Posts Tagged ‘verizon’

VTLP treasurer Michael Bandler was quoted in this article that appeared in papers today.

“I think they have betrayed us as consumers,” said Bandler, who is also distressed by the alleged part played by the federal government in the matter. “The threat to this democracy may not be overseas, it may be in Washington.”

John McClaughry had a 90 second radio commentary on the new VTLP Platform and it aired on WDEV yesterday.

http://www.vtlp.org/main/media/ audio/WDEV406%20052406.mp3

WDEV406 052406

Libertarian Platform

Most people don?t pay much attention to Vermont?s tiny Libertarian Party, but they really ought to read the new Libertarian Platform. Her are a few juicy quotations from it.

?We believe, ? it starts out, ?in competitive free enterprise as the source of wealth for our people, jobs for our labor force, and the tax base necessary to support the legitimate demands of government. Confusing regulations and prolonged and often arbitrary enforcement has weakened the economic competitiveness of Vermont businesses. We will identify regulations that are outdated and unnecessary, and secure their repeal. We will identify regulations that ought to be rewritten, and we will rewrite them so they are strict in protecting consumers, business, our communities, and our environment, but certain in their requirements, reasonable in their demands, and swift and fair in their application. ?

On taxation, the platform says, ?We will stop the growth of state government and permanently cap the income tax rate at 2006 levels, rollback the sales tax rate to 5 percent, and cap rooms and meals tax at 9 percent. We will adopt a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights to limit the growth of government to the rate of inflation, and to require a voter referendum to raise any tax.

The platform concludes with the section on Liberty. It concludes ?We will pass up every opportunity to tell peaceable, independent Vermonters how to live their lives.?

Now is that a great platform, or what?

This is John McClaughry ? thanks for listening.

John McClaughry has been President of the Ethan Allen Institute since its founding in 1993. He was Legislative Aide to Vermont Senator Winston Prouty, 1965-67; a Fellow of the Institute of Politics, JFK School, Harvard University, 1967-68; a member of the Vermont House, 1969-72; Senior Policy Advisor in President Reagan’s White House Office of Policy Development, 1981-82; member of the Vermont Senate 1989-92; and Republican candidate for Governor of Vermont, 1992. He has served on four Presidential Commissions by appointment of Presidents Nixon, Carter, and Reagan, and has been Kirby Town Moderator for the past 34 years.

Vermont Libertarian Party treasurer, Michael Bandler is part of a group asking the Vermont Public Service Board to investigate Verizon’s actions in regards to turning over phone records to the National Security Agency without their consent.

The full content of the request is available on the ACLU of Vermont’s website.

The Vermont Libertarian Party applauds the introduction of House Bill 139 that would lower the minimum age from 21 to 18 for the purchase and consumption of alcoholic beverages. The Party has long opposed the 21-year-old drinking age, because it neither works nor does it make sense.

The 21-year-old drinking age has not reduced alcohol use in practice. Since the drinking age was raised in thirty-one states over twenty years ago, there has been little if any impact on alcohol consumption in the 18-21 year old age group. According to national survey data, the percentage of drinkers in that group dropped only seven percentage points, from 77% to 70%, leaving over two-thirds of that group still using alcohol. Also, the insignificant 7% decline may be due to the reluctance of young people to admit to criminal drinking when polled or other factors such as stepped-up public campaigns to discourage alcohol use.

Furthermore, the 21-year old drinking age doesn?t make sense. In all other respects, society considered an 18-year old as an adult. At this age, the legal system treats him or her as such, and (if male) even requires him to register for military service. It?s illogical to consider someone of majority age in all respects except when it comes to the consumption of alcoholic beverages. This inconsistency sends a confusing mixed messages to young adults concerning the level of responsibility that society expects of them which may contribute to irresponsible use of alcohol.

Given the illogic and dubious effectiveness of the higher drinking age, it is irrational to continue to criminalize the use of alcohol by the vast a majority of our 18-21 year-olds. Our 18-21 year-olds are more likely to learn more responsible drinking behavior if they were allowed to consume alcohol openly, rather than in secret. Restoring the drinking age to 18 could end the diversion of law enforcement from serious crime investigation and prevention for the purpose of apprehending of underage drinkers.

According to Vermont Libertarian Party chair Scott Berkey, ?The Libertarian Party has always opposed governmental discrimination against any segment of the adult citizenry. Restrictions on the consumption of alcoholic beverages discriminate against the rights of many of our citizens, and are clearly of dubious value in reducing alcohol abuse. The Party urges passage of H.139 to bring much needed fairness and common sense to public policy.?

Vermont Libertarian Party
PO Box 5475, Burlington, VT 05402 | (802) 728-6211 | www.vtlp.org
Scott Berkey, Chair