Volume 13, Number 10 | June 5, 2008
The Liberator Online
Contents
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
PERSUASION POWER POINT
#250
ASK DR. RUWART
PRODUCT REVIEW
Dear friends, Last week I received this email. I'd like to share it with you:
I love letters like this. When Advocates Founder Marshall Fritz conceived the Quiz over twenty years ago, he insisted that the Quiz not be a mere propaganda tool for libertarians. Marshall wanted an honest, reliable Quiz that would give valuable and accurate political insights to everyone who took it, regardless of their political leanings. Only in that way, he believed, could the Quiz catch on and spread -- and eventually awaken Americans to the idea that there is more to politics than just "left versus right" or "conservatives versus liberals." It would let them know that libertarianism, too, was a legitimate and significant part of American politics. Marshall was right. The Quiz has become a valuable
tool for anyone interested in politics --
In fact, the Quiz is now in the online supplemental material of a dozen high school and college textbooks -- including some of America's most popular textbooks, by major publishers including McGraw-Hill, Prentice Hall, W.W. Norton, and Houghton Mifflin. These textbooks are used in thousands of classrooms! Thanks to Marshall's vision, millions of Americans have become aware of the fast-growing libertarian sector of American politics. And many thousands of students now encounter it in their classrooms. The Quiz revolution continues, as thousands of people take it online -- every day. Oh, Marshall had one other goal for the Quiz -- that it be fun! As the email above points out at the end, Marshall succeeded in that, too. * * * Welcome to 121 new Liberator Online subscribers this issue. Thanks for joining our subscription "family" of over 70,000 liberty-loving readers in more than 100 countries! Learn more about the Advocates
and our work for liberty. -- Sharon Harris, President | Email: sharon@TheAdvocates.org PS: We have a very special, limited-time offer for you: Save 40% on "The Best of Harry Browne!" Take advantage of this, and you'll get... * Harry Browne's last published book, LIBERTY A-Z. (A
$13.95 value.) All of this is yours for only $20 (plus shipping and handling). This is a $33.95 value -- so you save $13.95. That's more than a 40% savings on two great speeches and an extraordinary book by one of America's greatest libertarian communicators. Act today! This offer is good through June 19, 2008. To order, or learn more, see "Product Review" at the
end of this issue. Or visit: Your purchase supports the great work of the
Advocates. Thank you!
What's Happening With The Advocates
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. To learn the latest news about his condition, his
thoughts on his illness, upcoming Marshall events, or to send him a
message, visit this page: * Freedom Cruise: Announcing the Eleventh
Annual "Freedom Cruise" -- a glorious 12 day cruise through the
Mediterranean, focused on Italy and the Greek islands: Venice; Dubrovnic;
Corfu; Argostoli; Santorini; Catania; Naples; Rome; * ******
by James W. Harris The growing grassroots movement to stop the government's Orwellian REAL ID national ID scheme just won another major victory. In late May, a bill passed by the Alaska state legislature to prevent the state from funding the federal REAL ID Act became law. Thus far, 19 states have passed either resolutions or statutes against the program. Nine -- now including Alaska -- have rejected REAL ID completely. REAL ID -- as we've covered in previous issues -- is a police-state federal mandate that would force a national ID card on all Americans by standardizing state drivers licenses and loading them with sensitive personal information. This information would be held in massive databases, which would make it easy to routinely track, monitor, and regulate the movements and activities of all citizens. The REAL ID card could be required to do almost anything in America: get a job, fly, buy over-the-counter medicine, enter a federal building, and more. (For more on REAL ID, see this previous Liberator
Online: REAL ID opponents cheered Alaska. "Alaska has joined a growing nationwide movement against REAL ID," said Barry Steinhardt, director of the ACLU Technology and Liberty Program. "The [REAL ID] act was hastily passed by Congress without receiving the proper assessment of cost and implementation and is now being forced on the states by administration officials who will not be around in 2017, when final implementation is projected to occur." Steinhardt added, "By allowing this vital legislation to become law, [Alaska] Governor Palin has opened the door for other governors to do the same." Let's hope they do! (Source: ACLU * * * France Orders Gov't Control of... Country Dancing Yee-haw! Or is it "oui-haw?" However you say it, country and western dancing is sweeping France. So naturally, French bureaucrats feel compelled to control, license and regulate it. From the London Evening Standard: "Now country and western has become so big in France that the country's bureaucrats have decided to bring the craze under state control. "The French administration has moved to create an
official country dancing diploma as part
