[826] in libertarians
More from Browne
daemon@ATHENA.MIT.EDU (Raymie Stata)
Mon Mar 20 10:06:07 1995
To: libertarians@MIT.EDU
From: Raymie Stata <raymie@larch.lcs.mit.edu>
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 95 10:03:20 EST
They finally responded to the post on Phil Gramm.
------- Forwarded Message
Date: Mon, 20 Mar 1995 00:58:17 -0800
To: Raymie Stata <raymie@larch.lcs.mit.edu>
From: browne@netcom.com
Subject: Re: Stock question
>I posted your "Why I am Running for President" to MIT's local
>libertarian list. It elicited what must be a stock question; do you
>have a stock answer?
>
>Regards,
> Raymie Stata
> raymie@larch.lcs.mit.edu
>
>------- Forwarded Message
>
>To: libertarians@mit.edu, Raymie Stata <raymie@larch.lcs.mit.edu>
>Date: Tue, 7 Feb 1995 18:18:57 -0500
>From: Derek Rose <rosed@world.std.com>
>Subject: Re: Harry Browne for President
>
>>I found this to be interesting and well-written. Enjoy!
>>
>>------- Forwarded Message
>>
>>X-Url: http://www.rahul.net/browne/why.html
>>
>> Why I Am Running for President
>> ******************************
>> by Harry Browne
>> ***************
>
>
>I have a lot of respect for Harry Browne -- his great book, "How I Found
>Freedom in an Unfree World," was among the first few libertarian books I
>read, along with Rand and Rothbard. But I don't think I'll be voting for
>him.
>
>Senator Phil Gramm (R-Tex.) is the candidate that has me truly excited.
>The current Time predicts that probably "the real contest as the battle
>progresses" to be the G.O.P. nominee will be between Gramm and Bob Dole
>(whom Gingrich has described as a "tax collector for the welfare state").
>Gramm is anti-tax, anti-regulation, anti-gun-control, and pro-property
>rights. During the health care debate last year he was one of the first
>Republicans to question the whole notion of universal care. Instead, he
>introduced the Cato Institute's free-market plan into the Senate.
>
>Gramm may not be a perfect libertarian on all issues (e.g., I don't think
>he's ever criticized the drug war), but from the looks of it, neither is
>Browne. For example, his idea for a flat income tax of 10% isn't all that
>much different from House Majority Leader Dick Armey's call for a flat
>income tax of 13%. (or is it 18%? He's been on "This Week with David
>Brinkely and other places promoting it though). So why not support the
>candidate with a chance of winning, and of truly changing the debate?
>
>- ----------
>Derek Rose rosed@world.std.com
>
>
>------- End of Forwarded Message
Raymie,
(Sorry to be so long in getting back to you.)
I can't speak for Harry, but I don't think I need to. His position is clear
in origninal article ("Why I Am Running"). But there are some points that I
must address.
First of all, lets deal with this issue of the 10% flat tax. Did Derek not
read the part of "Why I Am Running" where Harry says to *repeal* the
personal income tax. Not scale it back. Repeal it. Harry is not
soft-balling the message. Any tax proposal is a transistion.
Next lets deal with the issue of comparing Gramm and Browne on their
libertarian-ness. Come on. Gramm is, at best a conservate with libertarian
tendencies and Browne is a hard-core libertarian that will not soft-pedal
his message. I have read a lot of reports about successful professional
politicians that are "almost libertarian" and every time it turns out to
be wishful thinking on the part of some good hearted people.
Finally, lets take a look at this issue of "support[ing] the candidate with
a chance of winning, and of truly changing the debate." Understand that a
chance of winning and changing the debate are mutually exclusive. If Gramm
gets the nomination his only chance of winning is reaching to the middle
and softening his pitch. On the other hand, if Dole gets the nomination,
then libertarian-leaning people will support Browne. Since Browne is not in
this because he thinks he has a great chance to win, he won't pull any
punches and will go after both Clinton and Dole.
I believe that those who support big, sucessful, professional
politicians are living in a fools near-paradise. They keep thinking
such politicians are just going to hand them liberty. Wrong! We are
going to have to fight for it and win the hard way.
If you would like to be on the campaign mailing list, please send us your
mailing address.
Thanks for posting Harry's article and letting us know what kind of response
it got.
Jon Kalb, Internet volunteer
For more information contact:
___________________________________________________________________________
Harry Browne for President | email> Browne@rahul.net
1500 Adams Avenue | voice> (714) 437-7911 / fax> (714) 432-1468
Suite 105 | url> http://www.rahul.net/browne/
Costa Mesa, CA 92626 | anon. ftp at /pub/browne on ftp.rahul.net
___________________________________________________________________________
------- End of Forwarded Message
