Tag Archive for 'libertarianism'

In Columbus TONIGHT: Chuck Baldwin, Ron Paul’s Choice for President

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on October 13, 2008
in political
. 0 Comments

Are you sick of the two-party system? Are you settling on the lesser of two evils because you don’t think there’s any alternative? Have I got good news for you!

Chuck Baldwin, the Constitution Party candidate for President (endorsed by Ron Paul!) is coming to speak for free tonight at Capital University.

If you want a break from the two-party rhetoric and want to hear some REAL solutions — this event is for you. If you want to see a candidate that’s too dangerous to the status quo to ever be allowed on CNN or Fox News — this is it.

…Wait, who in the heck is Chuck Baldwin??

Good question. I don’t blame you for not knowing anyone besides McBama.

Chuck Baldwin is a citizen of the United States of America just like you and me. The difference is that he is not an elected politician offering the same old political answers. Chuck Baldwin has talked the talk and walked the walk. He doesn’t have a history of flip-flops and he does not test the wind every time he takes a position. Refreshing isn’t it?

After Chuck and his wife Connie were married, he enrolled in Liberty Bible Institute at Liberty University. Since then he’s earned his Bachelor and Master Degrees in Theology and has received two honorary Doctorate Degrees.

Chuck is a founder and minister at the Crossroad Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. Under his leadership the Church was recognized by President Ronald Reagan.

Chuck Baldwin is also a radio talk show host and an accomplished author. He moderates a daily, a one hour long call-in show where he addresses current event topics from a conservative point of view. He’s also a newspaper and internet columnist whose articles and political commentaries are carried by a host of internet sites, newspapers, and news magazines. Here’s his latest article, A Wasted Vote.

As President, Chuck Baldwin would:

  • REFORM THE MONETARY SYSTEM by providing no amnesty to Wall Street, ending all unconstitutional spending, cutting taxes, and curbing regulation
  • REPEAL THE FEDERAL RESERVE ACT and restore constitutional money that is interest-free and backed by gold
  • ABOLISH THE IRS, ELIMINATE THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX, and restore a tariff-based revenue system
  • BRING AMERICAN TROOPS HOME and end all undeclared wars
  • DEFEND THE RIGHT TO LIFE, LIBERTY, AND PROPERTY
  • PROTECT AMERICAN JOBS by ending international trade agreements such as NAFTA, WTO, and FTAA
  • RESTORE AMERICAN SOVEREIGNTY by withdrawing from the United Nations and ending all foreign aid
  • STOP ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION AND REJECT AMNESTY
  • PROTECT THE LIFE OF THE UNBORN
  • ELIMINATE FEDERAL CONTROL OF EDUCATION
  • RESTORE SECOND AMENDMENT GUN RIGHTS

If any of these issues are important to you, I hope you’ll join us tonight.

Monday October 13th @ 7:15pm
Capital University - Huntington Recital Hall, Conservatory of Music

1 College and Main
Columbus, OH 43209
[click here for Google Map]

“Always vote for principle, though you may vote alone, and you may cherish the sweetest reflection that your vote is never lost.”

- John Quincy Adams

2008 Ohio Ballot Issues - A Libertarian’s Perspective

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on October 5, 2008
in political
. 4 Comments

Vote Libertarian

This is my first year making voting decisions as a libertarian. Turns out, it makes voting even easier — either it follows the Constitution and free-market principles or it doesn’t.

Here’s where I currently stand on the 2008 Ohio ballot issues, along with links to the official ballot language (PDFs):

  • Issue 1, earlier filing deadlines for statewide ballot issues:

    Strongly Against.

    The Libertarian Argument: Citizen-initiated ballot issue rules are hard enough, why make it even harder? Thinking about the upcoming state income-tax removal proposal soon to be worked on by the Ohio Freedom Alliance and Libertarian Party of Ohio, why would we want to make our deadline for signatures even sooner?

  • Issue 2, authorize the State to issue bonds to continue the Clean Ohio program for environmental revitalization and conservation:

    Against.

