Here & Now

Phil Anderson Discusses Libertarian Platform

ON NEXT WEEK’S “HERE AND NOW” WE’LL BRING YOU A U.S. SENATE CANDIDATE SPECIAL FEATURING THE TWO MAJOR PARTY CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR THE SEAT IN WISCONSIN. REPUBLICAN INCUMBENT RON JOHNSON AND DEMOCRATIC CANDIDATE AND FORMER SENATOR RUSS FEINGOLD. BUT TONIGHT WE WANTED TO HEAR FROM THE LIBERTARIAN CANDIDATE IN WISCONSIN FOR U.S. SENATE. HE’S PHIL ANDERSON. THE GENERAL MANAGER OF GREEN CAB IN MADISON AND OWNER OF A REALTY COMPANY. I ASKED HIM A QUESTION ABOUT A PLANK OF HIS PLATFORM, PRIVACY. HE SAYS QUOTE YOUR BODY IS YOUR BODY. YOUR DEFENSE IS YOUR DEFENSE. WE ASKED HIM WHAT THAT MEANS.

PHIL ANDERSON:

THAT MEANS THAT A PERSON HAS RIGHTS AND THESE RIGHTS, ACCORDING TO NATURAL LAW AND ACCORDING TO OUR FOUNDING DOCUMENTS ARE THAT PEOPLE HAVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE THEIR LIFE AS THEY CHOOSE AS LONG AS THEY DON’T INTERFERE WITH ANOTHER PERSON’S RIGHT TO DO THE SAME. SO THE THINGS THAT I DO WITH MY BODY, WHAT I EAT, WHAT I SMOKE, HOW I DRESS, WHATEVER, ALL THOSE THINGS ARE PARTICULAR TO ME AS LONG AS I’M NOT HARMING SOMEBODY ELSE BY THE CHOICES THAT I MAKE, THEN I HAVE THE RIGHT TO DO THAT WITHOUT ANY GOVERNMENT INTERFERENCE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

LET ME ASK YOU IF THIS MEANS THAT YOU FAVOR ABORTION RIGHTS, GAY MARRIAGE AND LEGALIZATION OF POT, FOR EXAMPLE?

PHIL ANDERSON:

LEGALIZATION OF POT, YES. THE WHOLE WAR ON DRUGS IS JUST A WAR ON PEOPLE. AND THAT’S ACTUALLY A WHOLE OTHER QUESTION THAT I WAS HOPING YOU’D ASK ME. GAY MARRIAGE, FINE. THE GOVERNMENT SHOULDN’T BE INVOLVED IN MARRIAGE AT ALL. THERE’S NO INTEREST THERE IN DECIDING WHO SHOULD FORM CONTRACTS WITH EACH OTHER AND WHO IS LOVING EACH OTHER. THE ISSUE OF ABORTION I DIFFER FROM OUR NATIONAL PLATFORM. OUR NATIONAL PLATFORM LEAVES IT A LITTLE BIT AMBIGUOUS. I BELIEVE THAT MEDICALLY, LOGICALLY, PHYSIOLOGICALLY THAT AFTER FERTILIZATION AT SOME POINT SHORTLY THEREAFTER THAT THIS IS A HUMAN BEING ENTITLED TO RIGHTS. SO CONSTITUTIONALLY I THINK THAT ABORTION IS– SHOULD BE ILLEGAL.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ON THE SECOND PRONG OF THAT, IT HAS TO DO WITH GUNS OBVIOUSLY. YOUR DEFENSE IS YOUR DEFENSE. WHAT’S YOUR POSITION ON BACKGROUND CHECKS FOR PEOPLE BUYING GUNS AT GUN SHOWS OR ON THE INTERNET?

PHIL ANDERSON:

I THINK THE SECOND AMENDMENT IS LISTED THE SECOND FOR A PARTICULAR REASON. AND THAT IS, ALL THE RIGHTS THAT WE — THAT ARE RECOGNIZED IN THE BILL OF RIGHTS ARE NOT GOOD IF THEY CAN’T BE DEFENDED FROM EACH OTHER, FROM CRIMINAL ACTIVITY, FROM EVEN OUR GOVERNMENT. AND SO I UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE SHOULD HAVE THE RIGHT — DO HAVE THE RIGHT TO PROTECT THEMSELVES IN WHATEVER WAY THEY SEE FIT WITH WHATEVER WEAPON THEY SEE FIT. NOW IN TERMS OF CHECKS, SOMEBODY WHO IS A CONVICTED FELON, SOMEBODY WHO HAS A CLEARLY DIAGNOSED MENTAL ILLNESS THAT MAKES THEM UNSTABLE, THAT’S WHERE I WOULD DRAW THE LINE AT. BUT WITH A CAVEAT. AND THAT IS ONCE YOU ALLOW FOR EXCEPTIONS FOR MENTAL ILLNESS, THEN THE GOVERNMENT’S STILL DEFINING MENTAL ILLNESS. AND AT SOME POINT THEY COULD DEFINE IT AS A BELIEF SYSTEM OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT THAT THEN BECOMES A WAY TO DISCRIMINATE AGAINST PEOPLE ON WHETHER THEY CAN DEFEND THEMSELVES.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

MOVING ON TO SOCIAL SECURITY. WHAT’S YOUR POSITION ON WHETHER THE SOCIAL SECURITY PROGRAM SHOULD BE MAINTAINED?

