By Wes Benedict, National Libertarian Party Executive Director
Last week it was reported that the Obama Administration wants to give the FBI power to force internet companies to reveal information about their users’ internet activities: things like who they send email to, times and dates of emails, and maybe also information about their web browser activity.
Even worse, they want the FBI to be able to demand this information without a warrant!
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By Matt Wittlief
This past Monday, the City-County Council voted to approve the transfer of water and wastewater utilities to Citizen’s Energy Group. The deal is very complex and convoluted – perhaps by design, perhaps by necessity. My opinions on the deal have varied, but in the end, I support the transfer, but not the entire deal.
While this process did begin a long time ago, public awareness of the deal has been essentially limited to the last few months after the Mayor’s Office released the Memorandum of Understanding which was signed on March 9. The deal transfers two utilities, the water and wastewater systems, along with a significant amount of debt to Citizens in exchange for a cash payment. The key reason for the transfer, as marketed to the public, was to allow Citizens to leverage synergies in managing utilities to help curb ratepayer costs. There has also been much publicity regarding the issuance of bonds in conjunction with the sale to fund infrastructure improvements for roads, bridges, sidewalks, and parks.
It is important to understand that these are two distinct issues which had two distinct proposals and two distinct votes before the City Council.
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(By Mark Rutherford, National LP Vice Chairman. Originally posted on LP.org.)
Hagerstown, Indiana is a hotbed of elected Libertarian activity.
It is a community of 1800 people, the community center of a significantly populated rural area and has Libertarians elected to partisan office.
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Greg Knott’s novel slogan ‘No Bull’ is an acronym, signifying the six pillars of his platform in his bid to unseat incumbent Baron Hill in the US House in District 9.
In this diverse district, which is home to left-of-center Bloomington, and a large right-of-center rural area, Knott plans to outflank both of his opponents by taking firm stands on issues where timid solutions rule the day.
Listen to the new podcast here: 055 Greg Knott: ‘No Bull’ in District 9
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(By Jason Pye, Originally Posted at United Liberty.)
Were taxes a factor in LeBron James picking the Miami Heat over other teams, such as the New York Knicks, the New Jersey Nets or even his former employer, the Cleveland Cavaliers? It’s a question worth looking at:
In a July 1 blog post, the New York Post warned that “dysfunctional lawmakers in Albany” could cost the state a chance to bring the coveted athlete to New York.
“If LeBron James goes to the Miami Heat instead of the [New York] Knicks, blame our dysfunctional lawmakers in Albany, who have saddled top-earning New Yorkers with the highest state and city income taxes in the nation, soon to be 12.85 percent on top of the IRS bite,” the Post said.
The tax savings for James in Miami over New York City would be staggering, according to the Post’s analysis.
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By Evan Matthews, a Hoosier Libertarian
“Spend now, while the economy remains depressed; save later, once it has recovered. How hard is that to understand?”
Thus begins Paul Krugman’s June 20 article. The answer to his question is that it’s quite difficult if we are living in reality. When speaking in simplified, self-righteous rhetoric, this concept is indeed simple to grasp. When dealing with the reality of American politics, however, it becomes much more elusive.
Mr. Krugman’s thinking is at best naïve and at worst hopelessly misguided and harmful. His thesis is that in the future some politician—somewhere—will endorse and initiate a movement of austerity that will help this nation right its fiscal ship and become solvent once more.
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IN CONGRESS, JULY 4, 1776
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America
When in the Course of human events it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature and of Nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness. — That to secure these rights, Governments are instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, — That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness. Prudence, indeed, will dictate that Governments long established should not be changed for light and transient causes; and accordingly all experience hath shewn that mankind are more disposed to suffer, while evils are sufferable than to right themselves by abolishing the forms to which they are accustomed. But when a long train of abuses and usurpations, pursuing invariably the same Object evinces a design to reduce them under absolute Despotism, it is their right, it is their duty, to throw off such Government, and to provide new Guards for their future security. — Such has been the patient sufferance of these Colonies; and such is now the necessity which constrains them to alter their former Systems of Government. The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States.
To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world.
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (6/30/10) – Today, the Indiana Supreme Court issued its opinion in League v. Rokita regarding the Voter ID law in Indiana. Libertarian Party nominee for Secretary of State Mike Wherry supports this decision by the Court and applauds this protection against voter fraud.
Wherry explains, “The Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of a common sense law today. We have to show identification for any number of normal day-to-day tasks to prove who we are. The need to show ID in order to vote should not have to be any different. It is important for us to have integrity in our elections without disenfranchising voters. And this law provides opportunities for all voters with ample provisions for those who may not currently have proper ID.”
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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
INDIANAPOLIS, IN (6/28/10) – Mike Wherry, Libertarian Party candidate for Secretary of State, extends his congratulations to Charlie White and Vop Osili on their respective nominations for Secretary of State.
“I would like to congratulate Charlie White and Vop Osili and welcome them to the race. I hope that we have a spirited debate regarding the issues and wish them the best of luck,” said Wherry. “The Secretary of State is an important office in Indiana and critical for ensuring that Hoosiers have the right to exercise their choice at the ballot box. This will be a great three-way race in November.”
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I have never believed in the Easter Bunny, Santa Claus, or that creepy Tooth Fairy thing.
But that doesn’t mean that I haven’t nurtured other baseless, nutty beliefs until some painful paroxysm jolted me awake.
Many years ago, under horrible personal circumstances, I endured the same spiritual upheaval you’re feeling right now. Just as with you, my religion turned out to be a big lie. My false god turned against me, just as it’s turning against you now. So like you, I can no longer believe in the charity, peace and love of …politicians.
While initially painful, there is relief in this truth that sets you free.
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