Finkenstadt Outlines Plans for Change; Nixon, Hulshof Promises Same Old Bigger Government Story
September 14, 2008 | Announcements, Positions, Press Releases
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Missouri Press Association Gubernatorial Debate
Finkenstadt Outlines Plans for Change; Nixon, Hulshof Promises Same Old Bigger Government Story
“We should not be burning our food! And taxpayers should not be paying for the privilege”
COLUMBIA, Mo. - September 14, 2008 — In the gubernatorial debate, hosted by the Missouri Press Association, Libertarian Andrew Finkenstadt outlined his plans to change the direction of the state, while Attorney General Jay Nixon and Congressman Kenny Hulshof continued to embrace the same failed policies from the Democratic and Republican parties that have resulted in bigger government budgets, bigger government taxation, and bigger government interference.
“I am a computer software engineer. Engineers do not create a blue-ribbon panel to study an issue. Engineers solve the problems put before them,” Finkenstadt said in opening remarks. “A lawyer looks at a problem and tends to say, ‘There ought to be a law.‘ I say in response, ‘We have too many laws already, we don’t need any more.‘ A politician looks at a problem and tends to say, ‘Hey, we should study that.‘ Computer programmers see a problem and address it in a more direct and methodical way, we actually solve it.”
Libertarian Andy Finkenstadt went on to say, “I will reduce taxes for everyone (not just the rich, not just the middle class), and I’ll do it by reducing the size of our government. Reducing taxes leaves more money in your pocket to spend as YOU see fit, without some government middleman getting in the way. After all, who knows best how to spend your hard-earned money: you, or the legion of legislators and rule makers who work in our state government?”
During the question and answer portion of the debate, both Nixon and Hulshof reiterated their campaign issues: bigger government spending on health care and insurance products, expanded government spending on educational programs, and more government control over alternative energy sources.
Libertarian Andy Finkenstadt advocated for the government to get out of the way of the free market solutions available for each of these issues:
1. Health care choices are, ultimately, the choice of each family. The choice of what kind of health insurance they want, what level of health care they want, the care providers they want, and the medicines and treatments they will use. For those families who are unable to pay for necessary health care, Finkenstadt holds that private organizations and charities whose mission it is to provide these services should be contacted for their assistance. (Finkenstadt’s family contributes a significant amount of its annual income to just such local charities.)
2. Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice. Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is inextricably linked to moral values, we should return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children’s education.
Finkenstadt did not advocate vouchers that go to private institutions, despite Nixon’s misunderstanding during the debate. Perhaps it is just this common misunderstanding that prevents governmental leaders from coming up with the right solution: multiple school choices in an area, each supported exclusively by the publicly-funded dollars following the student.
3. Energy, especially clean energy, is the proper domain of the free market. The government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy.
Ethanol: Both Nixon and Hulshof support taxpayer-funded subsidizing of ethanol producers. Replies Finkenstadt, “We should not be burning our food! And taxpayers shouldn’t be paying for the privilege; that just adds insult to injury.”
Working a regular “day job” to support his family, Finkenstadt, 42, is a full-time software engineer for Simutronics Corp., a St. Charles, Missouri-based online persistent-world computer game company. He is also a music minister for St. Joseph Catholic Church in Cottleville, Missouri. His wife, Carol, is an administrative assistant at First United Methodist Church in St. Charles. Finkenstadt attended Franciscan University of Steubenville (Ohio) 1983-1987, where he majored in Mathematics and Computer Science.
Andrew (Andy) Finkenstadt is the Missouri Libertarian Party Gubernatorial candidate in the general election on November 4th. He was unopposed in the primary election. More information can be found at http://andy4governor.com.
The Missouri Libertarian Party is one of three established political parties in Missouri. More information can be found at http://lpmo.org.
