New Letter to the Editor in Poughkeepsie Journal: Consider a Libertarian candidate for President

Today, I had a letter to the editor published in the Poughkeepsie Journal. Unfortunately, the online version is behind a paywall (although it did run in the print version rather nicely). However, I am allowed to repost it on my personal blog as long as I do not submit it to other papers (which I won't.) So, please find it below.

Consider a Libertarian presidential candidate 
I have spoken with many Americans who feel this is the least appealing presidential election in recent memory.
Barack Obama has done a poor job as our president, and most feel Mitt Romney would be almost as bad, if not worse.
Fortunately for us, there is someone else.
Former New Mexico Gov.
Gary Johnson, who has the same amount of executive experience as Romney, is run­ning for president on the Liber­tarian Party line. He expects to be on the ballot in all 50 states.
Johnson is the only candi­date (including Ron Paul) who would submit a balanced bud­get his first year. He also was the highest scorer among all candidates (including Obama) on the American Civil Liber­ties Union’s civil liberties re­port card.
Historically, the Republican Party has been concerned with fiscal sanity. They haven’t done a very good job of that lately, but as president, John­son would be very fiscally responsible.
The Democrats have been concerned with protecting our civil liberties, but lately, they haven’t done a very good job of that either.
Gary Johnson, however, would protect our civil liber­ties by ensuring marriage equality, ending the Patriot Act, and fighting for our con­stitutional rights.
The Libertarian Party en­compasses the best of both parties – fiscal responsibility and social tolerance.
Most people fit both of these categories. They are Libertar­ians and just don’t know it – 83 percent of Americans are con­sidering voting for a third party this year. You should too. 
Gregory Koch 
Poughkeepsie 

New Letter to the Editor in Poughkeepsie Journal: 2012 is Scary election, vote Gary Johnson

Today, I had a letter to the editor published in the Poughkeepsie Journal. You can view it here or read below. 

Libertarian Johnson is best for president

2012 is going to be a scary presidential election.

On the Republican side, Mitt Romney seems out of touch with the American public, New Gingrich appears crazy, and I believe Rick Santorum is an utter bigot. Obama isn’t much better. He finally ended the Iraq War three years after he said he would, and only after starting wars in Libya and Somalia. He authorized indefinite detentions under the National Defense Authorization Act. We should genuinely be scared. Unless Ron Paul gets the GOP nomination (which seems highly unlikely), it may seem like we have nobody to turn to. But there is hope.

The Libertarian Party, the third-largest party in America, expects to have ballot access in all 50 states. Former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson is the clear frontrunner to get the nomination at the party convention in May.

Johnson would restore the civil liberties that both Obama and the GOP took away from us in a stunning display of bipartisanship. Johnson would also return all troops home from the wars abroad and lead America in a strict non-interventionist policy. The end result of this will be lower taxes, a balanced budget, and more freedom to live our personal lives as we choose. Polls currently show Gov. Johnson hypothetically polling at 10 percent against Obama and Romney. In order to be involved in televised debates, he needs to reach 15 percent. Don’t pick the “least bad” candidate. Pick a good one. Vote Libertarian in 2012.

Gregory Koch

Poughkeepsie

New Letter to the Editor in Poughkeepsie Journal: Paul will Keep His Promises

On December 30th, I had a letter to the editor published in the Poughkeepsie Journal.

GOP candidate Ron Paul will keep his promises

During this Republican primary cycle, every candidate but one has climbed up in the public eye, then dramatically crashed when their flaws and inconsistencies were exposed.

The only candidate who has managed to slowly but steadily grow and keep his support is Texas Congressman Ron Paul. Dr. Paul has always stayed true to his vision for civil liberties and fiscal responsibility and has never flip-flopped on issues or lied to America.

He is the person we want as our president. Instead of worrying which candidates have broken their wedding vows and been unfaithful to their wives, we should worry about who will violate their campaign promises, breach their oath of office, and be unfaithful to the Constitution and to the American people.

Only Ron Paul will keep his promises to the people.

If you have friends or family in Iowa or New Hampshire, urge them to vote for Paul in the coming weeks.

Whether you know anyone there or not, be sure to vote for him on April 24.

Gregory Koch

Poughkeepsie

Let's hope Paul can keep up the good numbers and win Iowa tomorrow. 

Poughkeepsie Journal Letter: Races Should Have More than One Hopeful

Today, I had a letter to the editor published in the Poughkeepsie Journal. You can view it online here or read below:

In the Town of Poughkeepsie Ward 5 last Tuesday, seven of the 13 races on the ballot featured a single candidate running unopposed. This goes against the nature of a true democracy, and there is no excuse for it. Voting for candidates is supposed to be a free and open choice. However, with just one candidate, it becomes what is called a “Hobson’s choice.” This term refers to the illusion of a “free” choice where there is really only one option. In other words, “take it or leave it.” Yet still, candidates run unopposed and get re-elected continuously. Nothing ever changes, because voters aren’t willing to create change. While unopposed candidates do create a Hobson’s choice, you always have the option to “leave it.” I regret that more voters did not choose this option by either writing in a candidate or not voting at all for those offices. If they had, perhaps we could have made a dent in the system.

Gregory Koch
Poughkeepsie