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CAN AMERICA BE SAVED, AND CAN THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY DO IT?

05 January 2005

A speech to the Doylestown, Pennsylvania Kiwanis Club about the Libertarian Party.  Written and presented by Arthur Farnsworth.

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen.  It is a privilege to have been asked to join you today and speak about the Libertarian Party.  My name is Arthur Farnsworth, I'm 42 years old, I've been a citizen of Pennsylvania since 1985, and I currently have a home in West Rockhill Township, Bucks County, where I serve as an elected Libertarian township auditor.  I have run as a Libertarian for inspector and judge of elections positions in that township; in 2003, I ran for Bucks County commissioner, obtaining approximately 3900 votes, and in 2004, I ran for the U.S. House of Representatives, coming in third with 3710 votes.  I'm an embedded microprocessor firmware engineer, looking for some more consulting work in my field.  I serve as choir director at my church, volunteer for the Main Street Theatre and Meals on Wheels, and I'm currently one of the most prominent local members of the tax honesty movement.

Can America be saved, and can the Libertarian Party do it?  That is what we shall examine for the next half hour.

Two-hundred twenty-nine years ago the members of the Continental Congress risked everything that they had and signed the Declaration of Independence.  After consideration of the relationship between the colonies and the British government, and of the ideal that men have certain inalienable rights, this group of men documented these ideals, listed their grievances, and absolved the states from all allegiance to the British Crown.

This was no small thing to do.  Great Britain had a mighty navy, and its land forces weren't too shabby, either.

The last sentence of this powerful declaration reads, "And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."  That's nice, in that it conveys a sense of unity.  Bound together are we for the fight ahead.  Recall, however, that these patriots back then were numerically the minority.  Many colonists tolerated Britain's rule, and were certainly not of the mind set that they should, let alone could, break off ties.  To do so would certainly bring upon them the wrath of the most powerful military in the world.  Other colonists enjoyed Britain's rule.  They had become wealthy here in the new land.  Britain provided both trade and protection, and these landowners no doubt saw independence as a risk to their fortune.

Thus, the Declaration of Independence ends with a statement that was proudly and resolutely made by the members of the Continental Congress, but not by the majority of colonists.  The very words of this phrase tell us that these men knew the potential for great risk, and that they planned to rely upon each other and upon the protection of the Lord, no matter what the cost.  But, they did not just rely upon each other.  This last sentence of the Declaration begins with this phrase, "And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence..."  Webster's 1828 dictionary defines providence as follows: "In theology, the care and superintendence which God exercises over his creatures."

"And for the support of this declaration, with a firm Reliance on the Protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our Fortunes, and our sacred Honor."

Our founding fathers were indeed brave men, but they believed that the Lord, our Father in heaven, would protect them as they strove for independence from Great Britain and the resulting freedom to live their lives as they saw fit.

Let us put a few key thoughts from this material on our mental blackboards: unity; bravery; willingness to risk much, if not all, for a better life; reliance on God; and conviction that man must live free.  Also put on your blackboard the idea that a minority of the citizens can take the lead in a great task such as the one that our founders faced.

It was eleven years later that the founders ratified a Constitution, designed to establish a framework for a government based upon these ideals.  The government was to be small, and it was to allow us to live our lives as we see fit, not as politicians see fit.

We know from history that the aforementioned principles are ones worthy of our possession.  Our nation's genesis was based upon them, and the freedom and prosperity of its citizens for the first one hundred years of its existence blossomed as a result of them.

The Libertarian Party was formed in 1971 by a small group of disillusioned Republicans, Democrats, and political newcomers.  It has grown to become the third largest political party in the nation.  It has run candidates for president on down to township level offices in nearly every election cycle in the past two decades.  The national party claims that there are over six hundred Libertarians serving in public office, more than all other minor parties combined.  Here in Pennsylvania, we have nearly 50 Libertarians serving in public office, and in Bucks County, three, including myself.  That's good, but is it enough?

From late 1994 to early 2001, the number of registered Libertarian voters in Bucks County increased sixfold, from 650 to 3379, and that number now hovers just under 3000.  That's good, too, but is it enough?

