federal spending. As the debt was retired, that figure could (and should) be reduced.
17. Have the actions of the federal government over the past six years served to protect or destroy freedom?
Most of the actions of the federal government over the past eighty years, and many of the years before then, served to destroy our freedoms. This administration is hardly unique in its assaults on our civil liberties.
PART IV: Questions about impeachment.
18. Should George W. Bush be impeached, and why?
Yes, for failing to follow his oath of office. Most of the legislation he signed was unconstitutional, and he made war without a Congressional declaration. And again, that is not unique to this president; we could nail everyone back to Truman on this, pretty much.
19. Should Richard "Dick" Cheney be impeached, and why?
If it can be demonstrated that he actively participated in the unconstitutional transgressions of his boss, then yes.
20. Will the Democratic-controlled Congress impeach either Bush or Cheney? Why?
They've already said they wouldn't, and I'm not surprised. First, it would require political courage and principle (they haven't got much of either). Second, they know that there would never be a 2/3rds vote in the Senate against either Bush or Cheney.
PART V: Final Question
21. What one thing annoys you the most about the United States' current political system?
The fact that most Americans neither know, nor care, about how little the federal government operates within its constitutional limits.