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Saturday, July 23, 2016

Republicans going the way of the Whigs

The GOP Is a Dying Party. That’s Why I’m Running Against Trump. - POLITICO - Gary Johnson:

June 19, 2016 - "As a former Republican, I’m shocked that the party of Abraham Lincoln is nominating a man with a vision of America that doesn’t even resemble that of the party I once knew.... Despite the calls at the GOP convention in Cleveland for national unity, Donald Trump sees our country as a land of exclusion. He wants Americans to act as powerless serfs bullied by someone who says he will protect them. Throughout world history, that has been the calling card of Big Government autocrats.

"His character assaults are unbounded. His campaign has been one of serial attacks on opponents and climbing to the top by hurting people. And frankly, his immigration and trade policies appear to consist of the same strategies....

"In the period leading up to the Civil War, American politics was dominated by a Democratic Party and the Whig Party. The controversy over slavery split the Whigs, and the party embraced nativism, opposing immigration and members of certain religious faiths. The Republican Party is on its way to becoming like the Whigs. The Whigs died, then a new party came forward with an inspiring and positive vision for America.

"We in the Libertarian Party hope to do the same. We start out from a fundamental premise: As Americans, we believe in freedom. Every individual has dignity and is worthy of civility and respect. The core of our character is one of generous and enlightened self-interest: Every man and woman has the right to choose what to do with their time, their talents and their lives....

"We provide an honest, principled and sane alternative to the madness that we see in two so-called mainstream political parties. Today, Bill Weld and I want to offer that vision. Americans are tired of games. They want and deserve simple, straightforward and good government — not overwrought theatrics and demagoguery....

"Bill Weld and I believe that fiscal responsibility is at the core of what our government needs to do. We believe in a free market that allows entrepreneurs to launch businesses and to trade freely. We reject Trump's efforts to impose a 45 percent tariff on Chinese imports or a 35 percent tariff on Mexican imports.

"Gov. Weld and I propose to reduce government’s size and cost enough to make a balanced budget a reality rather than a talking point — without raising taxes. How can we say this so confidently? Because we did it as governors, in Democratic states.

"And about immigration.... As a governor of a border state, I understand that our nation needs to control our border. However, of the roughly 11 million undocumented immigrants in the U.S., a minute percentage present any real threat to our safety and security. The vast majority are here seeking opportunities and better lives, and they wouldn’t be 'illegal' if we had a functional system that made 'legal' immigration a viable option for those excluded by arbitrary quotas and bureaucratic paralysis.

"Immigration is one more example of the promise that is in America. How our government reacts to those who want to work hard and become a part of our nation is a test of character. Trump fails that test. Americans must have another choice."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/magazine/story/2016/07/trump-vp-gary-johnson-bill-weld-libertarian-214069
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