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| Libertarian presidential candidates clash in RT-hosted debate | Libertarian presidential candidates clash in RT-hosted debate |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| It is the third-largest party in America, yet its candidates for president are being excluded from national discourse by the Democrat-Republican duopoly. RT America is giving a voice to the Libertarian Party candidates in a televised debate. | It is the third-largest party in America, yet its candidates for president are being excluded from national discourse by the Democrat-Republican duopoly. RT America is giving a voice to the Libertarian Party candidates in a televised debate. |
| Marc Feldman, Kevin McCormick, and Darryl Perry are facing off before RT America’s 360-degree camera in a debate moderated by Watching the Hawks hosts Tyrel Ventura and Tabetha Wallace. | Marc Feldman, Kevin McCormick, and Darryl Perry are facing off before RT America’s 360-degree camera in a debate moderated by Watching the Hawks hosts Tyrel Ventura and Tabetha Wallace. |
| WATCH THE DEBATES LIVE | WATCH THE DEBATES LIVE |
| The Libertarian Party is the third-largest political party in the United States, behind only the Democratic and Republican parties. Its platform favors civil liberties, small government, free markets and a non-interventionist foreign policy. | The Libertarian Party is the third-largest political party in the United States, behind only the Democratic and Republican parties. Its platform favors civil liberties, small government, free markets and a non-interventionist foreign policy. |
| “I’m a physician, not a politician,” Feldman said in his opening statement, noting that he was an “informed non-voter” for years before deciding he could not support either major party. | “I’m a physician, not a politician,” Feldman said in his opening statement, noting that he was an “informed non-voter” for years before deciding he could not support either major party. |
| “We absolutely are not centrist,” said Perry, adding he represented the “libertarian wing of the Libertarian Party.” He articulated the movement’s ideology as “self-ownership” and described taxation as “theft, armed robbery and extortion.” | “We absolutely are not centrist,” said Perry, adding he represented the “libertarian wing of the Libertarian Party.” He articulated the movement’s ideology as “self-ownership” and described taxation as “theft, armed robbery and extortion.” |
| Major parties don’t represent the average American, McCormick argued, adding that officials are “crushing our economy” under the weight of unaccountable bureaucracy, instead of debating the issues. | Major parties don’t represent the average American, McCormick argued, adding that officials are “crushing our economy” under the weight of unaccountable bureaucracy, instead of debating the issues. |
| Domestic issues | Domestic issues |
| In the first bloc of the debate, the candidates answered questions about bank bailouts and trade, food waste and social security nets, and libertarian notions of government. | In the first bloc of the debate, the candidates answered questions about bank bailouts and trade, food waste and social security nets, and libertarian notions of government. |
| “The answer is always empowering the individual,” Feldman said, describing the US as “an oligarchy, run by special interests and corporations.” | “The answer is always empowering the individual,” Feldman said, describing the US as “an oligarchy, run by special interests and corporations.” |
| “An actual free trade document can be written on a 3x5 index card,” not massive 1000-page documents that regulate things under the guise of free trade, Perry said. | “An actual free trade document can be written on a 3x5 index card,” not massive 1000-page documents that regulate things under the guise of free trade, Perry said. |
| US repatriation tax is 35 percent – the highest in the world: “We need to eliminate this tax and bring that money home,” McCormick said. | US repatriation tax is 35 percent – the highest in the world: “We need to eliminate this tax and bring that money home,” McCormick said. |
| Bailouts | Bailouts |
| On the subject of big bank bailouts, Perry argued that the bad loans were made at the direction of the government. “Federal government was incentivizing bad behavior,” he said. | On the subject of big bank bailouts, Perry argued that the bad loans were made at the direction of the government. “Federal government was incentivizing bad behavior,” he said. |
