Volume 13, Number 9 | May 22, 2008
The Liberator Online
Contents
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
PERSUASION POWER POINT
#249
ASK DR. RUWART
PRODUCT REVIEW
Dear friends, Are there libertarian influences at the highest levels
of Barack Obama's campaign? Thaler is also the father of the
"behavioral-economics" movement, and the co-author of Nudge, a hot new
book promoting a political "third way" called... "libertarian
paternalism." * * * JOIN ME AT THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY NATIONAL CONVENTION! The Advocates will be at the upcoming LP presidential nominating convention in Denver, Colorado May 22 to May 26. Please note: * OUR BOOTH will be right next to... Starbucks! We'll be having special events -- book signings, prize drawings, and more -- every day of the convention. Please come by and say hello. Mention the Liberator Online and get a FREE GIFT! * I'LL BE DOING A WORKSHOP on Friday, May 23, 10:30 a.m. on "How to Supercharge Your Libertarian Outreach." And I'll be speaking in the delegate hall Saturday, May 24, 8:30 a.m. on "How To Make Libertarianism 'Sticky.'" * DR. JAMES LARK, Advocates Board vice chair, will speak Friday, May 23, 3:00--4:00 p.m. on campus organizing – a topic on which he is a noted expert. * MICHAEL CLOUD, Liberator Online columnist and renowned communication guru, will be luncheon speaker Saturday, May 24, 12:30--2:00 p.m. That same day Michael will tell how "You Can Easily Raise $10,000 for Your Campaign" 5:00--6:00 p.m. And on Sunday, 4:00--5:00 p.m., Michael will conduct a seminar on "How I Raised Myself from Failure to Success with Libertarian Communication." * DR. MARY RUWART of "Short Answers to the Tough Questions" fame is campaigning for the LP's presidential nomination. If you like her column, this is a great opportunity to tell her. * MORE INFORMATION on the LP national convention: I look forward to seeing many of you there! * * * Welcome to 72 new Liberator Online subscribers this issue. Thanks for joining our subscription "family" of over 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: Ron Paul's great new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto, is a national bestseller! We have the exciting story in this issue's "Good News, Bad News, Unbelievable News" section. Buying a copy? If so, please consider purchasing it through Amazon.com. 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 you order is $25 or more (of this book or other titles), you get FREE SHIPPING. Thank you!
What's Happening With The Advocates * Author Richard Maybury recommends the Quiz:
Richard Maybury is one of the best political writers on the planet. His
marvelous books, including the renowned Whatever Happened To Penny
Candy?, are so simply and clearly written that a child can read and
understand them, yet they contain a wealth of essential political
wisdom. Maybury also publishes a highly regarded investment newsletter,
"Early Warning Report," and we were delighted that he recommended the
Quiz to his subscribers as a resource for learning more about the
growing liberty movement. Thank you! You can buy some of Maybury's
classic books at our store: * Marshall Fritz Health Update: Marshall Fritz
-- the legendary and beloved 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; Florence; and
Barcelona. The event is organized by Ken Bisson of Freedom Cruises.
Great food, an amazing itinerary, and fine company! (This isn't an
Advocates event, but Ken is on our Board of Directors, and libertarians
who have been on past cruises rave about them.) For more details, visit: ******
by James W. Harris How's this for a downright totalitarian scheme? Legislation being pushed by many Republicans and Democrats in Congress would require every business in America to ask the federal government to approve any new employee it wants to hire. So far over thirty members of Congress have signed on to the "New Employee Verification Act," or NEVA, bill. Other bills with similar aims are also being considered. An article by Rob Hotakainenm of McClatchy Newspapers summarizes the Orwellian NEVA plan: "The nation's 7.4 million employers would be required to provide the government with Social Security numbers for all new employees -- more than 55 million each year -- and federal employees would then use a massive electronic database to do cross-checks. The new system would aim to detect any workers who got their jobs by using fraudulent Social Security numbers." The supposed rationale of the law is to keep illegal immigrants from being hired. But it would, of course, apply to all American citizens as well, eventually trapping us all in an ever-expanding federal database. It's a Big Brother nightmare-come-true. The American Civil Liberties Union says the legislation would create a "no-work list" -- like the hated and abusive no-fly list -- that would apply to all Americans. "Americans should not have to ask their federal government if they have permission to accept a new job," said Caroline Fredrickson, the director of the ACLU's Washington legislative office. The plan's chief sponsor is Rep. Sam Johnson, (R-TX), who says Americans are "tired of broken laws and broken promises" concerning immigration. Well, Rep. Johnson, speaking of "broken laws and broken promises," what about the promise of America as the "land of the free"? Americans need to say "Never!" to NEVA and other schemes like it -- while there's still time. (Source: "Critics see Big Brother in employment
verification plan" * * * Ron Paul's New Book Hits #1 on New York Times Best Sellers List People are hungry to learn about liberty! Ron Paul's new book, The Revolution: A Manifesto, shot to the top of the New York Times Best Sellers list within days of its publication.
