Volume 13, Number 21 | December 18, 2008
In This Issue:
The Liberator Online
Contents
ASK DR. RUWART
PRODUCT REVIEW
Dear friend, Sometimes it seems like the newspapers and airwaves are filled with news deliberately designed to discourage friends of freedom. Don't let it get you down. Certainly, we libertarians are up against great odds: powerful liberal and conservative movements that control today's political institutions. And yet, I think the advantage is ours! I am convinced that liberty is on the rise, and that libertarians can win the great ideological and political battles we are now facing. Here are three reasons: * First, because the facts and the moral high ground are on our side. The left and the right rehash the tired old failed ideas of the past. Libertarians bring a fresh new view, informed by the wisdom of the Founders and backed with the latest and best in research. * Second, because our movement is growing rapidly, both in numbers
and in effectiveness. When the Ad Today we are blessed with hundreds of wonderful libertarian
organizations that are making the intellectual case for liberty. Their
work is outstanding and crucial. Never before in human history has the
case for liberty been intellectually stronger. It is downright
unassailable. And the Web is making it possible for libertarians to get
these incredibly powerful ideas out to the entire world. The bottom line: Freedom is morally right. Freedom works. The history of the progress of the human race is the history of people freeing themselves from the burden of government controls on peaceful personal and economic action. Thank you for being in this great battle! And don't be discouraged by
bad news of the moment -- we are on the winning side. Welcome to 39 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! FREE standard domestic SHIPPING on all our Liberty Store products! Books, CDs, DVDs, T-shirts, Quiz cards, OPH kits... EVERYTHING! You can browse our store and place your order from here: 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 Offer good through January 2, 2009. Your order helps support the vital work of the
Advocates. Thank you!
by James W. Harris World Government on the Horizon? We know, we know. Mention anything about politicians scheming for a "world government" and you will instantly be slammed as a troglodyte, conspiracy theorist, wing nut, and so forth, followed immediately by snickering references to tinfoil hats and black helicopters. Still... we find it most interesting to ponder a remarkable
commentary entitled, "And now for a
"For the first time in my life, I think the formation of some sort of world government is plausible," writes Rachman. He cites the financial crisis, global warming and the war on terror as creating unprecedented new opportunities for the concept. "A 'world government' would involve much more than cooperation between nations," Rachman says. "It would be an entity with state-like characteristics, backed by a body of laws. The European Union [EU] has already set up a continental government for 27 countries, which could be a model. The EU has a supreme court, a currency, thousands of pages of law, a large civil service and the ability to deploy military force." A world government, Rachman stresses, could not be created democratically, because we ignorant unwashed masses, lacking the wisdom and foresight of those who rule us, mostly hate the idea. "Even in the EU -- the heartland of law-based international government -- the idea remains unpopular. The EU has suffered a series of humiliating defeats in referendums, when plans for 'ever closer union' have been referred to the voters. "In general, the Union has progressed fastest when far-reaching deals have been agreed by technocrats and politicians -- and then pushed through without direct reference to the voters. "International governance tends to be effective, only when it is anti-democratic." Hmmmmm. Pardon us if we hear the echo of jackboots in that last sentence. Another reason Rachman is bullish about world government is the election of Barack Obama. He notes Obama has key advisors who are very enthusiastic about steps in the direction of world government. High among them is John Podesta, who heads Obama's transition team. Podesta is also the head of the highly influential Center for American Progress think tank, and an advisor to the Managing Global Insecurity (MGI) project. MGI, Rachman notes, favors among other things "the creation of a 50,000-strong UN peacekeeping force." MGI, says Rachman, is "aware of the political sensitivity of its ideas," and thus carefully avoids scary terms like "shared sovereignty" and "world government," preferring more soothing phrases like "responsible sovereignty" and "global governance" so as not to alarm the slumbering masses. "So, it seems, everything is in place," Rachman concludes. "For the first time since homo sapiens began to doodle on cave walls, there is an argument, an opportunity and a means to make serious steps towards a world government." However, he notes that, because of us darn stubborn ignorant rabble and our irritating lack of enthusiasm for world government, "any push for 'global governance' in the here and now will be a painful, slow process." But of course, clever minds are working on that, too. (Source: Financial Times, "And now for a world government" * * * "Don't Waste This Crisis," Greedy Politicians Say Politicians are lining up alongside well-connected mega-corporations
to grab their share of bailout
