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In
This Issue:
Denver
legalizes personal marijuana use -- and national support for re-legalizing
marijuana reaches all-time high... Top TV pundits say they're libertarians
-- sort of... Who's vaccinating people against liberty?
asks Michael Cloud.... World's Smallest Political Quiz is in a record
number of schools, books, and textbooks... Libertarian classic has
been totally revamped and is now available... Mary Ruwart is asked
if she'd rather have Saddam Hussein in power, and if anti-trust
laws are needed to protect consumers... Harry Browne's soundbite
answer to "It's a free country, isn't it?" and other common
questions libertarians are sure to encounter...
All this and *much much more* in the world's largest-circulation
libertarian publication...
The
Liberator Online
Vol. 10, No. 20 | November 9, 2005
Circulation: 65,748 subscribers in over 100 countries
Published by the Advocates for Self-Government
Edited by James W. Harris | Email:
james(a)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
*
See the Quiz in books
* Hundreds of schools documented using the Quiz
* Quiz in top U.S. textbooks
* Help us deal with the sudden upsurge in online Quiz takers!
* Advocates releases NEW UPDATED classic libertarian book
WHAT'S
HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
*
David Bergland on radio and Internet radio, Wed. Nov. 23, 2005
* Exciting opportunities for libertarians!
GOOD
NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
*
Three Top TV Pundits Say: "I'm a Libertarian -- Sort Of"
* Denver Votes to End Penalties for Personal Marijuana Use
* Support for Re-legalizing Marijuana Reaches All-Time High
* William F. Buckley: "An outrage..."
PERSUASION
POWER POINT #191
*
Who's Vaccinating People Against Liberty? by Michael Cloud
ASK
DR. RUWART
*
Monopolies: What about John D. Rockefeller?
* Would you rather have Saddam Hussein in power?
HARRY
BROWNE'S SOUNDBITES FOR LIBERTY
*
It's a free country -- isn't it?
* "Worthy" government programs
* Federal funding of local programs
PRODUCT
REVIEW
*
Get the NEWLY-REVISED edition of Libertarianism In One Lesson
-- and get a FREE BONUS GIFT!
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 |
President's
Corner |
Dear
friends,
I have some very good news about
the amazing growth and acceptance of the Advocates' World's Smallest
Political Quiz -- and what that means for libertarians.
UPDATE 1: QUIZ IN BOOKS
As the World's Smallest Political Quiz has gained respect from political
experts and the media, it has been printed, recommended, or commented
on in an increasing number of books.
Now Advocates Communications Director Bill Winter has created a
great new "Quiz In Books" Web page to celebrate this.
It features photos of eleven such books, along with the author,
publisher, date, and a quote that mentions the Quiz.
You can see it here: http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz-in-books.html.
Check it out!
UPDATE 2: QUIZ IN CLASSROOMS:
Wow! The number of classrooms that are using the Quiz is growing
dramatically. New research by Bill Winter has confirmed 420 schools
in the United States and around the world that have incorporated
the World's Smallest Political Quiz into their classrooms.
(And that number is just a *fraction* of the actual number of classes
using the Quiz -- see my next item to understand why.)
This is great news for libertarians! Increasing numbers
of high school and college students are being taught that politics
is more than a simplistic Left-Right line -- and they're learning
that libertarians are a vital and significant part of the political
spectrum.
To learn more, read this report: http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz-in-class.html.
To see the list of schools that are using (or have recently used)
the Quiz in their classrooms:
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz-in-class-list.html.
Educators: if you use the Quiz in your classroom, let us know of
your experiences. And contact us about getting FREE Quiz cards for
your classes.
UPDATE 3: QUIZ IN TEXTBOOKS:
Tens of thousands of high school and college students are encountering
the World's Smallest Political Quiz. That's because at least a *dozen*
popular textbooks feature the Quiz as part of their enhanced digital
content.
