Volume 12, Number 12 | June 20, 2007
The Liberator Online
Contents
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
PERSUASION POWER POINT
#228
ASK DR. RUWART
PRODUCT REVIEW
Dear friends, Summer is here. And very soon, somewhere near you, there will be an event -- a concert, a political rally, a county fair, a neighborhood party -- that is a perfect site for an OPH libertarian outreach booth. Will OPH be there? It's up to you! OPH (Operation Politically Homeless) is the Advocates'
acclaimed "event in a kit" that can help you discover dozens or even
hundreds of libertarian-leaning folks in your community or on your
campus.
OPH is one of the great success stories of the libertarian movement. Hundreds of thousands of people have encountered the ideas of liberty through OPH. And *millions* more people are out there, just waiting for someone -- maybe you? -- to introduce them to the ideas of liberty with OPH. OPH transforms an ordinary static outreach booth into a dynamic *event* that draws crowds. OPH works like magic. And it's... fun! Fun for the public, and fun for OPH operators. Libertarian outreach -- fun? You bet! Over and over again, I've heard OPH users say that. As Scott Kjar, author of our online OPH manual, says: "I've been doing OPH for several years. I have administered thousands of Quizzes, seen people with all manner of political views, been asked questions ranging from the insightful to the provocative to the absurd, and generally had fun. That's right, *I had fun*." Here are a few quotes from OPH users over the years: "At least twice, maybe three times, we actually chased people away to close the booth. We said, 'I'm sorry, we'll come back next month, but we gotta go.' And we'd just start folding up, and there's still be people standing there, still waiting to take the Quiz." -- George Schwappach, Advocates Board member. "OPH is great. Unlike the other political booths, we had something that intrigued people -- they wanted to see and take the Quiz, they wanted to see where they stood politically on the chart. OPH is a great, great tool to have -- a great way to discover new libertarians!" -- Beth Morgan, Georgia. "The OPH booth was a big hit. Numerous people stated that it was the most interesting exhibit on the grounds that day." -- Carl Wimmer, Kentucky "I could not believe the number of people who stopped at our booth! There were so many that I barely got a chance to sit down. I saw many faces light up with understanding." -- Elle Spertus, Massachusetts "At times, we had six, seven, or eight people lined up at our booth taking the Quiz." -- Ed McGuire, Vermont. Consider using OPH to take the ideas of liberty to your community -- to build your local or campus libertarian organization -- and HAVE FUN! Learn more about OPH - and see photos of OPH in action
-- at * * * Welcome to 139 new Liberator Online subscribers this issue. Thanks for joining our subscription "family" of over 69,000 liberty-loving readers in more than 100 countries! To learn more about the Advocates and our work for liberty: To learn more about libertarianism: PS: Harry Browne's acclaimed book, "Liberty A-Z: 872 Libertarian Soundbites You Can Use Right Now" is one of the most useful libertarian books ever published -- essential for anyone who wants to successfully spread the ideas of freedom. Here's what RON PAUL has to say about it: "Harry Browne's book will prove very useful to those interested in advancing the freedom philosophy. Harry provides libertarians with direct, thought-provoking, and often humorous responses to the questions advocates of the freedom philosophy face." Order it now and we'll give you two FREE bonuses worth more than the purchase price of that book: an incredible $34.95 value -- yours for only $13.95 (plus shipping and handling)! Full details about this great offer are in our "Product Review" section at the end of this issue. Or you can read more about it, and order, here: But order fast -- this is a limited-time offer, good through July 5. Thank you!
What's Happening With The Advocates * New Libertarian Communication Center: We've assembled the best communication techniques we know at our Advocates Communication Center. Discover tips, tools, articles and news to help you effectively and successfully win others to our side. Visit our Communication Center at: http://www.theadvocates.org/communicating/index.html * New "Libertarian Celebrity and VIPs" profiles:
We've been updating and revamping this
world-famous section of our Web page. New profiles, and newly updated
ones, are prominently highlighted on the title page. Check out what's
new:
http://www.theadvocates.org/celebrities.html
by James W. Harris Millions of Americans are abandoning government services in favor of private alternatives, in a "quiet revolution" that may ultimately render the welfare state obsolete. That's the tantalizing argument made by Richard Ebeling in his article "Ending the Welfare State Through the Power of Private Action." Ebeling is president of the Foundation for Economic Education (FEE), America's first free-market think tank, and his article appeared in the April issue of the Foundation's fine magazine The Freeman.
