Michael’s Priorities

Read The Bills

It sounds simple, but you’d be surprised how often it doesn’t happen. If a bill is presented without sufficient time for review before voting, my vote will be a firm “no” and I will urge my colleagues to do the same.

Follow the Arkansas Constitution and Defend West Little Rock

I will uphold and adhere to the Arkansas Constitution in all legislative actions and decisions. Additionally, I pledge to defend my constituents in every possible manner when any agency or office fails to do so.

Operate with Integrity & Transparency

I will always be available to the citizens of West Little Rock, not just when seeking their votes. I will not disappear when it is assumed I have no opponent. Additionally, I promise daily Facebook Live briefings during each session to keep my constituents updated on the latest developments.

Protect Everyone’s Rights

Our rights do not come from the government; they precede it. The government’s role is to protect them. I am committed to safeguarding the rights of all citizens, ensuring that everyone’s freedoms and liberties are upheld and respected.

Uphold Limited Government

Less government means more liberty. Arkansas is not meant to be involved in every aspect of our lives. “I don’t want to run your life, I don’t know how to run your life, I don’t have the authority to run your life, and the Arkansas Constitution doesn’t permit me to run your life!”

Stop Governing by Emergency

I am committed to ending the practice of governing through emergency measures. Government should operate with transparency, accountability, and foresight, rather than relying on perpetual emergencies.

Strengthen FOIA Laws

As a proponent of government transparency, I am committed to strengthening the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) and embracing any method that increases transparency in government operations. FOIA laws play a crucial role in ensuring accountability and openness by granting citizens access to government records and information. By strengthening FOIA laws, we can enhance transparency, foster public trust, and hold government officials accountable for their actions. I am dedicated to advocating for reforms that make government more transparent and responsive to the needs of the people.

Defend Economic Freedom & Private Property

Every individual and business should have the opportunity to thrive without unnecessary government interference. Private property rights are fundamental to our prosperity and should be safeguarded against overreach and infringement.

Restore Representative Government

I am committed to combating special interests and political cronyism in government. I will work tirelessly to ensure that decisions are made in the best interest of the public, not influenced by undue favors or personal agendas.

Promote Fiscal Responsibility

I will ensure that taxpayer dollars are spent wisely and efficiently, with a focus on reducing waste, eliminating unnecessary spending, and balancing budgets responsibly.

Michael’s Three Pillars

Pillar #1 – You are not government property.

Your life is yours. I staunchly uphold this principle of self ownership, recognizing that you possesses inherent rights. This fundamental truth forms the bedrock of my political philosophy, guiding my commitment to protecting personal freedoms & limiting government intrusion into your life. However, liberty isn’t a free pass; it comes with the responsibility to respect the rights & well being of others. In essence, individual freedoms should thrive as long as they do not encroach upon or harm the rights & freedoms of others. Bottom line, as your representative, I will be your voice for an Arkansas where your rights are upheld, echoing the principles of the founding of this republic.

Pillar #2 – Taxes shouldn’t strip away ownership of labor or property.

Without owning your labor, you’re enslaved; without owning property, you’re merely a renter. I stand for individual ownership to prevent such exploitation. Everyone deserves to enjoy the fruits of their labor without undue government interference. This doesn’t mean neglecting essential services, safety nets, or amenities that enhance public life. Instead, it means exploring fairer funding methods, aiding individuals to pursue economic prosperity & create generational wealth for every Arkansas family. Such is my ‘North Star’, the guiding principle that will shape my representation of you in legislative discussions involving funding.

Pillar #3 – We face a pressing issue – dependency.

None aspire to be reliant on federal aid, yet our current educational system perpetuates this cycle. However, I envision a transformative shift. Education, our greatest opportunity, can liberate us from this dependency. It’s time to reimagine our education system as the cornerstone of independence, offering parents more choice, including trade schools. By equipping our youth with essential skills and opportunities, we pave the way for a future where every Arkansan flourishes autonomously, no longer tethered to government assistance. Remember, it’s not about ending welfare today, but crafting a tomorrow where it’s no longer needed for prosperity.

Michael’s Political Philosophy

Dear Voters of Arkansas’ 75th House District (West Little Rock),

If I were to distill my entire political philosophy into its most fundamental principles, they would be as such:

1) Within natural limits, both the size and scope of government are inversely proportional to liberty and wealth.

2) No society can tax its way to prosperity.

3) Central planning will never match the efficiency of a free market.

4) Most importantly, the healthiest and safest balance of power is one that is greatly skewed – firmly in the hands of the people. This is best achieved through an armed populace and the ability to exercise instant veto power over government funding through our everyday choices.

In summary, chasing utopia is a dangerous illusion. Each step toward this unattainable goal, no matter how well intentioned, inevitably demands greater centralized power, concentrated into ever fewer hands, over an ever growing number of matters – ultimately leading to the erosion of all liberties.

