"What the hell is a libertarian?" I hear you ask.

  Well to put it as simply as possible, Libertarians believe you have the right to live your life as you want with the absolute minimal amount of government interference. AS LONG AS YOU DON'T VIOLATE THE RIGHTS OF OTHERS. They have the same rights you do after all. Libertarians support radically decreasing the size of government AND eliminating the laws that control people's personal choices.

  Another way of looking at it is libertarians combine the best that each political party you grew up with (Democrats and Republicans) have to offer. Ever hear the phrase "Keep Democrats out of the boardroom and Republicans out of the bedroom"? Well that phrase pretty much sums up what is wrong with the two parties who take turns running our lives. The Democrats love liberty as long as it pertains to your sexual choices, abortion,etc. But they also want a huge government that interferes in almost every aspect of your life. The Republicans on the other hand want liberty commerce-wise but also want to stick their nose in your private life to make sure you abide by their rules of morality and christian lifestyle. Me personally, I agree with most of those aforementioned values. But should they be law? I think not. So Libertarians take the best of both worlds - they want a government that interferes as little as possible in meconomic matters AND personal values.

  The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in this country - and is continuing to grow. Despite unfair and restrictive ballot access laws passed by Republicans and Democrats in many states, there are already more than 182,000 registered Libertarians in 24 states around the country. This number has skyrocketed by 67% in the last 4 years as Americans tire of Democrats and Republicans take turns as our "nobility class".

 So you need to ask yourself the following.....

 Have you been looking for a political party........

 •That stands for smaller government and more personal responsibility on all issues, all the time?

 •That doesn't talk about civil liberties and then sell them out as the Democrats do?

 •That doesn't talk about economic freedom and then sell it out as the Republicans do?

  If you answered "yes" then you need to look at the Libertarian Party. Do I agree with absolutely everything in their platform? No, I do not. But it's the closest hybrid of conservative/progressive I've ever seen I liked. Right now in Minnesota, Governor Jesse Ventura is proving that a third party with fresh ideas CAN work. We need change, and if there's one thing that Democrats and Republicans can agree on is that they do not. They want the status quo that helps them and hurts us. This recent election fiasco proves
that very few people liked EITHER candidate. Basically the country split three ways. The conservatives voted for Bush, the liberals for Gore and a WHOLE LOT of Americans voted for Nader because they disliked Bush AND Gore. I am not saying that Libertarians are perfect by any means. But I am saying that they borrow the best from both parties.

  I want to eliminate the income tax. There are other ways, and they need to be looked at.

  Another person's abortion is none of my business, regardless of my personal opinion. One person's opinion should not be another person's law.

  Some of the drug laws are ineffective and a waste of money. Reform!!!! Do I use drugs? No I do not and never have. But I do know we cannot afford to keep locking people up at the rate we are. Reform!!! Some of those laws can be changed. There are quite a few drugs out there that affect us the same way alcohol does. Regulate it.

 I do not understand or approve of homosexual behaviour. Does that mean it shouldn't exist? No. I will never like it but it will always exist. Don't flaunt it in my face and don't demand acceptance and approval - BUT your sexual orientation should not preclude you from the same rights in terms of health benefits and recognition as a "couple".

 Why do we prop up unstable governments in foriegn countries that alternate between sucking up to us and hating us. What right do we have to interfere in another country's internal affairs. Foriegn aid should come from private sources NOT our tax dollars!

 You have to remind yourself of one simple fact. A large costly ever-expanding government can help you. But it can also hurt you.

 I believe it was Thomas Jefferson who said "The government that governs least governs best". I think he was right then, and I think he's right now.

 If you would like more information on the Libertarian Party and their ideas they can be contacted the following way:

 The Libertarian Party
2600 Virginia Avenue, NW Suite 100
Washington DC 20037
(202)333-0008

www.LP.org

I also heartily recommend the book "Do I Stand Alone?" by Jesse Ventura. We need change - and it starts with you.

Cabel