    From the SOS website, here’s an argument against it:

    Issue #2 Would Authorize the Government to Spend More in Bond Money. The economy is in bad condition. When times are hard, this is when we must tighten our belts and spend only what is necessary and only what we can cover with incoming revenues. Issue #2 authorizes the government to take out more debts to pay for environmental revitalization and conservation. While this may be worthwhile, the State of Ohio should not be going into further debt.

    Passing Issue #2 Means Taxpayers Will Have to Pay Back These Bonds. Issue #2 authorizes $400 Million Dollars in debt to be used for conservation purposes. You and your children will have to pay this money back. This money could be retained by taxpayers for their own purposes or used for other plans and directly helping people in need.

    The Libertarian Argument: Look— I love our parks and trees, really I do. But if Ohioans are sincerely concerned for the environment, they can donate money to their preferred non-profit environmental organization instead.

  • Issue 3, amend the constitution to protect private property rights in ground water, lakes and other watercourses:

    Against.

    Again, from the SOS website, here’s the argument against it:

    Issue #3 is an unnecessary addition to the Ohio Constitution. The Supreme Court of Ohio already determined that private property owners have rights to the ground water underlying their land and to the watercourse flowing on and through their land.

    Issue #3 makes changes to the Constitution so specific that they mention legal doctrines that are not contained in the Constitution. What if those legal doctrines change by court rulings? Parts of our Constitution would no longer be relevant. That is not appropriate for our Constitution, which is supposed to be the voice of the People.

    Issue #3 does not give an accurate picture of a private property owner’s rights. Property owners do not actually own the water beneath their land. They have a right to a reasonable use of that water, but the state always has the power to regulate how it is used and take it for just compensation. Issue #3 gives private property owners the false sense of security that their land cannot be taken away at a later date.

    The Libertarian Argument: If we already have these private property protections through the Ohio Constitution and Supreme Court decisions, what is the purpose of this issue? I will always opt to NOT grant more power to the State, unless I am absolutely convinced there is no ulterior motive.

  • Issue 4, requiring paid sick leave for employees in Ohio:

    N/A

    This issue was withdrawn by petitioners’ committee on Sept. 4th.

  • Issue 5, making changes to check cashing lending, sometimes known as “Payday Lending,” fees, interest rates and practices:

    Against.

    The Libertarian Argument: It’s an infringement on the free market. While I personally would never use a payday lending service, if other people want to use this consumer option, it’s their choice, not the State. I do NOT want the State to be regulating interest rates, ever.

  • Issue 6, casino near Wilmington in Southwest Ohio and distribute to all Ohio counties a tax on the casino:

    Against.

    The Libertarian Argument: While I have no problem with people gambling if they choose to, this amendment would grant a one-casino monopoly in the state. If we’re going to bring in casinos, we should do it in a free market way.

One last IMPORTANT note about voting in Ohio: The most secure way to vote is by ABSENTEE BALLOT, making sure to deliver it IN PERSON to the Board of Elections office.

This means your vote is recorded ON PAPER, not Diebold (Optiscan) machines!

Some people go so far as to make copies of their ballot and get it notarized — that’s all up to you.

This advice comes to me direct from a friend who works with the Citizens Alliance For Secure Elections, a group that is highly involved in the investigations of Ohio voter fraud in the 2004 Presidential election. For more information on why you should be terrified of Diebold machines, check out this Scientific American article.

Advantages of this suggested voting method:

  • If lines are long or voting machines have problems, voting could take a long time and some people may choose to leave the line without voting.
  • Weather could be a problem in November, voters often must wait outdoors.
  • If your ID is not accepted, you have to cast a provisional ballot which might be rejected.
  • Due to HB3 and a 60-day mailing, you may be required to vote provisionally regardless of having correct address, precinct, proper ID and proper voter registration.
  • If your fill out a provisional ballot at the wrong precinct (even at the right polling place), your ballot will definitely be rejected.
  • Ballot will not get lost or delayed in the mail

Keep in mind it’s only the beginning of October, and if the previous years are any indication, the voting rules will inevitably change time and time again, making voters even more confused.

