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The Great Libertarian Offer
At Last an Escape from Big Government Libertarian presidential candidate Harry Browne shows how we can get from todays oversized, $2 trillion federal government to a libertarian America in which you can live as a free person free to live your life as you think best, not as the politicians want free to raise your children by your values, not as the bureaucrats demand. In this provocative book, Harry Browne How we can be free of the income tax, so you can keep every dollar you earn to spend it, save it, or give it away as you choose. How we can be free of the Social Security tax completely and immediately without forsaking the elderly so you can arrange a safe, convenient, prosperous retirement for yourself. Why the insane War on Drugs is a war on you, on your liberty, on your property, on your familys safety even if youve never used drugs. Why your children should never have to fight or die in a foreign war. How getting the government out of health care will give you a longer life, more accessible medical care, and low-cost health insurance. How your children can get a much better education without higher taxes or government vouchers. How a Libertarian President can reduce government dramatically and enhance your liberty on his first day in office without the consent of Congress. How we can rally the American people to give up their favorite federal programs and accept a massive reduction in government. Whether you intend to vote Republican, Democratic, Libertarian, or not at all, youll want to see the proposals in this thoughtful book. Here youll find concrete solutions for todays social problems solutions that dont involve more government and more restrictions on your liberty. On the contrary, these proposals will set you free free to live your life as you want to live it, not as the politicians think you should.
287 pages, Paperback
First published July 1, 2000
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July 12, 2024
A LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE'S PROPOSALS
Harry Browne (1933-2006) was an American libertarian writer, politician (he was a Presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party in 1996 and 2000), investment analyst, and author of books such as 'How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World.'
Written as his "campaign book" for the year 2000, Browne wrote in the first chapter, "I believe we can bring THE GREAT LIBERTARIAN OFFER to the attention of the American people this election year... This book will show you how we can bring about much smaller government. It will begin with important principles that must be recognized when considering how we will return America to a land of minimum government and maximum liberty... it will show how we can get from where we are now to where we want to go." (Pg. 13)
He suggests that if the politicians are allowed to discourage smoking, "in time it will be people eating fatty foods, people who drive motorcycles... and anyone else doing something that someone disapproves of." (Pg. 29) He favors legalization of drugs, arguing, "Are we afraid our children would have easier access to drugs? How could they have more access then they do now?" (Pg. 106) He also observes that thousands of people die, while waiting for FDA approval of various drugs (pg. 127).
While he strongly rejects the income tax, he suggests that tariffs and excise taxes are "more than enough to finance a strong national defense, the court system, and a few other functions..." He admits, however, that "Tariffs and excise taxes are neither voluntary nor fair. But they involve fewer intrusions on the average citizen than other, more direct taxes." (Pg. 73) He also proposes selling to the public the "trillions of dollars worth of assets (the government) doesn't need and shouldn't have," and using the proceeds to pay off the national debt (Pg. 85-86; 229)
Interestingly, he referred to Reagan's "Strategic Defense Initiative" (aka "Star Wars") as "the most sensible military suggestion of the past 50 years." (Pg. 117) He further suggests that elimination of the income tax and school taxes would enable the children of poor families to be educated in private schools. (Pg. 152) He proposes leaving the air quality of Los Angeles to its residents, asserting, "if they DON'T care, why should we?" (Pg. 161-162) He opposes national U.S. health care, observing that Canadian doctors and hospitals "routinely refer patients to the U.S. for treatment." (Pg. 203)
Very controversial (for a Libertarian, at least), he states that "abortion, at any stage of pregnancy, is wrong---very wrong." (Pg. 219) He also outlines his actions on his "first day in office," such as pardoning everyone in federal prisons on a non-violent drug charge, gun-control charge, tax-evasion charge, or other "victimless federal crime." (Pg. 237)
Particularly when compared to similar "campaign books" of other Libertarian candidates (e.g., Rober McBride's 'New Dawn for America'), this is a very candid, very detailed explanation; Libertarians and related free spirits will be very interested in it.
Harry Browne (1933-2006) was an American libertarian writer, politician (he was a Presidential nominee of the Libertarian Party in 1996 and 2000), investment analyst, and author of books such as 'How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World.'
Written as his "campaign book" for the year 2000, Browne wrote in the first chapter, "I believe we can bring THE GREAT LIBERTARIAN OFFER to the attention of the American people this election year... This book will show you how we can bring about much smaller government. It will begin with important principles that must be recognized when considering how we will return America to a land of minimum government and maximum liberty... it will show how we can get from where we are now to where we want to go." (Pg. 13)
He suggests that if the politicians are allowed to discourage smoking, "in time it will be people eating fatty foods, people who drive motorcycles... and anyone else doing something that someone disapproves of." (Pg. 29) He favors legalization of drugs, arguing, "Are we afraid our children would have easier access to drugs? How could they have more access then they do now?" (Pg. 106) He also observes that thousands of people die, while waiting for FDA approval of various drugs (pg. 127).
