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In the spirit of election season we’re going to pique the minds of the both Republicans and Democrats. Up first is the Republicans! Dave Zbaracki, of Duluth, is a libertarian-conservative activist. He graduated from UMD with a degree in political science and history and served as chair of the UMD College Republicans and was on the state board of the Minnesota College Republicans. He is a regular oped contributor for the Duluth News Tribune.

Reader: Have you always voted Republican? Do you mix it up?

DZ: I am loyal to the Republican party. Politics is a team sport, and I support my team, even if I don’t agree with a candidate on every issue. I have, on occasion, voted for Democrats in local, nonpartisan elections, like Mayor Ness.

Reader: What attracts you to the GOP platform?

DZ: I believe in free markets, free trade, a strong national defense, low taxes, gun rights, school choice, individual liberty, and sensible government that lives within its means. I’m also pro-life.  

Reader: Are there any issues that you tend to be more liberal on?

DZ: I have some libertarian tendencies. I support gay rights. I think we should find better solutions to the drug war. I’m not for across the board legalization, but I think broad-based marijuana decriminalization would be a good idea. That’s not necessarily a “liberal” position either. Conservatives like George F. Will and the late William F. Buckley, Jr., as well as Buckley’s magazine National Review hold similar views. We need comprehensive immigration reform and the GOP should be leading on this issue. The GOP should be doing more to reach a broader demographic, otherwise it will not be able to compete nationally in years to come.

Reader: Why are you voting for Mitt?

DZ: Whether in business or the Salt Lake City Olympics, Mitt Romney is a turn-around specialist. He has one of the most impressive resumes of accomplishments of anyone that has ever run for president. He is extremely bright and is uniquely qualified to turn around the economy. I think the Democrats nominating Obama, and for that matter, the Republicans nominating Sarah Palin for VP four years ago, was a sad commentary on the state American politics. In an era of sound bytes and taking votes out of context, Barack Obama’s lack of a record was considered a strength for him during the primaries with Hillary Clinton, not a weakness. Identity politics is important, but so is experience. The lofty rhetoric and high expectations of 2008 have been met with a cold reality of how difficult politics is. My hope is that people have learned something about how politics works, not just creating a campaign narrative, but actually governing.

Reader: Mitt has been criticized as the “liberal’s conservative” as Governor. (Romney-care, assault weapons ban, etc) Do you feel like this is true?

DZ: Mitt Romney, the politician, is more of a technocrat and less ideological. I think his experience in business has made him approach some issues from more of a practical standpoint. That’s led to plenty of criticism, and rightfully so. It’s funny though, when Romney changes his mind on an issue, he’s a “flip-flopper.” When Obama changes his mind, he “evolves.” Despite the left trying to paint Romney as Gordon Gekko, he is a good and decent man, and people finally saw that in the first debate.

Reader: What do you think is the most important issue facing voters in November? How will your candidate address this?

DZ: The economy and the debt, and how the two relate to each other. The unemployment rate is down slightly, but the civilian labor force participation rate is at a 30 year low. Many have simply given up looking for work. We have a stagnant economy. In regards to the debt and deficit, Barack Obama ran as a fiscal conservative in 2008. He criticized President Bush for running up the debt, yet is on pace to run up as much debt in four years as Bush did in eight. President Obama promised to cut the budget deficit in half. Mitt Romney and Paul Ryan have a plan. It has been scrutinized heavily, which is fine, but President Obama doesn’t have a comprehensive plan. There is no amount of confiscatory taxation that can solve the deficit problem. You need to grow the economy and expand the tax base. President Obama’s policies, especially when it comes to Obama-care, have created stagnant economic growth.

Reader: Who’s your favorite Republican president of the past? Why?

DZ: Aside from Abraham Lincoln, who was the greatest president in American history, Ronald Reagan. Reagan came into office during a time of high unemployment, soaring interest rates, and rapid inflation. Through massive tax reform and tighter monetary policy, a decade of tremendous economic growth followed. The economy added 16 million jobs. Inflation dropped. Interest rates came down. Treasury revenues soared. He had a sunny optimism about him and had a way of connecting with the American people that made complex issues understandable. He helped defeat global communism by projecting American strength. He instilled a renewed sense of patriotism and helped Americans feel good about their country again as “the last best hope for man on earth.”