These textbooks and e-learning materials are offered by some of
the most prominent names in the educational publishing field, including
the McGraw-Hill Companies, Prentice Hall, W.W. Norton, and Houghton
Mifflin Company.
Again: just think what this means for the future of American politics!
You can see some of these textbooks -- and learn more details --
here:
http://www.theadvocates.org/quiz-in-textbooks.html.
HELP! QUIZ SITE OVERLOADED!
As you can tell, use of the Quiz is exploding! The numbers are growing
much faster than we expected -- in fact, a whopping 50-70 percent
faster. Thousands of people take the Quiz -- every day! Many of
them, as I've indicated, are students.
And increasingly the Quiz is reaching people around the world. Last
month we got a surge of an extra 8,000 Quiz-takes every day for
a solid week -- from a mention at *just one* Web site in Japan.
This is great news... but it's brought with it an unexpected problem.
As I mentioned to you yesterday in a separate email, the unexpected
boom in traffic has put a strain on our shared server.
Sometimes, during a surge of visitors, the server is simply overwhelmed
and the Quiz cannot be accessed. Other times, the Quiz suddenly
starts running *very* slowly -- so maddeningly slow that people
get fed up and leave.
By my estimate, we're losing 1,000 Quiz visitors a day.
We can't let this happen! One of those persons might be the next
Bill Gates. Or the next Rush Limbaugh. Or a future activist, candidate,
scholar contributor, or other spokesperson for the libertarian cause.
We need to take another step forward in growth *now* -- earlier
than we'd expected.
Can you make a small donation to help us quickly fix this problem?
I've explained this problem -- and how you can help -- here: http://www.theadvocates.org/web-site-problems.html.
Your help is very much needed right now, and very much appreciated.
It will make a real difference.
Thank you!
* * *
Welcome to 213 new Liberator Online subscribers this issue.
Thanks for joining our subscription "family" of over 65,000
liberty-loving readers in over 100 countries!
* * *
To learn more about the Advocates and our work for liberty: http://www.theadvocates.org.
To
learn more about libertarianism: http://www.Libertarianism.com.
Enjoy
this issue of the Liberator Online.
--
Sharon Harris, President | Email: sharon(a)TheAdvocates.org
PS: Last issue I was proud to announce that
the Advocates has just published a totally updated edition of David
Bergland's classic guide to libertarianism, Libertarianism In
One Lesson. To celebrate, we're giving Liberator Online
readers 50 FREE World's Smallest Political Quiz cards with each
order during the next two weeks!
You can learn about this great book in our Product Review at the
end of this issue.
There's also more information online:
* An interview with David Bergland about the history of his classic
book and this new edition:
http://www.theadvocates.org/onelesson-interview.html.
* A review by Advocates Director of Communication Bill Winter:
http://www.theadvocates.org/onelesson-review.html.
* A review by Liberator Online columnist Michael Cloud:
http://www.theadvocates.org/onelesson-review2.html.
To purchase now, and get your free Quizzes, just click here:
http://www.theadvocates.org/liberator-online-special.html.
[Offer
good through November 23, 2005.]
Thank you!
•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
What's
Happening With The Advocates
*
David Bergland on radio and Internet radio: On
Wednesday November 23, 2005, from 3:00-4:00 pm Eastern Time, David
Bergland -- former Libertarian Party presidential candidate and
author of the newly-revised classic libertarian book Libertarianism
In One Lesson -- will appear on the Straight Talk
radio show. Straight Talk, hosted by Jerry Hughes, is heard
on about two dozen stations across the U.S. You can see a list of
stations -- or listen to the show live on the Internet -- at: http://www.accentradionetwork.com/st.htm.
* Libertarian Activism Awards: Can you meet the
Lights of Liberty Awards challenge? Three libertarian letters to
the editor, three libertarian speeches, OR three turns at working
an OPH booth done before January 1, 2006 qualifies you to receive
a handsome certificate suitable for framing -- and also qualifies
you for drawings on some great prizes, including the incredible
Libertarian Presidential Library, an AUTOGRAPHED collector's set
of every campaign book written by every Libertarian Party presidential
candidate from 1972's John Hospers to 2004's Michael Badnarik! Most
importantly, every person who qualifies encourages others by their
example to engage in these vital outreach activities. See details
here: http://theadvocates.org/lights.html.