PHIL ANDERSON:

IT SHOULD BE MAINTAINED BUT PHASED OUT. WE NEED TO RAISE THE RETIREMENT AGE AND WE NEED TO STOP MAKING PROMISES THAT WE CAN’T KEEP. THE GOVERNMENT HAS DONE HISTORICALLY BAD JOB OF STEWARDING — BEING STEWARDS OF OUR INCOME AND OUR FUNDS. IT SHOULD BE PHASED OUT. PEOPLE SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO OPT OUT. AND EVENTUALLY WE SHOULD GET RID OF THAT PROGRAM OVER THE NEXT 10 OR 20 YEARS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ON HEALTH CARE GIVEN YOUR POSITION ON GETTING GOVERNMENT OUT OF THE WAY, AS YOU SAY, HOW DO YOU VIEW THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT?

PHIL ANDERSON:

IT’S A DISASTER. IT’S A HAND-OUT TO THE INSURANCE COMPANIES BASICALLY. IF YOU EQUATE HEALTH INSURANCE WITH LET’S SAY AUTO INSURANCE, WHEN YOU HAVE AUTO INSURANCE IT’S FOR CATASTROPHIC EVENTS. YOU GET IN A CAR WRECK OR HAIL DAMAGE OR WHATEVER THAT MIGHT BE. YOU DON’T HAVE AUTO INSURANCE TO PAY FOR YOUR OIL CHANGES OR REGULAR MAINTENANCE BUT WE HAVE HEALTH INSURANCE THAT’S BASICALLY SET UP TO DO THAT INCLUDING THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT. THAT MAKES IT A LOT SLOWER AND A LOT MORE EXPENSIVE. THERE ARE GOOD EXAMPLES IN THE MARKETPLACE WHERE HEALTHCARE IS BEING PROVIDED AT VERY INEXPENSIVE RATES BY SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES. FOR EXAMPLE ONE CALLED ATLAS MD IN WICHITA. AND THERE ARE MANY OF THESE ACROSS THE NATION WHERE YOU PAY A SUBSCRIPTION PRICE RELATIVELY LOW. MIGHT BE $40 OR $50 A MONTH AND THAT GETS YOU DIRECT ACCESS TO A DOCTOR, ROUTINE CARE, ROUTINE LABS AND CHECKS AND THINGS LIKE THAT. AND THEN YOU STILL CARRY HEALTH INSURANCE FOR THOSE CASES THAT ARE EMERGENCIES BUT YOU’RE NOT GOING THROUGH THE HEALTH INSURANCE PROCESS AND EXPENSE FOR THINGS THAT ARE ROUTINE. THAT’S A REFORM THAT WE NEED AND THAT OUR CORRUPT FEDERAL GOVERNMENT, DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN PART OF THAT HEALTH INSURANCE HAND-OUT FOR A LONG TIME.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT ABOUT THE PEOPLE WHO WERE FORMERLY UNINSURED BEFORE THE ACA?

PHIL ANDERSON:

IN THE SHORT TERM. NOW I DON’T FAVOR FUNDING PEOPLE’S HEALTH INSURANCE IN A LONG TERM. I THINK THE MARKET DOES A BETTER JOB OF THAT. IN THE SHORT TERM IF WE ARE ISSUING VOUCHERS SO THAT PEOPLE CAN USE THEM FOR THE KIND OF SUBSCRIPTION SERVICES I’M TALKING ABOUT OR USE THEM ON THE FREE MARKET, I’D BE IN FAVOR OF THAT.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ON NATIONAL SECURITY YOU SAY THAT IN THE NAME OF SPREADING LIBERTY AND DEMOCRACY THE U.S. HAS DESTABILIZED THE WORLD. HOW AT THIS JUNCTURE DOES THE U.S. STAY SAFE IN THE FACE OF ISIS?

PHIL ANDERSON:

WELL WE NEED TO STILL MAINTAIN A DEFENSIVE POSTURE IN REGARDING ISIS. CLEARLY THEY’VE DECLARED WAR ON THE UNITED STATES, WHATEVER THAT MEANS. BUT WE’VE CREATED THIS SITUATION WITH 100 PLUS YEARS OF BASICALLY IMPERIALISTIC ACTIVITY ACROSS THE WORLD ESPECIALLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST IN THE NAME OF OIL. IN THE NAME OF PROMOTING THE DOLLAR AS THE RESERVE CURRENCY OF THE WORLD. WE’VE CREATED THIS PROBLEM. SO THE CHALLENGE FOR ANY LIBERTARIAN WHO IS RUNNING FOR FEDERAL OFFICE IS, WE HAVE A SET OF IDEALS ABOUT WHAT OUR UNDERSTANDING OF THE INDIVIDUAL AND HAVING RIGHTS AND DELEGATING THOSE TO THE GOVERNMENT BUT WE CAN’T WALK AWAY FROM THE CURRENT SITUATION. SO FOR NOW WE NEED TO CONTINUE TO DEFEND OURSELVES AGAINST ISIS AND ANY OTHER FOREIGN THREATS. WE SHOULDN’T HAVE BOOTS ON THE GROUND IN THE MIDDLE EAST. WE SHOULD TRY TO UNINVOLVE OURSELVES OVERSEAS NOT ONLY IN THE MIDDLE EAST BUT IN EUROPE, ASIA AND EVERYWHERE ELSE. IT’S BASICALLY IMPERIALISTIC ACTIVITY THAT IN THE LONG RUN HAS MADE US A LOT LESS SAFE THAN MORE SAFE.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

