Mike ter Maat and the Gold New Deal
The following is a guest post by:
Timothy Tarkelly
tarkellyt@gmail.com
Being the de facto “third” party in size, ballot access, and electoral success, Libertarians have a unique challenge when it comes to choosing a presidential nominee. Some believe the nominee is a symbol: a standard bearer to spread the message during the quadrennial season in which Americans actually pay attention to electoral politics. Others would have us lean full-force into a quixotic, if not blindly optimistic, push for the White House. Perhaps, there is a healthy balance. Regardless, Mike ter Maat is hoping to be the nominee in the next presidential election. He believes he brings legitimacy and a unique set of experiences into the job.
Mike ter Maat is a former Florida congressional candidate, economics professor, businessman, and law enforcement officer. Not only has he taught economics, but he has lived it. He has been preaching the free market gospel to the banking industry for years, even founding a company designed to educate bankers in the process. He advised the White House and met with the Fed chair. Ter Maat believes this experience gives him a distinct advantage over potential opponents in the race. Virtually every Libertarian candidate will promise to “End the Fed.” According to ter Maat, it means a little bit more coming from him. “We have a plan,” says ter Maat. “We know what it means, we know how hard it is, we know how to get it done.”
Even if his financial sector experience doesn’t convince voters of his adroit economic touch, his experience as a police officer surely will. “If you’re not an economist before becoming a police officer, becoming a police officer will make you an economist.” Law enforcement allowed ter Maat to witness firsthand the results of bad political policy: poverty, drugs, desperate crime -- all the human ramifications of a government who has lost sight of what matters most.
Ter Maat says it’s time for that to change. He is campaigning on the promise of a “Gold New Deal.” Just as FDR did in the 1930s, he seeks to “reimagine our relationship with the government.” It’s a campaign brand built to compete with the establishment Left’s “Green New Deal” while offering voters a consistent worldview through which to view his major policy proposals: decentralizing government, abolishing the IRS, ending the Federal Reserve system etc. More importantly, according to ter Maat, the Gold New Deal is a strong campaign message because “there’s no walking away from it.” It’s an opportunity to hold him accountable to his own message; it’s a chance to make sure that his campaign stays true to its libertarian worldview.
Arguments about symbolism and optimism aside, the nominee matters. They have a responsibility to represent the party to the whole country. Ter Maat believes his experience and education give him credibility, while his commitment to real Libertarian principles will make his campaign unlike any others we’ve seen so far. Certainly, it is important to have an understanding of economics that extends beyond mere theory. Although, there are some in the party that would balk at his experience in politics and law enforcement. Populist and anti-establishment voters may dislike his resume or his beltway chic. Ter Maat hopes his campaign could bring all of these camps together.
The field of Libertarian candidates is still growing. Last month, I interviewed Lars Mapstead about his campaign: a three-pronged mission for a Fair Tax, term limits, and Ranked Choice Voting. Jacob Hornberger has announced his intentions, and we eagerly await his campaign taking shape. Chase Oliver, former Georgia senate candidate, will be attending the Kansas Libertarian Party Convention. He will be attending on Sunday, April 23. For more information on Mike ter Maat, you can visit his website www.miketermaat.com or www.goldnewdeal.org.