Political label misapplied

The author of “It’s all in the memo” (Letters, Mar. 20) may be somewhat confused by use of political labels. He refers to the Koch brothers, Coors brothers and Richard Mellon Scaife as wealthy members of the libertarian/free market mindset and, to use his word, ultraconservatives. These individuals do not have free-market mindsets, but are funding a government-controlled market.

The word libertarian came into popular usage to help prevent confusion of the new “liberal” designation with that of the much older “classical liberal.” John Locke, a philosopher who lived in 17th century England, is considered the father of classical liberalism. He would be the first to say that a truly free market is one without government intervention and trading is entirely voluntary.

A Democrat may be libertarian-leaning. Ron Paul may be a libertarian-leaning Republican. Many independents are of a libertarian bent and don’t even know it!

There are two types of voters, those who want more government control over their lives and those who want less. Being nonpartisan gives people a clear shot at helping to build a society they want to live in without a party to tell them what that society must look like.

Jon J. Tuning

Spokane