What makes me a Libertarian?
I am opposed to coercive government.
I value autonomy; every person has a right to live as they see fit and we should respect the rights of others.
I believe all relationships should be voluntary.
I believe the role of law should be to prohibit actions that involve initiation of force against those who have not themselves used force. (Rape, murder, etc.).
I see several compelling rationales for a Libertarian future: (1) We are not as prosperous as we could be; (2) our government is too powerful; (3) big government and coercion will block advancement and investment; (4) all other alternatives have been tried and failed; and (5) "In a civil society you make the choices about your life. In a political society someone else makes those choices."

As a Libertarian, I subscribe to classical liberal political philosophy. Thinkers such as Locke, Smith, Montesquieu, Jefferson, Hume, Kant, Mill, Dewey, Berlin, Barry, Nozick, Dworkin, Spencer, von Hayek, and Rand are generally representative of my political views. I value:

Freedom above all
Commitment to toleration
Commitment to freedom of autonomy
Private ownership of means of production
Limited Government
Anti-paternalism
Moral neutrality toward different ways of life
Individual Rights
Robust Civil Society

For an excellent introduction to Libertarianism, check out David Boaz, Libertarianism: A Primer:

Libertarianism challenges the conventional wisdom and rejects outmoded statist ideas, so it often has a strong appeal to young people.
Libertarianism is the view that each person has the right to live his[/her] life in a way he[/she] chooses so long as he[/she] respects the equal rights of others.
Governments should exist to protect rights, to protect us from others who might use force against us. When governments use force against people who have not violated the rights of others, then governments themselves become rights violators.
The bigger the government, the bigger the failure; thus state socialism was the most obvious failed policy.
A government based on the participation of the governed is a valuable safeguard for individual rights, but liberty itself is the right to make choices and to pursue projects of ones own choosing.
Libertarians oppose unnecessary war, the common enemy of peaceful, productive people on all sides of the conflict.
A liberal society is not infinitely resilient, so it is important to transfer power from states that unwittingly engage in the ultimately deadly undermining of civilization to the people themselves.
[N]o one has the right to initiate aggression against the person or property of anyone else.
(quoting Cicero) While it is undesirable to equalize wealth, and everyone cannot have the same talents, legal rights at least should be equal among citizens of the same commonwealth.

My stance on immigration


I like Judge Posner's comment on his blog about immigration reform:
http://www.becker-posner-blog.com/archives/2005/02/immigration_ref.html

He proposes screening prospective immigrants and admitting those immigrants that would add more to U.S. welfare than they would take out. Those who don't pass the first screening could immigrate if they pay the cost they would likely impose on the U.S. economy.

Immigration is only problematic if it results in a net decrease in social welfare. If immigrants are trained in certain fields where we are deficient, or if they are willing to do work we won't, then they add to the economy and we let them in. If they come in to abuse our system, take advantage of our social programs and dodge our taxes then they keep them out. However, the majority of my immigrant acquaintances are in the former category: their hard work increases our net social welfare.

Having lived and worked in Japan for over a year, I understand how difficult it is to live in the shadows of a society that views you as an outsider, which is why I am saddened by the negativity directed towards immigrants who come to America just trying to realize the American dream.

READ ABOUT ME IN THESE NEWSPAPER ARTICLES>

Third parties need your support!Desert News: click here


My quote, "I think all politicians are scumbags." Daily Herald: click here


Check out the Daily Universe article on me.
Daily Universe: click here

I'm a married, 27-year-old recent college graduate who has much in common with voters in Utah's Third Congressional District, which includes Brigham Young University, Salt Lake Community College, and Utah Valley State College.

I want to increase individual liberty and greatly decrease federal intrusions into our lives. If elected, I promise to: (1) defend individual liberty; (2) respect the limits of the U.S. Constitution; (3) manage immigration as our country's Founders envisioned; (4) oppose legislation that unbalances the budget; and (5) oppose U.S. military adventurism abroad.

