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Volume 14, No. 17                                                                                  October 29, 2009     
 
The Liberator Online
for everyone who loves liberty
published by the Advocates for Self-Government
 
""The World's Smallest Political Quiz is responsible for many Americans' first contact with libertarian ideas. While traveling around the country, I have often heard people say, 'I never knew I was a libertarian until I took the Quiz!'"
 
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In This Issue


PRESIDENT'S CORNER
* Newspaper Tells Readers: Take the World's Smallest Political Quiz
* Libertarian job opening

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
* Bureaucrats Outlaw Free Health Care in America
* Camille Paglia: "Only A Simpleton Would Believe" The Mainstream Media
* Obama Administration Backs Patriot Act Outrages
* Why We Need More Socialism

QUICK SHOTS: Rat-head politicians.... Jay Leno on Obama and the Dow.... Closed-door transparency.... Ron Paul on the Afghanistan disaster....

PERSUASION POWER POINT #277
* Privatize Business!
 by Michael Cloud

ASK DR. RUWART
* Do libertarians support the Fair Tax proposal?

ONE-MINUTE LIBERTY TIP
* Putting "Strength in Numbers" To Work for You
 by Sharon Harris

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
* Liberator Online quoted in newspaper
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Sharon HarrisPresident's
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by

Sharon Harris


Newspaper Tells Readers: Take the World's Smallest Political Quiz


"Take a quiz to find your political label."

That was the title of the lead editorial in the October 19 Tri-City Herald, a daily newspaper in Kennewick, Washington with 80,000-plus readers.

The editors urged their readers to take the World's Smallest Political Quiz to get a better understanding of their political views.

The article also noted that the Tri-City Quiz in Tri-CityHerald editorial board took the Quiz themselves -- and found the results very interesting. Editorial board scores "were all over the place," they wrote -- which must have provoked some stimulating newsroom discussions!

The editors noted that the Advocates' Quiz has a reputation for being fair and honest, and quoted the Washington Post: "The Quiz has gained respect as a valid measure of a person's political leanings."

They also pointed out another virtue of the Quiz: "It's quick and painless."

The editors asked readers to comment on the Quiz. And reader comments showed what we've come to expect: users felt the Quiz was accurate and insightful. Some examples:  

"Fascinating -- I think of myself as a social liberal and financially conservative, and that is what it showed."

"I scored Centrist ...right where I thought it would be."

"My husband of 48 years was a libertarian (no surprise) and I am a conservative (really no surprise). Both 100% economical conservative -- no big surprise there either."

In recommending the Quiz, the Tri-City Herald joins many, many other newspapers -- including such giants as the Washington Post, USA Today, Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Miami Herald, and the London Sunday Times.

The large and growing acceptance of the Advocates- created Quiz by media and educators is truly one of the great libertarian success stories -- and it is great news for libertarians.

Remember, when people take the Quiz:
 
* They learn that libertarianism is a major part of the American political spectrum -- that there is more to politics than just left versus right. The Quiz literally puts libertarians on the map that people use when they think of politics.

* They learn that, on many key issues, libertarians are their allies, even if they consider themselves liberals or conservatives or centrists.
 
* A significant percentage of Quiz takers discover they are libertarians, or have more in common with libertarianism than any other political philosophy.
 
* At our Web site, Quiz takers are given instant access to outstanding information about libertarian ideas, libertarian activism, and the liberty movement.
 
The Advocates has spent many years developing the Quiz into a fast, fun, effective, and honest educational tool that gives reliable and useful insights to those who take it. A tool so reliable that non-libertarian educators, journalists and others can -- and do -- use it and recommend it.
 
That work, and our ongoing promotion of the Quiz, is paying huge dividends for liberty.

PLEASE NOTE: NONE of this success would have been possible without the help of the many wonderful people who support the work of the Advocates with their generous donations, large and small.
 
If you would like to help us continue and expand this world-changing success, please consider becoming an Advocates donor.