WHAT’S YOUR POSITION ON ALLOWING SYRIAN REFUGEES TO ENTER THE U.S. AND HOW MANY, IF ANY, SHOULD BE ALLOWED?

PHIL ANDERSON:

I THINK WE SHOULD ALLOW AS MANY AS WANT TO COME. WE DO NEED TO SCREEN TO A CERTAIN EXTENT BECAUSE WE MAY HAVE INFORMATION ABOUT THEM ACTUALLY BEING TERRORISTS AND I THINK THAT’S FINE. WE HAVE A RESPONSIBILITY TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO DEFEND. THAT’S PART OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL OBLIGATION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT. BUT BEYOND THAT, IMMIGRANTS COME IN AND THEY WANT TO WORK GENERALLY AND AS LONG AS THEY’RE WILLING TO WORK AND SUPPORT THEMSELVES AND BE LAW-ABIDING CITIZENS OF THE UNITED STATES, I DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT AT ALL.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ON IMMIGRATION DO YOU BELIEVE IN A PATH TO CITIZENSHIP FOR THE UNDOCUMENTED IMMIGRANTS IN THIS COUNTRY?

PHIL ANDERSON:

YES, I DO. I THINK THAT WE’RE AT FAULT TO A CERTAIN EXTENT FOR THE RIDICULOUSLY, POORLY-RUN IMMIGRATION SYSTEM THAT WE HAVE. THERE ARE MANY, MANY PEOPLE WHO WANT TO AND HAVE IMMIGRATED HERE SUCCESSFULLY WHO PROVIDE VALUE AND GOOD CITIZENSHIP TO OUR SOCIETY AND OUR ECONOMY. AND THAT MOST OF THE PEOPLE, THE VAST MAJORITY OF PEOPLE THAT HAVE COME HERE ILLEGALLY HAVE DONE SO TO WORK OUT OF DESPERATION. AND EVEN THOUGH THEY ARE HERE TECHNICALLY ILLEGALLY WE NEED TO FIND A WAY TO INCORPORATE THEM INTO OUR ECONOMY IN A LEGAL WAY BECAUSE THEY’RE ALREADY WORKING AND PROVIDING VALUE AND BEING GOOD CITIZENS. THOSE WHO AREN’T, THEY SHOULD LEAVE AND I DON’T HAVE ANY PROBLEM WITH THAT. BUT THERE ARE VERY FEW UNDOCUMENTED WORKERS, ILLEGAL IMMIGRANTS WHO ARE ACTUALLY CAUSING PROBLEMS.

FREDERICA FREYBERG:

ON THE NATIONAL DEBT, YOU’VE DESCRIBED THIS AS AMERICA’S BIGGEST SECURITY ISSUE. HOW SO?

PHIL ANDERSON:

WELL IT PUTS THE DOLLAR AT RISK. IT PUTS OUR ECONOMY AT RISK. AND RIGHT NOW WE’VE SPENT A LOT OF OUR FOREIGN POLICY OVER THE LAST DECADES PROMOTING THE DOLLAR WORLDWIDE. BUT IF THAT FAILS, IF OUR DOLLAR BECOMES WORTHLESS, IF WE TRY TO MANIPULATE THE CURRENCY ANY MORE TO THE POINT WHERE THINGS ARE UNSTABLE AND RIGHT NOW WE’RE AT ROCK BOTTOM INTEREST RATES THROUGH THE FED, ALL OF THAT COMES DOWN. AND ALL OF A SUDDEN WE HAVE AN ECONOMY THAT THEN IS AFFECTING ALL THE ECONOMIES IN THE WORLD. AND WHAT WE SEE IS PEACEFUL COUNTRIES ARE ONES THAT TEND TO BE PROSPEROUS AND ONES WHERE PEOPLE ARE EATING AND BEING ENTERTAINED. AND IN ANY SITUATION WHERE OUR ECONOMY DOES POORLY BECAUSE OF THE DEBT, WHERE THE DOLLAR GETS DEVALUED BECAUSE WE’RE PRINTING SO MUCH MONEY TO TRY AND COVER THIS DEBT AND TRYING TO KEEP THE ECONOMY RUNNING, THAT ONCE PEOPLE GET HUNGRY THERE WILL BE UNREST ALL OVER THE WORLD.