Don't waste your vote on candidates who belong to political parties that promise fiscal restraint, but have delivered record government growth and deficit spending.

Make your voice heard for smaller government, fewer taxes, and more freedom. Please support me with your vote.

Listen to KSL tonight from 9:00-9:30. I promise it will be interesting. I will be talking about my experience with a corrupt police officer in Provo Utah, which is the vry experience that prompted me to run for U.S. Congress. I want to clean up Utah's police force & fight to stop police misconduct and abuse. Please listen in, call up, and give me your support!

To watch my campaign speech, go to the link below and click on the "free speech message video" link in red.

Watch my campaign speech!


Also, check out my page on myspace!

Here are some thoughts I sent to the Utah County Republican delegates group which had invited me to join, but after my first post there were some motions for my removal from the group. I cannot blame them entirely because it is a GOP group and I am not a GOP candidate, but here is the letter I sent in response to what I perceived as vociferous opposition.

I am a citizen first and a libertarian second, in fact I wish we could do without political labels and I could be invited in on the merits of my position as a citizen candidate. I recognize the well-intentioned efforts of many to restrict discussion to only Republican points of views and I appreciate those who are willing to tolerate my invitation into the group. Please correct me if I am wrong but if Utah county is really a one-party county, is it really plausible that libertarian ideas in the discussion could upset the GOP of Utah County? If that is possible then I have a better chance at winning than I thought. I am only here by invitation and the technical arguments for excluding me are persuasive even to me. But, I think it is a disservice to all citizens if a party with the strength of the Utah County GOP is not willing to hear the views of a citizen of Utah County who is running for a National seat. I will mention some of the policies I think are most important currently.

I am in favor of US Senators being elected by State legislators, as the original Constitution mandated.

I think we should live up the the high standard inscribed on the Statue of Liberty where immigration is concerned.

I think the US should be the most inclusive democracy in the world and therefore the voting age should be lowered so teenagers are allowed to participate in this the most preparatory of all civic duties. Taxation without representation was the battle cry of our country's founders and it is our responsibility to pursue the eradication of this practice until all who are taxed are represented.

I believe in creating a system of national referendum, and in eliminating the electoral college.

I want to increase our GDP by eliminating our antiquated voting system and allow real time voting over secured Internet connection, much like the federal student loan program, or tax filing is done on-line. Participating in voting through a secure Internet connection is long past due.

I believe in a strong national defense, I do not support the current doctrine of pre-emption, which actually weakens our national defense. In fact I think that the 722 current international US military bases would be most effective not as hard power projection but as ready made soft power projection projects. This could be done by turning them into international Universities and city-states under US control much like Puerto Rico or Guam. With American-based curriculum and laws and culture so that we export the things which the world really loves about America and soften our image thorough the world especially in the developing world where the greatest threats to security are incubated currently. The military industrial complex is of great concern to me as it was to Eisenhower who also warned about its effects on our country. It is of such magnitude there are numerous departments and roughly 1/4 of the federal budget (500 billion annually) dedicated to its expansion. In fact can anyone explain where exactly the mission of Homeland Security and the mission of the DOD differ? It stands to reason that if either were preforming her mandate the other would be superfluous.

I think youth is our most valuable resource, if we continue to press the inalienable right of children to a education it stands to reason that it is also in society's interest to see that those same children have a right to health care so all of that educational money does not go to waste on a child to sick to utilize the public educational dollars.

I believe in choice in education.

I believe in a reform of the tax code, either a flat tax or the VAT, I have always liked the bumper sticker "10% If it is good enough for God it is good enough for the Government"

I am a Realtor and will do all I can to protect property rights.

I have many other ideas and would love to discuss them with anyone or if there is any uncertainty of my opinion please call me directly. My phone number is 801-319-3064.

A fellow citizen
Phil Hallman

STONEWALL SHOOTING SPORTS OF UTAH QUESTIONNAIRE AND RESPONSES

Congratulations on your candidacy for nomination and election to public office.

