Inc. Reports on Barr, from an Entrepreneurial Perspective
Those of us small business owners and entrepreneurs may have a different take on politics because of the taxes, regulations and paperwork we’re faced with. I reported on the escalating cost of government and mountains of regulation last month and am convinced that the burden of government and its recent history of bailing out large corporations is not contributing to the long-term health of the economy or small business climate.
This month, Inc.com, the Daily Resource for Entrepreneurs, interviewed Bob Barr, the Libertarian presidential candidate and asked the question, Do You Really Want Small Government? The magazine acknowledged that the majority of entrepreneurs have a Libertarian streak and gave Barr a pretty fair shake. Barr’s priority would be to reduce the scope of business regulation and government spending. He acknowledged that some regulation is important, such as laws that protect businesses from fraud and piracy of intellectual or tangible assets, and those related to the broad general welfare.
As to the cost of the war on terror, Barr has been one of the few candidates to acknowledge that this has resulted in a dramatic decrease in the number of foreign students entering the American educational system. Said Barr to Inc. magazine,
We lose participation from those individuals as potential entrepreneurs in this country, and we lose this generation and future generations as pro-American entrepreneurs in other countries. In decades past, the magnet was the United States. The goal of students with an entrepreneurial bent was to come here to study and conduct research with American companies. Those students have been diverted to Europe.
Indeed, some American scientists and entrepreneurs have expressed concern about this migration of emerging technology to Europe in connection with CERN’s particle accelerator experiment in Geneva.
Recent polls have indicated that 60% of Americans are not happy with the current Democrat and Republican presidential choices. Rep. Ron Paul, who dropped out of the Republican presidential race, addressed this in a press conference on the 10th and urged voters to take a look at third party candidates.
This incited the most vocal of the Ron Paul supporters, not so much about the intent of message, but because Bob Barr did not appear at this event. They seem to be mixing the message with the personalities. This election shouldn’t be about personality worship; it should be about issues and the party platforms.
Personally, I like John McCain the person. I have, in the past, contacted his senate office concerning issues of interest to we Arizonans. His staff was always courteous, responded quickly, and was professional. McCain has been a great senator for our state. I was extremely impressed with his interview in the documentary, Why We Fight. But it appears that his personal views expressed in the past do not necessarily match those of the Republican big government, invasion-mentality platform. The GOP platform is not something I’m philosophically aligned with.
Similarly, Chuck Baldwin of the Constitutional Party is an advocate of smaller government and less burden on businesses. But his Constitutional Party platform states in its preamble:
The Constitution Party gratefully acknowledges the blessing of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ as Creator, Preserver and Ruler of the Universe and of these United States. We hereby appeal to Him for mercy, aid, comfort, guidance and the protection of His Providence as we work to restore and preserve these United States.
This great nation was founded, not by religionists, but by Christians; not on religions but on the Gospel of Jesus Christ. For this very reason peoples of other faiths have been and are afforded asylum, prosperity, and freedom of worship here.
There is no way I can support such a position that grants “asylum” to every other religious faith such as Judaism and non-belief. James Carroll’s Constantine’s Sword presents an excellent factual analysis of the Christian role in shaping politics and creating war. The founding fathers themselves warned against this type of thing back in 1797 in the Treaty of Tripoli, “The Government of the United States is not in any sense founded upon the Christian Religion.”
The Libertarian Party’s platform clearly is not based on religion. Rather than promoting a theocracy, it honors individual’s rights to economic liberty and free trade. It also states that:
We defend the right of individuals to form corporations, cooperatives and other types of companies based on voluntary association. We seek to divest government of all functions that can be provided by non-governmental organizations or private individuals. We oppose government subsidies to business, labor, or any other special interest. Industries should be governed by free markets.
For those entrepreneurs and mom and pop business owners out there, if you’re willing to have the courage to vote your conscience instead of following the herd, take a look at what the third parties have to offer. It could mean a huge difference this fall.
Related Post from Another Blogger …
Why I Am Voting for Barr - United Liberty blog gives an indepth analysis of the author’s rationale this election season.
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