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Libertarian Larson would dissolve government
Second in a series of articles on three candidates vying for the 1st District seat to the U.S. House of Representatives.
Nathan Larson of Catlett considers government the enemy.
The Libertarian Party nominee for the 1st District seat to the U.S. House of Representatives would eliminate it at every level and in every form.
If the 27-year-old self-employed certified public accountant had his way, all administrative, legislative and judicial branches would disappear.
There would be no states, cities or towns.
"All government functions could be better performed by the private sector," Larson said.Instead of government, people and commerce would be organized through "contractual agreements," "companies" and other groups, he said.
Police, courts and prisons would be privatized, explained Larson, who received the Libertarian nomination at the party's June 3 convention in Fredericksburg.
Besides Larson, the Nov. 4 ballot for the 1st District seat includes Republican incumbent Rob Wittman of Westmoreland County and Democratic nominee Bill Day, who lives near Warrenton.
Larson said his commitment to the dissolution of government stems from a set of ideas called "anachro-capitalism," which argues that the market place should rule.
Some of his top issues include transportation, the environment, immigration, education, defense and taxation.
On his Web site, Larson says that he favors "auctioning off the interstate highway system," Amtrak and all government rail systems "to private investors."
He believes the environment "should be persevered through the establishment of property rights over land, water, air and other natural resources."
There should be no restrictions on immigration, which increase the work force and reduce wages and, as a result, help cut business costs, Larson said.
Education would be privatized. He favors a competitive system, where teachers would "have more employers to to choose from, and parents will have a variety of possible schools to send their children to."
Larson opposes vouchers for private school students.
"It is likely that arrangements would be made for children of poor families to receive an education, though sliding tuition scales, scholarships etc.," he said on his Web site.
Larson would scrap the military.
Instead, "private defense agencies" would "compete for Americans' business," according to his Web site.
He believes this approach would "ensure that better service is provided at a lower cost, and that the soldiers are treated well. It will also help prevent costly foreign wars."
Larson would eliminate all taxes.
Additionally, he thinks the federal government "should sell off all of its assets, pay down as much of its debt as possible, and permanently shut down."
If elected, Larson said he wouldn't accept a tax-funded salary, because "to do so would be to become a knowing recipient of stolen property."
Asked about voter reaction to his proposals, he said "People are intrigued."
As of a couple of weeks ago, Larson had done no traditional campaigning, such as going door-to-door, visiting shopping malls or attending festivals.
So far, he's largely spread the word on his campaign through the Internet.
Larson said he's put "a few hundred dollars" of his money into the campaign and received about $150 in contributions.
He described his campaign as "shoe-string" effort.
Larson declined to speculate on his chances of winning the 1st District seat.
"Right now, it depends on the voters," he said. "I understand it's hard to win an election as a Libertarian. But I'm not going to compromise what I think is right and good for our country."
The 1st District includes about half of Fauquier and 26 other jurisdictions as far south York County.E-mail the reporter: ddelrosso@timespapers.com
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