Volume 13, Number 20 | December 5, 2008
In This Issue:
The Liberator Online
Contents
ASK DR. RUWART
PRODUCT REVIEW
Dear friend, Congressman Ron Paul, on Wednesday, November 19, 2008, rose to the floor of the House of Representatives and spoke in honor of the late Advocates Founder Marshall Fritz. Here are Congressman Paul's remarks, as printed in the Congressional Record. It is more than a tribute; it is thought-provoking reading for every person who wants to advance the cause of liberty.
Thank you, Congressman Paul. Welcome to 71 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: Holiday special! 15% off ALL MERCHANDISE in our online catalog! Books, CDs, DVDs, T-shirts, Quiz cards, OPH kits... EVERYTHING! (The only exceptions are shipping, applicable taxes,and magazine subscriptions, whose price we do not control.) You can browse the catalog and place your order from
here: PLEASE NOTE: The prices you'll see at our store are reflect the 15% discount. We went through our store and adjusted all our prices. If you prefer to order by phone or mail, please see "Product Review" at the end of this issue. This is a great chance to get gifts for your libertarian friends -- or for your well-deserving libertarian self! Offer good through December 17, 2007. Your order helps support the vital work of the
Advocates. Thank you! SPECIAL ACT-NOW OFFER ON
FREEDOM CRUISE!
If you email me TODAY, you may have a rare opportunity to join our Merry Band of Cruisers -- at a bargain price. Holland America has a weekly Fare Sale called a "Five Day Flash" which offers occasional DEEP DISCOUNTS. Next week, our Freedom Cruise has been selected for their Five Day Flash sale! This means you can join us aboard the beautiful Westerdam cruise ship on February 15 for seven wonderful days -- at bargain basement prices. Our itinerary: Fort Lauderdale; Half Moon Cay, Bahamas; Grand Turk,
Turks & Caicos; If you have ever considered joining us, NOW is the time! We already
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NOTE: These FLASH fares are only available for new bookings, but if you’ve already booked your friends or family members can join NOW -- and save big. To take advantage of the sale fares, I MUST be ready to make your reservation as soon as Monday rolls around. (The space available at sale fares are LIMITED and the prices go back up once they have sold enough bargains.) If you are even mildly interested, please contact me ASAP. No obligation. I will email a "booking form" back to you to collect the information required for making your reservation. If you'll need a vacation next February, you'll never find a better bargain. Room, gourmet meals and four beautiful Islands in the Caribbean for much less than just the room charge at a resort hotel! So join us! Share the excitement of planning for your cruise now.
-- Ken Bisson, kbisson@usa.net
by James W. Harris Small Government is More Popular Than Obama President-elect Obama undeniably has a lot of enthusiastic supporters. But *small government* is far more popular with the American public. The respected polling firm Rasmussen periodically asks Americans if they favor fewer government services with lower taxes, or more services with higher taxes. In late September, the public -- once again -- favored smaller government and lower taxes -- by a 57% to 31% margin. That's about 20 points more than Obama's victory margin over McCain, notes the Cato Institute's David Boaz. (Sources: Cato Institute: * * * Feds Training U.S. Military To Enforce Domestic Law The U.S. government is on the verge of enacting one of the Founding Father's nightmares: military enforcement of domestic law. It's being done -- of course -- in the name of defending the "homeland" against terrorism or other catastrophes. But like all government security programs, expansion is inevitable. From the Washington Post: The U.S. military expects to have 20,000 uniformed
troops inside the United States by 2011
The long-planned shift in the Defense Department's role in homeland security was recently backed with funding and troop commitments after years of prodding by Congress and outside experts, defense analysts said. There are critics of the change, in the military and among civil liberties groups and libertarians who express concern that the new homeland emphasis threatens to strain the military and possibly undermine the Posse Comitatus Act, a 130-year-old federal law restricting the military's role in domestic law enforcement. But the Bush administration and some in Congress have pushed for a heightened homeland military role since the middle of this decade, saying the greatest domestic threat is terrorists exploiting the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction. Before the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, dedicating 20,000 troops to domestic response -- a nearly sevenfold increase in five years -- "would have been extraordinary to the point of unbelievable," Paul McHale, assistant defense secretary for homeland defense, said in remarks last month at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. But the realization that civilian authorities may be overwhelmed in a catastrophe prompted "a fundamental change in military culture," he said. .... The American Civil Liberties Union and the libertarian Cato Institute are troubled by what they consider an expansion of executive authority. Domestic emergency deployment may be "just the first example of a series of expansions in presidential and military authority," or even an increase in domestic surveillance, said Anna Christensen of the ACLU's National Security Project. And Cato Vice President Gene Healy warned of "a creeping militarization" of homeland security. "There's a notion that whenever there's an important problem, that the thing to do is to call in the boys in green," Healy said, "and that's at odds with our long-standing tradition of being wary of the use of standing armies to keep the peace." You can read more at the Washington Post link below. (Source: Washington Post: * * * Obama: School Choice for Me, But Not for Thee During his campaign, Barack Obama told the American Federation of Teachers that he was against programs such as educational vouchers or tax credits that would allow parents more educational choices for their children. "We need to focus on fixing and improving our public schools -- not throwing our hands up and walking away from them," Obama told the government school advocacy group. Last week, though, Michelle and Barack Obama... walked away from Washington, DC's wretched government schools. They announced that their daughters will be attending
