In the third installment of the 2008 Elections Handbook, the Tennessee Journalist takes a look at the often forgotten third-party candidates. First up is Bob Barr, nominee from the Libertarian Party, one of the preeminent third-parties.

Barr, a former Republican Congressman from Georgia, surprised many conservatives when declaring his candidacy as a Libertarian, and will likely receive the third most votes of any candidate in the 2008 presidential elections.

As with the installments outlining the economic plans of Sen. John McCain and Sen. Barack Obama, this installment begins by taking a look at Barr's economic plans through his eyes.

Bob Barr, Libertarian Party

IN HIS OWN WORDS

EXCERPT OUTLINING BARR'S ECONOMIC PLAN

Over the past decade, total government spending (state, local and federal) has increased from $2.9 trillion to an astonishing $5.1 trillion in 2008. The $3.1 trillion federal budget submitted by President Bush for 2009 is greater than the combined 1998 spending of the federal government, all 50 states and over 87,000 local governments.

The government cannot continue spending at this rate if America is to remain competitive in the global marketplace. The new administration’s number one job will be to drastically reduce spending by limiting federal outlays to only the government’s legitimate functions, as provided in the United States Constitution.

Every area of federal spending can and should be cut. Entitlements must be reformed and welfare should be cut, including subsidies for business sometimes called corporate welfare. Representative Bob BarrEvery area of federal spending can and should be cut. Entitlements must be reformed and welfare should be cut, including subsidies for business sometimes called corporate welfare. Military outlays should be reduced and pork barrel spending eliminated. Needless, duplicative, and wasteful programs, most of which have no constitutional basis, should be terminated.

Controlling government spending is a necessary step to enact true tax reform, which will reduce the burden on all Americans and allow them to keep more of their hard-earned money.

We should seek to establish a wall of separation between government and the economy. The legitimate economic functions of government are to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. The government should stop attempting to “manage” the free market.

Capitalism is the only economic system that rewards risk, protects individual liberty, and furthers economic freedom. America will be most prosperous and free when the government stops interfering with private economic decision-making.

Text and video both courtesy of www.bobbarr2008.com, Rep. Barr's official campaign Web site. 

 

BARR'S ECONOMIC TRACK RECORD

EARMARKS ARE AN OUTRAGEOUS ABUSE BY CONGRESSMEN TO BUY VOTES

Government spending at all levels is out of control. Most Americans understand the problem of "earmarks," commonly used by pork-minded congressmen to buy votes. But while earmarks are an outrageous abuse of the taxpayer's money, they account for a very small percentage of federal spending. Over the past decade, total government spending (state, local and federal) has increased from $2.9 trillion to an astonishing $5.1 trillion in 2008. The $3.1 trillion federal budget submitted by President Bush for next year was greater than the combined 1998 spending of the federal government, all 50 states and over 87,000 local governments.

The federal government must take the lead in making significant cuts in spending. Focusing on earmarks risks distracting attention from the broader problem of a government wildly wasting the money of hard-working Americans.

Source: Campaign website, www.bobbarr2008.com, "Issues" Apr 22, 2008, accessed through www.ontheissues.com

 

REMOVE BOTH EARMARKS AND CUT THE UNDERLYING SPENDING

Barr's speech to the Heartland audience touched on the issues the candidates for the two major status quo parties have not addressed sufficiently, namely: the urgent need for truly cutting the size of the federal government, protecting our civil liberties, securing our borders, and fundamentally reforming our tax code.

"Removing 'earmarks' but not cutting the underlying spending is simply government as usual and is nothing more than a cynical shell game," Barr stated; adding, "and that's the high water mark in the debate thus far." Barr said this is not adequate, and that "America's voters deserve better than a choice between the lesser of two evils."

Source: Press release, "Presidential Exploratory Committee" Apr 5, 2008, accessed through www.ontheissues.com

ALLOW $3 ON 1040 FORM TO PAY OFF NATIONAL DEBT

Barr co-sponsored allowing $3 on 1040 form to pay off National Debt

Official Congressional Summary: Amends the Internal Revenue Code to permit an individual to designate three dollars on his or her income tax return (six dollars on a joint return) to be used to reduce the public debt of the United States.

Sponsor's Introductory Statement: Pres. Eisenhower apparently once said that he believed that there could be no surplus as long as our Nation was in debt. I come from that school of thought, and yet that is not exactly where we are right now in Washington.

Where we are right now is debating whether or not 90 percent or 50 percent, or some number in between, of these projected future surpluses should be allocated to the debt. What struck me is the fact that really more than just the Congress should be involved in that debate. It is for that reason that I introduce today the Taxpayers' Choice Debt Reduction Act.

What this bill would do would be to simply take the 1040, the tax return as we now know it. And right now, we can send $3 to the presidential campaign. This would create another box wherein we could send 3 bucks to debt reduction. That is not enough money to change our national debt, but it is enough money to make a small step in an important debate that we all ought to be a part of.

Legislative Outcome: Referred to the House Committee on Ways and Means; never called for a House vote.

Source: Taxpayers' Choice Debt Reduction Act (H.R.5349) 00-HR5349 on Sep 29, 2000, accessed through www.ontheissues.com

 

Check back soon for the following presidential candidates economic plans: Socialist and Liberationist Gloria La Riva, Prohibitionist Gene Admondson and Green Cynthia McKinney.

The Elections Notebook is intended as a "jumping-off point"--be sure to do your own research for more detailed information about Barr's past regarding economic issues as well as the former Congressman's economic plans. 

Barr's official Web site
Barr "On the Issues"
Barr's official blog
Interview with Glenn Beck
Wikipedia for Rep. Barr