While he strongly rejects the income tax, he suggests that tariffs and excise taxes are "more than enough to finance a strong national defense, the court system, and a few other functions..." He admits, however, that "Tariffs and excise taxes are neither voluntary nor fair. But they involve fewer intrusions on the average citizen than other, more direct taxes." (Pg. 73) He also proposes selling to the public the "trillions of dollars worth of assets (the government) doesn't need and shouldn't have," and using the proceeds to pay off the national debt (Pg. 85-86; 229)
Interestingly, he referred to Reagan's "Strategic Defense Initiative" (aka "Star Wars") as "the most sensible military suggestion of the past 50 years." (Pg. 117) He further suggests that elimination of the income tax and school taxes would enable the children of poor families to be educated in private schools. (Pg. 152) He proposes leaving the air quality of Los Angeles to its residents, asserting, "if they DON'T care, why should we?" (Pg. 161-162) He opposes national U.S. health care, observing that Canadian doctors and hospitals "routinely refer patients to the U.S. for treatment." (Pg. 203)
Very controversial (for a Libertarian, at least), he states that "abortion, at any stage of pregnancy, is wrong---very wrong." (Pg. 219) He also outlines his actions on his "first day in office," such as pardoning everyone in federal prisons on a non-violent drug charge, gun-control charge, tax-evasion charge, or other "victimless federal crime." (Pg. 237)
Particularly when compared to similar "campaign books" of other Libertarian candidates (e.g., Rober McBride's 'New Dawn for America'), this is a very candid, very detailed explanation; Libertarians and related free spirits will be very interested in it.
February 8, 2009
Wow! This was an excellent book. It made me think, it made me mad, it made me change my views on a lot of things, it made me want to join the Libertarian Party.
Harry Browne is an economist and perennial Libertarian Party presidential candidate. He's an excellent writer, but unfortunately, he has the personality of a rock (from what I've heard).
His book makes the case for why the Libertarian Party is the answer to all the problems in the country. He outlines how government works, how it came to be the mess it is today, and why the two major parties are in no hurry to change it.
He then discusses the Libertarian position on a range of issues. The good thing is that he discusses how we used to handle the issue, how it got to be a problem today, and how the Party would fix it. He doesn't just say everything's messed up, so vote for me.
These are the tough love solutions I was looking for from the Republicans which sadly, never materialized.
Highly recommended, but beware, it will make you think. Unless you're narrow minded.
Harry Browne is an economist and perennial Libertarian Party presidential candidate. He's an excellent writer, but unfortunately, he has the personality of a rock (from what I've heard).
His book makes the case for why the Libertarian Party is the answer to all the problems in the country. He outlines how government works, how it came to be the mess it is today, and why the two major parties are in no hurry to change it.
He then discusses the Libertarian position on a range of issues. The good thing is that he discusses how we used to handle the issue, how it got to be a problem today, and how the Party would fix it. He doesn't just say everything's messed up, so vote for me.
These are the tough love solutions I was looking for from the Republicans which sadly, never materialized.
Highly recommended, but beware, it will make you think. Unless you're narrow minded.
May 18, 2013
Written in support of his 2000 election run for president, this is probably the best book written to date to explain what a Libertarian leader would do and why it is in a voter's interest to elect them. He repeats the offer itself: "Would you be willing to give up your favorite government program to get rid of the income tax permanently?"
August 5, 2013
Harry takes the impossible and shines a light on the path to make it possible.
November 19, 2013
This book, along with Bastiat's The Law, made me what I am today.
April 26, 2017
This book should basically be updated every four years and reprinted by the Libertarian Party. Browne doesn't make the kind of philosophical case for libertarianism that I would like, but his common sense case for a drastically more libertarian direction for American politics is the kind of offer to the average american voter that the LP could and should be making.
The short version of Harry's offer is this: You give up you favorite federal programs (whatever they may be) and in return you don't ever have to pay income taxes again. Read the book to get the full understanding of this brilliant offer and how it could help to sell voters on a more libertarian America by tying the perceived "negative" of cuts in whatever program they have been told they "need" to massive and permanent cuts in the tax burden under which they have been forced to labor their whole lives. Harry thought that only by making these issues into a package deal could libertarians ever hope to get any positive change in american government towards more freedom, and if you read this book, you'll better understand why.
The short version of Harry's offer is this: You give up you favorite federal programs (whatever they may be) and in return you don't ever have to pay income taxes again. Read the book to get the full understanding of this brilliant offer and how it could help to sell voters on a more libertarian America by tying the perceived "negative" of cuts in whatever program they have been told they "need" to massive and permanent cuts in the tax burden under which they have been forced to labor their whole lives. Harry thought that only by making these issues into a package deal could libertarians ever hope to get any positive change in american government towards more freedom, and if you read this book, you'll better understand why.
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews