Volume 13, Number 16 | October 6, 2008
In This Issue:
The Liberator Online
Contents
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
PERSUASION POWER POINT
#256
ASK DR. RUWART
PRODUCT REVIEW
Dear friend, The biggest assault on free market ideas since the 1930s New Deal. That's what we're facing with the current economic crisis. Overnight, decades of hard work building public support for free markets has been threatened. Enemies of economic liberty are gleefully using this crisis to discredit free market ideas and ram through a Big Government agenda. We're hearing them everywhere. A few examples:
You and I know this is nonsense. The free market isn't to blame. This mess was created by Big Government. And it won't be solved by putting still more Big Government foxes in charge of the henhouse. But many in the public are listening. And believing. And fearing free markets. The world needs an articulate, persuasive and active libertarian movement to defend and advance the cause of free markets and economic liberty. And that makes the work of the Advocates more vital than ever. The Advocates is the only libertarian organization that specializes in helping libertarians become successful and persuasive communicators of the ideas of freedom. We will be working hard to help libertarians learn the best ways to answer the false charges that the free market caused this mess. We will be providing libertarians with the facts, the arguments, the rhetoric and the tools they need to convince their friends, neighbors, community leaders and opinion shapers. And we will help libertarians learn how to make their voices heard in the coming battles over this issue. You'll find some useful answers and arguments in this issue of the Liberator Online. Look for more in the days ahead. There is *good news* in this, too. Millions of Americans are outraged by the bailout and the cries for Big Government -- and they took action! They flooded Congress and the media with angry letters, calls and emails. Libertarians and free market economists hit the airwaves and the opinion pages, too. Large numbers of people instinctively realize this is a problem caused by politicians. We just need to reach them with the libertarian message of freedom and free markets. The freedom movement is bigger than ever before. This is a time for all of us to do all we can in spreading the ideas of freedom -- and win more people to the side of liberty. Thank you! * * * As I mentioned above, the free market desperately needs defenders right now. The Advocates work has never been more important. Unfortunately, the crisis is hitting the Advocates hard. At the very time our services are so badly needed, the economic downturn is cutting into our donations. If you can help with a donation now, it would be greatly appreciated. We have some outstanding thank-you gifts for your help during a time when some of our longtime supporters are having difficulty giving as they would like. Please make donations here: * * * Welcome to 57 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 * 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 The U.S. Dept. of Agriculture (USDA) has gone to
federal court to prevent a meatpacking company f Currently the USDA tests about 1% of cattle for Mad Cow Disease. The disease is extremely rare -- only three infected cattle have been discovered in the U.S, and there is no known case of a human contracting the disease from U.S. cattle. Still, Creekstone Farms, a small meatpacking company, wants to test 100% of the cattle they process. The company, not taxpayers, would pay for the tests. Creekstone Farms feels some consumers would be willing to pay extra for the knowledge that all its meat is tested -- especially customers in Asian countries, where concern about the disease is higher. Creekstone says it has lost millions of dollars in foreign sales since the first case of Mad Cow disease was found in U.S. cattle in 2003. Please note, Creekstone Farms is not making false claims about the safety of their competitors' beef. They are merely offering consumers the choice of 100% testing. Consumers would be free to choose which they prefer.
As the small-government lobbying group Downsize DC notes, by outlawing Creekstone Farm's plan, the USDA is: * Preventing a private business from voluntarily
making its product safer than government standards -- in order to
protect Big Business. Downsize DC aptly calls this: "Mad Bureaucrat Disease: insane regulations that sacrifice freedom and the public good for the interests of a few powerful corporate lobbyists." Unfortunately, no one is protecting U.S. consumers from that widespread and destructive malady. (Source: Downsize DC * * * Dollars and the Bailouts U.S. House members who voted Yes on the September 29 Wall Street bailout received 54 percent more money in campaign donations from banks and securities than members who voted No. So reports MAPLight.org, a non-partisan organization
whose mission is to "illuminate the co "[O]ver the past five years, banks and securities firms gave an average of $231,877 in campaign contributions to each Representative voting in favor of the bailout, compared with an average of $150,982 to each Representative voting against the bailout -- 54 percent more money given to those who voted Yes." Democrats who voted Yes "received an average of $212,700 each, about twice as much as those voting No, $107,993." Republicans who voted Yes "received an average of $273,181 each, 50% more than those voting No, $181,688." Just a coincidence, no doubt. (Source: MAPLight.org: * * * U.S. Sinks in World Economic Freedom Rankings Economic freedom, though on the rise around the world, has significantly declined in the U.S. over the past several years. That's the disturbing finding of the 2008 Economic Freedom of the World Annual Report, a highly-regarded study of economic freedom around the world prepared by a team of scholars coordinated by the libertarian Cato Institute in conjunction with the Fraser Institute of Canada. In the 2000 report the U.S. was ranked the
second-freest economy.
