The best candidate for the governorship of North Carolina has no chance of winning.
This year the two major party candidates-Republican Pat McCrory and Democrat Bev Perdue-offer backward policies and 20th century solutions to the challenges facing this state.
Munger, the Libertarian candidate, is refreshingly honest about his chances. He is the first to admit that he won't win this election.
Munger has, however, used the forum of this election to strengthen the hand of third-party candidates. He has rightly pointed out that Republicans and Democrats in this state have designed an election system that effectively neuters other political parties.
But Munger's campaign is more than a beachhead for third parties. Munger's policy proposals are more progressive and rational than those of his competitors.
He is the only candidate to call for legalizing gay marriage. Charlotte Mayor McCrory has horrified many by proposing a state constitutional amendment to ban gay marriage. State Lt. Gov. Perdue has made lukewarm calls for equal rights, while accepting the traditional-that is, discriminatory-definition of marriage.
McCrory and Perdue also propose failed and vague solutions to crime. McCrory promises to increase sentence lengths and build more prisons. Perdue's Web site says she will "enact harsher penalties for crimes involving drugs."
Munger has chosen a policy platform that will decrease the number of criminals, rather than feed the costly and counterproductive prison-industrial complex. He proposes to decriminalize "victimless crimes" such as drug possession.
Munger wants to end the death penalty. He would work to raise oil prices by discontinuing the government subsidies that lower it, thereby making innovation in energy profitable.
His immigration policy, which favors a "high wall and a wide gate" and the recognition that immigrants have human rights, is more humane than those of his opponents. Calls to reform Raleigh sound more sincere coming from this tenured faculty member who has been willing to talk to whomever will listen.
That is the advantage of being a second-tier candidate. Munger has been free to make sensible, politically unpalatable proposals that a major party candidate would never be brave enough to air. In fact, Perdue and McCrory are surprisingly similar and mechanical.
We have been especially disappointed by Perdue. For instance, she originally staked out a courageous position opposing offshore drilling, but reversed her stance when the political tides turned. Nonetheless, she has progressive views on healthcare and has had major victories on environmental issues.
If Munger were not in this race, Perdue would be our state's best option.
In his defense, McCrory has enjoyed some success as Charlotte's mayor. He led the creation of the city's light rail line, and under his leadership the Queen City has enjoyed enormous economic growth.
Too many of McCrory's proposals, however, stem from a discredited big government conservative ideology-from his harsh views on crime and immigration to his regressive social views and support of massive road-building projects.
Many will argue that voting for a candidate who has a snowball's chance in hell of winning is a wasted vote. But the value of emboldening Munger's unique voice outweighs the cost of his electoral irrelevance.
The Chronicle Editorial Board formally endorses Michael Munger for Governor of North Carolina.
Get The Chronicle straight to your inbox
Signup for our weekly newsletter. Cancel at any time.