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This letter from Ben Neece, will appear in the Brownsville Herald on Monday Oct 25, in place of my regular column. It appears here as it was written.
Fred Drew

Letter to my fellow citizens.

Friends and Neighbors, I write to you today to promote the Libertarian Party. The political season is upon us, so I ask you to consider an alternative to the representation of our community we currently have. If you’re happy with the way things are now, ignore this letter, if not, read on.

Libertarians have two candidates in the upcoming election. Ed Mishou, for Congress (District 27), and James Holdar, for Texas Land Commissioner.

Why should you vote Libertarian? There are, of course, several reasons:

1. Our two-party system is broken. Libertarians want to be part of the political process and believe that ordinary people, like you and me, need a voice in Washington. The Red and Blue parties have, now, become the “Purple” or “Washington” party. There really is little difference between the two. They both seek to keep themselves entrenched in Washington at our expense, coming “home” only during election time to seek what they need most from us: Our Votes. The rest of the time they cater to special interests groups and lobbyists at our expense. Both parties, regulate us unfairly, resulting in unfair competition and they, both, tax us unfairly, to pay for the bureaucracies they create, that feed on our taxes and create obstacles to free commerce.
2. Libertarians believe in term limitations. Why? Our congressional district is a good example of why we do. We, in Cameron County, have had the same congressman for 28 years. He “represents” us on only two standing committees, at the current time, and is chairman of one subcommittee. Are you satisfied with your current level of representation? Do the people of District 27 deserve better? Or, are “we the people” satisfied with our current “representative” in Washington?
3. Libertarians believe that the government should have a limited role in our lives. We believe in core American values, such as, the personal worth of each individual and the promotion of self-reliance, not subservience to “big business” or dependency on a “nanny” government. We believe that, as Americans, we should fully enjoy the fruits of our hard work. Republicans claim to be fiscally conservative, thereby, limiting government’s role in our lives. In reality the republicans under Bush spent more than all the presidents that preceded him combined. The democrats have continued republican policies despite their promise to “change” things. Republicans insist on impinging on our personal freedoms, by legislating morality upon us and democrats insist on creating citizens dependent on the “state.” If you believe in the idea of an American that is free to engage in business without undue regulation from our government that results in unfair competition from “big business,” or, in the idea of an American that is free from dependency on government bureaucracies, then you should consider a Libertarian candidate.
4. Libertarians believe in the “pursuit of happiness” through free commerce. We can use District 27 as an example, again. Immigration is a good starting point. While our current representative has taken the position that secure borders are a requirement to consideration of immigration issues, we believe they are separate issues and that Congress is using border security to avoid addressing immigration issues, especially, prior to November’s elections.

Issue Position: Keeping our Borders Secure
“He believes immigration and border security go hand in hand, and any legislation the Congress considers must take both into account.”
Source: Project Vote Smart

http://www.votesmart.org/speech_detail.php?sc_id=406338&keyword=&phrase=&contain=

Libertarians, especially here on the border, believe that free commerce should be the ultimate consideration in addressing border crossings. How can anyone argue that our borders should not be secure? Why is there insistence on securing the border, prior to taking on the important issues of ingress and egress to our country? The simple reason for this position is to avoid upsetting the electorate. By setting up an impossible task (to secure the borders) to be completed by November the Congress has conveniently side-stepped the issue.

Look at the facts objectively. The fact is that our current representative has done more to facilitate immigration and commerce between China and the inland town of Robstown, Texas (his home town); than promoting immigration and commerce between Mexico (another of the United States’ biggest trading partners) and our city, an economic relationship which should be cultivated much closer to home. This is an important juncture in the relationship between South Texas and Northern Mexico. Fear politics should not dominate the political landscape during this time of unprecedented opportunity to increase trade directly into Mexico through our ports of entry, both sea and land. The republican alternative for Congress has no practical knowledge of border issues and is incapable of grasping concerns that ordinary people like you and I have.

Our economy has been disrupted, terribly, by failed drug, immigration and commercial policies. Policies which have continued, despite their failures, because the “Purple/Washington” party is either too tired or, simply, unable to correct the problems these failed policies have attempted to address. These policies continue without bona fide efforts to seek alternatives. These problems affect us on a local level, much more than they affect our brothers to the north. We, the voters of Cameron County, will have a great impact on the outcome of this election. It is our duty as Americans to explore all the alternatives at election time. When we look to the south and see our brothers suffering, because of failed policies of the United States in addressing the problems of drugs, immigration and commerce, we should be thankful that we can rely on our votes to change things, rather than having to resort to violence and the devaluation of human life.

Remember, you do have an alternative to the broken two-party system.

Vote Libertarian

Ben Neece
Chairman
Cameron County Libertarian Party