Comments on: Barr Campaign: “No Dime of Difference” Between Obama, McCain

By: Ergotism › A Difference

Ergotism › A Difference — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 18:09:17 +0000

[...] there’s still a significant difference between a moderate party and a party of wingnuts. When the Libertarian Party says otherwise, it just puts them somewhere on the spectrum between Ignoramus and Troll. This was written by [...]

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 23:27:50 +0000

Jay_C,

You’re correct that I favor Barr’s plan in an ideal world. And I understand the argument that if government got out of the welfare business, and encouraged people to give, people would give even more (and probably feel much better about it than paying taxes). However, considering that currently people are suffering, even with the government programs that we have know, and private charities don’t seem to able to help everyone who needs it, Barr’s asking me to make a huge leap of faith that suddenly private citizens will step up when they aren’t now. In order for that system to work, people would have to start giving more to charity than they are currently paying in taxes to support those government programs. Maybe it would happen, but it’s that a pretty risky bet to take.

If the Libertarian party wants to convince me it would work, they should do two things:

1) Lead a massive campaign to increase charitable giving in America, to the point where anyone who needs better health-care coverage but don’t qualify for government assistance can get it. I’m talking especially about special funds to help poeple with health programs get insurance. Like I said in my blog post, I love their idea of increase the tax deduction for charitable giving, but even more than that would need to be done. It’s more a matter or changing culture than government policy.

2) Not only do we need to increase charitable giving, but I need to have some confidence that the charities at doing a good job about being fair and using the money well (hopefully better than the government does), and there aren’t abuses of the system by poeple who don’t really need the help.

The libertarian motto should be: “More freedom. More responsibility.” Freedom alone won’t cut it.

If those two things would happen, I would support Barr’s plan whole-heartedly.

By: Jay_C

Jay_C — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 13:41:04 +0000

Hi Mike, thanks for your well thought out analysis. I read your post and I for the most part agree. I don’t want to put words in tour mouth, but you seem to be leaning towards the Barr Plan, but are hesitant because you are not sure of likelihood others “chipping” in. I think the problem is that our current system doesn’t ask us to donate (on the contrary, it tells us what we must pay, or else). However, as you said, Americans are very charitable in general and for the most part, give towards a good cause. If a program were put in place to organize and incentivise this specific action, I think it would really work.

By: Mike

Mike — Wed, 15 Oct 2008 12:14:19 +0000

“With barely three weeks to go in the presidential race, we still know very little about the economic, domestic, social and foreign policy positions of the McCain and Obama campaigns,”

That’s funny. I recently visited Barr’s website and looked at some of his issue stances. They struck me as very vague. The can be summed up basically as “government is bad”. I think, as far as information on positions go, Obama clearly has the most details posted (that’s not to say I like those details).

“The biggest challenge we continue to confront is letting people know they actually have a real choice this November. So many people agree that neither Barack Obama nor John McCain are good for the future of America,” Verney said. “Once they know they have a choice, they are flocking to Bob Barr.”

A little while ago I came to the conclusion that I don’t like either Obama or McCain, and so I checked our Barr’s website. But I was disappointed. I didn’t see much to get excited about. His healthcare plan (if you can call it that) seemed like McCain’s plan on steroids. I think it’s unlikely those who don’t like Obama or McCain will “flock” to Barr, except for the hard-core Libertarians.

I have posted an alalysis of the candidates health care positions (including Bob Barr’s) here: http://sovereignmind.wordpress.com/2008/10/14/our-little-pre-existing-condition/;