1. Do all that you agree to do.
2. Do not infringe on another person's person.
3. Do not infringe on another person's property.
Everything else is the business of the church or parents or God.
Why do I want to be Governor of Louisiana?
In years since I graduated college, I have been very disappointed with my generation. We were going to do so many things, end military “police” actions like the current Iraq situation, end the prohibition on recreational drug use, and end legal discrimination against people for race, religion, sexual preference and gender.
It has not turned out that way. Hell, not even close! We have made it worse in many ways. The federal government has declared war on people not of the correct religious beliefs, see Afghanistan, Iraq, and coming soon Iran. If it’s not a religious war then it must be for oil. I say either pay what the owner wants or don’t buy it. It does not matter what “it” is. I absolutely say don’t go starting a war to steal it!
Some will tell you Iraq was a preemptive strike. That is the same as shooting someone walking down the street because you fear that person might someday break into your house. That is not legal for you and me and it is not allowable by any government I want in charge!
The war on common citizens and minorities veiled as the war on drugs is another. It may not have started out that way and that is what it has become. “Wait” you say, “it is not a war on minorities and those out of political favor.” I say look at the number in the prisons by color, religion and national origin. Now, look at the poor talk show hosts who, we are told, need our understanding for the error of their ways in doctor shopping for prescription drugs to get high on. Wait! I know, how about the politicians’ children that we are told need our understanding instead of jail time. Tell me the war on drugs is not a war on the people who are out of favor to keep them out of power. Tell me the war on drugs is not a war on the powerless and minorities. Tell me that with a clear conscience. You cannot. What kind of government declares war on its own citizens? Not one I want in charge!
Speaking of a war by a government on its own citizens, the biggest and worst shining example, “The Patriot Act”. It is not patriotic to gut the bill of rights. It is down right treasonous!
I have done what I could on an individual basis to make the world better. I have helped by buying houses and renting them below market to families in need. I have helped by assisting people who have gotten into jams though no fault of their own, whether the jam was a legal problem or a living situation. I have donated land to build churches. These are things I choose to do. They are not things I expect the government to do. These are not things I want the government to do. These are things individuals, families, friends, and churches are well suited for.
I believe I can now do much more to make Louisiana a better place as Governor. As Governor I can see to it that the selective enforcement of laws stops. I have no problem with enforcing laws as long as the law is fairly and fully enforced on the well connected, the politically connected, the wealthy and influential as well as the poor, out of favor and weak of society.
How will it do that? As Governor I have access to the biggest fairness hammer there is, the pardon. Unless and until a law is enforced on all, it will not be enforced on any.
We have a problem in this state and in this country. The government is trying to be a religion and getting involved with issues that belong to the church and family.
The government exists primarily to protect the nation from outside invasion and harm. Secondarily it exists to protect us one from the other.
The government is hopelessly lost teaching morals, right from wrong, good from evil. That is what churches and family are good at. If passing laws would prevent bad actions we would be living in perfect Utopia, a Heaven on earth because we surely have plenty of laws on the books.
We need to get the government out of the church’s business and we need to keep the church’s out of the government’s business. Yes vote your convictions, vote for righteous moral people to represent you. Do not vote for laws to enforce behavioral issues. If you as a parent catch your child doing something horrendous, you as a parent have the right to and obligation to punish appropriately. The state has no business interfering in the family beyond prohibiting killing one another. Wouldn’t it be great if we could outlaw domestic violence? Guess what, it is outlawed. Didn’t help. Legislating behavior does not work.
Family, churches, and friends can apply greater force and effect on behavior than any law can.
Schools are a great idea. That is until some very well meaning but misguided person decided schools should socialize as well as teach information. The state cannot socialize. You can socialize your own children. No one else is qualified. The state has only one role in education, verify what level of knowledge is attained. How it is attained is not important. I believe an education by your parents is a great education opportunity and I know not every family can take on education of their own children. We need home schools, private schools and public schools. They all serve a proper and important place in the education of the young of this state. How many days you attend is not relevant to how much information you learn. We are all different. We learn in different ways and at different speeds. One size does not fit all. Some have a talent for learning information others a talent for doing a thing. That does not make one less or more valuable than the other, it only makes us individuals, different one from the other and unique in our creation.
