Every year, government at all levels takes 47% of our money, and after operating costs, spends it on various programs

Why I am Voting Libertarian

John A. Johnson

Depending on what you personally value, some federal spending programs will make you happy and some will make you unhappy. I happen to value higher education, scientific research, and the arts. In the past, I would have been delighted to hear that the federal government was providing more support to universities, more tax breaks for students, more research grant money, and more funding for the arts. If I were to follow the rule that most of us seem to follow, I would be voting for the presidential candidate who says he will channel tax money into these areas that I value.

But a number of years ago I began to question how I could justify spending everybody's tax money on programs that I value but others do not. Personally, I've loved the space program ever since I watched in wonder the first manned flights on our black and white TV set. But is it fair to ask every tax payer to support this program, when some would rather see money spent on feeding people living in poverty? I could argue that the programs I personally value benefit the "common good" in some way, but that would be just a lame rationalization. It is simply not the case that every tax payer benefits from the programs I value. Today, just as I object to politicians who would tax me and spend my money on programs I do not value, I object to politicians who tax others and spend their money on programs that I like but they do not value.

Furthermore, even if I could rationalize spending everyone's tax money on causes I value, I have another problem with government programs. They don't work. If you want to make sure a package gets somewhere, do you use the U.S. Mail or a private carrier? Which is more helpful to the poor, the tax dollars left over after the inefficient operating costs of the federal bureaucracy, or your direct donations or volunteer time to soup kitchens and other charities? The War on Drugs has failed to reduce our nation's drug problems and has succeeded only in overcrowding our jails with pot-smokers serving ten-year sentences while violent criminals are freed after a few years. Before the federal interstate highway system, we had (less expensive) state highways that connected states to each other just fine. In contrast to private savings and retirement accounts, the Social Security system is a money-losing Ponzi scheme that mathematically must fail eventually.

If you would prefer to keep more of the 47% that governments (at all levels) currently take from you in taxes so that you can spend it directly on what you value, you might consider voting for the Libertarian candidate for President, Harry Browne. Harry Browne proposes a reduction in government programs to those authorized by the Constitution and the elimination of all taxes except excise taxes and tariffs. Or, if you prefer that politicians continue to take your money and spend it as they see fit, vote for one of the other guys.

Letter to the Editor, Centre Daily Times

John A. Johnson

Government at all levels takes a whopping 47% of our income. This encourages liberals and conservatives to fight viciously to see that as large a portion of that pie as possible gets spent on programs that support what each values the most. I certainly understand why people would want tax money that was forcibly extracted from them to be spent on programs they value. Nonetheless, I don't think it is reasonable or fair for liberals to demand that conservatives' tax money be spent on liberal programs or for conservatives to demand that liberals' tax money to be spent on conservative programs.

Furthermore, even when federal programs that we favor are funded, when we consider how inefficient and ineffective these programs are in accomplishing their aims, the fighting seems to be even more ridiculous. Think about it. Which is more helpful to the poor, the tax dollars left over after the inefficient operating costs of the federal bureaucracy, or your direct donations or volunteer time to soup kitchens and other charities? What has the expensive War on Drugs accomplished? What has any federal program accomplished?

An alternative to fighting for tax-supported programs that don't work is to trust all citizens to keep their income and spend it directly on what they value. A vote for Libertarian candidate for president, Harry Browne, says that you think it is wrong for the federal government to spend tax money from liberals, moderates, and conservatives on programs that don't work. Visit http://www.HarryBrowne2000.org.

Question Sent to Ted Koppel's Nightline on ABCNEWS:

Given that our government takes a huge chunk out of our paychecks in taxes, I'm not surprised that liberals and conservatives spend enormous amounts of time fighting to see that money is spent on programs each favors. But, given that federal programs are at best inefficient and at worst, ineffective in solving problems, doesn't it make more sense to follow the Libertarian suggestion that we all keep our money so we can give directly to causes that we value?

Letter to the Collegian

Depending on what you value, some federal spending programs will make you happy and others, unhappy. I happen to value higher education, scientific research, and the arts. If I were to follow the rule that most of us seem to follow, I would be voting for the presidential candidate who says he will channel tax money into these areas.

But a number of years ago I began to question how I could justify the spending of tax money on programs that I value but others do not. Government at all levels takes a whopping 47% of our income. Today I find it unreasonable and unfair for the government to either spend liberals' tax money on conservative programs or conservatives' tax money on liberal programs.

The inanity of spending tax money on unwanted programs becomes even more absurd when we consider how inefficient and ineffective these programs are in accomplishing their aims. Economist Thomas Sowell estimates that the governmental bureaucracy delivers only 30 cents for every dollar intended for the poor and needy. Contrast this figure with 85 percent for organizations such as the United Way and the Salvation Army.

An alternative to fighting for tax-supported programs that don't work is to trust all citizens to spend their income directly on what they value. A vote for Libertarian candidate for president, Harry Browne, says that you think it is wrong for the federal government to spend tax money from liberals, moderates, and conservatives on programs that don't work. Visit http://www.HarryBrowne2000.org