October 7, 2004

My name is Rand Fanshier, I am the Libertarian candidate for State Representative in House District 13.

I believe that America is great, but not because of government. Colorado has the lowest State taxes as a percentage of personal income, and in my opinion it's one of the last free states.  Let's keep it that way!

It's time to break the stranglehold of Republicans and Democrats in the State legislature. For way too long they have managed to maintain an artificial divide between ideologies, with slim margins to make certain that partisanship is the only basis for decision-making in any vote. Keep the "other side" from winning, at any cost. Does this sound familiar? In the Senate for example, we have 17 Democrats and 18 Republicans. How many bills are passed without discussion just because one party has the majority? And how many committees wind up with leadership drawn from the majority party, when in fact better-qualified individuals might be chosen from the other side of the aisle? The net result is poorly thought out, hastily crafted, legislation that is blindly approved by only half of the assembly, and completely unread by most of them! 

Is it right that your elected representative probably hasn't even read it?  Remember, once the governor signs a bill that was produced by the assembly in this way, it is imposed on us by force if necessary.

Here's what voting for libertarians like myself will accomplish: The stranglehold the Republicans and Democrats have held over our government will be broken. Every proposed statute will be thoroughly researched and vetted and debated before acceptance. And this means fewer, and better-crafted, laws for Colorado.

Some of you may fear that Libertarians in the state assembly could cause instability or threaten the good things about Colorado. Well, let me assure you, that just a few --six or seven-- minor party legislators will not cause instability. The change will be gradual, and it will be for the best, because for the better future of Colorado no one political party will have all the control.

In this election more than any other time, it is important that you reconsider third party candidates for state and local races. Regardless of how you vote for President (and believe me, I know many of you have a very real fear of the other guy getting elected), Putting a Libertarian candidate like me into office will improve our government and make it a more trustworthy institution.  Libertarians in office mean less government, more sense.

And, Colorado can go on being a great place to live because the people are free.