Volume 13, Number 15 | September 16, 2008
The Liberator Online
Contents
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
PERSUASION POWER POINT
#255
ASK DR. RUWART
PRODUCT REVIEW
Dear friend, For years, the Advocates has worked hard to change the dominant political map -- from the simplistic and inaccurate "Left vs. Right" model to a far more accurate model that includes libertarians. On September 2, Ron Paul told Minnesota Public Radio exactly why this is so crucial:
Our principal tool for changing the Left vs. Right view of politics -- which divides freedom into two opposing parts, and excludes libertarians altogether -- is the world-famous World's Smallest Political Quiz, which has been praised by the Washington Post, USA Today, Yahoo! and many, many others -- including Ron Paul. T Additional millions of people have encountered the Quiz in newspapers, in magazines, in books and on talk radio. The World's Smallest Political Quiz is an instant mind-opener. For millions who share libertarian values -- but couldn't put a name on their beliefs -- the Quiz has been a revelation.
For years libertarians dreamed of getting libertarianism into the classroom. The Advocates has done it! The thousands of people who take the World's Smallest Political Quiz online every day are offered additional free information on libertarianism. We also send the Quiz, via carefully targeted advertising, several times a year to tens of thousands of the most powerful and influential people in America: governors, members of Congress and other office-holders, political staffers, principals, school board members, teachers, students and influential journalists. As Ron Paul notes, this is crucial work. And it is advancing liberty and changing the world. Advocates donors make it possible. I invite you to join them in this great cause with your generous
gift. Find out how here: Thank you! * * * Welcome to 61 new Liberator Online subscribers this issue. Thanks for joining our subscription "family" of almost 70,000 liberty-loving readers in more than 100 countries! To learn more about the Advocates and our work for liberty: To learn more about libertarianism: -- Sharon Harris, President | Email: sharon@TheAdvocates.org PS: Don't forget to check out our Product Review special!
PLUS: Order now, and we'll give you 100 FREE World's Smallest Political Quiz cards -- so you can have *the greatest libertarian outreach tool ever created* ready to use during this election season. For more details or to place your order, click here: Or see the Product Review at the end of this issue. Your purchase supports the great work of the Advocates. Thank you!
What's Happening With The Advocates * LIBERATOR ONLINE STORY INSPIRES COLUMN: "Big Brother shows up on
Main Street USA" was the title of a column by Barry Smith, who writes
for the Raleigh NC bureau of the pro-liberty Freedom Communications
media group. Smith cited our article last issue about the harassment by
local officials of two young girls operating an unlicensed -- gasp! --
vegetable stand. Smith noted the bigger point of our article: "How many
adults have to fight city hall in order to operate their business? How
many entrepreneurs aren't even given a chance because there's some
technical city code violation? How many protectionist occupational
licensing laws keep individuals from practicing a chosen profession?"
Thanks, Barry! * THE TWELFTH ANNUAL FREEDOM CRUISE: Imagine awakening to a warm sun
reflecting off a turquoise ocean on a spectacular cruise ship, heading
to a beach paradise! Yes, Advocates Board Member Dr. Ken Bisson is
*
Doctors give him 6-20 months to live, with a 50-50 chance of living one year. Marshall is facing this challenge with his characteristic courage and good spirits. You can read Marshall's thoughts and send him a message at: www.MarshallFritz.com ******
by James W. Harris In a dramatic speech at the National Press Club on September 10, libertarian Republican Congressman Ron Paul called on U.S. voters to back a third-party candidate for president. Paul rejected overtures by the Republican Party to endorse John McCain. He denounced the current presidential race as a "charade" with voters faced with choosing "the lesser of two evils" between two pro-war statists. Instead, Paul urged voters to choose among four candidates who will be on enough state ballots to, in theory, win the presidency: Libertarian Party nominee Bob Barr, Green Party nominee Cynthia McKinney, independent candidate Ralph Nader, and Constitution Party candidate Chuck Baldwin. Further, Paul
The policy statement addresses what it calls "four key principles central to the health of our nation ... that should be key in the considerations of every voter this November and in every election." Those four principles are of huge importance to libertarians, as well as principled liberals and conservatives. Here they are, from the statement: FOREIGN POLICY: The Iraq War must end as quickly as possible with removal of all our soldiers from the region. We must initiate the return of our soldiers from around the world, including Korea, Japan, Europe and the entire Middle East. We must cease the war propaganda, threats of a blockade and plans for attacks on Iran, nor should we re-ignite the cold war with Russia over Georgia. We must be willing to talk to all countries and offer friendship and trade and travel to all who are willing. We must take off the table the threat of a nuclear first strike against all nations. PRIVACY: We must protect the privacy and civil liberties of all persons under U.S. jurisdiction. We must repeal or radically change the Patriot Act, the