Liberator Online, Volume 9, Number 06
April 5, 2004

In This Issue:

Republican Congress praises New Deal statism; Government spokesman
explains why a "cut" is really an increase; Teen fights rats -- on
rooftops and in government; Elite students taught that libertarianism
is a major part of the political spectrum; Mary Ruwart is asked if
people today can really handle freedom, and if restitution will lead
to more lawsuits and overcrowded courts; Michael Cloud hits you with
The Stunning Impact of Simple Questions...

All this and *much much more* in the world’s largest-circulation
libertarian publication...

THE LIBERATOR ONLINE

April 5, 2004
Vol. 9, No. 6
Circulation: 62,752 subscribers in over 100 countries

Published by the Advocates for Self-Government
Edited by James W. Harris, mailto:james@TheAdvocates.org
Created by Paul Schmidt and James W. Harris
___________________________________________

"The Advocates is for real. Libertarians who want to get real should
put into action what the Advocates teaches."

-- Russell Means, American Indian activist, actor ("Last of the
Mohicans"), author ("Where White Men Fear to Tread").
___________________________________________

CONTENTS

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

* Good news about the political map!
* Praise for a late, great libertarian activist

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES

* Advocates at national Libertarian Party presidential convention
...and more news and exciting opportunities for libertarians!

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS

* House Republicans Praise New Deal Socialism
* Bureauc-rats Battle Teen -- And Teen Fights Back
* Politician-Speak Translated
* Making Lies Sound Truthful...

ASK DR. RUWART

* Can people today handle freedom?
* Will restitution lead to more lawsuits and overcrowded courts?

PERSUASION POWER POINT #160

* The Stunning Impact of Simple Questions
by Michael Cloud

PRODUCT REVIEW

* * Bold, beautiful anti-tax T-shirt -- order it now and get FREE
World’s Smallest Political Quiz cards, too!
_____________________________________

PRESIDENT’S CORNER

Dear friends,

Encouraging news!

Since the very earliest days of the Advocates, we have worked to
replace the old and inaccurate "left-versus-right" view of politics --
which excludes libertarians -- with a more accurate and inclusive
political "map" that includes libertarians and shows the true
political diversity of the world of politics.

This is vital work. Because if libertarians aren't on the "map" that
people use when they think and talk about politics, it's as if we
don't exist.

Our World's Smallest Political Quiz has reached millions of people
with that essential insight. The Quiz has found its way into
textbooks, newspapers, and high school and college classrooms.

Which brings me to this most recent good news.

The Washington Post (Sunday, April 4, 2004) ran a long feature story
about Montgomery Blair High School in Maryland. The school has an
elite magnet program which draws, the article said, "the best and
brightest math and science students from across the county."

The article briefly described an Advanced Placement course in
Comparative Government.

"On a February morning at the start of the semester, the students
review the American political spectrum: liberal vs. conservative,
libertarian vs. authoritarian. Jesse doesn't take notes. He knows all
this already."

Please note: The libertarian view, and the four-way picture of the
American political spectrum (same concept as our World's Smallest
Political Quiz) is accepted as a *given* in this class.

And it's such common knowledge that the student "knows all this
already."

Friends, this is progress! Just a few years ago a class like this
would have discussed the political spectrum in the old
left-versus-right, liberals-versus-conservative way that leaves out
libertarians entirely.

It is good news indeed that these "best and brightest" high school
students are being taught this. Libertarianism is increasingly being
recognized as a major and distinctive part of the political spectrum
-- something unthinkable just a decade or two ago.

Let's hope this is indicative of a growing national trend. I promise
you the Advocates will continue to do all we can to spread this
essential insight to America and the world.

Incidentally, many of you will remember that in June 2001 the
Washington Post, one of the world's most influential newspapers,
printed our World's Smallest Political Quiz -- in full color, no less
-- and remarked that "The Quiz has gained respect as a valid measure
of a person's political leanings."

(Source: Montgomery Blair High School article:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A42330-2004Apr1.html )

* * *

Our "The Art of Libertarian Persuasion" seminar in Orlando, Florida
last week, featuring Michael Cloud and Harry Browne, was a tremendous
success! Thanks to all who attended.

We are planning more of these acclaimed seminars for the very near
future. One may be coming near YOUR home soon. We'll keep you informed
in future issues of the Liberator Online.

* * *

Remembering Frank Nugent

An early and enthusiastic friend of the Advocates and a long-time
champion for liberty recently passed away.