Sidwell Friends School, t They'll be in good company. Vice President-elect Joe Biden's three grandchildren attend Sidwell -- as did Bill and Hillary Clinton's daughter Chelsea, and Al Gore's son Albert. All vigorously oppose educational choice programs for those less wealthy than themselves. In Washington, more than one in four government ("public") school teachers send their own children to private schools. No wonder -- they've seen firsthand what the government schools are like. Some have defended Obama's choice as simply a matter of security -- that the president's children are too vulnerable to attend public schools. But that doesn't explain why both Obama girls previously attended the private University of Chicago Laboratory Schools (tuition: $21,000-plus). Presumably no one was threatening the Obama children then. "A number of great schools were considered," said Obama family spokesperson Katie McCormick Lelyveld about the decision. "In the end, the Obamas selected the school that was the best fit for what their daughters need right now." "Selected." How nice that they had a choice. And how hypocritical that they are working hard to *deny* choice for so many other families who don't have their wealth. Adding to the irony of it all: the Cato Institute's Andrew J. Coulson has pointed out that Washington's failing and downright dangerous government schools, among the very worst in America, spent about $25,000 per child in the 2007-08 school year -- enough to buy a Sidwell-type education for every kid. (Sources: Associated Press: * * * * * QUICK SHOTS... * BUSH STOPS ILLEGAL IMMIGRATION: "According to some statistics the government released yesterday, Mexican immigration to the United States has dropped 42 percent over the last two years. And you have to hand it to President Bush, he knew that the way to stop people from sneaking into the country, it's not to build a fence or a wall, it's to make this country very undesirable. Most illegal immigrants come here to make money, but now we don't have any money anymore. That's Number 43 for you, always thinking ahead." -- Jimmy Kimmel, "Jimmy Kimmel Live," ABC, November 21, 2008. * SOUNDS FAMILIAR: "This Friday, Dec. 5, is the 75th
anniversary of Repeal Day, the day America repealed its disastrous
alcohol prohibition. Prohibition was
the piece de resistance of the early 20th-century progressive's grand
social engineering agenda. It failed, of course. Miserably. It did
reduce overall consumption of alcohol in the U.S., but that reduction
came largely among those who consumed alcohol responsibly. The actual
harm caused by alcohol abuse was made worse, thanks to the economics of
prohibitions. Black market alcohol was of dubious origin, unregulated by
market forces. The price premium that attaches to
banned substances made the alcohol that made it to consumers more potent
and more dangerous. And, of course, organized crime rose and flourished
thanks to the new market created by the 18th Amendment and the Volstead
Act." --libertarian journalist Randy Balko * SPELLING LESSON: "Ever notice what it spells when you put 'THE' and 'IRS' together?" -- seen on the Web. * * * * * * * * ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
by Michael Cloud Where There's a Way, There's a Will You've probably heard the opposite: Where there's a will, there's a way. "If you're determined enough, if you're motivated enough -- you'll find a way to achieve your goal." "If you put your mind to it, if you refuse to give up -- you'll discover a way." But the old proverb is usually wrong. For more than 60 years, cancer researchers have had the will to conquer cancer. But no way has been found. For more than 60 years, medical researchers have had the will to defeat heart disease. But no way has been found. For more than 60 years, medical scientists have had the will to conquer Alzheimer's, strokes, autism, and a number of other devastating diseases. But no way has been found. Move from medicine to politics. For more than 60 years, advocates of small government, liberty, and a free market have had the will to achieve freedom. But no way has been found. I believe the old proverb has it backwards. Where there's a way, there's a will. "When a man sees a way to shrink government, cut taxes, and make us better off -- he becomes motivated, becomes determined to make it happen." "When a woman sees a way to dramatically reduce and lighten the burden of government, and make us better off -- she will put her mind to it, she will refuse to give up." When we see the way, we have the will. Want some examples? Millions of credit-worthy Americans never knew they could buy a home for no money down -- until they read Robert Allen's books. He showed us a dozen ways -- and we found the will. Tens of millions of Americans with high credit ratings didn't know they could request or negotiate much lower credit card interest rates -- until they read Charles Givens' books. He showed us dozens of ways -- and we found the will.