The Libertarian Party is the sensible political home for citizens tired of big government, and with a $7 trillion debt, few people can or will claim that our federal government is not big.  The Libertarian Party is present and active in all fifty states and the District of Columbia.  Its platform reflects the design of our federal government - a republic strictly limited in size and scope by the Constitution for the United States, specifically, as I pointed out in my congressional campaign, Article I Section 8.  Polls reveal that many Americans have libertarian leanings.  With many libertarian-leaning Americans, a political party present in all fifty states that agrees with their principles, and an intrusive and bloated federal bureaucracy, they should be flocking to the Libertarian Party in droves.  That's good, but is it enough?

Apparently not, because Libertarian Party membership numbers are not increasing at a rate that indicates "flocking."

Let's take a quick look at the concepts we put on our mental blackboard a few minutes ago, and see if they apply to our nation's leaders today.  The first was unity.  We Libertarians are quick to point out that today's politicians are united, but not in the noble way that our founders were.  The founders were united in an effort to throw off oppression, while the Republicans and Democrats of today are united in bringing it on.  Some examples: government-run health care, the costly war on drugs, government-run retirement, rights elimination via the misnamed USA PATRIOT Act, restriction of free trade and free travel, a national ID card on the drawing board, and the domestic terrorist organization better known as the Internal Revenue Service.  Let's face it - there are no real ideological differences remaining between the Republicans and Democrats - it's simply become a contest to see which of them can own your life and grow the size, cost, and intrusiveness of the government at a faster rate.

The second and third concepts, which are related, were bravery and a willingness to risk much, if not all, for a better life.  One could say that our politicians are brave, in that they ignore the supreme law of the land on a routine basis.  They should fear impeachment or expulsion from office for their misdeeds, but we Americans let them get away with it.  A willingness to risk much?  Today's elected officials risk little of their own.  The only risk to anything is that risk to the natural rights and liberties of the citizens, as politicians pass legislation that ignores both the law of man and of God.

The fourth blackboard concept was reliance on God.  President George Bush reportedly believes that the Lord wants him to ignore the constitutional provision that only the Congress can declare war, send American boys and girls to Iraq, where over 1000 have now died with no end to the so-called war in sight, and first destroy then rebuild Iraq.  Of course, Dubya will siphon billions from Americans to finance his mission of conquest.  Earth to Bush - God's law says, "Thou shalt not kill".  Perhaps Mr. Bush should put a copy of both the ten commandments and the Constitution on the wall of the Oval Office.  It's evident that he has not recently read either.

Our fifth blackboard concept was the conviction that man must live free.  America is racing quickly towards socialism, which the dictionary defines as, "a theory of ownership and operation of the means of production and distribution by society rather than by private individuals."  Our personal and land rights as individuals are disappearing quickly, so we can kiss this blackboard concept goodbye.

The last concept from the blackboard was that a minority of the citizens can take the lead in a great task such as the one that our founders faced.  Ah.  We're back to that.

Brrrrinnngg!  From the age of five through the age of seventeen, most American children hear a bell ring at least once an hour, and know that it's time to dutifully trudge from one class to the next.  Modern forced schooling started in Prussia in 1819, and was implemented here fifty nine years later, a short seven years after the King of Prussia paid us a visit.  The purpose of the Prussian Volksschule was not intellectual development at all, but socialization in obedience and subordination.  The traditional American education system purpose, which in most minds was to prepare the individual to be self-reliant, was forced out.  Subordinate is defined as, "below another in rank or importance, or under the authority of another."  Our political system was designed so that we the people would elect representatives from among us to serve us in government for a while to ensure that our rights and liberties were protected.  We were the masters, the politicians were the servants.  Not anymore.

Look at the evidence.  Americans today believe that their system of government is a democracy, not a constitutional republic.  Americans, rather than questioning the actions of elected officials and demanding compliance with American ideals, let alone the law, instead show obedience, no matter how egregious the legislation that comes forth from the capitals of our states and our nation.  American citizens have accepted a position of subordination.

Americans have been dumbed down by the education system.  They watch television rather than vote.  They don't attend township or county meetings.  They worry more about who is in the playoffs than who is in office.  They get their news from media that is in bed with the two-party monster.  God's law, which our nation was founded upon, is ripped from the walls of our courtrooms.  Author Claire Wolfe wrote in her book, 101 Things to Do 'Til the Revolution,

"America is at that awkward stage.  It's too late to work within the system, but too early to shoot the bastards."

