Libertarian Senate hopeful speaks to students last week

Burgauer talks less taxes, more choice

By Durrell Dawson of the Chicago Flame

Tuesday, April 30, 2002

Last Monday, Steven Burgauer, Libertarian candidate for the U.S. Senate, appeared in the Rathskellar lounge at the University of Illinois at Chicago to speak to students and supporters about his candidacy.

In attendance were UIC students; Frank Gonzalez, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Chicago; and John Kasner, candidate for state representative in the 9th Congressional District. The event was sponsored by the Freedom Alliance at UIC.

Burgauer is a teacher in finance at Eureka College, near Peoria, and author of the science fiction book, "The Night of the Eleventh Sun."

If elected to the Senate, Burgauer said, he would have the authority to influence the other members because he would be the only Libertarian.

"A minority in a completely divided Congress becomes the majority," he said.

One of the main points of Burgauer's appearance was to explain his objectives as a member of the Libertarian Party. He stressed the differences between his party and the Democrats and Republicans.

He said the Libertarian Party differs from the others in many of their policies. He cited the groups' differing viewpoints on taxes.

"My single biggest expense is the taxes I pay -- income tax, Social Security tax, sales tax, real estate tax and, once in a while if I'm real lucky in the market, capital gains tax," Burgauer said.

"Then there's sanitary-district taxes, sales taxes, road upkeep taxes and special-use taxes," he continued. "I'm fed up with taxes."

He said if elected he will work to limit income taxes to a maximum of 20 percent. He also feels people who generate incomes of less than $25,000 should be exempt from income taxes.

"I want to see the first $25,000 of income subjected to a zero percent tax," Burgauer said.

In terms of limiting taxes, Burgauer said he also would like to eliminate Social Security and capital gains taxes entirely.

Burgauer said he wants to see minimized the amount of power to which the government is entitled. He said both Democrats and Republicans believe in state-run schools, state-mandated curriculum and involvement in other countries' affairs.

He said he believes in the government concentrating on its own internal affairs and the right of parents to choose their children's schools. "They believe that the state should be able to decide for you. I believe you should be able to decide for yourself."

Burgauer said in a sense more power should be given to the public by giving them a choice in decisions. Allowing parents the option of what school their children attend would translate to a decrease in educational expenses because competition between schools would rise, he said.

Along with educational choices, Burgauer said the government should not be concerned with people's decisions to possess firearms.

"I think that there should only be one law on the books concerning gun control, and it's already been written. It's called the Second Amendment," he said. "We have an unfettered right to defend ourselves. Just because the technology has changed, the (constitutional right) hasn't."

Marijuana is another issue he feels the government should not be a part of. Burgauer said people should have the right to use marijuana at their discretion, but he refuses to allow drugs to be an issue in his campaign.

"I under no circumstances am going to run on any statement with regards to drugs. If a law comes across my desk decriminalizing the personal use of marijuana, I'll sign it, but I'm not going to go out and campaign on it. The other guys are making (the Libertarian Party) look like a bunch of pot heads," he said.

"I don't smoke marijuana -- I don't care to. I don't care whether you do. As far as what goes on in another person's house, that is not the state's business. You are not going to hear me on the campaign trail speaking about the legalization of any drugs."