"In a peculiarly Gallic approach to the phenomenon, French civil servants say line dancing should be submitted to the same rules as sports such as football and rugby. This means imposing training courses for line dancing teachers and a state-approved diploma for anyone who wants to give lessons or run clubs. "Amateur instructors will have to take 200 hours of training under the new rules. Professionals will get 600 hours, including such subjects as line dancing techniques, 'the mechanics of the human body' and the English (or at least Texan) language. They will also learn how to teach line dancing to the elderly. "The cost of the courses, about €2,000 ($3,000) for the professionals and €500 for the amateurs, will be largely met by taxpayers. "[Jean Chauveau, the chairman of the country section of the French Dance Federation] said the regulations highlighted the French state's obsessive desire to organize all public activity. 'France is the only country in Europe apart from Greece where sport is controlled through the state,' he said. 'Line dancing is now considered a sport, so it is being controlled, too.'" Americans can laugh at this idiocy. But not too hard. U.S. bureaucrats are just as idiotic and tyrannical as their French counterparts. To give just one example, many states in America requires expensive and time-consuming licensing and class work merely to... braid hair. (Source: "Oui-Ha! France brings line dancing craze
under state control" * * * President John McCain: A Military "Near-Dictator"?
Last April, Goldfarb wrote the following about the powers he thinks the U.S. president possesses: "The framers... sought an energetic executive with near dictatorial power in pursuing foreign policy and war." Oh, really? The Founders wanted a president with "near dictatorial" power? Responds liberal journalist Glenn Greenwald of Salon.com: "Until the Bill Kristols and John Yoos and other authoritarians of that strain entered the political mainstream, I never heard of prominent Americans who describe the power that they want to vest in our political leaders as 'near dictatorial.' Anyone with an even passing belief in American political values would consider the word 'dictatorial' -- at least rhetorically, if not substantively -- to define that which we avoid at all costs, not something which we seek, embrace and celebrate. "And the very idea that the Founders -- whose principal concern was how to avoid consolidated power in any one person -- sought to vest 'near dictatorial power' in the president is too perverse for words. But that's been the core 'principle' driving the destructive radicalism of the last seven years, and it's an extremist view that is obviously welcomed at the highest levels of the McCain campaign."
But of course, that's what you'd expect from the spokesman for a "near dictator," right? (Source: Glenn Greenwald, Salon.com: * * * Ron Paul on "The Revolution"
"Early on in my presidential campaign, people began
describing my message and agenda as a "revolution." In a way, it is,
albeit a peaceful one. In a country with a political debate as
restricted as ours, it is revolutionary to ask whether we need troops in
130 countries and whether the noninterventionist foreign policy
recommended by our Founding Fathers might not be better. It is
revolutionary to ask whether the accumulation of more and more power in
Washington has been good for us. It is revolutionary to ask fundamental
questions about privacy, police-state measures, taxation, social policy,
and countless other matters.
"This revolution, though, is not altogether new. It is a peaceful continuation of the American Revolution and the principles of our Founding Fathers: liberty, self-government, the Constitution, and a noninterventionist foreign policy. That is what they taught us, and that is what we now defend." -- from Ron Paul's bestselling new book The Revolution: A Manifesto. * * * BUY RON PAUL'S BOOK FROM AMAZON AND SUPPORT THE ADVOCATES * * * If you're going to buy Ron Paul's new book from Amazon.com, please consider using the Advocates' Amazon.com link. You won't be charged a penny more, and the Advocates will get a small but much-appreciated percentage of your purchase. The book is only $12.60, and if your order is $25 or more (of this book or other titles), you get FREE SHIPPING. * * * * * QUICK SHOTS... * LET FREE ENTERPRISE FIX U.S. HEALTH CARE: "Wal-Mart already has made major inroads into accessible, affordable care through lower drug prices, walk-in clinics and electronic record-keeping. Why stop there? Wal-Mart has done more to expand coverage and lower costs in the past year than any government program to come out of Washington in the past 10 years. And I'd bet the new programs that this company -- known for stiffing its own part-time workers on health care benefits -- has announced in the past year will do more to expand coverage and cut costs than anything likely to come out of a McCain, Clinton or Obama first term." -- from "Let Wal-Mart fix US health care," by Jim
Jubak, the Web's most-read investing writer: * CIGARETTE TAXES FUND TERRORISM: "While it's
politically popular to impose confiscator "Who is most likely to engage in cigarette smuggling? It's a mixed answer, but for the most part, organized smugglers will be people with a high disregard for the law. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF) has found that Russian, Armenian, Ukrainian, Chinese, Taiwanese, and Middle Eastern (mainly Pakistani, Lebanese, and Syrian) organized crime groups are highly involved in the trafficking of contraband and counterfeit cigarettes. What's worse is the ATF found that some of these groups use the money to provide material financial assistance to terrorist groups such as Hezbollah and Hamas." -- libertarian syndicated columnist Walter Williams: * * * * * * * *
Are You Vaccinating the People in
Your Life Against Liberty?
