by Tom Rhodes, 3/27/2017
I read this at Voxday today, “Libertarianism and pure classical liberal economics are elegant and seductive systems; but they did not stand up to the test of empirical evidence.” That sums up the failure of libertarianism.
Libertarianism works for a people willing to self-govern who share a culture, with common values. Libertarianism like our constitution is a reflection of a specific culture with a specific set of values. Any society that embraces libertarianism but does not have a shared culture by an overwhelming majority will fall apart and cease to function as a cohesive society.
Our forefathers were clear, and our constitution based on libertarian(classical liberal) ideas, functioned and created a society where more people prospered than any other in the history of the world. Until 1965 the USA protected it’s cultural heritage, it did so by not accepting large numbers of people from dissimilar cultures and worked at having those cultures assimilate and adopt American culture. The root of that culture is from Northern Europe primarily the English with some Dutch and German. There is/was one unifying cultural root of those Northern European Cultures - Protestant Christianity.
Significant numbers of most other cultures cannot be readily absorbed, and will cause strife and separation and disharmony in a society if allowed to immigrate in large numbers. Because Catholicism is closely related to Protestantism small but significant amounts of immigrants from Catholic cultures have be absorbed in the USA.
History is clear, any society is invaded by force or allows invasion of large numbers of people from other cultures dies. Opening our doors to the third world as resulted not in those immigrants assimilating and becoming Americans. Rather than diversity being uniting and uplifting phenomenon, it has resulted in strife, and the breakdown of our culture. Such invasion inevitably leads to war. Be it the Hispanics and Blacks in Compton, American colonists and Native Americans in the USA, the Moors and Christians in Spain, or the Mongols and where ever they moved, cultures don’t survive large numbers of a different culture invading. The tactic of moving in, building up a significant but culturally separate population, then taking over and eliminating the native culture is how both the Quran and history showed as the method for Islam to expand. The clash of cultures results in War. The mime “Diversity + Proximity = War” is proven by history. Right now there appears to be one exception, but it isn’t over and may yet come to war, that is Brexit. England may be able to salvage it’s culture and remain England without war, but the jury is still out.
History has shown that man is tribal and does not generally trust, tolerate, and live well with other tribes. God separated man into various tribes at Babul. Weather you believe this is an allegory to the evolutionary divergence of man, or to explain tribalism, or the literal truth, is irrelevant. Unless artificially forced, man will choose to live with people of his tribe. You have to be blind not to see that people live and mingle in groups of others who are like them. Almost every big city in the USA has a “China Town” or “Little Italy” within its borders. When I was a kid, the kid’s from our block were a distinct group from those “others” who didn’t live on our block. This is not forced it is natural and part of our evolutionary design. Gated communities exist because people don’t want to live in close proximity to “others.”
One group, tribe, culture, race, whatever is neither superior or inferior to another. They however are not the same. Being different is neither bad nor good it is just different. Utopian thinking libertarians, liberals, conservatives, socialists or whoever, that believe “if everybody would just blah blah blah, then everything would be great and everybody would be happy” are all wrong. Be it a society without government where everybody respected and valued the property of others or a society where government owned and controlled all property with no individual having ownership and all receive a share of the total, or whatever, they are all utopian ideas that history has shown will not work.
What history shows is that pure libertarianism, or anarchy, or socialism, or capitalism, or communism, or Islam, or any other “system” of governance don’t work for all people everywhere. The reason is clear, not every person is the same, not all tribes are the same, not all cultures are the same, and what one person or group values is not the same as what the other group values. History is clear when one group tries to force or otherwise condemns the values of another group, either the other group surrenders and allows its culture to die or they fight.
The people of many cultures say stuff like, “My culture will not surrender to yours, and will fight to the death rather than abandon our values and beliefs.” In the USA that is shortened to “Live Free or Die” or “Give me Liberty or Give me Death,” but it would just as easily be believed if said from a Japanese samurai; all variations on a theme of “Death before Dishonor.” So when cultural values clash, the result will be WAR! Islam is great in recognizing and capitalizing on this historic human trait that exists in all cultures, an evolutionary means of protecting culture. Islam clearly and boldly claims, you will surrender to Islam, or we will fight to the death. Other cultures will do the same, they cannot and never will live peacefully together. Ignoring this human trait that exists in every culture will lead to nothing but sorrow and violence. Keeping cultures separate is civilized, to do otherwise is to invite barbarism.
There is not, nor ever will be, one set of values and customs that everybody agrees. God separated the people, when man tries to undo what God did it never works out for the betterment of Man. When God separated men and created the different languages, it wasn’t only other language that men couldn’t understand, the very thinking and values of those “others” are so foreign that different tribes cannot understand (hence appreciate) the values of other tribes. The Alt-Right has a bull’s-eye on this point. All cultures have the right to protect themselves and keep other cultures from taking them over. As such, all cultures have the right to keep other cultures out, and institute a government, laying their government’s foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their safety and happiness.
When looking at languages, how do you reconcile people who don’t have a different word in their language to differentiate earning and winning. They equate earning money through hard work as the same as winning the lottery. You have money weather you earn it or win it is not relevant. The idea that actions, work to earn, or gambling, are the same when it comes to how you gain property. Who has more, is luck based, not based on the consequences of actions. This means that in some cultures, the idea that you must work to earn riches just doesn’t compute. You gain wealth because of who you are, who you know, and how lucky you are, what you do doesn’t relate to what you have. In the USA, what you do, is more important, than who you are. That is almost unique to American culture, where what your dad did or who he was is kind of irrelevant, a place where a black kid out of Chicago can be elected president one election cycle after an industrial robber baron’s family was president. A Chinese labor immigrant’s kids will never be president in Saudi Arabia, it’s just not culturally possible.
If a people choose they may institute a theocracy that they think will likely provide for their safety and happiness, or a commune, or a republic, or a democracy, or a King, or a Pope, or whatever. But no culture has the right to institute a government on another and all cultures have the right to protect themselves. The nation state appears to be the best method man has devised to divide diverse cultures avoid wars, and provide the means in which those societies can institute governments on principles that seems each separate and distinct society can best prosper. Forced unification, as seen last century by the USSR, fails and cannot be sustained.
When our founding fathers formed the USA, declaring our independence they summed up the idea that all not all cultures can get along and stay as one unified group of mankind. They declared that all men (meaning mankind and each culture) were created equally, but recognized they are different. As such declared “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 to 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.”
The forced unification in Iraq of Kurds, Sunnis, and Shiites has resulted in a constant war, some arbitrary outside group like the UN cannot force divergent cultures to live under one roof and not war. It has never happened and will never happen.
The EU is falling apart, the English are not the French who are not the Germans, who are not the Swiss or Dutch. The English have shown that they cannot and will not tolerate “others” dictating to them how they must live, Brexit is the best we can hope for, as English left the EU without violence. Great Britain has had to war to maintain unity because the Scotts, Irish, Welsh, and Brits, although nominally unified in being a Christian nation, as separate cultures have a lot of trouble staying together, much less staying bound to EU. The history of Great Britain is one of trying to force different cultures to unify and those different cultures warring to maintain their independence.
The USA will fall apart, the states used to have a set of shared values and culture, that is no longer true, the separation of the USA into smaller nation states is as inevitable as the breakup of the USSR. Hopefully we won’t repeat our past as when Americans war against each other the losses and devastation are more massive than any other warring tribes in history. If the USA has another civil war, it will end when one or the other group will be destroyed, ask the native Americans when we’ll stop, and how much of their culture and way of life can be maintained. The civil war resulted in the utter destruction of the South, it’s no longer the same, there is some “southern” culture but the facts are clear the Union invaded and forced cultural and societal change on the South in the War Between the States, some states still aren’t allowed to create their own voting laws.
If you believe “we can all get along” you’re an idiot. We can’t, never have, never will. Each culture should for the betterment of their own people learn to live with themselves, and nurture and institute what form of 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.
Globalism and one-worlders ideas have in the past, are now, and will always lead to war. Libertarianism is not functional except for a group of people who share the same values and culture. As a system it has proven to work for such a group whose values and culture are rooted in Protestant Christianity, but libertarianism is not a functional political system on a world wide scale where the same values and traditions of Christianity are not shared.
Diversity and libertarian ideas don’t work together. If they did the LP would be the strongest political party in the USA. The libertarian party theoretically embraces diversity, but it cannot and does not attract a diverse cross section of the population. The LP is made up of protestant white males of northern European heritage, and although not technically Christian, as a group and philosophy libertarians embrace the culture of the “protestant work ethic” a product of Reformation Theology. At its heart, libertarianism is the political manifestation of a subset of Protestantism, Calvinism. Cultures not of northern European origin, reject Protestantism, and disdain Calvinism and thus don’t accept libertarianism. The USA started changing at the beginning of the 20th century with a large influx of Catholics (Irish and Italian), this changed the culture and diluted the Calvinist influence. As such even though the LP, which as a political philosophy is clearly non-racist, and embraces acceptance of diverse people and ideas in principle, the LP is rejected by most of the USA.
The Libertarian Party (LP) rejected the Christian roots to libertarianism, and is the party is a combination of the libertine with Calvinism which makes the party inherently illogical and unacceptable to most people. The historic fact that libertarianism, allowing people liberty to succeed or fail and do what they want so long as they don’t harm others, resulted in the most prosperous society for more people doesn’t carry much weight. The reason is cultural. The idea that people are not duty bound, nor should they be forced to support others who fuck up is not acceptable to most other cultures, and as such libertarianism is rejected by most people.
Diversity is Strength is a lie. There is strength in unity not diversity. The USA is a prime example, since 1965 when we abandoned protection of our culture and unity as people and embraced diversity, the USA’s strength politically, economically, educationally, has diminished. Libertarianism worked for a while for a culturally unified Protestant population. On a larger world-wide scale it is and will remain a failure. Libertarianism will only function for a culture that is willing to protect itself. Libertarians for open borders, who embrace diversity, and reject the idea that a culture has the right to protect itself from others is virtual suicide. The 16 points of the Alt-right are currently the most advance and practical reality based political ideology where libertarianism can function. Read what Alt-Right says, not how they make you feel, the Alt-Right is coming together of great philosophy with realism and human nature. You can ignore the Alt-Right, but like ignoring the ideas of radical Islamists, the reality of what they represent will change your life and eventually world view.
Showing posts with label Libertarian Party. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Libertarian Party. Show all posts
Friday, March 24, 2017
Wednesday, April 22, 2015
43% of FL GOP Senators are Against
The 2nd Amendment
By Tom Rhodes, 4/22/2015
If you are a supporter of the 2nd Amendment you must seriously consider switching to the Libertarian Party. The fact is clear that as much as 43% of the Florida Senate Republicans are firmly against the 2nd Amendment and your gun rights.
There are two pro 2nd Amendment bills in the 2015 legislative session. Neither will be passed because the senate committees won’t pass them. Those bills are SB176 and SB180.
SB180 died in the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee. This Committee is chaired by Republican John Legg, and is made of 7 Republicans and 4 Democrats. Do the math, and it is clear the Republicans are against SB180 and the Second Amendment.
SB176 died in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This Committee is chaired by Republican Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, and is made of 7 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Do the math, and it is clear the Republicans are also against SB176 and the Second Amendment.
If all the Democrats supported ST176 and SB180 43% of the Republicans were against the 2nd Amendment. Even it the more likely event is that all the Democrats voted against those bills, 29% of the Florida Senate Republicans are against the Second Amendment. Voting Republican is not voting for a group that will protect your rights.
If you don’t know what Senate Bills 176 and 180 are, go to google and search “FL SB176” and “FL SB180”. As an informed citizen it is your responsibility to know what your elected representatives are doing. If your reading this you have internet access. Your Florida representative lets you know what’s going on at www.myfloridahouse.gov and your Florida senator lets you know what’s going on at www.myflsenate.gov . If you can’t be bothered, you’re part of the problem not the solution.
If the 2nd Amendment is important to you, you obviously have a problem. Electing Democrats is a fast way to losing your rights, and electing Republicans is slower way to losing your rights, certainly not a way to restore them. There is another choice for those who support liberty and freedom, including the 2nd Amendment. Look at the Libertarian Party
If you are a supporter of the 2nd Amendment you must seriously consider switching to the Libertarian Party. The fact is clear that as much as 43% of the Florida Senate Republicans are firmly against the 2nd Amendment and your gun rights.
There are two pro 2nd Amendment bills in the 2015 legislative session. Neither will be passed because the senate committees won’t pass them. Those bills are SB176 and SB180.
SB180 died in the Senate Education Pre-K-12 Committee. This Committee is chaired by Republican John Legg, and is made of 7 Republicans and 4 Democrats. Do the math, and it is clear the Republicans are against SB180 and the Second Amendment.
SB176 died in the Senate Judiciary Committee. This Committee is chaired by Republican Miguel Diaz de la Portilla, and is made of 7 Republicans and 3 Democrats. Do the math, and it is clear the Republicans are also against SB176 and the Second Amendment.
If all the Democrats supported ST176 and SB180 43% of the Republicans were against the 2nd Amendment. Even it the more likely event is that all the Democrats voted against those bills, 29% of the Florida Senate Republicans are against the Second Amendment. Voting Republican is not voting for a group that will protect your rights.
If you don’t know what Senate Bills 176 and 180 are, go to google and search “FL SB176” and “FL SB180”. As an informed citizen it is your responsibility to know what your elected representatives are doing. If your reading this you have internet access. Your Florida representative lets you know what’s going on at www.myfloridahouse.gov and your Florida senator lets you know what’s going on at www.myflsenate.gov . If you can’t be bothered, you’re part of the problem not the solution.
If the 2nd Amendment is important to you, you obviously have a problem. Electing Democrats is a fast way to losing your rights, and electing Republicans is slower way to losing your rights, certainly not a way to restore them. There is another choice for those who support liberty and freedom, including the 2nd Amendment. Look at the Libertarian Party
Monday, February 23, 2015
LPF Equality Plank
By Tom Rhodes, Chairman LPF Platform Committee, 2/23/2015
Should America have special laws and programs for different groups based on race, gender or faith or should America have the same laws and rights for all Americans? Simple question and philosophically the answer is clear; America have the same laws and rights for all Americans. The sad fact is even in the leadership of the LP Americans want special rights and privileges for some men.
Our tax code is a prime example of different laws and rights for different men based on some group or other identification. Imagine tax code if it applied equally to everybody? Even maintaining the idiocy of the inequality of a progressive tax system. Imagine that everybody who made $30K paid the same taxes on that $30K. The biggest inequality is not based on how much that person earns, but on how much somebody else earns. If you make $30K and are single you’d end up paying around $5K in taxes, if you were married to somebody making $300K you’d end up paying at least $15K in taxes. Why does who you choose to be in a private relationship or not determine how you are taxed?
Should our tax law consider your sex and the voluntarily chosen profession of your spouse as a means of determining the tax you should pay? Obviously the answer should be no; if we believe in equality under the law. Now let’s get all emotional and really foul up your thinking. Should the widow of a man who died in battle overseas get a tax break? If you think so, why? Why does the widow of man who died at a construction site not deserve the same? Should the same tax break be granted to a widower? Why if it is a financial burden of a spouse dying from one means more deserving of a tax break than another means? Why should the sex of the surviving spouse grant special tax breaks? If taxes are such a heavy burden on military widows that they deserve special tax breaks, why is that same burden on others acceptable? Why shouldn’t the man whose wife dies in a car wreck not get the same tax break a military widow gets?