We have some fantastic "thank you" gifts for you for becoming a donor. But the greatest gift of all is the knowledge that you are making this remarkable libertarian success story possible.
 
Thank you!

P.S. The Advocates currently has an opening for an experienced Development Director. If you're the right person, please apply today, or spread the word to your libertarian friends. Thanks!

* * * * * * * *

Welcome to 471 new Liberator Online subscribers this issue!

The purpose of the Liberator Online is to build a stronger movement for liberty. We do this by providing information about the libertarian movement, news analysis from a libertarian perspective, and, most importantly, information and resources on how to best communicate the ideas of liberty. Thank you for being a part of this!
 
Learn more about the Advocates and our work for liberty.
 
Learn more about libertarianism -- the philosophy of liberty.
 
-- Sharon Harris, President
Email: sharon@TheAdvocates.org
Good News,
Bad News,
Unbelievable News

 
by James W. Harris

Gov't Outlaws Free Health Care
 

An organization of volunteer doctors and other health care professionals wants to provide free medical care to tens of thousands of poor people across America.

But -- incredibly -- government bureaucrats won't let them.   

That's the extraordinary story told by journalist David Freddoso in the Washington Examiner newspaper.

The article begins this way:

"Stan Brock just wants to help. The former co-star of 'Wild Kingdom' wants to deliver free medical, dental and vision care to the poor. ... Brock simply wants to provide care free of charge, at the hands of unpaid volunteer doctors and dentists using donated equipment.

"Brock's group, Remote Area Medical, wants to bring its services to Washington [D.C.], and soon. He wants his volunteer eye doctors to grind new glasses on the spot for those having trouble seeing.

"He wants his dentists to pull rotten teeth and perform root canals in badly neglected mouths. He wants to give checkups and HIV tests to the uninsured and the underinsured. No questions asked.

"The only question is whether the bureaucrats will let him do it."

Reach Across America

Remote Area Medical's story is amazing and inspiring. The non-profit organization runs on a shoestring budget of about $300,000 -- and takes *no* government money. Remote Area Medical is designed to bring volunteers to an area and serve thousands of people in a very short time with free health care, dental care, eye care, veterinary services, and technical and educational assistance.

Though originally formed to serve Third World countries, in 1992 they realized there was also a great need for their help among America's poor.

That's when they ran into problems with government bureaucrats and America's obscenely restrictive medical laws.

With the large numbers of people they treat, Remote Area Medical has to be able to bring in out-of-state doctors and other medical volunteers.

But only one state in America -- Tennessee -- allows out-of-state volunteer doctors to work.

And that keeps Remote Area Medical from bringing its desperately-needed services to so many people in the other 49 states.  

"We're treating people on a massive scale," Brock explained to reporter Freddoso. "When you can't bring in doctors from outside of the state, you just can't recruit enough locally to be able to handle that kind of volume."

Remote Area Medical did manage to do an event this August in Los Angeles, serving an amazing 6,300 patients in eight days.

But an equal number of people urgently needing medical attention had to be turned away, because California law prevents Remote Area Medical from bringing in out-of-state medical volunteers.

Brock says that *dozens* more groups like Remote Area Medical would quickly spring up in America -- if government bureaucrats would only let them.

"You'd see groups like this popping up all over," he says.

Camille Paglia: "Only A Simpleton Would Believe" The Mainstream Media

Acclaimed literary critic and feminist fireball Camille Paglia, who blogs at Salon.com, recently made some on-the-mark comments about Tea Parties, town hall protests, liberal hypocrisy, and the dishonesty of the Establishment mainstream media:

Camile Paglia"I have been deeply impressed by the citizen outrage that spilled out into town hall meetings this year. And I remain shocked at the priggish derision of the mainstream media (locked in their urban enclaves) toward those events. This was a moving spectacle of grassroots American democracy in action. Aggrieved voters have a perfect right to shout at their incompetent and irresponsible representatives. American citizens are under no duty whatever to sit in reverent silence to be fed propaganda and half-truths. It is bizarre that liberals who celebrate the unruly demonstrations of our youth would malign or impugn the motivation of today's protestors with opposing views.

