ArianeB says:

Another shifty politician type.

There is a lot about the Libertarians I like, especially on social issues and liberty. I just do not share their unwavering blind faith that unregulated free market capitalism will solve all our problems.

My hope for the libertarians is to take back the GOP from the neo-cons and theo-cons. Ron Paul is on the right track in that regard, but its an up hill battle, and wont happen until the GOP gets thoroughly trounced.

Saïd says:

John,

I’d like to know your take on Nader.

He is running again, after all.

http://www.votenader.org/index.html

Dr Dodd says:

#2 Cursor_

Your idea to abandon most of the Constitution and get rid of the current model of government shows a lack of thought on your part. It’s not the system that’s the problem, but the politicians that abuse it. If you would like to get rid of something start there.

The people that created our present Constitution knew what they were doing. This can hardly be said of anyone in Washington today.

I mean think about it. Do you really want today’s Washington politicians creating a new constitution?

apeguero says:

I don’t think we need to abandon the Constitution or change the current form of government. What we need is, perhaps, narrower requirements for candidates for President! I mean, the ones that have made it to election day leave a lot to be desired. Seriously, what are the requirements now? Over 35yo, born here (in the US), and live here for the past 14 years (Section 1, Article 2 of the Constitution)? I think garbage collectors have higher requirements than that.

We also need to amend the Constitution and take whatever power the judges have to pass law away from them. It’s not their job, it’s the legislative branch’s job.

The Fed government should regulate and control energy (including sale) – all mass form of energy (power grid, fuel, etc).

The Fed government should regulate and control health care.

Those are my two biggies that should be regulated and controled by the government. Energy is way too crucial these days and should not be left totally in the hands of corporations. The only thing corporations care about is profit. Although a good gesture by the president to lift the ban on off-shore drilling, I doubt corporations will spend money to drill there when they’re making so much money with they oil they have now. What should have been done was the government drill there and sell that oil as a public good for discounted prices.

I also mention health care because the cost of it has totally sky-rocketed, meanwhile the value hasn’t kept up with the price increase. I don’t trust HMOs controlling the outcome of my healthcare. I somehow trust the government a little more.

TomB says:

#7, I somehow trust the government a little more.

You shouldn’t. It was because of the government’s medicare and HMO acts, etc. that has caused the price of healthcare to rise so dramatically. The problem is a gov subsidized demand mixed with a gov restricted supply (from the Cato Institute, not my opinion).

Interesting tidbits from http://www.freedomkeys.com:

From 1985 to 1989, unpaid hospital care grew slightly, from 5.5% to 6.0% of billing. But government underpayment shot from 0.6% to 5.0% – the same years private insurance premiums started skyrocketing.

To compensate for the lost income from the government, they have to increase their bills to everyone else (insurance companies, which then pass the cost on to their customers). If the government can’t handle the medical programs it has now, it surely can’t handle one that covers everybody.

Here is an interesting disquisition on healthcare costs and a possible solution. I really like the part about a tax credit vs a tax deduction. Just give the money back and then leave it alone! This way, there is no government bureaucracy to monkey up the works.

http://tinyurl.com/5hhygz

Of course, the gov would never agree to reducing anyone’s tax burden so this idea is dead in the water. If they can’t control where the money goes, they don’t want no part of it.

Back on subject: I’m voting for Bob Barr. This video is not one of his better ones, unfortunately. I’ve seen some of his other interviews and he really does answer the questions. I am not sure what was going on in this one.

Cursor_ says:

#5

Good government is NOT meant to be written in stone. When a nation is so set in stone it will fall like Rome did.

Oligarchies are archaic. They no longer fit in a modern world. We no longer can remain flexible and progressive in this world’s climate with our present government.

You may fear to radically change things, but then neither did the colonists when they were told they would no longer be British citizens.

But you go ahead and cling to tradition and worm-eaten ideals of the past. The rest of us will just move on and leave you to your delusional past glories.

Cursor_