Libertarians are justly horrified at the unrelenting stream of anti-freedom rhetoric and legislation coming out of Washington. In one 24 hour period the President announced unrealistic gasoline mileage targets and emissions limits for cars, while the Senate passed a credit card “reform” bill. Both actions are full of unintended consequences that are too obvious to be called “unintended.” At a time when the economy is reeling and unemployment is at a 30 year high, both these actions will make cars, gasoline, and credit all more expensive and harder to find.
There is a bright side to the statist juggernaut, and that is the growing liberty backlash. Opinion Dynamics, the polling wing of Fox News, has released a new survey showing a majority of Americans are calling shenanigans on the Obama administration. With Republicans having discredited themselves under President Bush, and with Democrats insisting on returning America to a luddite stone age, the percentage of people describing themselves as independents has jumped 20% since last August. One quarter of the electorate is open to thinking that Libertarians are the only sensible choice for voters. And this is what those independents think…
- 61% think there is too much government spending now
- 82% have figured out that a politician who says he wants to “invest” tax dollars means he wants to SPEND our money; even 68% of Democrats admit it.
- Only 34% think the government takeover of the financial industry is a good thing.
- Figures are even more extreme for government ownership of Chrysler and GM; 55% of independents say it is a BAD thing.
- 51% of Independents and of the entire survey think the country is moving from capitalism toward socialism.
- 77% of independents say they are looking for less government in their lives. Even 55% of Democrats agree.
- 61% of independents think the Supreme Court should interpret the Constitution by using the framers’ reasoning.
(Oddly, a majority of Independents, Democrats, and Republicans think Obama was too easy on both car company executives and the auto unions.)
These majorities of a growing independent electorate are supporting core Libertarian principles. They are ready to vote for candidates who will roll back government and increase individual responsibility.
This is why it is important to support your Libertarian Party of Georgia as it finds candidates. The right Libertarian candidates will get votes!