Military Commissions Act, and the FISA legislation. We must reject the notion and practice of torture, eliminations of habeas corpus, secret tribunals, and secret prisons. We must deny immunity for corporations that spy willingly on the people for the benefit of the government. We must reject the unitary presidency, the illegal use of signing statements and excessive use of executive orders. THE NATIONAL DEBT: We believe that there should be no increase in the national debt. The burden of debt placed on the next generation is unjust and already threatening our economy and the value of our dollar. We must pay our bills as we go along and not unfairly place this burden on a future generation. THE FEDERAL RESERVE: We seek a thorough investigation, evaluation and audit of the Federal Reserve System and its cozy relationships with the banking, corporate, and other financial institutions. The arbitrary power to create money and credit out of thin air behind closed doors for the benefit of commercial interests must be ended. There should be no taxpayer bailouts of corporations and no corporate subsidies. Corporations should be aggressively prosecuted for their crimes and frauds. Paul said a strong vote total for the third-party candidates who have united in endorsing these four principles would be a dramatic statement in favor of liberty. "I have no doubt that the majority is on our side," Paul added, citing public opinion polls. "We represent the majority of the American people." Libertarian writer Anthony Gregory nicely summed up why so many are excited by this ideologically broad anti-statist consensus: "I've dreamed of this: The good leftists and good rightists all agreeing on gutting the empire, dismantling the national security state and ratcheting back the profligate corporatism. Anti-Fed and anti-war, a wonderful, cross-spectrum, short-term American populist program that would do away with the worst of the national leviathan." (Sources: Ron Paul's Campaign for Liberty * * * Phony Presidential "Debates" Likely to Exclude Libertarian and Others Fully 55% of all American voters believe Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr -- who will be on almost every state ballot -- should be included in the upcoming presidential debates, according to a recent Zogby Poll. That includes a whopping 69% of voters identifying themselves as independents; 52% of Democrats; and 50% of Republicans. But -- thanks to a little-known and scandalous
Few Americans realize that the Commission on Presidential Debates, a private corporation which controls the debates, was actually created by the Republican and Democratic parties themselves, in order to control the debates for their own advantage. In 1988 the Republican and Democratic National Committees took over the presidential debates from the non-partisan League of Women Voters. Both parties were angry that the League refused to operate the debates the way the parties demanded, including keeping out viable third party candidates. Upon withdrawing, the League of Women Voters declared: "...the demands of the two campaign organizations would perpetrate a fraud on the American voter. It has become clear to us that the candidates' organizations aim to add debates to their list of campaign-trail charades devoid of substance, spontaneity and answers to tough questions. The League has no intention of becoming an accessory to the hoodwinking of the American public." History has proven the League correct. Since its founding, the Commission on Presidential Debates has been chaired by former Republican Party chair Frank Fahrenkopf and former Democratic Party chair Paul Kirk. Yes, that's right. The former heads of the two dominant parties set the rules for who gets to be in the presidential debates, who the panelists will be, and what questions are asked. Needless to say, the Commission stacks the deck against third party and independent candidates. The Commission has set three requirements for inclusion in the 2008 debates. First, candidates must meet the basic Constitutional requirements to run for the office. That's reasonable. Second, candidates must appear on enough state ballots to have a mathematical chance of winning a majority of Electoral College votes. Fair enough. Third, a candidate must be winning at least 15% support in several national public opinion polls before the debates. Uh-oh. This extremely high and utterly arbitrary requirement (why not 10%, or 20%, or 5%?) will neatly exclude every candidate except McCain and Obama. And, by excluding them from the national arena, it effectively guarantees that these candidates will never get the exposure needed to reach that 15%. (By comparison, it takes only 5 percent of the vote to qualify for public financing.) Critics of this scheme ask: Why not allow every candidate who is on the ballot in enough states to theoretically win to be in the debates? That would allow Barr, Ralph Nader, Chuck Baldwin of the Constitution Party, and Green candidate Cynthia McKinney to participate. Voters had no problem with debates featuring several candidates during the presidential primary debates. This would allow a lot of important issues to be raised that Obama and McCain don't want to have to address -- but that are vital to the nation's interest, and that deeply concern vast numbers of the American public. Of course, that's exactly why this elaborate political machine was created: to suppress such genuine debate. (Source: Zogby Poll * * * Libertarians and other third party candidates are constantly being booted off ballots for failing to meet arbitrary and outrageous election requirements.
