Fifteen years ago when I first resided in Huntington Beach, I was told that if you lived within a mile of the beach, you were a Libertarian. I did not know then what a Libertarian was or what they thought & did. Last night I sat chatting with a newly minted Libertarian and his three oldest sons and I was exposed to a full-blown Libertarian.
He is nearing forty. He works for $12.50 an hour checking cable connection boxes as a contract employee. He is about to start studies for a masters in forensic computer studies at one of those “universities” set up to make people employable in today’s economy.
“Maybe I will also study program management,”" he told me. “For that is what the market seems to demands.”
I concurred; for what else can you do?
He has driven fork-lifts, delivered over-night mail, installed cable boxes, and been unemployed. He lives with his large family in a mobile home owned by others. His two ex-wives have parked the six kids with him while they pursue their own interests including babies by other men. To his credit, he looks after the six kids diligently although chaotically.
The generous social support system of his rich state helps. The kids get free school breakfasts and lunches—their main meal. During the school holidays the kid eat a lunch provided by a generous church group. Which one of the kids described as bad food. The kids get free medical, dental, optical, and more from state programs. Speech therapy for one is extensive.
The oldest boy ran off with a girl and did not finish high school. “She beat and berated me, so I left her and came home,” this eighteen-year old told me. Now he has no education, no job, and spends all day playing violent games on the TV. He is a nice kid, but profoundly ignorant, over-sexed, and unemployable.
I said: ” March him down to the local recruiting office and sign him up.”
“He may get killed.” said father. “I do not trust what the politicians tell us. They make war for their glory, not the country or the benefit of my kids. Let their kids go defend the country.”
The next son is like so many in the state vastly overweight and slow. Yet determined. He struggled at the regular school and enrolled himself in some special school and program.
He told me that most of the kids in his program “talk only of their interaction with the police and drugs.”
The fifteen-year old is in love with a fifteen-year old with a baby. “She was raped and had the baby,” he tells me. “She is a good girl.”
This newly minted Libertarian has supported Bush (both), McCain, and Romney. Now he tells me he is for Ron Paul. “And maybe he can become president. At least he will be better than either alternative.”
Interesting how the libertarian’s family relies heavily on state support. If and when his side wins the next election he can expect to see those programs cut back along with any assistance he hopes to get while being re-trained. Talk about crapping in your bed!
Interesting insight into our neighbours! I had no idea their social welfare system was that extensive.
I am a libertarian, I am also for Ron Paul. When it comes to social issues I tend to side more with liberals (right to chose, legalization and regulation of certain drugs, tighter gun control) but when it comes to economical issues I am much more conservative (small government, flat tax rate, no social medicine, not a supporter of the occupy movement). I think more young adults need to go to trades schools or some form of specialized secondary educations system, not the generic four year liberal arts college degree course.
I do not have a wife or kids, but I save and invest lots of money and have a lot of fiscal responsibility for myself. I am an electrical engineering and I work in the mining industry. I work more hours during the year than most Americans, pay more taxes than most Americans, and am only in my country for about two to three months a year. Hopefully, you do not judge this one case study for all in the party.
Rather than point out the declining state of the people around you, speak of the positives you also witnessed- for I know they were many.