bobbyw24
07-06-2009, 08:50 AM
http://www.mlive.com/news/annarbornews/index.ssf?/base/news-33/124689121522150.xml&coll=2
Campaign for Liberty Local residents join Libertarian effort
Monday, July 06, 2009
BY TOM GANTERT
The Ann Arbor News
Tony DeMott's smile flickered as he fielded the question about who he voted for in the last presidential election.
"I've never voted for anyone that's won,'' said DeMott, 38. "Let's put it that way.''
DeMott, who lives in Ypsilanti, and Adam de Angeli, of Ann Arbor, are the interim state coordinators for Campaign for Liberty, part of a national movement headed by Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.
But members of the group headed by DeMott don't like to consider themselves traditional Republicans.
"I'm not a big fan of labels or designations,'' DeMott said. "A lot of our philosophies work very well with liberals. The hippies and the rednecks have a lot more in common than they think. They are too busy name-calling.''
About 30 or so members of the Washtenaw County wing of Campaign for Liberty meet every other Sunday above the People's Food Co-op on Fourth Avenue in Kerrytown. Statewide, the group has about 540 members.
The group has a fringe political flair well-suited to Ann Arbor's history of diverse political views.
Ken Kollman, a University of Michigan political science professor, said the Campaign for Liberty faction is part of a general libertarian movement in the country.
"The libertarian movement is ill-fitted in the two-party system,'' Kollman said. "They want government to stay out of our lives. That doesn't sit well with either of the two parties.''
DeMott said they believe in limited government and civil liberties.
"We've been given no choice,'' DeMott said. "There is no choice between the Democrats and the Republicans.''
DeMott and fellow campaign member Rhys Williams, of Ann Arbor, were asked who was their top two favorite politicians.
Both name Paul.
Then, DeMott lists Andrew Jackson next, as does Williams.
Their second favorite politician was in action more than 100 years ago?
"There is a lot of wisdom in the Founding Fathers,'' DeMott said, going back even further. "We keep going back to them.''
Williams said the local group's focus is on Paul's "Audit the Fed'' bill.
The Federal Reserve is the central banking system of the United States that was started in 1913. The Fed is part government and part private enterprise. Paul believes "The Fed'' is secretive and unaccountable, and he wants the agency to be audited.
The local campaign has latched onto that mission.
"That's it for us right now,'' Williams said. "But we all believe in freedom.''
They fear The Fed is creating too much money and weakening the U.S. dollar.
Williams and DeMott fear the hyper inflation of Germany in the 1930s.
"They keep printing money,'' DeMott said.
"Empires that spend far beyond their means don't end nicely,'' de Angeli said.
Tom Gantert can be reached at tgantert@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6701.
Campaign for Liberty Local residents join Libertarian effort
Monday, July 06, 2009
BY TOM GANTERT
The Ann Arbor News
Tony DeMott's smile flickered as he fielded the question about who he voted for in the last presidential election.
"I've never voted for anyone that's won,'' said DeMott, 38. "Let's put it that way.''
DeMott, who lives in Ypsilanti, and Adam de Angeli, of Ann Arbor, are the interim state coordinators for Campaign for Liberty, part of a national movement headed by Republican Rep. Ron Paul of Texas.
But members of the group headed by DeMott don't like to consider themselves traditional Republicans.
"I'm not a big fan of labels or designations,'' DeMott said. "A lot of our philosophies work very well with liberals. The hippies and the rednecks have a lot more in common than they think. They are too busy name-calling.''
About 30 or so members of the Washtenaw County wing of Campaign for Liberty meet every other Sunday above the People's Food Co-op on Fourth Avenue in Kerrytown. Statewide, the group has about 540 members.
The group has a fringe political flair well-suited to Ann Arbor's history of diverse political views.
Ken Kollman, a University of Michigan political science professor, said the Campaign for Liberty faction is part of a general libertarian movement in the country.
"The libertarian movement is ill-fitted in the two-party system,'' Kollman said. "They want government to stay out of our lives. That doesn't sit well with either of the two parties.''
DeMott said they believe in limited government and civil liberties.
"We've been given no choice,'' DeMott said. "There is no choice between the Democrats and the Republicans.''
DeMott and fellow campaign member Rhys Williams, of Ann Arbor, were asked who was their top two favorite politicians.
Both name Paul.
Then, DeMott lists Andrew Jackson next, as does Williams.
Their second favorite politician was in action more than 100 years ago?
"There is a lot of wisdom in the Founding Fathers,'' DeMott said, going back even further. "We keep going back to them.''
Williams said the local group's focus is on Paul's "Audit the Fed'' bill.
The Federal Reserve is the central banking system of the United States that was started in 1913. The Fed is part government and part private enterprise. Paul believes "The Fed'' is secretive and unaccountable, and he wants the agency to be audited.
The local campaign has latched onto that mission.
"That's it for us right now,'' Williams said. "But we all believe in freedom.''
They fear The Fed is creating too much money and weakening the U.S. dollar.
Williams and DeMott fear the hyper inflation of Germany in the 1930s.
"They keep printing money,'' DeMott said.
"Empires that spend far beyond their means don't end nicely,'' de Angeli said.
Tom Gantert can be reached at tgantert@annarbornews.com or 734-994-6701.