"The mainstream media's failure to honestly cover last month's mass demonstration in Washington, D.C. was a disgrace. The focus on anti-Obama placards (which were no worse than the rabid anti-LBJ, anti-Reagan or anti-Bush placards of leftist
protests), combined with the grotesque attempt to equate criticism of Obama with racism, simply illustrated why the old guard TV networks and major urban daily newspapers are slowly dying. Only a simpleton would believe what they say."

Obama Administration Give Thumbs-Up To Patriot Act Tyranny

Supporters of civil liberties who hoped the new Democratic majority would repeal some of the worst aspects of the Patriot Act were bitterly disappointed on October 8, when the Senate Judiciary Committee approved legislation reauthorizing three ugly provisions of the USA Patriot Act set to expire in late December.

Some members of Congress in the House and Senate have vowed to challenge the bill and demand greater Patriot Act reform, and you can learn more about their efforts here.

However, they face an uphill battle -- from powerful figures in both the Democratic and Republican parties. The Patriot Act was passed by the Bush administration, and the Obama administration has been fighting hard to keep it largely intact.  

An ACLU summary shows how the Patriot Act guts the Bill of Rights by authorizing the government to commit outrages against liberty, including the power to:  

1) SEARCH YOUR HOME AND NOT EVEN TELL YOU... by conducting secret "sneak and peek" searches of your home or office, without informing you that a warrant was issued. (SECTION 213)government spying

2) COLLECT INFORMATION ABOUT WHAT BOOKS YOU READ, WHAT YOU STUDY, YOUR PURCHASES, YOUR MEDICAL HISTORY AND YOUR PERSONAL
FINANCES ... without probable cause. (SECTION 215)

3) LABEL YOU A "TERRORIST" IF YOU BELONG TO AN ACTIVIST GROUP ... and the USA PATRIOT Act broadly expands the official definition of terrorism, so many domestic groups that engage in certain types of civil disobedience could very well find themselves labeled as terrorists. (SECTIONS 411, 802)

4) MONITOR YOUR E-MAILS AND WATCH WHAT INTERNET SITES YOU VISIT ... by monitoring Internet traffic and e-mail communications
on any Internet service provider -- *without* probable cause. (SECTION 216)

5) TAKE AWAY YOUR PROPERTY WITHOUT EVEN A NOTICE OR A HEARING if the government merely says a person or organization has engaged in or is planning an act of "domestic terrorism." The government could thus effectively bankrupt an organization with which it disagrees.  (SECTION 806)

6) SPY ON INNOCENT AMERICANS by allowing a vast array of information on U.S. citizens to be collected and shared with the CIA (and other non-law enforcement officials) without proper judicial oversight or other safeguards. (SECTIONS 203 AND 901)

7) PUT IMMIGRANTS IN JAIL INDEFINITELY. The USA PATRIOT Act permits indefinite incarceration of immigrants and other non-citizens without the government having to show that they are, in fact, terrorists. (SECTION 412)

8) WIRETAP YOU UNDER A WARRANT THAT DOESN'T EVEN HAVE YOUR NAME ON IT. Judges are required to approve a wiretap without even knowing who is to be wiretapped or where the wiretap is to be placed. (SECTION 216)

This is the surveillance state the Bush administration created, and the Obama administration is embracing and expanding.

Let's hope those brave voices in Congress demanding genuine Patriot Act reform gain the upper hand in the coming weeks.

Why We Need More Socialism

"American Healthcare Fascialism" is an excellent article on health care reform by Thomas DiLorenzo, published by the free-market Ludwig von Mises Institute.

Thomas DilorenzoDiLorenzo points out that the great libertarian Milton Friedman once suggested a syllogism to illustrate the absurdity of what we're seeing now in the health care reform debate -- what DiLorenzo describes as "the bizarre spectacle on display
today of responding to problems caused by healthcare socialism with even more healthcare socialism."

