Less government means more opportunity

We won’t tell you how to vote on Tuesday. But here are some suggestions for finding candidates who favor less government control of our lives.

• If a wanna-be public servant comes to your door and asks for your vote, ask what kind of public service they do now.

If the answer is meals-on-wheels or youth sports coach, invite them in to talk some more.

If the answer involves application for federal grants to beautify the neighborhoods, slam the door in their face. And lock it.

• If the subject is same-sex marriage and the answer is anything but, “not government’s business,” then the answer is wrong. Don’t vote for that person.

• If a candidate starts talking about getting tough on crime and putting criminals under the jail, be sure to ask for a definition of “criminal.”

If it includes drug addicts and mentally ill people who don’t hurt anyone but themselves, walk away. Slowly. Keep smiling, but don’t let them find out where you live.

• Ask a candidate to define the purpose of government. If he/she says it’s to ensure everyone has opportunity to peacefully pursue life, liberty and happiness, keep listening.

If the conversation goes toward “quality of life,” ask them to show you where in the Constitution it says government is supposed to operate zoos, cemeteries and golf courses.

Tell them you are not opposed to zoos, cemeteries or golf courses, but you think they’ll all be better if government will get out of the way and let private business owners run them with standards established by their customers.

• Ask candidates what they plan to do for you. If the answer sounds like you’re about to get a new car, a bigger house or a vacation to Paris, remember the only money government has comes from taxpayers like you.

It takes from the “rich,” gives to the “poor,” and keeps a pretty good percentage of that money for its “services.”

Before agreeing to accept the politician’s assistance in acquiring things you want, make sure the “rich” people he/she is planning to take the money from does not include you.

• Ask a candidate to stop talking for a minute and just listen.

Let him/her know you want a representative who wants to reduce taxes, not increase them; you don’t think it’s right for government to compete against private taxi companies, caterers or entertainment promoters; you want freedom from government, not more government.

They won’t understand at first, but we have to keep teaching, we have to keep preaching.

Less government means more opportunity for everyone.

Unsigned editorials are the opinion of the Portales News Tribune’s editorial board, which consists of Publisher Mike Jensen and Editor David Stevens. All other views expressed on this page are those of their authors.