* Most Acclaimed Libertarian Communication Course EVER:
Learn the very best ways to persuade others of the benefits of liberty.
You can get Michael Cloud's classic 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! We've put over 7,000 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.
* 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 http://www.Libertarianism.com
from the Advocates.
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Good
News, Bad News, Unbelievable News
By
James W. Harris
Three
Top TV Pundits Say: "I'm a Libertarian -- Sort Of"
In
just the past few days, some of television's best-known political
commentators have referred to themselves as libertarians or libertarian
sympathizers.
Who are they? And what does this mean for libertarians?
Joe Scarborough is host of MSNBC's Scarborough County.
His November 1, 2005 show featured a debate about pornography made
and broadcast by college students on a publicly-funded student-run
campus TV channel.
Scarborough made this remark:
SCARBOROUGH: "OK, OK, so Steve, this is where
you lose me, though. I mean, if you want to go out and film porn
of yourself and girls, that is your business. I am a libertarian,
okay? But I don't want to pay for it...."
This isn't the first time. A year ago, on November 8, 2004, during
a wide-ranging debate on religion and politics, Scarborough said:
SCARBOROUGH: "Take me, for instance. I'm more
libertarian than conservative. I supported George W. Bush, but I
don't want federal judges telling me what marriages people in Florida
should accept. As far as gay marriage, if somebody in Vermont wants
to get married and they are gay, I don't care. That is up to Vermont.
But I don't want a judge in Vermont telling me in Florida to accept
that."
Then there's Catherine Crier, Court TV anchor and author. On October
27, 2005, on MSNBC's Scarborough County, she thought a
guest referred to her as a "liberal." She was quick to
object:
CRIER: "No, no, no. I'm not -- I am a former
Texas Republican judge. I have never been called a liberal. I am
a libertarian, if anything."
This would seem consistent with this statement in the first chapter
of her new book Contempt: How the Right is Wronging American
Justice:
"I wrote the book The Case Against Lawyers in 2002.
This book castigated behavior on the left and the right of the political
spectrum... Today I consider myself a true independent with some
libertarian leanings."
And this is nothing new for Crier. Consider this excerpt from the
online campaign diary Libertarian Party presidential candidate Harry
Browne kept during his 2000 race:
BROWNE: "To my surprise, [Catherine Crier]
makes it clear before the interview begins that she thinks highly
of libertarian ideas. She says she hopes I get into the debates
because otherwise this year's race is very boring.
"The 10-minute interview itself goes beautifully. In the first
minute, I say, 'I want to set you free to live your life as you
want to live it -- not as Al Gore or George Bush thinks is best
for you, or best for the Fatherland. After all, you're the one who
earns the money, you're the one who gets up every day and goes to
work. Why should they be taking your money and deciding how much
of it they're going to let you keep for yourself? Why don't you
decide how much of it you're going to give to them?'
"To this, [Catherine Crier] says enthusiastically, "Yes!
Yes!" We cover repealing the income tax, getting the government
out of Social Security, and ending the Drug War. She adds her own
comments to explain why each of these steps would be beneficial.
At the end she insists that I come back for a longer interview.
Happily, we've found a new friend."
Finally, there's Tucker Carlson, host of MSNBC's The Situation
with Tucker Carlson.
In 2004 and 2005, he hosted PBS's Tucker Carlson: Unfiltered.
A PBS press release said that: "Carlson combines a conservative
and libertarian take on the news with a wry skepticism and unconventional
opinions."
On his MSNBC TV show Carlson continues to express many libertarian
views. He generally advocates a limited role for government, opposes
the Drug War, strongly defends free speech, and supports the free
market.