In my opinion, it’s best to be safe and follow these four steps:

  1. Make sure your registration is current.
  2. Request an absentee ballot.
  3. Deliver it in person (on or before Election Day.)
  4. Know that your vote is as secure as it can possibly be in this ridiculous and phony “democracy” we live in.

We Interrupt The McBama Show To Bring You This Important Announcement

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on September 23, 2008
in political
. 0 Comments

Think the D’s and R’s are as different as night and day? It’s okay, you’re not alone, that’s what they’ve conditioned you to think.

“The argument that the two parties should represent opposed ideals and policies, one, perhaps, of the Right and the other of the Left, is a foolish idea acceptable only to doctrinaire and academic thinkers. Instead, the two parties should be almost identical, so that the American people can ‘throw the rascals out’ at any election without leading to any profound or extensive shifts in policy.”

- Carroll Quigley from “Tragedy and Hope: A History of the World in our Time:”

Of the 31 Senate votes during the 110th Congressional session which the Washington Post considered “key votes”:

Senator Barack Obama: Voted on 29 of the 31 total votes, voting with Senator McCain 41.38% of the time.

Senator John McCain: Voted on 25 of the 31 total votes, voting with Senator Obama 48.00% of the time.

That means they voted together an average of 44.69% of the time. This is where the term “Republocrats” and “Democrans” comes in.

Deeply disturbed by those numbers, I decided to do a little digging and compile some of my results. What can I say, I’m a big fan of bulleted lists. I hope this will shed a little light on the complete falsity of the left/right paradigm.

What do Senator Obama and Senator McCain have in common?

Here are a few notable similarities, in no particular order:

  1. Both McCain and Obama have voted REPEATEDLY to fund the Iraq war, and voted against a withdrawal timeline.
  2. Both McCain and Obama voted for the unconstitutional and grossly misnamed Patriot Act.
  3. Both McCain and Obama voted against the 4th Amendment by voting for the recent FISA legislation.
  4. Both McCain and Obama advocate leaving “all options on the table” regarding Iran. Neither will rule out the possibility of a “pre-emptive” strike.
  5. Both McCain and Obama support the continuing existence of the economically devastating Federal Reserve System (which may have something to do with the next two items on the list.)
  6. Both McCain and Obama have banking, investment, securities, and real estate companies as top campaign contributors (http://www.opensecrets.org/pres08/moneyweb.php?cycle=2008).
  7. Both McCain and Obama have received HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS of dollars in donations from Citigroup (largest bank in the U.S.), JP Morgan & Chase (3rd largest bank in the U.S.), and Goldman Sachs (global investment bank).
  8. Both McCain and Obama support the federal income tax.
  9. Both McCain and Obama have missed over 15% of Senate votes — Obama missed 306 votes (24%) since Jan 6, 2005, McCain missed 738 votes (18%) since Feb 4, 1993.
  10. Both McCain and Obama support Bush’s unconstitutional faith-based initiatives funding, a program that funnels federal tax-payer money to religious charities for social services.
  11. Both McCain and Obama voted for the Congressional Pay Raise Amendment.
  12. Both McCain and Obama voted in support of amnesty for illegal immigrants (Second Immigration Act of 2007).
  13. Both McCain and Obama are members of the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR).
  14. Both McCain and Obama are strong supporters of AIPAC and Israel.
  15. Both McCain and Obama’s economic plans call for increased federal spending and unbalanced budgets.
  16. Both McCain and Obama have voted for tax increases.
  17. Both McCain and Obama have voted against the second amendment in some form or another.
  18. Both McCain and Obama would address “global warming” with a cap-and-trade policy (i.e. more gov’t. regulation, i.e. carbon tax) to limit domestic greenhouse gas emissions.
  19. Both McCain and Obama support UN resolutions over U.S. sovereignty.
  20. Both McCain and Obama support unconstitutional and costly U.S. imperialism.
  21. Both McCain and Obama have supported legislation that would have eased federal restrictions on human embryonic stem-cell research.
  22. Both McCain and Obama voted to confirm Condoleezza Rice as Secretary of State.
  23. Both McCain and Obama voted to confirm Michael Chertoff as Secretary of Homeland Security.
    Chertoff, a proponent of water-board torture, an individual connected to the financing of 9/11 and the man behind the round-up of thousands of people of Middle-Eastern descent following 9/11.
  24. Both McCain and Obama voted to confirm John “Death Squad” Negroponte as Director of National Intelligence.
    In Central America, John Negroponte was connected to death squads that murdered nuns and children in sizable quantities. He is suspected of instigating death squads while in Iraq, resulting in the current insurgency.
  25. Both McCain and Obama voted to confirm pro-war Robert M. Gates to be Secretary of Defense.
    Gates is a supporter of Bush’s policies of pre-emptive war and conquest of foreign countries.

