General Biography:

Born in Louisiana, lived in Wisconsin awhile, finished high school in Indiana and I live there now. I first went to Ball State to study architecture until I learned I hated art, so I transferred to Purdue to study engineering.

I went through the typical political progression. When I was younger I was more liberal, in high school as I became more conservative as I learned about economics. Finally at the end of high school and beginning of college I realized how jingoistic and socially reactionary republicans can be. I later found the Libertarian Party and agreed with most of their positions.

Education:

Working on bachelors in Economics and Aeronautics & Astronautics at Purdue with possible minors in management and mathematics.

Political Dealings:

I am an active member of our local LP chapter, doing whatever is needed. I also lead the website team, which is in need of serious content overhaul. I ran for county commissioner in this last election with a good outcome. I managed to get my brother to run for county council in Delaware County, the attention didn't go well with him and I don't think he will be doing that again. I have also been trying fruitlessly to establish a Libertarian organization here at Purdue.

Strategy:

I believe we will need to secure local seats before we can make a serious attempt at any federal office. I don't oppose running candidates for federal office, but I think we often neglect the benefit of local elections. Large elections are a good way to reach the most people, but sometimes I fear that routinely getting less than one percent will dissuade people from considering us. If we can not get elected we can't really be an alternative. Overall I think we should find good candidates with a well known reputation to run for local office. Most of them require about two days a month, more during budgeting, and it will significantly increase our influence. It is also easier to accomplish things at the local levels of government. You will be able to work more directly with citizens and business which will build future support. Presidential and congressional candidates are not without value, but we should put much more attention, time, and money to local elections then we presently do.

Social or Economic:

Most libertarians are drawn by one side or the other, however, it seems to me like one begets the other. How can one be socially free without having freedom of enterprise and if one is empowered economically they tend to have a greater political influence. Economic influences can have a tremendous effect on social, human rights, and governmental issues. For example if we opened up trade with Cuba Castro might get more powerful, but the Cuban people would grow at a much faster rate and may eventually demand social freedom. Free trade benefits both parties or it would never be conducted. I would have to say that I think economic freedoms are more effective in pushing up the standard of living as well as the power of the citizens. Perhaps in the long-run there is only one freedom.

On The National Party:

To summarize my feelings on the national party kindly: what a bunch of idiots. I know some of them will read this and I hope they are the exception, but all I see out of the national party are a bunch of radicals looking to the stars. How does it look to have a presidential candidate, the best person we can offer to be the public leader of the county, saying he would like to blow up the UN building? Granted it would be an improvement, but you sure as hell don't say it.

I also find the national party quite uncompromising. We need moderate solutions that won't scare half the population. Gradual degradation of government agencies as the power shifts back to the states would be nice. We could save millions just by streamlining government operations and not cutting a single agency. Let's start with objectives that some of the other party members could agree with. Once that is completed other objectives may not seem as radical in the eyes of the public.

I'm glad the LFC has made it a priority to fix this situation.