Ebeling looks at three of the biggest, and seemingly most entrenched, areas of today's federal government: * Social Security: "Over the last 20 years private retirement planning has exploded. In 1985 there were 1,528 mutual funds offering investment opportunities to private investors. By 2004, however, 8,044 mutual funds existed. Total mutual-fund assets increased from $495 billion to 8.1 trillion. The number of shareholder accounts went from 296,000 to over 267.4 million. "This tells us the extent to which the American people have implicitly declared that they have no confidence in Social Security." * Education: "[B]etween 1990 and 2004 attendance at private schools (K-12) increased from 4.8 million to over 6.2 million, a 29 percent increase. About 11.5 percent of all students in the United States are now enrolled in more than 29,000 private schools; these schools represent around 23 percent of all schools in the country. A national survey in 2000 found that 48.6 percent of the schools were Catholic, 15.7 percent nonsectarian, 15 percent conservative Christian, 6.1 percent Baptist, 4.3 percent Lutheran, and 3.3 percent Jewish. Many of the remaining private schools also were affiliated with religious denominations. ... Plus, "Today, well over one million children may be homeschooled." In all, Eberling says, about 12% of the U.S. student population is being educated outside government schools. That's an impressive number -- indeed, it is a revolution -- and it is growing rapidly despite government taxes and restrictions. * Health Care: "Even while the Medicare and Medicaid rolls are growing, a 'counterrevolution' against government-provided health care is starting. A handful of physicians have begun to opt out of the system and all the paperwork and regulations socialized medicine entails. They only accept patients who are willing to pay out of their own pockets, rather than with government dollars taken from the taxpayers." We might also note the dramatic growth of lower-cost walk-in healthcare clinics at stores like Wal-Mart, CVS, and Walgreen's. Such clinics are expected to double in number this year alone to 700, and will continue to expand -- a market response to government-created health care failures. Concludes Eberling: "In these three areas individuals are taking back personal responsibility from the government. They are not waiting for a political movement to 'free' them. Instead, their actions preceded and sparked the political debate over whether government should monopolize these services. Their cumulative effect has the potential to transform society. ... "By taking care of their own affairs, they are delegitimizing the welfare state. Their actions then influence the arena of ideas." (Sources: "Ending the Welfare State Through the Power
of Private Action" * * * R.I.P.: Libertarian "grandfather of U.S. medical marijuana On May 20, Dr. Tod H. Mikuriya, a libertarian California psychiatrist widely regarded as "the grandfather of the medical marijuana movement in the United States," died. He was 73. Dr. Mikuriya was one of the leading forces behind Proposition 215, the 1996 California ballot measure that made it legal for California doctors to recommend marijuana for ill patients. He was an outspoken advocate of medical marijuana, and
he engaged in scholarly research, writing,
Dr. Mikuriya began researching the medical uses of marijuana in the early 1960s, and he became intrigued, then angered, by government suppression of a medically important substance. "[Marijuana] had been available to clinicians for one hundred years until it was taken off the market in 1938," he told The East Bay Express, a Northern California newspaper, in 2004. "I'm fighting to restore cannabis." According to the New York Times, Dr. Mikuriya "was considered a savior by some, a public menace by others. To his supporters, he was a physician of last resort: for years, a stream of patients with illnesses like cancer and AIDS made their way to his private practice in Berkeley." Dr. Mikuriya was a registered Republican for years, but switched to the Libertarian Party. In 1999, he founded the Society of Cannabis Clinicians to educate doctors and other healers about marijuana's medical qualities. (Sources: New York Times (subscription required): * * * Conservative Writer: Murray Rothbard Is Looking Better and Better John Derbyshire is a contributing editor of the conservative bible National Review, and a prominent (and controversial) conservative writer. Recently, writing in National Review Online's blog The
Corner, Derbyshire had this to say about
