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Liberator Online, Volume 8, Number 03
March 03, 2003
Contents President's
Corner What's Happening with
the Advocates
Ongoing opportunities Good
News, Bad News, Unbelievable News
Ask Dr. Ruwart Advertisements
Persuasion Power Point Product
Review
Other issues in the Archive
In This Issue:
Libertarian Congressman (re)introduces bill to
abolish federal income tax; John Ashcroft’s frightening new police-state bill
-- and how you can send a free fax to stop it; free online libertarian anti-war
resources; Senator Hillary Clinton joins the push for a national ID card;
“I’m a libertarian,” says bestselling novelist; Mary Ruwart discusses the
right -- and wrong -- ways to fight terrorism; Michael Cloud challenges you to
Take Responsibility for your communication failures (and tells why this will
help you avoid more of them)….
All this and *much much more* in the world’s largest-circulation libertarian
email newsletter
|
CONTENTS
PRESIDENT’S CORNER
* Free online libertarian resources for war information
WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
* Free Fax to fight “USA Patriot Act II”
* Maryland -- Advocates President to Speak
* Exciting opportunities for libertarians
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
* Secretly Drafted Anti-Terrorist Bill Threatens Liberty
* Senator Hillary Clinton Calls for National ID Card
* Bestselling Novelist: “I’m a Libertarian”
* Ron Paul Introduces “Liberty Amendment” to End Income Tax
ASK DR. RUWART
* How should we respond to the threat of terrorism?
* Mandatory Social Security numbers: What is the libertarian view?
PERSUASION POWER POINT #138
* Take 100% Responsibility for Your Communications
by Michael Cloud
PRODUCT REVIEW
* Great short book makes understanding economics easy -- order it now, and get
FREE World’s Smallest Political Quiz cards!
_____________________________________
|
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Dear friends,
As we go to press, the U.S. seems on the brink of war. To stay informed, you
need fast and reliable sources of breaking news and commentary on this
ever-changing situation. Happily, a number of libertarian organizations are
doing a superb job of this.
Here are some of our favorites, in alphabetical order.
Please note that we don’t endorse or agree with everything at these sites. But
I find each and every one of them valuable sources. I urge you to check them
out.
* Antiwar.com: Breaking news and commentary on foreign policy from a
non-interventionist viewpoint. Many different political perspectives; sometimes
controversial. Free daily email newsletter keeps you updated about the latest
stories at the site:
www.antiwar.com
* Cato Dispatch: Free daily email newsletter brings you the latest doings and
writings from America’s largest libertarian think tank:
www.cato.org
* Freedom News Daily: This daily email newsletter from the International Society
for Individual Liberty brings links to news stories and commentary on liberty
issues.
www.free-market.net/news
* Future of Freedom Foundation: Thrice-weekly email brings you outstanding
no-compromise libertarian essays and news. Sign up at their web site, which has
an archive of hundreds of great essays:
www.fff.org
* LewRockwell.com: Hard-hitting and controversial daily email newsletter edited
by the founder and president of the Mises Institute. Warning: likely to inspire,
annoy and enlighten you -- sometimes all at once:
www.LewRockwell.com
* The LightHouse: The weekly email newsletter of The Independent Institute
offers outstanding commentary on current affairs and more, from a pro-peace,
pro-market, pro-civil liberties view:
www.independent.org
* Truth About War: 2000 Libertarian Party presidential candidate Harry Browne
and the American Liberty Foundation offer this site of resolutely anti-war news,
articles and strategies. Free newsletter keeps you updated:
http://www.truthaboutwar.org
There are many, many other worthy libertarian
newsletters, organizations and Web sites doing great work on these issues, too,
and we don’t mean to slight anyone by not including them here. Consider this
just a start. Links in the above newsletters will let you discover other great
sources.
And don’t forget The Liberator Online -- the newsletter you’re reading now.
We will continue with our commentary, libertarian movement news, action steps,
and articles on how to best communicate the ideas of liberty. And we have some
important additions and improvements planned for the coming months -- to make
this newsletter more useful and entertaining than ever before.
