Comparing the Tea Party to the Libertarian Party

I support thirteen of the fourteen Libertarian principles below and all three of the Tea Party principles. But I probably differ more with most Tea Party members who on average have far different views on the social issues than I do. But I still respect what the Tea Party is achieving and if they stick to those three principles exclusively, then they might even help elect a Republican President in 2012.

The Libertarian party is the third largest political party and is getting more attention these days. But we are decades away from seeing a Libertarian US President. Libertarians are frequently and incorrectly labeled as the “fringe right”, although with all the attention that the Tea Party is getting, most of the left’s hatred is directed at the Tea Party. I am not sure exactly what “right wing” means in America today but the Libertarian party is not the far right. Just for the record, here is the official platform of the American Libertarian Party. Just like the platforms of the Democratic and Republican parties, these principles are not universally supported by their members. Some of these issues should be left to state governments under the 10th Amendment, but that has not restricted the federal government from meddling in these matters before.

Few if any of the principles from the Libertarian platform are supported by a majority of Americans. On the other hand, only a few of their ideas have the support of less than 40% of Americans (hardly fringe). These estimated numbers are based on my own unscientific polling and I welcome suggestions to change these estimates (provided you have some better data to back up your story).

Here are the major stands of the Libertarians followed by a number like (40/60). The first figure (40) represents the percentage of Americans that support the Libertarians view on this issue and 60% do not support the Libertarian position. We do not allow for those on the fence.

1) Balance the Budget exclusively by "Cutting Expenditures Not by Raising Taxes" (50/50). I am fine with increasing a few taxes (gasoline, inheritance, consumption) as long as other taxes are reduced proportionately. This is the biggest issue that separates the left from the right in America today. The right starts with the notion of cutting expenditures first. The left starts with the idea of increasing taxes first. And recently this has meant that nothing gets done (that requires collaboration) other than raising the debt ceiling.

2) Pro-Choice (50/50). Not much to say about this one other than it is probably the most emotional issue of all. You won’t change my mind and I won’t change your mind - so let’s move on.

3) Pro Gay Rights (40/60). Right behind the abortion issue in level of emotion. Ditto on my interest in debating it.

4) Legalize Drugs (20/80). This just does not feel right to most Americans despite how much we are spending on law enforcement and imprisoning millions of those caught using and selling drugs. We are creating waves of violence not only in the United States but especially in Mexico. Again, I hate the idea of my family and friends using these drugs, but this is a family matter and I don’t want the government using force to impose these laws any more.

5) Legalize Assisted Suicide (10/90). This is one of those issues on which I won’t convince you and you won’t convince me. This is a low priority to me right now and I hope that by the time I am much older and my time comes, I get hit by a truck and don’t have to face a long, agonizing and expensive death.

6) Absolute Freedom of Religion (20/80). Libertarians oppose government actions which either aid or attack any religion. Americans on average are fine with government support of their religion (i.e. tax deductions for your donation to your church); they just don’t want the other guy's religion (or lack of religion in the case of the school prayer debate) imposed on them. Look to some of the Middle Eastern countries as a model for religious intolerance and state-sponsored religions and it might scare you into promoting true freedom of religion.

7) Americans Right to Work without Joining a Union (50/50). This has been a hot topic lately but outside of Boeing’s new plant in South Carolina, it has been primarily an issue in the public sector.

8) Right to Bear Arms (50/50). With everything else happening in this country this matter has had very little air play lately.

9) Repeal all US Income Taxes (2/98). OK, this idea is the one idea that might qualify as "extreme". Granted , I am all for reducing our expenditures and the deficit but we have plenty of yesterday’s expenses and promises to work off before this comes close to being realistic.

10) Education should be provided by the Free Market (10/90). Everyone agrees that today’s public school systems are failing. Those on the left believe in bigger, and more expensive unionized programs to improve them. Most Libertarians (although this is not on their platform) favor a voucher system where the government pays via a voucher for all or most of the cost of a private education. Parents could then choose which private school to send their kids to. But alas not an idea that many Americans support and the left and unions absolutely hate this idea.

11) Health Care Should be Provided by the Free Market (40/60). Let’s come back to this one later as you might have read an opinion or two on the subject.

12) Put Retirement Planning and Funding back as the Responsibility of the Individual (20/80). - The idea of our social security system as a retirement program for seniors is so fully ingrained that few even question why the government ever took over this role to begin with. The system worked reasonably well as long as the average life expectancy was only 62 years and the ponzi funding didn't tax anyone too much. No one complained that we were not saving enough in the trust fund to pay for future obligations. It is a classic case of today’s (and yesterday’s) politicians being able to make promises that tomorrow’s politicians and public won’t be able to deliver. The inability for governments to manage this system responsibly should be proven by now. But those that advocate the system think we can solve it by increasing taxes on the rich.

13) Maintain a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression but stop foreign intervention (40/60). After our recent experience in Iraq and Afghanistan, the public is far less supportive of US military intervention than we were after the first Gulf War. In the first Gulf War, we got in and out quickly and looked very impressive in the process. We also did not attempt any nation-building and saw positive results in Kuwait very quickly.

14) Support Free Trade (50/50). Virtually all Americans support free trade when it results in their saving money at the market, but they hate the idea with a passion when free trade results in the loss of their job.

The Tea Party has a much better chance at success because they are officially only supporting three concepts and it is easier to get broad support for three principles than fourteen (except the general media hates them so much).

1) Fiscal Responsibility (80/20). Who can argue? The left doesn't bother to disagree with it; they either ignore it or propose to solve our financial woes with more taxes on business and the rich.

2) Constitutionally Limited Government (90/10). It is hard to find anyone that openly supports ignoring our constitution - until it comes down to the part of the constitution they don’t agree with (i.e the freedom of those you disagree having a right to say things that you view as “mean or hateful”, the right to bear arms, the 10th Amendment’s restriction on the Federal government’s authority to act on matters not given to the Federal government by the Constitution).

3) Free Markets (65/35). A generation ago, free enterprise and private business ownership were honored and respected by most Americans. Today more Americans openly support a socialist economic system than any time since the Great Depression.

But the Tea Party has three principles and three principles only. Their least popular stand (Free Markets) still has the support of 65% of Americans. So why is this group so vilified by the left and so denigrated by the general media? Perhaps they are hated because if the Tea Party stuck to these three principles and found a presidential candidate who narrowly focused on them, that candidate might unseat the left. We need a Republican presidential nominee that will focus 100% on the message: “Let’s get the financial basics on track during the next four years and leave the social engineering to the next President”. That candidate would stand a good chance.