Libertarian party for smaller government

By: Samantha Downing

Redpath and the Libertarian party say the government has too much power.

When it comes to election time, most voters choose sides between Republican and Democrat.

But some look elsewhere when preparing to cast their ballots.

“The greatest problem with our political system today is the special interest-driven two-party system that provides the American people with two big-government ‘solutions’ and asks them to choose between the two evils,” said Vladimir Rudenko, vice chairman of the organization Libertarians at VCU.

The chairman of the organization, Steven Latimer, agreed.

“America was founded on a tax revolt, and the Libertarian Party and its candidates are aware of this,” said Latimer.

William Redpath is Virginia’s Libertarian candidate for Senate.

The most important issue in his campaign is national security, without which, he says on his Web site, “The benefits of a free society and prosperity cannot be enjoyed.”

Redpath says the U.S. should adopt a non-interventionist foreign policy. He promotes withdrawing from Iraq and focusing on Al-Qaeda as the greatest security threat.
Regarding the economy, Redpath encourages a reduction in federal government spending.

“Stop the cheesy, half-baked, short-sighted federal responses to the current economic situation,” he says. “Implement long-term solutions now.”

Redpath and the Libertarian party support reducing federal income tax.

“It is time to end this confiscation of our earnings and get the government out of our pocketbooks,” says the party’s Web site.

Seniors should have control of their own Medicare benefits, says Redpath, and Medicaid should be financed by state and local governments rather than the federal government.

“Health care is not a right, because it requires the talents and resources of other people,” Redpath says. “The federal government is not empowered by the U.S. Constitution to provide health care.”

Redpath supports a health care system driven by consumers, not based on employers.

He says Americans should be allowed to make their own decisions regarding consensual crimes, and the individual states should address the issue of drug prohibition.

Born and raised in Ohio, Redpath worked for NBC and ABC in New York, and WISH-TV in Indianapolis before joining BIA Financial Network, Inc. – a Chantilly, Va., company that appraises media and telecommunications businesses.

The Libertarian Party was created in December 1971, and Redpath has been a member since 1984. He is currently the chairman of the Libertarian National Committee.

According to its Web site, the Libertarian Party seeks “a return to the basic principles that made America great,” with a smaller government than either Democrats or Republicans want.

“Government at all levels is too large, too expensive, woefully inefficient, arrogant, intrusive and downright dangerous.”

Rudenko said the government should be shrunk to “its original Constitutional boundaries.”

The Libertarian Party supports the idea of individual responsibility, which means that each person has “the right to control his or her own body, action, speech and property.”

The Libertarian Party says it is the only political party that respects people as individuals and wants the government to do the same.

Redpath formerly ran for the House of Delegates in 1993, for the state Senate in the special election in January 1998, and for governor in 2001 – where he won less than 1 percent of votes.

This election, as he runs for a seat in the U.S. Senate, Redpath’s motto is, “Anything that’s peaceful.”

Also running for Senate in Virginia are Republican Jim Gilmore and Democrat Mark Warner.

Redpath’s name does not often appear alongside his opponents’ in polls, but people like Latimer still support him.

“By voting Libertarian, I made my personal vote as powerful as possible.”
Rudenko said the reason he voted Libertarian is that our country is in trouble because our liberties are being taken away from us.

“Freedom is on the run, in short, and the tiny libertarian minority is trying to shout ‘come back and hold your ground.’ This is America, this is where freedom belongs.”