Letter to the editor: States shouldn’t get benefits from the federal government

I recently received an anonymous letter from a reader who wants to know if I walk the walk instead of talking the talk.

His basic point was that although I’m a libertarian, I probably also share in certain government benefits, such as Social Security, Medicare, federal farm programs, etc.

To be candid, yes I get Social Security and Medicare as well as VA medical benefits. However, I would be happy to give them up to see the country return to a free market in medicine and farming. Although I’m not a farmer, I consider the very existence of the Department of Agriculture an affront. Let the farmers decide what to plant and when and when to sell, even joining the farmers union if necessary. What business is it of the federal government? The states can handle the emergencies if any and if farmers want crop insurance they should pay the premium.

Let’s see. I call for the abolition of Health and Human Services, Agriculture, Education, Food and Drug Admnistration, Environmental Protection Agency, Commerce, Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms, Federal Reserve and a dozen other agencies and departments that cannot legally exist under our Constitution. Homeland Security is also a joke as is airport security.

Do I believe President Barack Obama caused the financial meltdown? No, it was the Democrats in Congress (Chris Dodd and Barney Frank come to mind) coupled with George Bush’s tacit acquiescence that killed, with the collaboration of Fannie and Freddie, first housing and then the big financial institutions, which were trying to comply with laws they knew were dangerous but hoped to get out before the final blow. The Detroit auto industry’s recovery is not impressive, especially the Volt, etc. The Big Three are still bound by union contracts and will have to move to right-to-work states if they want to compete. They still owe billions to the Fed.

Finally, as for North Dakota receiving benefits from federal government, all I can say is I disapprove. We don’t need it and no state should get any such benefits. The states are responsible for their own infrastructure and are obliged to balance their own budgets.

As I said before, I support Ron Paul, but would accept Newt Gingrich as the second best.

Allan Hegland

Penn, N.D.

Tags: opinion, letters, politics