Frank Nugent died of cardiac arrest at his home in Oakland, Missouri
on March 21. He was four months shy of his 80th birthday.

A writer, speaker, all-around activist and generous donor of time and
money to libertarian causes, Frank was very active with many liberty
groups, especially (in addition to the Advocates) the Libertarian
Party and FIJA, the Fully-Informed Jury Association.

The home of Frank and his wife Dorie was always open as a headquarters
and resting place for local and national libertarian activists.

In fact, that's how Marshall Fritz, founder and first president of the
Advocates for Self-Government, met Frank.

"In the formative days of the Advocates my first speaking engagement
in Missouri was in the mid '80s," recalls Marshall."Local libertarians
volunteered a man named Frank Nugent to pick me up at the airport.

"Two things first struck me at the time. Frank was so darned warm and
friendly, and the dog-eared book on his dashboard: Murray Rothbard's
'For a New Liberty.' Frank proudly said it (along with F.A. Hayek's
work) was a pivotal intellectual turning point for him in becoming a
libertarian. He reread it frequently and treated it like his bible.

"The Nugent's had a gift of charming hospitality and good food. I've
traveled extensively and they were the finest hosts in the whole
country. I always looked forward to my returns to St. Louis and being
with Frank and hearing his passionate way of explaining libertarian
ideas."

Over the years, with the organizational assistance of local Advocate
supporters Eric Harris and Steve Schaper, Nugent hosted Advocates
seminars and fundraisers in his home.

Other libertarian leaders, activists and organizations echo Marshall's
remarks. Frank changed many lives and made valuable contributions to
the cause of liberty that he was so passionate about. And Frank didn't
limit his volunteer activity to libertarian causes. He did valuable
and important work with local and national charities as well.

Frank lived a big life, traveling widely, reading voraciously, meeting
with people from all backgrounds and beliefs, raising a loving family,
and making vital contributions to important causes. He was loved and
appreciated, and he will be sorely missed.

In addition to Doris, his wife of 55 years, survivors include two sons
and five grandchildren. The family requests that any memorial
contributions be made to the Fully-Informed Jury Association, P.O. Box
5570, Helena, Montana, 59604-5570.

(Thanks to Ken Bush for information used here, and thanks also to Roy
Lieberman.)

* * *

I am pleased to welcome 225 new Liberator Online subscribers this
issue. Thanks for joining our subscription "family" of over 60,000
liberty-loving readers in over 100 countries!

Enjoy this issue of the Liberator Online.

-- Sharon Harris, President mailto:sharon@TheAdvocates.org

* * *

PS: There's still time -- barely! -- to get our gorgeous exclusive
anti-tax T-shirt before April 15!

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Order now, and we’ll give you a great free gift, too!

Order right away, and we'll do our best to get it to you before April
15.

Full details are in our Product Review section at the end of this
issue. Or you can place your order now here:
http://www.theadvocates.org/liberator-online-special.html

Thank you!
_____________________________________

WHAT’S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES

* May 27-31: Advocates at Libertarian Party National Convention.
Advocates President Sharon Harris will join an outstanding line-up of
speakers at the presidential nominating convention of the Libertarian
Party. Liberator Online columnist Dr. Mary Ruwart will deliver the
keynote address. And the Advocates will have a booth there, too --
come by and say hello! It will be held in Atlanta, Georgia, on
Memorial Day weekend, May 27-31. For more information, see:
http://www.lp.org

ONGOING OPPORTUNITIES

* Want to quickly learn the basics of libertarianism -- from some of
the best minds in the liberty movement? Want to help a friend quickly
learn about libertarianism? Check out Libertarianism.com, from the
Advocates: http://www.Libertarianism.com

* FREE Year 2004 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

* The Advocates offers you libertarian sources for breaking news and
commentary on the situation in Iraq and related matters:
www.theAdvocates.org/foreign-policy-resources.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! Former 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 few 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

House Republicans Praise New Deal Socialism

On March 17, nearly every Republican in Congress -- almost 200 of them
-- joined unanimous Democrats in voting for a resolution honoring U.S.
President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his New Deal "legacy."

FDR, of course, is viewed by many advocates of limited government as
arguably the most anti-liberty president of the twentieth century.