The answer is simple, equality under the law is a nice idea, but emotionally the reality of treating everybody equally is hard to accept. We want special people to get special privilege because it feels good, we don’t care about fair and equal. When asked “Should our tax law consider your sex and the voluntarily chosen profession of your spouse as a means of determining the tax you should pay?” rationally the answer is clear, your sex and the vocation of your spouse should not determine your taxes; but consider a woman whose husband died defending our country from terrorists, and you throw rational thinking right out the window. Emotionally you are willing to get rid of equality under the law, and grant special privileges to some people based on sex and the chosen profession of their spouse; if the sex is female, and the chosen profession is soldier. For many when it comes down to it, you don’t believe in equality.
The problem is that when we grant some special privilege for somebody special, you destroy the rule of law, and equality under the law. The unintended consequences of such thinking leads to tyranny. Always has always will. That kind of thinking eventually leads to, “that rich guy hires lots of people, we should not arrest him for that crime because those people will be out of work,” AKA “too big to fail.” Accepting and even promoting unequal treatment based on something “special” is generally exercising emotion over logic. It is however very effective, hence special interests, not equality under the law are the rule in Washington and Tallahassee.
The LPF Platform has a plank that effectively states the LPF’s position on all such laws, be they special privileges for military widows, or excessive taxes for being single, or marriage laws. It is principled, logical, and effective, and fair. This plank covers a huge variety of political and legal issues today.
LPF Platform Section I, paragraph 4: We support Equality under the Law, and condemn any law that either rewards or punishes any individual based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other group identification. Each person has the same inalienable rights. It is the States duty to protect those rights for each individual equally.
That plank is simply a modern recognition of what our forefathers stated in the Declaration of Independence, 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 …”
The LPF Position is that government exists to protect the natural rights of all men equally, and any law that grants unequal protection or privilege or punishment to anyone is wrong. The LPF position is also clear, we need government and instituted a government purposed to protecting the natural rights of all men equally. That purpose of course inevitably lead to the War Between the States but the idea was realized and continues to be realized. Equality under the law for all men without exception. It is as we abandon that idea of equal protection under the law and the rule of law that we watch the USA creep back to tyranny that was and is normal for most of history and all of mankind.
Footnote:This article is written in English, therefore when referring to people of undetermined sex the generic pronouns man, men, he, him, etc. are used because it is grammatically correct to do so when the sex is unspecified. If your offended, tough, get a life. Using grammatically correct English is not sexist, no matter how you “feel” about it.
If interviewed on TV about a fire a cop might say, “We don’t know who started the fire, but he will be held responsible.” It is understood, by both the police officer and any listeners, that “he” could refer to either a woman or a man.
Should America have special laws and programs for different groups based on race, gender or faith or should America have the same laws and rights for all Americans? Simple question and philosophically the answer is clear; America have the same laws and rights for all Americans. The sad fact is even in the leadership of the LP Americans want special rights and privileges for some men.
Our tax code is a prime example of different laws and rights for different men based on some group or other identification. Imagine tax code if it applied equally to everybody? Even maintaining the idiocy of the inequality of a progressive tax system. Imagine that everybody who made $30K paid the same taxes on that $30K. The biggest inequality is not based on how much that person earns, but on how much somebody else earns. If you make $30K and are single you’d end up paying around $5K in taxes, if you were married to somebody making $300K you’d end up paying at least $15K in taxes. Why does who you choose to be in a private relationship or not determine how you are taxed?
Should our tax law consider your sex and the voluntarily chosen profession of your spouse as a means of determining the tax you should pay? Obviously the answer should be no; if we believe in equality under the law. Now let’s get all emotional and really foul up your thinking. Should the widow of a man who died in battle overseas get a tax break? If you think so, why? Why does the widow of man who died at a construction site not deserve the same? Should the same tax break be granted to a widower? Why if it is a financial burden of a spouse dying from one means more deserving of a tax break than another means? Why should the sex of the surviving spouse grant special tax breaks? If taxes are such a heavy burden on military widows that they deserve special tax breaks, why is that same burden on others acceptable? Why shouldn’t the man whose wife dies in a car wreck not get the same tax break a military widow gets?
The answer is simple, equality under the law is a nice idea, but emotionally the reality of treating everybody equally is hard to accept. We want special people to get special privilege because it feels good, we don’t care about fair and equal. When asked “Should our tax law consider your sex and the voluntarily chosen profession of your spouse as a means of determining the tax you should pay?” rationally the answer is clear, your sex and the vocation of your spouse should not determine your taxes; but consider a woman whose husband died defending our country from terrorists, and you throw rational thinking right out the window. Emotionally you are willing to get rid of equality under the law, and grant special privileges to some people based on sex and the chosen profession of their spouse; if the sex is female, and the chosen profession is soldier. For many when it comes down to it, you don’t believe in equality.
The problem is that when we grant some special privilege for somebody special, you destroy the rule of law, and equality under the law. The unintended consequences of such thinking leads to tyranny. Always has always will. That kind of thinking eventually leads to, “that rich guy hires lots of people, we should not arrest him for that crime because those people will be out of work,” AKA “too big to fail.” Accepting and even promoting unequal treatment based on something “special” is generally exercising emotion over logic. It is however very effective, hence special interests, not equality under the law are the rule in Washington and Tallahassee.
The LPF Platform has a plank that effectively states the LPF’s position on all such laws, be they special privileges for military widows, or excessive taxes for being single, or marriage laws. It is principled, logical, and effective, and fair. This plank covers a huge variety of political and legal issues today.
LPF Platform Section I, paragraph 4: We support Equality under the Law, and condemn any law that either rewards or punishes any individual based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other group identification. Each person has the same inalienable rights. It is the States duty to protect those rights for each individual equally.
That plank is simply a modern recognition of what our forefathers stated in the Declaration of Independence, 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 …”
The LPF Position is that government exists to protect the natural rights of all men equally, and any law that grants unequal protection or privilege or punishment to anyone is wrong. The LPF position is also clear, we need government and instituted a government purposed to protecting the natural rights of all men equally. That purpose of course inevitably lead to the War Between the States but the idea was realized and continues to be realized. Equality under the law for all men without exception. It is as we abandon that idea of equal protection under the law and the rule of law that we watch the USA creep back to tyranny that was and is normal for most of history and all of mankind.
Footnote:This article is written in English, therefore when referring to people of undetermined sex the generic pronouns man, men, he, him, etc. are used because it is grammatically correct to do so when the sex is unspecified. If your offended, tough, get a life. Using grammatically correct English is not sexist, no matter how you “feel” about it.
If interviewed on TV about a fire a cop might say, “We don’t know who started the fire, but he will be held responsible.” It is understood, by both the police officer and any listeners, that “he” could refer to either a woman or a man.
Thursday, November 6, 2014
Pumpkins and Politicians
By Tom Rhodes, 11/6/2015
Boo! as in Boo Hoo, go cry someplace else. Leftists want to “get the money out of politics.” The fact is we don’t spend shit on politics, and the other fact is the media doesn’t care about it. What they media cares about is making money. Consider the facts. ABC's "World News Tonight" didn't air a single story on the midterm elections from June 11 to October 27, 2014. They did do lot’s of human interest stories. In fact Americans care more about Halloween parties than they do politics.
This year we spent $7,400,000,000 on Halloween, That’s over 7 Billion dollars, as in “B” Billions spent on candy, costumes, and pumpkins. That’s also more than was spent on the midterm elections including the PAC’s and evil corporations spending.
What does this mean. Simple, remember the old adage “Follow the Money.” There isn’t too much money in politics, people simply have different priorities. Corporations, Special Interests, Unions, and those who form PAC’s are interested in politics, the American People are interested in Vampires, Werewolves, Ghosts, Pumpkins, Candy, Parties, and what Taylor Swift is doing. The news covers reflects what people want and where they are willing to spend their money.
More money in history was spent on the midterm elections, but when more money is spent on Halloween than those elections we clearly see where the American People have put their priorities. It’s not in selecting leaders for our country, or having their voice heard. It’s in partying and escapism.
On average as a nation we spent $72 each on Halloween. I challenge ever Libertarian in Florida to forgo Haloween spending next year and send $72 to the LPF. The LPF put’s it’s money where its mouth is, and practices what it preaches. All politics is local, so half your donation will go to your local LP county affiliate. There were over 200 thousand people who voted for the LPF Tuesday, if they spent the same amount on the LPF as they did on Halloween every year, the LPF would have a 1.4 Million dollar annual budget, with that amount of money the LPF could and would win elections and make a difference. That much money would have made a huge difference.
If you are a libertarian and you spent more on Halloween or New Years Eve of St. Patrick’s Day to party and didn’t give to the LPF, you are a hypocrite, you don’t care about Liberty in our Lifetime. Put your money where your mouth is, CLICK HERE give up one night of partying, Halloween or New Years Eve or St. Patrick’s Day and send at least $72 to the LPF. If not You, Who? If not now, When?
You may choose to ignore politics and politicians, but they don’t ignore you. On average you’re spending $3000 per year more on healthcare because you ignored politics and politicians who passed Obamacare and are forcing you to spend more on health care. Not just this year, but every year, skip one of the many days we celebrate and spend that money on helping choose who represents and leads you in government. Or ignore politics and politicians, and party while your freedoms are slowly and methodically devoured by those who do pay attention to politics, and do put their money where their mouth is.
Follow the Money, your money, if you don’t voluntarily spend your money on politics, it’s your choice, what you are saying is that since you would rather buy pumpkins than politicians. OK that’s your choice, but because you would rather voluntarily spend your money that way it doesn’t take away the right of others like, unions, special interests, PAC’s, corporations put their money where their hearts are. You can’t bitch that there is too much money in politics when you spent more on pumpkins.
Boo! as in Boo Hoo, go cry someplace else. Leftists want to “get the money out of politics.” The fact is we don’t spend shit on politics, and the other fact is the media doesn’t care about it. What they media cares about is making money. Consider the facts. ABC's "World News Tonight" didn't air a single story on the midterm elections from June 11 to October 27, 2014. They did do lot’s of human interest stories. In fact Americans care more about Halloween parties than they do politics.
This year we spent $7,400,000,000 on Halloween, That’s over 7 Billion dollars, as in “B” Billions spent on candy, costumes, and pumpkins. That’s also more than was spent on the midterm elections including the PAC’s and evil corporations spending.
What does this mean. Simple, remember the old adage “Follow the Money.” There isn’t too much money in politics, people simply have different priorities. Corporations, Special Interests, Unions, and those who form PAC’s are interested in politics, the American People are interested in Vampires, Werewolves, Ghosts, Pumpkins, Candy, Parties, and what Taylor Swift is doing. The news covers reflects what people want and where they are willing to spend their money.
More money in history was spent on the midterm elections, but when more money is spent on Halloween than those elections we clearly see where the American People have put their priorities. It’s not in selecting leaders for our country, or having their voice heard. It’s in partying and escapism.
On average as a nation we spent $72 each on Halloween. I challenge ever Libertarian in Florida to forgo Haloween spending next year and send $72 to the LPF. The LPF put’s it’s money where its mouth is, and practices what it preaches. All politics is local, so half your donation will go to your local LP county affiliate. There were over 200 thousand people who voted for the LPF Tuesday, if they spent the same amount on the LPF as they did on Halloween every year, the LPF would have a 1.4 Million dollar annual budget, with that amount of money the LPF could and would win elections and make a difference. That much money would have made a huge difference.
If you are a libertarian and you spent more on Halloween or New Years Eve of St. Patrick’s Day to party and didn’t give to the LPF, you are a hypocrite, you don’t care about Liberty in our Lifetime. Put your money where your mouth is, CLICK HERE give up one night of partying, Halloween or New Years Eve or St. Patrick’s Day and send at least $72 to the LPF. If not You, Who? If not now, When?
You may choose to ignore politics and politicians, but they don’t ignore you. On average you’re spending $3000 per year more on healthcare because you ignored politics and politicians who passed Obamacare and are forcing you to spend more on health care. Not just this year, but every year, skip one of the many days we celebrate and spend that money on helping choose who represents and leads you in government. Or ignore politics and politicians, and party while your freedoms are slowly and methodically devoured by those who do pay attention to politics, and do put their money where their mouth is.
Follow the Money, your money, if you don’t voluntarily spend your money on politics, it’s your choice, what you are saying is that since you would rather buy pumpkins than politicians. OK that’s your choice, but because you would rather voluntarily spend your money that way it doesn’t take away the right of others like, unions, special interests, PAC’s, corporations put their money where their hearts are. You can’t bitch that there is too much money in politics when you spent more on pumpkins.
Monday, February 24, 2014
LP Platform – Abortion Plank
By Tom Rhodes, 2/25/2014
The veritable “Third Rail” is Abortion. The LP’s position on abortion is illogical, contradictory, unlibertarian, and divides and hurts the LP. The fact is the fastest way to start a argument and keep libertarians from working together on productive issues is to bring up abortion. Not even the Republicans and Democrats fight over abortion more than libertarians. The abortion plank of our platform should not be changed, it should be eliminated. The fact is good libertarians disagree on the issue of abortion, regardless of a person’s position on abortion they should be welcome in the Libertarian Party.
Libertarians as a whole are extremists, if they weren’t they’d be in the Republocrat or Demican party. Because we are extremists some fail to see what they think of as moderate position as being extreme. Consider the wording of the abortion plank in the LP Platform, which reads: “Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.” Many libertarians consider this to be a moderate non-confrontational position. Others see it as an extreme position that makes murder legal in some situations.
As libertarians we all believe that every human has the same rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The LP has adopted and accepted liberal anti-liberty vocabulary to justify its position. Because of this honest open debate on abortion does not happen. Adopting such language tat calls the termination of a fetus as “health care” targets those who don’t agree as being against “health care.”
Half the people, or more, rightly believe that pregnancy is not a disease but is the outcome of behavior initiated by people other than the unborn baby. Half the people, or more, believe life begins at conception. Half the people, or more, believe that the unborn are people. That means that half, or more, of the people believe the LP position is that there should be no laws restricting a woman from murdering her child prior to it reaching some arbitrary stage of its life.
The science is settled, at conception a unique person genetically distinct from its mother is created as a result of specific behavioral choices of the sire. It’s really simple, regardless of the stage of development, from one cell to birth, the cell(s) aren’t dead they are alive. All the arguing isn’t going to change the reality, and no-abortions are initiated on babies before their heart is beating. So talking about blastocysts and very early stages of development are meaningless, a diversion, and a lie meant to cover up the fact that abortion is the killing of a unique humans who are developmentally far too young to protect themselves. Just because politics resulted in changing definition of what is a life to justify abortions doesn’t make the unborn less than human. The definition of cellular life used to be pretty simple. If the cell(s) respirate, take in food, expel waste, divide, and respond to stimuli, it’s alive. If the DNA is human and the cells are alive it is a living human being – PERIOD!
What justifies the initiation of force against that human who has not and cannot initiate force against another? The abortion plank tells every Libertarian who for scientific or religious reasons believes life begins at conception to fuck off. We won’t suffer the consequences of our life choices, and libertarian principles be damned.
Saying that a woman’s body is her own is fine. She should be free to defend herself from others who have initiated aggression against her. If she is pregnant because of her voluntary actions, it is clear her baby did not initiate any aggression against her, but is there because of the woman’s choice. She does not have the right to kill the baby and cannot claim self-defense. If she is pregnant involuntarily because of aggression against her she has good cause to seek reparations and even punishment against the aggressor, not the innocent third party. The baby did not initiate any aggression against her. Murdering the baby because the mother was raped is killing an innocent bystander who initiated force against nobody, and is not justice.
