Random Ramblings

I admit, I'm a news junky. I love watching the news. My TV is always on Fox News, and when I have time, I love reading the New York Times. How many people out there watch Fox News and read the New York Times? Not many, unfortunately.

The reason Fox News blows away the other news networks is because it is more in-tune with the American population than it's competitors. I'm always in favor of free market competition, and I'm glad we're a center-right country, but I really wish more people would watch MSNBC, and better yet, Al Jazeera.

I've been watching Al Jazeera English for a little over a week now (ever since #Jan25), and yes, their journalists and interviewees range from disliking America to outright hating us. Kind of like MSNBC is with Republicans, and Fox News is with Democrats.

Herein lies the only caveat of being a free society. We're free to watch what we please, and free to not watch what we don't want to see.

If you only watch Fox News, you'll have a much different view of America than if you only watch MSNBC. If you only watch Al Jazeera, you'll have a much different view of America than if you only watch American stations.

I'm convinced every Libertarian goes through a moment of Enlightenment. Something happens to us where suddenly our eyes open to an entire world outside of the box we have been living within our entire lives.

Wisdom is a powerful weapon. To the politicians, we are all "Useful idiots". Politicians create chaos to keep us occupied, so we don't go digging around for information they don't want us to know. Fortunately, the Democrats and Republicans each have their idea of what you should and shouldn't know, and they are almost always inversed. That's why I enjoy the New York Times and Fox News, because it's usually hard to believe the story they are reporting is actually the same story.

The situation in Egypt is much different on Al Jazeera than it is on Fox News or MSNBC. Which one is telling the truth? None of them. They're all spinning the events to their target audience. Fortunately, by watching all three, we can use our own judgement to infer the real story, a talent sadly lost on most people.

We know most people are Libertarians who simply haven't realized that fact yet. So how do we convince them? Well, I don't think we can. It's a lot like hypnosis, it only works if the subject wants it to work. Until they have been Enlightened, they will have no desire to leave the comfort of their box.

If you know of someone who is passively-active in politics, ask them to do you a favor. Say you're doing a research project, and ask them to watch two nights each of Bill O'Reilly and Chris Mathews. On the first night, have them write down only positive things about the show. What they liked, what they agreed on, and so on. Then on the second night, write down only negative things about the show.

For a select few, this one simple task will be enough to lead them down the path of Enlightenment towards Libertarianism. For the rest, their results will be extremely revealing, and you will be able to use their answers to try and help them along the journey of Enlightenment.

Libertarians Call for Democrat Party Chair Karen L. Thurman to Step Down

The Libertarian Party of Manatee was amused to see Florida Republican Party Chairman Jim Greer announce his resignation because it likely represents no change at all, and even if it does mean a substantive change in the Republican Party it very likely won't be one in the direction of liberty if recent history is any guide.

In his resignation latter Jim Greer cited "the conservatives" as a prime reason for his leaving. It is important to note that when Jim Greer says "the conservatives" what he really means is "those few Republicans that are sick of people like me, Charlie Crist, John McCain and all the other democrat lights who only oppose big government spending when we're not the ones doing it."

OK, so that's what he says, but his own people say his lack luster efforts at fund raising and dubious party spending are the real problem.

Either way, he should go.

While the GOP is doing some house cleaning it should also do some soul searching, and perhaps some reading of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution, and lpf.org for good measure.

The only bad news is that we have to wait until February 20th to actually see him depart. Talk about the longest exodus you've ever seen.

What does all this have to do with the Democrat Party Chair and why are we calling for her to step down? Solidarity. The Republicans and the Democrats share so much in their ideology that she should immediatley step down, as well as resign her position in the US congress, to help show her GOP tax and spend friends that she hasn't forgotten them.

So please, call Karen L. Thurman at 850-222-3411 and ask that she please step down.

Splitting the vote: another myth.

I'm so sick and tired of hearing how voting for a Libertarian only takes votes away from Republicans. What tripe! I'm here to proclaim loud and proud that the Libertarian party is not populated entirely by disillusioned Republicans.

What hubris to just assume that Libertarians are nothing more than an angry fringe faction of the Republican Party.

Libertarians are from all walks of life, and we have one solid core that no other party, large or small, can claim. We hold the principles of freedom as the highest values for a political party.

Democrats have embraced socialism. This is incompatible with the principles of freedom.

Republicans won't stand up for individual rights. This is incompatible with the principles of freedom.

There are millions of people who see this dichotomy and have decided to make the choice to do something different. Many of them toss their hands in the air, falsely believing that there is no way to break the stranglehold of the two parties, and register as an independent.

Others register with the Libertarians. Don't think for a moment they all came from the Republican party; as if the Libertarian party was some sort of refugee camp for beaten down Republicans.

Perhaps it is wishful thinking? Perhaps those who spew such drivel believe that if they say it enough it must be true, and thus by saying it they can adopt the Libertarians into the GOP orbit by default.

