Op Ed: Howe responds to WRAL-produced 'debate'
By Barbara Howe
Like many of you, I watched the "debate" between Mike Easley and
Patrick Ballantine on TV. Because I'm a Libertarian, I wasn't invited to
the debate, even though I will be on the ballot as a legally certified
candidate Nov. 2. Despite my best efforts, I couldn't get in. I even
showed up, hoping against hope that WRAL might see fit to live up to their
mission statement claim to "inform the public without bias or favor."
Alas, no such luck.
So I watched the thing on television.
What did we learn?
Easley claims Ballantine is responsible for the fiscal mess the
governor inherited when he took office. Ballantine says Easley shows poor
leadership. Easley still thinks the lottery will fix our education
problems. Ballantine thinks the lottery is poor public policy. Easley
thinks Medicaid spending is good for the state's economy. Ballantine
apparently agrees that health care is an issue that government should have
a role in. They both approve of "sin taxes."
I'm with the governor on at least one thing. He did inherit a fiscal
mess. I'm with Senator Ballantine on one thing, too. You don't raise taxes
as the first response.
If you ignored personalities and fine details, like I did, you'd have
found little disagreement between these candidates. They both oppose a
moratorium on the death penalty. They both want to impose their definition
of marriage on everyone. They both want the government to take over the
care of your children at an ever younger age. And, they both think that
more top-down central planning is the way to improve education.
I hope you'll take the time to learn there's another choice in this
election. Because I'm a Libertarian candidate, I wasn't allowed to
participate in the WRAL production. If I'd been there, you would have had
the opportunity to hear a candidate who trusts you to know how to live
your life and that bottom-up is the best model of accountability.
I strongly support allowing parents - consumers - to decide how best to
educate their children. My Taxpayer Choice Scholarship Plan will stimulate
excellence in education through competition. Any willing taxpayer could
direct his tax obligation to a scholarship fund or to a child of his
choice and any child could receive up to $3,000 in scholarship support.
Greater control by parents spurs competition and directly encourages more
parental involvement.
I'm more fiscally conservative than either of my opponents claim to be.
Taxes are too high. Regulation is too high. North Carolina uses misguided
tax incentives hoping to create jobs. I recognize that small business is
the real economic engine in North Carolina's economy. Lower taxes, a sound
infrastructure, ending the constant raiding of the and an excellent
education system created by offering free market choice will be the best
economic incentives to improve North Carolina's economy.
I believe the state should not kill prisoners. I think that giving or
withholding permission for marriage is not a proper role of government. If
you come to North Carolina to work and provide for your family, I welcome
you with open arms.
There's another choice on your ballot in November. Like playing the
lottery, I'm a long shot to win. By the way, I oppose state-sponsored
gambling. But your vote for me is a bet that North Carolina can win big by
returning to the values of individual liberty and personal responsibility.
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