Being a libertarian-minded individual, I tend to vote based on principles rather than party. Granted, that is a dangerous position to take, since you can end up with the wrong party in power wrecking our lives, but history has demonstrated that no party is really better than the other. At least for my tastes.
This year it looks like the Democrats are the big losers. While there is a chance for a landslide inducing October surprise, I’d say the Republicans will take the House and may secure a larger minority in the Senate. It is unfortunate that we are faced with a obvious choice, but I’ve put together a set of guidelines that should help steer your decision in the right direction. With many primaries coming up, it’s probably something we need to keep in mind so that we don’t get Statist Republicans running against Statist Democrats:
- If the Republican candidate has ever tried in the past to run as a Democrat, then you shouldn’t vote for said Republican. No matter what light this person claims to have seen, you shouldn’t trust a party jumper, especially in this highly partisan political environment we are in.
- Not only should you vet the views of the candidate, but the views of the candidate’s spouse. The person’s spouse can have a huge impact on the political outlook, whether you realize it or not. I suspect that this is why both President Bush’s never really did much with the abortion issue despite having the power to do much more. Both president’s wives were pro-choice and I’m sure wielded some level of influence on them. Actually, I think President George W. Bush was the only potential pro-life person of the four and given his past actions, I hardly think he was pro-life himself.
- Check what issues they emphasize more. If they push social issues over fiscal ones, then you have a candidate who will probably not engage in fiscal responsibility and instead focus on pushing the circular morality complex that we find ourselves in. Given the nature of the times, now is not the time to be wasting money on the morality police when we really need to be making deep cuts in government spending.
- Does the candidate support any kind of welfare program, be it Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, Food Stamps, Unemployment “Insurance”, etc.? If so, then this candidate is either a week-kneed coward or a Statist. Neither one makes for a great candidate.
- Does their campaign appeal to their personal life more so than their ideas? If so, then you may be looking at someone with some very Statist stances on key issues.
- Is the candidate a lawyer by trade? This is probably likely but if not, then you’ve got a better choice. The Law profession is by nature a Statist profession because legal matters are matters of State. In fact, if the candidate has any previous experience in working for the government, you should analyze that and be aware that Statists tend to work for the state before they end up running things.
- Does the candidate appeal to emotion rather than make appeals to reason? If so, then you’re looking at a opportunists who has no love for truth and logic, but anything that can get him or her elected. The greatest tyrannies perpetrated upon people in the modern era has been justified through emotion rather than reason.
This is a basic guideline for choosing a liberty-minded candidate within the Republican party. Remember these are just guidelines and I’m sure that every candidate will not meet 100% of these standards. But it should help to eliminate the more questionable candidates. But hey, if you’re not happy with the Republican, you can always vote third party or just write-in your own name. I won’t fault you if you do.