LIBERTARIAN - Paul Geddes
When politicians run for office, they usually woo voters with the promise of a new infrastructure project or increased funding for pet programs. Not Paul Geddes.
The Libertarian candidate for Coquitlam-Burke Mountain is running on a platform that seeks to dismantle much of government and many of the initiatives touted by the other parties.
He isn't even that big of a fan of democracy.
"I want liberty," he said, while sitting at the kitchen table of his Coquitlam townhouse. "I don't want democracy. Liberty means leaving people alone with their own lives and property. I don't want people to vote on who I can marry and what drugs I can use."
When it comes to policy, Geddes strays from the typical platforms put forward by the candidates from the major parties.
For example, he believes that the local transportation authority should be scrapped in favour of allowing private enterprise to run the transit system.
In Geddes' vision, businesses would be free to build their own rail lines or bus services where there is demand. This would free people from the burden of having to pay for projects like the Evergreen Line, which he calls a drain on the taxpayer.
He also believes government needs to get out of the way of business when it comes to education.
Geddes would like free enterprise to step in and offer a variety of education programs, allowing families to choose what is best for their children.
"I want experimentation," he said. "I want innovation. I want people to be free to pick the type of school they want. We don't want to fit everyone into a cookie cutter school. That would be terrible."
Geddes has no illusions about winning the riding when the votes are tallied next week.
He said his goal is to get the Libertarian message out to as many people as possible and change the way voters think about their government. "I want my phone to be busy," he said. "I want people calling me up asking what this Libertarian thing is all about."
For more information go to libertarian.bc.ca.
