Dan Sherrier

The Libertarian Party’s chairman said that the Republican Party’s hero “was not serious about cutting the size of government.”

I receive the Libertarian Party’s “Monday message” each week, as a byproduct of the brief period before the 2008 election when I wasn’t sure if I could bring myself to vote for John McCain…until I realized that “the enemy of my enemy is my friend.” (That must be what McCain meant when he began every other sentence with “My friends…”)

Just another big-government Republican?

I couldn’t let Virginia turn blue and asphyxiate (though of course, it did anyway,) so I gave up on the Libertarians for that particular election cycle. But I never bothered to unsubscribe to their newsletter, so I wound up with this interesting e-mail a few days ago.

It certainly provoked some thought.

During an interview with Reason.tv, Libertarian Party Chairman William Redpath denounced Ronald Reagan’s spending. The newsletter by Libertarian National Committee Executive Director Wes Benedict elaborates on this topic.

The criticisms have some validity–Reagan was human and therefore not perfect–but they’re ignoring the historical context.

Benedict writes, “For example, during Reagan’s eight years in office, the federal government spent a total of about 22% of GDP. (That’s the biggest-spending eight years since World War II.) Spending grew from $678 billion to $1.14 trillion. So much for cutting government.”

I admit, during the 1980s, I was more concerned with Kermit the Frog’s management of “The Muppet Show” than I was with Reagan’s handling of governmental affairs. So I don’t profess to know all the exact facts and figures, though I’ve been trying to educate myself in recent months. As far as I know, Benedict’s assertion sounds about right.

But he fails to mention this little thing called “The Cold War,” which Reagan was working to end. Since I grew up without the fear of nuclear annihilation, it seems his administration succeeded in that objective.

“Peace through strength” was the motto. If the federal government is going to ramp up spending, then defense is the best area to do it, especially when there’s a hostile super-power like the Soviet Union to worry about.

Granted, there was more going on than the Cold War, but Reagan shouldn’t take the blame for every cent spent during his two terms. The Democrats controlled Congress. I doubt Reagan and the Democratic Congressmen were in lock-step too often.

Benedict goes on: “Reagan also escalated the War on Drugs, heightened trade barriers, and increased farm subsidies. And of course, he sent the federal debt through the roof.”

Fair point on the War on Drugs. Nice idea, good intentions, but not the government’s job. I loathe drugs, but I’d rather see parents teaching their kids to say no. It’s not something for which you should need a government program.

Another major criticism springs to mind. In his speeches and interviews, Reagan spoke of returning certain responsibilities from the federal to the state level. But that didn’t happen. We still need to do that, as there remain such agencies as the federal Department of Education.

Despite his faults, I consider him the best 20th century president. He was absolutely correct to make the Cold War his top priority, and again, he succeeded in bringing about a peaceful resolution. Before that, shortly after stepping into office, he helped resolve the energy crisis by deregulating oil.

But no, he was not perfect, and today’s Republicans need to accept that. There’s nothing to gain by deifying Reagan and molding him into some model of conservative perfection. Certainly, any party would love to replicate the electoral successes of Reagan, but it would be a mistake for anyone to strive to become “the next Ronald Reagan.”

Reagan was the right guy at the right time. He was who we needed in the 1980s.

It’s not the 1980s anymore, however. I know this because I’m not spending my mornings watching Jim Henson shows and the USA Cartoon Express.

In terms of enemies, the Soviets and the Taliban are further apart than Lex Luthor and the Joker. Spending a trillion dollars is far different from owing multiple trillions. The growing senior population makes Social Security and Medicare far less sustainable than it might have looked 25 years ago.

The next president needs to be someone better than Reagan, and he or she needs a better Congress to work with.

Respect Reagan’s accomplishments, acknowledge his faults, remember it all, and move forward.

And with that, I’ve probably offended people from all across the spectrum. So allow me to shift gears slightly…

More from the Libertarian’s newsletter: “Republicans and Democrats sometimes make good promises, but they never deliver. By supporting Libertarians, you send a clear message that you want more freedom and less government, and you’re not buying the hypocrisy of the Rs and Ds.”

This reminds me of a “South Park” episode about Wal-Mart.

The Wal-Mart store had taken on a life of its own and was supernaturally compelling people to shop there. The town eventually defeats the evil store, and they celebrate by shopping at a small, local business. But because everyone’s shopping at this place, it grows and grows, until it becomes the next major chain of super-stores. And the town again must defeat a malignant, gigantic retail establishment.

True, today, the Libertarian Party leaders may hold stronger convictions than the leaders of the Republicans or Democrats. But bolstering a third party does not fix the inherent flaw in the party system. When a party grows large enough to compete for real power, that power’s likely to corrupt it.

Is there any way we can dissolve all of these political parties and just have individuals run for office?

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