The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the U.S. The Libertarian party is dedicated to strictly limited government, a pure free market economy, private property rights, civil liberties, personal freedoms with personal responsibilities, and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade. Libertarians of South Central Kansas (LSOCK) are an affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Kansas (http://www.lpks.org/) We meet every Tuesday night (except holidays) from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Cathy's Westway Cafe located at 1215 W. Pawnee (just west of Seneca Street) in Wichita, Kansas. All who support personal responsibility and individual liberty are invited to attend!
LPKS/LSOCK P.O. Box 2456 Wichita, Kansas 67201
1-800-335-1776

Tuesday, May 31, 2011

Memorial Day and Harry Browne

May 30, 2011

Dear Friend of Liberty,

Today, Memorial Day, millions commemorate fellow Americans who have served in our military and fallen in wars.

Addressing Memorial Day can be complicated for Libertarians, not because we don't love freedom and recognize that many have sacrificed their lives, but because we have opposed many of the policies that we feel have unnecessarily--even wrongly--put American soldiers in harm's way.

America was founded by men and women who wanted independence, and many lost their lives fighting for it in the Revolutionary War.

I haven't served in the military myself, but there was a time when I could say I probably didn't have a single "anti-war" bone in my body.

Up until my mid-twenties, I was an enthusiastic conservative Republican. Not a libertarian-leaning Republican, but a genunine right-wing conservative Republican.

I wasn't a deep thinker in the area of foreign policy. I hadn't studied it much and never was a history buff. But I did understand and support free markets, and that's what I thought Republicans were for, that was the team I was on, and I reflexively defended the rest of the Republican agenda.

There wasn't a single American military action I didn't support, from the Vietnam War, to the marines in Lebanon, to the invasions of Panama and Grenada, arming the Contra rebels in central America, the first Gulf War, and all the rest.

Anytime I heard someone criticize America's military, I considered that critic an enemy, and I just tuned them out.

It wasn't until I found the Libertarian Party that I became a staunch non-interventionist.

Upon joining the Libertarian Party, I began reading much of the work by Harry Browne and other Libertarian leaders.

It seemed like for the first time I heard moral and practical arguments made against America's entry into many of our past wars. In particular, for the first time I heard rational arguments about how if America and some other countries had stayed out of World War I, then World War II and the Cold War might not have happened, and tens of millions of lives might not have been lost.

Harry Browne was the Libertarian nominee for U.S. President in 1996 and 2000. He died in 2006, but many of his articles are still available, and linked from this page. (Please be aware that some of the links on that page no longer work.)

In additional to commemorating fallen soldiers and their families, I feel it is appropriate on Memorial Day to remember people like Harry Browne who fought ideological battles in an effort to promote peace and avoid unnecessary and unjust wars and casualties.

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

Friday, May 27, 2011

From Mark Hinkle

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 27, 2011

Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222


Libertarians say restore freedom, repeal Patriot Act

WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle issued the following statement today:

"Yesterday, Republicans and Democrats in Congress joined hands to renew several provisions of the Patriot Act. These provisions are unconstitutional and violate our right to freedom from unreasonable searches and seizures.

"These provisions should be repealed, and if they're not repealed, they ought to be ruled unconstitutional by the courts.

"Anyone who believes that Democrats care more about civil liberties than Republicans ought to be disillusioned by this renewal. It has become painfully clear that the Obama administration is indistinguishable from the George W. Bush administration.

"The plain injustice of these search provisions is compounded by the secrecy that surrounds them. In some cases, Americans -- even members of Congress -- aren't permitted to know the legal interpretations that govern how these searches may be implemented. And of course there is the infamous 'library records' provision, which prohibits targets from telling anyone that they were ordered to turn over records to the government.

"I don't believe that these violations of our rights are making us any safer. I think it's security theater. And I'm certainly reminded of Benjamin Franklin's words, 'Those who would give up essential liberty to purchase a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety.'

"Our Constitution guarantees our rights. It doesn't make an exception for 'fear of terrorists.' It's time to end these violations of our rights, and repeal the Patriot Act.

"We can never perfectly protect ourselves from foreigners who hate us. One useful thing we can do is to try to stop antagonizing foreigners. Our government should stop invading and bombing their countries and stationing troops in them. It's time for a non-interventionist foreign policy."

