Libertarian paternalism in Idaho
Idaho's full of Republicans. Few places in the country have one party dominate statewide politics to the degree the GOP does in Idaho (Utah's obviously one of our brethren, and on the other side, Maryland and Hawaii elect Democrats like few other states.)
But just as often as you hear that Idaho's Republican do you hear that Idaho Republicans lean toward libertarianism. If they are libertarian, it is indeed a strange libertarian.
To pull but a few examples: public disclosure laws, gay rights and liquor licensing all share a thread of paternalism -- exactly contrary to accepted libertarian ideals.
Idaho legislators are not required to disclose their sources of income, nor list their assets such as real estate. I suppose we're meant to take it on faith that Idaho's politicians are not corrupt (and Iran doesn't have any gay people), because the Speaker of the Idaho House called a bill to mandate the release of such information unnecessary. Transparency should be virtuous across partisan lines.Perhaps some libertarians would argue disclosures for income and assets are unnecessary, but more, I think, would agree it's a sensible rule for those who seek the public's trust. The Center for Public Integrity had Idaho tied for last place with Michigan and Vermont in public disclosure laws this year.
With regard to gay rights, Idaho is one of those states whose sodomy laws were overturned by Lawrence v. Texas in 2003. The "infamous crime against nature" still remains on the books, Idaho State Code 18-6605, punishable by up to five years in prison, though it is now unenforceable. (An adultery law is also still on the books, as well.)
And, finally, to liquor: I suppose it is a religious teetotaler influence, but the number of licenses to dispense spirits is a population-based quota system in Idaho. There are legitimate reasons why governments should seek to discourage intemperate drinking, or smoking, or obesity, but we don't limit cigarette sales per capita or McDonald's franchises per capita. Nor should we so limit liquor licensing, which has spawned a market in license speculation, where the certificates are treated as investments not because of any natural scarcity but because of a legal monopoly by the state.
Libertarian-leaning GOP, indeed. I appreciate that the GOP has so far not completely decimated the public school system, though they did react to a Democrat's election as the state's superintendent of education by transferring authority from her department to the State Board of Education. When Republican Tom Luna was elected to the post they transferred the authority back.
Governor C.L. "Butch" Otter, while a Representative, voted against the Patriot Act. I wish he and his party would transcend party lines a little more often.