Thank you for being a Liberator Online reader!
|
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES*
:NEW ONLINE ACTION STEP To Stop
“Patriot Act II” In this issue you can read about Attorney
General Ashcroft’s frightening new “Domestic Security Enhancement Act”
proposal, and the enormous threat this poses to fundamental Constitutional
liberties. Civil liberty watchdog organizations are urging freedom activists to
contact their Congressional representatives now and tell them to trashcan this
police-state measure. We are pleased, as part of our “America Stands for
Liberty” civil liberties defense program, to provide you with information
about online ways you can do this:
The ACLU has created a Web page that allows you to send a free pre-written (but
customizable) FAX to your Congressman about this -- in only seconds. To send a
free fax, visit:
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=11904&c=206
For more on the Advocates' “America Stands for Liberty” program, see just
below. Thank you!
* Maryland -- Advocates President to Speak: Sharon Harris will be conducting a
communication workshop and giving the banquet speech at the Maryland Libertarian
Party convention, Saturday, April 26 at the Old Station 8 Firehouse in
Gaithersburg. For more information email Chip Spangler at mailto:senator@corrupt.net
or phone 301-346-2361.
|
ONGOING ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
* America Stands for Liberty: This Advocates program tells
you about the shocking new civil liberties crisis in America -- and what YOU can
do to defend freedom in this critical time. Stay informed and take Action Steps
to defend our Bill of Rights:
http://www.TheAdvocates.org/civilliberties.html
* Libertarian Cruise to Alaska: Dr. Ken Bisson has announced that the 6th Annual
Libertarian Cruise will begin on June 8, 2003. Though not an Advocates event,
Ken is an Advocates Founding Member, a former chairman of the Advocates Board,
and a long-time Libertarian Party leader. This year’s cruise will be a 7-day
Glacier Discovery Cruise, on the Holland America Line, leaving from Vancouver
and concluding in Seward, Alaska. Sounds wonderful! You can learn more -- and
get the free email newsletter -- at the Libertarian Cruise web site:
http://members.tripod.com/~kbisson/CRUISE2003.htm
.
* FREE “Libertarian Clips”: Libertarian Clips is a daily (or weekly, if you
prefer) clipping service that brings you news stories from around the world that
use the words “libertarian” or “libertarianism.” See what libertarians
are doing, and see how the media is using those words. It’s FREE, and
subscribing is a snap. Just click here:
http://www.self-gov.org/clips/
* FREE Year 2002 Lights of Liberty Awards: You can win certificates, public
recognition, prizes and more for your vital activism for liberty. Awards are
given for: 3 libertarian letters to the editor; OR 3 sessions working at an OPH
booth; OR 3 libertarian-oriented public speeches. Click here to learn more:
http://www.TheAdvocates.org/lights.html
* Communication Bargain of the Century: You can get the great 3-tape audio
course “The Essence of Political Persuasion” from us at the GIVE-AWAY price
of only $7.50 - that price includes handling and First Class mail so you’ll
get it right away! Libertarian Party Political Director Ron Crickenberger says
this Advocates offer is “... the greatest gift the libertarian movement has
received in years.” We’ve put over 6,000 sets into the hands of libertarian
activists in the past couple of years! To order, call us or see:
http://www.theadvocates.org/epp-redirect.html
* Quiz FAQ: Who created the World’s Smallest Political Quiz? When and where?
What does your Quiz score mean? The Advocates has created a huge FAQ
(“Frequently Answered Questions”) to answer many of the most common
questions about the history and theory of the Quiz. You can get to the FAQ by
clicking here:
http://www.TheAdvocates.org/quiz-faq-contents.html
|
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
by James W. Harris
Secretly-Drafted Anti-Terrorist Bill Threatens Liberty
The USA Patriot Act, rammed through Congress after the September
11 terror bombings, was a horrendous assault on civil liberties. U.S.
Congressman Ron Paul denounced it as “undermining the Constitution.”
But that wasn’t enough for the Bush Administration’s Justice Department,
which for several months has been secretly preparing a sequel bill, the
"Domestic Security Enhancement Act" to go even beyond the Patriot Act
in infringing on liberty.
Information about this proposed bill -- which opponents have dubbed “Patriot
Act II” has now leaked out, and copies have been obtained and posted
online.
It is a massive bill that proposes to give the federal government broad,
sweeping new powers to increase domestic spying, further restrict privacy,
further remove citizen protection from government abuses, and even in some
circumstances deprive Americans of their U.S. citizenship. It intrudes on such
fundamental freedoms as free speech, privacy, freedom of association and
religion.