Friedman's syllogism goes as follows:

1. Socialism has been a failure everywhere it has been tried;
2. Everyone knows this; and
3. Therefore, we need more socialism.

That certainly cuts to the heart of today's health care debate!

It reminds us of the old bumper sticker: "If government is the answer, it must have been a really stupid question."
 ---------------------------------------------

Quick Shots...

rat headRAT-HEAD POLITICIANS: "Elected conservatives who support tax increases are like a rat head in a Coke bottle: find one and it ruins the brand forever."
-- Grover Norquist, president of Americans for Tax Reform, in "What Happened to Lindsey Graham." (Editor's note: If that's true, then the conservative brand was ruined a long time ago. It's time for anti-tax Americans to start looking to libertarians.)

JAY LENO ON OBAMA AND THE DOW: "And Jay Lenofor the first time in over a year, the Dow hit 10,000. Very exciting. Now, if you don't know what the Dow is, that is a list of companies President Obama hasn't taken over yet." -- Jay Leno, October 14, 2009. 

CLOSED-DOOR "TRANSPARENCY": "Two senators closed doorat the forefront of healthcare reform went to great lengths Tuesday to brag about how open and transparent the legislative process has been. Then, they resumed prepping for another closed-door
meeting."
-- journalist Jeffrey Young, The Hill newspaper blog, October 20.

RON PAUL ON THE AFGHANISTAN WAR: "Lasting twice as long as World War II and with no end in sight, the war in Afghanistan has been one of the longest conflicts in which our country has ever been involved. The situation has only gotten worse Ron Paul - constitution with
recent escalations. .... The real question is why are we there at all? What do our efforts now have to do with the original authorization of the use of force? We are no longer dealing with anything or anyone involved in the attacks of 9/11. At this point we are only strengthening the resolve and the ranks of our enemies. We have nothing left to win. We are only there to save face, and in the end we will not even be able to do that."
-- U.S. Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX), October 14, 2009.

* * * * * * * *
"Good News, Bad News, Unbelievable News" is written by Liberator Online editor James W. Harris. His articles have appeard in numerous magazines and newspapers, and he has been a Finalist for the Mencken Awards, given by the Free Press Association for "Outstanding Journalism in Support of Liberty."
Michael-CloudPERSUASION
POWER
POINT # 277

 
Privatize Business!

by Michael Cloud


"Business interference in government is the main cause of today's economic meltdown and recession," argue liberals.

"Government intervention in business is the primary reason for the mess," say conservatives.

They're each half right.

There are 2 inseparable root causes of today's economic mess: business meddling in government AND government meddling in business.

Why did America establish the separation of church and state? To prevent religion from corrupting and dominating government -- AND to keep government from corrupting and dominating religion.

For the same reasons, libertarians advocate businessthe separation of business and state. To prevent business from corrupting and dominating government -- AND to keep government from corrupting and dominating business.

We can take one simple step in this direction: Privatize Business!

Get business's hands off government. Get government's hands off business.

All governments: federal, state, and local. And their agencies.

END and LEGALLY FORBID all government subsidies to business.

OUTLAW all government loans to business.

FORBID all government loan guarantees to business.

OUTLAW all government insurance guarantees to business.

FORBID all government liabilities for business.

OUTLAW all special tax benefits to favored or privileged businesses. ALL special exemptions, deductions, deferrals or other tax advantages must be given to all businesses. No business is more equal than other businesses.

LEGALLY FORBID all special government benefits to relocate or attract foreign or out-of-state business.

AND give back 100% of these tax dollars to taxpayers. Every year.

Privatize business!

Private risks and private choices.

Private assets and private liabilities.

Private profits and private losses.

Private insurance and private risk.

Private businesses are responsive to and accountable to their customers.

In a private enterprise system, businesses reap what they sow.

Good private businesses attract more customers and investors. They make profits.

Bad private businesses repel customers and investors. They incur losses.

In a private enterprise system, good business practices pay off. Reckless and irresponsible business practices cost their users dearly.

