Link to the July Michigan Libertarian
By Katie Nepton, Libertarian Candidate for State Senate in District 24
Editor’s note: This article has been submitted by a candidate seeking the Libertarian Party nomination through the primary system. The Michigan Libertarian provides equal access to any Libertarian Party of Michigan member who is seeking the nomination through this process without endorsing one candidate over another or the candidates’ views.
I believe in freedom. I believe each American should be given as much freedom in running their lives as possible. I believe every time we take away any freedom we undo the possibilities of tomorrow.
More specifically I believe in the freedom to marry the person you choose; I believe in the freedom to have access to medical procedures and medical products; and the freedom to do with your body as you see fit.
Marriage should be open to all adults, and only adults. The right to divorce should exist. The right to have an abortion should exist. The right to end one’s life should exist. The right to ask for help, from a trained medical professional, in ending your life should exist. The right for that trained medical professional to assist someone in achieving their death on their own terms and at their own time should exist.
I believe bigotry is wrong but if you cause no harm you have not given the government a reason to play a role in your bigotry. I believe when you act against a protected group because of the reason they are protected (for example hating someone because of their skin color, ethnicity, age, religion, who they love, etc. is revolting but not a government issue; refusing to hire/lease to/do business with that person because they are in that category is illegal and is a government issue.)
I believe the more we can keep the government out of our lives the better.
I believe businesses should be left alone to exist and be and grow or remain the same as they see fit. I believe businesses left alone will feel the pressure of the free market and conform or perish under a free market system. If the government insists on invading businesses then I believe a ratio wage instead of a minimum wage would be better for America. This is where the CEO’s hourly rate (including bonuses, etc.) cannot be more than X times more than the hourly rate of the lowest person on the totem pole. If the CEO gets a raise, everyone else must too. In the event America is stuck with a minimum wage then in any company where any employee qualifies for a government sponsored social program the company must bear the burden for those employees. My taxes should not go to pay for the food/medical care of your full time worker because you don’t want to pay a real wage. A multi-million dollar company who knows their employees will get their needs from the government should be held accountable to the government, in full, for that bill.
I believe local small businesses would do a better job at taking over some of the state infrastructure. The state employee in the green plow who drives into my mail box and sends it flying through the air should not have government immunity. A small local company which was hired by the government to accomplish a task would be better suited to achieving that task.
Getting the government out of the non-governmental areas of our lives will improve our lives, our economy, our America.
Readers may connect with Katie Nepton at: www.facebook.com/neptonforsenate