Yes, public schools are a good idea and they are not baby sitters. You want a baby sitter; hire one or here’s a novel idea, take care of your own child. Love your child. Cherish your child. Tend your child when it is sick. Praise your child when your child does well and do what is needed to keep your child from doing those things you know are bad. Tell the government to stay out of your home. Elect me Governor. Elect Libertarians to local state and federal offices.
The government cannot create jobs. It can get out of the way and let people get to work and create prosperity. Taking money from one part of the state and giving it to another while taking a cut for all the state workers along the way is like giving your self a transfusion with a leaky tube connecting the needles!
Attorney Discipline
The disciplinary procedures for lawyers are an outrage. Yes the state constitution says the Supreme Court is responsible for the regulation of the practice of law. Neither they nor their minions should be permitted to also be judge and jury if they are prosecuting. The judgment and punishment must be by another party. I propose that the judgment and punishment organization be established by and paid by the state legislature. What exists now is much as if the police were the ones to pick the judge and jury or even worse, the police were also the judge and jury. That dog does not hunt.
Federal Criminal Laws
The United States Congress wants to pass criminal and civil laws and that is fine. They won the war for Southern Independence and they can pretty much do what they want with us just like they do what they want in Iraq (substitute whatever country George the Conqueror has taken recently). We have our own problems and priorities for enforcement and incarceration. If their and our needs for enforcement do not match, let them send their own enforcement agents to enforce the laws we do not have time or resources to deal with.
Assorted Quick Quotes
“Life, liberty and property do not exist because men made laws. On the contrary, it was the fact that life, liberty and property existed beforehand that caused men to make laws in the first place.” Frederick Bastiat
“What has destroyed liberty and the rights of men in every government that has ever existed under sun? The generalizing and concentrating of all cares and powers into one body.” Thomas Jefferson
“The more the state ‘plans’ the more difficult planning becomes for the individual.” Friedrich von Hayek
“Democracy is two wolves and a lamb voting on what to have for lunch. Liberty is a well-armed lamb contesting the vote.” Benjamin Franklin
Proposed resolution for the state of Louisiana:
Section 1. The State of Louisiana supports all lawful and Constitutional efforts to prevent and investigate terrorist or other criminal acts and prosecute their perpetrators.
Section 2. The State of Louisiana believes that sufficient Constitutionally acceptable tools existed, prior to the passage of the "USA Patriot Act" or other such restrictive acts, for Law enforcement to accomplish their intended lawful purpose.
Section 3. The State of Louisiana believes that any act, enactment, law, or legislation, etc., which dilutes, weakens, or denies the State and / or Federal Constitutionally guaranteed Rights of the Citizen is void from its inception, is unenforceable in our jurisdiction and any other jurisdiction in the United States of America, and should be quashed, repealed or found by a court of jurisdiction to be unconstitutional in part or in full, as appropriate, to protect the Rights and Freedom of the Citizenry.
Section 4. The State of Louisiana strongly encourages all citizens, organizations, and governmental legislative bodies to study, for understanding, the State and Federal Constitutions and their history, and the Bill of Rights and its history so that they can recognize and resist attempts to undermine our Constitutional Republics and the system of government that has brought our civilization so much success.
Section 5. The State of Louisiana believes it is the duty of every citizen to protect and defend the State and Federal Constitutions from all enemies — foreign and domestic — and to demonstrate outspoken respect for the Rights that have been paid for with the blood and sweat of the American People throughout our history.
Section 6. The State of Louisiana believes that the laws of this country are exactly that, of this country and as such apply to all persons within the boundaries of this country AND under the custody, control or restraint of this country, its agents, its armed forces and its allies. Therefore all prisoners, detainees and ANY person how so ever under control of this country is entitled to ALL rights afforded by the Constitution of this country and its states. Further, no person under control of this country shall be transported or delivered in any way to another country where that persons rights as we specify them in our Constitution will be violated.
Links to other Sites
Contributions to the Louisiana Libertarian party can be made at the following secure web page: https://secure.modwest.com/lp.org/orders/
The current Louisiana Libertarian Platform may be found at: http://www.la.lp.org/platform.htm
The form to use to register as a Libertarian Party member in Louisiana is here: http://www.elections.state.la.us/pdf/OnlineApplication-Updated-2003-08-27.pdf
Home page of the Louisiana Libertarian party is here: http://www.la.lp.org/index.php
