Free Market Examples: Delivery Services

To start, let's define Free Market since I'm not sure I've actually gone into that here.

Free market refers to an economy where the government imposes few or no restrictions and regulations on buyers and sellers. In a free market, participants determine what products are produced, how, when and where they are made, to whom they are offered, and at what price—all based on supply and demand.

In the US, the majority of blockage to a truly free market comes from the government. They forbid producers from polluting, pricing below cost, or being a monopoly. In addition, they often require minimum safety standards, the disclosure of ingredients, licensing of certain professionals, and protection of original ideas, to name just a few. They even control the money supply to minimize the negative effects of natural economic expansion and contraction.

Some of these things may SEEM like a good idea. We all want the market to thrive, but time and time again it has been proven that the market thrives best, when it is left alone. When there is competition, consumers will choose the best available option for their goods and services needs. Factors such as time, distance, ease of use, customer service etc all effect companies well being in a buyer's market. When the government interferes with the market, buyers lose control. Here in the United States, there is a lot of favoritism for government sponsored programs that are supported by taxpayer dollars that would NOT survive in a free market.

The best example I can think of is USPS. Now, I don't know how your local postman treats you where you live, but I've gotten mail at 5 different addresses over the last 3 years. I can say with certainty that amongst the big 3 delivery services: UPS, FedEx, and USPS that USPS by far has the least reliability and the worst customer service. When I ship something with FedEx or UPS, it gets where it's going within the time frame I am quoted or in rare cases where it does not, I get a partial or full refund.

At my last apartment (the last one I'll live in, at least for the next 30 years, thankfully) USPS failed to deliver 6 packages in the short 9 months we lived there. When we called to talk to them, they insinuated that it was OUR fault, for not being home to receive the package and therefore it had to be rerouted. However, none of those packages required a signature. They could have left them at our door.

FedEx and UPS are typically a great deal cheaper than USPS, they have better customer service, a higher overall rating by consumers, a lower failure rate and from my experience, much nicer employees. So why does the USPS still exist? If overwhelmingly, the buyers PREFER other companies that provide the same services one would assume that they would take over the market. So why isn't that happening? Why do USPS employees continue to exist to complain about their employer (rightly so) on the internet?

Because they are supported by the US government. Because even though they have operated at a deficit for YEARS we continue to finance them out of our tax dollars. So, not only is the IRS stealing money out of my paycheck, they are stealing it to support a company that I purposefully DONT shop at due to rude employees and overall incompetence.

The Libertarian Party Gains An Elected State Senator & State Rep

Breaking into the bi-partisan race is tough for a lot of reasons, not least of which being that no one wants to go first. If a libertarian gets elected running as a Republican or Democrat there is enormous pressure to stay with the party. Defecting isn’t even an option for many elected representatives. Partially because it would be seen as a betrayal of the party that financed their bid. Deciding to change party registration and join the Libertarian Party is a big deal. Now, for the first time in its history, the Libertarian Party has an elected State Senator and State Representative.

This year John Moore, a Nevada State Representative, left the Republican Party to become a Libertarian formally. He had already been voting libertarian and was one in all but name. However
the new label is extremely important because it conveys that libertarians are more than just an ideology. We are a viable political party. Having elected representatives at the state level is a major hurdle that only one non bi-partisan party has made it over. Moore became the first Libertarian statewide elected official in 20 years. In November he'll be up for re-election as a Libertarian.

Shortly before the LP National Convention, Nebraska State Senator Laura Ebke also left the Republican Party. Although the Libertarian Party has had an elected State Representative in New Hampshire in the past, this is the first time they can lay claim to a State Senator. In her statement, Ebke cited her frustration with her Republican colleagues for ignoring civil liberties. She was first elected in 2014 and is currently serving a four year term. She will be up for re-election as a Libertarian candidate in 2018.

The courage of these 2 individuals in risking their seats by switching to the Libertarian Party lays the groundwork for a historical shift in American Politics. The Republican and Democrat parties will not take this lightly and will surely run intense campaigns against these third party insurgents as they begin to take the LP more seriously. They do not want other representatives to follow in Moore and Ebke’s footsteps, for obvious reasons. With this precedent, and the two parties unfavorable nominees, Gary Johnson's polling at 10% nationally, may make this the year that dozens of representatives change their political affiliation.

Why 2016 Could Be The Big Break Through for Libertarians

I've been voting Libertarian as long as I've been legal to vote. From a very young age I looked at the bipartisan system and knew that it didn't serve me. I saw that it was broken, and that it was essentially "circe et panem", bread and circuses. The system we currently empower is divisive. The parties and their candidates seem to only hurl mud and point fingers. Everyone is so concerned laying blame on anyone else, they never take the time to look in the mirror. The problem with America, is the American people. All of us, collectively. Some in different ways than others. I could go over the minutiae of how each group and sub-group is negatively impacting our country but instead I'm just going to point out the one major flaw we all share: we keep supporting a corrupt, broken government. I think it starts in our education system, but that's another post entirely. The important thing is that we can still change it. We still have the right to vote, and we don't have to fall for the circulating propaganda telling us to vote against the worst candidate, rather than FOR the best one.

Gary Johnson is the best candidate.

Along with his running mate, former Massachusetts Governor Bill Weld, he exemplifies fiscally conservative and socially liberal practices.  They believe in lower taxes and fewer economic regulations, but also feel government shouldn’t interfere with personal issues like gay marriage, legal marijuana and a woman’s right to choose.

How many of you reading this really want the government to be MORE powerful? Don't they interfere with enough of our rights as it is?

So why is this our year?

The Libertarian Party is on track to be on the ballot in all 50 states in this election. I can't say for certain that we stand a chance at WINNING this election, but they do offer voters a viable alternative to the amazingly unfavorable Trump and Clinton, along with a message the majority of Americans could possibly like. In 2012 Johnson won 1.3 Million votes, which is a drop in the bucket compared to what he would need to WIN an election, but it's the largest non bi-partisan showing anyone has ever made. He can do this. With Weld by his side they can at the very least scare the pants off Clinton and Trump. Johnson pulled 8 percent of the vote poll by Rasmussen Reports, which included him in a three-way match-up with Clinton and Trump. In a similar poll by Monmouth university, Gary jumped into the double digits at 11%. These same polls reflect that more of the democratic and republican parties look unfavorably on their own candidates than favorably.

Just because you're a registered democrat or republican does not mean you have to vote for whoever won the nomination of that party. You can say no. You can vote for someone you believe in. You can vote for Johnson Weld. You can vote for 2 men who have a history of standing up for their voters. Who will balance the budget AND protect your individual rights and liberties. You don't have to choose between being financially hurt, or socially hurt. You can have the best of both worlds. Don't vote on which rights you want to have taken away. (Dems: right to bear arms, Reps: woman's right to choose, etc) Vote to keep all of your rights. Say no to a government that has gotten too large, and say yes to the freedom that our forefathers fought so hard for.

The biggest obstacle facing the LP is media coverage. Not enough people know about the principles upon which the party, and these candidates stand. But this year, the electorate is HUNGRY for something DIFFERENT. So if you're with me, and I hope you are, help me spread the good word. get #GaryJohnson2016 trending. Post about him on your blog. Share relevant news articles to Facebook and Twitter. Put up a yard sign. Donate to his campaign here.

The thing is, I know sometimes the LP can come off sort of "crazy", because it's sort of a melting pot for everyone who has veered away from the bi-partisan system. Don't let them scare you away. Do a little research and discover what we stand for.

Don't tread on me.

Don't tread on anybody.