The Libertarian Review July 1978 - Libertarianism.org

One camp, mostly of unelected officials, wants to let thetaxpayers have it in the teeth. They want to cut wherethings will be hurt the most. They want to wreck things, topunish the taxpayers for their arrogance in voting to keepthe fruits of their labor, to make them crawl and give in togovernment oppression.These are the people who want tobreak the backs of every proud, independent American,bending him to the will of the state. These are the peoplenow attempting to organize the unthinking, to get them tomarch and protest against any and every cutback in governmentexpenditures. These are the people who have theirhands around the throats of the American people, and whowill not let go. They claim to represent the interests of "thepeople." They claim to be advocates of democracy. Butthey are in fact a new elite who would like to bring a fUllfledgeddespotism to America, where they would reign supreme.These are the people who ought to be summarilythrown out of office and socially boycotted by anyoneconcerned with human liberty, with human welfare, withhuman dignity.The other camp is just ,as hypocritical, but less dangerous.These are the more trendy politicians who have alreadybegun changing their philosophy to match the newmandate. As Time put it, "a swelling legion of voteconsciouspoliticians across the U.S." is now busily "tryingto look like fiscal conservatives." And for some of themthe changeover has been so abrupt it must have been dizzying.California's Governor Brown-an almost embarrassinglyobvious example-was calling Jarvis-Gann "expensive,unworkable and crazy" a week before the election,and was promising new state taxes to offset the revenueloss the proposition would bring. Within 24 hours ofJarvis-Gann's victory, Brown was talking about "the spiritof 13" and claiming that he not only endorsed the conceptsof "an end to spiraling taxes and an end to spiralinggovernment spending"-but that he had originated them.Still, he was able to tell Time a bit later in the month whenhe began making cuts in the state budget that "we're cuttinginto the bone and the marrow." "The cuts," Timecommented, "will mean that there will be no repeat of suchpast grants as $1000 for creating an underwater instrumentto serenade whales and dolphins off the coast ... and $700for a group to stage plays in laundromats."Jimmy Carter himself has leapt ponderously onto the taxrevolt bandwagon, calling Proposition 13 "a welcome experiment"of which "I certainly don't have any criticism."These are the people who know that Proposition 13 isthe first step in the antitax revolution, not the last. Theseare the people who would like to dance to the tune of thetax revolt, but really don't know how.Libertarians and the tax revoltLibertarians in California were particularly exultant whenProposition 13 rode to victory. Celebrations in LosAngeles, San Francisco and elsewhere were rapturous; thevictory celebrations found libertarians and those who hadworked for Yes on 13 throughout the state mixing in goodhumor and optimism about the future. There was cheer-ing, singing, cavorting, joking, applauding, revelling in thesmashing of the property tax. Paul Gann, the co-author ofand indefatigable campaigner for 13, joined with libertariansin Los Angeles; in San Francisco the Yes on 13forces joined with libertarians in the LR offices to watchthe returns. Libertarians were proud, and justifiably so, forhere was a cause that they had worked for, a libertariancause that had won. They had written and passed outleaflets, appeared at meetings, debated, asked questions inthe public debates of others, came to rallies, spoken out onradio and television, manned literature tables, and campaignedfor 13 in the streets.Ed Clark, the LP candidate for governor of California,spoke out on 13 constantly, appearing with Paul Gann atrallies and before crowds. Ed Crane, former LP nationalchairman ahd the head of the Cato Institute, appeared indebates and before numerous groups, and spoke outbrilliantly on radio and television, both alone and onpanels. Local libertarian Trevor Pitts mounted an excellentcampaign for Yes on 13 by printing up and distributing-atmeeting after meeting, crowds swarming around-leafletsand other literature defending 13. A local gay groupstarted "Gays for Proposition 13," and printed up leafletsaimed at both gays and straights. I myself spoke on radio,before groups, and debated the California lobbyist forCommon Cause on Jarvis-Gann before a crowd in GrassValley. The only time my opponent got any applause waswhen he tried to scapegoat me: I was a member of theLibertarian Party, he said, and "they are against government!"The audience of several hundred people roared itsapproval.The tax revolt is indeed beginning to get underway. It isa prime opportunity for libertarians to take charge, to doin other states what was done in California, to mount aradical movement to cut all taxes across the board; to cut,cut, and cut again. Today, we are the Sons of Liberty, menand women who are the spiritual ancestors of those whofought and struggled in the American revolution.When the smoke from this opening battle has cleared,hard questions are going to be asked. Both the people ofCalifornia and its opportunistic politicians are going toask: What can we cut? Liberals cannot answer that question.Conservatives cannot answer it. We alone can givethem a list. Let them start with the victimless crime lawsand the vice squads that enforce them. Let them start withour reckless interventionist foreign policy and the bloatedmilitary budget that bankrolls it. Let them start with thosealphabet agencies of intervention and regulation which arepreventing free competition and are strangling the Americaneconomy. And then let them continue dismantling thatsystem of paternalism and regimentation which victimizesthe majority in this country for the sake of ,a vicious,parasitic minority.Then let us take the lead in reversing the ratchet ofgovernment. Let us get involved with all the talent andenergy at our disposal. Let us be the leaders of a newrevolution not only for Americans, but for the rest of theworld as well. We have it in our power to change thecourse of history.•18Libertarian Review