Education policy not viable

That is not an easy feat and deserves congratulaions.

But the Libertarian Party, specifically Libertarian Party presidential candidate Harry Browne, has one policy to which  we must take exception.

In formulating his theory on public education, Browne incorporates the Libertarian idea of abolishing the income tax.

"The most effective way we can improve education is to repeal the income tax, so that you can afford to educate your child as you deem best," Browne writes on his website, www.harrybrowne2000.org.

This, according to political science professor Jay Stevens, includes public higher education.  And that means Cal State Long Beach.

Libertarians "would prefer the private sector perform most of the functions now provided by government. Yet if you are a student at CSULB, you attend a government institution, and your education is highly subsidized by the government," Stevens wrote in an e-mail interview.

Having the Libertarians involved in the election is a refreshing change of pace, but anyone who attends CSULB cannot, in good conscience, support the dismantling of a system in which they participate.

We support the widening of the political spectrum. We support the Libertarian Party in its quest to become a viable political party. But in order to win the hearts of the American people, the party needs to change its tune.

Truly accesible education for all people has been an American dream since we were founded. We're getting closer to making that dream a reality, and we certainly don't need to stop now.