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The American University Eagle (Washington, DC) Published Letter to the Editor. February 10, 2003. AU College Libertarians On Monday, the AU College Democrats issued a challenge. They asked us and the College Republicans to join them in a debate. We salute the College Democrats for including us -- a mere "third" political party -- in their debate. It is indeed rare that Libertarians have been offered a hand up by the same two-party system that usually censors our opinions via the status-quo media, takes hold of our resources through insane ballot access laws, and dissuades prospective voters by telling them that they might "waste" their vote. As Libertarians, we can't really offer you the promises that the Democrats and Republicans have offered you. We don't hold the magic key. We don't believe we know what's best for you. And we also don't believe that George W. Bush, Al Gore, Ralph Nader, Joseph Lieberman, or any other Washington bureaucrat knows what's best for you, your family, and your community. Who are we? Who are these Libertarians who presume to challenge the Republicans and Democrats? We could explain ourselves in terms of philosophy, economics, morality, or in other ways. But it's really very simple: We are the people who want you to be free. We want you to be able to keep every dollar you earn -- to spend it, save it, give it away as you think best, not as the politicians think is best for you. We don't have anything fancy to offer you. We don't have a lot of money or famous people endorsing us. But we do have a deep committment to the principles that made America great -- individual liberty, personal responsibility, and small government. While the Democrats and Republicans argue whether or not to change your tax rate from 30% to 35%, Libertarians offer a different proposal: Eliminate your tax rate altogether. While Democrats and Republicans argue how much to increase the insane War on Drugs this year and to eternity, Libertarians offer a different solution: End the War on Drugs altogether and release all non-violent prisoners to their families. While the Democrats and Republicans dispute how much War our government should wage on Afghanistan, Iraq, Sudan, and many other countries, Libertarians propose something radically different: Bring all U.S. troops home from every country around the world. So do we accept the College Democrats' kind proposal to debate with them and the College Republicans? You bet we do. If we don't stand up for the principles that made America great, no one else will. We live in scary times. Our country may be going to war. Our space technology has failed us. Our welfare program has failed us. Our retirement program has failed us. Our politicians can't be trusted. And our government continues to grow, and grow, and grow some more. Something can be done to stop the relentless growth of our government. We are that something. Aaron Biterman is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs and President of AU's College Libertarians. Gregory Janetka is a junior in the School of Public Affairs and Vice-President. Molly DeFelice is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs and is Secretary. Tracy Silcox is a sophomore in the School of Public Affairs and is Treasurer. Brad Zerivitz is a senior in the School of Communications and is Technology Liason. |
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