Hundreds of thousands of Americans who desperately wanted more personal and financial freedom believed they were trapped -- until they read How I Found Freedom In an Unfree World by Harry Browne. He showed us dozens of ways -- and we found the will. Where there's no way, there's no will. Until people see a way, there's no will. But when we see a way, when we see many ways -- we have the will. It works with libertarian persuasion. Show people libertarian ways to solve pressing, distressing problems -- and they'll open their minds. Show people libertarian ways to get what they really want -- and they become receptive and responsive. For example: * "Have you heard the 7 proven, private enterprise solutions to the economic meltdown? Solutions that won't cost taxpayers a penny?" * "Have you been told the 5 fastest, best ways to cure the American economy and get it growing again? Tested solutions that work -- and won't cost taxpayers a dime?" * "Do you know the 6 simplest and fastest ways to get American car companies back on their feet and profitable -- without bailouts, loan guarantees, or a dollar of taxpayer dollars?" * "Have you heard the 5 ways to cut murder and robbery rates by 30% to 50% in 12 months? Ways that will not only reduce crime but also cut your taxes?" [Want the answers to these teaser questions? See footnote below.] When you show them the way, they'll find the will. And many will join you on the path to liberty. ---------------------------------------- Economics in One Lesson by Henry Hazlitt. Underline and highlight their de-governmentalizing proposals and solutions.Make notes in the margins. Dog-ear the key pages. These vital insights and proposals will let you light the way for those you persuade.} * * * * * * * * 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. * * * How can we make abortion "obsolete"? QUESTION: On a couple of occasions you have referred to the goal of abortion becoming "obsolete." What exactly does that mean, and how is that possible? MY SHORT ANSWER: If we truly want to stop abortion, we must make abortion obsolete. Because of its increased wealth and tolerance, a libertarian society is best equipped to do that. A libertarian society would provide a woman with new alternatives to abortion and incentives and support for continuing an unwanted pregnancy. A prospective mother has more options in a society that encourages interracial adoption, honors contracts between prospective parents and surrogate mothers, and enjoys the increased prosperity that makes children more affordable. A libertarian society is best equipped to fund research in more effective contraception and in the ability to transfer a fetus to a willing mother. All of these advancements will make abortion a less attractive option for just about everyone. Few, if any, doctors will be willing to end a life when it becomes unnecessary. If people on both sides of the abortion question would give the same amount of time, money, and effort as they do to political lobbying to promoting the changes described above, abortion would indeed quickly become obsolete. LEARN MORE: "Will Science Trump Politics in Resolving
Abortion Debate?" by libertarian feminist Wendy McElroy: * * * * * * * * 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
by Sharon Harris How do you spell relief? Say "Tax Relief" instead of "Tax Cuts" The next time you're proposing a reduction in taxes, consider saying "tax relief" instead of "tax cuts." Both phrases mean the same, but there is a profound difference in effectiveness. The phrase "tax cuts" may unconsciously suggest, in some people's minds, the idea that some unjust pain or loss is to be endured. After all, something is being "cut" or "removed." The phrase may create a mental image of suffering, or suggest that some worthy cause will go unfunded. The phrase "tax relief," however, makes it clear that taxes are a pain, a burden, an affliction, from which we need relief. After all, no one would ever want "relief" from a blessing or a positive condition. You are proposing to end that pain, remove that burden, cure that affliction, by relieving it. As the liberal rhetoritician George Lakoff has observed: "The term 'tax relief' evokes all of this and more. Taxes, in this phrase, are the Affliction (the Crime), proponents of taxes are the Causes-of Affliction (the Villains), the taxpayer is the Afflicted Victim, and the proponents of 'tax relief' are the Heroes who deserve the taxpayers' gratitude. "Every time the phrase 'tax relief' is used and heard or read by millions of people, the more this view of taxation as an affliction and [those who would relieve us of taxes] as heroes gets reinforced." And it goes even deeper. Those who respond to your call for tax relief by saying they *oppose* "tax relief" are implicitly saying they want to maintain the pain, the burden, the affliction the phrase suggests. So every time they use the phrase "tax relief," or respond to it, they are, unintentionally, actually reinforcing your key argument. There's nothing dishonest or deceptive about this. Words are powerful. How we use them inevitably influences how people respond to our ideas. Are there other things we need relief from? How about "regulation relief," or "relief from the crushing burden of excessive government regulation"? "Relief from intrusive government bureaucracies." "Relief from government meddling in our private lives." "How do you spell 'relief'?" an old TV commercial asked. L-I-B-E-R-T-Y. See more One-Minute Liberty Tips! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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Will Rogers. Marshall never met a fellow fighter for liberty, a
single-issue ally, or a potential convert he did not like -- and to
Marshall anyone who did not already share his love of liberty was a
potential convert. 
Separation of School and State,
an organization focusing on the vital issue of parental control of
education. Thanks in large part to Marshall's work, the idea that
parents, not the government, should control education is no longer
excluded from public debate as a "fringe" notion. One of the features
that most impresses me about the Alliance is the way that Marshall
brought libertarians, conservatives, liberals together to work for
education freedom. 
You
may have read about my Freedom Cruise in previous issues of the
Liberator Online. 
stateroom
for a base fare of just $599 per person -- and the FLASH sale fare will
be even lower. 
trained to help state and local
officials respond to a nuclear terrorist attack or other domestic
catastrophe, according to Pentagon officials. 
he private academy that educates the children
of many of Washington's elite, at a cost of around $30,000 per child per
year. 
Millions of investors thought they were stuck and
might lose their savings -- until they read hard money, free market
investment books by Harry Browne, Doug Casey, John Pugsley and others.
They showed us many ways -- and we found the will. 
