Libertarian Running for Congress in 7th District

To the Editor:

I am running for the U.S. House of Representatives as a Libertarian in the NJ-7th district. I am honored and excited to represent the cause of freedom here in the crossroads of the American Revolution. The liberty movement has truth on its side and the winds of history at its back.

When Libertarians spoke out a few years ago concerning the oncoming onslaught of tyranny and poverty awaiting the American people, we were received with skepticism and incredulous stares. Yet today, we find many of the same citizens who said things would never get this bad are the same ones who now claim America is destined for permanent decline.

I don’t believe that has to be the case.

Here is my concrete ten step plan to restore lasting freedom and prosperity. These are commonsense policy changes guided not by politics but by principle and the record of history. People of all political backgrounds and persuasions should be able to embrace this plan.

1. Restore the legal supremacy of the Constitution and Bill of Rights.  Restoring the rule of law means restoring freedom. Repeal the NDAA and PATRIOT ACT immediately. Repeal all unconstitutional executive orders and signing statements immediately.
2. End the Wars. Use our military only to defend Americans. Bring our troops home from all foreign bases in 130 countries. End our military occupation of the world and instead use the money to increase veteran’s benefits and balance the budget now.
3. End the Federal Reserve System. A privately-owned central bank that artificially sets interest rates, devalues our currency and manipulates prices has no place in a free market. Artificial interest rates encourage misallocations of capital and discourage saving. Issue new bi-metallic money to halt the inflation that is destroying the middle class.
4. END THE BAILOUTS. No more legal plunder for failing banks. Separate investment from commercial lending institutions. Do not raise the debt ceiling.
5. Bring manufacturing jobs home now. End NAFTA. Stop subsidizing the export of American jobs to foreign countries through unfair trade deals. Cut the corporate tax rate to 15 percent.
6. Restore American sovereignty. Get the US out of the UN, NATO and other entangling alliances that make Americans less safe. Get out of the Bank of International Settlements.
7. End the IRS, TSA, FEMA, DHS and Obamacare. End the Departments of HUD, Interior, Education, Energy and Commerce. Balance the budget by immediately and drastically reducing federal expenditures. Stimulate economic growth by slashing taxes. 
8. Let individuals decide how they want to save for retirement. Social security is insolvent. Make paying into it optional. The more the federal government taxes and spends the more precious productive capital is misallocated.
9. End the war on drugs. There is no such thing as a “victimless crime” in a free society. Save taxpayers billions and discourage border violence by legalizing marijuana.
10. Label Genetically-Modified foods. Consumers in a free market have the right to make informed choices about the safety of the food their families put into their bodies.

Please feel free to debate and distribute this specific plan of real solutions. If we focus all our time and energy belaboring the problems we face we will exhaust ourselves in vain while inspiring no one. Rather let us focus on solutions and be the change we want to see in this country.

The struggle for freedom will be long and hard. Yet this burden is also our opportunity to make the changes needed for Americans to once again live up to their full productive and creative potential.

Our grandparent’s generation bravely endured the Great Depression and won World War II. They did what they had to do so their children and grandchildren could enjoy lasting freedom, prosperity and peace. The very least we can do for future generations today is to also take a stand for what’s right. The very least we can do is restore The Constitution, end the wars and end the Federal Reserve so our children won’t have to. Freedom is our destiny.

You can find more information on my campaign by visiting McKnight for Congress 2012 on facebook and McKnight 2012 on youtube. My email is PatrickMcKnight2012@gmail.com.