Both the Republican Party and the Democratic Party failed to register their candidates by August 26 -- the legal deadline in Texas. This, in theory, leaves Libertarian Bob Barr as the only presidential candidate who can legally appear on the state's presidential ballot. However -- surprise! -- the Texas government says it's going to put the two late-filers on the ballot anyway. After all, what's a little state law between friends? But the Barr campaign -- which has been the victim of nasty and discriminatory ballot laws passed by the Democrats and Republicans in states across America -- promises a legal fight to make the two older parties follow their own laws. "The law is clear, and it was clearly not followed," said Barr campaign manager Russ Verney. "The Texas Supreme Court was emphatic when it stated that the law 'does not allow political parties or candidates to ignore statutory deadlines...' Senators Obama and McCain did not file by the deadline; therefore, Texas should abide by the laws it created. No political party or candidate is above the law." Good luck, guys. Actually, we think the Roanoke (Virginia) Times newspaper has the best take on the whole affair: "It's exceedingly unlikely Texas is going to keep Barack Obama and John McCain off the ballot. ... Even if Barr is right, election officials will no doubt find some loophole. "Still, there's delightful irony in a third-party candidate making the case to keep the big boys off the ballot. Democrats and Republicans have done it to third parties for years. "In the interest of a peaceful election, we propose a compromise. Barr drops his challenge and he and [other leading third party candidates] get to participate in the debates." Now THAT'S a solution we could live with! (Sources: Roanoke Times IMPORTANT NOTE: The Advocates is a non-partisan educational organization that does not endorse any political party or candidate; nor do we take a position on the advisability of electoral activity as a strategy for changing society. * * * * * QUICK SHOTS... * PALIN INHALED, BUT... "[GOP vice presidential candidate Sarah Palin] also admitted she has smoked marijuana, but she did not enjoy it.
Isn't that amazing? Something like 100 million Americans have smoked
marijuana, but the only ones who don't seem to enjoy it are the ones
running for office. Why is that?" * LEGAL AUTHORITY FOR WAR ACTION "UNCLEAR": "President Bush secretly
approved orders in July that for the first time allow American Special
Operations forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without
the prior approval of the Pakistani government, according to senior
American officials. ... It is unclear precisely what legal authorities
the United States has invoked to conduct even limited ground raids in a
friendly country." * HOW GOVERNMENT "CREATES" JOBS: "Governments create no wealth. They
only move it around while taking a * BAILOUT SHOWS U.S. "MORE COMMUNUNIST THAN CHINA," TOP INVESTOR
* * * * * * * *
by Michael Cloud The Simplest Way to Persuade Help people recognize what they really want. Not what they've been told they want. Not what they think they want. Not what they should want. Not what you want them to want. What they really want. Most of what we "want" is the means to an end: getting what we really want. Like an example? Gasoline. Every day, millions of Americans buy hundreds of millions of gallons of gas. But not one of them really wants gas. They really want what the gas gives them: transportation. Proof? If a brilliant inventor created a car engine that ran on
water, would the millions of owners of these cars buy gas? No. They'd
buy water. Because water would be the means to the end that they really
want: transportation.
It's the same in politics. And with government. People don't really want a government program or policy. They really want what it does for them. The results it promises. The benefits it will give them. Most people who support Drug Prohibition and the Drug War don't really want them. What do they really want? The promised results and benefits of Drug Prohibition and the Drug War. Most people who support government-run public schools don't really want them. What do they really want? The results. They really want educated people. So, too, with welfare, Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid, universal health care, and the legions of other government social and economic programs. Most people don't really want these government programs. They really want the results and benefits they promise. And that's the key to persuading them to embrace liberty. You and I need to warmly and gently help people recognize what they really want. How do we help them identify what they really want? By asking a few simple questions. Ask questions that lead them to discover what results and benefits they expect and really want from the program or policy. Ask questions that assume that the government program is a means to the real end. It is. "What do you see as the most important benefits of this program?" "What are the most important things this program does?" "What are the key things that this program does for the people in it?" "What's this program accomplishing that's absolutely essential?" "What would we lose if we didn't have this program?" "What are the biggest problems that this program solves?" All of these questions let you gently help the other person identify what he really wants. From there, it's pretty easy to offer tax-cutting, government-reducing, liberty-expanding ways of getting what he really wants. Freedom ways that are dramatically better, faster, easier, and cheaper. They'll quickly see that what they want is freedom -- because they really want the benefits and blessings that freedom provides.
-------------------------------------------------------- * * * * * * * * In 2000, Michael was honored with the Thomas Paine Award as the Most Persuasive Libertarian Communicator in America. * * * * * * * * In 2000, Michael was honored with the Thomas Paine Award as the Most
Persuasive Libertarian Communicator in America.
