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Up to the minute notes on the current state of free thinking and free living: Kentucky moonshine - original analysis and reporting from MoreThings, and all round pop culture museum of sight and sound - photo galleries, mp3 and video downloads.
Al Barger and MoreThings - getting people's goats since 1998.
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August 22, 2002
Bouncing Barr a net plus for liberty
Republican Bob Barr was beat in Tuesday's Georgia primary in his congressional re-election bid by fellow incumbent John Linder, whom he had been thrown up against because of re-districting. Some sliver of credit should go to Libertarian Party members running ad campaigns against him on the basis of his fanatical opposition to medical marijuana patients, or any other drug law reform.
On the other hand, some libertarian types, such as Jacob Sullum at Reason magazine, have lamented his loss on the grounds that -other than on the drug war- Barr was noted as one of the more conscionable members of congress on civil liberties issues. For example, he was skeptical of the big post 9-11 "USA Patriot Act," pushing for at least some modest consideration of constitutional liberties.
This does bear giving him some credit. Also, he should get at least a couple of points for pushing the Clinton impeachment.
However, the net damage of his drug war insanity pretty much neutralizes whatever benefits he brought to protecting constitutional liberties. About a wash.
Moreover, consider the other side. John Linder may not be the most vociferous exponent of guarding civil rights generally, but he's made a signature issue of opposing the income tax. Not that he wants to reform or streamline it, but actually ELIMINATE it. I could do without the national sales tax he'd like to replace it with, but it would still be a huge improvement. Income taxes are a greater evil even than the drug war. Income taxation may be the one federal program that wreaks more destruction on our privacy and liberties than the war on drug users.
Congressman Linder's proposal to eliminate income taxes would do more on a wholesale level to relieve our constitutional suffering than anything Barr has done.
posted by Al at 8/22/2002 03:31:00 AM
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