Blogcritics: Comments on Barger Gets Hat Tip From Indy Star

Comment by Mike Kole

Wed, 20 Oct 2004 07:31:07 EDT

I guess I just slipped back into the liberal shoes I used to wear. After all, we are each other's keeper... er, time keeper?

Comment by Mac Diva

Wed, 20 Oct 2004 03:26:29 EDT

LOL! @ Steve (Boom). Uh oh! Mike Kole will be all over me for still being up at 12:25. (He's appointed himself my timekeeper.) But, one of the benefits of being a divorced gal with no kids who does not work a 9 to 5 job is I can sleep whenever I want. Heck! Maybe I'll stay up until one.

Comment by boomcrashbaby

Wed, 20 Oct 2004 00:11:40 EDT

Don't feel bad Mike. My ideology has been dismissed as being irrelevant for as long as I can remember. Majority rule and all that. What I could do, being the liberal I am, is offer you a sympathetic listening ear if you ever want. Or, if that makes you uneasy, I can give you the advice that the right gives me: "Suck it up. Life isn't fair. You can't make me like you. The Constitution doesn't guarantee you anything beyond the right to own a gun and praise Jesus, bee-atch. Deal with it. Too bad, so sad. You're one sick puppy." Whichever! Just know that I can relate.

Comment by Al Barger

Tue, 19 Oct 2004 23:24:22 EDT

Do I have an alternative to replace Social Security? Depends on what you mean exactly by "replace." If you mean do I have a new government program to take your money instead of the current Social Security plan, then the answer is NO. I do not have an alternative government program. I do have an ANSWER to the problem, though. The basic answer is simple: privatization. Keep that 15% of money now being confiscated and squandered in your own accounts. Almost every single person investing their own money would do far better than Social Security ever could have done. They would certainly do better than absolutely NOTHING, which is what you have saved in Social Security now. Basically, the solution is perfectly simple, and will absolutely work. Of course, the difficulty is in the transition- current and near term retirees who have been left holding the bag under the current system. But also of course, there is going to be a big problem here no matter what kind of alternatives you come up with, because we've dug ourselves into such a deep hole by letting Congress spend all our retirement money as they continue to do. There are lots of ways to go about making this transition, and a combination of them presented as choices for the citizen stakeholders will be in order. One basic option: anyone who wants to can simply opt out of the system. A 30 year old would be way ahead to simply write off the money that's already gone, and get a fresh start keeping the 15% that has been being confiscated. People who are already retired, or close will most likely just have to be paid out of general revenues. There's no Social Security money put back, and it won't be coming in fast enough under any circumstances. People in the middle, say ages 30 to 60 will probably be looking for some kind of buyout. One way of getting some of the hump money to dig out of the hole Congress has dug these last 70 years would be sale of government assets. The federal government has bunches of STUFF for no needful reason. Land, houses, cars, warehouses full of all kinds of stuff which cost us money to maintain. Sell a bunch of those white elephants, and use the funds to buy guaranteed private annuities. This would be real helpful in squaring some of these enormous unfunded liabilities. All this reflects my Social Security white paper. As to the Indianapolis Star endorsement, I take the glass as two thirds full. They were almost certain to endorse Evan Bayh from the get go. He's just that popular. I doubt that Jesus of Nazareth could stop Evan Bayh from being re-elected, short of absolutely calling in those 10,000 angels as per the classic hymn. However, I'm pleased to see that they not just mentioned me and complimented my campaign, but actually specifically noted and addressed my main issue, Social Security. I didn't expect them to actually endorse me. That would have been too much to expect. I'm just pleased that my issues and opinions were given a respectful hearing by the editorial board, and taken into consideration. That's all you can ask. Oh, and thank you Mike et al for your kind words. Finally, Diva: There's still time for you to make a difference. Don't let people be suckered into voting for me! Write letters to the editors of Indiana newspapers exposing me as the neo-Bargerian I am. Of course, newspapers aren't going to print anonymous/pseudonymous slanders. Getting your letters printed in the paper would involve actually putting your name behind your words. You should try it some time.

Comment by Mike Kole

Tue, 19 Oct 2004 22:15:26 EDT

Al is irrelevant, but the Star should have cared more to give him a closer look... Diva, your logical processes do baffle a lesser mind such mine. At any rate, the irrelevant Libertarians sincerely thank MacDiva for her great contributions to our name recognition campaign. Of course, we're left scratching our heads at how many responses we would merit if we were actually relevant. It boggles the mind. I know that facts and accuracy are not your strong suits, Diva, so I'll lend a hand here. In Comment 2, you stated "that Al Barger's plan to eliminate Social Security makes no sense". In fact, the Star said that his plan "would be ill advised without an alternative set up to replace it". So, Al! Do you have an alternative to replace it? Or maybe this was just another one of the things the Star didn't report on for the irrelevant candidate.

Comment by Antfreeze

Tue, 19 Oct 2004 10:44:45 EDT

I actually thought this was serious until I came to the, "and Al has never failed to charm" part. Must be a different Al Barger. Just hacking on ya big fella. Great work. You've earned your stripes, just make sure they're vertical not horizontal.

Comment by Mac Diva

Tue, 19 Oct 2004 10:38:28 EDT

The editorial went on to say that Al Barger's plan to eliminate Social Security makes no sense. It did not address Barger's plans to stop all unemployment benefits, end all civil rights laws and his opposition to abortion rights. The Star was nice to a candidate who is utterly irrelevant to the election. If it had cared enough to give Barger a closer look, it would have called him a damn fool. Accuracy in the media, you know?

Comment by Andrew Ian Dodge

Tue, 19 Oct 2004 09:29:08 EDT

Its good to see a libertarian who is not only a theoretical one, but is a practical one as well. Any mention of a libertarian M.S.M outlets is always a good thing. Third parties of all ilks are good for democracy.