As some may know David Koch ran as the vice presidential candidate on the Libertarian Party ticket with then presidential candidate, Edward Clark. They ran against President Jimmy Carter and Republican candidate, Ronald Reagan on a platform which may have appeared somewhat ridiculous then but sounds disturbingly familiar today. Bernie Sanders, senator of Vermont, was kind enough to dig up this election platform on which David Koch ran 34 years ago and, as we’ve seen in recent years, still clings to. Unfortunately, in today’s political environment he appears to be making headway toward, at least, some of his agenda goals.
Here is a sample of the whole wish list;
- “We urge the repeal of federal campaign finance laws, and the immediate abolition of the despotic Federal Election Commission.” [DONE]
- “We favor the abolition of Medicare and Medicaid programs.”
- “We oppose any compulsory insurance or tax-supported plan to provide health services, including those which finance abortion services.”
- “We also favor the deregulation of the medical insurance industry.”
- “We favor the repeal of the fraudulent, virtually bankrupt, and increasingly oppressive Social Security system. Pending that repeal, participation in Social Security should be made voluntary.”
- “We propose the abolition of the governmental Postal Service. The present system, in addition to being inefficient, encourages governmental surveillance of private correspondence. Pending abolition, we call for an end to the monopoly system and for allowing free competition in all aspects of postal service.”
- “We oppose all personal and corporate income taxation, including capital gains taxes.”
- “We support the eventual repeal of all taxation.”
- “As an interim measure, all criminal and civil sanctions against tax evasion should be terminated immediately.”
- “We support repeal of all law which impede the ability of any person to find employment, such as minimum wage laws.”
“We advocate the complete separation of education and State. Government schools lead to the indoctrination of children and interfere with the free choice of individuals. Government ownership, operation, regulation, and subsidy of schools and colleges should be ended.” - “We condemn compulsory education laws … and we call for the immediate repeal of such laws.”
- “We support the repeal of all taxes on the income or property of private schools, whether profit or non-profit.”
- “We support the abolition of the Environmental Protection Agency.”
- “We support abolition of the Department of Energy.”
- “We call for the dissolution of all government agencies concerned with transportation, including the Department of Transportation.”
“We demand the return of America’s railroad system to private ownership. We call for the privatization of the public roads and national highway system.” [Even though tax monies build all of these] - “We specifically oppose laws requiring an individual to buy or use so-called “self-protection” equipment such as safety belts, air bags, or crash helmets.”
- “We advocate the abolition of the Federal Aviation Administration.”
- “We advocate the abolition of the Food and Drug Administration.”
- “We support an end to all subsidies for child-bearing built into our present laws, including all welfare plans and the provision of tax-supported services for children.”
- “We oppose all government welfare, relief projects, and ‘aid to the poor’ programs. All these government programs are privacy-invading, paternalistic, demeaning, and inefficient. The proper source of help for such persons is the voluntary efforts of private groups and individuals.”
- “We call for the privatization of the inland waterways, and of the distribution system that brings water to industry, agriculture and households.”
- “We call for the repeal of the Occupational Safety and Health Act.”
- “We call for the abolition of the Consumer Product Safety Commission.”
- “We support the repeal of all state usury laws.” [Laws which protect against predatory lending practices specifically placing caps on excessively high interest rates.]
A great many of these have been adopted by the current Republican Party. And should they win the Senate in these 2014 midterm elections (a task made easier with recent Supreme Court decisions, newly gerrymandered districts and voter suppression laws), this could well be the direction they take this country down, especially if they unite against the power of the Presidential veto.
If nothing else this should motivate anyone reading to make a stern pledge to stand up and VOTE this year. Convince your neighbors to vote. Rally your family members to get out and vote. Turnout is the most important issue this year and so far Republicans are the only ones motivated. Time to change that calculus.
GET OUT THE VOTE
to keep America sane.
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Tagged: Affordable Care Act, conservatives, Koch Brothers, libertarian, Medicaid, Medicare, Obamacare, Politics, Republicans, Taxes