Interesting how liberals, statists, and feminists, in just about everything from income to education, will use dissimilar outcomes based on race and other demographics to prove racism, sexism, etc. You are not allowed to use those same methods to look at abortions. Income inequality between white and black people is because of systemic racism, but overwhelming inequality between blacks and white babies being aborted is somehow not. Liberals and statists and feminists won’t say it out loud, but the history and actual application is clear. The reality is abortion is a eugenics program marketed to the dumb and minorities to convince them to voluntarily reduce their reproduction. Look at the raw numbers, compare them to education level, race and other demographics. Abortion is kept legal and marketed in a fashion designed to minimize populations of ”undesirables.” It's a sick fact, prove it to yourself. Look at where planned parenthood puts its clinics and compare that to the demographics.
Obviously I’m anti-abortion for a lot of reasons. In fact I’m not alone, a lot of Libertarians are anti-abortion. A lot of Republicans, who would be Libertarian if not for the abortion plank remain stuck in the statists Republican Party. The LP claims to believe “that people can hold good-faith views on all sides” of the abortion issue, yet boldly proclaims that view of one side should not be accepted. Obviously the LP doesn’t respect or tolerate the views of those who believe that the government was instituted to protect everybody’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, if that person believes life begins at birth.
If the LP truly makes its platform plank “Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides” then it should have no position on abortion and welcome pro-life and pro-choice libertarians equally. Currently pro-life libertarians who believe that the government should protect the life of all people from aggression by others, even their mothers, are not welcome in the LP. The polls show that more than half the country is pro-life. Why do we have a plank that is so divisive, so easily demonstrated to violate the non-aggression principle, and clearly makes us unpalatable to more than half the country. Considering that the pro-choice crowd generally hates our fiscal planks, our platform pretty much excludes everybody.
Plank 1.4 of the LP Platform on abortion should be eliminated. If we must have an abortion plank why not a truly libertarian plank that reads: : “Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, the LP will not drive a wedge between Its members and encourages each member to freely vote their conscience and actively work to achieve the political goal they think best protects liberty without condemnation.”
The veritable “Third Rail” is Abortion. The LP’s position on abortion is illogical, contradictory, unlibertarian, and divides and hurts the LP. The fact is the fastest way to start a argument and keep libertarians from working together on productive issues is to bring up abortion. Not even the Republicans and Democrats fight over abortion more than libertarians. The abortion plank of our platform should not be changed, it should be eliminated. The fact is good libertarians disagree on the issue of abortion, regardless of a person’s position on abortion they should be welcome in the Libertarian Party.
Libertarians as a whole are extremists, if they weren’t they’d be in the Republocrat or Demican party. Because we are extremists some fail to see what they think of as moderate position as being extreme. Consider the wording of the abortion plank in the LP Platform, which reads: “Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.” Many libertarians consider this to be a moderate non-confrontational position. Others see it as an extreme position that makes murder legal in some situations.
As libertarians we all believe that every human has the same rights to life liberty and the pursuit of happiness. The LP has adopted and accepted liberal anti-liberty vocabulary to justify its position. Because of this honest open debate on abortion does not happen. Adopting such language tat calls the termination of a fetus as “health care” targets those who don’t agree as being against “health care.”
Half the people, or more, rightly believe that pregnancy is not a disease but is the outcome of behavior initiated by people other than the unborn baby. Half the people, or more, believe life begins at conception. Half the people, or more, believe that the unborn are people. That means that half, or more, of the people believe the LP position is that there should be no laws restricting a woman from murdering her child prior to it reaching some arbitrary stage of its life.
The science is settled, at conception a unique person genetically distinct from its mother is created as a result of specific behavioral choices of the sire. It’s really simple, regardless of the stage of development, from one cell to birth, the cell(s) aren’t dead they are alive. All the arguing isn’t going to change the reality, and no-abortions are initiated on babies before their heart is beating. So talking about blastocysts and very early stages of development are meaningless, a diversion, and a lie meant to cover up the fact that abortion is the killing of a unique humans who are developmentally far too young to protect themselves. Just because politics resulted in changing definition of what is a life to justify abortions doesn’t make the unborn less than human. The definition of cellular life used to be pretty simple. If the cell(s) respirate, take in food, expel waste, divide, and respond to stimuli, it’s alive. If the DNA is human and the cells are alive it is a living human being – PERIOD!
What justifies the initiation of force against that human who has not and cannot initiate force against another? The abortion plank tells every Libertarian who for scientific or religious reasons believes life begins at conception to fuck off. We won’t suffer the consequences of our life choices, and libertarian principles be damned.
Saying that a woman’s body is her own is fine. She should be free to defend herself from others who have initiated aggression against her. If she is pregnant because of her voluntary actions, it is clear her baby did not initiate any aggression against her, but is there because of the woman’s choice. She does not have the right to kill the baby and cannot claim self-defense. If she is pregnant involuntarily because of aggression against her she has good cause to seek reparations and even punishment against the aggressor, not the innocent third party. The baby did not initiate any aggression against her. Murdering the baby because the mother was raped is killing an innocent bystander who initiated force against nobody, and is not justice.
Interesting how liberals, statists, and feminists, in just about everything from income to education, will use dissimilar outcomes based on race and other demographics to prove racism, sexism, etc. You are not allowed to use those same methods to look at abortions. Income inequality between white and black people is because of systemic racism, but overwhelming inequality between blacks and white babies being aborted is somehow not. Liberals and statists and feminists won’t say it out loud, but the history and actual application is clear. The reality is abortion is a eugenics program marketed to the dumb and minorities to convince them to voluntarily reduce their reproduction. Look at the raw numbers, compare them to education level, race and other demographics. Abortion is kept legal and marketed in a fashion designed to minimize populations of ”undesirables.” It's a sick fact, prove it to yourself. Look at where planned parenthood puts its clinics and compare that to the demographics.
Obviously I’m anti-abortion for a lot of reasons. In fact I’m not alone, a lot of Libertarians are anti-abortion. A lot of Republicans, who would be Libertarian if not for the abortion plank remain stuck in the statists Republican Party. The LP claims to believe “that people can hold good-faith views on all sides” of the abortion issue, yet boldly proclaims that view of one side should not be accepted. Obviously the LP doesn’t respect or tolerate the views of those who believe that the government was instituted to protect everybody’s right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness, if that person believes life begins at birth.
If the LP truly makes its platform plank “Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides” then it should have no position on abortion and welcome pro-life and pro-choice libertarians equally. Currently pro-life libertarians who believe that the government should protect the life of all people from aggression by others, even their mothers, are not welcome in the LP. The polls show that more than half the country is pro-life. Why do we have a plank that is so divisive, so easily demonstrated to violate the non-aggression principle, and clearly makes us unpalatable to more than half the country. Considering that the pro-choice crowd generally hates our fiscal planks, our platform pretty much excludes everybody.
Plank 1.4 of the LP Platform on abortion should be eliminated. If we must have an abortion plank why not a truly libertarian plank that reads: : “Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, the LP will not drive a wedge between Its members and encourages each member to freely vote their conscience and actively work to achieve the political goal they think best protects liberty without condemnation.”
Wednesday, November 6, 2013
Analysis Shows LP makes a difference
By Tom Rhodes, 11/6/2013
Here are the numbers from the 2013 Virginia Governor’s Election. What can we conclude from them?
* The dollars spent by Libertarian Candidate Sarvis must be qualified. The Huffington post reported that the Sarvis Campaign and Libertarian Party spent $93,000, but a single donor did spend $300,000 promoting Sarvis on his own.
The data shows a clear microcosm of the two major parties and the largest third party - the LP. It unambiguously demonstrates the priorities, methodology and effectiveness of each party on many levels. Unfortunately it also demonstrates that one single person smart enough to understand the effectiveness of each party’s financial skills can turn an election.
What we know and learn about Democrats
They believe:
* Cost is irrelevant
* Effective use of other people’s money is not important.
History has shown that they govern the same way they run elections.
What we know and learn about Republicans
They believe:
* Cost is marginally relevant
* The use of other people’s money will be noted but not closely.
History has shown they spend less than the Democrats to get similar results.
History has shown they govern the same way they run elections.
What we know and learn about Libertarians
They believe:
* Cost is extremely important
* Effective use of other people’s money is critical
History has shown they spend way less to get effective results.
History has shown they don’t have enough donors to win major elections.
History has shown they govern the same way they run elections.
What the Results Mean and Imply
Knowing the above to be true from viewing other elections, one person single handedly changed the results of the Virginia Governer’s Race. Knowing some basic facts including: the race and state are very evenly divided between the two major parties; the nominal dollars the LP has and historically spend only accounts for 1% of the vote; Libertarians consistently get more votes per dollar spent than either the Democrats or Republicans; and finally by a large margin Republicans lean more libertarian than Democrats.
A liberal Democrat with $300K to invest in the election did careful analysis and threw his money where it would be most effective - The Libertarian Party. In a virtual dead heat between McAuliffe and Cuccinelli his $300K if given to the Democrats to spend on McAuliffe would have been worth a half of a percent of the votes and would probably not made a difference. However, that same money would get 5% of the vote is spent on the Libertarian party. Knowing the LP pulls far more from the Republicans than the Democrats he rightly concluded the most effective use of his dollars would be supporting the LP. In fact neither the Democrats nor Republicans uses money as effectively as the LP - PERIOD!
What we know is that if just 9 rich republicans had joined the lone Democrat and put up $300K each, the election would have gone to the Saris. You won’t hear that from the MSM, that’s a scary thought. Just 10 rich guys, donating less than a third of a million dollars each, and the LP wins in Virginia.
Yes, the analysis is clear and the LP got used by a Democrat to sway a major election. The ruling elites in both parties won’t talk about or look at the effectiveness of the LP. Once the people learn how effective a little money can be in defeating the two factions of the statist ruling elite in Washington they know things will change.
You want to make a difference, put your money where your mouth is! Your $10 monthly donation to the LPF will be as effective as any $100 sent to the Democrats. You can make a difference, go to www.LPF.org and not only pledge, but send $10/month it will be more effective and put to better use than any democrat donating $100/month.
Florida’s a bigger state than Virginia, but then we have a better Candidate running for Governor too. If you’re a Republican businessman and are tired of ever increasing government interference in your business, then put them where they will do the most good and be most effective. The LP, or specifically the Adrian Wyllie Campaign. You cannot put your money to more effective use. You and a few fellow businessmen can make a difference and actually reduce the size of government.
“No party better uses a donated dollar better than the Libertarians, and we’ll do the same in government too.” ~ Pete Bloome, Director At Large, Libertarian Party of Florida Nov. 2013
Here are the numbers from the 2013 Virginia Governor’s Election. What can we conclude from them?
* The dollars spent by Libertarian Candidate Sarvis must be qualified. The Huffington post reported that the Sarvis Campaign and Libertarian Party spent $93,000, but a single donor did spend $300,000 promoting Sarvis on his own.
The data shows a clear microcosm of the two major parties and the largest third party - the LP. It unambiguously demonstrates the priorities, methodology and effectiveness of each party on many levels. Unfortunately it also demonstrates that one single person smart enough to understand the effectiveness of each party’s financial skills can turn an election.
What we know and learn about Democrats
They believe:
* Cost is irrelevant
* Effective use of other people’s money is not important.
History has shown that they govern the same way they run elections.
What we know and learn about Republicans
They believe:
* Cost is marginally relevant
* The use of other people’s money will be noted but not closely.
History has shown they spend less than the Democrats to get similar results.
History has shown they govern the same way they run elections.
What we know and learn about Libertarians
They believe:
* Cost is extremely important
* Effective use of other people’s money is critical
History has shown they spend way less to get effective results.
History has shown they don’t have enough donors to win major elections.
History has shown they govern the same way they run elections.
What the Results Mean and Imply
Knowing the above to be true from viewing other elections, one person single handedly changed the results of the Virginia Governer’s Race. Knowing some basic facts including: the race and state are very evenly divided between the two major parties; the nominal dollars the LP has and historically spend only accounts for 1% of the vote; Libertarians consistently get more votes per dollar spent than either the Democrats or Republicans; and finally by a large margin Republicans lean more libertarian than Democrats.
A liberal Democrat with $300K to invest in the election did careful analysis and threw his money where it would be most effective - The Libertarian Party. In a virtual dead heat between McAuliffe and Cuccinelli his $300K if given to the Democrats to spend on McAuliffe would have been worth a half of a percent of the votes and would probably not made a difference. However, that same money would get 5% of the vote is spent on the Libertarian party. Knowing the LP pulls far more from the Republicans than the Democrats he rightly concluded the most effective use of his dollars would be supporting the LP. In fact neither the Democrats nor Republicans uses money as effectively as the LP - PERIOD!
What we know is that if just 9 rich republicans had joined the lone Democrat and put up $300K each, the election would have gone to the Saris. You won’t hear that from the MSM, that’s a scary thought. Just 10 rich guys, donating less than a third of a million dollars each, and the LP wins in Virginia.
Yes, the analysis is clear and the LP got used by a Democrat to sway a major election. The ruling elites in both parties won’t talk about or look at the effectiveness of the LP. Once the people learn how effective a little money can be in defeating the two factions of the statist ruling elite in Washington they know things will change.
You want to make a difference, put your money where your mouth is! Your $10 monthly donation to the LPF will be as effective as any $100 sent to the Democrats. You can make a difference, go to www.LPF.org and not only pledge, but send $10/month it will be more effective and put to better use than any democrat donating $100/month.
Florida’s a bigger state than Virginia, but then we have a better Candidate running for Governor too. If you’re a Republican businessman and are tired of ever increasing government interference in your business, then put them where they will do the most good and be most effective. The LP, or specifically the Adrian Wyllie Campaign. You cannot put your money to more effective use. You and a few fellow businessmen can make a difference and actually reduce the size of government.
“No party better uses a donated dollar better than the Libertarians, and we’ll do the same in government too.” ~ Pete Bloome, Director At Large, Libertarian Party of Florida Nov. 2013
Wednesday, July 3, 2013
Leave the Republican Party – It left you 20 years ago.
By Tom Rhodes, 7/3/2013
If you believe in limited government, the protection of individual rights, the Constitution, and appreciate and believe our founding fathers were right then you should leave the GOP and join the LP. Ask yourself what does the Republican Party Stand for? What is the mission and goals of the GOP other than crony protection?
From the actions of the Republicans you can safely assume the goals of the GOP are as follows:
To insure the surveillance of every citizen in the USA.
To meddle in the affairs of other countries.
To increase spending every year slightly slower than than the Democrats.
To grant the president tyrannical powers exempt from the rule of law.
To ignore scandals by the federal government.
To allow the IRS to neuter any grass-roots political group that doesn’t support statism.
To appoint Supreme Court Justices with no moral or legal bearings.
To enable unlimited migration from third world countries to the USA.
To ignore laws restricting the Debt Limit, and raise the limit whenever it’s inconvenient.
To constantly grow the size and scope government, just do it a little bit more slower than the other guys.
To protect big business at the expense of individual rights.
To boldly proclaim, “We’re not as bad as the other guys.”