As distinguished economist Richard Ebeling, President of the
Foundation for Economic Education, has noted, Roosevelt "constrained
the American economy in a straightjacket of regulations and controls
under the promise of a 'New Deal.' In its essence, the economic
philosophy behind the New Deal was modeled on Mussolini's
corporativist state, under which industry was forced into
government-mandated cartels that fixed prices and production.
Agricultural prices and production were placed under the same strict
controls. Vast public works projects were undertaken, with the federal
government directly employing millions of people. Private ownership of
gold was declared illegal and the people's money was confiscated, with
paper money given in return."

This was the man, and the policies, that nearly all House Republicans
voted to honor. Indeed, only *five* Republicans voted against the
measure.

What, you say? You thought Republican congressmen were ANTI-big
government? That they naturally opposed FDR's New Deal, which gave us
an alphabet soup of tyrannical programs that advocates of limited
government are still battling to this day? That Republicans were in
Congress to *dismantle* the New Deal, not to praise it?

Think again.

Make no mistake about it, the resolution didn't just praise FDR as a
wartime leader (a record that is also highly dubious, but that's
another story).

No, the resolution expressly praised his New Deal economic programs,
applauding the Roosevelt administration for "creating a series of New
Deal programs that fundamentally changed the role of Government" and
cheering FDR's wartime "productive partnership with private
enterprise...by appointing top businessmen to run the production
agencies."

The resolution also repeated the old canard that FDR's economic
policies somehow led America out of the Great Depression. (Actually
his programs and spending kept the Depression dragging on until the
outbreak of World War II.)

Adding insult to injury, the resolution also praised FDR's wife
Eleanor, who championed as much statist hooey as FDR himself.

The resolution was introduced by a Democrat. But Republican leaders of
the House tightly control what legislation reaches the floor.This bill
could not have seen the light of day without the approval of these
Republican leaders.

Who were the five House Republicans who had the integrity and courage
to vote against the resolution? You know, of course, that Congressman
Ron Paul of Texas -- the only libertarian in Congress -- voted against
this travesty. The other four: Rep. Jeff Flake (R-AZ), Rep. Joel
Hefley (R-CO), Rep. Steve King (R-IA), and Rep. Roscoe Bartlett
(R-MD).

Six other GOPers squirmed away from the issue with votes of "present."

A furious Kent Snyder of the Liberty Committee -- a Washington D.C.
group working for limited government -- summed it up:

"This vote provides yet another example that the mainstream Republican
Party has abandoned any last vestiges of principle and ideology. The
big-government neocon faction of the GOP finds much to admire in FDR,
but rank-and-file Republicans still believe in lower taxes, less
regulation, and more personal liberty -- not socialism.

"Voters who rejoiced when the GOP took control of both Congress and
the White House could not have imagined their heroes would proceed to
spend, borrow, expand, and regulate even more than Clinton did! The
national GOP has lost all credibility as the party of limited
government, and Americans who love liberty should not be fooled by
big-government socialists simply because they have an "R" next to
their name."

(Sources: Liberty Committee:
http://www.thelibertycommittee.org ;
Full text of House Joint Resolution 87:
http://www.thelibertycommittee.org/hjres87.htm
Richard M. Ebeling on Roosevelt:
http://www.fff.org/freedom/0499f.asp )

* * *

Bureauc-rats Battle Teen -- And Teen Fights Back

Seventeen-year-old entrepreneur Christian Alf set out to help his
neighbors by creating an after-school business rat-proofing their
houses. His method was simple but effective: he placed wire mesh over
rooftop vents to keep roof-rats out.

It was a good way to make money, and a good way to help his neighbors,
many of them elderly and plagued by rats.

However, after the Arizona Republic newspaper ran a story about his
business, Christian quickly found himself battling another, far more
dangerous form of vermin: dictatorial bureauc-rats.

A complaint was filed with the Arizona Structural Pest Control
Commission, arguing that young Christian was operating a pest control
business without a license.

It seems that some professional pest control companies supply a
service similar to Christian's -- but for far more money than the $30
Christian charged his neighbors. And they apparently didn't like the
competition.

The Commission launched an investigation. Government agents visited
Christian. The state Commission ordered Christian to shut down his
part-time business -- or face a $1,000 fine.

However, Christian refused to give in. Instead, he spoke out. And this
was such an outrageous case that the normally apathetic public raised
a furor. The Commission was flooded with letters. Newspaper columnists
fumed and jeered. The case drew national attention.

The Institute for Justice, a libertarian legal defense organization,
jumped in the fray, threatening a lawsuit to defend Christian's right
to fight rats without government permission.