| McCormick agreed. “If I don’t punish my dog for going to the bathroom in the house, he will keep going to the bathroom in the house,” he said, adding the issue should be handled by bankruptcy courts, not bailouts. | McCormick agreed. “If I don’t punish my dog for going to the bathroom in the house, he will keep going to the bathroom in the house,” he said, adding the issue should be handled by bankruptcy courts, not bailouts. |
| Feldman compared bailouts to feeding a gambling addiction at a casino. | Feldman compared bailouts to feeding a gambling addiction at a casino. |
| Food waste | Food waste |
| “I would get the government out of the equation,” McCormick said, on the subject of food waste. “Let the free market do its job.” He blamed the governmentfor creating the problem with regulations. | “I would get the government out of the equation,” McCormick said, on the subject of food waste. “Let the free market do its job.” He blamed the governmentfor creating the problem with regulations. |
| Govermnet programs destroy crops to manipulate price, Perry argued, saying, “If you just remove the government manipulation… you would wind up having a lot less wasted food." | Govermnet programs destroy crops to manipulate price, Perry argued, saying, “If you just remove the government manipulation… you would wind up having a lot less wasted food." |
| Feldman criticized the “high-calorie, low-fiber addictive food” marketed to the public, “and it’s toxic.” | Feldman criticized the “high-calorie, low-fiber addictive food” marketed to the public, “and it’s toxic.” |
| Social safety | |
| Feldman called his platform a “Balance and credit program," saying he would balance the budget while changing all charitable tax deductions to dollar-for-dollar tax credits. He would “de-socialize” the social safety nets and make them private and voluntary. | |
| Private care organizations do so more efficiently than government, Perry agreed, pointing out that the government was not involved in social security until about 85 years ago. | |
| “I do not have the power to cut these programs, they are controlled by Congress,” McCormick said, adding that they would be de-funded by balancing the budget. | |
| Abolishing the IRS? | |
| “I don’t think it’s a realistic first step” to abolish the IRS, McCormick said. “I know there is a recession coming,” and there is $3 trillion trapped outside the US. He wants companies to bring their money home, to create jobs, invest in infrastructure, or give it back to shareholders. | |
| “First step is to balance the budget,” by cutting support for special interest groups supporting both major parties, Feldman argued. | |
| “Absolutely no good or service should be provided at the barrel of a gun,” Perry said. “If people want NASA to exist, then write a check to NASA.” | |
| What about alternative currencies? | |
| “I do believe that crypto-currencies are the wave of the future,” Perry said. “I am not taking federal reserve notes as campaign contributions,” only dealing with bitcoin and precious metals. “Governments shouldn’t have anything to do with the currency at all.” | |
| Alternative currencies are “a wonderful example of the free market at work,” McCormick said. “Allow the American public to choose how they want to transact business.” | |
| “Money is an agreement, a bit of trust,” Feldman said. More currencies add choice, while “risk comes from concentrated power.” | |
| Darryl W. Perry is an author, editor and radio host who co-chairs the New Hampshire Liberty Party. He hopes to “run the most libertarian presidential campaign in history.” | Darryl W. Perry is an author, editor and radio host who co-chairs the New Hampshire Liberty Party. He hopes to “run the most libertarian presidential campaign in history.” |
| Kevin McCormick is an IT security expert and longtime member of the Libertarian Party who feels “trapped by a two-party system.” His platform rests on three non-negotiable principles: personal freedom, free speech and the right to privacy. | Kevin McCormick is an IT security expert and longtime member of the Libertarian Party who feels “trapped by a two-party system.” His platform rests on three non-negotiable principles: personal freedom, free speech and the right to privacy. |
| Marc Allan Feldman is a physician who practiced anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins for 11 years. He takes a hardline stance on campaign finance, explicitly refusing to court wealthy donors, and supports limiting the government’s eminent domain powers. | Marc Allan Feldman is a physician who practiced anesthesiology at Johns Hopkins for 11 years. He takes a hardline stance on campaign finance, explicitly refusing to court wealthy donors, and supports limiting the government’s eminent domain powers. |