Libertarian response to Bush’s State of the Union

Yesterday, I received in my inbox an email from my friends over at the Libertarian Party discussing the Libertarian response to President Bush’s State of the Union speech.

I am not (yet) a member of the Libertarian party, and cannot endorse their comments without reservation, but I do think the piece made some interesting points, specifically:

…the President’s health care proposal to replace an unlimited employer health care expense deduction with standard deductions for individuals, while not perfect, is a large step in the badly needed direction of breaking the link between employment and healthcare in this nation. It would stop federal tax discrimination against people who are not covered by employer-provided insurance.

I think every self employed person I know would agree with this.

The President touched on another of his unpopular and failing big government solutions: No Child Left Behind. Not so very long ago, the Republican Platform called for the elimination of the federal Department of Education. Today, Republicans and Democrats compete over which big government programs and mandates can be forced on state and local governments. No Child Left Behind should not be reauthorized.

There is nearly universal agreement that the No Child Left Behind program is an underfunded, misguided intrusion by the Federal government on our local schools. It’s mind boggling to me that Bush even brought it up in his speech.

and finally

…the President is attempting to force new fuel economy standards on automobile manufacturers. Additionally, he is tampering with the free market in order to reach the probably unachievable goal of “energy independence.” If we want the lowest possible energy prices and alternative energy sources to develop, we need to get government out of the energy business and let the free market work.

This concept here is one of my ultimate pet peeves. The US government is subsidising the oil industry while forcing better mileage standards. They are spending money on both ends of the problem when a free market would likely balance everything out.

I encourage you to read the whole response. You may not agree, but it definitely makes you think…

4 thoughts to “Libertarian response to Bush’s State of the Union”

  1. I don’t know about the Libertarians and quite honestly I have not heard of them before, but this what I thought of the State of the Union address:
    A less than impressive 49 minute speech with only a polite applause from the Democrats. Nancy Polosi looked rather uncomfortable except when he talked about health care when all Democrats rose in applause – but Dick Cheney stayed glued to his chair. The Democrats also cheered the President enthusiastically when he talked about immigration reform. Throughout the speech Bush seemed uptight, uncomfortable and less than convincing. He talked about Iraq with not much conviction, an issue that is most important to most Americans.

    The strange thing was that Vice President Cheney sat and smirked through most of the speech and Codolozea Rice seemed to be on another planet.

    This State of the Union address did not help Republicans any. If the President continues this course the Republicans are in danger of losing more seats in the House and Senate in 2008. With already the possibility of a Democratic President in 2008, checks and balances will be out of the window.

    The Republican lawmakers may need to chart their own course to keep their seats and the balance of power which was so cherished by America’s forefathers.

  2. I don’t know about the Libertarians and quite honestly I have not heard of them before, but this what I thought of the State of the Union address:
    A less than impressive 49 minute speech with only a polite applause from the Democrats. Nancy Polosi looked rather uncomfortable except when he talked about health care when all Democrats rose in applause – but Dick Cheney stayed glued to his chair. The Democrats also cheered the President enthusiastically when he talked about immigration reform. Throughout the speech Bush seemed uptight, uncomfortable and less than convincing. He talked about Iraq with not much conviction, an issue that is most important to most Americans.

    The strange thing was that Vice President Cheney sat and smirked through most of the speech and Codolozea Rice seemed to be on another planet.

    This State of the Union address did not help Republicans any. If the President continues this course the Republicans are in danger of losing more seats in the House and Senate in 2008. With already the possibility of a Democratic President in 2008, checks and balances will be out of the window.

    The Republican lawmakers may need to chart their own course to keep their seats and the balance of power which was so cherished by America’s forefathers.

  3. Absolutely. I didn’t watch the SOTU, but have read several reviews and transcripts of the speech. The Repbulicans as a whole are floundering. The Libertarians are in a great spot to gain significant recoginition and perhaps even become a viable party due to the Republican leadership’s movement away from traditional small government platform of the party.

    The President is alienating his constituency by giving in to the liberals on every front except for the Iraq war – which is the exact opposite of what everyone wants. The White House needs to come up with an exit strategy for Iraq and a small government position on health care, education and the environment or the Republicans will pay dearly in 2008.

  4. Absolutely. I didn’t watch the SOTU, but have read several reviews and transcripts of the speech. The Repbulicans as a whole are floundering. The Libertarians are in a great spot to gain significant recoginition and perhaps even become a viable party due to the Republican leadership’s movement away from traditional small government platform of the party.

    The President is alienating his constituency by giving in to the liberals on every front except for the Iraq war – which is the exact opposite of what everyone wants. The White House needs to come up with an exit strategy for Iraq and a small government position on health care, education and the environment or the Republicans will pay dearly in 2008.

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