Libertarians Against Raising the Debt Ceiling

Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle released the following statement today:

Everything I've heard from Washington politicians about the debt limit is nonsense. I propose the simplest option: Do nothing. Don't raise the debt limit, period.

None of the deals I've heard would do anything to cut federal spending. Some reduce the rate of growth a little bit, but I'm afraid that doesn't count. And of course, some of the proposals would increase taxes, which Libertarians are totally opposed to.

The best outcome would be no deal at all. If the debt limit is not raised, then the federal government will have to cut its spending by over 40%. That would be the best outcome for the future of America, and it's certainly the preferred outcome for Libertarians.

I'm actually shocked at how resistant both the Republicans and Democrats are to making cuts. I wasn't expecting much, but their proposals are downright embarrassing.  For example, consider Speaker Boehner's plan. According to the Cato Institute, the Boehner plan doesn't cut spending. It just sets the spending increases slightly below the imaginary Congressional Budget Office (CBO) 'baseline.'

According to the CBO report released yesterday, the Boehner plan has practically no effect on the deficit in 2012, the only year that really matters. In fact, the Boehner plan actually increases Pell Grant spending by $4 billion in 2012. (So does the Reid plan in the Senate.)

Of course, the Reid plan largely takes advantage of massive errors in the CBO baseline to claim 'cuts.' (For example, the CBO predicts absurdly high levels of spending for the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.)

As usual, Republicans and Democrats are trying to create the illusion of a high-stakes game between two vastly different visions. In fact, their visions are practically identical. I hope Americans will see through all the smoke, and consider the Libertarian option to make real reductions in the size and scope of government, across the board.

The Tea Party is starting to resemble the Libertarian Party, at least when it comes to fiscal policy...

Source: Press Release (2011, July 27), Libertarian Party.

The Appeal of Libertarianism

America's continuing political problems revolve around two competing factions pursuing two mutually exclusive approaches to building an economy: a) the big government Democrats, who guard entitlement spending while seeking to transfer the nation's wealth to entitlement beneficiaries, including government employees; and b) the military-industrial Republicans, who guard defense spending in order to transfer the nation's wealth into the hands of the military-industrial complex. The appeal of either party is to a populist majority at best (i.e., a simple majority), thus empowering a continued polarization of American politics around the two-party system.

The fact is that only the minimal government Libertarians stand for across the board cuts in government spending, lower total taxes for everyone, and a steadfast pursuit of liberty in the name of the people who own this country. Now is the time for everyone to reject the political ploys of big government Democrats and military-industrial Republicans, and to join the Libertarian Party, which is the only true party of principle. The appeal of libertarianism is universal with the potential to achieve a pluralist majority of support (i.e., a supermajority greater than two-thirds of the people), thus unifying our nation around libertarian ideals and principles. More at:

I plead with Americans to search their souls and beliefs, and to align those beliefs deliberately after a full consideration of the facts. For the record, I am a proud Libertarian, and I detest what the big government Democrats and military-industrial Republicans have done to our country and nation. Libertarianism gives me hope.

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The people are not happy; the future of America will be Libertarian.

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Republican jingoism and Democratic socialism are frightening prospects for ordinary Americans living along Main Street USA. Personally, I am more terrified of military-industrial Republicans and big government Democrats (who are in tacit league with each other) than I am of al-Qaeda. Libertarianism is the future of conservatism in America.

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