"A crisis is a terrible thing to waste," Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick recently told the Boston Globe. Certainly no one can accuse Governor Patrick of wasting this crisis. Patrick met with members of president-elect Barack Obama's team to argue for a $3.4 billion laundry list of "crisis" projects, including a new science building at Framingham State College, a parking garage facility in North Leominster, repairs to Boston's Charles River Dam, and hundreds of millions of dollars to make government buildings across Massachusetts more energy efficient. The Boston Globe notes that the phrase "a crisis is a terrible thing to waste" is "a catchphrase that is getting widespread use among Obama officials and governors during the transition." No one, alas, seems to think that *taxpayers' money* is a terrible thing to waste. (Source: Boston Globe * * * Ron Paul's "Person of the Year" (We think a great case could be made that Paul himself should be Man of the Year, but alas, TIME neglected to contact us.) Here's Congressman Paul's pick, as printed in TIME: "Amid a horrific financial crisis, all we hear are calls for more of the money-printing, spending and subsidies that created this mess. So I choose my great teacher, Ludwig von Mises, champion of the Austrian School of economics, who taught us how a central bank like the Fed causes booms and busts and how to build prosperity through sound money and economic freedom." (Source: TIME magazine * * * * * QUICK SHOTS... * SKOO * LET IMMIGRATION END THE HOUSING GLUT: "At a time when Americans are
suffering from an oversupply of housing, it is tragic that the
government continues to forcibly prevent millions of peaceful people
around the globe from bringing their wealth, talent, and ambition to
this country. * THE UNJUST BAILOUT: "[U]nder the equal protection clause of the
14th
Amendment to the U. S. Constitution the preferential treatment of
members
of the auto-industry has to be totally unjust. Why not the waiter who
had
to be laid off because costumers left the restaurant so as to save a
bit?
Why not everyone whose job evaporated because the economy changed?"
-- libertarian columnist and philosopher Tibor Machan. * * * * * * * * ••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
by Michael Cloud Why Do You Oppose Drunk Driving? Why Are You Against Big Government? What's your REAL objection to drunk driving? Is it because the driver is drunk on whiskey, instead of gin? Or because the drunk driver is a Democrat, instead of a Republican? Is it because the drunk driver is a man, instead of a woman? Or because the driver is a corrupt drunk, instead of a conscientious drunk? Are you opposed to drunk driving because the person is a repeat
offender, a
Are you against drunk driving because it's being done in an imported car, instead of a domestic model? Do you oppose to drunk driving because you oppose this kind of drunk driver? Or this specific drunk? Are you against this drunk driver because you're against his motives and intentions? What's your REAL objection to drunk driving? Are you against WHO is driving drunk, WHAT he's driving drunk, WHEN he's driving drunk, WHERE he's driving drunk, HOW he's driving drunk, or WHY he's driving drunk? Or are you consistently opposed to ANYONE and EVERYONE drunk driving any vehicle anywhere, any how, at any time, for any reason? Are you against drunk driving because of what it is and does? Why are you really against drunk driving? *** Now, ask the same kinds of questions about Big Government social and economic programs. Why are you REALLY against Big Government? *** Want to have some fun? Maybe open some minds? Clip and paste this essay. Email it to 5 or 10 friends who selectively criticize Big Government. Give them a chance to see the issue from a different perspective. * * * * * * * * 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 National Service our duty to our country? QUESTION: I believe we shouldn't be forced to participate in some kind of National Service. However, some of my friends say we owe some duty to our country for being born here and living here. What about a citizen's duty to country? MY SHORT ANSWER: If "doing our duty" is equated to providing
"service," who
Freedom is what is good for a nation, especially one that wants to help its poor. More freedom means more wealth creation and less poverty. Government interference, even well-intended, backfires. (For some examples and more detail, see my book, "Healing Our World." The 1992 edition is available as a free download at www.ruwart.com. The updated 2003 edition is available there or through The Advocates.) Most people give generously of their time and money if this is the voluntary custom. For example, tipping is not mandatory, but almost everyone does it. Before government got involved in social welfare, almost everyone helped a less fortunate neighbor individually or as part of a formal organization because that was the custom. You were either a charity case or a provider of charity; few people wanted to be in the former group. To return to this way of charitable thinking, the government should stop forcing people to "give at the office" through taxation and resist the temptation to force people into service. Doing so will only create resentment towards those in need, leaving little sympathy for the poor when their "help" disappears in the shifting political tides. LEARN MORE: "Shhh... Don't call Obama's national service scheme a
'draft'", by Jerome Tuccille: * * * * * * * * 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 Can You Begin Communicating for Liberty? You want to share libertarian ideas effectively. You want to make a difference. But how do you begin?
