Libertarian Party candidate Lloyd Jeffrey Mallan said he will cut the size of the U.S. military to encourage world peace if he beats U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai‘i, in the Nov. 7 general election. Shutting down the Navy’s Pacific Missile
Libertarian Party candidate Lloyd Jeffrey Mallan said he will cut the size of the U.S. military to encourage world peace if he beats U.S. Sen. Daniel Akaka, D-Hawai‘i, in the Nov. 7 general election.
Shutting down the Navy’s Pacific Missile Range Facility in Mana and encouraging public use of thousands of acres around the base also will be among his top priorities, said Mallan, a Kaua‘i resident.
He said the military doctrine of the United States — as evidenced by the occupation of Iraq — forces other nations to build up their military, thereby raising the risk for a global war.
“We need to significantly reduce the military of the United States and the militaristic laws,” he said, because, for one thing, military growth destabilizes the U.S. dollar and hurts the economy.
Militarization of America also encourages the making of war weapons, which “leads to erosion of civil rights,” Mallan said.
Mallan also said he favors an immediate withdrawal of U.S. troops in Iraq, but that isn’t going to happen soon because national leaders are modern-day imperialists with a hunger for foreign oil.
“American troops are dying for strategic military position in the Middle East and the oil,” Mallan said. “It is not a patriotic cause.”
Mallan said America continues to create military outposts, as there are “1,000, and most are secret.”
The military casts a long shadow over Hawai‘i, he said.
“Twenty-five percent of the land is owned by the military, and one in every 14 persons belongs to the military,” Mallan said. “If the military were to release even five percent of the land, rents would be cheaper, prices for everything would be brought lower. Natural development of the land and the environment would be safe.”
In his election campaign, Mallan opposed the Akaka Bill because he said it would create a nation within a nation for Hawaiians, and while protecting federally funded programs, would give Hawaiians the same status as Native Americans.
“There would be confusion as far as what the Hawaiian and U.S. governments would want,” Mallan said.
The best solution is for Native Hawaiians to become sovereign again, reclaiming the land lost through the overthrow of the Hawaiian Kingdom in 1893 and the annexation of Hawai‘i to the United States in 1898, he said.
“I would support a plebiscite to restore the Hawaiian nation, to give the land and resources to the Hawaiians,” Mallan said. “Ceded lands should be released and auctioned off, with Hawaiians to have the first bid.”
In modern-day Hawai‘i, Mallan said he would strive to create a free market and repeal the Jones Act so foreign commercial vessels could stop at state ports.
At the national level, Mallan said he would decriminalize drug use “as people should have a right to do what they want with their bodies.”
Mallan also said the government should pay restitution to drug felons because “all drug laws are unconstitutional.”
Moreover, he favors privatizing police and prison services to ensure cost-efficiency and more humane treatment.
But convicts aren’t going to get a free ride if he is elected, Mallan said.
“They should pay for their own treatment and pay restitution to the families of victims,” he said.
If elected, Mallan said he would champion civil liberties.
“The Bill of Rights should be enforced, because we really don’t have freedom of speech, especially under the Military Commissions law passed by Congress and signed by Bush,” Mallan said.
The legislation passed this year allows Central Intelligence Agency to continue a program for questioning key terrorist leaders and operatives like Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, believed to be the mastermind of the Sept. 11 attacks.
Mallan also wants to phase out U.S. Customs and the U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service.
Mallan said he has many ideas on how to improve Hawai‘i and the nation.
At the same time, he said feels his chances of beating Akaka, a popular incumbent, are slim and are next to none because “the Democrats and the Republicans are entrenched” in Hawai‘i’s politics.
But he said he will continue to leave his hat in the political ring.
“I would like to break down the imperialistic attitudes of the Democrats and the Republicans,” he said.
Go to www.freedominourtime.org for more information on Mallan’s candidacy.
• Lester Chang, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 225) or lchang@kauaipubco.com.