Those are obvious goals of the Republican Party, as clearly demonstrated by their actions. They obviously no longer have the principles of their platform. You can see the transparent spinelessness of the ruling elite in the GOP, who are totally clueless as to the principles and ideas of their constituency. They exist merely to keep existing GOP leadership in office – PERIOD! They are nearing extinction because of RINO leadership. No rational person can conclude that liberals like John McCain and Mitt Romney represent the rank and file of the GOP. It has become the Party of the Statist Corporation, by the Statist Corporation and for the Statist Corporation.
You Mr. and Mrs. Republican, haven’t bought into Obama’s terrifying goals to “fundamentally transform America” into some kind of statist utopia. But the statism-lite offered by the GOP isn’t a reasonable alternative to Obama’s vision. Mr. and Mrs. Republican you are looking for a party that will stand up for the Constitution, stand up for the rule of law, stand up for equal protection under the law, stand up for a government that protects individual liberty. You want a party to fight the presidential and judicial tyranny that is taking away your representation. You want a part that will fight the anti-American concept of unlimited government.
In 2010, you got together with your fellow believers in what was America, formed grass roots “TEA Parties” and gave a stunning victory to the Republicans. Here in Florida you fell for the GOP lies and ignored the consistent warnings of the LPF, you elected Marco Rubio, only to be betrayed immediately as he is just another stooge of the Republican establishment. He and the entire GOP have and do hold you in contempt. Quit supporting them.
You don’t need to leave the Republican Party, It left you 20 years ago. The GOP has no use for grass roots believers in limited government. The GOP has no use for the idea of your Founding Fathers. The GOP has no use for our history of individual freedom and responsibility. The GOP has no use for you.
Check out the LPF platform, I’m sure you’ll find it’s more in line with what you believe than what the actions of the Republican Party have shown you. The Libertarian Party of Florida is not your grandfathers Libertarian Party; Being for less government is not being for Anarchy; Being against abuses by the police is not being anti-law enforcement; Being against failed prohibition laws is not promoting drug use; Saying the government has no business in your bedroom is not being anti-family. The Republican lies about Libertarians are just that Lies to try and keep you in the party that has abandoned you. The Libertarian Party of Florida is the Party of Principle and does have use for and does appreciate your views. In fact the LPF promotes and defends the following principles:
Recognizing absolute freedom of speech, religion, and association
Demanding Constitutionally-limited government
Ensuring minimal taxation and balanced budgets
Defending property rights
Asserting sovereignty of the State from unconstitutional federal interference
Asserting sovereignty of the Republic from unconstitutional international interference
Upholding the Second Amendment and the absolute right to self defense
Promoting a true free market economy
Defending personal privacy and the Fourth Amendment
Promoting strong national defense through a Constitutional foreign policy
Ending government corruption
Ensuring no individual, corporation or government is above the rule of law
Ending prohibitions on all personal activities that do not infringe upon the rights of others.
The GOP left you a long time ago, the LPF can and will restore your liberty and freedom from the uniform statist tyranny now offered by both the Democrats and your Republican Party. Find out how you can make a difference at www.lpf.org.
If you believe in limited government, the protection of individual rights, the Constitution, and appreciate and believe our founding fathers were right then you should leave the GOP and join the LP. Ask yourself what does the Republican Party Stand for? What is the mission and goals of the GOP other than crony protection?
From the actions of the Republicans you can safely assume the goals of the GOP are as follows:
Those are obvious goals of the Republican Party, as clearly demonstrated by their actions. They obviously no longer have the principles of their platform. You can see the transparent spinelessness of the ruling elite in the GOP, who are totally clueless as to the principles and ideas of their constituency. They exist merely to keep existing GOP leadership in office – PERIOD! They are nearing extinction because of RINO leadership. No rational person can conclude that liberals like John McCain and Mitt Romney represent the rank and file of the GOP. It has become the Party of the Statist Corporation, by the Statist Corporation and for the Statist Corporation.
You Mr. and Mrs. Republican, haven’t bought into Obama’s terrifying goals to “fundamentally transform America” into some kind of statist utopia. But the statism-lite offered by the GOP isn’t a reasonable alternative to Obama’s vision. Mr. and Mrs. Republican you are looking for a party that will stand up for the Constitution, stand up for the rule of law, stand up for equal protection under the law, stand up for a government that protects individual liberty. You want a party to fight the presidential and judicial tyranny that is taking away your representation. You want a part that will fight the anti-American concept of unlimited government.
In 2010, you got together with your fellow believers in what was America, formed grass roots “TEA Parties” and gave a stunning victory to the Republicans. Here in Florida you fell for the GOP lies and ignored the consistent warnings of the LPF, you elected Marco Rubio, only to be betrayed immediately as he is just another stooge of the Republican establishment. He and the entire GOP have and do hold you in contempt. Quit supporting them.
You don’t need to leave the Republican Party, It left you 20 years ago. The GOP has no use for grass roots believers in limited government. The GOP has no use for the idea of your Founding Fathers. The GOP has no use for our history of individual freedom and responsibility. The GOP has no use for you.
Check out the LPF platform, I’m sure you’ll find it’s more in line with what you believe than what the actions of the Republican Party have shown you. The Libertarian Party of Florida is not your grandfathers Libertarian Party; Being for less government is not being for Anarchy; Being against abuses by the police is not being anti-law enforcement; Being against failed prohibition laws is not promoting drug use; Saying the government has no business in your bedroom is not being anti-family. The Republican lies about Libertarians are just that Lies to try and keep you in the party that has abandoned you. The Libertarian Party of Florida is the Party of Principle and does have use for and does appreciate your views. In fact the LPF promotes and defends the following principles:
The GOP left you a long time ago, the LPF can and will restore your liberty and freedom from the uniform statist tyranny now offered by both the Democrats and your Republican Party. Find out how you can make a difference at www.lpf.org.
Saturday, April 13, 2013
Stoning - a Barbaric Demise
By Tom Rhodes, 3/13/2014
The current death sentence passed to the LPF by the GOP and Democrats is lapidation. The LP and LPF are becoming viable and a serious threat to the statist parties in charge. This is not something they can or will tolerate any longer. So with their complicit friends in the press, they are going to attempt to destroy the viability of the LP, using infamous GOP hitman Roger Stone to destroy the LPF. The actions and rhetoric of Roger Stone make it clear that he's neither an advocate or promoter of the LPF, nor a serious candidate. I believe he's a shill to damage the image and keep the LP from main stream acceptance. As LPF Director at Large Pete Bloom so eloquently put it the Libertarian Party does "not advocate the personal choice of drugs or prostitution, we advocate the natural right of people owning their own bodies, and the responsible government that comes from using the rule of law to stop the use of force or fraud." This is not the position of Roger Stone.
His actions and words make it fairly obvious that is goal is to marginalize our party and make it unpalatable political body by focusing on what most Floridians still see as prurient interests. His rhetoric is to advocate prostitution, drugs and hedonism, not liberty and natural rights. This is self evident by his campaign Slogan, "Florida must get Stoned." His campaign reminds us of his well earned and self-perpetuated reputation as a Republican Hit man. It is not consistent with a professional political party, rather is completely inconsistent with someone actually seeking to grow good libertarian government. He's cultivating the exact image for himself (thus the LPF) that as a political hatchetman he would try to force on his victims.
He made his fortune in life by devising dirty political tricks from the time of Nixon forward that were funded by the Republican Party. If he were serious about helping and being part of the Libertarian Party of Florida, he'd have been participating in building the party, he'd share and use his media access to help the party, and bring both people and money to the LPF. He instead garners press coverage that his infamy has brought him to project unpalatable ideas and positions from an extreme viewpoint to denigrate the party he professes to support.
There is nothing in Stone's history to indicate he's a convert to libertarianism. He is the quintessential Republican who wants to smoke dope. The track record of our national party with recent converts like Bob Bar, Wayne Allen Root, and Gary Johnson have not been successful, and make us look like holding tank for wayward republicans, not a serious party with serious ideas.
The LPF has no control over our image anymore, like it or not the press is going to make Roger Stone the image of the LPF; an oversexed crack pot hedonistic image of dope smoking republicans looking for whores. Not an image the more traditional aged population of our center right state will trust or elect to office. The sound bites Stone will provide the press will be the death of us, and any serious Libertarian candidates and the serious libertarian message will be destroyed in the extremism of the Republican Hit Man. The LPF is about to suffer a vile slow painful death by Stoning.
The current death sentence passed to the LPF by the GOP and Democrats is lapidation. The LP and LPF are becoming viable and a serious threat to the statist parties in charge. This is not something they can or will tolerate any longer. So with their complicit friends in the press, they are going to attempt to destroy the viability of the LP, using infamous GOP hitman Roger Stone to destroy the LPF. The actions and rhetoric of Roger Stone make it clear that he's neither an advocate or promoter of the LPF, nor a serious candidate. I believe he's a shill to damage the image and keep the LP from main stream acceptance. As LPF Director at Large Pete Bloom so eloquently put it the Libertarian Party does "not advocate the personal choice of drugs or prostitution, we advocate the natural right of people owning their own bodies, and the responsible government that comes from using the rule of law to stop the use of force or fraud." This is not the position of Roger Stone.
His actions and words make it fairly obvious that is goal is to marginalize our party and make it unpalatable political body by focusing on what most Floridians still see as prurient interests. His rhetoric is to advocate prostitution, drugs and hedonism, not liberty and natural rights. This is self evident by his campaign Slogan, "Florida must get Stoned." His campaign reminds us of his well earned and self-perpetuated reputation as a Republican Hit man. It is not consistent with a professional political party, rather is completely inconsistent with someone actually seeking to grow good libertarian government. He's cultivating the exact image for himself (thus the LPF) that as a political hatchetman he would try to force on his victims.
He made his fortune in life by devising dirty political tricks from the time of Nixon forward that were funded by the Republican Party. If he were serious about helping and being part of the Libertarian Party of Florida, he'd have been participating in building the party, he'd share and use his media access to help the party, and bring both people and money to the LPF. He instead garners press coverage that his infamy has brought him to project unpalatable ideas and positions from an extreme viewpoint to denigrate the party he professes to support.
There is nothing in Stone's history to indicate he's a convert to libertarianism. He is the quintessential Republican who wants to smoke dope. The track record of our national party with recent converts like Bob Bar, Wayne Allen Root, and Gary Johnson have not been successful, and make us look like holding tank for wayward republicans, not a serious party with serious ideas.
The LPF has no control over our image anymore, like it or not the press is going to make Roger Stone the image of the LPF; an oversexed crack pot hedonistic image of dope smoking republicans looking for whores. Not an image the more traditional aged population of our center right state will trust or elect to office. The sound bites Stone will provide the press will be the death of us, and any serious Libertarian candidates and the serious libertarian message will be destroyed in the extremism of the Republican Hit Man. The LPF is about to suffer a vile slow painful death by Stoning.
Thursday, February 14, 2013
Former LPF Chair rejects LPF Endorsement.
By Tom Rhodes
2/14/2013
Open Letter to Fl Governor Candidate John Wayne Smith.
Dear Mr. Smith,
It is plainly obvious you want to play at politics, but don't actually support your party or want it's support. Although anyone can run for any office claiming to be a member of any party, that doesn't mean that the party they joined supports them. The Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF) has a strait forward methodology of determining which people running for any office have the support of the LPF. This process simply verifies that a person is actually a registered Libertarian, a member of the LPF, and their platform positions, as determined by a short questionnaire, are consistent with the LPF Platform. Once vetted a candidate can and will get the support of the LPF. Although rare, there is no problem vetting more than one person for the same office and more than one person having the support of the LPF. This process doesn't determine if a person is or isn't a Libertarian, it only determines if the LPF will support a person running as a Libertarian.
Regardless of any personality conflicts you may have with current LPF leadership, the system that is in place now is far fairer and better than the Good Ol' Boy system of the past. It is self evident by the fact that EC Member and head of the Nominating committee purposefully seeking your involvement in the LPF nominating process. This is the Email he sent you.
This is your reply:
If you want any support from the LPF, of which you are a member, then why not allow yourself to be vetted by the Party. The Libertarian Party brand has value, in fact it has so much value that the State of Florida, charges every candidate a fee that it goves to the candidate's party for a candidate to use that party's name. The party is under no legal or moral obligation to return that money to the candidate using the LP name, it traditionally does so, but because the LPF has no means of controlling who uses the LPF name in elections, all it can do to insure that crackpots and plants from other parties don't use and abuse the LPF name, is support those candidates who clearly espouse libertarian values, thus vet candidates and either say We endorse this Libertarian or not.
Your reply to the LPF Nominating Committee is in fact saying, "I do not seek nor want the endorsement or support of the LPF." Why have you rejected the endorsement and approval of your own party, and why are you running as a Libertarian, having rejected your own party's endorsement.
Regards,
Tom Rhodes
Chair LPF Rules Committee,
Chair LPF Platform Committee.
Unlike the other LPF candidates for Govenor, who are not attacking each other, here is John Wayne Smith's Reply where he clearly rejects the support and endorsement of the Libertarian Party of FLorida:
2/14/2013
Open Letter to Fl Governor Candidate John Wayne Smith.
Dear Mr. Smith,
It is plainly obvious you want to play at politics, but don't actually support your party or want it's support. Although anyone can run for any office claiming to be a member of any party, that doesn't mean that the party they joined supports them. The Libertarian Party of Florida (LPF) has a strait forward methodology of determining which people running for any office have the support of the LPF. This process simply verifies that a person is actually a registered Libertarian, a member of the LPF, and their platform positions, as determined by a short questionnaire, are consistent with the LPF Platform. Once vetted a candidate can and will get the support of the LPF. Although rare, there is no problem vetting more than one person for the same office and more than one person having the support of the LPF. This process doesn't determine if a person is or isn't a Libertarian, it only determines if the LPF will support a person running as a Libertarian.
Regardless of any personality conflicts you may have with current LPF leadership, the system that is in place now is far fairer and better than the Good Ol' Boy system of the past. It is self evident by the fact that EC Member and head of the Nominating committee purposefully seeking your involvement in the LPF nominating process. This is the Email he sent you.
From: ******@****.com
Date: Wed, 1 Feb 2013 4:09:20
Subject: Libertarian Nominating Committee
To: ******@****.com
Mr. Smith
Do you wish to be vetted by the Libertarian Party of Florida? If so get back to me and we will start the process.
Greg Lennon
Chair Nominating Committee LPF
###-###-####
This is your reply:
From: ******@****.com
Date: Thu, 14 Feb 2013 00:47:50 -0500
Subject: Re: Libertarian Nominating Committee
To: ******@****.com
I will not be vetted by you or anyone else. I do not recognize such a vetting committee and say that neither you or anyone else will determinine if I am Libertarian. If I am treated any differently than any other registered Libertarian voter it will end in court.
John Wayne Smith
If you want any support from the LPF, of which you are a member, then why not allow yourself to be vetted by the Party. The Libertarian Party brand has value, in fact it has so much value that the State of Florida, charges every candidate a fee that it goves to the candidate's party for a candidate to use that party's name. The party is under no legal or moral obligation to return that money to the candidate using the LP name, it traditionally does so, but because the LPF has no means of controlling who uses the LPF name in elections, all it can do to insure that crackpots and plants from other parties don't use and abuse the LPF name, is support those candidates who clearly espouse libertarian values, thus vet candidates and either say We endorse this Libertarian or not.
Your reply to the LPF Nominating Committee is in fact saying, "I do not seek nor want the endorsement or support of the LPF." Why have you rejected the endorsement and approval of your own party, and why are you running as a Libertarian, having rejected your own party's endorsement.
