By Christina Lane

Tuesday, February 12, 2008

"The federal government needs to stay out of our lives because of their programs that are intended for good but tend to cause more harms," he said. "The federal government is consistently stepping outside the confines, the rules and the boundaries of our Constitution."

Cooper said it's unfair that prisons house nonviolent criminals, such as people convicted for drug use. That's why Cooper said he makes videos telling people how to not get busted for drugs.

"I'm running for Congress because of the unfairness in almost every government decision in America," he said.

"It's unfair that one kid has to go to public school in a trailer house and share books, and another kid has all the money they need for education. It's unfair to use our prison cages as collection agencies that house nonviolent people."

Cooper, 38, is one of several East Texans running as a Libertarian candidate for political office.

"The Libertarian Party stands for smaller government on all issues," said Wes Benedict, executive director of the Libertarian Party of Texas.

As an example, Benedict said Libertarians support the drinking age being lowered to 18.

"Everyone knows that college kids — 18- to 20-year-olds — are drinking on campus or off campus. They're just doing it illegally," he said. "We are losing respect for the law. We keep making more laws, but people are no longer listening to them."

Cooper said there should be fewer laws regarding individual freedom.

"Libertarian means liberty. It means freedom above anything else," Cooper said. "Our Constitution outlines a plan for how people can be free. Libertarians defend the Constitution and never step outside that Constitution."

This is the first political office that Cooper has sought, he said, but he believes that is a strength for him.

"American citizens do not need political experience to run for office. American citizens need courage, integrity, honor and compassion to be a leader for the American people," said Cooper, who was president of his high school class.

"In fact, a political background in my opinion is a weakness because it proves that that person with that background has become part of the system and has given up a lot of their integrity to be where they are."

Cooper said he wants to restore honor and integrity to America, as a country.

"Our nation's arrogance has caused the rest of the world to despise America when America used to be loved," he said.

"I want to restore that back to our country — that sense of trust, that sense of compassion."

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