After nearly two weeks of this the Commission gave in, claiming they
had never really ordered Christian to stop in the first place, wishing
him all the best, and so on.

So Christian is back in business, rats are being thwarted, and all's
well. Right?

Well, not quite.

America is plagued with local and state regulatory bodies that
routinely throttle free enterprise and prevent untold numbers of
talented and hardworking people from entering a great variety of
fields.

These boards and commissions, although they say they exist to protect
the public, actually exist to protect powerful business interests by
limiting and outlawing competition. And usually the victims aren't
17-year-olds with stories that can draw such public and media
sympathy. And unfortunately, the libertarian Institute for Justice
can't defend but a fraction of the cases.

The poor are hit particularly hard by such boards, which both prohibit
them from entering many fields and keep the price of needed services
artificially high.

There are thousands and thousands of victims like Christian Alf. Their
stories go largely unheard. Each one is an outrage in a country
founded on the ideals of entrepreneurship and free enterprise.

(Sources: Arizona Republic:
http://www.azcentral.com/arizonarepublic/opinions/articles/0331wed1-31.html
Institute for Justice:
http://www.ij.org/media/economic_liberty/az_pest_control/3_24_04pr.shtml
Special thanks to Alice Lillie.)

* * *

Politician-Speak Translated

How can a "cut" in government spending actually mean a huge
*increase*? Former Libertarian Party News editor Bill Winter tells us
in this report:

Libertarians have long pointed out that when politicians talk about
"cuts" in government spending, they usually don't mean an actual
decrease, as understood by (non-politician) human beings. Instead,
they mean that government spending won't increase quite as fast as
they hoped it would.

This creative use of English was brought into sharp focus in a March 1
article in USA Today. The article noted that last year, government
experts widely predicted that a downturn in tax revenues would force
states to cut 1 million people from Medicaid rolls. In fact, USA Today
reported, enrollment in the government-subsidized health insurance
program *rose* by 1.6 million in 2003.

So, how did a "cut" turn out to be a huge increase? Stephen Heffler,
an economist (and federal employee) at the Centers for Medicare and
Medicaid Services, took a stab at explaining it.

Said Heffler: "Sometimes people get confused when they hear the word
'cut,' and they think there is an actual reduction in spending or
enrollment."

Well, that explains things. Let's see if we've got this right: When a
politician promises an "increase" in government spending or a
government program, he really means an increase. When he says it will
remain "stable," he really means an increase. And when he threatens a
"cut," he really means an increase.

Thanks, Mr. Heffler! We're not confused anymore.

(Sources: USA TODAY:
http://www.usatoday.com/news/nation/2004-03-01-medicaid-rolls_x.htm ;
Commentary for Liberator Online by Bill Winter)

* * *

Making Lies Sound Truthful...

"In our time, political speech and writing are largely the defense of
the indefensible... Thus, political language has to consist largely of
euphemism, question-begging, and sheer cloudy vagueness... Political
language [is] designed to make lies sound truthful and murder
respectable."

-- George Orwell, "Politics and the English Language," 1945.

* * *

"Good News, Bad News, Unbelievable News" writer James W. Harris is
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@TheAdvocates.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 Liberator Online answers are archived in searchable
form at:
http://www.TheAdvocates.org/ruwart/categories_list.php

* * *

Can people today handle freedom?

Question:

"While I agree with the fundamentals of libertarianism, I am afraid
that, at this stage of the human evolutionary process, most people
couldn't handle complete freedom. How many people do you know who,
when about to take a specific action, would stop and think whether or
not their action would have an undesirable result for someone else?"

My short answer:

"People think about how their actions affect others when they
themselves experience the fallout. Libertarianism creates this link
when those who harm others must make full restitution.

"Today, criminals are seldom caught because so much policing is
focused on victimless crimes. Today, criminals go free after stealing,
raping, and killing so that peaceful pot smokers can get mandatory
minimums. Today, the military is our number one polluter, literally
getting away with murder because of sovereign immunity.

"Without more freedom and responsibility (libertarianism), we will
move more slowly along our evolutionary path!"

* * *

Will restitution lead to more lawsuits and overcrowded courts?

Question:

"Libertarians seem to be against setting government standards and
regulations for businesses and products, and instead rely upon
lawsuits which depend upon showing harm in order to reimburse people
hurt by pollution, faulty design of products, etc. Won't this
after-the-fact continuing litigation create even an even larger court
load?"