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
###
P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

Monday, May 23, 2011

LP Monday Message


May 23, 2011

Dear Friend of Liberty,

We're looking for high-quality photos to use in LP News, on LP.org, and in our brochures.

Please email three high-quality digital photos to us by replying to this email or by sending an email to info@lp.org. Please do the following:
  1. Make sure "3 best LP photos" appears in the subject of your email.
  2. If you know them, provide the names of people in the photo.
  3. Provide the date and a very short description of the event where the photo was taken.
  4. Only submit photos that you give the Libertarian Party approval to republish in any of our publications.
  5. Send high-resolution versions of the photos (in other words, the original large files taken by your camera). This is very important -- we can't use low-resolution snapshots.
  6. You can attach the photos to your email, or you can give us links to the specific high-resolution photos in your online archive.
These photos can be recent, but can also be from many years ago. If you've got a great photo of your favorite Libertarian candidate for President, for example, feel free to send that. We want to build up our photo archive. They can be photos of Libertarian candidates, booths at Libertarian events, Libertarian conventions, or just about anything else.

Please do not send more than three photos. While some of you may have hundreds, we want you to pick out the very best of your best.

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

From Our Friend John Todd

Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC) coming to Wichita. 

Local residents will have an opportunity to voice concerns and offer suggestions on how to improve the state’s court systems during two public meetings next week in Wichita.

A panel from the Blue Ribbon Commission (BRC), which was appointed by the Kansas Supreme Court to review the state’s court systems, will listen to public comments during the meetings at 3 and 7 p.m., Thursday, May 26, 2011 at Century II, in Room 101, in Wichita.

The BRC will examine ways to assure proper access to justice, the number of court locations, services provided in each location, hours of operation, the use of technology, possible cost reductions, and flexibility in the use of court personnel and other resources, and any other topic that may lead to the more efficient operation of our courts. 

In particular, the commission members want to know:

1.      Are there things the courts do locally that could be performed regionally or at one central statewide location to improve their efficiency?
2.      How could the courts use technology to make their operations more cost-effective or improve access to the courts?
3.      How can the courts become more flexible in the use of people and facilities as workloads and funding fluctuate?
4.      What other ideas, issues, or concerns do you want the BRC to consider?

If you wish to attend the BRC meetings, you are requested to send your RSVP to the following e-mail address: KSCourtStudyBRC@kscourts.org If you would like to provide your suggestions to the BRC in writing in advance of the meeting or in place of making an oral presentation at the meeting, you can do so by sending your suggestions to the same e-mail address. 

For additional information on the BRC and the meeting in Wichita and other meetings across the state please check out, http://www.kscourts.org/Judicial-Branch-Review/Blue_Ribbon_Commission/default.asp
This is an important meeting that offers an opportunity for citizen input.  Please consider attending and participating.


--
John R. Todd
john@johntodd.net
1559 Payne
Wichita, Kansas 67203
(316) 312-7335 cell