Some specifics:
* It gives the President the unprecedented power to strip Americans of their
citizenship if they are found to have “supported” groups deemed
"terrorist" or subversive by the Administration -- even if they know
nothing about any alleged links to terrorism. Give a few bucks to a charity you
didn’t realize Ashcroft has declared subversive, and you can find yourself a
person without a country. Once stripped of citizenship, these ex-Americans will
have no constitutional rights.
* It expands still further wiretapping authority, while reducing -- or eliminate
altogether in some cases -- judicial oversight over surveillance.
* It revives elements of the widely-denounced “Operation TIPS”
neighbor-against-neighbor spy program.
* It forces innocent Americans (arrested on mere suspicion) to contribute to a
federal DNA database without court order and without consent.
* It authorize secret arrests of suspected terrorists.
* It allows government agents to see citizens' credit reports without getting a
court order.
That’s the tip of a very big iceberg. In addition, the ACLU has denounced the
draft bill because it would:
* Make it easier for the government to initiate surveillance and wiretapping of
U.S. citizens under the shadowy, top-secret Foreign Intelligence Surveillance
Court. (Sections 101, 102 and 107)
* Shelter federal agents engaged in illegal surveillance without a court order
from criminal prosecution if they are following orders of high Executive Branch
officials. (Section 106)
* Authorize, in statute, the Department of Justice’s campaign of secret
detentions by including a provision that would preempt federal litigation
challenging non-disclosure of basic information about detainees. (Section 201)
* Harm Americans’ ability to receive a fair trial by limiting defense
attorneys from challenging the use of secret evidence. (Section 204)
* Permit, without any connection to anti-terrorism efforts, sensitive personal
information about U.S. citizens to be shared with local and state law
enforcement. (Section 311)
* Terminate court-approved limits on police spying, which were initially put in
place to prevent McCarthy-style law enforcement persecution based on political
or religious affiliation. (Section 312)
* Provide an incentive for neighbor to spy on neighbor and pose problems similar
to those inherent in Attorney General Ashcroft’s "Operation TIPS" by
granting blanket immunity to businesses that phone in false terrorism tips, even
if their actions are taken with reckless disregard for the truth. (Section 313)
* Provide for summary deportations without evidence of crime or criminal intent,
even of lawful permanent residents, whom the Attorney General says are a threat
to national security. (Section 503)
* Abolish fair hearings for lawful permanent residents convicted of criminal
offenses through an "expedited removal" procedure, and prevent any
court from questioning the government’s unlawful actions by explicitly
exempting these cases from habeas corpus. Congress has not exempted any person
from habeas corpus -- a protection guaranteed by the Constitution -- since the
Civil War. (Section 504)
There’s more. The ACLU has provided a summary and a section-by-section
analysis of the whole sorry mess at the URL below.
(Source: ACLU:
http://www.aclu.org/SafeandFree/SafeandFree.cfm?ID=11817&c=206&Type=s
)
(Thanks also to a number of Liberator Online readers who forwarded information
on this to us.)
* * *
Senator Hillary Clinton Calls for National ID Card
More proof -- as if it were necessary -- that the growing war against our
liberty is indeed bi-partisan.
New York Senator Hillary Clinton has joined the list of prominent political
figures publicly supporting a national ID card.
Senator Clinton said she would support a national identification card for all
U.S. citizens, if politicians decide it is needed to combat the alleged menace
of hard-working illegal immigrants.
"I am, you know, adamantly against illegal immigrants," Clinton said
during a New York radio show interview in early February. “And, you know,
perhaps, although I'm not a big fan of it, we might have to move towards an ID
system even for citizens."
Senator Clinton complained that too many Americans are employing illegal
workers.
"People have to stop employing illegal immigrants. I mean, come up to
Westchester, go to Suffolk and Nassau counties, stand on the street corners in
Brooklyn or the Bronx [and] you're going to see loads of people waiting to get
picked up to go do yard work and construction work and domestic work. You know,
this is not a problem that the people coming into the country are solely
responsible for. They wouldn't be coming if we didn't put them to work.
"Clearly, we have to make some tough decisions as a country…”
Illegal immigration, terrorism, drugs, crime, health care, protecting
children… any issue, it seems, will do for statists to demand a national ID.
(Source: Newsmax.com
http://www.newsmax.com/showinsidecover.shtml?a=2003/2/11/120029
)
* * *
Bestselling Novelist: “I’m A Libertarian”
Bestselling novelist Richard Dooling -- described by Stephen King as "one
of the finest novelists now working in America" -- says he is a
libertarian.
