MLK Says....

"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetuate it."

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Hitler on Rhetoric

"Historically, much of the motivation for public schooling has been to stifle variety and institute social control. "

Jack Hugh

Libertarian Quote of the Day

"It took about 150 years, starting with a Bill of Rights that reserved to the states and the people all powers not explicitly delegated to the federal government, to produce a Supreme Court willing to rule that growing corn to feed to your own hogs is interstate commerce and can therefore be regulated by Congress. "

David Friedman, The Machinery of Freedom

Jon Stewart Realizes Barack Obama is George Bush

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart	Mon - Thurs 11p / 10c
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Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Health Care Crisis

Libertarian Party wants open health care negotiations

WASHINGTON - The Libertarian Party (LP) calls on President Obama to not break yet another campaign promise by directing Congress to have an open, televised format for all future negotiations on the health care overhaul bills under consideration in Congress.

In 2008, then-Senator Obama promised at least eight times on the campaign trail to have open, transparent negotiations regarding a health care overhaul bill. That promise has been broken. Most substantive negotiations have occurred behind closed doors, not "on C-SPAN" as the President repeatedly promised.

The LP urges President Obama and Congressional leaders to hold all future negotiations in an open, televised format, as the President promised.

William Redpath, LP National Chairman, commented, "The President has no power to force Congress to hold televised negotiations, but he is clearly the driving force behind the health care legislation being considered by the Congress. Unfortunately, the President doesn't want to keep his promise. And, we all know why. Public approval of health care overhaul is down to about 40% and is sure to plummet further once a little sunshine is inserted into the legislative process."

Redpath continued, "Open negotiations would let Americans see how esthetically pleasing sausage making is when compared to Congress' negotiation process and the details of the health care legislation. The public would gain a much better understanding of how horrible this legislation is. President Obama and Democratic Party leaders probably think open negotiations would create a public groundswell that would effectively kill their ill-considered remake of one-sixth of the American economy that would likely bring the day of our next financial crisis that much closer."

Redpath concluded, "Government has an enormous cost estimate credibility problem. When Medicare Part A started in 1965, the projected cost in 1990 was $9 billion. It turned out to be $67 billion. When Medicaid's special hospitals subsidy was added in 1987, it was only supposed to cost $100 million per year, but, by 1992, it cost 110 times that amount. If the government is wrong by a factor of 7.5 or more this time, the result will truly be catastrophic for the US economy."

The LP opposes both the House and Senate versions of the current health care overhaul bill.

On the subject of health care, the LP Platform states:

We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets and civil liberties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.

President Jefferson Says.....

"I predict future happiness for Americans if they can prevent the government from wasting the labors of the people under the pretense of taking care of them. "

Thomas Jefferson

Dr. Davis On The Issues - The Series

In a series of questions we have sent to Dr. Richard Davis, the Libertarian Party's Congressional Candidate for the First District, he responds with candor and honesty. Here is the first series, focusing on the reason for running, Congressional work habits, and ethics.


1. To be elected by the citizens of your district is a great honor. What is the reason that caused you to decide to run for Congress?

I decided to run for Congress when the chairman of the Maryland Libertarian Party called me in January, 2008 and asked me to run. I had no thoughts in that direction prior to his request, but I felt it was a civic duty to run when asked. I much appreciated the opportunity to publicly express my concerns with the way the political process has currently been operating in this country. Apparently the party was pleased with my performance and asked me to run again, and I felt that doing so would reinforce the sincerity of my concerns with the process and my commitment to pushing for change.

2. The work habits and rare appearances of congressmen and congresswomen in their districts seem to peak near election but the rest of the time you rarely hear a peep. What type of session schedule for Congress would you like to see? How would you schedule your appearances in your district and what would you focus on?

I would like to see Congress in session for the two months prior to passage of the budget to focus on budget issues. For the rest of the year my ideal would be to have Congress normally in session two weeks out of each month and the rest devoted to time in individual districts, with sessions in Washington extended only for national emergencies. Ultimately I would like to see Congress reduced to a part time system like many state legislatures, with congressmen returning to their districts even more of the time and even to part of the time to “real world” jobs to keep them more in touch with the lives of their constituents. I do not believe service in Congress should be a career, and if the federal government were to be eventually reduced to the limits prescribed by the Constitution I do not believe service in Congress would normally need to be a full time job.

While at home in my district, I would anticipate dividing my time between several (probably three or four) offices widely separated due to the geographic size of the first district. I would, time allowing; prefer to have at least one “town meeting” type of forum quarterly. If Congress and the federal government were to ultimately be reduced to their Constitutional limits, I would hope to maintain part-time practice in my current profession. (In such a situation I would also advocate a corresponding reduction in Congressional pay and benefits.)

3. Becoming a congressman is a position where great trust is placed in you. What changes in ethics rules that govern Congress would you work to change?

I believe any conviction for any breach in ethics should result in automatic expulsion and replacement, whether the breach is directly related to work in Congress or not. In such cases Congressional pension benefits should also be forfeit. (Actually, I would advocate the phasing out of Congressional pensions altogether, as I do not believe career positions in Congress are in the best interests of the nation.

193 Libertarian candidates file in Texas

posted by Staff on Jan 05, 2010

Yesterday, January 4, was the deadline in Texas for candidates to file for the November 2010 elections. Texas has the earliest filing deadline of the 50 states.

The LP Texas reports that 193 candidates filed.