Based upon the current catatonic state of my fellow Americans, I am tempted to believe her statement to be true.

Does this mean that the Libertarian Party exists for naught?

A friend of mine who is also a fellow Bucks County Libertarian and Tax Honesty Movement advocate, recently lamented that America, especially when one considers the corruption and fraud perpetrated by the government with regard to the federal income tax, is beyond hope.  I replied that if Americans really want their country back, all they have to do in the next election is vote for anyone other than a Republican or Democrat, and if there is no minor party candidate in a particular race, they shouldn't vote for either major party candidate, or write in "None of the Above."  Only when a clear message is sent to the incumbents that they must shape up or get shipped out, will they pay heed.

Perhaps the Libertarian Party does not exist for naught.

The Libertarian Party, by its very existence, has opened the door, offering to Americans in all fifty states a new political home, and a chance to take back their Republic.

Elected Libertarians work against tax increases.  Elected Libertarians shrink the size, cost, and intrusiveness of government.  Elected Libertarians are frequently looked upon not only by fellow politicians but also by their constituents with respect, because they serve with honesty and integrity.  Elected Libertarians work to end personal and corporate welfare, protect our environment while still protecting individual property rights, and end programs that take money from citizens and put it in the pocket of politicians and lobbyists.

That said, it's evident that the Libertarian Party does not exist for naught, but has the party of principle came about too late in America's history to save it?  I don't know for sure, but I refuse to give up.  The Libertarian Party refuses to give up.  If I'm not put in jail this April for my lawful efforts to expose the truth about the income tax law, I'll be running for office again against Mike Fitzpatrick.  Meanwhile, the Libertarian Party will continue to offer a home to those disgusted by the regime.  It will continue to educate Americans through its outreach efforts and the campaigns of its candidates for office.  Libertarian think tanks like the Cato Institute will continue to publicly extol the virtues of constitutionally limited government.  Libertarian activists such as myself will continue to expose the fraud of the federal income tax, offering proof that no American is made liable for the tax or has any taxable income.  Other Libertarian activists will advocate home schooling, call for an end to overseas aggression, and run high school and college campus organizations.  The door will remain open, and hopefully, through the combination of Libertarian education and Republican/Democrat persecution, enough Americans will pass through that door before America slips into oblivion.

Ladies and gentlemen, our government is persecuting us, depriving us of our rights and liberties.  Don't believe it?  Just ask the large number of young black males who are imprisoned for non-violent drug offenses.  Or, ask me.  I've had government agents hold guns to my head while they stole my property.  Will you continue to stand for it?

Our government at all levels is taking nearly one half of our earnings in taxes.  Will you continue to pay, even if that rate continues to rise?

Our government is controlling the education of our children, telling us what we can put into our bodies, preventing us from traveling freely and anonymously, monitoring most of our activities, and sitting back and laughing, because Americans continue to put these people back into positions of power, year after year after year.

America can be saved, but I don't believe that it is the Libertarian Party alone which will save it, it is you.

Even if you are a diehard Republican or Democrat, beholden to the system, Libertarians are banking on the idea that there's still some part of you that realizes the current system is wrong.  We're trusting that at some point, some action by these despots will push you over the edge, be it the implanting of an identification device into the arm of your child before he or she can be admitted to the government-run schools, or the increase of the combined tax rate from fifty percent to seventy-five percent or more.  Something is going to make you look elsewhere, and when you do, you will find that open door  You will stop supporting a system that breeds dependence and begin supporting one that provides freedom and encourages personal responsibility.  You'll join us in spreading the word of liberty throughout the land.  You'll stop America's slide toward socialism.  You'll help to once again make America the land of the free and the home of the brave.  You'll make our founding fathers proud.

The door is open, but I encourage you to run, not walk, through it.  Time is running out.

I'll leave you with the words of Dr. Joseph Warren, who speaking at Boston on March 5, 1775 on the Anniversary of the "Boston Massacre," had the following words of warning and inspiration,

"Our country is in danger, but not to be despaired of...On you depend the fortunes of America.  You are to decide the important question, on which rest the happiness and liberty of millions yet unborn.  Act worthy of yourselves."