Asked about his political beliefs in an interview with Christianity Today on
January 6, 2003, Dooling said: "I'm a libertarian. The only thing more
offensive than a Trent Lott Republican is a Bill Clinton Democrat."
Dooling’s novel “Brain Storm” was named a New York Times Notable Book in
1998. His “White Man's Grave” was a 1994 National Book Award Finalist and a
New York Times Notable Book. He is also author of the novels “Critical Care”
(1996) and “Bet Your Life” (2002).
Dooling is currently collaborating with Stephen King on “Kingdom Hospital,”
a television series scheduled to air on ABC in 2003.
In 1997, Dooling published “Blue Streak: Swearing, Free Speech, and Sexual
Harassment,” a collection of essays dealing with these controversial First
Amendment issues.
(Source: Libertarian Party News
http://www.lp.org/lpnews/0303/Dooling.html
)
* * *
Ron Paul Introduces “Liberty Amendment” to End Income Tax
Congressman Ron Paul (R-Texas) -- the greatest Congressman of the past century
-- has once again introduced the Liberty Amendment.
The Liberty Amendment would repeal the 16th Amendment (which allows the income
tax) and reduce the federal government’s functions to only those expressly
named in the Constitution -- which would get rid of just about everything the
federal government is doing today.
It is hard to imagine anything that would do more to immediately and
dramatically increase liberty, prosperity and peace in America.
Here is Congressman Paul’s statement as he introduced the bill:
“Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to introduce the Liberty Amendment, which repeals
the 16th Amendment, thus paving the way for real change in the way government
collects and spends the people’s hard-earned money. The Liberty Amendment also
explicitly forbids the federal government from performing any action not
explicitly authorized by the United States Constitution.
“The 16th Amendment gives the federal government a direct claim on the lives
of American citizens by enabling Congress to levy a direct income tax on
individuals. Until the passage of the 16th amendment, the Supreme Court had
consistently held that Congress had no power to impose an income tax.
“Income taxes are responsible for the transformation of the federal government
from one of limited powers into a vast leviathan whose tentacles reach into
almost every aspect of American life. Thanks to the income tax, today the
federal government routinely invades our privacy, and penalizes our every
endeavor.
“The Founding Fathers realized that “the power to tax is the power to
destroy,” which is why they did not give the federal government the power to
impose an income tax. Needless to say, the Founders would be horrified to know
that Americans today give more than a third of their income to the federal
government.
“Income taxes not only diminish liberty, they retard economic growth by
discouraging work and production. Our current tax system also forces Americans
to waste valuable time and money on complacence with an ever-more complex tax
code. The increased interest in flat-tax and national sales tax proposals, as
well as the increasing number of small businesses that questioning the Internal
Revenue Service’s (IRS) “withholding” system provides further proof that
America is tired of the labyrinthine tax code. Americans are also increasingly
fed up with an IRS that continues to ride roughshod over their civil liberties,
despite recent “pro-taxpayer” reforms.
“Mr. Speaker, America survived and prospered for 140 years without an income
tax, and with a federal government that generally adhered to strictly
constitutional functions, operating with modest excise revenues. The income tax
opened the door to the era (and errors) of Big Government. I hope my colleagues
will help close that door by cosponsoring the Liberty Amendment.”
(Source: http://www.house.gov/paul/congrec/congrec2003/cr013003c.htm ;
Congressman Paul’s home page: http://www.house.gov/paul/
)
* * *
“Good News, Bad News, Unbelievable News” writer James W. Harris is co-editor
of the Liberator Online. His articles have appeared in numerous magazines and
newspapers, including The Nation, Reason, The Freeman, the National Taxpayers
Union’s Dollars and Sense, the Atlanta Constitution, and many more. He has
been a Finalist in the Mencken Awards, given by the Free Press Association for
“Outstanding Journalism in Support of Liberty
|
ASK DR. RUWART
How can you answer difficult questions about
libertarianism -- in short, positive, persuasive soundbite-sized responses?
It’s a challenge every libertarian communicator faces.
Dr. Mary Ruwart is a leading expert in libertarian communication, and author of
the international bestseller Healing Our World. In this column she gives readers
“short answers to the tough questions” that libertarians are frequently
asked.