Stonewall Shooting Sports of Utah is a group of gender- and sexual-minority firearm advocates and owners in Utah, and supporters of the Pink Pistols idea that was described nationally in 2000 by writer Jonathan Rauch for the legal, responsible and safe use of firearms for our self defense and shooting-sport competition and recreation, including those of us who are gay and lesbian, and that of our families and friends. Founded in 2002 with hundreds of members, we're also the largest such group worldwide.

Our members are also very politically active in the state (as voters, volunteers, contributors and party officers) and want to know your public opinions about the following questions:

1. Will you protect the equal rights (including those of education, employment, family, government access and protection, marriage, military service, and public accommodation) of gender- and sexual-minority Utahns if elected?

Thank you for your inquiry. You may know that I am a Libertarian candidate for the US House district #3. This is my first time running for public office.

Although I am not a gun owner myself, it is my understanding that the plain language of the Second Amendment of the US Constitution is very clear:

"...the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed."

Therefore, it is my understanding that any sort of regulation to curtail firearm ownership is antithetical to our constitutional principles, and I would oppose any such legislation.

2. Will you protect the Second Amendment rights (including firearm and concealed-firearm ownership and possession) of gender- and sexual-minority Utahns if elected?

I am not a sexual minority myself, but I am sensitive to the inalienable rights of all minorities and I believe all are guaranteed certain rights, among these rights is the right to enter into contracts, as well as the right to privacy. I reject the State's ability and authority to grant licenses to marry. I also reject the idea that a legislative majority can define marriage (which is essentially a contract) for any group, whether it be gay, straight, lesbian, Muslim, polygamist or celibate.

3. How have you protected these rights before your current candidacy?

I don't know if I have a long record of protecting these rights. In fact, I was opposed to gay rights as a teenager, but my opposition was mostly out of ignorance. I am now 27 years old and have many friends and some family members who are gay and lesbian. I also went to California State University at Northridge. CSUN had a very active club for gay and lesbian students. Discrimination is a terrible thing and I hope to stop some of it as the next U.S. Representative from Utah.

All people have the right to life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness in whatever form it may be found, so long as one does not aggress against anyone else.

I would be proud to have the support of your community for my candidacy for congress.

Phil Hallman

Welcome to the campaign web log for the Phil Hallman, Libertarian candidate for Utah's Third Congressional District Representative to the United States Congress!

A vote for Phil Hallman is a vote for:

• Smaller government
• Fewer taxes
• More freedom!

I am for life, liberty , and allowing the pursuit of happiness, and the protection of our private property rights. Government should exist only as an expedient to secure these rights against any aggression from other individuals, organizations or other governments. Unfortunately, our government has taken on a form completely foreign to the Declaration of independence and the United States Constitution.

How might a Libertarian vote in the U.S. House of Representatives?

Rep. Ron Paul from Texas offers a good example.

If elected, I will be a vote for:

• Eliminating wasteful government programs which tax the many to benefit the few,
• Returning criminal justice duties to the several States,
• Borders that allow easy passage for workers, tourists, and commercial activity,
• Coordination with other nations in the Western Hemisphere with international seaports and airports to protect against those who would harm us,
• Ending the Social Security Ponzi Scheme by fulfilling its obligations to Americans who are receiving benefits from it, refunding the contributions of all living Americans who have paid into it, and allowing the rest of us to opt out of it and provide for our retirement as we see fit,
• Ending the embargo of, and normalizing relations with, Cuba
• Lower the voting age to 16 and end taxation without representation for teenage drivers
• Modernizing the election system, as more efficient voting will pay for itself by ending the loss of productivity of Americans standing in voting lines

I invite your comments.

And I invite your contributions to my campaign made payable to "Phil Hallman" at:

Hallman for Congress
P.O. Box 2073
Provo, Utah 84601

All campaign contributions will be handled in accordance with federal law.