Unlike many conservatives with libertarian leanings, Carlson is
also a strong critic of the Iraq war. He reluctantly supported it
at first, but a trip to Iraq for an article for Esquire
changed his mind. "I think it's a total nightmare and disaster,
and I'm ashamed that I went against my own instincts in supporting
it," he said. "I want things to work out, but I'm enraged
by it, actually."
This recent exchange with a telephone caller, from October 19, 2005,
probably nicely sums up Carlson's current views:
CALLER: "Hey, Tucker. I swear I'm a Democrat
but you are turning me into a libertarian. Not that there is anything
wrong with that..."
CARLSON: "Thank you. I would just close your
eyes and let it wash over you like a warm wave of reason: libertarianism.
I'm not a strict libertarian -- I'm not completely insane. But I
am informed by the libertarian spirit, which I think [is] a good
place to be."
It's clear that these three prominent opinion-leaders aren't libertarians
-- yet -- but they like and respect libertarian ideas, and they
understand and appreciate the label, too.
So what does this mean for libertarianism? A lot. It shows that
libertarian ideas are rapidly gaining ground. Among the most influential
segments of society, libertarianism is being recognized as a legitimate
and worthy political viewpoint, distinct from liberalism and conservatism.
Further, libertarianism is more and more attractive to mainstream
Americans -- otherwise, these ratings-savvy hosts would never use
the word "libertarian" in describing their political beliefs.
Of course, this also means that millions of Americans have become
familiar enough with the word to have at least a general idea of
what it means -- or, again, these journalists/hosts would not use
it. And that's another very positive advance.
Finally, as Harry Browne's experience indicates, it may mean that
libertarians will receive increasingly respectful media attention
in the months and years to come.
All this is a sign of great progress. The persistent, positive outreach
that libertarians are doing is paying off. Keep up the good work!
(Sources: Joe Scarborough: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9901553/
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/6442926/
Catherine Crier: http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9849851/
http://www.courttv.com/onair/shows/contempt/excerpt.html
http://www.harrybrowne.org/hb2000/journal/journal_30.htm
Tucker Carlson: http://www.weta.org/pressroom/tuckercarlson/?p=Press+Release
http://msnbc.msn.com/id/9768039/)
Denver
Votes to End Marijuana Use and Possession Penalties
Are we seeing, as one prominent activist predicts, "the beginning
of the end of marijuana prohibition in the U.S."?
On November 1, Denver became the second major city in less than
a year to eliminate all civil and criminal penalties for the possession
of up to one ounce of marijuana by citizens age 21 and older.
Fully 54 percent of voters passed "I-100: The Alcohol-Marijuana
Equalization Initiative." This initiative, led by the organization
SAFER (Safer Alternative For Enjoyable Recreation), argued that
local laws should treat the private adult use and possession of
marijuana in a manner similar to alcohol, and that its use by adults
should not be subject to criminal penalties.
There's more.
Last fall Oakland, California voters approved a similar initiative
to "tax and regulate the sale of cannabis for adult use."
And on November 1 a proposal in Telluride, Colorado to make "the
investigation, arrest, and prosecution of marijuana offenses ...
the town's lowest law enforcement priority" missed winning
by only 24 votes.
"A few years from now, this [Denver] vote may well be seen
as the proverbial 'tipping point,' the beginning of the end of marijuana
prohibition in the U.S.," said Rob Kampia, executive director
of the Marijuana Policy Project in Washington, D.C. "Replacing
the failed policy of prohibition with common-sense taxation and
regulation of marijuana has become a thoroughly mainstream issue,
with the voters of two major U.S. cities endorsing such an approach
within one year.
"Last year, there were more than three-quarters of a million
marijuana arrests, an all-time record," Kampia added. "That's
equivalent to arresting every man, woman, and child in the state
of Wyoming plus every man, woman, and child in St. Paul, Minnesota.