My short answer:

"Restitution, even if enforced through court action, deters criminals
and decreases the necessity of actually going to court. Japan, which
has such a system in place, is the only industrialized nation that has
seen a consistent decrease in violent crime since World War II.
Litigants normally come to a settlement before coming in front of the
judge, so very little time is spent in court.

"Because restoring the environment is so costly, the threat of having
to right an environmental wrong would deter polluters just as the
threat of restitution stops crimes of violence against people and
property in Japan."

* * *

Dr. Ruwart’s acclaimed book "Healing Our World" presents persuasive
arguments for liberty, backed with over 1,000 references 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 Mary Ruwart books are available from the Advocates:
http://www.theadvocates.org/Merchant2/merchant.mv
_____________________________________

PERSUASION POWER POINT #160

The Stunning Impact of Simple Questions

by Michael Cloud

"You're trying to oversimplify an extremely complicated political
issue, Mr. Cloud," charged my National Public Radio (NPR) interviewer.

"Quite the opposite," I responded. "You are over-complicating a
political issue that we can resolve with a few simple questions. I
have 5 questions that should clear this up. Let's put them on the
table -- and discuss them one by one. Okay?"

I laid out the questions. We went through them one by one. The NPR
host found himself at a loss -- not for words, but for ideas or
answers.

The radio host had a huge number of political assumptions that he had
never examined. So do most people.

"The unexamined life is not worth living," said Socrates. So, too,
with unexamined beliefs and assumptions.

"Examine your premises," wrote Ayn Rand.

Examine your key libertarian concepts, principles, and premises. Break
down each one. Take each one apart. Does it make sense? Is it valid or
true? What are 3 examples of it?

Can you make each key libertarian concept, principle, or premise
understandable to a 12- year-old? Can you explain its meaning,
implications, and applications simply enough that the 12-year-old
could explain it to his friends?

Try this with a few key libertarian ideas.

1. What's a libertarian?
2. What is individual liberty?
3. What is personal responsibility?
4. What is small government?
5. What is ownership? What is property? What are property rights?
6. What are voluntary human relations? How are they different from the
initiation of force?

In plain and simple words, what do these phrases mean? What are 3
examples of each?

Write out a few different simple answers to each question. It'll
improve your libertarian thinking and conversations. You'll become a
confident libertarian communicator.

After you've clarified and simplified your own libertarian ideas, then
you're ready to explore the stunning impact of simple questions with
Big Government ideas and assumptions.

Consider one example.

"I believe in collective responsibility, NOT personal responsibility,"
wrote one Massachusetts liberal. Then she proposed several Big
Government policies and programs.

I wrote back.

"I'm not sure I understand you," I wrote. "Could you please help me
out with a few pointers?

"1. What do you mean by the phrase "collective responsibility"?
"2. Would you give me a few examples of collective responsibility --
and how it works?
"3. Is each person free to choose or refuse collective responsibility?
Is it voluntary or mandatory by force of law?
"4. If it is compelled by law, what do you authorize the government do
to those who peacefully refuse to co-operate or participate?

"Thank you for helping me understand collective responsibility."

She ignored my questions -- and reiterated her Big Government
proposals.

I apologized for my email failing to reach her -- and re-sent her the
simple and basic questions above.

That was the last time she wrote.

She's no fool. She has a Master's degree. She reads books, magazines,
and newspapers. She's been politically active for over 40 years.

Her political words are murky, memorized mantras. She chants the same
sacred political sounds that other Massachusetts liberals do. She does
not grasp what she believes or why.

Many people have unexamined political beliefs. Unexplored political
premises. Untested assumptions.

Very often, our job is not to challenge or criticize the other
person's beliefs. We need only ask naive and basic questions. Simple
questions.

"I believe that we have a Social Contract to care for those who cannot
care for themselves," says a politician.

SIMPLE QUESTIONS: 1. What do you mean by the phrase "Social Contract"?
2. Is this "Social Contract" like all other legal contracts in
America? Is it subject to the same terms, considerations, and
limitations? 3. Who is bound by this "Social Contract" and who is not?
4. Is each person free to choose or refuse to sign the "Social
Contract"? Is it voluntary or mandatory by force of law? 5. If it is
compelled by law, what do you authorize the government to do to those
who peacefully refuse to co-operate or participate?