The answer: By beginning. Right now. Ayn Rand, unquestionably one of history's most influential communicators of the ideas of liberty, wrote in her essay "What Can One Do?": "[W]hen you ask 'What can one do?' -- the answer is 'SPEAK' (provided you know what you are saying). "A few suggestions: do not wait for a national
Many people discover libertarianism or the libertarian movement simply by a letter to the editor. I know one person who went on to become a Libertarian Party leader and the founder of a national libertarian organization -- because a letter to the editor gave him information about the Libertarian Party. Huge numbers of people have been exposed to libertarian ideas simply by a recommendation that they check out the World's Smallest Political Quiz online. You don't have to run for office, write a bestselling book, or host a
talk radio show. You don't have to be a libertarian expert (though of
course you must have a solid knowledge of the positions you advocate).
Just write or speak about what you know, sincerely and persuasively, to your friends, neighbors, community, newspaper, talk radio, and so forth -- to the natural audience that is already around you. Use the tested, proven techniques taught by the Advocates to present
the freedom philosophy honestly, attractively and persuasively. You can
find them in every issue of the Liberator Online, in our many
publications, and at our online Liberty Communication Center: You will immediately begin having an impact -- perhaps far greater than you think. And you will begin within yourself a process of personal change and growth that will lead to your further development as an influential communicator. See more One-Minute Liberty Tips! •••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••
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Contents copyrighted © The Advocates for Self-Government,, a nonprofit 501(c)(3) educational organization. Donations tax-deductible in U.S. All rights reserved. |
vocates began, there were only a
handful of libertarian publications and organizations, largely outside
the public's awareness. (If you've been a libertarian long enough, you
may remember encountering questions like, "Why do librarians need their
own political party, anyway?") But in just a few decades our small but
determined movement has grown enormously. 
ADVOCATES
HOLIDAY POEM: Love it or hate it, it's been an Advocates tradition
since the very first year of the Liberator Online! You can read this
year's version of "A Liberty Christmas" -- complete with the traditional
awkward meter and terrible rhymes -- here: 
world government," published
December 8 in the highly respected and influential international
newspaper The Financial Times, which boasts 1.4 million readers. The
piece was written by Gideon Rachman, chief foreign affairs commentator
for the publication. Rachman was formerly employed by the equally
respected Establishment outlets the BBC and The Economist. 
bucks and the New Deal-on-steroids
spending orgy promised by Barack Obama. 
TIME magazine asked Ron Paul his thoughts on who should be Time's
annual Person of the Year.
L REFORM: "Teachers using red pen to mark students' work could
be harming their psyche as the color is too aggressive, according to
education strategies drafted by an Australian state government. The
'Good Mental Health Rocks' kit, which was distributed this month to
about 30 schools in Queensland state, offers strategies such as 'don't
mark in red pen (which can be seen as aggressive) - use a different
color.'"
ve million. Virtually overnight we would see
money pour into the American real estate market, as millions of new
businessmen and workers bought and rented homes. Not only would this
eliminate the oversupply of houses, we would enjoy the broader,
long-term economic benefits of welcoming legions of highly skilled and
motivated individuals into the American economy." 
career drunk driver -- instead of a fresh, new drunk driver?
decides what is service and what is not? If young Steve
Jobs had been forced into some type of National Service instead of being
left alone to tinker in his garage, he might never have invented the
personal computer. The resulting increases in everyone's standard of
living would have been lost or delayed because of a bureaucrat's
uninformed decision about what was good for the country. 
audience. Speak on any
scale open to you, large or small -- to your friends, your associates,
your professional organizations, or any legitimate public forum. You can
never tell when your words will reach the right mind at the right time.
You will see no immediate results -- but it is of such activities that
public opinion is made." 