"The public understands that this simply makes no sense. Regulating
marijuana will take money out of the pockets of criminals and free
police to go after violent crime, and the voters of Denver took
their first step in that direction today."
Ironically, Denver was the site of the very first federal marijuana
arrest in American history. On October 2, 1937, Samuel R. Caldwell,
a 58-year-old unemployed laborer, was arrested by the FBI and Denver
police for selling two marijuana cigarettes to a 26-year-old man.
For this dastardly act, Caldwell was sentenced to four years' hard
labor at Leavenworth Prison, and fined the then-enormous sum of
$1,000. Caldwell served every day of the sentence, and died a year
after release.
Of course, local measures like the Denver one don't override state
and federal prohibitions against marijuana. But they give citizens
enormous and very real protection at the local level. Such measures
also very strongly catch the ear of federal politicians.
This may be part of a growing trend: pro-liberty communities defying
unjust federal laws by passing local legislation. It's quite similar
to the nationwide revolt against the Patriot Act by local and state
governments, which we've reported on in past issues.
Which city is next?
(Sources: Marijuana Policy Project (MPP): http://www.mpp.org/releases/nr20051101.html
NORML on the Samuel Caldwell tragedy: http://www.mapinc.org/newsnorml/v05/n1732/a02.html)
Support
for Re-legalizing Marijuana Reaches All-Time High
Public support for legalizing marijuana has reached an all-time
high -- another victory for libertarian ideas.
According to a new Gallup study:
* The percentage of Americans who favor making the personal use
of marijuana legal has risen more than 33 percent since 1995.
* Overall, thirty-six percent of Americans favoring legalization,
up from 25 percent in 1995 and only 12 percent in 1969.
* Sixty percent said they oppose legalizing marijuana, down from
73 percent just a decade ago.
* Younger Americans (aged 18 to 29) are the strongest supporters
of marijuana law reform, with 47 percent endorsing legalization.
Having a near-majority of young voters favoring legalization is
a very positive sign.
* Among adults aged 30 to 64, 35 percent support legalization; among
those aged 65 and older, 22 percent.
* Men (39 percent) are more likely than women (30 percent) to support
legalization.
* Nearly half of citizens residing in Western states back legalization.
* By party: 21 percent of Republican voters favor legalization;
37 percent of Democrats; and a whopping 44 percent of self-identified
Independents.
Gallup's conclusion: "The data make it clear that despite the
gender and age differences that still persist, all subgroups are
more likely to support legalized marijuana today than three decades
ago."
(Sources: NORML: http://norml.org/index.cfm?Group_ID=6717
Marijuana Policy Project: http://www.mpp.org/USA/news/10585.mpp
Full Gallup poll results: http://www.csdp.org/research/gallup_marijuana_2005.pdf)
William
F. Buckley: "An outrage..."
"The amount of money and of legal energy being given to prosecute
hundreds of thousands of Americans who are caught with a few ounces
of marijuana in their jeans simply makes no sense -- the kindest
way to put it. A sterner way to put it is that it is an outrage,
an imposition on basic civil liberties and on the reasonable expenditure
of social energy."-- Conservative icon William F. Buckley,
"Legalization of Marijuana Long Overdue," June 8, 1993
* * *
"Good News, Bad News, Unbelievable News"
is written by Liberator Online editor James W. Harris.
His articles have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers,
and he has been a Finalist for the Mencken Award, given by the Free
Press Association for "Outstanding Journalism in Support of
Liberty."
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 |
Persuasion
Power
Point
#191 |
Who's Vaccinating People Against
Liberty?
By Michael Cloud
Doctors vaccinate people against some diseases by injecting them
with a weakened or killed form of the virus that causes the disease.
Our bodies respond by increasing our resistance or becoming immune
to the disease.
A similar process occurs when individuals are vaccinated against
an *idea* with a weakened or killed form of the idea.
Individuals are being vaccinated against liberty. Against private
property. Against free trade. Against all the elements of libertarianism.