Regards,
Tom Rhodes
Chair LPF Rules Committee,
Chair LPF Platform Committee.
Unlike the other LPF candidates for Govenor, who are not attacking each other, here is John Wayne Smith's Reply where he clearly rejects the support and endorsement of the Libertarian Party of FLorida:
From: JWSMITH42000@aol.com
Sent: Thursday, February 14, 2013 1:36 PM
To: Rhodes, Tom
Subject: Re: Open Letter asking why you have rejected the endorsement of your own party?
Mr Rhodes:
Greg Lennon is an ignorant raving Lunatic who screwed up party records while he was secretary, and otherwise just has no idea what he is doing.
Adrian Wyllie is a lying thieving scum bag who has continuously disregarded the rule of law and the documents of the Libertarian Party. He will not correct errors pointed out in his doings. He just says "That is the way it will be" Because he has constantly ignored the law's he has put the Libertarian Party of Florida in danger.
His side kick Alex Snitker is trying to sell the LPF out for his own personal interest.
Lynn House is the actual acting chair in the absence of leadership from Mr. Wyllie and she is trying to also ignore the laws and be a dictator to be able to keep Mr. Wyllie out of trouble.
You, by your arrogant ways run off people who you do not like.
Other members of the current leadership of the LPF are just as ignorant and arrogant.
While there are some good people serving on the LPF Executive Committee there is not enough of them to stop the stupidity.
I just do not want anything to do with a political party who's supposed leadership as dishonest as the bunch of you.
And if you really want me to tell you how I feel, it would take several days to write it out.
As the organizer of this edition of the Libertarian Party of Florida, I find that it is only Libertarian in Name Only.
John Wayne Smith, Organizer of the Libertarian Party of Florida, 1986
Current Candidate for Governor of Florida.
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Reasons You Should Quit the GOP and Join the LP
By Tom Rhodes, 1/16/2012
Let's face it, the Republican Party does not actually support or believe in conservative ideas. So here are some reasons why you the Republican Conservatives should quit the GOP and join the LP.
1) The GOP establishment is continuously trying to abandon conservatism, and is at war with liberty. When Republicans run for office, they lie about being conservative and then move to the left. Consider GOP darling and liar Marco Rubio, while running for office he opposed amnesty for illegals, now he wants to make them citizens. It is clear that conservatives cannot trust Republicans in Congress to just do the right thing. If it weren't for grass roots organizations like the NRA and GOA you could be confident that the Republicans would cave to the Democrats on gun control, etc. They cannot be expected to actually do the jobs they were sent to Congress to do the way they claimed they would do while running for office.
2) The GOP establishment prefers liberals not conservatives, ALWAYS! The GOP leaders consistently back the liberal Republican over the Conservative or Libertarian Republican. It backed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey, David Dewhurst over Ted Cruz, Bob Bennett over Mike Lee, Trey Grayson over Rand Paul and Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio. Our two top "leaders" in the Senate, Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn, both endorsed now Democrat Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio. The best and brightest of the GOP in the Senate are universally opposed by the GOP establishment. The message this sends to conservatives is, "You guys scare the crap out of us, and we'd rather back future Democrats like Charlie Crist and Arlen Specter than real conservatives."
3) The GOP keeps staying with the same failed people over and over again. Why are John Boehner and Mitch McConnell still in charge in Congress. What results has their "leadership" provided? McConnell has been outmaneuvered and outsmarted by Harry Reid at every turn. RNC chair Reince Priebus can raise money ok, but failed as RNC leader. The 2012 Senate sucked, didn't get anything done, and caved on almost everything, yet the same people were chosen again for leadership.
4) The ruling elite of the GOP establishment don't produce results. When the GOP was in power, they implemented Medicare Part D and wanted comprehensive immigration reform, instituted no child left behind, and spent like drunken sailors. The GOP establishment trashed any real conservatives or libertarians and gave the country John McCain or Mitt Romney because they were "electable" while both are liberals who ran from social issues, and promote big government at every turn. When the GOP establishment gets its way, they lose. The GOP ruling elite offer defeat, the LP may not win a lot of elections, but then at least they are principled. The GOP establishment offers you not only losing elections by acting liberal, but losing your respect and trust for compromising and lying about being "conservative."
5) The want to lose. Well they'd rather a liberal win over a real conservative. They run nasty campaigns against conservatives but then play nice and act like wussies when fighting democrats. Where ware Romney's attacks against Obama the way he attacked his GOP opponents. Playing nice with Democrats isn't doing the conservative cause any good. Obama is talking about overruling Congress with executive orders and minting trillion dollar platinum coins. Listening to the GOP establishment, they are acting like all is well and it's just business as usual in Washington. The GOP establishment is content to sit on the sidelines and watch Obama usurp their power and authority. The GOP controls all spending, they can say no to any spending increases, all spending and tax laws must start in the HOUSE. They have no guts to actually stand for what they believe, and have proven it.
6) The GOP doesn't represent the your values as much as the Libertarian Party does. It is clear that conservative values and beliefs have been abandoned by GOP establishment officials. You simply can't trust establishment Republicans the way liberals can trust Democrats like Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. You can always trust Pelosi and Reid to turn left if they have the chance. You can't say that of Jeb Bush, John Boehner, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Joe Scarborough, Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Peggy Noonan, Kathleen Parker, David Frum, Mike Murphy, Steve Schmidt, Reince Priebus, Karl Rove, David Brooks, Megan McCain, Bob Dole, Chris Christie, or Mitt Romney. They may be nice guys but they clearly don't support a conservative movement, you can't trust them to make a conservative choice or stand on conservative principles. Their agenda is clearly statist, not conservative. You may not agree 100% with Libertarians, but you can certainly trust them to do as they say far more than your current establishment.
The GOP establishment is for the government, not you the average Republican. They take you for granted, so why not go where you'd be appreciated, and accepted. The LP is not monolithic pot smoking anarchists, and no, the LP may not match your values perfectly, but the GOP lies to you saying they represent your values while doing the opposite. The values and objectives of the Libertarian Party are far closer to your own than the establishment Republican Party. Supporting the Republicans certainly hasn't proved effective in promoting your values. Make the switch and make a difference. Join the LP.
Do you want to know what the LP really stands for? Here are our objectives, they are a lot closer to your beliefs than anything the GOP establishment has or is offering.
Create an environment for Free markets to flourish
Promote Social Freedoms
End the wars abroad, bring our troops home
End the Drug war on drugs, drugs are a health issue, not a criminal issue
End Crony Capitalism; don't play favorites in the market
Repeal all laws that infringe on our rights, privacy, property
Audit and or End the Federal Reserve
Follow the Constitution
Find out more by reading our platform at http://www.lpf.org/the-lpfs-platform.
Let's face it, the Republican Party does not actually support or believe in conservative ideas. So here are some reasons why you the Republican Conservatives should quit the GOP and join the LP.
1) The GOP establishment is continuously trying to abandon conservatism, and is at war with liberty. When Republicans run for office, they lie about being conservative and then move to the left. Consider GOP darling and liar Marco Rubio, while running for office he opposed amnesty for illegals, now he wants to make them citizens. It is clear that conservatives cannot trust Republicans in Congress to just do the right thing. If it weren't for grass roots organizations like the NRA and GOA you could be confident that the Republicans would cave to the Democrats on gun control, etc. They cannot be expected to actually do the jobs they were sent to Congress to do the way they claimed they would do while running for office.
2) The GOP establishment prefers liberals not conservatives, ALWAYS! The GOP leaders consistently back the liberal Republican over the Conservative or Libertarian Republican. It backed Arlen Specter over Pat Toomey, David Dewhurst over Ted Cruz, Bob Bennett over Mike Lee, Trey Grayson over Rand Paul and Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio. Our two top "leaders" in the Senate, Mitch McConnell and John Cornyn, both endorsed now Democrat Charlie Crist over Marco Rubio. The best and brightest of the GOP in the Senate are universally opposed by the GOP establishment. The message this sends to conservatives is, "You guys scare the crap out of us, and we'd rather back future Democrats like Charlie Crist and Arlen Specter than real conservatives."
3) The GOP keeps staying with the same failed people over and over again. Why are John Boehner and Mitch McConnell still in charge in Congress. What results has their "leadership" provided? McConnell has been outmaneuvered and outsmarted by Harry Reid at every turn. RNC chair Reince Priebus can raise money ok, but failed as RNC leader. The 2012 Senate sucked, didn't get anything done, and caved on almost everything, yet the same people were chosen again for leadership.
4) The ruling elite of the GOP establishment don't produce results. When the GOP was in power, they implemented Medicare Part D and wanted comprehensive immigration reform, instituted no child left behind, and spent like drunken sailors. The GOP establishment trashed any real conservatives or libertarians and gave the country John McCain or Mitt Romney because they were "electable" while both are liberals who ran from social issues, and promote big government at every turn. When the GOP establishment gets its way, they lose. The GOP ruling elite offer defeat, the LP may not win a lot of elections, but then at least they are principled. The GOP establishment offers you not only losing elections by acting liberal, but losing your respect and trust for compromising and lying about being "conservative."
5) The want to lose. Well they'd rather a liberal win over a real conservative. They run nasty campaigns against conservatives but then play nice and act like wussies when fighting democrats. Where ware Romney's attacks against Obama the way he attacked his GOP opponents. Playing nice with Democrats isn't doing the conservative cause any good. Obama is talking about overruling Congress with executive orders and minting trillion dollar platinum coins. Listening to the GOP establishment, they are acting like all is well and it's just business as usual in Washington. The GOP establishment is content to sit on the sidelines and watch Obama usurp their power and authority. The GOP controls all spending, they can say no to any spending increases, all spending and tax laws must start in the HOUSE. They have no guts to actually stand for what they believe, and have proven it.
6) The GOP doesn't represent the your values as much as the Libertarian Party does. It is clear that conservative values and beliefs have been abandoned by GOP establishment officials. You simply can't trust establishment Republicans the way liberals can trust Democrats like Nancy Pelosi or Harry Reid. You can always trust Pelosi and Reid to turn left if they have the chance. You can't say that of Jeb Bush, John Boehner, John McCain, Lindsey Graham, Joe Scarborough, Mitch McConnell, John Cornyn, Peggy Noonan, Kathleen Parker, David Frum, Mike Murphy, Steve Schmidt, Reince Priebus, Karl Rove, David Brooks, Megan McCain, Bob Dole, Chris Christie, or Mitt Romney. They may be nice guys but they clearly don't support a conservative movement, you can't trust them to make a conservative choice or stand on conservative principles. Their agenda is clearly statist, not conservative. You may not agree 100% with Libertarians, but you can certainly trust them to do as they say far more than your current establishment.
The GOP establishment is for the government, not you the average Republican. They take you for granted, so why not go where you'd be appreciated, and accepted. The LP is not monolithic pot smoking anarchists, and no, the LP may not match your values perfectly, but the GOP lies to you saying they represent your values while doing the opposite. The values and objectives of the Libertarian Party are far closer to your own than the establishment Republican Party. Supporting the Republicans certainly hasn't proved effective in promoting your values. Make the switch and make a difference. Join the LP.
Do you want to know what the LP really stands for? Here are our objectives, they are a lot closer to your beliefs than anything the GOP establishment has or is offering.
Find out more by reading our platform at http://www.lpf.org/the-lpfs-platform.
Monday, November 5, 2012
Unprincipled Stand of LPF
By Tom Rhodes, Chairman LPF Platform Committee, 11/5/2012
The LPF’s stand on the proposed Florida Constitution amendments is clearly unprincipled and against our own party’s platform. The State Government Section of our platform (1.4 ) clearly states: We support Equality under the Law, and condemn any law that either rewards or punishes any individual based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other group identification. Each person has the same inalienable rights. It is the States duty to protect those rights for each individual equally.
Platform Section VI. TAXES reads as follows:
The official published position of the LPF on Florida’s constitutional amendments includes:
Although these positions are in the spirit of the Platform position to reduce/eliminate property taxes, they clearly violates the for more principled and repeated positions and themes of the LPF Tax favoritism should be illegal and condemnation any law that either rewards or punishes any individual based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other group identification.
All of those amendments apply unequal treatment under the law, and reward certain groups preferential treatment under the law. In no way can these positions be considered to be principled libertarian positions.
The LPF official positions only establish that special rights and privileges for some is acceptable. “The LPF believes that the property tax should be eliminated entirely rather than bit by bit to certain groups, however, the LPF supports continued reduction in the property tax burden of Floridians as we continue to work towards total elimination.” The official position recognizes that this is an unprincipled position, and does nothing to explain why in any of these instances unequal treatment under the law should be accepted, the idea that some people getting less taxes while working on all people having less taxes undermines the very principles of liberty our country was founded.
Since none of those amendments promote or even recognize the desire to eliminate property taxes, and all promote tax favoritism, how can we say Tax Favoritism Should Be Illegal and tell voters to vote Yes, on constitutional amendments that promote tax favoritism?
Calling ourselves the “Party of Principle” then telling people to vote for unequal treatment under the law is not only contradictory, but clearly unprincipled.
The LPF’s stand on the proposed Florida Constitution amendments is clearly unprincipled and against our own party’s platform. The State Government Section of our platform (1.4 ) clearly states: We support Equality under the Law, and condemn any law that either rewards or punishes any individual based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other group identification. Each person has the same inalienable rights. It is the States duty to protect those rights for each individual equally.
Platform Section VI. TAXES reads as follows:
1. The legislature should find more voluntary means of supporting state services, such as lotteries and user fees.
2. Taxation of privately owned real property should be eliminated. In effect, it makes the state the owner of all lands by forcing individuals to pay rent to the state or forfeit their title.
3. The personal property tax on Florida businesses should be repealed.
4. Tax favoritism should be illegal. Abatements, subsidies, credits, or other incentives to businesses based on geographical area, job creation, or any other criteria deny equal protection under the law.
5. Sales tax on used merchandise that is resold results in double taxation and should be eliminated.
6. Adding sales tax to products already subject to specific state taxes, such as gasoline and cigarettes, should be ended. This practice results in double taxation, as consumers are paying a tax on a tax.
7. We oppose any sales or use tax on the Internet.
The official published position of the LPF on Florida’s constitutional amendments includes:
2) Veterans Disabled Due To Combat Injury; Homestead Property Tax Discount - This amendment would expand a special homestead property exemption to include combat disabled veterans who were not Florida residents when they entered the military. The discount would be based on a percentage equal to that of the veteran’s permanent, service-related disability. (Read full text)
LPF Recommendation: YES
The LPF's position is that taxation of privately owned real property should be eliminated entirely. In effect, it makes the state the owner of all lands by forcing individuals to pay rent to the state or forfeit their title. While the LPF maintains that all laws should be applied equally rather than the laws being designed to selectively benefit or harm certain groups, in this instance the opportunity to reduce the tax burden imposed by the state is a step in the right direction towards total elimination of the property tax. A reduction in collected property taxes, even though directed at a certain group, will result in limiting the size and scope of government which will benefit all individual Floridians. The LPF will continue to work to reduce the property tax with the ultimate goal of complete elimination.
...