When we privatize business, innocent taxpayers will never be forced to pay for the risky and unwise business decisions of others.

When we privatize business, unsuccessful companies will suffer the consequences of their actions -- but they will NOT be able to impose their costs and consequences on successful companies.

Private enterprise is a system that encourages and rewards business virtue.

Privatize business!

* * * * * * * *
Michael Cloud is author of the acclaimed book Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion, available exclusively from the Advocates.
 
In 2000, Michael was honored with the Thomas Paine Award as the Most Persuasive Libertarian Communicator in America.

 
Mary-RuwartAsk
Dr.
Ruwart

 
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.
  
Do libertarians support the Fair Tax?

QUESTION:
Do you support the Fair Tax?
 
MY SHORT ANSWER: Libertarians believe that all taxes are immoral, so none could really be described as "fair."  

However, some libertarians support a fair taxnational sales tax (which is what the so-called Fair Tax is) as a replacement for the income tax. Some of these libertarian Fair Tax advocates feel that people will be much more enraged by a tax that they experience with every purchase, rather than one that is taken from their paycheck before they even see it. With each tax raise, everyone will become acutely aware of how much money is being taken from them. They will hopefully protest, taxes will be lowered, and what we render to Caesar will be lessened.

(Other arguments are also made by some libertarians in defense of the Fair Tax, including claims that it would be less intrusive and less costly than the income tax.)

While the above scenario is a plausible one, I suspect that the Fair Tax will one day be implemented *without* doing away with the income tax -- thus giving us the worst of both worlds.

I hesitate to support any tax for any reason. Harry Browne and Ron Paul said it best: "Abolish the income tax and replace it with nothing!"
 
LEARN MORE: Here are two articles, by libertarians, that give arguments for and against the Fair Tax. Check them out and see what you think!

PRO-FAIR TAX: "Emancipating America from the Income Tax: How a National Sales Tax Would Work," Cato Policy Analysis by David R. Burton and Dan R. Mastromarco.

ANTI-FAIR TAX: "The Fair Tax Fraud" by Laurence M. Vance.
  
* * * * * * * *
Got questions? Dr. Ruwart has answers! If you'd like answers to YOUR "tough questions" on libertarian issues, email Dr. Ruwart at: ruwart@theAdvocates.org
 
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.
 
Dr. Ruwart's outstanding books Healing Our World and Short Answers to the Tough Questions are available from the Advocates.

 
 Liberty Minute clock



One-Minute
Liberty Tip


Putting Our "Strength in Numbers" To Work for You

by Sharon Harris


On most major current issues, libertarians are not alone.

Indeed, many millions of conservatives and centrists agree with libertarians on numerous issues, including cutting taxes, supporting gun rights, free market reforms, and much more.

Similarly, many millions of liberals and centrists agree with libertarians on numerous issues, including opposition to censorship, legalizing marijuana, ending corporate welfare, and much more.

crowd holding handsThis is important to remember when talking about current events, whether one-on-one or to a larger audience. You can strengthen your position by letting your listeners know that most of your libertarian views on current events enjoy strong
support from vast numbers of people.

Sprinkle your conversation with phrases like these:

"Like millions of Americans, I believe..."

"Like tens of millions of people from across the political spectrum, I've come to see that..."

"Like millions of Americans -- liberals, conservatives, Democrats and Republicans -- libertarians believe that... "

Practice such phrases until they become a natural part of your speaking style.

There's strength and safety in numbers. Many people are afraid to embrace an idea new to them if they feel it is supported only by a small number of people, or by a group they're new to or unfamiliar with.

Use phrases like these to reassure them -- to show them that the ideas of liberty have wide support, even outside the fast-growing libertarian movement. This may give them the inspiration and courage to explore ideas they'd otherwise remain closed to.

And they may in turn discover they want to be part of a movement that is consistently for liberty on every issue.
 
* * * * * *
Sharon Harris is president of the Advocates for Self-Government. See more One Minute Liberty tips.

 
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