Libertarian candidates emphasize need for less governmental control

By Jeremy Berkowitz
Daily Staff Reporter  On  November 4th, 2002

Gregory Stempfle, the Libertarian Party candidate for the U.S. Congressional 15th district, said he supports returning the control of most programs to the states.

"I don't think the federal government should be involved in charity," Stempfle said. "That should be up to the states."

Stempfle, a resident of Dearborn Heights, is one of several candidates running tomorrow on the Libertarian Party ticket. One of them, Rockford resident William Hall, is vying for a seat on the University Board of Regents.

Stempfle said he does not support the recent Congressional resolution giving President Bush the right to take action against Iraq. He said he does not like the idea of sending soldiers across the world to take control of a government.

"It's not our responsibility to maintain order over there," Stempfle said.

LSA junior Daniel Sheill, chairman of the University's Libertarian Party chapter said in general, Libertarians do not believe in taking military action to overthrow other governments.

"We believe in wars that are of self-defense," Sheill said. "We don't believe in going off into adventurous war."

He added the party believes in creating world peace through the economic realm, by getting rid of embargoes and lifting sanctions on hostile countries.

The Libertarians are against raising taxes for the most part, Sheill said. He said he feels initiatives such as Proposal K, which will fund cultural programs in Oakland and Wayne counties, would be better if financed by private individuals.

"With less government and lower taxes, you could keep more of what you earn. It would be easier to start new businesses, build new homes, and fuel stronger economic growth," the Libertarian Party website says. "All over the world, governments are busy selling airlines, power plants, housing and factories to private owners. Where inefficient government bureaucrats lost money and squandered tax dollars, hard-working private owners now make profits and create new jobs."

Sheill said the Libertarians support school vouchers because public education in America is failing.

"We don't believe in public schools," he said. "It is a monopoly that controls 90 percent of the population."

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