According to the Cato Institute, "President Bush's tenure has had a clear negative effect on economic freedom ratings." Economic Freedom of the World ranks 141 countries on a range of factors in five broad areas: 1) size of government; 2) legal structure and security of property rights; 3) access to sound money; 4) freedom to trade internationally; and 5) regulation of credit, labor and business. More significant than the U.S.'s drop in the rankings is its fall in the amount of economic freedom measured: on a scale of 0-10, the U.S. fell from 8.55 in 2000 to 8.04, according to the Report. Only five countries have experienced a greater decline over the same time period: Zimbabwe, Argentina, Niger, Venezuela, and Guyana. "The rule of law, government spending, and regulation are the areas where the United States saw the most troubling declines in its ratings this decade," observes Ian Vasquez, director of Cato's Center for Global Liberty and Prosperity. These ratings are for the year 2006, the most recent year for which comprehensive data are available. As it has in previous years, the Report found a strong positive relationship between economic freedom and poverty reduction. "Numerous studies have shown that countries with more economic freedom grow more rapidly and achieve higher per-capita income levels than those that are less free," notes the Report. "Nations in the top quartile of economic freedom have an average per-capita GDP of $31,480 in 2006, compared to $3,882 for those nations in the bottom quartile in constant 2005 international dollars." Where there are free markets, there is abundance. Heavy government control of market activity reduces prosperity and wreaks havoc. Those scrambling to reshape the American economy would do well to remember that. (Source: Cato Institute * * * Reefer Madness Record: Marijuana Arrests Hit All-Time High Unbelievable though it may seem, for the fifth year in a row, marijuana arrests in the U.S. government have hit a record high. Police arrested about 873,00 persons for marijuana
violations in 2006, according to just-released numbers from the Federal
Bureau of Investigation's annual Uniform Crime Report.
To fully understand the national insanity this number represents, consider: * This is the largest total number of annual arrests for pot ever recorded by the FBI -- up from last year's record of 829,625 arrests. * This is the fifth year in a row that marijuana arrests have increased. * This was a 5% increase from just the previous year. * These marijuana arrests comprised nearly half of all drug arrests in the United States. * Almost all the marijuana arrests -- 775,000, or 89% -- were for mere possession, not trafficking, cultivation, or sale. * The other 11% of arrests were for "sale/manufacture," a broad category that includes *all* cultivation offenses -- even those where the marijuana was being grown for personal or medical use. * This record number of marijuana arrests far exceeded the total number of arrests in the U.S. the same year for all violent crimes combined, including murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault. * Nearly 10 million Americans have been arrested on marijuana charges in the past ten years. * Sometime in the next few weeks, U.S. law enforcement officers will make the 20 millionth marijuana arrest in American history. * Marijuana arrests have almost tripled since the early 1990s. * At this rate there is a marijuana smoker arrested every 38 seconds in America. * The effects of an arrest can be devastating, notes Paul Armentano of NORML: "Probation and mandatory drug testing; loss of employment; loss of child custody; removal from subsidized housing; asset forfeiture; loss of student aid; loss of voting privileges; loss of adoption rights..." and of course, for some, time behind bars. * The War on Marijuana is largely waged against young Americans. Three out of four of those arrested were under age 30; one in four were 18 or younger. "Most Americans -- rightly -- would be outraged to learn that our nation's so-called War on Drugs is really just an assault on young adults caught with small bags of weed," notes NORML's Armentano. (Sources: NORML: * * * * * QUICK SHOTS... * "A REALLY LARGE NUMBER": Here's a stunner. Where did
the U.S. Treasury
* WELL, NOBODY REALLY READS THOSE THINGS ANYWAY: "We
do not support government bailouts of private institutions. Government
interference in the markets exacerbates problems in the marketplace and
causes the free market to take longer to correct itself." -- Republican
Party Platform, adopted September 1, 2008. * THE NEW PENNY: "The U.S. Mint announced this week they are redesigning the penny. Have you seen it? It looks exactly like the old dollar." -- Jay Leno, The Tonight Show, Sept. 26. * * * * * * * *
by Michael Cloud How Can You Exert Un-do Influence? Sometimes you fail to persuade because of what you fail to do. Other times you fail to persuade because of what you
fail to un-do.
