From: rcollins@encore.com (Roger Collins)
Subject: Re: LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE POLLS 6%
Reply-To: rcollins@1.com
Organization: Encore Computer Corporation
Distribution: world,local
Date: Fri, 4 Sep 1992 20:20:30 GMT

f67700241@violet.ccit.arizona.edu (Greg Franklin) writes:
|> I can't believe how many otherwise intelligent people believe that 
|> "getting government off our backs" via eliminating income tax is a
|> serious response to reforming government financing.

Granted, taken out of context, the no-income-tax proposal is an easy
target.  But slashing government's budget is a serious and obvious
response to reforming government financing.

|> Here is what I understand the complaints about poor govt relief were:
|> there was too LITTLE provided, because Bush was tardy in sending it out.
|> It wasn't that *government* failed Florida, it was George Bush and Gov.
|> Chiles failing Florida for not getting the govt into high gear.

I guess you forgot Presidents and Governors are part of the government.

|> I can't disagree that private charities are doing their utmost to take
|> care of the situation.  I do disagree that that is all that is required.
|> There are still people living outside because the tent cities haven't
|> been set up yet, a full week after the storm.

Doesn't matter; the tent cities that are up are not occupied because
people want to stay with their homes.  More responsive groups are
setting up smaller camps in neighborhoods so people can be near their
house or are donating tents so people can set up camp in their own yard.

|> $14 billion worth of
|> damage, unfortunately, cannot be rebuilt through private donations.

Why not?  Where do you think "public" funds come from?

|> There's only one other source of aid: public funds.  Earmark part of
|> the federal budget for disaster relief, and I won't complain.

Just write a check to the more responsive, enthusiastic charity of your
choice; you'll get more for your money and avoid the power-hungry middle
man.

|> Florida's people, almost as rapidly as the SA mobilization.  I'd rather
|> my tax dollars go to funding Florida's rebuilding than to Saddam's re-
|> arming.

Then you should vote Libertarian and write a check to the Red Cross.

|> > What do you do when the government doesn't do a good
|> > job?  Bitch and moan.  What did the government do?  They condemned some
|> > homes and forced the residents to stay in "tent city."
|> 
|> But what other solution would you suggest for hundreds of thousands of
|> homeless people?

How about giving them a choice.  These people were not allowed to occupy
their own home because the government told them it wasn't safe.
Inform them that their house is unsafe but don't say "Oh...
I wouldn't live here so I'm not going to let you stay here...  now run
along to tent city like a good child."

|> It's tough.  The JCs and Red Cross and other charities
|> can do their best work, but they can't do it all.  Some fed assistance
|> will have to occur;

Why?  The fed assistance will have to occur only because the fed already
took so much of your money that you can't afford to pay for private
charities to provide *all* the relief.  But oops, they already spent all
the money they took from you, and already borrowed on your next 10 years
worth of income (the national debt) so they'll just take some from your
kids income to give you that charitable feeling you couldn't get on your
own.  And you'll be so proud of the federal government you'll vote for
them until they cannot borrow another dime.

|> My opinion is that if the LP were running the government, things like
|> the hurricane would be even worse than they have been.  Even less help
|> would come to the stricken area, on the grounds of "no national funds
|> to alleviate private problems."  And Marrou would be bounced out of
|> Florida in the next election by a 10-to-1 margin.

My opinion is that if the LP were running the government, there would be
more funds to alleviate private problems because there would *be* *more*
*funds* because less would be wasted on stupid government projects like
rebuilding demolished air bases while promising to close others (after
the election, of course).  People could spend some of their "liberated"
income on insurance.  Insurance companies could compete on what disaster
relief they could provide in an emergency.  Charities could compete for
donations on demonstrating fast, efficient relief.

In the L society, Marrou would not be "bounced out of Florida" because
Floridians would not expect any politician to steal money from one person
to give it to another.

Now, if Bush were straight forward, he'd get thrown out.  Imagine him
saying, "I'm giving $30 billion to South Florida and every tax payer will
have their tax rate go up by 1%."  People would say hell no!  But when he
says the same thing without telling people where the money comes from,
everyone cheers.
Xref: sparky alt.politics.elections:11695 misc.education:3236