4) Property Tax Limitations; Property Value Decline; Reduction For Nonhomestead Assessment Increases; Delay Of Scheduled Repeal - This amendment would prevent increases in the assessed value of homestead properties and some non-homestead properties when the market values for those properties decrease. It also would reduce the annual growth assessment cap on non-homestead properties from 10% to 5%. In addition, it would provide first-time homesteaders with an additional exemption equal to 50% of the home’s market value. However, that exemption would drop to zero after five years. (Read full text)
LPF Recommendation: YES
While this amendment is not perfect by any means, it will have the effect of reducing real property taxes, or at least slow the rate of tax increase, for most residential and commercial property owners in Florida.
...
9) Homestead Property Tax Exemption For Surviving Spouse Of Military Veteran Or First Responder -This amendment would give a homestead property tax exemption to the surviving spouse of a military veteran or first responder killed in the line of duty. The provision would authorize the Legislature to totally or partially exempt a surviving spouse’s homestead property from being taxed.
LPF Recommendation: YES
For the same reasons stated in support of Amendment 2, the LPF recommends a "YES" vote on Amendment 9 in order to continue to reduce the property tax burden on Floridians resulting in a less taxes collected by the state and a limiting of the size and scope of government. The LPF will continue to work to reduce the property tax for all Floridians with the ultimate goal of complete elimination.
...
11) Additional Homestead Exemption; Low-Income Seniors Who Maintain Long-Term Residency On Property; Equal To Assessed Value - This amendment would authorize the Legislature to let counties and municipalities grant an additional homestead tax exemption for low-income seniors. The exemption would be equal to the assessed value of a homestead property, if: its market value is less than $250,000; the owner has maintained permanent residence there for at least 25 years; the owner is at least 65; and the owner has a low household income under law.
LPF Recommendation: YES
This amendment is slightly different than Amendments 2 and 9 because it only authorizes the Legislature to allow (rather than mandate) counties and municipalities to grant additional homestead exemptions to low-income seniors who meet certain conditions. The most efficient and accountable form of government is that which is most easily accessible by the people, the smallest, and closest to home. This amendment will result in a grant of additional authority to our counties and municipalities. By placing this decision into the hands of our local governments the citizens of Florida will have a greater ability to express their opinions to their local elected officials through petition and via the ballot box. The LPF believes that the property tax should be eliminated entirely rather than bit by bit to certain groups, however, the LPF supports continued reduction in the property tax burden of Floridians as we continue to work towards total elimination.
Although these positions are in the spirit of the Platform position to reduce/eliminate property taxes, they clearly violates the for more principled and repeated positions and themes of the LPF Tax favoritism should be illegal and condemnation any law that either rewards or punishes any individual based on race, ethnicity, religion, gender, or any other group identification.
All of those amendments apply unequal treatment under the law, and reward certain groups preferential treatment under the law. In no way can these positions be considered to be principled libertarian positions.
The LPF official positions only establish that special rights and privileges for some is acceptable. “The LPF believes that the property tax should be eliminated entirely rather than bit by bit to certain groups, however, the LPF supports continued reduction in the property tax burden of Floridians as we continue to work towards total elimination.” The official position recognizes that this is an unprincipled position, and does nothing to explain why in any of these instances unequal treatment under the law should be accepted, the idea that some people getting less taxes while working on all people having less taxes undermines the very principles of liberty our country was founded.
Since none of those amendments promote or even recognize the desire to eliminate property taxes, and all promote tax favoritism, how can we say Tax Favoritism Should Be Illegal and tell voters to vote Yes, on constitutional amendments that promote tax favoritism?
Calling ourselves the “Party of Principle” then telling people to vote for unequal treatment under the law is not only contradictory, but clearly unprincipled.
Sunday, September 9, 2012
Democrat Party Adopts Libertarian Party Stupidity
By Tom Rhodes, 9/8/12
I’ve been saying for quite a while that to be successful the Libertarian Party has to change its image. The image that most of America has of the LP is that of extremist pot smoking adolescent atheistic anarchists. There is hope for the LP, not because we are doing anything to change our image, but at least our convention had real debate and showed that we are a party of principle. The hope comes from the fact that even we in the LP aren’t extreme enough nor stupid enough to boo God. This video is why the Democrats will lose big in November.
Depending on the poll, between 80 and 90% of Americans believe in God. Throwing God out of your political party tells that 80 to 90% that they are wrong. Telling 90% of the population "Go to hell" three times, and having to have your ruling elite ignore your voice, is not smart politics.
The LP tries to have the most open tent of all the political parties; we embrace atheists, anarchists, secessionists, people of all religions, all races, all persuasions, all beliefs, yet denounce God and the beliefs of most of the country. This is part of why the American people don’t trust and rarely elect Libertarians. Political parties exist for one reason; that is to elect people to power to lead/run government.
Functions of Political Parties
So with that in mind why does the LP embrace anarchists? Anarchists are against the very reason a political party exists. This is basic logic that makes the LP appear irrational to most Americans. Adding in terms like minanarchism to try and placate people who believe that government is necessary. The result is adolescent psudointellectual crap that America sees as “anarchist”. Regardless of what Wikipedia says about minanarchism, what most of America thinks can be found in the Urban Dictionary. Extremist ideas will not win elections. Legalizing pot is not an extremist idea . . . . . anymore.
The Democrats denying God three times in this year’s DNC, is extreme, Biblically extreme. That gives hope to the LP as we now look more mainstream than do the Democrats. If the LP is ever to become more than a 1% joke for late night comedians, we have to eliminate those parts of our platform that are not libertarian and extremist. I’ll use one extremely controversial issue, which the Democrats were dumb enough to add to their platform that has been in the LP platform for decades; Abortion.
This is not about being pro-life or pro-choice or promoting either side of the issue. The fact is Abortion is a divisive issue that if you’re a libertarian you must either totally embrace or totally reject, there is no middle ground for Libertarians. The reason is that the heart of libertarian thinking is the idea of basic unalienable rights. The most basic is the right to life. On moral and scientific grounds people can believe that life begins at conception, and that creating a life was started because of a choice, and as such there may be consequences. If you believe life begins at conception, then you have no other choice than to consider abortion as murder of a less developed person by a more developed person. If however you don’t believe that life begins at conception, then you must support abortion as the right to life is embodied by the concept of self ownership, and means that a person can and should be able to do with their body as they see fit, and the government cannot and should not force people to do with their body what the government wants.
As a Libertarian you cannot have any middle ground on Abortion; if you do, you aren’t really a libertarian. This issue divides America more than any other. Picking a side alienates a huge part of the country. The LP should eliminate all references to Abortion in its national platform, to support the pro-choice side of the argument, tells all those who believe that believe life begins at conception that the LP endorses murder. To support the pro-life side tells all those who don’t, that the LP endorses slavery where the government can dictate to women what they can/can’t do with their bodies. The issue is a political loser, and to half the country makes the LP not look like the Party of Principle, but look like the party of anti-liberty; Pro-murder or Pro-enslavement but not pro-liberty. The Abortion plank in the LP platform makes us unpalatable to almost the entire country. The Democrats have adopted this same divisive plank for their party.
We could however rethink the idea of the LP. Rather than being a party whose purpose is to elect people to office to run government, we may consider ourselves something else. The idea of legalizing pot is no longer extreme. It was at one time considered one of these extreme planks of the LP that was justification for dismissing the LP as a place for “Republicans who want to smoke dope.” Legalizing pot is now being considered a mainstream idea. If we in the LP don’t consider it our goal to win elections, then maybe it is to direct and force the country to look at the other parties and their ideas on Liberty and Freedom. This is the direction that many leaders in the LP think should be the purpose of the LP. If not for the LP the RLC (Republican Liberty Caucus) wouldn’t exist. Our candidates may get only 1% of the vote, but our ideas are permeating society.
From the Cato Institute, to John Stossel, libertarian thinking and ideas are now mainstream. But the more extreme factions of the LP, like embracing anarchists, make the Libertarian Party unacceptable to most of America. To be truly libertarian, we must look at our platform in a far more critical way. Embracing extremist positions that alienate those who love Liberty by embracing what many find as clearly un-libertarian ideas, is not going to make our party stronger. Compare the national LP platform to that of the LPF (Libertarian Party of Florida), and you will see that the LPF platform embraces liberty equally as well as the national platform without embracing extremism. This may be a model for the future and a more powerful LP.
Maybe we should start with the same purpose statement that was used to create this great nation:
” 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”
I’ve been saying for quite a while that to be successful the Libertarian Party has to change its image. The image that most of America has of the LP is that of extremist pot smoking adolescent atheistic anarchists. There is hope for the LP, not because we are doing anything to change our image, but at least our convention had real debate and showed that we are a party of principle. The hope comes from the fact that even we in the LP aren’t extreme enough nor stupid enough to boo God. This video is why the Democrats will lose big in November.
Depending on the poll, between 80 and 90% of Americans believe in God. Throwing God out of your political party tells that 80 to 90% that they are wrong. Telling 90% of the population "Go to hell" three times, and having to have your ruling elite ignore your voice, is not smart politics.
The LP tries to have the most open tent of all the political parties; we embrace atheists, anarchists, secessionists, people of all religions, all races, all persuasions, all beliefs, yet denounce God and the beliefs of most of the country. This is part of why the American people don’t trust and rarely elect Libertarians. Political parties exist for one reason; that is to elect people to power to lead/run government.
Functions of Political Parties
1) The main purpose of political parties is to join people who hold similar points of view about the government together. These groups work to participate in and influence the government by having its members elected to a government position. Even though many people choose to be associated with a certain party, they don't all share exactly the same beliefs. However, the core beliefs about how government should be run are shared.
2) The United States is a two-party system. Although there are minor parties, none have been able to gain the support needed to win a national election. In America, we have a two-party system where the Republicans and Democrats dominate the political scene. However, there is a growing trend in the United States for voters to be registered as independent. This group votes for different parties in each election. An independent may vote for a Republican for president and a Democrat for senator. The Republicans and Democrats work hard to understand this group of voters.
3) Parties must promote a broad set of core beliefs to reach their members as well as independent voters. Even those voters who choose to be affiliated with a certain party tend to choose candidates who hold a middle of the road view. For these reasons, parties tend to form their platform based on reaching those who hold a moderate viewpoint. This is beneficial to our country in many ways. Most importantly, it keeps our government from taking on an extreme point of view that would appeal only to a small portion of the population.(emphasis added)
So with that in mind why does the LP embrace anarchists? Anarchists are against the very reason a political party exists. This is basic logic that makes the LP appear irrational to most Americans. Adding in terms like minanarchism to try and placate people who believe that government is necessary. The result is adolescent psudointellectual crap that America sees as “anarchist”. Regardless of what Wikipedia says about minanarchism, what most of America thinks can be found in the Urban Dictionary. Extremist ideas will not win elections. Legalizing pot is not an extremist idea . . . . . anymore.
The Democrats denying God three times in this year’s DNC, is extreme, Biblically extreme. That gives hope to the LP as we now look more mainstream than do the Democrats. If the LP is ever to become more than a 1% joke for late night comedians, we have to eliminate those parts of our platform that are not libertarian and extremist. I’ll use one extremely controversial issue, which the Democrats were dumb enough to add to their platform that has been in the LP platform for decades; Abortion.
This is not about being pro-life or pro-choice or promoting either side of the issue. The fact is Abortion is a divisive issue that if you’re a libertarian you must either totally embrace or totally reject, there is no middle ground for Libertarians. The reason is that the heart of libertarian thinking is the idea of basic unalienable rights. The most basic is the right to life. On moral and scientific grounds people can believe that life begins at conception, and that creating a life was started because of a choice, and as such there may be consequences. If you believe life begins at conception, then you have no other choice than to consider abortion as murder of a less developed person by a more developed person. If however you don’t believe that life begins at conception, then you must support abortion as the right to life is embodied by the concept of self ownership, and means that a person can and should be able to do with their body as they see fit, and the government cannot and should not force people to do with their body what the government wants.
As a Libertarian you cannot have any middle ground on Abortion; if you do, you aren’t really a libertarian. This issue divides America more than any other. Picking a side alienates a huge part of the country. The LP should eliminate all references to Abortion in its national platform, to support the pro-choice side of the argument, tells all those who believe that believe life begins at conception that the LP endorses murder. To support the pro-life side tells all those who don’t, that the LP endorses slavery where the government can dictate to women what they can/can’t do with their bodies. The issue is a political loser, and to half the country makes the LP not look like the Party of Principle, but look like the party of anti-liberty; Pro-murder or Pro-enslavement but not pro-liberty. The Abortion plank in the LP platform makes us unpalatable to almost the entire country. The Democrats have adopted this same divisive plank for their party.
We could however rethink the idea of the LP. Rather than being a party whose purpose is to elect people to office to run government, we may consider ourselves something else. The idea of legalizing pot is no longer extreme. It was at one time considered one of these extreme planks of the LP that was justification for dismissing the LP as a place for “Republicans who want to smoke dope.” Legalizing pot is now being considered a mainstream idea. If we in the LP don’t consider it our goal to win elections, then maybe it is to direct and force the country to look at the other parties and their ideas on Liberty and Freedom. This is the direction that many leaders in the LP think should be the purpose of the LP. If not for the LP the RLC (Republican Liberty Caucus) wouldn’t exist. Our candidates may get only 1% of the vote, but our ideas are permeating society.
From the Cato Institute, to John Stossel, libertarian thinking and ideas are now mainstream. But the more extreme factions of the LP, like embracing anarchists, make the Libertarian Party unacceptable to most of America. To be truly libertarian, we must look at our platform in a far more critical way. Embracing extremist positions that alienate those who love Liberty by embracing what many find as clearly un-libertarian ideas, is not going to make our party stronger. Compare the national LP platform to that of the LPF (Libertarian Party of Florida), and you will see that the LPF platform embraces liberty equally as well as the national platform without embracing extremism. This may be a model for the future and a more powerful LP.
Maybe we should start with the same purpose statement that was used to create this great nation:
” 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”
Sunday, August 5, 2012
LP Commits Election Suicide (again)
By Tom Rhodes 8/6/12
Gary Johnsons announced support of gay marriage, again shows the vast majority of Americans that the LP is not suitable to lead the USA. The LP can't even get its leadership to support its candidate. Even members of the Libertarian Party’s Executive Committee endorsed Romney not the LP candidate. When put to a vote Gay Marriage loses by huge margins, over 60% here in Florida.
Look at Chick-Fil-A, record sales and egg all over the face of militant gays. Gary Johnson loudly proclaiming he doesn’t go to church and that gays shold be allowed to marry, pretty much killed his election chances. Why do we Libertarians continue to choose totally unelectable people to run for office. As a Libertarian, I’ve committed to voting for Johnson, mostly because there is no other real choice, and I couldn't live with myself if I voted for Obama or Romney. But Johnson's words have effectively killed any chance he has of winning the election.
In an email I received from Johnson’s campaing he said;
Exactly where in the constitution is the right to marriage found? More importantly where in the constitution does the federal government have an enumerated power to legislate marriage? Rather than champion equality under the law, Johnson endorses adding yet another group getting special treatment and the further disenfranchise of some based on who they choose to enter contracts. If your single, and don’t choose to enter into a binding contract with another, you can be and are treated to different rules than those who do choose to enter into a contract with another.
Although there shouldn’t be any governmental authority to regulate marriage, constitutionally if the government does have that right it is clearly a States Right. Johnson chooses to ignore States Rights on this issue, and tell the 31 states who have had votes on the issue, that those voters are wrong.