Persuasion requires NOT just adding what works. It also depends on subtracting what does not work. You can easily and quickly become far more effective at persuading others by getting rid of a handful of things that do not work. You can exert un-do influence. How do you find out what you're doing that does not work? 1. Ask the people closest to you. But you need to ask the right way. If you ask your family and friends what you say that does NOT change their minds, they probably can't tell you. They probably don't know what does not work. But they can give you the information you want -- if you ask slightly different questions. If you ask the right questions. 2. Ask them what they dislike about conversations with you. Ask them what you do and say that they wish you wouldn't. Here are a few questions that will help you quickly unearth things you need to stop doing: * "When we discuss politics, what do I say or do that irritates you?" * "When we talk about government, what do I say or do that frustrates you?" * "What do I do or say that gets under your skin? Maybe a phrase I use or a habit I have?" * "What do I say or do that makes you think, 'I wish he's stop that!'?" * "During our political conversations, what do I say or do that bugs you? Tees you off? Makes you see red? Makes your stomach turn?" You can prompt him or her to recognize things you don't want to do by suggesting possible flaws: * "Do I repeat myself? Do you find yourself thinking 'That's the third time he said that!'?" * "Do I raise my voice? Do I drone on?" * "Do I interrupt you? Do I barge in before you're done making your point?" * "Do you feel pressured to talk about things you don't want to talk about?" * "Am I argumentative with you? Is it with all political topics -- or just some? Which ones?" * "Do I make you feel bad when we talk politics? Can you remember what I was saying just before you started feeling bad?" 3. Thank your friend for leveling with you. For helping you out. 4. Try a persuasion experiment. Un-do these things that do not work during your next 12 political conversations. How are your results different from before? Are they better? Worse? Or just different? These small changes can make a big difference in your conversations. In your life. When you commit to exerting un-do influence. * * * * * * * * In 2000, Michael was honored with the Thomas Paine Award as the Most
Persuasive Libertarian Communicator in America.
HARD EVIDENCE 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. * * * The Bailout: Questions and Answers QUESTION: What is the libertarian position on the bailouts? MY SHORT ANSWER: Most libertarians do not support
bailouts, which force hard-working Americans to subsidize failing
businesses, either through Such bailouts only encourage further mismanagement of funds and siphon money away from efficient businesses, causing layoffs in the latter. Thus, in addition to several thousand dollars in lost buying power, bailouts can actually cost you your job! QUESTION: What would happen if the government didn't take these actions? MY SHORT ANSWER: If the government didn't bail out the failing banks and mortgage companies, their stocks would take a nosedive. The stockholders and employees of these firms, not the American people as a whole, would suffer the ill effects of their poor lending practices. However, other lending institutions would learn that making bad loans or investments to boost profits temporarily could lead to a permanent loss of their livelihood. Stockholders and fund managers would avoid risky companies in the future and monitor management decisions more closely. Consequently, letting the failing institutions of today bear the responsibility for their poor judgment is likely to prevent additional failures tomorrow. QUESTION: How would it be different in a libertarian society? MY SHORT ANSWER: A libertarian society wouldn't have a central bank like the Federal Reserve that artificially lowers interest rates and reserves, encouraging banks and mortgage companies to lend unwisely. If a company went bankrupt because it lent indiscriminately, a libertarian government would let it fail, rather than take money and jobs away from innocent people. Today, investors play the stock market like a roulette wheel. They own the company, but are not held liable if it fails to pay its creditors. In times and places where owners have had to underwrite management decisions, they watched management closely so that banks and lending agencies rarely failed. When they did, competing businesses often assumed the debt of the bankrupt company to keep up consumer confidence. For more detail on how banking and mortgage crises are
created by central banks like the Fed and alleviated by a marketplace
free from government interference, see Chapter 9 in my book, "Healing
Our World." The 1992 version is available as a free download at
www.ruwart.com ; the updated 2003 edition is available there or from The
Advocates. * * * * * * * * 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
The Free Market Didn't Fail by Sharon Harris (Note: This "one-minute" tip will take a bit longer
than a minute to read. Please pardon the extra length. I wanted to offer
answers to several of the concerns that defenders of the market are
currently facing. Thank you!) "Isn't the current economic crisis a failure of the
free market? Doesn't it show the need f See more One-Minute Liberty Tips!
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rom testing, at its own
expense, all its cattle for Mad Cow Disease. And a federal appeals court
has backed the USDA. 
But the USDA doesn't like that. It fears Creekstone
Farms' competitors -- politically-connected big meatpacking companies --
may feel pressure from consumers to increase their testing, which could
raise the price of beef (or cut into their profits). 
nnection between money and
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This year, however, the U.S. has fallen to 8th
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Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Chile, and Canada. Yes, the U.S. now
ranks behind Canada in overall economic freedom, even allowing for
Canada's socialized medical system. 
figure get the $700 billion figure they demanded for
the bailout? Forbes magazine wondered, too, so they asked. Turns out the
Treasury... made it up. "It's not based on any particular data point," a
Treasury spokeswoman told Forbes.com Tuesday. "We just wanted to choose
a really large number."
taxation or inflation. The current bailout
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