by Michael Cloud You understand the virtues and values of libertarianism. You know the blessings and benefits that liberty gives. You've probably read key libertarian and free market books, essays, and articles. Like most of us, you are eager to share these ideas and insights and proposals with the people you're closest to. Your family, friends, co-workers, and people you socialize with. So you do. Most of them listen the first time. For 15 minutes. Or 30 minutes. But few become as excited or enthusiastic about liberty as you are. So a day or a week or a month later, you talk with them about liberty a second time. Most are less receptive and responsive than they were the first time. Some will listen -- for 5 minutes. Or 10. A few will debate you on a point or two. A few days or weeks or months later, you'll bring up your libertarian ideas for a third time. Most are uninterested. Few will listen with an open mind. Now they're vaccinated against liberty. Immunized. Resistant to it. Why? Because you first exposed them to a weaker strain of liberty. Or you presented it in a weaker way. You were new to libertarianism. You hadn't mastered the most powerful and persuasive evidence, arguments, language, and formulations of libertarianism. New believers feel driven to proselytize and evangelize their new beliefs. Yet new believers do not have the experience or skills needed to win the hearts and minds of most listeners. So they unwittingly make others more resistant to their new cherished beliefs. So, is it hopeless? Are your family, friends, and co-workers permanently immune to libertarian ideas? No. First, many of them may only be immune to you. To your attempts to discuss liberty with them. Many may be receptive to another libertarian. Perhaps to Harry Browne's books or recordings. Or Mary Ruwart's. Or Sharon Harris's recordings. Or to my "Personal Responsibility Sets Us Free" CD. Second, many of them are only resistant to the way you
are presenting libertarianism. Carefully read past issues of the
Liberator Online for the best ways to present libertarianism. For past
issues, click here: And take just 3 minutes each morning to practice one thing you learn. Third, buy, read, practice, and master my book:
Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion. You can buy it here: Fourth, just as most medical vaccinations wear off, so will your political vaccination -- UNLESS you keep giving your family and friends regular boosters. If you've immunized them to liberty, stop talking with them about it. Exercise your right to remain silent. Over time, they may ask you questions about freedom or the free market. If so, briefly answer their questions. Less is more. Don't give them all they ask for. Whet their appetite: don't satisfy it. Leave them wanting to hear more about liberty. Over time, their resistance will soften and melt and vanish. Over time, if you learn and practice the methods taught by the Advocates, you can become a powerful and persuasive libertarian communicator. You'll love the results. You'll love how you feel. And your family and friends will, too. * * * * * * * * 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. * * * Will drug kingpins disappear when drugs are re-legalized? QUESTION: If we end the War on Drugs and legalize drugs, drug kingpins aren't just going to sit idly by and let their kingdoms go to... pot, are they? So how can we keep the peace and protect people from the violence of gang warfare and drug turf wars after drugs are decriminalized? MY SHORT ANSWER: When alcohol Prohibition ended, the gang wars ended, too. Organized crime quickly got out of the business of selling alcohol when re-legalization took the black market profits out of booze. Crime decreased dramatically and so did the need for police. Criminals simply cannot compete with private business, in production, distribution, or quality of product. When we end Drug Prohibition, we can expect the pushers to fade quietly away also. When we re-legalize drugs, we'll take away the black market profit that attracts the criminal element. Drug gang shoot-outs over turf will stop, because they won't be worth winning. Drug addicts won't need to steal to support their habit because legalization will dramatically lower prices, and will make treatment or less dangerous drugs available to those who want them. Just as when we ended alcohol Prohibition, crime will decrease dramatically and so will the need for police activity." LEARN MORE: "How Legalizing Drugs Will End the
Violence," by Norm Stamper, former chief of the Seattle Police
Department: "Thinking About Drug Legalization," Cato Institute
