The gamecock. (Columbia, S.C.) 1908-2006, June 22, 1978, Page Page 5, Image 5
Libertarianism 'comb;
Ex-profess
By Nancy Ann Coleman
Gamecock Staff Writer
m.? J ** - - ^ -
a wo uays aner me state primary
last week, when Democrats and
Republicans were scrounging
frantically for the voters left by
losing candidates, Philip
Dematteis, Libertarian candidate
for governor, was downing a draft
at USC's Golden Spur.
Dematteis, 34, came to USC in
1972 from his native Illinois after
getting his doctorate in philosophy
from Southern Illinois University
in Carbondale. He was an assistant
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uivoovi lit |/iuiusv(lliy Ml UOV/ ior
six years, but had to resign this
past May because he had not been
granted, tenure ? a victim of "the
publish or perish syndrome," he
said.
Dematteis discussed his campaign.
"I don't think there is
anyone foolish enough to think we
could win," he said. "The Libertarian
Party is a small party and
fairly new. Most elections amount
to Democrats and Republicans
handing jobs back and forth. Here
in South Carolina, it almost
amounts to the Democrats just
knn>?:n<t 11 i
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"OF COURSE, if I was elected, I
would serve," he said. "It's just
such a long shot that we don't want
to be too worried about that. What
we want to do is to make people
aware of the Libertarian
philosophy. It's an educational
campaign.
"We have two purposes. We want
to show the people that there is an
alternative to Democrats v<*r?iic
Republicans or to liberals versus
conservatives. And we want to
show those in government now that
the people are not totally satisfied
with things the way they are."
Founded in 1971 in Colorado,
Libertarianism is based on a 19th r
century liberal philosophy of the
supreme importance of the individual.
Libertarians believe in
less government, non-violence and
laissez-faire capitalism.
I
IF ELECTED, Dematteis said
he would veto any new or increased
taxes. Where possible, he would
replace taxes by user fees and seek
repeal of the 1926 income tax law.
He said he would try to lower sales
taxes and support a constitutional
amendment to limit property
taxes. He said he also would
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liuiiaic a ouuui v^muuuu law
similar to Proposition 13 in
California.
"The revenue loss from these
revisions would be offset by the
reduction in state government size
and activities and by the vast in
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JUN(Z 24
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ination of good points
or seeks sta
crease in business activity that
would result from lowering taxes
and taking government out of the
marketplace/' he said. "I wouldn't
yank out the tax-supported services
but would work to eliminate
citizen dependence on government."
Dematteis elaborated on some
specific changes he would make as
South Carolina's Libertarian
governor, which include:
? Repeal of the state's blue laws
and, while waiting for that repeal,
Dematteis
pardoning all those convicted of
blue law violations. "If there was
true religious belief about blue
laws, they would not have to be
legislated," he said.
? Abolition of many regulatory
agencies of which there are 29 in
this state. "The argument is that
these commissions protect the
consumer, but all they do is raise
the prices and start monopolies."
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Dematteis said. "Members of
these agencies are invariably
members of the profession being
regulated."
? Repeal of motorcycle helmet
laws.
? ELIMINATION of victimless
crime laws, i.e., those which
prohibit peaceful activities between
consenting adults Tn/?1iiH?H
in this category are all drugs,
which Dematteis believes should
be legalized.
? Repeal of laws limiting bar
and liquor store hours and "put the
minibottle back on airplanes where
it belongs."
? Repeal of the 55-mile-per-hour
speed limit. "It doesn't save fuel,"
he said, "or for the amount that it
does save, you lose in time."
? Elimination of gun control
laws.
? Providing tax credits or other
encouragements for Drivate
schools "because public education
is as inefficient as other governmental
bodies."
? Stopping the legislation appropriating
"thousands of dollars
for local festivals and other arbitrary
expenditures."
Dematteis has been calling
himself a Libertarian for only six
years, but philosophically he has
always been one, he admitted.
"Most of us have the experience
that for many years we try to
--.l i *?* if?-- ? J '<
ueiaue wnai we ieei, ne said, "in
some ways, we feel like liberals; in
some ways like conservatives.
Liberals want to increase civil
liberties, get rid of laws constricting
privacy or rights but they
want government more involved
with the economy."
"Conservatives favor free trade,
free enterprise, smaller government,
but want government more
see DEMATTEIS, p. 6
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