Why I left
Politics-as-Usual
By Cameron Ventura
The day
that Gov. John Kasich withdrew his active campaign for the President of the
United States, my whole idea of politics faced a whirlpool of questioning and criticism.
I was forced to accept that there wouldn’t be a Republican or a Democrat
candidate who stood for small government, fiscal responsibility, liberty, and
positive immigration reform. Essentially – I wouldn’t find a candidate who
aligned even remotely with my idea of good government. That is when my
perspective of what was ideal in a candidate and in a party began to
transition.
As we
are now in arguably the most polarized social state since the Vietnam War, the
idea of any true majority backing the same platform is less and less likely.
This is why the GOP can have 12 drastically different candidates who each
garnish a fairly substantial following. We can no longer agree on what is “best.”
Enter the Libertarian party.
As I
asked questions regarding the role of government I began to see that the
consistent factor throughout history is how we don’t need the government to
make legislation regarding every aspect of our lives. There is great value in
only creating regulations where regulations are necessary. For all of my Christian
sisters and brothers out there – there is freedom in realizing that regulating
sin is no more holy than not regulating sin. Whether or not a nation decides
they will punish sin doesn’t change the morality of its people. Freedom exists
in stepping back and allowing people to make their own choices with God, the
Holy Spirit, and the consequences to be enough – we don’t have to add legal
reprimands.
The
Puritans outlawed sin to a much greater extent than we do currently and history
tells us that rather than this creating a more holy community it bred more
lies, deceit, and hypocrisy. The Christian ideal shouldn’t be a country that
outlaws all sin. The Christian ideal should be a country that fights for your
freedom to make your own choices and stands by you through whatever the Father
chooses to use to teach you.
This is
why I have embraced the Libertarian platform. I believe Gov. Gary Johnson is
the best thing for our country right now. I believe legalizing marijuana, defunding
excessive governmental programs, limiting governmental terms, turning NSA’s
focus away from American citizens, returning Education to the state and local
level, allowing adults to purchase and keep firearms, pulling back
international intervention, and introducing a flat tax is a fantastic direction
in which to move.