There are three statewide offices for which no Democrat filed, meaning that the race will probably be between a Libertarian and Republican. Libertarians filed for those office as follows:

Mary J. Ruwart, an At-Large Representative of the Libertarian National Committee, filed for Comptroller of Public Accounts.

Bristol Myers and J. Randell Stevens filed for Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 2.

Dave Howard filed for Court of Criminal Appeals, Place 5.

Since state law requires 5 percent of the vote in a statewide election to retain ballot access, the LP Texas is virtually assured ballot access through 2012.

In 2006, the last mid-term election, Texas Libertarians in two-way races for statewide office received an average of about 809,000 votes. Their average percentage was 24 percent.

Libertarians release top 10 disasters of 2009 Obama administration

Note similarities to previous administration

Top 10 disasters of the 2009 Obama administration (in no particular order):

1. Cash for Clunkers
2. War escalation in Afghanistan
3. Giant government health care expansion bill
4. Post office loses money hand over fist
5. Stimulus package
6. Expansion of "state secrets" doctrine
7. Big increase in unemployment
8. "Bailout" Geithner as Treasury Secretary
9. Skyrocketing federal spending
10. Huge federal deficits

Top 10 disasters of the 2001-2008 Bush administration:

1. Cash for Car Companies
2. War in Iraq
3. Giant Medicare expansion bill
4. Post office loses money hand over fist
5. Stimulus "rebate" checks
6. PATRIOT Act
7. Big increase in unemployment
8. "Bailout" Paulson as Treasury Secretary
9. Skyrocketing federal spending
10. Huge federal deficits

Wes Benedict, Libertarian Party Executive Director, commented, "Republicans and Democrats keep expanding government and creating more and more problems. We're encouraging as many Libertarians as possible to run for Congress in 2010. In Texas, the state with the earliest filing deadline, Libertarians have already filed for 31 of 32 Congressional seats."

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP executive director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets and civil liberties. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.

LP Monday Message: My New Year's Resolutions

posted by Staff on Jan 04, 2010

January 4, 2010

Dear Friend of Liberty,

I resolve to persevere in the struggle for freedom that many Americans have undertaken tirelessly, and in some cases have given their lives for.

I resolve to vote for Libertarian candidates whenever I can.

I resolve to keep reminding people that every vote for a Libertarian makes a difference.

I resolve to thank Libertarians who amplify their voice for liberty by running for office.

I resolve to congratulate Libertarian candidates who win their races, and thank Libertarian candidates who did not win but helped to spread the Libertarian message and to lay the groundwork for future Libertarian wins.

I resolve to thank Libertarian volunteers who help the Libertarian Party and our candidates in whatever ways they can.

I resolve not to forget that Republicans voted for the banker bailouts and Medicare expansion, and that Democrats voted for the Patriot Act and the Iraq War.

I resolve not to be fooled by "independent" organizations who say they want to "take back government for the people," but who really just want to use government power for their own purposes.

I resolve to keep the Libertarian Party door open for those who have worked through other organizations to promote liberty, but decided they might get a bigger bang for their buck working through the Libertarian Party.

I resolve to contribute financially to the National LP, and to at least one state and county affiliate, and to at least one Libertarian Party candidate.

Sincerely,
Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not yet become a member of the Libertarian Party and wish to do so, please click here and join the only political party dedicated to free markets and civil liberties. If you need to renew, please click here. If you would like to make a contribution separate from membership, please click here.

RED, WHITE, AND SACREBLEU

How American Wines Shocked the World

Libertarian Michael Munger comments on insurance and health care costs

Creating competition and offering the right incentives

newsobserver.com

DURHAM -- I hear people complain they can't afford insurance. They need to realize that the real problem is they can't afford health care.

The U.S. has the world's most expensive health care, $8,000 per person per year, eating up 16 percent of our GDP. There are many ways of paying these costs, ranging from private insurance such as Blue Cross to public insurance such as Medicare. Many people pay out of their pockets; local and state taxpayers pick up the rest.

Full article.

The Fear of Violence: Governments vs. Liberty

Deficits are Bad, but the Real Problem is Spending

Hannity Calls Ron Paul Supporters Nuts, Extremists, says Military Complex Gives Us Freedom of Speech

by Martin Hill

In response to the previous article Sean Hannity continues demonization of Ron Paul, calling his supporters crazy, youtube poster SaveOurSovereignty3 has posted the full audio of the Ron Paul caller, George from Chicago, who managed to orchestrate a skillful masterpiece in calling Hannity out for being a "spokesman for the merchants of death." Hannity had called Ron Paul nuts a few weeks ago while interviewing Chuck Norris, and had smeared Ron Paul continuously during the 2008 presidential campaign, claiming that the 9/11 Commission report and CIA admissions were "conspiracy theories."

Hannity began the Monday, December 14th, 2009 segment by reading an article about a bill sponsored by Ron Paul, not missing a chance to denigrate Congressman Paul and his "followers":

Hannity: "'A Republican and Democrat have put forward legislation that would rescind the automatic pay increase lawmakers are slated to recieve in 2011.' Ron Paul – yes – and by the way some of Ron Paul's followers are nuts but Ron Paul I like him, I like him a lot of the times. We got George in Chicago WLS, George hi."

George: "Hi Sean, maybe President Obama should stuff you into a bunker and call you an ememy combatant..." Sean laughs and they then proceed to have a discussion about Khalid Sheik Mohammed, with the caller continuing "if you concede that the federal government can hold whomever they want then you're conceding that President Obama can hold you and [Mark] Levin and throw you guys in a bunker and call you enemy combatants." Read More @ Lew Rockwell