"Dunno about you, but the more I contemplate our federal government and its works, the better Murray Rothbard is starting to look." Derbyshire then quotes Wikipedia on Rothbard: "It was in 1949 that Rothbard first concluded that the free market could provide all services, including police, courts, and defense services better than could the State." Derbyshire continues: "I wouldn't be a bit surprised." Then adds, "Probably there are limits." When leading conservative writers begin to take Murray Rothbard's boldest ideas seriously, that's a sure sign of big progress for liberty. (Source: "Bureaucratic Collapse" * * * Baltimore Council Member: Stop the Drug War Baltimore Council Member Bernard "Jack" Young says its time to end the War on Drugs. "We're losing the war on drugs," Councilman Young told the Baltimore Examiner newspaper. "When teenagers are getting gunned down on the street because of the drug business, then we have to rethink our approach. We need to take the profits out of the drug trade and consider legalizing all types of drugs," he said. " Young's not alone, either. Baltimore City Council President Stephanie Rawlings-Blake says she shares Young's desire to explore legalization, but thinks it needs to be a federal issue. Rawlings-Blake "understands that the drug trade is 99% of the root cause of violence," said Shaun Adamec, her spokesman. "But it's an idea that needs to be addressed on a national level." Such expressions are important signs that more and more lawmakers are coming to realize the futility and the brutality of the War on Drugs. Young's bold proposal was hailed by former Baltimore Mayor Kurt Schmoke, who proposed decriminalization nearly two decades ago. Young says he will ask the council to hold hearings on the idea. (Source: Drug War Chronicle * * * * * * * * QUICK SHOTS... WHY HAVE GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS?
"Why have public schools at all? ... Americans want universal education,
just as they want universally safe food. But nobody believes that the
government should run nearly all of the restaurants, farms and
supermarkets. Why should it run the vast majority of the schools --
particularly when it gets terrible results?" * * * HOW IT'S DONE: "Bob Dole
once told me that there are 42 senators from farm states and that pretty
much means the government is going to be into ethanol." * * * * * * * *
The Assumption Smugglers by Michael Cloud "We have to get rid of government waste," declares the politician. "Free and open fair trade is good for America," says the progressive. "In light of these shootings, should we pass tougher gun laws?" asks the pollster. "Should pornography be allowed on Web sites that children have access to?" asks the pollster. Each of these statements and questions are built on smuggled assumptions. Hidden pre-suppositions that slant and bias the issue. You may clearly see the bootlegged beliefs. You may want to argue or debate the speaker. You surely have cause. May I suggest a far better approach? May I offer an approach that exposes and examines the assumptions? An approach that often changes the minds of those listening -- and sometimes even changes the minds of the assumption smugglers? Why not question the assumptions? Why not warmly ask the meaning of the crucial words? Please do NOT cross-examine or interrogate the person about his assumptions or words. Gently, warmly, and respectfully ask. Ask what? Ask the meaning and assumptions of the key words or terms. In the statements and questions above, we want to ask about: "waste," "fair," "fair trade," "good for America," "should," "allowed," "we," and "access to." What does the speaker mean by the word? What does he NOT mean by it? What does the word or term assume? What does it pre-suppose? Who decides: the government or each individual? Ask questions that make vague terms specific. That make the implicit explicit. That uncover and examine the hidden assumptions. Consider a few questions that reveal the hidden assumptions of some of the words we're talking about. WASTE: "In my experience, there are 3 kinds of government waste: 1. Paying champagne prices for beer quality goods and services; 2. Buying champagne when we only need beer; or 3. Buying either champagne or beer when we need neither. Which of these kinds of government waste are you going to try to get rid of? Would you give us some specific examples? Exactly how much money is being wasted on each?" FAIR TRADE: "I'm not sure if I understand you. Could you help me with something? What do you mean by the phrase 'fair trade'? Could you give me a few examples of fair trade?" Listen to the person's answer, then follow up with: "Who decides whether a trade is fair? The buyer and seller -- or someone else?" Listen to the answer, then follow up with: "Even if the trade is unfair, if the buyer and seller choose to do it anyway, will you use government to stop them?" SHOULD: "You ask whether government should pass a tough new gun control law.But isn't there a question we need to ask first? Will this gun control law stop shootings like this one, or will the people who commit these kinds of acts always find guns? Has any law like this one actually worked?" ALLOWED: "You ask whether pornography should be
allowed. America was founded on the consent of the governed, NOT on the
consent of the government. When you use the word 'allowed,' it sounds
like we need permission from government to publish or read something. Is
that what you mean?" Listen to the person's answer, then ask: "If I
understand you correctly, aren't you If you attack their assumptions, they will justify, defend, and retaliate. If you cross-examine or interrogate them, they will squirm, rationalize, and respond in kind. But if you warmly and reasonably ask them questions, they may explore their assumptions. And so will those listening to your conversation. You might just put an end to assumption smuggling -- and begin an era of free and open trade in ideas. An era of free minds and free markets. * * * * * * * * In 2000, Michael was honored with the Thomas Paine Award as the Most
Persuasive Libertarian Communicator in America.
