Barack Obama is far more "libertarian" than Bob Barr!
When intelligent Libertarians examine Barack Obama, they see his high intelligence and intellect as an asset for rational [libertarian] thinking. Combined this with his background as a civil rights lawyer and constitutional law professor who's favorable to voluntary, free community organization, and who as a Senator, took a daring stand against the Iraq War -- it becomes easy to see that Barack Obama is more "libertarian" than not.
And compared to "Republican" Bob Barr, with a rather conservative right background, that's a lot.
A general definition of a libertarian: "A libertarian is a person who upholds the principles of individual liberty, smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom."
------------------------------------------------------ Barack Obama's background seems favorable to many principles held by libertarians and Libertarian Party members. Barack Obama has the "libertarian" advantage over McCain and Bob Barr
Here's how:
-OBAMA Upholds the principals of individual liberty: Advantage, Obama. For libertarians, Obama's values and beliefs seem to be in the right place. Here are some of the principals of individual liberty which Obama supports and John McCain does NOT support:
a ban on torture gay rights (Barr against) separation of church and state privacy free speech
-OBAMA Wants smaller government: Advantage, Obama. Obama's favorable to withdrawl and ending the Iraq [war] occupation which would save taxpayers $100 billion+ in war spending. McCain talks a good game against earmarks and other wasteful spending. But, as Bleeding Heartland points out, the cost of earmarks in 2007 was about $17 billion. The cost of the Iraq war, which McCain wants to both continue and expand, is about $165 billion. And earmarks don't breed new government programs that destroy our civil liberties.
-OBAMA Supports lower taxes: Advantage, Obama wants to lower taxes for MORE people (about 95% of taxpayers). That means the majority of Americans (the 95% who make less than $227,000) will pay LESS TAXES. Obama's tax plan (and libertarians) favor American income earners keeping more of their earned income - up to $2796 with Obama's plan - instead of giving it the US Government. But those making $227,000 to $603,400 won't pay a whole lot in extra taxes, either - only about $121 more for the mythical "Joe the Plumber".
It should be noted that middle-class income earners who go to work at a job and get paid for that work does not constitute a "hand-out" from the rich. It seems to be forgotten, that G.W. Bush, already lowered taxes for the wealthiest 5%, which had little lasting effect in boosting the US economy in recent years and is not helping it now in 2008. McCain wants to continue the Bush plan - again - tax cuts mostly on the wealthy 1% while offering LESS of a tax cut for the majority of Americans. A hybrid plan would be nice, but unless you are in the "millionaire bracket" Obama's tax plan favors more people overall than McCain and one of McCain's top advisers recently said that, if elected, McCain plans to raise taxes too.
(Historical Reminder: Republicans have lied before - George Bush Sr. said, "Read my Lips - No New Taxes" but eventually raised taxes after he was elected.) Check Out - Obama Plan - Tax Calculator
-OBAMA Wants more personal freedom: Advantage, Obama. Only one major candidate who is
-pro-choice -against a ban on flag burning -wants to soften drug laws (Bob Barr has a strong pro-Drug-War background) -and reduce the use of mandatory minimum sentences.
"Our own worst enemies..."
ReplyDeleteBarack Obama is far more "libertarian" than Bob Barr!
ReplyDeleteWhen intelligent Libertarians examine Barack Obama, they see his high intelligence and intellect as an asset for rational [libertarian] thinking. Combined this with his background as a civil rights lawyer and constitutional law professor who's favorable to voluntary, free community organization, and who as a Senator, took a daring stand against the Iraq War -- it becomes easy to see that Barack Obama is more "libertarian" than not.
And compared to "Republican" Bob Barr, with a rather conservative right background, that's a lot.
------------------------------------------------------
A general definition of a libertarian:
"A libertarian is a person who upholds the principles of individual liberty, smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom."
------------------------------------------------------
Barack Obama's background seems favorable to many principles held by libertarians and Libertarian Party members.
Barack Obama has the "libertarian" advantage over McCain and Bob Barr
Here's how:
-OBAMA Upholds the principals of individual liberty:
Advantage, Obama. For libertarians, Obama's values and beliefs seem to be in the right place. Here are some of the principals of individual liberty which Obama supports and John McCain does NOT support:
a ban on torture
gay rights (Barr against)
separation of church and state
privacy
free speech
-OBAMA Wants smaller government:
Advantage, Obama. Obama's favorable to withdrawl and ending the Iraq [war] occupation which would save taxpayers $100 billion+ in war spending. McCain talks a good game against earmarks and other wasteful spending. But, as Bleeding Heartland points out, the cost of earmarks in 2007 was about $17 billion. The cost of the Iraq war, which McCain wants to both continue and expand, is about $165 billion. And earmarks don't breed new government programs that destroy our civil liberties.
-OBAMA Supports lower taxes:
Advantage, Obama wants to lower taxes for MORE people (about 95% of taxpayers). That means the majority of Americans (the 95% who make less than $227,000) will pay LESS TAXES. Obama's tax plan (and libertarians) favor American income earners keeping more of their earned income - up to $2796 with Obama's plan - instead of giving it the US Government. But those making $227,000 to $603,400 won't pay a whole lot in extra taxes, either - only about $121 more for the mythical "Joe the Plumber".
It should be noted that middle-class income earners who go to work at a job and get paid for that work does not constitute a "hand-out" from the rich. It seems to be forgotten, that G.W. Bush, already lowered taxes for the wealthiest 5%, which had little lasting effect in boosting the US economy in recent years and is not helping it now in 2008. McCain wants to continue the Bush plan - again - tax cuts mostly on the wealthy 1% while offering LESS of a tax cut for the majority of Americans. A hybrid plan would be nice, but unless you are in the "millionaire bracket" Obama's tax plan favors more people overall than McCain and one of McCain's top advisers recently said that, if elected, McCain plans to raise taxes too.
(Historical Reminder: Republicans have lied before - George Bush Sr. said, "Read my Lips - No New Taxes" but eventually raised taxes after he was elected.)
Check Out - Obama Plan - Tax Calculator
-OBAMA Wants more personal freedom:
Advantage, Obama. Only one major candidate who is
-pro-choice
-against a ban on flag burning
-wants to soften drug laws
(Bob Barr has a strong pro-Drug-War background)
-and reduce the use of mandatory minimum sentences.