The Free View-- weblog of a presidential candidate: Debates, choices, and power brokers

About the Campaign

Home

About Lance Brown

The Campaign "Elevator Pitch"

The Longer Pitch: The Future of America is Freedom

10 Easy Ways to Help the Campaign

Join the On-The-Road Support Network

Lance In The Media

Contact Lance

Search This Site

Join the
E-mail Updates List

Lance's Projects

E-Actions for Freedom
Easy online actions for advancing the cause of freedom.

PNAC.info
An effort to investigate, analyze, and expose the Project for a New American Century, and its plan for a "unipolar" world.

CampusLP.org
Free web sites for campus libertarian clubs!

The Little Brown Reader
A rolling catalog of articles and web sites of significance that Lance is reading.

The Nevada County Libertarian Party
"Your Local Party of Principle" (Chairman)

The Nevada County Bill of Rights Defense Committee
Dedicated to Creating a Civil Liberties Safe Zone in Nevada County, California. (Co-founder)

The Free School on the Internet
A developing effort to create a superior online K-12 school, with free attendance.

StopCarnivore.org
Stop the FBI Spy Tool Carnivore Now!"

GreenLiberty.org
Where Green values meet Libertarian principles.

Useful Lance

Know Your Rights When Stopped By The Police

Pictures of The Bill of Rights

Tips for Promoting a Campus Event

198 Methods of Nonviolent Action

My (many) e-zine and list subscriptions

The History of Drug Prohibition in the U. S.

The Bill of Rights -- Full Text

Support freedom in our lifetime:

Classic Lance

Fed Up and Fighting Back

"I do not shrink from this responsibility, I welcome it."

A Little Worried About America

Boston Public: The Case Against Schools

The USA-PATRIOT Axe

The Nader 2004 "threat", and those poor, pitiful Democrats

Book Recommendation: Healing Our World

Taboos, skews, and contradictions

North Korea's Sensible Delusions

Lance on Regulation

What people are saying about Lance Brown for President:

   "I've been reading some of the political content at freedom2008.com, and find it damn interesting.
   "I am nominally a Democrat, but have never been seriously politically active, mainly because I'm fed up with a lot of what the major parties say and do. ...you could say I'm looking for an intelligent alternative.
   "I'm not ready to declare myself a Libertarian, but your site piques me and makes me think. And that's (at least) half the battle.
   "Very interesting."
-- Kurt B.,
Allentown, Pa.

"Wow I am amazed and joyous! Your views are just what this country needs! I am going to spread the word about your campaign."
-- Elizabeth Ward

"I read every article posted on your site and was amazed to find myself repeatedly saying 'Wow, I agree with that.'"

"I'm pro-Lance as long as I'm not also running for prez" -
-- Mojo Nixon, entertainer and revolutionary

"You are probably this country's last chance at freedom in this lifetime."
-- ¡Obay!

"I stumbled upon your website and it is WONDERFUL. You can count on MY VOTE and MY SUPPORT in 2008!!!"
-- Alan Handleman,
Grayson, KY

"This is the blog belonging to my former boss and aspiring President of the United States. I remain pledged to moving to Ireland if he actually wins but still it's an interesting site."
-- Adam Graham,
Boise, Idaho

"I just want to take a minute to tell you that we really do appreciate your writing over here. I find the state of this country so outrageous that I mostly sit around pulling my hair out and fantasizing about Canada. But, incredibly, you don't stew! It's like you're on a whole other plane.
"It's so easy to lose sight of reality with all that glare from the fancy magic show illusions of our 'two' party system. Seriously. Your message is hopeful and real."
-- Kristen Werner,
Rollinsford, N.H.

Please click this and help my rating:

October 16, 2002

Debates, choices, and power brokers

I watched the Wisconsin Gubernatorial Debate tonight, because I heard in an e-mail announcement from the Libertarian Party that Ed Thompson would be in the debate.

It was the fourth or fifth major debate I've watched this season, and it confirmed for me again the value of having third party candidates included in campaign debates. Watching those debates is such a breath of fresh air compared to two-party-only debates. With many issues, the extra candidates are the only ones talking about a different approach to the given problem-- and frequently, they poke or prompt the duopoly candidates into having to talk about or face issues that wouldn't otherwise get raised.

I saw a Massachusetts Gubernatorial Debate recently, and it had three other candidates besides the Democrat and Republican-- Libertarian Carla Howell, a woman from the Green Party, and an Independent. And while it did devolve into a sorta two-party thing once or twice, for the majority of the debate the two major party candidates were being jostled and challenged in a way that you never see in a two-party debate.

Back to this Wisconsin debate tonight-- I know I'm biased toward the little guy in general, but Ed Thompson and the Green candidate (Jim Young) both appeared to be smarter choices for governor than either of the two major party guys. The two big guys spent most of their time either reciting age-old platitudes that every politician before them has said, or whining about or disparaging the other big guy. Yawn.

Meanwhile, Ed and the Green guy seemed like real, thoughtful people with their eyes open, eager to help. The other two seemed like two power brokers, competing for power.

Posted by Lance Brown at October 16, 2002 10:19 PM

Comments