Having met with and talked to Gary Johnson, I could not support him and didn’t as the choice for LP candidate for president during the LP selection process. I lost this and will vote for the LP candidate. The reasons I didn’t support Johnson were based on his words and stated beliefs. Mostly it appeared as though he was an opportunist Republican taking advantage of the LP. He appeared to have values that followed the wind, and took the position that could get him the most press. When directly asked Johnson was clear in stating that promoting the LP, and making the LP an effective political party was not his job, and not something he considered he was responsible for. His words were basically I'm out for me not the Libertarian Party.
That is why I didn’t vote for him at the Libertarian Party of Floirda state convention this year, and why I’ve clearly stated to those on the LPF EC that I don’t think they should have supported Johnson. Again we are stuck with an unelectable LP presidential candidate on the ballot in all 50 states, who’s words and actions alienated 75% of the population which claims to be Christian and hold Christian values.
Libertarian Values are not and do not have to be anti-Christian. In fact whether my fellow Libertarians accept it or not, libertarian values are rooted in Christianity, not secularism. Read The Christian foundations of the rule of law in the West: a legacy of liberty and resistance against tyranny. The idiocy of embracing non-libertarian and often sometimes anarchist ideas has become the halmark of the Libertarian Party, it dooms us to failure. The devisive hot button issues do not have to be part of the LP Platform, and still be libertarian. Taking positions contrary to the majority of society, that even libertarians can and do disagree; based on sound libertarian thinking and philosophy, is a receipe for failure.
The inability to the LP to win support influential libertarians. The fact that the Cato Institute, a clearly libertarian think tank doesn’t endores the LP. The fact that famous libertarians like John Stossel don’t openly support the LP. This is a sign that as a political party the LP is not going anywhere, and is completely inffective on a national scale.
The Libertarian Party of Florida, used to be a debate club and joke of a political party in Florida. Over the past few years, people within the LPF wanting a professional party with real political influence worked hard and diligently at changing it. Most of the old guard LPF leadership as been replaced, and the LPF is a far better and more professional party than before. The Platform in Florida is devoid of the most devisive issues that libertarians fight over. The objectives of the LPF are clear, and the leadership is working towards those objectives. Changing the LPF from a debating society to a real professional party is taking time but progress is visable and noticeable. The same must happen at the national level.
Taking stands that libertarians don't agree on, and most of America is divided on, and putting them in the platform is not a way to unify people around the idea of liberty, much less the Libertarian Party. To win the hearts and minds of the American people, the LP must change. The polls are clear, most of American is libertarian in beliefs but not part of and don't want to be associated with the Libertarian Party. To be effective, the LP needs a larger base. This base is available, but the LP must stop attacking the majority of Americans with extremist ideas that even its own leadership isn't unified. The image of Libertarians as being amoral atheistic anarchists must be addressed and changed. To do this it must start at the local grass roots level. Until and unless the national LP can learn that it must win small local elections, to establish a solid libertarian base before it can tackle the presidency, and big national elections it will remain a party going no-where. The LP must actually put efforts into helping its state and local affilliates, it is doomed to keep repeating what the LP consistantly does ; lose.
To see what effective grass roots change looks like, you should look up and follow the campaign of Collen Fretts. This is the model the LP should be looking at, not another unelectable opportunist like Gary Johnson. It's not too late for local LP affiliates to effect change, the selection of Gary Johnson for US President candidate on the national scene is once again evidence of the LP committing political suicide.
Oh well, maybe next time. . . .
Gary Johnsons announced support of gay marriage, again shows the vast majority of Americans that the LP is not suitable to lead the USA. The LP can't even get its leadership to support its candidate. Even members of the Libertarian Party’s Executive Committee endorsed Romney not the LP candidate. When put to a vote Gay Marriage loses by huge margins, over 60% here in Florida.
Look at Chick-Fil-A, record sales and egg all over the face of militant gays. Gary Johnson loudly proclaiming he doesn’t go to church and that gays shold be allowed to marry, pretty much killed his election chances. Why do we Libertarians continue to choose totally unelectable people to run for office. As a Libertarian, I’ve committed to voting for Johnson, mostly because there is no other real choice, and I couldn't live with myself if I voted for Obama or Romney. But Johnson's words have effectively killed any chance he has of winning the election.
In an email I received from Johnson’s campaing he said;
" I believe the right to marry who we choose is a constitutionally protected right.”
Exactly where in the constitution is the right to marriage found? More importantly where in the constitution does the federal government have an enumerated power to legislate marriage? Rather than champion equality under the law, Johnson endorses adding yet another group getting special treatment and the further disenfranchise of some based on who they choose to enter contracts. If your single, and don’t choose to enter into a binding contract with another, you can be and are treated to different rules than those who do choose to enter into a contract with another.
Although there shouldn’t be any governmental authority to regulate marriage, constitutionally if the government does have that right it is clearly a States Right. Johnson chooses to ignore States Rights on this issue, and tell the 31 states who have had votes on the issue, that those voters are wrong.
Having met with and talked to Gary Johnson, I could not support him and didn’t as the choice for LP candidate for president during the LP selection process. I lost this and will vote for the LP candidate. The reasons I didn’t support Johnson were based on his words and stated beliefs. Mostly it appeared as though he was an opportunist Republican taking advantage of the LP. He appeared to have values that followed the wind, and took the position that could get him the most press. When directly asked Johnson was clear in stating that promoting the LP, and making the LP an effective political party was not his job, and not something he considered he was responsible for. His words were basically I'm out for me not the Libertarian Party.
That is why I didn’t vote for him at the Libertarian Party of Floirda state convention this year, and why I’ve clearly stated to those on the LPF EC that I don’t think they should have supported Johnson. Again we are stuck with an unelectable LP presidential candidate on the ballot in all 50 states, who’s words and actions alienated 75% of the population which claims to be Christian and hold Christian values.
Libertarian Values are not and do not have to be anti-Christian. In fact whether my fellow Libertarians accept it or not, libertarian values are rooted in Christianity, not secularism. Read The Christian foundations of the rule of law in the West: a legacy of liberty and resistance against tyranny. The idiocy of embracing non-libertarian and often sometimes anarchist ideas has become the halmark of the Libertarian Party, it dooms us to failure. The devisive hot button issues do not have to be part of the LP Platform, and still be libertarian. Taking positions contrary to the majority of society, that even libertarians can and do disagree; based on sound libertarian thinking and philosophy, is a receipe for failure.
The inability to the LP to win support influential libertarians. The fact that the Cato Institute, a clearly libertarian think tank doesn’t endores the LP. The fact that famous libertarians like John Stossel don’t openly support the LP. This is a sign that as a political party the LP is not going anywhere, and is completely inffective on a national scale.
The Libertarian Party of Florida, used to be a debate club and joke of a political party in Florida. Over the past few years, people within the LPF wanting a professional party with real political influence worked hard and diligently at changing it. Most of the old guard LPF leadership as been replaced, and the LPF is a far better and more professional party than before. The Platform in Florida is devoid of the most devisive issues that libertarians fight over. The objectives of the LPF are clear, and the leadership is working towards those objectives. Changing the LPF from a debating society to a real professional party is taking time but progress is visable and noticeable. The same must happen at the national level.
Taking stands that libertarians don't agree on, and most of America is divided on, and putting them in the platform is not a way to unify people around the idea of liberty, much less the Libertarian Party. To win the hearts and minds of the American people, the LP must change. The polls are clear, most of American is libertarian in beliefs but not part of and don't want to be associated with the Libertarian Party. To be effective, the LP needs a larger base. This base is available, but the LP must stop attacking the majority of Americans with extremist ideas that even its own leadership isn't unified. The image of Libertarians as being amoral atheistic anarchists must be addressed and changed. To do this it must start at the local grass roots level. Until and unless the national LP can learn that it must win small local elections, to establish a solid libertarian base before it can tackle the presidency, and big national elections it will remain a party going no-where. The LP must actually put efforts into helping its state and local affilliates, it is doomed to keep repeating what the LP consistantly does ; lose.
To see what effective grass roots change looks like, you should look up and follow the campaign of Collen Fretts. This is the model the LP should be looking at, not another unelectable opportunist like Gary Johnson. It's not too late for local LP affiliates to effect change, the selection of Gary Johnson for US President candidate on the national scene is once again evidence of the LP committing political suicide.
Oh well, maybe next time. . . .
Friday, July 20, 2012
Voters in Florida have the Govt. They Want
Voters in Florida have the Govt. They Want
By Tom Rhodes, 9/20/2012
Voters of Florida, quit your bitchin' if you aren't getting the leadership you want. You continually vote for whoever is already in office and refuse to replace them with new people, new ideas, and don't hold any of them accountable. Tallahassee isn't accountable to you because you won't vote them out of office. Simply put they listen to lobbyists and donors, and can ignore you the voter, because you won't hold them accountable.
The simple fact is sitting lawmakers in Florida are assured of re-election as long as they want. Over the past 10 years, state records show that only 10 of 505 incumbent lawmakers have been defeated in bids for re-election. 98.9% of state Senators were re-elected - only 1 has been defeated in the past decade. 97.8 % of state house members were re-elected. You have made it clear to the people in Tallahassee, they can keep their job, and you the voter won't do squat!
Businesses not you the voter determine what is done in Tallahassee. Future House Speaker Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, and Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, raised around a quatrter million dollars in the past quarter through the Citizens for an Enterprising Democracy PAC. This money pays for meals, travel, political consulting and other expenses the lawmakers rack up campaigning. About a quarter of that came from Walt Disney, and you wonder why we have a "Mickey Mouse" government in Tallahassee. But don't forget drug software maker Automated Health Care Solutions, pari-mutuels and health-insurers who also helped Citizens for an Enterprising Democracy.
Since the end of the legislative session in March, Democratic and Republican candidates for House and Senate seats have created dozens new committees to bypassing the $500 campaign-contribution limits, and channeling big bucks into political ads. Records indicate that $1.25 million of these funds are from companies including Malaysian gaming giant Genting, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, U.S. Sugar Corp., Florida Medical Association, and others.
The data is there, but you the voter don't take the time to look, or care. You have the government in Florida you want. Your virtually guaranteed vote for the incumbent, has made it clear that government in Florida is of big business, by big business, and for big business. Just look at the state laws making it almost impossible for the little guy to get started. Wake Up Florida, throw these Good 'Ol Boys out and put in citizen legislators. Start by looking at the LibertyTakeOver2012, and the Libertarian Party. They are offering real alternatives to business as usual in Tallahassee.
By Tom Rhodes, 9/20/2012
Voters of Florida, quit your bitchin' if you aren't getting the leadership you want. You continually vote for whoever is already in office and refuse to replace them with new people, new ideas, and don't hold any of them accountable. Tallahassee isn't accountable to you because you won't vote them out of office. Simply put they listen to lobbyists and donors, and can ignore you the voter, because you won't hold them accountable.
The simple fact is sitting lawmakers in Florida are assured of re-election as long as they want. Over the past 10 years, state records show that only 10 of 505 incumbent lawmakers have been defeated in bids for re-election. 98.9% of state Senators were re-elected - only 1 has been defeated in the past decade. 97.8 % of state house members were re-elected. You have made it clear to the people in Tallahassee, they can keep their job, and you the voter won't do squat!
Businesses not you the voter determine what is done in Tallahassee. Future House Speaker Chris Dorworth, R-Lake Mary, and Rep. Jason Brodeur, R-Sanford, raised around a quatrter million dollars in the past quarter through the Citizens for an Enterprising Democracy PAC. This money pays for meals, travel, political consulting and other expenses the lawmakers rack up campaigning. About a quarter of that came from Walt Disney, and you wonder why we have a "Mickey Mouse" government in Tallahassee. But don't forget drug software maker Automated Health Care Solutions, pari-mutuels and health-insurers who also helped Citizens for an Enterprising Democracy.
Since the end of the legislative session in March, Democratic and Republican candidates for House and Senate seats have created dozens new committees to bypassing the $500 campaign-contribution limits, and channeling big bucks into political ads. Records indicate that $1.25 million of these funds are from companies including Malaysian gaming giant Genting, Blue Cross/Blue Shield, U.S. Sugar Corp., Florida Medical Association, and others.
The data is there, but you the voter don't take the time to look, or care. You have the government in Florida you want. Your virtually guaranteed vote for the incumbent, has made it clear that government in Florida is of big business, by big business, and for big business. Just look at the state laws making it almost impossible for the little guy to get started. Wake Up Florida, throw these Good 'Ol Boys out and put in citizen legislators. Start by looking at the LibertyTakeOver2012, and the Libertarian Party. They are offering real alternatives to business as usual in Tallahassee.
Thursday, July 19, 2012
Libertarians Call on Pinellas Co. Comm.to Honor Voters
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 19, 2012
Contact:
Adrian Wyllie, Chairman
Libertarian Party of Florida
chair@lpf.org
727-599-0001 or 727-403-7735
Libertarians call on “expired” Pinellas Commissioners to resign immediately
PALM HARBOR – The Libertarian Party of Florida is calling on four Pinellas County Commissioners to resign immediately because they have exceeded their legal term limits. Commissioners Karen W. Seel, Susan Latvala, John Morroni, and Kenneth T. Welch have ignored and obstructed term limits imposed by the “Eight is Enough” amendment.
The 1996 Eight is Enough Home Rule Charter Amendment limited Pinellas County Commissioners to two, four-year terms in office. The amendment passed with over 72% voter approval. Though the amendment has since been upheld by the courts, the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has willfully neglected to include term limits in the charter.
In May of this year, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of home rule charter term limits for county commissioners. A new lawsuit filed in June, Scruggs et al. v. Clark seeks the immediate removal of the four expired Commissioners.
But the usurpers will not go quietly.
The commissioners will continue their fight against the people, and will use tax dollars to do it. On July 10, the BOCC voted 6-1 to defend this challenge to their usurpation, and instructed County Attorney Jim Bennett to defend Seel, Latvala, Morroni, and Welch, who are named individually in the suit. Commissioner Norm Roche cast the only “NO” vote.
The BOCC can no longer avoid this issue.
In 2000, after the BOCC’s first court challenge to the Eight is Enough amendment failed, Commissioner Seel said, “I really feel that the voters spoke, and spoke very clearly, and to fly in their face once we have already gone to the Second District Appeals testing the waters. Too much.”
Yes, Commissioner Seel, you were correct in 2000. Too much. It’s time for you and your three expired colleagues to go.
It is totally unacceptable that you continue to ignore the law, and the will of the citizens of Pinellas County. We will not be appeased by a 2014 ballot referendum to apply term limits to county commissioners. The term limit law already exists. We The People already passed it. You must comply with it by tendering your resignation immediately.
By failing to include term limits in the county charter, you have effectively falsified official documents for personal gain. You have continued to collect a salary from the taxpayers of Pinellas County, even though you were fully aware of your ineligibility. You have continued to exercise power from offices which you have no legal right to hold. These actions may constitute felony activity under Florida Statute 838.022.
The Libertarian Party of Florida will continue to challenge this blatant corruption and usurpation until such time as you act upon the law, and implement will of the people of Pinellas County.
The People have spoken. Resign now.
July 19, 2012
Contact:
Adrian Wyllie, Chairman
Libertarian Party of Florida
chair@lpf.org
727-599-0001 or 727-403-7735
Libertarians call on “expired” Pinellas Commissioners to resign immediately
PALM HARBOR – The Libertarian Party of Florida is calling on four Pinellas County Commissioners to resign immediately because they have exceeded their legal term limits. Commissioners Karen W. Seel, Susan Latvala, John Morroni, and Kenneth T. Welch have ignored and obstructed term limits imposed by the “Eight is Enough” amendment.
