Vote Third Party For A Less Corrupt Government
By Aaron Gott
Iowa State Daily 10.23.2006

Rep. Mark Foley, R-Fla., has a penchant for congressional pages under the legal age. Rep. Tom DeLay, R-Fla., was caught up in a campaign fundraising scandal. The FBI found $90,000 in Rep. William Jefferson's, D-La., freezer during a corruption probe.

These are only the most recent, blatant examples of congressional corruption. Pork-barrel projects are funds earmarked by the appropriations committee for politicians' constituencies or special interest groups in return for promises of votes or money.

It isn't what either of these parties promise. Traditionally, Republicans have staked claims in reducing the federal government, but it's only gotten bigger. Democrats claim to support the working man and civil liberties, but instead raise taxes for everyone, create wasteful welfare bureaucracies and support Orwellian-style hate-crime legislation and
anti-discrimination laws.

The truth is, these parties have been in power since the Civil War. The ideology has changed, from women's suffrage to the New Deal to Reaganomics. What remains unchanged is the power these parties command. Wedge issues are more prevalent than ever and absolute power corrupts absolutely. In this respect, unity between the Republicans and Democrats is clear.

That doesn't mean it can't change.

There is only one path to end the corrupt ways of government - less government. The only party that will back up its claim to reduce the size of government is the Libertarian Party.

This party believes not in controlling the moral and financial lives of Americans, but in the right to remain unbothered by an overreaching government and a common respect for everyone's natural and constitutional rights.

These are not new ideas - Libertarians borrowed the philosophy from our Founding Fathers - all of whom are currently rolling over in their graves.

Surely there will be no revolutionary change of power in the near future. For more optimal results, however, we can look to the explanation of Eric Cooper, associate professor of psychology and Libertarian candidate for Iowa District 46.

His philosophy is simple. If he can garner just 10 percent of the vote, the other two parties will have to adopt parts of his ideology. Cooper said it worked for the Socialist Party in the early 1900s.

"In 1912, the Socialist platform forced the two other parties to legislate two-day weekends, paid vacation and time-and-a-half for overtime for workers. It was in the best interest of the parties because they were very close in the polls and the base of both parties co-opted at least some goals of the Socialists," he said.

Cooper suggests the Socialist strategy would work well for the Libertarian Party.

"In the case of Democrats, Libertarians can agree on the legalization of marijuana. For Republicans, it's the free market and the end of the welfare state," he said.

Furthermore, if the Libertarian Party receives just 2 percent of the gubernatorial vote this November, it will achieve major party status under Iowa law.

"This means libertarians can hold a primary, obtain mail lists to determine its base and most importantly, the party would no longer have to petition to be on a ballot," Cooper said.

For you, the voter, Story County is the place to start. Cooper is the only Libertarian candidate for representative in the entire state. In the last two three-way elections, he's averaged about 4 percent of the vote.

Kevin Litten, Libertarian candidate for governor, can easily achieve 2 percent with your help.

Simply because Republicans and Democrats begin to adopt Libertarian ideals does not mean congressional corruption will stop - both parties are vehemently in denial of their corruption and continue to create more problems for Americans.

But if Libertarians continue to gain support and the two major parties are forced to recognize the obvious logic of a much smaller government, America will once again have a chance at the system we were offered by some of the most intelligent men of our history - our founders.

It's been said a vote for a third-party candidate is a waste.

It's more of a waste to buy into a system of corruption. Nov. 7 could be the answer to pork-barrel projects and the likes of Foley, DeLay and Jefferson. You know what to do. Go do it.

About Aaron Gott:

Aaron Gott is a junior in political science from South Amana. He is the Daily opinion editor.