If you’d like Dr. Ruwart to craft effective answers to YOUR “tough
questions” on libertarian issues, just email the questions to her at:
mailto:ruwart@self-gov.org
.
Due to volume, Dr. Ruwart can’t personally answer or acknowledge all email
queries. But we’ll run the best questions -- and Dr. Ruwart’s answers -- in
upcoming issues.
Dr. Ruwart’s past answers are archived in searchable form at
http://www.self-gov.org/ruwart/
* * *
How should we respond to the threat of terrorism?
Question:
"President Bush has been aggressively advocating -- and using -- military
force in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. What do you see as a
proper response from our government toward the terrorist attackers and Saddam
Hussein?”
My short answer:
“Bombing only creates more terrorists by giving victims and their families a
reason to hate us. Since we can't possibly kill all the terrorists by bombing
them, a better defense is to de-motivate them.
”Terrorists claim that they are reacting to U.S. aggression. Osama bin Laden,
for example, believes that our embargo on Iraq has killed hundreds of thousands
of innocents. Since the embargo hurts the Iraqi people, rather than Saddam, we
should end it.
”If we withdraw our troops from the Middle East (another bin Laden complaint),
we'd stop paying five times as much to protect "our" oil as we do to
buy it. Let the oil companies hire less expensive private security and pass on
the costs to consumers to encourage conservation.
”Stop tax-supported aid to Israel. Let those who want to help Israel do so
through private means. Since private "charity" is cheaper to
administer by a factor of 2-3, the Israelis may end up with just as much aid.
However, the American taxpayer is less likely to be the target of terrorist
wrath.
”Instead of funding the Homeland Security bureaucracy, we can encourage our
pilots and populace to arm themselves. Terrorists target people who can't fight
back. Had our pilots been armed on 9-11, the Twin Towers might still be
standing.
”Instead of chasing peaceful drug users, our domestic law enforcers can
follow-up on tips from citizens. For example, TWO private pilot training
schools, one in Minnesota and one in Arizona, told the FBI that men from the
Middle East wanted to learn how to fly jets, but not land or take off. Had the
FBI followed up, they would probably have been led to the ring of 9-11
hijackers.
”Instead of turning away Mexican agricultural workers, our immigration
officials could focus on keeping track of known terrorists. The alleged lead
hijacker of 9-11, Mohamed Atta, entered the U.S. three times after he had
violated his visa by taking flying lessons. Had our immigration officials stayed
focused on real threats, 9-11 might never have happened.
”If we didn't use tax dollars to empower dictators like Saddam Hussein, we
wouldn't need to worry about them later. We gave Saddam biological and chemical
weapons to attack Iran's Ayatollah Khomeini. The best way to de-motivate Saddam
is to leave him alone. The last thing Saddam wants is a war he can't win.
However, if we back him into a corner, he'll have nothing to lose.
”The bottom line is this: by sticking to our libertarian principles, we are
better able to protect ourselves from those who have none.”
* * *
Mandatory Social Security numbers: What is the libertarian view?
Question:
“I recently took the World’s Smallest Political Quiz and learned that there
is a name for my political viewpoint -- libertarian. I am trying to learn more
and possibly make a difference, especially for the future of my children.
“I have a question about Social Security numbers. This is something that has
always bothered me. I have four children. Hospitals, schools, and other places
demand social Security numbers for my children and myself. Even when I protest,
they insist it is mandatory. My children were told they would not get their
grades or report cards. On one occasion my son said he couldn't go to school
without it. I complied, but don’t like it. What is the libertarian viewpoint
on the issuance of Social Security numbers?
My short answer:
“Most libertarians are as uncomfortable with Social Security numbers as you
are. Many Christians wonder if they are not the "mark of the beast"
referred to in the Bible, without which no one will be allowed to buy or sell.
Clearly, such numbers are a means of governmental tracking, which most
libertarians view as an invasion of privacy.
”Some conscientious objectors have turned in their Social Security numbers in
order to withdraw from the system. Of course, you have already seen that
functioning with a Social Security number in today's society is problematic. Be
aware that government officials do not always take kindly to those who no longer
wish to follow their rules.
“Building a strong movement for liberty and increasing awareness about these
issues is the only way such abuses will be ended. You’ve taken a good start in
that direction by learning more about libertarianism!”
* * *
Hooray! The brand-new revised edition of Dr. Ruwart’s book “Healing Our
World” is finally out! It has over 100 new pages and it presents persuasive
arguments for liberty, backed with over 1,000 references all showing how liberty
works.
