Can we all agree on one libertarian principle: ending the war on drugs? Maybe legalizing and taxing to start a new revenue streem. Hell just legalizing cannabis alone- all the freeded up prison space, decreased law enforcement costs, overwhelmed courts freed up for more important cases. And get rid of the frivolous law suits, but I digress. I don't think any Rep or Dems are down with this idea in the fed government or canidates that I know about, (except Ron Paul- who has been saying this for years.)
A big problem in government is that most are unprincipaled- special interests, not the people run the place. The politicians have been probably raping the medicare fund but certainely borrowing from social security for decades to fund their pet, pork barrel products.
I wouldn't be as against welfare if you just cut them a check- but the money trickles down to them through a bureacracy. Instead we have welfare for corporations.
The fed government was mandated in its inception to do 3 things- PROVIDE FOR THE COMMON DEFENSE- something they have done a great job of- we have weapons generations ahead of other coutries, we have a nuclear arsenal so don't see China or Venezuela, or anyone else invading anytime soon 9though I would prefer a world without these horrific devices) and military members are making alot of money and have good benefits especially after years of service (and desevadely so). #2 establish a federal court system to mediate disputes among states, #3 encourage interstate commerce- we do this today by printing a common currency, maintaining infrastructure (like bridges across a river dividing 2 states).
I think that the States should take over alot of the services the feds provide- so you don't have duplicity of services, like education, public assistance, environmental regulations, ect... so if you don't like the policies in one state, you can move to another.
Like Rome we got spoiled. During the Great Depression people would take care of their neighbors. Until people in the USA start comming together rich and poor alike, things are going to continue to get worse and the government can't change this. There was a time when Corporations felt a responsability to their employees, now its share holders soley, and a few executives trying to get rich. That is an argument against libertarianism.
But when we bailed out Fannie and fredie, the banks- why did they not give people breaks on their student loans, give broke homeowners a break- a massive rescue of the American people- that might have help stabalize the economy, ect...instead we got shafted. republican or democrats alike, they are all sef-serving, just as corrupt as their counterparts in Mexico. So decreasing the size and scope of the government begins to make sense.
When the economy is good there is money for welfare states. one needs only look whats happening in Europe to see how socialism has failed- Greece in particular is a great example of a mismanged failed welfare state (come to think of it, so is California). I have a friend that made alot of money in the interenet and other concerns. He has a small business but he took care of his employees- giving them excellent benefits and taking care of them. The way corporations should be- he could have been alot richer- he told me that CA is so business non-friendly that he would move if he wasn't tied here.
The BRIC countries like china, India, ect...seemed to have made out alright from freemarket capitalism. Maybe the USA should entertain tarrifs as a source of revenue and to protect US goods. Stop giving money to other countries and bring our boys and girls home from the wars and the many overseas bases.
To to some up- end the drug war, decrease the size of the government, institute a flat tax, get rid of all the loopholes- taxing the middle class at a lower rate, and taxing the rich at the same rate. Generate money through excize taxes and tarrifs. don't tax people bellow the poverty line that have jobs. But if people don't replace greed and fear with goodwill and coperation- looking out for each other, non of this will ever work, either under the current facist regieme or libertarianism.