The 1996 Eight is Enough Home Rule Charter Amendment limited Pinellas County Commissioners to two, four-year terms in office. The amendment passed with over 72% voter approval. Though the amendment has since been upheld by the courts, the Pinellas Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) has willfully neglected to include term limits in the charter.
In May of this year, the Florida Supreme Court upheld the constitutionality of home rule charter term limits for county commissioners. A new lawsuit filed in June, Scruggs et al. v. Clark seeks the immediate removal of the four expired Commissioners.
But the usurpers will not go quietly.
The commissioners will continue their fight against the people, and will use tax dollars to do it. On July 10, the BOCC voted 6-1 to defend this challenge to their usurpation, and instructed County Attorney Jim Bennett to defend Seel, Latvala, Morroni, and Welch, who are named individually in the suit. Commissioner Norm Roche cast the only “NO” vote.
The BOCC can no longer avoid this issue.
In 2000, after the BOCC’s first court challenge to the Eight is Enough amendment failed, Commissioner Seel said, “I really feel that the voters spoke, and spoke very clearly, and to fly in their face once we have already gone to the Second District Appeals testing the waters. Too much.”
Yes, Commissioner Seel, you were correct in 2000. Too much. It’s time for you and your three expired colleagues to go.
It is totally unacceptable that you continue to ignore the law, and the will of the citizens of Pinellas County. We will not be appeased by a 2014 ballot referendum to apply term limits to county commissioners. The term limit law already exists. We The People already passed it. You must comply with it by tendering your resignation immediately.
By failing to include term limits in the county charter, you have effectively falsified official documents for personal gain. You have continued to collect a salary from the taxpayers of Pinellas County, even though you were fully aware of your ineligibility. You have continued to exercise power from offices which you have no legal right to hold. These actions may constitute felony activity under Florida Statute 838.022.
The Libertarian Party of Florida will continue to challenge this blatant corruption and usurpation until such time as you act upon the law, and implement will of the people of Pinellas County.
The People have spoken. Resign now.
Sunday, July 1, 2012
GOP to Kick Out Paul Zealouts?
By Tom Rhodes, 7/12/12
There has been a lot of talk about not seating Ron Paul’s supporters or deligates at the Republican Convention. They fear the general and oft heard refrain of Paulites that they will not vote for Romney, he’s the same as Obama. Ron Paul or nobody – maybe Gary Johnson, but not Mitt Romney under any circumstances.
As readers of Libertarian actions in Florida know right before the GOP convention Ron Paul supporters will hold not one but two “FreedomFests”. One > in Tampa, Florida Freedom Fest 2012 the other on the I4 corridort at Fantasy of Flight between Tampa and Orlando, Freedom Festival 2012. Libertarians and Ron Paul supporters are making libertarian ideas the topic of the convention.
There is lots of talk among GOP party hacks that after their Freedom Festivals the Paulites should be banned from the convention. They fear that the presence of liberty loving delegates would turn the GOP convention into a Debacle, and that they have no reason to be there.
I hope the GOP does kick them out, but make one thing perfectly clear. Don’t come crying back to liberty loving Ron Paul supporters to vote for the elitist Mitt Romney because this is the “Most Important Election Ever.” Paulites knew this and voted for Paul, not another NE liberal in GOP clothing who promotes big government and less freedom as a solution to every problem.
As a libertarian I don’t care if Obama or Romney wins, I’m voting for Gary Johnson. In fact Obama may be preferable to Romney. The reason is that Obama may be able to do less damage than Romney, because the GOP will probably retain control of the house, and the big government Republicans in the legislature will at least make token signs of resistance to more government if a Democrat is in the White House. But they would support the leftward march sure to come if Romney is elected. But under the GOP we have seen a steady march to the left not much different than the Democrats.
The only justification to vote for Romney is that at least a “conservative” will be selecting Supreme Court Justices. That idea is dead and gone, Justice Roberts has destroyed that idea. You have to question the mental stability or minimally the IQ of “conservatives” who intend to vote for Romney. You can find only token actions that the GOP has done or accomplished that could remotely be termed "conservative", except those social actions restricting individual liberty.
Let’s hope the GOP kicks out the few remaining libertarians, nationalists, constitutionalists, and fiscally rational people it has left. It is long past time that these people quit the GOP and joined the party genuinely devoted to liberty. It is long past time that these people quit the GOP and joined the party genuinely devoted to the principles of our Founding Fathers. It is long past time that these people quit the GOP and joined the party genuinely devoted to the interests of the American people.
Gotta love the logo and slogan for the Freedom Fest 2012. "Flight to Freedom" accurately describes what Paulites leaving the GOP are doing. Let's hope they land in the LP.
The neocon takeover of the Republican Party has turned it into the flip side of the Democrat Party. The GOP has no room for those who want small government, liberty, and more freedom. There is a home for them it’s the Libertarian Party. We have a candidate, one with more executive experience than either Romney or Obama, one with a proven successful track record running government: Gary Johnson.
Let’s hope and pray the GOP kicks out the Paulites, they have and have always had a home in the Libertarian Party, it’s time they joined the true party of principle, let’s encourage the GOP to chase them here.
There has been a lot of talk about not seating Ron Paul’s supporters or deligates at the Republican Convention. They fear the general and oft heard refrain of Paulites that they will not vote for Romney, he’s the same as Obama. Ron Paul or nobody – maybe Gary Johnson, but not Mitt Romney under any circumstances.
As readers of Libertarian actions in Florida know right before the GOP convention Ron Paul supporters will hold not one but two “FreedomFests”. One > in Tampa, Florida Freedom Fest 2012 the other on the I4 corridort at Fantasy of Flight between Tampa and Orlando, Freedom Festival 2012. Libertarians and Ron Paul supporters are making libertarian ideas the topic of the convention.
There is lots of talk among GOP party hacks that after their Freedom Festivals the Paulites should be banned from the convention. They fear that the presence of liberty loving delegates would turn the GOP convention into a Debacle, and that they have no reason to be there.
I hope the GOP does kick them out, but make one thing perfectly clear. Don’t come crying back to liberty loving Ron Paul supporters to vote for the elitist Mitt Romney because this is the “Most Important Election Ever.” Paulites knew this and voted for Paul, not another NE liberal in GOP clothing who promotes big government and less freedom as a solution to every problem.
As a libertarian I don’t care if Obama or Romney wins, I’m voting for Gary Johnson. In fact Obama may be preferable to Romney. The reason is that Obama may be able to do less damage than Romney, because the GOP will probably retain control of the house, and the big government Republicans in the legislature will at least make token signs of resistance to more government if a Democrat is in the White House. But they would support the leftward march sure to come if Romney is elected. But under the GOP we have seen a steady march to the left not much different than the Democrats.
The only justification to vote for Romney is that at least a “conservative” will be selecting Supreme Court Justices. That idea is dead and gone, Justice Roberts has destroyed that idea. You have to question the mental stability or minimally the IQ of “conservatives” who intend to vote for Romney. You can find only token actions that the GOP has done or accomplished that could remotely be termed "conservative", except those social actions restricting individual liberty.
Let’s hope the GOP kicks out the few remaining libertarians, nationalists, constitutionalists, and fiscally rational people it has left. It is long past time that these people quit the GOP and joined the party genuinely devoted to liberty. It is long past time that these people quit the GOP and joined the party genuinely devoted to the principles of our Founding Fathers. It is long past time that these people quit the GOP and joined the party genuinely devoted to the interests of the American people.
Gotta love the logo and slogan for the Freedom Fest 2012. "Flight to Freedom" accurately describes what Paulites leaving the GOP are doing. Let's hope they land in the LP.
The neocon takeover of the Republican Party has turned it into the flip side of the Democrat Party. The GOP has no room for those who want small government, liberty, and more freedom. There is a home for them it’s the Libertarian Party. We have a candidate, one with more executive experience than either Romney or Obama, one with a proven successful track record running government: Gary Johnson.
Let’s hope and pray the GOP kicks out the Paulites, they have and have always had a home in the Libertarian Party, it’s time they joined the true party of principle, let’s encourage the GOP to chase them here.
Monday, June 11, 2012
End Public Education Before it Ruins Our Children's Lives
Edited by Tom Rhodes, 6/11/2012
This is the LPF's platform position addressing education.
It's nice to see that college professors agree with the Libertarian position on education. Professor Jack Chambless had this to say in his Orlando Sentinel Guest Editorial
Is it time to think about home schooling your child?
By Jack A. Chambless, June 10, 2012
For the past 21 years I have taught economics to more than 14,000 college students here in Central Florida.
During that time I have made a concerted effort to glean information from my Valencia students as to their educational background preceding their arrival in college.
Drawing from a sample size this large multiplied by two decades multiplied by hundreds of thousands of test answers has put me in a good position to offer the following advice to any reader of this paper with children in Florida's K-12 public schools.
Get them out now before you ruin their life.
While this may seem to be a bit harsh, let's look at the facts.
First, my best students every year are in order - Chinese, Eastern European, Indian and home-schooled Americans, and it is not even close when comparing this group to American public-school kids.
Since it is highly unlikely that any of you plan to move to Beijing, Warsaw or Bangalore, you might want to look at the facts concerning public vs. home-schooled American students.
(In Florida, more than 60,000 students in about 42,000 families study in home education programs, which meet the requirement for regular school attendance and were protected under state law in 1985.)
All of us have seen or heard about the annual disaster that is called FCAT results. Thanks to government officials in Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee, kids in government-run schools are failing miserably in a wide range of subjects while teachers face bureaucratic nightmares that strip them of their status as professionals and relegate them to servants of standardized testing.
It is also a fact of public education that incidents of bullying, teacher-student sexual misconduct, abusive behavior by teachers and incessant protection of poor teachers by education unions have put students in public schools in the unenviable position of dealing with issues that no learning environment should impose on them.
Moreover, the public education system in Florida and other states is one of the worst forms of monopoly power.
Everywhere in our lives as citizens we have free consumer choice as to where we shop for food, clothes, cellphones and more. However, if you are economically disadvantaged you rarely have this choice in education.
Poorer families in Florida are instead given the school district that their children are forced to attend. Rather than give poor parents choices so that competitive pressure is imposed on public education, we have lower-income families - mostly minorities - who are condemned to 13 years of inferior education just because they live in the wrong zip code.
Everywhere in America where vouchers or other forms of school choice exists, we see competition forcing the unionized public schools to adapt, or lose students.
This used to be the case in Florida, but those options are now lower than in past years and the victims show up in my classes woefully unprepared for challenging college course work.
It is routine that students from Florida's worst high schools make failing grades in college. These kids have been lied to by a system that tells them that a diploma from an "F" school will not impact them in college.
Meanwhile, the more than 2 million home-schooled kids around America (my two sons included) routinely appear in America's colleges with an education that prepares them for virtually anything.
The home-education movement has unleashed the forces of capitalism in such a way that anyone can find dozens of types of curricula for any grade level to help educate their kids in areas where one might not be an expert.
Home-school conventions like the one coming at the end of this month in Orlando offer thousands of options and professional speakers who can help guide willing parents through their child's formative years.
The home-schooled kids who show up in my classes usually arrive at the age of 16 or 17, score in the high 90's on their exams and then go off to places like Harvard, Penn and other world-class universities.
Jack A. Chambless is an economics professor at Valencia College.
It is obvious that the government is not the solution to education, even college professors now recognize that as fact. When without any college education, parents can and routinely do better prepare their children for college than so called professional educators in the government schools, it is obvious that liberty and freedom of choice, even in education, is the solution.
This is the LPF's platform position addressing education.
IX. EDUCATION
1. Education is a parental responsibility and best handled at the most local level.
2. Because parents are best situated to decide what is in their own children's best interests, we support all measures that enhance the educational choices available, such as charter schools, vouchers or tax credits for private school tuition, and home schooling.
3. Compulsory attendance and truancy laws should be repealed. Students cannot be forced to learn, and teachers should not be forced to act as juvenile delinquency officers.
4. All individuals, regardless of age, are entitled to the protections of the constitutions of the United States and Florida. Random drug tests, locker searches without probable cause, censorship of student publications, or any similar actions violate those rights.
It's nice to see that college professors agree with the Libertarian position on education. Professor Jack Chambless had this to say in his Orlando Sentinel Guest Editorial
Is it time to think about home schooling your child?
By Jack A. Chambless, June 10, 2012
For the past 21 years I have taught economics to more than 14,000 college students here in Central Florida.
During that time I have made a concerted effort to glean information from my Valencia students as to their educational background preceding their arrival in college.
Drawing from a sample size this large multiplied by two decades multiplied by hundreds of thousands of test answers has put me in a good position to offer the following advice to any reader of this paper with children in Florida's K-12 public schools.
Get them out now before you ruin their life.
While this may seem to be a bit harsh, let's look at the facts.
First, my best students every year are in order - Chinese, Eastern European, Indian and home-schooled Americans, and it is not even close when comparing this group to American public-school kids.
Since it is highly unlikely that any of you plan to move to Beijing, Warsaw or Bangalore, you might want to look at the facts concerning public vs. home-schooled American students.
(In Florida, more than 60,000 students in about 42,000 families study in home education programs, which meet the requirement for regular school attendance and were protected under state law in 1985.)
All of us have seen or heard about the annual disaster that is called FCAT results. Thanks to government officials in Washington, D.C. and Tallahassee, kids in government-run schools are failing miserably in a wide range of subjects while teachers face bureaucratic nightmares that strip them of their status as professionals and relegate them to servants of standardized testing.
It is also a fact of public education that incidents of bullying, teacher-student sexual misconduct, abusive behavior by teachers and incessant protection of poor teachers by education unions have put students in public schools in the unenviable position of dealing with issues that no learning environment should impose on them.
Moreover, the public education system in Florida and other states is one of the worst forms of monopoly power.
Everywhere in our lives as citizens we have free consumer choice as to where we shop for food, clothes, cellphones and more. However, if you are economically disadvantaged you rarely have this choice in education.
Poorer families in Florida are instead given the school district that their children are forced to attend. Rather than give poor parents choices so that competitive pressure is imposed on public education, we have lower-income families - mostly minorities - who are condemned to 13 years of inferior education just because they live in the wrong zip code.
Everywhere in America where vouchers or other forms of school choice exists, we see competition forcing the unionized public schools to adapt, or lose students.
This used to be the case in Florida, but those options are now lower than in past years and the victims show up in my classes woefully unprepared for challenging college course work.
It is routine that students from Florida's worst high schools make failing grades in college. These kids have been lied to by a system that tells them that a diploma from an "F" school will not impact them in college.
Meanwhile, the more than 2 million home-schooled kids around America (my two sons included) routinely appear in America's colleges with an education that prepares them for virtually anything.
The home-education movement has unleashed the forces of capitalism in such a way that anyone can find dozens of types of curricula for any grade level to help educate their kids in areas where one might not be an expert.
Home-school conventions like the one coming at the end of this month in Orlando offer thousands of options and professional speakers who can help guide willing parents through their child's formative years.
The home-schooled kids who show up in my classes usually arrive at the age of 16 or 17, score in the high 90's on their exams and then go off to places like Harvard, Penn and other world-class universities.
Jack A. Chambless is an economics professor at Valencia College.
It is obvious that the government is not the solution to education, even college professors now recognize that as fact. When without any college education, parents can and routinely do better prepare their children for college than so called professional educators in the government schools, it is obvious that liberty and freedom of choice, even in education, is the solution.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
