Why Democrats Should hang it up and become Libertarians

Danny Salazar
Aug 27, 2017 · 6 min read

I get it. From the time I was first able to vote I was a Democrat. I proudly went down to the voting booth and filled in the blank “Barack Obama- Democrat”. I was a part of history. The very first African American President was elected and I got to play a part in it.

Living in Nebraska being barely 21 years old I spent some time in the Obama For America “Obama-ha” office. I made calls and handed out bumper stickers. It was wonderful and I was proud. Election Night 2008 was a good night, but the years that followed proved to me that some things are too good to be true. As the months and the years wore on I saw Obama do the same things I hated about George Bush. I saw my gas prices spike, the housing market become over burdened to a point where a simple guy like me who’s made a mistake or 2 can’t buy a house. I saw us in endless war. The Obama years were in many ways a let down. Now don’t get me wrong Obama did some good. Killing Osama Bin Laden, Pardoning Non-Violent Drug Offenders, and empowering the private sector to take us to Mars are all good things, but that’s not what this is about. This is aimed to every democrat who feels left out, who feels the party left them, who sees what’s going on, and that they have a home politically, even if it’s one you won’t expect. Many Democrats wouldn’t dream of becoming Libertarians but when you take an honest inventory of what you believe, maybe you too can find a home here.

All Rights Are Human Rights

The way we worship, who we love, what we do with our own bodies is not the Government’s business. You have the freedom to believe what you want per your personal convictions.

When people say “Black Lives Matter”. I say. “Damn right, but we need to take steps to open up economic activity to all especially in neighborhoods with minorities, they have been getting the shaft”

When Women say “My Body My Choice” I say “Yes that’s right, but your wallet your choice” if you want to donate money to planned parenthood? Go for it! No one will stop you, but we also believe that those who disagree shouldn’t be forced to pay for it via taxes.

When someone says “My Second Amendment Rights are Sacred” I say “Yes they are, but you also have the choice not to own a gun, or even like guns”

As a Democrat I valued the idea that what I do in my bedroom was no business of the Government. What I did in my own house provided I hurt no one was my own business. These ideas made me feel good but one Freedom was missing.

Your Wallet Your Choice

When you sit back and really think about the money that comes out of your paycheck, those extra few cents that come out when you pump gas, the extra money you put in when you stop at the store, what about the money we pay our utility companies? Taxes we are so immune to it that we don’t even think. Democrats (myself included) believe that taxes were what we paid to live in this nice place, that we needed to do it to keep society in tact. But when we ask the question of what happens should we refuse to pay up when the bill comes in April?People with guns will show up to your house and lock you up like an animal, if that’s not robbery I don’t know what is.

Libertarians value caring for the poor. They don’t value doing anything at gun point. So individuals, organizations, and churches can and should come together to take care of each other.

When someone is down on their luck they go down to the office where they apply for what they need. It often times takes weeks to process, then you get the minimum. If someone needs food we can feed them. It’s as easy as showing up and giving them what they need. If they get a job and income goes up they don’t risk loosing that safety net because with charity limits aren’t set to keep you poor . When someone is in need we spring fourth into action. That’s what Libertarians do. No huge amounts of paperwork, no hoops to jump, no calling the office praying your phone doesn’t disconnect in the middle of the call.

We also believe that you should be able to choose what utility services you want, what health insurance you want, and what kind of water you want to use. If you want to collect rain water and drink it go for it.

While we may never rid the country of taxes, people who identify as Libertarians will fight for transparency so we know what we are paying for, and when we disagree we know we can call our reps and demand that change.

As far as the roads go, we should only pay for the ones we use. Maybe when we all take individual ownership of them they would be fixed in a quick matter.

When things are funded with taxes we tend not to hold them accountable for providing bad service because we don’t always see the money come out or think of it. If we got as outraged over pot holes as we did Burger King putting onions on your burger when you told them not to, I don’t think any of us would end up with nails in our tires.

Criminal Justice Reform-

Libertarians want to fix our justice system. If you do something and only you are the victim, you won’t be thrown into a cage.

If you make a mistake, or if you have a lapse in judgment. If you make it right it won’t follow you your entire life (unless you are a sex offender)

If you want to smoke a little grass, drink some beer made in your basement, have sexual relations with someone you pay of consenting age no jail. What you do is your business and no one else’s.

But the Democrats Did_______.

The Democrats claim to be the party of racial equality, that’s wrong President Johnson signed the Civil Rights act because minorities were “getting uppity” and that if he took these steps then they would “vote democrat for 200 years”.

The Democrats claim to be the party of Peace, yet we have had plenty of war under Democrats. Obama couldn’t even shut down Guantanamo Bay.

The Democrats claim they want to eradicate poverty, yet the system discourages people from working.

Lets get the Government out of it. Lets trust people that they know better what to do with their hard earned money.

As a former Democrat, If you feel the Democrats are a sinking ship and you are looking for options, don’t jump to the Green Party until you have met with a Libertarian.

Many Libertarians come from the Republican Party and because if that we’ve kind of caught a bad reputation for being greedy and stingy (even though stats show conservatives give more to charities than progressives). A few bleeding hearts in the party can help us grow and become more creative, as a result we can begin to win elections and actually do the things to make our world a better place.

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Danny Salazar

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Follower of Jesus-Nignt Owl- Caffine Addict -Political Neard of the Liberal Viriatey- Husband- Father- Worker

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