Weakened and watered-down "liberty concepts" inoculate
individuals against the true ideas of liberty. Diluted and debased
"liberty proposals" immunize individuals against powerful
proposals for liberty. Adulterated and flawed "liberty arguments"
vaccinate individuals against potent arguments for liberty.
Who's vaccinating people against liberty? Government-run public
schools. The news media. Most Americans.
They call government-regulated, government-controlled exchange --
"Free Trade."
They call a government-granted monopoly to a politically-connected
business -- "Privatization."
They call government-outsourcing -- "Privatization."
They call America's government-regulated economy, with massive government
mandates and licensing of businesses -- "Free Enterprise."
They call tax-funded, government-granted school vouchers -- "School
Choice."
They call government-created entitlements -- "rights."
But it doesn't stop with them.
Who else is aiding and abetting the vaccination of people against
liberty?
Libertarians. You and me.
How?
When we do not speak out against -- and correct -- their corrupted
and compromised concepts, proposals, and arguments.
When we do not compare and contrast *real* free trade with their
fake process. When we do not show the difference between *true*
privatization and their phony arrangement. When we do not highlight
and spotlight what freedom is and what it is not -- what their proposal
is and what it is not.
When we do not define the basic and essential differences between
voluntary and coercive, between freedom and compulsion, between
free trade and government-regulated trade, between privatized and
outsourced, between free enterprise and a government-dominated mixed
economy.
How do *you* benefit from speaking up -- and speaking out?
Because, by doing so, you vaccinate others against anti-liberty
vaccinations!
By exposing others to libertarianism, you make them resistant or
immune to watered-down, weakened adulterations.
If you could immunize others against anti-liberty vaccinations,
would you want it?
If I were to show you exactly how to do this, would you try it with
a few friends?
Read my next Persuasion Power Point column. Because it will be the
first of many columns that will show you exactly how to vaccinate
others against anti-liberty vaccinations!
* * *
Michael Cloud is the author of the acclaimed book,
Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion, available exclusively
from the Advocates. Order at: http://www.TheAdvocates.org/secrets.html.
Michael was voted the Most Persuasive Libertarian Communicator
in America and honored with the Thomas Paine Award at the Libertarian
Party national convention in July 2000.
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 |
Ask
Dr.
Ruwart |
Dr.
Mary Ruwart is a leading expert in libertarian communication. In
this column she gives readers "short answers to the tough questions"
that libertarians are frequently asked.
Dr. Ruwart's past Liberator Online answers are archived
in searchable form at: http://www.TheAdvocates.org/ruwart/categories_list.php
"Monopolies: What
about John D. Rockefeller?"
QUESTION:
"You once wrote that oil magnate John D. Rockefeller
kept oil prices low because there were no antitrust laws while he
built his business. But Rockefeller kept prices extremely low in
order to create a monopoly. Everyone would buy his cheaper product
and then his competitors would go out of business. Rockefeller could
then buy them out for pennies on the dollar. Then he could jack
up prices again -- because he had a monopoly."
MY SHORT ANSWER: "It sounds like we have a
communication mix-up. Let me try again!
"Even after he put others out of business because of his low
prices, Rockefeller had to keep prices low to prevent new
competitors from underselling him. He was indeed trying
to create an oil monopoly -- and was successful in obtaining 90%
of the market for a few years.
"However, by 1911, when antitrust action was taken against
him, Standard Oil refined only 64% of the domestic petroleum and
was steadily losing market share to natural gas and electricity
as well as other refiners. Competition and innovation, not antitrust
law, kept Rockefeller from maintaining his near-monopoly.
"By contrast, consider the case of Bell Telephone (AT&T).
Bell had the entire telephone monopoly due to its patents until
1894. But competition quickly sprang up, bringing innovation and
lower prices. By 1907, some 20,000 independents had taken half of
Bell's former market share.
"Bell regained its monopoly -- through legislation that forbade
competition and maintained its monopoly in this way for almost 75
years, keeping prices artificially high and stifling innovation.
