Will minor parties do major damage?
Source, Paul Krugman: Vote as if It Matters – The New York Times
This is how Krugman begins his column (my bolding):
Does it make sense to vote for Gary Johnson, the Libertarian candidate for president? Sure, as long as you believe two things. First, you have to believe that it makes no difference at all whether Hillary Clinton or Donald Trump moves into the White House — because one of them will. Second, you have to believe that America will be better off in the long run if we eliminate environmental regulation, abolish the income tax, do away with public schools, and dismantle Social Security and Medicare — which is what the Libertarian platform calls for.
Later, he continues:
As I said, [the libertarian platform] calls for abolition of the income tax and the privatization of almost everything the government does, including education. “We would restore authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government.” And if parents don’t want their children educated, or want them indoctrinated in a cult, or put them to work in a sweatshop instead of learning to read? Not our problem.
What really struck me, however, was what the platform says about the environment. It opposes any kind of regulation; instead, it argues that we can rely on the courts. Is a giant corporation poisoning the air you breathe or the water you drink? Just sue: “Where damages can be proven and quantified in a court of law, restitution to the injured parties must be required.” Ordinary citizens against teams of high-priced corporate lawyers — what could go wrong?
I’ve been railing against “libertarianism” for a couple years now. I love that Krugman eviscerates it by stating the policies in one crisp, damning paragraph.
I’ve never been able to understand why anyone would vote for someone who is the current political mouthpiece for the Koch Brothers final solution to democracy.
Read the entire Krugman column, look into the libertarian platform (Krugman is more diplomatic than I am: he capitalizes the term as if it’s a real political party).
“Libertarian.” Sounds so good, doesn’t it? Suggests how all us Americans see the world. “Liberty!” It’s a soft and fuzzy word, sort of like Angel Soft and Quilted Northern. Both of which are Koch Brothers’ products.