The book has already gone through five printings in mere weeks, with more than 100,000 copies in print. This is exciting news! As libertarian historian Thomas E. Woods, Jr., notes: "The book gives supporters of Ron Paul's message scores of additional arguments they can use to defend their positions. This book will be what countless young people, 10 to 20 years down the road, will cite as the formative influence on their political outlook." Lew Rockwell, president of the Mises Institute and Paul's one-time congressional chief of staff, had this to say about the book: "Ron Paul's legacy -- from decades of principled defense of freedom, peace, and sound money -- is inculcated in this very important book. Just the right length, it convincingly and eloquently advances the Ron Paul philosophy. It's a book for beginners and for all of us, no matter how well-read, on liberty, Austrian economics, the Federal Reserve, the free market, the welfare state, and the warfare state. "No mere 'campaign book,' this is one for the ages. And I especially appreciated the suggested reading list at the end. Ron, thank you for your shining example in congress, for teaching millions through your presidential race, and for being -- as this extraordinary book shows -- the Tom Paine of the second American revolution." 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, 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 you order is $25 or more (of this book or other titles), you get FREE SHIPPING. Thank you! (Source: Amazon.com: * * * U.S. Mail Monopoly: And You Thought Gas Prices Were Bad? Economist Mark Perry makes this startling point at his excellent blog Carpe Diem: "Over the last 89 years, the average retail price of gasoline has increased almost 14 times, from 25.5 cents per gallon in 1919 to $3.51 per gallon in 2008. "Over the same period, the price of a first-class stamp in the U.S. has increased 21 times, from 2 cents in 1919 to 42 cents in 2008. "If stamp prices had increased over time at 'only' the rate of gas prices, a first-class stamp would cost only 27.6 cents today instead of 42 cents. "When gas prices rose last year, Rep. Bart Stupak (D.-MI) introduced 'The Federal Price Gouging Prevention Act,' which would make it a crime to 'sell crude oil or gasoline at a price that is unconscionably excessive.' Shouldn't we now investigate 'unconscionably excessive stamp prices'? "Monopoly has its privileges." (Source: Carpe Diem blog: * * * USA TODAY: You Owe the Gov't Over Half A Million Dollars Startling figures from USA TODAY: "The federal government's long-term financial obligations grew by $2.5 trillion last year, a reflection of the mushrooming cost of Medicare and Social Security benefits as more baby boomers reach retirement. That's double the red ink of a year earlier. "Taxpayers are on the hook for a record $57.3 trillion in federal liabilities to cover the lifetime benefits of everyone eligible for Medicare, Social Security and other government programs, a USA TODAY analysis found. That's nearly $500,000 per household. "When obligations of state and local governments are added, the total rises to $61.7 trillion, or $531,472 per household. "That is more than four times what Americans owe in personal debt such as mortgages." (Source: "Taxpayers' bill leaps by trillions," by
Dennis Cauchon, USA TODAY: * * * * * QUICK SHOTS... * STOP FDA-CAUSED SUFFERING AND DEATH: "Even
drugs which have been used safely for years in Europe or elsewhere
cannot be sold in the United States without the approval of the Food and
Drug Administration -- which can take years, while people suffer and die
from a lack of that drug. Why not allow such drugs to be sold with a
bright red label that says: 'THIS DRUG IS NOT APPROVED BY THE FOOD AND
DRUG ADMINISTRATION. NOR IS IT DISAPPROVED'?" -- economist, author, and
syndicated columnist Thomas Sowell: * NEAL BOORTZ: "I'm a confirmed Libertarian. I started out my political life as a young, idealistic and dumb liberal. Then I started paying income taxes. Thankfully, I realized sooner than most the difference between what I earn and my 'take-home' pay. For a few years I guess you could have called me a conservative. I was troubled, though, by the penchant conservatives have for directing the social lives of people. That led me straight to the libertarian philosophy. Simply put, I believe in freedom. I believe the Constitution should be amended with a clause which states that neither the federal nor any state government shall make any activity that does not violate, through force or fraud, a person's right to life, liberty or property, a crime." -- Neal Boortz, host of the sixth most listened-to radio program in America (four million listeners), best-selling author, interviewed in Southern Seasons magazine, Spring 2008. * OIL AND WOULD-BE PRESIDENTS: "[The] tiff over