Policy Analysis: * * * What if all private charities shut down at once? QUESTION: In a libertarian society what would happen to people who are mentally or physically unable to work, and who have no families to support them? What if private charities all just decide to close down? MY SHORT ANSWER: Long before government welfare, private charities owned and operated hospitals, orphanages, and mental institutions. Government simply took over this private sector function, and does it poorly in comparison. Two-thirds of each tax dollar targeted for helping the disadvantaged goes to the middle-class administrators; over two-thirds of private donations actually reach the people that we're trying to help. When people aren't forced to give to wasteful government welfare programs, they'll have more money to give to efficient private charities. Because private charities are many and diverse, there's little risk that they'd all shut down -- for any reason. However, centralized government funding can be easily cut or eliminated by a handful of politicians, virtually overnight. When this happens, many needy people are displaced while the private sector races to catch up. The needy are best served by those who care enough to volunteer time and money. They don't need the further abuse of being treated like a political football. LEARN MORE: "Replacing Welfare," Cato
Institute: * * * * * * * * 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
Word Choices: The "Grandchild Tax" by Sharon Harris One of the most successful rhetorical victories in politics in recent years was the renaming of the "Estate Tax" to the "Death Tax." At the recent Libertarian Party national convention,
presidential aspirant George Phillies
Phillies called for an end to "the Grandchild Tax." What is the Grandchild Tax? Phillies describes it as "the most heinous of all taxes, the Grandchild Tax, which hides under the name 'National Debt.'" Why call the National Debt the Grandchild Tax? Phillies explains: "The National Debt is the ultimate in taxation without representation. We spend the money. Our grandkids get the bill, labeled 'interest on the national debt.' The Grandchild Tax is a terrible gift for our grandchildren and others yet unborn. We should end the Grandchild Tax and pay our own bills." The phrase "Grandchild Tax" has many strengths. It graphically and dramatically tells who pays the National Debt. It pulls at our emotions. It demands responsibility of us. It paints a vivid picture. When we think of "National Debt," the only picture that pops in our minds may be a graph or chart. But when we hear "Grandchild Tax," we see something far more real: innocent children being robbed of their future. Taxation without representation. And we may feel the need to stop that robbery. Too many people learned in school that the National
Debt is okay because "we owe it to ourselves." Using the term Grandchild
Tax helps wipe out that fallacy and awakens us to the intergenerational
unfairness of the National Debt.
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including
educators. 
*
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. 
DISCOVER LIBERTY OUTREACH TABLOID: "Discover Liberty" is a high
quality, full-color, eye-catching 8-page tabloid. It's attractive and
friendly, designed for OPH booth volunteers to hand out to the public.
It's amazingly affordable -- as low as 2.9 cents each. AND we pay
shipping! Learn more, and order yours today:
of
a drive to regulate the fad. Authorized instructors who have been on
publicly funded training courses will be put in charge of line dancing
lessons and balls. 
John
McCain proudly announced the newest member of his staff this week.
Michael Goldfarb, online editor for the neocon magazine The Weekly
Standard, is his new Deputy Communications Director. 
Goldfarb
has also endorsed torture techniques such as beatings and waterboarding,
and has called for amnesty for corporations which assist the government
in knowingly and illegally spying upon Americans without warrants.
"My
message is one of freedom and individual rights. I believe individuals
have a right to life and liberty and that physical aggression should be
used only defensively. We should respect each other as rational beings
by trying to achieve our goals through reason and persuasion rather than
threats and coercion. That, and not a desire for "economic efficiency,"
is the primary moral reason for opposing government intrusions into our
lives: government is force, not reason. 
y
taxes on America's 40 million tobacco smokers, there are a number of
consequences one might consider, but let's start out with a quiz. If a
carton of cigarettes sells for $160 in New York City, and $35 in North
Carolina, what do you predict will happen? If you answered tons of
cigarettes will be going up I-95 from North Carolina to New York City,
go to the head of the class. .... 
used
a brilliant phrase that is just as powerful -- on a more important
issue. 