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Missouri Press Assocation Gubernatorial Debate: Video
September 13, 2008 | Conversations, Press and Media
Courtesy of KSDK, the St. Louis NBC station, all four segments of video of the debate are available online:
and Part 4
Missouri Press Assocation Gubernatorial Debate: Closing Remarks
September 13, 2008 | Conversations, Press and Media
Closing Remarks
Thank you very much.
Thanks to our sponsors for inviting each of us to be here today. What a giant step forward it is to see more points of view. Debates should be about the issues, and should give every candidate for the office the opportunity to share their own viewpoints.
Just as a free market brings about a healthy competition in business, and so will the debates bring out a healthy competition in this November’s election. These debates will be the job interview, if you will, for the position of Governor; the interview with the people of Missouri where they will say “SHOW ME what you’ve got”.
And all of us will give it our best shot. It’s up to us to answer your questions. It’s up to you to take what we say, and vote accordingly.
As I opened with earlier, I am a computer programmer - a software engineer, and we build practical solutions, not just study them into oblivion.
Computers only do what they are told to do. If you want to change how the computer works, you have to replace the software with something else, and then reboot the computer. Well, it’s time to reboot the government. It’s time to get rid of the programs that don’t work, and put in workable solutions.
Don’t waste your vote. Don’t waste your vote. That’s what they told you four years ago: they said you shouldn’t vote for a third-party candidate, because it’ll be a wasted vote. They said that you needed to have the Republicans and the Democrats in charge to move the state forward. I say, “Don’t waste your vote”. I say, “There’s a better choice out there. A choice only you can make.” I say, “Only you can reclaim your independence, and reclaim the politics of this state.” I say, “And only you can do it. Don’t waste your vote.”
(adapted from a speech by Peter Hutchinson, MN Gubernatorial candidate, 2006)
The leaders you elect make decisions that affect YOUR job, YOUR health care, YOUR energy costs, YOUR security, and the legacy you leave to the future.
I promise that my government will stay out of your business, will leave your money and property alone, and will allow you to live peacefully as you choose. This November, please vote for me, Andy Finkenstadt, for Governor of the State of Missouri.
Missouri Press Assocation Gubernatorial Debate: Opening Remarks
September 13, 2008 | Conversations, Press and Media
Opening Remarks:
Thank you, Mr. Moderator. Thank you to the Missouri School of Journalism; to the Missouri Society of Newspaper Editors; to the Missouri Broadcasters Association. And, thank you to the Missouri Press Association for inviting me here today to speak about the Missouri Governor’s race.
My name is Andy Finkenstadt - and I’m the Missouri Libertarian Party candidate for Governor. I bring a unique perspective on how things will be improved in Jefferson City and in Missouri at large.
I am a computer software engineer. Engineers do not create a blue-ribbon panel to study an issue. Engineers SOLVE the problems put before them.
A lawyer looks at a problem and tends to say, “There ought to be a law.” I say in response, “We have too many laws already, we don’t need any more.” A politician looks at a problem and tends to say, “Hey, we should study that.” Computer programmers see a problem and address it in a more direct and methodical way, we actually solve it.
Earlier I said I was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor. The word Libertarian comes from the word LIBERTY.
As Libertarians we seek a world of liberty:
a world in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives;
and no one is forced to sacrifice his or her values for the benefit of others.We believe that respect for individual rights is essential for a free and prosperous world,
that force, and fraud, must be banished from human relationships,
and that only through this freedom can peace and prosperity be realized.Consequently we defend each person’s right to engage in any activity that is peaceful and honest,
and we welcome the diversity that freedom brings.
The world we seek to build is one where individuals are free,
free to follow their own dreams in their own ways,
without interference from government or authoritarian power.I hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives,
they have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as
they do not forcibly interfere with the equal rights of OTHERS to live in whatever manner they choose.As they say, “The right to swing your fist stops at my nose.”
Governments throughout history have regularly operated on the opposite principle:
that the state has the right to dispose of the lives of individuals and the fruits of their labor.