gas and oil taxes only highlights the intellectual policy confusion --
or perhaps we should say cynicism -- of our politicians. They want lower
prices but don't want more production to increase supply. They want oil
'independence' but they've declared off limits most of the big sources
of domestic oil that could replace foreign imports. They want Americans
to use less oil to reduce greenhouse gases but they protest higher oil
prices that reduce demand. They want more oil company investment but
they want to confiscate the profits from that investment. And these
folks want to be President?" -- Wall Street Journal, "Windfall Profits
for Dummies" * * * * * * * *
Tale of Two Wood Cutters by Michael Cloud Two woodcutters decide to have a contest to see who can cut the most wood. The first man cuts wood all day. The second man stops and sits down 10 minutes each hour. At the end of the day, the second woodcutter has 3 times as much wood as the first. The first woodcutter is stunned. "How could you do 3 times as much as me? You were resting or goofing off almost an hour and a half -- while I kept cutting wood." "I wasn't resting," said the second woodcutter. "I was sharpening my saw." How often do you sharpen your saw? How often do you practice and hone your libertarian persuasion power points? Can you simply, easily, and effectively answer the basic libertarian questions? In 60 seconds or less: 1. What's a libertarian? 2. What is individual liberty? How is it different from what we have now? 3. What's the difference between liberty and license? 4. What is personal responsibility? 5. What is ownership? What is property? What are property rights? 6. What is free trade? How is it different from what we have now? How is it different from fair trade? 7. What is Big Government? What is small government?
What's bad about Big 8. So what? Why do these things matter? What
difference would they make for Can you smoothly and fluently answer each of these
questions in 60 seconds You can if you regularly "sharpen your saw" -- just a few minutes each day. You can if you practice your answers moments every day -- so they become an unshakeable, unbreakable response. When you master your answers, you free your conscious
mind to listen and If this is for you, make it a habit to sharpen your saw. * * * * * * * * 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. * * * QUESTION ONE: Nobody produced land. So, shouldn't everyone have an equal chance to use it? MY SHORT ANSWER: Most, if not all, of land's value comes from the use to which it is put. For example, when our ancestors wanted to farm, they had to clear the land to grow crops. Land was much more valuable after it was cleared. Those who worked to create this extra equity in the land should, naturally, own the improvements. To establish property rights on the improvements, these "homesteaders" took title to the land itself. Thus, ownership of land was earned. "Everyone" did not contribute equally to the land improvements, so "everyone" did not -- and should not -- have equal access to it. QUESTION TWO: How would libertarians secure, for younger generations, the same access to land that previous generations had? MY SHORT ANSWER: Younger generations do have the same access to land that previous generations did. They pay in the same coin -- their labor. In today's world, people usually exchange their labor for currency, which they then exchange for land. The younger generation has it relatively easy -- backbreaking labor from sunrise to sunset is usually unnecessary today. QUESTION THREE: But aren't the windfall profits landlords receive actually the property of society in general? MY SHORT ANSWER: No! Landlords work hard for their money -- I know, I was one! My tenants felt sorry for me. One of them told me to stop trying to repair, paint, and improve the property. "Go on welfare, like me," she urged. "Then you can get some rest! * * * * * * * * 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 "Daddy and Mommy" Metaphor by Sharon Harris An old libertarian joke provides a quick, funny and
persuasive look at the difference between conservatives, liberals, and
libertarians:
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