"I believe in Fair Trade, not Free Trade," says the Union Official.

SIMPLE QUESTIONS: 1. What do you mean by "Fair Trade"? 2. What do you
mean by "Free Trade"? 3. How are "Fair Trade" and "Free Trade"
different? 4. Who decides what's a "Fair Trade"-- the businesses who
are trading, or someone not involved in the transaction? 5. Is each
person and business free to choose or refuse to trade? Is it voluntary
or imposed by force of law? 6. If it is imposed by law, what do you
authorize the government to do to those who peacefully act otherwise?

"Because we live in an interdependent world, we need a stronger United
Nations," says the World Government advocate.

SIMPLE QUESTIONS: 1. What do you mean by the word "interdependent"? 2.
Would you give me a few examples of interdependence? 3. What's the
opposite of, or the alternative to. interdependence? 4. Could you give
me a few examples of NON-interdependence? 5. Is each person free to
choose or refuse who to have an interdependent relationship with? Is
this voluntary or imposed by force of law? 6. If it is imposed by law,
what do you authorize the United Nations to do to those who peacefully
act otherwise?

Henry David Thoreau urged us to, "Simplify, simplify."

Henri-Frederic Amiel wrote, "The great artist is the simplifier."

By distilling political ideas to their simple, plain, and basic
elements, we can sort the true from the false, the priceless from the
worthless.

By asking simple and obvious questions, we can help others to discard
meaningless, false, and harmful political beliefs.

How will you know that you are making progress with simple questions?

Easy. Someone will accuse you of trying to oversimplify an extremely
complicated political issue.

That's when it's time for you to smile and respond:

"Quite the opposite. You are over-complicating a political issue that
we can resolve with a few simple questions. Let's put them on the
table -- and discuss them one by one. Okay?"

******************

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 shipping and postage!). For more information, or to order,
click here:
http://www.theadvocates.org/epp-redirect.html

Michael Cloud created the acclaimed "Art of Libertarian Persuasion"
communication seminars. Watch upcoming issues of the Liberator Online
to learn when this Advocates seminar will be held near you.
_____________________________________

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"The man who produces while others dispose of his product is a slave."
-- Ayn Rand, author of Atlas Shrugged

"We have rights, as individuals, to give as much of our own money as
we please to charity; but as members of Congress we have no right so
to appropriate a dollar of public money." -- David Crockett, US
Congressman (1827-1835)

"Now what liberty can there be where property is taken without
consent??" -- Samuel Adams, founding father and leader of the Boston
Tea Party

"The fact is that government, like a highwayman, says to a man: 'Your
money or your life.'" --Lysander Spooner, philosopher and
abolitionist.

A beautiful shirt with a beautiful message! Light blue with dark blue
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You can see the shirt -- and place your order -- at:
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But first…here is information about your free bonus gift!

*** FREE GIFT WITH EACH SHIRT PURCHASE! ***

Order your T-shirt's now and we'll include FREE with every T-shirt a
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The Quiz is the single most popular outreach tool in the libertarian
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The Quiz fits easily into shirt pockets and wallets, so you can always
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Let your pocket Quiz cards bring *you* responses like this:

"I was intrigued at how the little Quiz had focused my thinking, had
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The Deluxe Quiz is our standard, best-selling Quiz. Sized 3.5" x 6".
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* * * ORDERING * * *

Via Web: To get this special Liberator Online offer, you can go to
this address on the Web:

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This will take you to a special site at 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
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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
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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
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** This offer is good through Wednesday, April 21, 2004 **

_____________________________________

See you in two weeks! You can contact the Advocates at:

Snail Mail:
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Phone: 770-386-8372; for orders, 800-932-1776
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If you wish to subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your address for
receiving the Liberator Online, visit:
http://www.TheAdvocates.org/publications/liberator-online.html

The Advocates for Self-Government is a non-profit educational
organization. Our purpose is to: (1) present the freedom philosophy
honestly and persuasively to opinion-makers and the public so that
they can encounter, evaluate, and when ready, embrace the ideals of
self-government; (2) help libertarians become effective and powerful
communicators of the ideas of liberty; and (3) change the political
map from the inaccurate and exclusionary ‘left-right/liberal
conservative’ line to a more accurate and inclusive model (like that
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PLEASE NOTE: Contributions to the Advocates are tax-deductible under
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"May it be to the world... to assume the blessings and security of
self-government." -- Thomas Jefferson, 1821.

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