Michael Munger's Platform

When a group of American sits down to work on a problem, their first thought is, "What are we going to do?" My reaction is simple: "Why do you think there is a 'we'?" The problem might be a failure of individual responsibility, or a consequence of preventing people from making good choices. It is not clear that some one-size-fits-all collective solution is the answer.

As a Libertarian, my goal is liberty, a state in which individuals enjoy control over their own choices, and are responsible for the consequences of those actions, for better or worse. A government that systematically forces its citizens to sacrifice their values, or their property, for some abstract conception of the common good is always unjust.

Yet recent trends in the states, and in North Carolina in particular, are alarming. Municipalities forcibly annex new neighborhoods, and use eminent domain to take private property from citizens. Police and other government agencies confiscate property, and use the proceeds to finance their operations. And the schools are desperate for funding, losing out to a whole host of pork barrel public works projects used to pay off political cronies and supporters.

Under my leadership, North Carolina would loosen the shackles of the great throng of creative, hard-working people who pay their taxes and hope for a better life. My administration would work to improve education funding and choice for parents, particularly in rural and under-served areas. And I would control the aggressive expansion of the powers of municipal governments.

I have worked for government, at both the state and federal levels. I am proud of the public service that government workers provide to the citizens. With the right direction, and a renewed ethic of responsibility to the public and the citizens who pay their salaries, North Carolina state employees can lead the nation in innovation and service. In this case, at least, "we" can do better.