Friday, May 20, 2011

From The Wichita Eagle

Charles Koch: Economic freedom key to improving society

153 Comments

By Charles G. Koch

My brother David and I have long supported the principles that help societies prosper. I have actively done so for nearly 50 years, as has my brother for more than 40.
In recent years, we have stepped up our efforts to deal with the enormous threats to the future well-being of the people of this country. This has prompted some extreme criticism. From the White House to fringe bloggers, we are now being vilified, mischaracterized and threatened.
In a perverse way, these attacks indicate that we are having a positive effect on public awareness and policymaking. That is why we are working even harder to advance economic freedom and prosperity.
We do so because we believe economic freedom is essential for improving the well-being of society as a whole, especially those who work hard to provide for their families, as well as our most vulnerable. History and sound theory are clear on this point. If we allow our government to waste scarce resources and become the ultimate decision maker, almost everyone will suffer a lower standard of living.
For evidence, look at what ethanol policies have done to fuel and food prices. And who is hurt most by higher prices? Working men and women, and the less fortunate.
Our government made a point of reforming its welfare policies for individuals but not for corporations. Cap-and-trade proposals, the health care bill, federal bailouts and "green" subsidies all favor a few businesses (usually large ones) at the expense of consumers, taxpayers and most other companies.
Unfair programs that favor certain companies — such as the current well-intentioned but misguided suggestion that the natural-gas industry should receive enormous new subsidies — don't just happen. They are promoted, in large part, by those seeking to profit politically, rather than by competing in a market where consumers vote with their wallets.
By contrast, we lobby against regulations or policies that would increase our profits at the expense of consumers. We believe in satisfying customers by competing on equal terms, rather than the government picking winners and losers.
For example, because ethanol use is mandated, we were compelled to be in that business, so we chose to be in it in the most competitive way we could. We still oppose ethanol subsidies and mandates, even though some of our businesses would benefit from them.
Koch companies employ nearly 50,000 Americans, including about 2,500 in Kansas, in supplying goods and services that make people's lives better. Since 2003 we have invested more than $42 billion to grow and make our facilities safer, more environmentally friendly, more efficient and more productive.
A major labor union official recently noted that many of our manufacturing jobs are among the best-paying and most productive in the United States. These are real jobs creating real value for real people — the same people who must bear the burden of excessive spending, uncontrolled debt and onerous regulations.
We need voters, leaders and businesspeople to support economic freedom. If we all depend on the government for everything, who will provide all the goods and services our government promises?
A recent cartoon strip illustrated this well. The king announces that from now on there will be free health care, housing, clothing, food and jobs for everybody. To which a peasant responds: "If we're given all that, why do we need jobs?"
Charles G. Koch is chairman and CEO of Koch Industries, based in Wichita.


Read more: http://www.kansas.com/2011/05/19/1854885/charles-koch-economic-freedom.html#ixzz1MwJLWhH2

Monday, May 16, 2011

LP Monday Message

May 16, 2011

Dear Friend of Liberty,

The Indianapolis Star reported on the May 14 nomination of 16 candidates by the Libertarian Party of Marion County for Indianapolis City-County Council. Read the article.

Among the candidates is incumbent Ed Coleman, who currently serves on the City-County Council as a Libertarian.

LP Headquarters is putting together a series of short videos addressing issues. Below are two of them:

Drug use is a personal choice
(Click image or click this link to view the video.)

Why you don't reward bad business
(Click image or click this link to view the video.)

Last week, several people pointed out an issue with the title of our recent press release, "Libertarian Party builds big war chest for 2012." Perhaps that should have read "Libertarian Party builds big anti-war chest for 2012."

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

Saturday, May 14, 2011

Looking Toward Victory In 2012!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 12, 2011

Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222


Libertarian Party builds big war chest for 2012

WASHINGTON - In its most recent FEC report, for the period ending March 31, 2011, the Libertarian Party reported $284,882.95 in cash with $0 in debt. At the same point four years ago, the party reported $21,962.37 in cash with $31,589.74 in debt.

Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle said, "Four years ago, we were $10,000 in the red. Now we're almost $300,000 in the black. That's a big step forward for the LP, and should help us a lot going into the 2012 campaign.

"If our candidates, volunteers, and donors keep it up, 2012 may be one of the biggest years ever for the Libertarian Party.

"Libertarian candidates deliver a huge bang for the buck. Dollar for dollar, our candidates get more votes than Republicans or Democrats. Libertarian candidates change the debate, swing the outcomes of races, and sometimes win.

"If you don't believe me, ask the Democratic Party operatives who sent mailers in several congressional districts last fall, telling voters that our candidates would shrink government more than the Republicans."

Hinkle added, "A lot of our war chest is going to be used for ballot access. Many people are unaware that the Republican and Democratic parties have free access to the ballot, but the Libertarian Party has to struggle through massive petition drives."

The Libertarian National Committee recently set a goal of getting 200 Libertarian candidates on the ballot for U.S. House in 2012.

Libertarian percentages in three-way races for U.S. House have been on an upward trend: in 2004, they got an average of 2.30%; in 2006, 2.74%; in 2008, 2.97%; in 2010, 3.40%. (That only includes races where the Republican, Democrat, and Libertarian together got at least 99.9% of the vote.)

Every four years since 1988, the Libertarian Party's presidential nominee has been on the ballot in at least 44 states. Except for the Republicans and Democrats, no other political party has come close to that track record.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
###
P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

Monday, May 9, 2011

LP Monday Message


May 9, 2011

Dear Friend of Liberty,

We just started a new poll on LP.org. Please take the poll.