There you have it folks! So— here’s your NEW voting guide:

  • If war is your #1 issue: sorry, but they both have no problem funding it and have no plans on ending it any time soon. And if you liked Iraq, you’ll love Iran!
  • If the economy is your #1 issue: sorry, but they both think the Federal Reserve is a great thing to have, and don’t want to hear your complaints about inflation and banking bailouts.
  • If limited government is your #1 issue: sorry, but they both LOVE unbalanced budgets and increased debt.
  • If abortion is your #1 issue: sorry, but neither of them uphold a truly pro-life stance.
  • If the environment is your #1 issue: sorry, but both candidates want to start taxing you every time you exhale.
  • If the Constitution is your #1 issue: sorry, but both candidates appear to have never read the U.S. Constitution.

I know what you’re thinking: Crap! Well, what are my options then?

Simple— Vote third party.

This might be breaking news to some, but you’ve also got Chuck Baldwin, Ralph Nader, Cynthia McKinney, and Bob Barr to pick from on November 4th. I’m willing to bet at least one of those four coincides more with your beliefs than McCain or Obama.

Don’t settle for the lesser of two evils, because in the end you’re still choosing evil. Don’t think “but this election is especially important, I have to vote for ____ or else, ::gasp:: ____ might get in!” That’s what they say EVERY election! If you don’t stand up and vote your conscience now, when will you?

Did our ancestors fight the American Revolution so you could casually throw away your vote on some guy you don’t really support all that much but kind of sort of like a little more than that other guy who’s kinda sort of a little tiny bit different on one issue? I don’t think so.

Grow a pair. Vote third party.

Please feel free to correct me on any of these items. Also, please feel free to add to this list, I know I’m missing many items. This will of course be a work in progress, so check back for updates.

Net Neutrality vs. Libertarianism

Published
by
Peace Chicken
on August 7, 2008
in political
. 0 Comments

Last Friday the FCC ruled to punish Comcast for violating Net Neutrality rules and blocking Internet traffic. While I used to be a strong proponent of Net Neutrality, I’m starting to reconsider my position now that I’ve discovered my Libertarian-leanings.

I used to view this issue as one of absolute necessity and importance. Something MUST be done, or else we’re left with this in our future:

No net neutrality

That’s definitely no good.

While part of me is secretly glad that Comcast was punished for their questionable business practices, one must keep in mind that the FCC is a federal agency and Comcast is a publicly-owned company. The U.S. Constitution says nothing about the federal government meddling in the affairs of businesses (it also says nothing about using these companies to spy on Americans, but that’s a whole other matter.)

Of course I don’t agree with their business practices and I’m very glad they aren’t my ISP. However — in a Free Market we wouldn’t need government intervention to deal with this sort of problem, we would simply leave them as a customer. Alas, we quite obviously do NOT live in a Free Market society and telecommunications monopolies are a bitter reality. In my apartment complex, for example, the only cable/internet option is Time Warner. Which means either I pay their outlandish price every month or I get static.

The issue of Net Neutrality is a perfect example of how the Free Market could be used to solve consumer problems instead of asking the government for help. Instead of being forced to put up with whatever sketchy access Comcast decided to give its customers, people could simple choose another ISP. Another bonus– the Free Market doesn’t eat up our tax dollars.