:: walterindenver ::

:: Thursday, November 07, 2002 ::

A Libertarian Take On the Election

A great election cycle for the Libertarian Party. Here in Colorado the LP won two county-wide partisan elections by landslide proportions. Additionally, one race took over 50,000 votes in a single county in a losing effort.
Nationwide, some high profile candidacies were disappointing. Carla Howell managed only 1% in the race for Mass. governor. At the same time her ballot initiative to end the state income tax won over 45% of the vote. That was more than 10% better than the polling numbers predicted. It's hard to understate the significance of that vote in a leftist leaning state like Mass., and in spite of universal opposition from Republican politicians. Safe to say, similar ballot initiatives will be coming to a state near you, and soon.
The best news of all were the unexpected Republican victories, taking control of the federal legislature. It seems they took a page from the Democrats by bringing out the vote in a highly organized election day effort. I don't think there's so much of a shift in mainstream philosophy as simply a better organized Republican party. Democrats assumed, naively, that the electorate would be incensed by the Republican 'theft' of the 2000 presidential election and vote against them this time around. The truth is that the Republicans and independents felt even more strongly that the Democrats made an attempt to circumvent the legal process in Florida.
So, why do I, a partisan Libertarian, see a positive in Republican victory? After all, gridlock is the next best thing to libertarian government. It's because the minarchists in the Republican Party have nowhere to hide. They'll have to put up or shut up.
I'll make a few easy predictions; under Republican rule, the federal government will continue to grow, probably at a faster pace than ever. Government intrusions on a personal level will become more egregious. Small government advocates will have no place in the Republican Party.
Coming elections will provide fertile ground for libertarians of both the large and small 'L' varieties.

UPDATE - Dale Amon touts the Mass. results.

:: Walter 11:16 PM [+] ::
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Big Night

The blogosphere is hyperactive tonight, with commentary on election night. I'd stay and join the fun but I'm on my way to a Libertarian Party victory celebration. Mrs. In Denver will be signing copies of her pinup calendar. She's miss December. Order one now, it's for a good cause.

Yes, I did say Libertarian Party victory celebration.

:: Walter 5:34 PM [+] ::
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To Vote or Not to Vote

Dean Esmay advocates not voting, for all the right reasons:

Indeed, if you don't take the time to inform yourself on the issues, and make a rational choice based on that, I'd like to suggest that it's your duty as a citizen to stay out of the voting booth. I really mean that. If you do not follow the news, the issues debated, and the people involved, please do not vote on Tuesday.

Likewise, I'm tired of public appeals for people to get out and vote. It is certainly not your duty to vote. Better yet, stick to the candidates and issues you know. Don't be afraid to leave blank spaces on the ballot.

Arthur Silber also recommends not voting. I can't quite agree with his reasoning, which I've heard from other libertarians before. Vodkapundit doesn't agree with him, either.

:: Walter 3:01 PM [+] ::
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Surfing

I was getting away from politics for a few moments this morning, reading an innocent article in the Albuquerque Tribune about on-line fan sites. These are places where college sports fans go to share opinions on their favorite teams, trade gossip, typical internet noise. Then I come across this:

"A lot of (fan-sites) are just gripe boxes," UNM Athletic Director Rudy Davalos said. "This is a free country and everybody can do what they want to do. We have a loose situation in what people can say in terms of profanity and nastiness."
Davalos continued: "The only scary part of it is that the government would allow people to analyze and not have any credibility. The problem is being scared for our country that they allow this."

That's right, someone in a responsible position at the University of New Mexico thinks the government should do something about this pesky internet thing.
I wonder if there's someone at the University to follow Rudy around and keep him away from sharp objects. Seems prudent.

:: Walter 7:05 AM [+] ::
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SNOW!!

Arapahoe Basin got hit with 45" in October.It looks like more than they got all last year, and they won't even open for a couple of weeks yet.

:: Walter 7:02 AM [+] ::
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A Quiz I Like

Which Founding Father Are You?

Well of course I would like that. None of it's true, you know.

:: Walter 6:56 AM [+] ::
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ILTE of the Day

This letter from C. DeMarco is found in today's Houston Chronicle, asking for voters to approve more money for the local school district. Excerpt:

I know $808.6 million seems like a lot for the Houston Independent School District to be asking for, especially since Houstonians just passed a $678 million bond issue in 1998. But before voting, please consider that HISD has shown it can be fiscally responsible with taxpayers' money.

This problem is not confined to Houston, school districts around the nation ask for similar budget increases on a regular basis. So I looked up the Houston school budget numbers (pdf file) and found the predictable figures.

Students : 210,670
Expenditures for 2002: $1,410,428,699.

As in 1.4+ BILLION dollars. That works out to $6694.96* per student. You don't often see school district spokespeople trumpeting those kind of numbers when they agitate for tax increases.

The sad fact is that the typical U.S. school district is overfunded while it underperforms.

* That's slightly under the Denver school district budget numbers, per pupil. Denver boasts a higher cost of living. And a similar crummy school system.

:: Walter 8:04 PM [+] ::
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Happy Birthday to Sammy's Data

Hard to believe that the blogging phenomenon is only a year old. Head on over there and toast to their continued success. Which is what I'll do, too.

:: Walter 6:48 AM [+] ::
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