posted 10/25/2012 by the Salt City Sinner
Okay, let's get this out of the way first: I am NOT a libertarian, big L or small.
I suppose you could consider me a civil libertarian, as I support the maximum possible amount of personal freedom (i.e., free speech, an end to the "war on drugs," gun rights, etc.). However, the economic views of libertarians (end the welfare state, deregulate industries, lower taxes on corporations) are extremely repulsive to me, since they amount to the opposite of consumer advocacy and the mirror image of activism on behalf of poor, working class, and middle class people.
My ideological relationship with libertarianism is complex. Any ideology consists of a subset of emphases. One of my favorite college professors of all time used the metaphor of a room that consists of a certain set of furniture: given said furniture and said room, different people arrange the furniture differently, placing greater emphasis on this or that aspect of a particular set of beliefs.
I like the way and W. Andrew McCullough arranges his furniture.
McCullough is brimming with bona fides. His campaign summary notes that:
That's all good stuff. ACLU, working with rehab in lieu of jail time, free speech and search and seizure issues - this was why I started to like this guy initially. But what sealed the deal:
McCullough's campaign site is here . He doesn't expect to win the AG race (obviously), but as he points out, for third party candidates to even be listed on the ballot, they have to win 2% of the vote year after year.
Think of a vote for McCullough not just as a vote for the best candidate by far, but also a vote to continue to keep your options open.
Okay, let's get this out of the way first: I am NOT a libertarian, big L or small.
I suppose you could consider me a civil libertarian, as I support the maximum possible amount of personal freedom (i.e., free speech, an end to the "war on drugs," gun rights, etc.). However, the economic views of libertarians (end the welfare state, deregulate industries, lower taxes on corporations) are extremely repulsive to me, since they amount to the opposite of consumer advocacy and the mirror image of activism on behalf of poor, working class, and middle class people.
My ideological relationship with libertarianism is complex. Any ideology consists of a subset of emphases. One of my favorite college professors of all time used the metaphor of a room that consists of a certain set of furniture: given said furniture and said room, different people arrange the furniture differently, placing greater emphasis on this or that aspect of a particular set of beliefs.
I like the way and W. Andrew McCullough arranges his furniture.
McCullough is brimming with bona fides. His campaign summary notes that:
Private law practice since 1973, including cases in courts around the country. Experienced trial lawyer, and fully qualified to be Attorney General. Treasurer, and former Chair, of Utah Libertarian Party. Former ACLU of Utah Board, chair of Utah County drug rehabilitation facility, and staff assistant to U.S. Sen. James Buckley.
My law practice concentrates on free speech and search and seizure issues, and generally I work to increase personal freedom and rein in government power.(An interesting note here: former Sen. James Buckley, NY-CNY, was a third party candidate from New York - Conservatives Party of New York - who won a one-term tour of the Senate back in the 70s. He's also the brother of conservative intellectual titan William F. Buckley.)
That's all good stuff. ACLU, working with rehab in lieu of jail time, free speech and search and seizure issues - this was why I started to like this guy initially. But what sealed the deal:
The "war on drugs" and the "war on terror" have infringed our rights to be free from unreasonable searches and seizures, and many young people have been classified as criminals for doing nothing but smoking marijuana.When was the last time you had an opportunity to vote for somebody with the stones to come out and tell the truth about our wars on drugs, terror, or pornography?
McCullough's campaign site is here . He doesn't expect to win the AG race (obviously), but as he points out, for third party candidates to even be listed on the ballot, they have to win 2% of the vote year after year.
Think of a vote for McCullough not just as a vote for the best candidate by far, but also a vote to continue to keep your options open.
thanks!
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