Dr. Ruwart is also the author of “Short Answers to the Tough Questions” --
an essential guide for anyone wanting to become a better libertarian
communicator.
Both books are available from the Advocates:
http://preview.theadvocates.org/Merchant2/merchant.mv
|
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PERSUASION POWER POINT
PERSUASION POWER POINT # 138
Take 100% Responsibility for Your Communications
by Michael Cloud
It's easy to blame other people for not understanding what we
said to them.
"That's not what I said." "You weren't paying attention."
"You're twisting what I said."
"You're confused." "It's not that hard to understand. What's the
matter with you?"
It's easy to blame other people when we don't grasp what they said to us.
"You're not being clear." "That's not what you said."
"What's your point?"
We make ourselves right. We justify our communication choices and actions and
patterns.
We make the other person wrong. We fault their listening and speaking.
We do this with our conversations at home and work. Privately and publicly.
And the people we're talking with are doing the same thing. They're blaming
us. They're excusing themselves. They’re making themselves right. And making
us wrong.
"What we have here is a failure to communicate," said the antagonist
in the film “Cool Hand Luke.”
This failure to communicate is the result of surrendering personal
responsibility for our communications.
Do you want to become a powerful communicator?
Want to be two or three times as effective in every conversation you have --
starting today?
Here's the Secret:
* Take 100% Responsibility for Your Communications. *
There are two sides to this secret: speaking and listening.
1. Speaking. When speaking to another person, make yourself 100% responsible for
them getting your message. Take 100% responsibility for communicating in such a
way that they understand.
Take responsibility for setting up a good time and place to communicate. If the
other person is tired or stressed out, set up a better time. If the place is too
noisy or distracting, pick a better place.
Take responsibility for using words and examples that resonate with the other
person's experience. Speak their language. Relate to their experience.
Take responsibility for getting frequent feedback from the other person. What
are they getting? What are they not getting? What makes sense? What doesn't?
Take responsibility for varying and modifying and experimenting with what you're
saying and how you're saying it -- until they receive the message you're
sending. Until they understand.
2. Listening. When listening to another person, make yourself 100% responsible
for getting their point. Take 100% responsibility for understanding them.
Take total responsibility for the time and place of the conversation. Make sure
that these factors are conducive for you hearing and grasping what the other
person is telling you.
Take responsibility for giving feedback. For checking that you're hearing what
they're saying. Ask questions. Confirm understanding.
Some people object to taking 100% responsibility by saying, "Michael, it's
not fair. Why should I have to be 100% responsible for speaking and listening?
Shouldn't the other person be responsible for his speaking and listening?
Shouldn't he do his fair share?"
Here are a couple of responses I've used.
* "You're right. It's totally unfair. Are you willing to accept this
unfairness -- in exchange for becoming two or three times as effective in your
conversations? Isn't that a small price to pay for being a powerful
communicator?"
* "You can make other people wrong, blame them for being unfair -- and be
an ineffective and frustrated communicator. Or you can take 100% responsibility,
put your communication fate in your hands, and become a master communicator.
Which do you choose?"
Whether it's fair or unfair, taking 100% responsibility for your communications
will dramatically improve your communications. Personal. Business. Political.
Experiment with this for a week. What are your results? What's the same? What's
different? What's worse? What's better?
Personal responsibility sets us free. In politics. In communication.
When you demand that other people be as committed to understanding and being
understood, you're making yourself weak and ineffective.
When you blame the other person for miscommunication or misunderstanding, you're
giving away your personal power.
Taking 100% responsibility for your communications puts you in the driver's
seat. Gives you control. Makes you more effective and powerful.
When you take 100% responsibility for the other person understanding what you
say...
When you take 100% responsibility for understanding what the other person
says...
You will understand and be understood. You will communicate.
******************
Michael Cloud is Persuasion columnist for the Liberator Online and The
Libertarian Communicator. In July 2000, at the Libertarian Party national
convention, Cloud was voted the Most Persuasive Libertarian Communicator in
America and honored with the Thomas Paine Award.