Even within the State of Missouri, all political parties other than the Libertarians
grant to government the right to regulate the lives of individuals
and seize the fruits of their labor without consent.Libertarians, on the contrary, DENY the right of the government to do these things:
and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual.What are those rights?
First, the right to life:
accordingly we support the prohibition of the initiation of physical force against others.Secondly, the right to liberty of speech and action:
we oppose all attempts by government to abridge the freedom of speech and press,
as well as government censorship in any form.And thirdly, the right to property:
we oppose all government interference with private property, such as
the taking of one person’s private property with eminent domain
for the benefit of private developers
all in the name of “economic development”;
we oppose bans against smoking in private venues,
and of course, we oppose robbery, trespass, fraud, and misrepresentation.Since governments must not violate individual rights,
we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals.
People should not be forced to sacrifice their lives and property for the benefit of others.
They should be left free by government to deal with one another as free traders;
and the resultant economic system,
the only one compatible with the protection of individual rights, is the free market.
(adapted from Libertarian Party Principles, http://www.lp.org/platform)
I am not here to “tickle your ears” with so-called solutions to problems that call for bigger government regulation and interference in your life, or so-called solutions that result in larger government spending of yet more of your tax dollars, taken from YOUR paycheck each and every week.
I am here to tell you that I will reduce taxes for everyone (not just the rich, not just the middle class), and I’ll do it by reducing the size of our government. Reducing taxes leaves more money in your pocket to spend as YOU see fit, without some government middleman getting in the way. After all, who knows best how to spend your hard-earned money: you, or the legion of legislators and rulemakers who work in our state government?
You know the answer already. And that’s what Libertarians fight for every day: YOUR right to do as you please with your money, with your time, with your treasure, and with your talents.
I bring to the citizens of Missouri more than 20 years of experience in creating solutions that actually work, and that maximize your personal liberty. When I am elected Governor on November 4th, there will be a new way of doing business in Jefferson City.
And it will be truly revolutionary.
Debate audio available now
September 11, 2008 | Uncategorized
The audio-cast of the first Gubernatorial Debate is now available, compliments of MissouriNet.
The St. Louis Post Dispatch Political Fix blog had this to say about Finkenstadt’s response on Campaign Finance: “Best Line So Far from Libertarian.”
Gubernatorial Debate: listen LIVE at 3:15pm
September 10, 2008 | Uncategorized
CANDIDATE FORUMS
LIVE ON
NEWS TALK 1400, KFRU
www.kfru.com
Thursday, September 11, 2008- 3:15pm
Fisher Auditorium, Gannett Hall
- Governor -
Presented by:
University of Missouri School of Journalism, Missouri Press Association, Missouri Broadcaster Association, Missouri Society of Newspaper Editors
To listen online, go to the below link:
http://player.cumulusstreaming.com/Play.html?KFRU-AM
Events for the week of September 7th, 2008
September 6, 2008 | Announcements, Voter Information
This week promises to be a busy one for Finkenstadt, with a busier one the following week.
September 7th: Finkenstadt will be at the SEMO District Fair, Libertarian Party booth with Branden McCullough, the US Representative (District 
candidate, from 4pm through 10pm.
September 11th: Finkenstadt has been invited to participate in the Candidates Forum sponsored by the Missouri Press Association, the Missouri Broadcasters Association, the Missouri School of Journalism, and the Missouri Society of Newspaper Editors. 3:15pm through 4:30pm, in the Fisher Auditorium, 87 Gannet Hall at Mizzou.
Also on September 11th: Finkenstadt will be participating in a live and in-person, on-air interview with The Drive with Gary Nolan. The show is on from 4pm to 6pm, listen in from outside the area on The Eagle 93.9.
September 13th: St. Louis County Libertarian Central Committee picnic, an informal event held at Castlepoint Park in Jennings (2465 Baroness Drive), from 12pm through 4pm.
UPDATED: to add The Drive event on September 11th.