While sadly we will never eliminate all social challenges, freedom and prosperity are best maintained when solutions are driven by the creativity, compassion, and choices of individuals – empowered to voluntarily act, innovate, and help one another – rather than by a distant, overreaching bureaucracy, whose only logical endpoint is pure and unadulterated totalitarianism.

I would hope my honesty and straightforwardness have been appreciated, as such qualities are increasingly rare in today’s political landscape. I am committed to serving you in the Arkansas legislature with this same manner of principled integrity, and I look forward to earning your vote this November.

Yours in Liberty,
Michael White
Candidate, State Representative, AR75

“I still have questions.”

What is a Libertarian?

Libertarianism is often misunderstood, in fact, far too often, but I don’t hold that against you – we have had some poor messengers.

At the core of Libertarian thought is a universal truth – self-ownership. You see, I believe that you and only you own your mind and body and life. I hope you agree because should you not, you would be asserting that someone else has a greater claim to your life than you do.

Your “self” is essentially expressed in three elements:

Your life. This is easy. Literally the right to exist, breathe, and sustain yourself.

Your property. Because you have the right to sustain yourself, you have the right to use your abilities (your labor) to justly acquire sustenance, shelter, tools, and comfort. Property is thus the physical expression of your “life” over time.

Your liberty. Because you have a right to your life and property, you then must have the right to direct both.

You see if I own me, and you own you, then instantly a few ground rules are established. Namely, I don’t have a right to take from you by force, any expression of your “self”, whether it be your life, property, or liberty, and neither you I. I do, however, have a right to defend myself and my “self” and its expressions from aggression. As do you. Thus the only moral use of force and aggression is “self” defense.

We also, because of liberty, can assign our rights (life, liberty, property) to others, assuming they voluntarily accept. For instance, maybe your grandmother cannot defend her life, but she has every right to ask you to move in with her to keep her safe. We can assign any right we have.

We cannot, however, assign a right we don’t have! Because I have no right to take from you, I thus cannot assign it to anyone, regardless of their fancy title or uniform.

From this, we essentially arrive at a form of the golden rule and instant limits – That people are free to live their lives as they see fit, so long as they are not infringing on anyone else’s ability to do so. (The latter being the definition of harm).

What does this mean in practice? Does this mean no roads? No social safety nets? No fire prevention? No libraries? No of course not! We all want the good things in society!

It just means those things ought to be funded voluntarily, as you, nor I ,have the right to take from others – even if we think what we spend it on is “good” for them.

What does voluntary funding mean? Well, lotteries are a form of voluntary funding, so are raffles, and good old-fashioned fundraising… and some Libertarians (myself included) argue that sales taxes and excise taxes can also be viewed as voluntary, so long as they are only on goods produced with others’ labor and only once – i.e., new items only.

While there are various views on THAT, the core belief is the same.

We have to remember that self-ownership as a concept, while an absolute truth, is actually very new to be expressed in the world. For most of human history, some form of authoritarianism has stood over all of us. It wasn’t until just a couple of hundred years or so, that the idea became a core tenet of an organized society… i.e., government. And even then, not a perfect expression of the idea.

I understand compassion, that we see poverty, or disease, or famine, and we wish to help. But any idea loses its compassionate nature when to enact it requires men with guns, who will take your property, throw you in a cage, or both should you not fund it. It certainly loses its compassionate nature when if you, resisted with equal force, those men with guns would be allowed to murder you, and suffer no consequences.

I know that concept can be hard to initially wrestle with, as it causes a great amount of cognitive dissonance for those new to wake to it. Worry not, the dissonance fades if you simply are willing to have open honest conversation with yourself and others.

Now, you might be wondering, ‘Does electing a libertarian politician mean that everything will suddenly change, potentially ruining what we’ve built?’ Absolutely not. Let’s be realistic; no single legislator can bring about such drastic changes. Our legislative process relies on a collective exchange of ideas and voices. However, currently, that collective voice lacks a strong advocate for you as an individual.

Libertarianism, in my view, isn’t about tearing down institutions or causing societal upheaval overnight. It’s about adhering to a guiding principle that places individual freedoms at the forefront, while restraining excessive government intervention.

What this means is that you’ll have someone in your corner, advocating for you as a unique individual-not just another statistic or political pawn. Every person deserves to be represented in the halls of power, and with me, you’ll have exactly that.

A Two-Way Race – No “Throwing Your Vote Away”

In this critical election cycle, District 75 faces a clear choice: stick with the same old political establishment or embrace a new path forward.

Let’s be crystal clear: this is a two-way race. It’s just me versus one Democrat. You have nothing to lose by voting for me. Gone are the days of you feeling compelled to choose between two parties that often prioritize their own agendas over the needs of you.

By voting for me, you’re sending a powerful message that you demand change, accountability, and representation that truly reflects the will of the people. I am not beholden to special interests or party politics – I am here to serve you, the citizens of West Little Rock.

Together, we can break free from the stranglehold of the two-party system and usher in a new era of governance that prioritizes individual liberty, fiscal responsibility, and common-sense solutions. So don’t let fear or uncertainty dictate your vote. Take a stand for what you believe in and vote for real change.