Michael Cloud is creator of “The Essence of Political Persuasion,” the
classic 3-tape libertarian communication course, available exclusively from the
Advocates at the give-away price of only $7.50 postpaid (includes First Class
postage!). For more information, or to order, click here:
http://www.theadvocates.org/epp-redirect.html
|
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THE CONCISE GUIDE TO ECONOMICS by
Jim Cox. Large format paperback, 167 pages. Second edition with six new
chapters. PLUS: See below for FREE BONUS GIFT!
Many supporters of oppressive government use widely-believed economic fallacies
to bolster their arguments. If you want to effectively defend liberty, you must
understand how the free market works, and be able to counter the anti-free
market ideas we hear every day in the media, from Big Government politicians,
and elsewhere.
That's why this book is so important.
With remarkable succinctness, this short, common-sense economics handbook packs
a wealth of useful information into 37 brief, clear, and straight-to-the-point
chapters.
Humor, plain language, and vivid real-world examples help bring economic theory
to life.
This book can be quickly read and easily understood and enjoyed -- even if
you've never read a book on economics before.
Topics covered include:
* the history of economic thought;
* the Great Depression;
* entrepreneurship;
* the Federal Reserve system;
* the superiority of markets vs. government;
* monopolies and antitrust;
* the minimum wage;
* government regulations;
* insider trading;
* price controls;
* unions;
* the gold standard;
* the importance of competition;
* inflation;
....and much more! Virtually all major economic issues -- the ones that are in
the news, day after day -- are discussed and explained.
Especially eye-opening: Cox's iconoclastic defenses of speculators, advertisers,
corporate raiders, price-gougers and other misunderstood and under-appreciated
economic actors. (These short chapters alone are worth the price of the book!)
Excellent references at the end of each chapter tell where to go for further
information. Solidly and unswervingly libertarian, this is a fine "first
stop" for economic enlightenment and a handy, quick reference.
What Others Are Saying:
"...recommended for candidates for political office." -- Ron
Crickenberger, Libertarian Party Political Director.
"...a valuable addition to the growing libertarian-Austrian economics
library." -- David Bergland, 1984 Libertarian Party presidential candidate.
"Cox has the rare ability of writing readable economics!" -- Brad
Linaweaver, award-winning science fiction writer ("Moon of Ice").
"I liked it so much I bought 10 more copies to pass out to friends and
employees!"-- Lloyd Bird, owner, Belco Electric.
"...arguments are well grounded and easy to follow...very powerful points
with a minimum of verbosity. How refreshing!!! The Concise Guide has
accomplished a 'mission impossible' by making economics actually interesting and
even humorous at times while at the same time maintaining a strong line of
reasoning." -- Nancy Stroud, Ph.D., Georgia State University.
"This handy, quick reference guide saves searching through hundreds of
pages for an answer. I wish I'd had this book when I first began my study of
economics." -- Dawn Baker, Wall Street Journal Award winner, Atlanta
Economics Club scholarship recipient.
FREE BONUS GIFT OFFER:
THE CONCISE GUIDE TO ECONOMICS sells in our catalog for $10.95 (plus $4.50
shipping).
However, Liberator Online readers who order this book now will also get a great
FREE gift: a World's Smallest Political Quiz Sample Pack!
The Quiz Sample Pack has 50 Quizzes -- 20 Deluxe (shirt pocket size) ,
20 Classic (business-card-size), and 10 "This is not a tip" cards
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The Quiz is the world-famous tool that's an instant eye-opener and mind-changer.
It's the most popular outreach tool in the libertarian movement. And the card
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The Quiz card is a great, provocative, fun and convenient-to-carry outreach item
that will help you find potential libertarians -- and open minds to serious,
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Let the pocket Quiz bring *you* responses like this:
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See which Quiz format you like best. Take advantage of this chance to get a Quiz
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* * * ORDERING * * *
Via Web: To get this special Liberator Online-readers-only offer, you can go to
this address on the Web:
http://www.theadvocates.org/liberator-online-special.html
This will take you to a special site on our catalog where this offer is
featured. You can order via credit card from there if you wish. Our site is
credit card secure -- you can order with the same confidence you’d feel at
your local department store. While there, you can browse our other libertarian
products and order any you wish.
You can also, of course, order by phone, mail or fax, from the address below.
Just mention the Liberator Online with your order to get this special discount.
Your order helps support the essential work of the Advocates -- thank you!
As with all Advocates products, we guarantee your satisfaction. Try it at no
risk -- if you’re not completely satisfied, simply return for a full refund.
*** This offer is good through Wednesday March 19, 2003 ***
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