Reason magazine asked a number of libertarian writers a few questions about the upcoming election. Since my questionnaire was apparently lost in the mail, I figured I’d save them the trouble of updating their article by posting my answers here.
1. Who are you voting for in November?
Bob Barr of the Libertarian party. If the Illinois polls suddenly close up, I’ll switch to Barack Obama, because the Republican party deserves to suffer a legendary ass-kicking.
2. Who did you vote for in 2004 and 2000?
Kerry, to get rid of Bush, and whoever the Libertarians ran in 2000.
3. Is this the most important election in your lifetime?
Feels like it. I’m not too sure how to judge these things. The 2000 election didn’t seem like much of a big deal until we got to see Bush in action.
4. What will you miss about the Bush administration?
The chance to kick Republicans around. As a libertarian who started out as a Democrat, I’ve had to listen to too many Republicans claiming that their party is all about freedom. Bush’s totalitarian leanings have been a handy way to dispute their smug assertions.
5. Leaving George W. Bush out of consideration, what former U.S. president would you most like to have waterboarded?
Woodrow Wilson. Radley Balko says it best: “Jailed political dissenters, created the Federal Trade Commission, got us into World War I. He also enacted the first federal income tax, the first modern military draft, and the first federal drug prohibition. Wilson also re-segregated the federal government…An all-around loathesome human being.”
Outstanding post. I concur on #1. I *was* going to vote for Bob Barr, tight race or not, until McCain picked Palin. I knew then that I couldn’t risk being part of a narrow margin of victory for that moronic ticket.