"In a free market, it is difficult, even for someone as rich
and powerful as Rockefeller, to obtain and maintain a near-monopoly
for more than a few years. However, in a regulated market, it is
only necessary to lobby government for the passage of favorable
legislation, like Bell did, to obtain an iron-clad monopoly and
hold it for generations."
"Would
you rather have Saddam Hussein in power?"
QUESTION:
"I frequently hear defenders of the Iraq war respond to critics
by saying "Oh, so you'd rather Saddam Hussein was still in
power?" What would be a short, effective response to that?"
MY SHORT ANSWER: "I personally might answer:
If it's OK for us to overthrow Saddam because we think he's a tyrant,
then those who believe our president falls in the same category
(e.g., most Islamic nations) will feel free to follow our example.
Would you support the invasion of Iraq if it ultimately leads to
invasion of the United States or new acts of terror against us?"
OR: "Since Saddam was no immediate threat to us, we spent time
and money on him instead of on terrorists planning further attacks
in the near future. I'd rather see Saddam in power if it means that
we can use the resources spent on the Iraqi war to prevent further
attacks on our soil."
OR: "I'd rather have Saddam in power than have the blood of
25,000 or more innocent Iraqi civilians -- men, women, and children
-- on my hands."
* * *
Got questions? Dr. Ruwart has answers!
If you'd like answers to YOUR
"tough questions" on libertarian issues, just email to
Dr. Ruwart at: ruwart(a)theAdvocates.org. Due to volume, Dr. Ruwart
can't personally acknowledge all emails. But we'll run the best
questions and answers in upcoming issues.
Dr. Ruwart's outstanding books Healing Our World and Short
Answers to the Tough Questions are available from the Advocates:
http://www.TheAdvocates.org/Merchant2/merchant.mvv.
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Harry
Browne's
Soundbites
for Liberty |
During
his two Libertarian Party presidential campaigns (1996 and 2000),
Harry Browne created hundreds of "soundbites" -- short,
pithy, and highly memorable answers to the questions libertarians
are most frequently asked by the media and the public. Each issue
we'll be sharing some of the best. Enjoy -- and put them to use
for liberty!
* * *
* It's a free country -- isn't it?: "In a
free country, the government doesn't rummage through your bank account
-- looking for evidence with which to hang you. Government doesn't
take nearly half the national income in federal, state, and local
taxes, and dole some of it back to us as though we were children
on an allowance. The government doesn't force you to buy its old-age
insurance or lose your job -- as though it were a Mafia protection
racket. The government doesn't force your employer or insurance
company to provide certain fringe benefits at the expense of the
benefits you'd rather have."
* "Worthy" government programs: "It's
easy to see how someone has been helped by money taken from someone
else, especially when we can't see the people whose lives have been
hurt by taking that money away -- the family who now can't afford
braces for their child's teeth, or who must move into a smaller
home, or who can't afford college educations for their children.
Or the businessman who has been driven out of business by government
regulations and taxes. As long as you ignore the people who have
been hurt, any government program might seem worthy."
* Federal funding of local programs: "Federal
funding means federal rules. It means that 535 drunken sailors in
Washington will set the rules for your local police department,
your board of education, your local hospital, your family doctor,
your streets, your town's welfare system. These 535 know-it-alls
can't balance the federal checkbook and they don't have time to
read any of the bills they pass, but they claim to know more about
running your city than you or any of your neighbors -- and they
claim to know better than you how to manage your life. No wonder
federal programs lead to such devastation."
* * *
Harry Browne was 1996 and 2000 Libertarian Party
presidential candidate. He is the author of a dozen books that have
sold over two million copies, including three New York Times
bestsellers.
Browne's book Liberty A to Z: 872 Libertarian Soundbites You
Can Use Right Now is temporarily out of stock. Stay tuned --
we'll announce in the Liberator Online when it becomes
available again!
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Product
Review
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by David Bergland
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