The Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania - Forum

I found this in the Morning Call.

http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-a3_libertarians.6549817aug16,0,7950643.story (http://www.mcall.com/news/nationworld/state/all-a3_libertarians.6549817aug16,0,7950643.story)

The AP knows as soon as papers are filed with the election bureau. Pete Jackson called me right after they were filed on Friday. Maybe we need to be faster with our press releases...

Nice to see we are getting some press!

Why is the AG candidate a Green who advocates universal health care? What am I missing?

She registered Libertarian.  Furthermore, I'm told she has had some problems with some of the classic Green positions.  For instance, I'm told she owns firearms.  I'm sure that in the mind of some Greens meant she wasn't perfect.

The same question you asked was asked by many board members.  I believe the LP board member had some frank discussions with her before voting to accept her as AG candidate.  Board members can address that.  I drafted a long list of questions for them to ask her.

As for universal health insurance, should the LP reject any candidate who doesn't score a 100-100 on that world's smallest political quiz?  If so, we're not a party but a club.  Futhermore, what if one questionable position of an LP candidate has no bearing on the duties of that office? 

Assuming she thinks national health care is the only way to go given the health care monopolies already in place, should it be an absolute dealbreaker if creating national health care policy is not part of the AG's duties in PA?  I mean we have have school board candidates who are anti-abortion, yet if elected they won't have much say about what the state laws are regarding abortion.  Should we throw them out of the LP?  I support the Fair Tax approach to getting rid of the IRS.  Should I be removed permanently from the Media Committee and never be allowed to run for any office under the LP banner?

Mark

Is that why they made her PA state chair of the Green Party?

So in under 2 years she has recanted #2, 4(b) and 5? What evidence is there that she has recanted any of these positions?

http://www.geocities.com/mjr91/RogersforAG.html



Wow. How about if the candidate is advocating something that not only violates the pledge but also the party's statement of principles?


By that rationale I suppose we can safely run Adolf Hitler for dog-catcher. Sonny Landham for Governor should be fine, since he would not have any power to make war against the so-called "camel dung shovelers", right?


Given the current trend against civil liberties, why shouldn't the LP run candidates who advocate taking that policy to its logical conclusion of a police state not unlike mainland China, since that seems like "the only way to go"?


YES. You can not say for sure that the AG will never have anything to do with nationalizing the health care industry or setting a "living wage". What are the principles that underlie this person's political philosophy and what are their un-libertarian ramifications for the law? Finally, how is running a decidedly non-libertarian candidate going to advance the cause of liberty in Pennsylvania? You who approved this have muddled the definition of 'libertarian' in PA.


What plans do these secret candidates (not listed with the other candidates on this website) for sex education in the schools? Perhaps they are in favor of propagandizing against abortion? I'm just speculating but it would interesting to find out.

Libertarians need to fight to end public schools, instead of just vying to decide which orthodoxies to brainwash our kids with, using funds extorted from hard-working citizens.



I would never support anyone who violates the LP pledge and thinks they have a right to extort the fruits of my mind from me at the barrel of a gun. The Libertarian Party is about liberty from government, not more convenient enslavement.

/agree

We are "the party of principle."  How can anyone call themselves libertarian and possibly support universal healthcare?  Any form of government health care would be a HUGE INCREASE in government taxation and intrusion in our lives.

The Fair Tax comparison is invalid.  The Fair Tax would be a DECREASE in government intrustion compared to what we have now, and would be a logical substitute for the income tax so we could repeal the 16th amendment, and move incrementally toward a smaller government that would no longer require even the Fair tax, but could go back to the constitutional limits of only having import and excise taxes.

(I'm actually of the opinion that if the federal government did things that we actually needed or wanted, we could fund them voluntarily, and not need forced taxation at all.  I realize, however, that this is a fairly radical viewpoint, and would be happy to see ANY move in the direction of individual liberty and reduced government.)

Universal healthcare would be a massive increase in government.  It is not just a move in the wrong direction, it would be a GIANT LEAP in the wrong direction.

The positions of Marakay Rogers have evolved since the posting of the information for her 2006 Green Party campaign. Information from that website should not be taken as current positions on any issues. She had already left the Green Party and was preparing an independent campaign prior to becoming affilated with the LP, although formal resignation of her GP positions did not occur until shortly before joining the LP.