BUILDING THE CASE FOR LIBERTY
Dr. Mary Ruwart is a leading expert in libertarian communication. In this column she offers short answers to real questions about libertarianism. To submit questions to Dr. Ruwart, see end of column. * * * QUESTION: Sometimes when I criticize government, I am told that if I don't like it here, I should go somewhere else. Essentially, the old "love it or leave it" line. What's a good response? MY SHORT ANSWER: One response I use goes like this: I love my country and its heritage of liberty. When I see it going astray, I want to help it get back on track. Our government once endorsed slavery. Where would we be today if the abolitionists had left, instead of helping our nation extend its heritage of liberty to black slaves? When our government makes a mistake, it's up to us to correct it. If not us, who? * * * QUESTION: Conservatives and libertarians often agree on economic issues. But are there some economic issues where they disagree? What about free trade? MY SHORT ANSWER: Most
so-called "free trade agreements" enacted by conservatives are really
hundreds of pages of trade regulations. Truly free trade, which Conservatives generally believe that the economy should be regulated by government to some degree. Libertarians generally believe that government should not interfere in the economy. Instead, libertarians promote market-based mechanisms of consumer protection. * * * * * * * * 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 previous Liberator Online answers are archived in searchable form at: http://www.TheAdvocates.org/ruwart/categories_list.php 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.mv
Making Libertarianism a Brand Name by Sharon Harris, Advocates President McDonald's doesn't sell hamburgers. It sells Big Macs.
Coca-Cola doesn't sell cola drinks. It sells Cokes. For example, a letter to the editor against gun control that fails to mention the word "libertarian" will, by default, be seen by virtually all readers as a conservative letter. Similarly, a speech opposing the War on Drugs will be understood by many listeners to be a liberal speech -- unless the word "libertarian" is used in it. When you get hungry for a burger, McDonald's wants you to think of them. When people get hungry for solutions to political problems, we want them to think of libertarians. A letter or conversation that brands solutions as "libertarian" will send customers to the libertarian "store" -- where they can sample our other "products," that is, other libertarian positions and the libertarian ideology. Unless you brand your ideas as libertarian, people will miss the opportunity to learn about our movement that is devoted to liberty on every issue -- and to become a part of it!
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Getting the names and addresses of these people is a great way
to build a libertarian organization and to raise awareness of
libertarian ideas and activities. 
"I believe that while many Americans find it difficult
to think politically "outside the box" of Big Government, they have in
fact lost confidence in much of what government has promised or tried to
deliver," Ebeling says. "As this confidence has been eroded, people have
begun once more to take care of themselves and their families."
and political activism on the
issue. As a physician he also helped desperately ill patients obtain
access to marijuana. 
the late radical libertarian
thinker Murray Rothbard: 
Many people are hooked on drugs, but others are
hooked on the money from drugs, and they're doing all the killing," he
said. "We need to make the drugs a public health problem, not a criminal
problem." 
Harry
Browne, the Libertarian Party's 1996 and 2000 Presidential candidate, is
universally recognized as one of the finest-ever libertarian
communicators. And one of the most quotable.
world-famous
World's Smallest Political Quiz, they never see politics the same again.
Make sure you have plenty on hand to give to anyone who's interested in
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campaigns, and anywhere else you want to open minds to liberty. Deluxe
version, 3-1/2" x 5-3/4" -- fits perfectly in your shirt pocket or daily
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