HARD EVIDENCE FOR LIBERTY
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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. * * * Is compromising libertarian principles necessary to spread
libertarian ideas? Ask your fellow libertarians if they truly believe the government
solution they advocate is better. If they do, provide them with the
facts and figures showing how liberty trumps government every time. Instead of compromising libertarian principles, they can work to
craft a persuasive way to present their arguments. The Advocates for
Self-Government web site is full of resources to help anyone do just
that. "In our opinion, the Socialist Party was the most influential political party in the United States in the first decades of the 20th Century," wrote renowned libertarian economists Milton and Rose Friedman in their 1980 book, Free to Choose. Maybe we should be less focused on election outcomes and more focused on winning hearts and minds, something that we can't do by comprising our message. We wouldn't want to win the "battles," only to lose the "war!" * * * * * * * * 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
If You're On Time -- You're Late! by Sharon Harris Whether you're an attendee, invited guest, or a featured speaker at a political event, being on time isn't enough. To insure the effectiveness of the event, and the success of your presentation, arrive several minutes early. There's an old military saying, "If you're not 5 minutes early, you're 10 minutes late." I think 15 minutes early is much better. Even if you're not in charge of the event, you want it to succeed, or
you wouldn't be there.
Arriving early allows you to make sure everyone is greeted in a warm and friendly manner. To see that contact information for newcomers is collected. To make sure that the room is properly equipped for the event -- that notepads and pens and nametags are provided, refreshments available, and the like. If you're speaking, or in charge of the event, it's even more important to arrive early. Being early is professional. Showing up late is disrespectful of your audience. You want to check the podium or stage, get a feel for the room, test the microphone, make sure that the person who introduces you has the information he needs to do so properly, insure that your handouts will be correctly distributed, and so forth. If you need some quiet time, you can always excuse yourself for a few minutes. Planning to arrive early keeps you from having to rush through traffic, dash through the parking lot, and arrive flustered and out of breath. It also gives you an extra hedge in case, despite your planning, you run into traffic or parking problems. What if you're "too" early? What if there's nothing to do? Lucky you! Carry a book or magazine, and enjoy the luxury of relaxing with your reading. See more One-Minute Liberty Tips! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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The Quiz has also made significant inroads into American schools. A
dozen popular textbooks, used in thousands of high school and college
classrooms across America -- including Power & Choice: An Introduction
to Political Science (McGraw-Hill) and Political Science: An
Introduction (Prentice Hall) -- feature the Quiz as part of their
enhanced digital content. 
We're offering David Bergland's acclaimed book LIBERTARIANISM IN ONE
LESSON, widely considered the best short-and-sweet introduction to
libertarianism ever
written. Essential libertarian reading and a wonderful gift for family
and friends! 
announcing the 12th Annual Freedom Cruise -- February 15 - 22, 2009.
This year, it's a scuba and beach lovers delight. Check out this
itinerary: Fort Lauderdale; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Grand Turk, Turks &
Caicos; Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands; Cozumel, Mexico; Fort Lauderdale!
Just $853 per person (including port charges and taxes) if you reserve
now. Non-libertarians welcome! Great food, an amazing itinerary, and
fine company! (This isn't an Advocates event, but as noted, Ken is on
our Board of Directors, and libertarians who have been on past cruises
rave about them.) For photos and more details -- or to sign up for free,
no-commitment email updates -- visit:
MARSHALL FRITZ HEALTH UPDATE: Marshall Fritz -- the legendary and
beloved
founder of the Advocates for Self-Government, the father of the
world-famous
World's Smallest Political Quiz, and all-around amazing guy -- has been
diagnosed with terminal pancreatic cancer. 
announced that all four candidates have signed onto a
policy statement drafted by Ron Paul's new Campaign For Liberty
organization. 
manipulation of the
U.S. presidential debates -- it's not likely to happen. 
Now the boot may be on the other foot. 
cut for their trouble. So any jobs
created over here come at the expense of jobs that would have been
created over there. Overlooking this fact is known as the 'broken-window
fallacy.' The French economist Frederic Bastiat pointed out that a
broken shop window will create work for a glassmaker, but that work
comes only at the expense of the cook or tailor the shopkeeper would
have patronized if he didn't have to replace the window." 
SAYS: "America is more communist than China is right now. ... You can
see that this is welfare of the rich, this is socialism for the rich,
... It's bailing out the financiers, the banks, the Wall Streeters. ...
This is madness, this is insanity, they have more than doubled the
American national debt in one weekend for a bunch of crooks and
incompetents. I'm not quite sure why I or anybody else should be paying
for this." 
Being a few minutes early lets you make sure
things come off right. If help is needed, you can pitch in, making the
event successful -- and perhaps making some friends in the process.
The
best introductory book about libertarianism has just gotten better!
The brand-new Ninth Edition of David Bergland's acclaimed Libertarianism
In One Lesson is now available.