Did You Really Think They'd Let You In?
Wednesday, August 29, 2012
For the past several years, small-l libertarians been treated to large cups of Kool-Aid from the Republican Party. 'Just join the Republicans and change things from the inside,' libertarians had been assured. 'You can back people like Ron Paul!'
Yeah, BS. From the NY Times:
Delegates from Nevada tried to nominate Mr. Paul from the floor, submitting petitions from their own state as well as Minnesota, Maine, Iowa, Oregon, Alaska and the Virgin Islands. That should have done the trick: Rules require signatures from just five states. But the party changed the rules on the spot. Henceforth, delegates must gather petitions from eight states.Just like Lucy and ol' Charlie Brown. 'Come on, Charlie Brown! Kick the ball. I promise I won't pull it away from you! Honest!'
How many times can you be kicked in the crotch? Are you really supposed to transition from calling for sound money, an end to profligate spending, an end to deficits, an end to the wars and interventionist foreign policy... to Romney? Really? Really? That would make absolutely no sense.
Gary Johnson now carries the torch. Get to know him. You'll like him. You'll be proud to vote for him in November.
Labels: Charlie Brown, Gary Johnson, Libertarian Party, libertarianism, Mitt Romney, Republican Party, Ron Paul
posted by Mike Kole @ 8:16 AM,
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Now Westfield Considering Smoking Ban
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
The trend towards Republican nanny-state government extends into Westfield, as the City considers a smoking ban. From the Indy Star report:
An ordinance that would prohibit smoking in several establishments -- restaurants, bars, businesses and 80 percent of hotel rooms -- was introduced Monday to the Westfield City Council.
The ban would extend to outdoor seating areas at restaurants and sports venues. People and businesses could be fined $50 to $500 if they violate the ordinance.
...
The council will have a public hearing on the ordinance at its June 8 meeting. City Council President Ken Kingshill expects council members and residents will have a wide range of opinions.
"It's probably one of the issues I've gotten the most e-mails on over time, and telephone calls for that matter, too," he said.
I don't smoke. Smoking is obviously unhealthy. However, this is still America, where tobacco is a product legal to adults. Moreover, I respect the right of the property owner to set their own policies within their property lines. This is an overreach of government, plain and simple. Indeed, any business owner who wishes to set a no-smoke policy is perfectly free to do so.
It is very telling that Republicans have been enacting these bans, in places like Carmel, and now perhaps in Westfield. Republicans obviously believe that government should intrude into the minute affairs of business operations.
Who needs Democrats when we have Republicans like these?
I hope to see strong support for liberty at the June 8 meeting.
Labels: property rights, Republican Party, smoking ban, tobacco, Westfield
posted by Mike Kole @ 8:23 AM,
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Paying For The Opposition
Thursday, August 14, 2008
If you are a Libertarian, you are still paying to subsidize the Republicans and Democrats, and their conventions. Where are the moral objections, from either of those parties, on the grounds that it is wrong to be forced to fund one's political opponents? Where are the small government Republicans? Where are the Jeffersonian Democrats? Crickets.
Bob Barr comments:
August 13, 2008 9:35 am EST
Atlanta, GA - “My party has already held its convention without a single taxpayer dollar in its support,” notes Bob Barr, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee. But the Republican and Democratic conventions live on federal subsidies. Each party is receiving $16 million for operating expenses and another $50 million for security. But even this might not be enough in the view of some people. Colorado officials are talking about trying to pry some additional money from the feds.
“It probably doesn’t surprise a lot of people that Sen. Barack Obama’s party is trying to pry more money out of government. After all, Democrats have perfected the art of using a political crowbar to bust open the Treasury’s doors. But why is Sen. John McCain, supposed maverick and reformer, going along with the raid? How is he any different than any of the other people who fill Washington clamoring for a bailout?” Barr asks.
“Unfortunately, too many people spend too much time prying money from the feds,” observes Barr. “And both parties are to blame. It’s easier to list the groups that don’t get federal handouts than those that fill their pockets every year. With a half-trillion dollar deficit and a $9.5 trillion national debt, we obviously can’t afford to have all of these people breaking into the Treasury all the time,” says Barr.
“But what can be more obnoxious than forcing taxpayers to underwrite other people’s political opinions? As Thomas Jefferson told us: to compel a man to furnish contributions of money for the propagation of opinions that he disbelieves is sinful and tyrannical. You’d think someone who postures as an opponent of special interests and government pork wouldn’t expect the taxpayers to subsidize his own very special interest political campaign,” notes Barr.
The Libertarian Party staged its' national convention in Denver earlier this year, where it nominated the ticket of Bob Barr and Wayne Root. The convention was staged strictly with private money.
Labels: Barack Obama, Bob Barr, Democratic Party, Denver, John McCain, Libertarian Party, Republican Party
posted by Mike Kole @ 3:38 PM,
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