I'm here to tell you, DNC, that your voters are far more disillusioned than the GOP of late. The GOP has suddenly grown a backbone. Being the underdog is what they know best, and they are suddenly good at it again. But the Democrats around the nation are now looking at the ruin their elected officials are trying to foist on the nation and they are asking themselves not only "what have I done?" but "what the hell do I do now?"

AND THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY IS HERE TO HELP!

We are the party that millions of democrats are looking for, and we're getting our message out.

We're coming for your disillusioned voters who yearn to be free. Discount us at your own peril.

Nanny State Belts Citizens

Today the forces of the nanny state took another step in Florida.

Yes, the new "seat belt" law is now in effect. It is now legal for the cops in Florida to pull you over and issue tickets for no other reason than because you are not wearing your seat belt, and I say, what the hell is wrong with these people?

No, not the idiots who don't wear seat belts, and not even the idiot cops who might enforce this law, but the idiot law makers who passed such a stupid law.

If I'm not wearing my seat belt and the worst happens, who is injured? I am, and no one else. So why then does the government think it has the right to tell me not to do admittedly stupid things that hurt no one else?

It thinks it has this right because it has been sold a lie. The lie is that the government exists to protect the people from all threats. The truth is that the government exists to protect people from external threats only. Things we choose to do to or with ourselves are our business.

Now, follow the money. Who benefits from this stupid situation? Two groups. First, the authorities that will be collecting the money from these fines stand to benefit directly. Second, the insurance companies that should now see a drop in the avoidable injury claims as more people are coerced into wearing seat belts. Who is missing from this group? The riders! The riders are not going to benefit from this usurpation of their natural right to choose.

This is because the riders no longer have a choice in the matter and so any gains in safety they might enjoy are negated by the coercive methods used to procure them. Without choice the benefits accrue to others, in this case the state and insurance companies.

So the next time you wear your seat belt, see it for what it really is, a device of your own personal subordination to the government and the insurance companies who bought them.

Republicans to Ban Tobacco!

"Sen. Tom Coburn, who is also a medical doctor, is calling for an outright ban on the sale of cigarettes and other tobacco products."

http://www.newsmax.com/insidecover/coburn_tobacco_ban/2009/06/05/221915.html

Leave it to the Republicans to advance the nanny state while pretending to be the champions of individual freedom!

How long is it going to be until the government is told that it does not have the right to tell people what they can and cannot do with their own bodies?! The answer is, however long it takes us to tell them.

Tell your government, right now, that you're sick of the nanny state. The government does not know what is best for your, and even if it does, it does not have the right to enforce its ideals on your life. If you want to smoke, then here in the land of the free and the home of the brave why the hell are you not allowed to?

Who is this feel good senator to tell the whole of America that they cannot smoke tobacco?

What's next? Drinking alcohol?

OH MY GOD.

Have we not had enough of prohibition already?

If you outlaw cigarettes, only outlaws will have cigarettes. I'm tired of the these elected fools helping prop up organized crime. What is this, some sort of organized crime stimulus package? Wouldn't surprise me if the man gets kickbacks from Colombian tobacco lords (or at least, he will be getting them)

STOP THE MADNESS NOW.

What's wrong with this picture?

And now, a dramatic reading from the Constitution, Article I:

No title of nobility shall be granted by the United States: and no person holding any office of profit or trust under them, shall, without the consent of the Congress, accept of any present, emolument, office, or title, of any kind whatever, from any king, prince, or foreign state.

Drugs and Freedom

Looks like our overlords in the DNC are showing once again how anti freedom they are, and how conflicted in their philosophy.

It's ok to remove an "nonviable tissue mass" (otherwise known as a developing baby) from a woman's body (called choice), but that same woman cannot smoke a joint!

What is wrong with this picture?

I'll tell you, hypocrisy.

The Democrats (and the Republicans too most of the time) want to control you, and damn the consequences. Never mind that the war on drugs is a complete failure. Ask any DEA agent and he will tell you that the availability of drugs has not gone down despite the billions of dollars spent on it.

That means the DEA is an employment program! Which is bad enough, but if we're going to hire people why not have them do something useful like build roads or damns or paint houses or something, ANYTHING, other than run around pretending to be either 007 or urban combat teams terrorizing the hell out of people are hurting no one.

Whoa, wait a moment! Did I say drug users are hurting no one? Good point, alcohol users are hurting people and so we should outlaw that too. Yes, some people will abuse drugs and hurt others, but most of the time they only hurt themselves. We have proved that interdiction is a failure, and so now the only thing left is to clean up the mess since we can't prevent it. It's against the law to abuse someone else, so let that stand and lets get on with life.

FREEDOM means the ability to chose to do something or not. The DNC does not trust you to make the right choice, so it is going to make it for you.

Now, help me tear down the nanny state!