She had been discussing issues with LPPA members for some time, going back to at least 2004. It was apparent even then that many of her stances, particularly those regarding individual rights, were more in line with libertarian thinking than along GP lines. While she may not have approached libertarianism from the same direction as some (not everyone likes Ayn Rand), it is good that she has arrived and is on board with us.

Prior to gaining the LPPA nomination for Attorney General, Marakay was interviewed in depth by the LPPA Board of Directors. Also separate discussions were held and endorsements were obtained from a former LPPA Chair and former statewide LPPA nominees. Let me be clear that we have a "Libertarian" Libertarian Party candidate for Attorney General. Additionally, Marakay has recently joined the LPPA Board of Directors as the representative from York County, and we welcome her service in that capacity.

Mik Robertson

Mik,

As candidate for Attorney General, what is her position on "victimless crimes?"  Will she prosecute people who have harmed no one but themselves?

I was a Democrat at one time.

I guess that means that I am forever and always: never to be a legitimate libertarian, never to be a legitimate libertarian activist, never worthy of communicating any libertarian ideas, never to be a legitimate libertarian candidate.  Personal growth and evolution of beliefs and perspectives are impossible for a former democrat as myself. Even if my beliefs inexplicably shift toward libertarianism, they won't transform instantaneously, so I remain impure, outcast and worthy of scorn.

I'm glad we cleared that up.

Mark

PS -- BTW, who in the LP is so officially "purist" enough to be worthy of accepting a resignation from the LP by a low-life, heretic, socialist like me? 

If you are going to run for office, you had better be able to answer the questions.  And yes, depending on the office and the specific issue, it is indeed possible that some of use would NOT want you in that office.

I still want to know if a Libertarian running for Attorney General will prosecute victimless "crimes" or not.

Here is apparently her website for this year's campaign: http://www.rogersforattorneygeneral.com/ . Some interesting tidbits:


by "risks" she apparently means the risk of accidental discharge of the weapon.

and

http://www.rogersforattorneygeneral.com/mission.html


She claims the endorsements of not only the LP but also the Green and Reform Parties. Frankly I find it surprising that a person can be both Green and Libertarian. The "social justice" program of the Greens requires extorting taxes from people and is therefore decidedly anti-libertarian.

Anyway, as you can see, the website contains little that a Libertarian could take issue with.

I am skeptical though since I'm not finding anything about her recanting her "social justice" platform of just 2 years ago.

Thank you for the link.  I'm satisfied with what she has said there.  We'll see what she does if she gains office.  (Much like I am taking Bob Barr at his word regarding his repentence of his social conservative ways.)

You're over-reacting.


No one said that. If beliefs change there should be evidence of it.


I have nothing against you, sir. And I did not suggest you should leave the LP or that I was "worthy" of accepting your resignation, whatever that means.

Political parties must have boundaries, otherwise they cease to be political parties and become something else. Minor differences are one thing, but to have someone who advocates blatantly and radically anti-libertarian policies running for prominent state-wide office is a terrible mistake. Government-run health care is light-years away from what is libertarian and people who advocate are our opponents in the political realm.

I think there is a fair bit of overlap between Libertarians and Greens. Both corporations and the government can run roughshod over individual rights, particularly when they team up. What we end up with is the form of fascism favored by people like Mussolini, and which is rapidly coalescing in the United States. Having the government collect revenue to dole out in contracts, even "competitively bid" contracts is not a free market.

The result is the electoral process is being compromised, as we are seeing unfold before us with attempts to strike Barr from the ballot. The legislative process is compromised as lobbyists try to gain political favor and the role of the government shifts from securing individual rights to securing corporate dollars. The judicial process gets compromised as corporations claim the rights of people, and suddenly the individual is subject to the corporate will. We have a system of government that has been turned on its head from its original purpose.

It is true that most Greens are more community oriented than most Libertarians. In fact, a lot of Libertarians don't see communities at all, simply a bunch of individuals. Anyhow, if there are questions about the attorney general candidate's positions, ask her about them. Make her explain her positions as you would any candidate.

Mik Robertson