Here's what it says:

After hearing the news that Osama bin Laden was killed, what are your feelings about the War in Afghanistan?
  • I now favor a withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan.
  • I supported a withdrawal of forces from Afghanistan even before bin Laden died.
  • I support keeping a significant troop presence in Afghanistan until military leaders recommend a withdrawal.
  • I don't believe the story that Osama bin Laden was killed recently.
  • Other

Order Extra Copies of April LP News

LP News is published about four to six times per year. If you are a current dues-paying member and haven't receive your copy of the April 2011 LP News yet, it should arrive in the next week or two. Because we mail it bulk-rate to minimize costs, arrival dates vary significantly.

We still have extra copies of the April 2011 LP News. If you'd like to get some of the extra copies, please make a donation: 50 cents for each copy, with a minimum order of $10.00. Type the quantity of LP News copies you would like in the Comment box at the bottom of the page.

Also put your shipping address in the Comment box if it's different from the address you entered for the donation.

Example 1:

Comment (optional):
LP News 5

Example 2:

Comment (optional):
LP News 20
ship to:
100 Main St
Los Angeles, CA 90101


Thanks for helping to advertise the Libertarian Party by donating and getting copies of LP News for 50 cents each. (Minimum $10.00 donation requested.)

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

Sunday, May 8, 2011

Be A Guerrilla Juror!

Guerrilla Jurors: Sticking it to Leviathan


Citizens in our (once) free republic founded under the English common law system, have both the power and the right to vote according to conscience when they sit on a jury and can vote not guilty even in the face of the law and in the face of the evidence. The defendant also has a right to expect that his jury will be fully informed of their rightful power to vote "not guilty" if they believe justice requires it, regardless of the evidence. Anything less is not a real jury trial.
The jury issues no opinion, gives no explanation of its decision. It simply renders its verdict, and if the verdict is "not guilty," that acquittal cannot be questioned or overturned by any court. It is telling that a conviction can be overturned, but an acquittal cannot – the deck is stacked on the side of the liberty of the individual on trial. While a judge can overturn a jury conviction that in his judgment is unsupported by the evidence, or where the jury harbors prejudicial animus toward the defendant, the judge cannot overturn an acquittal even if the evidence is overwhelming – even if the defendant admits on the stand that he did the actions of which he is accused.
A landmark case in jury history is that of William Penn, the Quaker preacher who would later found Pennsylvania. He was put on trial in England for the "crime" of preaching a non-government approved religion on a public street corner. He did not deny that he had preached as a Quaker. He proudly proclaimed it. There was no doubt that English law at the time considered his actions criminal. That too was plain. And yet, the jury acquitted him in spite of the obvious, undisputed facts, and in the face of the clear law. That jury was initially held in contempt and jailed by the trial judge, but on appeal, the English appellate courts ruled that the jury has an absolute power to acquit despite the facts and in the face of the law, and that it cannot be punished for exercising its power. That acquittal helped to establish the free practice of religion.
The same was true in the celebrated Zenger trial in the American colonies, where Zenger, a newspaper editor, did not deny he had published an editorial severely criticizing the royal governor. The facts were undisputed. Under English law at the time, mere criticism of government officials, even if true, was still considered libel, and could be punished. And yet, despite both the law and the facts being abundantly clear, the jury acquitted Zenger. That acquittal helped establish legal protection for freedom of the press, and freedom of speech, such that only knowingly false statements can be considered libel.
The Fugitive Slave laws criminalized the underground railroad. Abolitionists accused of helping runaway slaves were often set free by sympathetic jurors voting according to conscience, nullifying the law.
One way to think of the jury is that it is effectively a fourth branch of government, sovereign in its own realm. Separation of powers requires that its powers and immunities remain inviolate. In this sense, the jury has as much a power to set even a "guilty" man free as a governor using the power of clemency, or as a President using his "Power to grant Reprieves and Pardons for Offenses against the United States, except in Cases of Impeachment" under Article II, Section 2 of the Constitution. That power is also absolute, except in cases of impeachment.
It’s telling that modern power elites don’t scream and yell about governors and Presidents having such an absolute power to set even a clearly "guilty" man free. When fellow elites within government do it, it is accepted. But when the people, as a jury, do precisely the same thing, elites gnash their teeth and shrilly warn of impending chaos and anarchy (as if that were a bad thing!), crying crocodile tears about all the supposed injustice that will result if the jury does something similar to what governors and presidents do at will.
The plain fact is our entire legal system was originally designed to favor liberty, with discretion built in at every level, from the beat cop, to the prosecutor (who has a responsibility to see that justice is done, and that sometimes means not prosecuting even in a clear case), to the jury, to the judges who can overturn an unjust conviction (such as by ruling the law to be unconstitutional as applied), to the governor and/or President who can overturn even a "just" conviction and set a certifiably guilty man free. As Hamilton stated in Federalist 74, in reference to the power of Pardon:

"The criminal code of every country partakes so much of necessary severity, that without an easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt, justice would wear a countenance too sanguinary and cruel."
Just so. And as it is with the power of pardon, so it is with the power of the jury.
The scales of justice are meant to be tipped on the side of liberty, with "easy access to exceptions in favor of unfortunate guilt" built in at each step.
Another way of looking at the jury is that it is much like the militia, since it too is a vital public institution where the people directly participate by being their own guardians. A people who are their own guardians in the militia cannot be tyrannized, however bloodthirsty a usurping tyrant may be. Likewise, a people who are their own judges of guilt, their own judges of the law as applied to that case, and their own guardians of the liberty of their fellows by serving on a jury, cannot be tyrannized, however bloodthirsty the minions of the usurping state may be. When a jury is aware of its power, they can stop the state cold, however much it lusts for convictions.
That absolute power to nullify has always been the jury’s power – it is, in fact, the very core of what a jury does. When I (Stewart) was a student at Yale Law School, my procedure professor, Owen Fiss, openly acknowledged that a jury is not merely a fact finder. He pointed out that if that were all a jury were for, we could have professional fact finding juries, made up of forensic experts, handwriting analysis experts, voice analysis experts, etc. who would be far more "efficient" fact finders, working together on one case after another.
Though Professor Fiss, being an elitist liberal, didn’t trust juries and instead considered judges "the "embodiment of public reason" (I know, I know, amazing that someone so brilliant can be so blind), he was at least honest enough to admit that the jury is there to serve as a populist, peoples’ check on government power. It didn’t make sense any other way. What Professor Fiss could not see is that the virtue of the jury is precisely the fact that it does not come from some elite segment of society out of touch with the "unwashed masses." It is made up of average people who will never sit together again on the same jury. They come together only once, to do justice and then to depart. The jury is not a repeat player in the system, like judges, lawyers, and hired-gun expert witnesses. It cannot be influenced by special interests, it has no institutional turf to defend, no reason to go along to get along with backroom deals, and no desire to rack up a conviction record to further political ambitions.
And the real purpose of that unique, independent assembly of average people is to stand in between an accused and the mighty state, as the last shield against tyranny short of recourse to arms. And like David standing in front of Goliath, it does not matter how powerful the state is, however air-tight its case, however artfully it has stacked the laws against the accused, however unconstitutional its manipulations, however blood-thirsty its prosecutors, or however complicit its judges. However much the state wants to strip the life, liberty, or property from the lone defendant, it can still be stopped by that one jury. Just a handful of citizens, if they know their true power, can grind the machine to a halt, and stop it cold, at least in that one case … if they but know of their own power.
And therein lies the problem. Though that absolute power to acquit is part and parcel of traditional trial by jury – is in fact inseparable from it – judges, prosecutors and the power elite have always resented this fact and have tried to suppress it. In effect, there has long been a power struggle between the people, seeking to preserve their rights and powers, and established state power seeking to usurp the power of the people and to enhance its own power. Despite the clear, well settled power of the jury to acquit, willful judges have cleverly argued that while the jury has the absolute power to acquit, they don’t have a right to (so say the crafty judges) and so judges are not required to tell the jury of the power it clearly has. But they don’t just omit that information, they actively mislead the jury by telling them the opposite – that they must convict if they find such and such facts to have been proven, that they must follow the law as the judge explains it, and that they may only consider the evidence presented to them. In other words, the judges, and the prosecutors, lie to the juries.

First, during jury selection (voir dire) the jurors are grilled by the prosecutor and the defense attorneys, and are often asked very intrusive personal questions. Seeking the lowest common denominator, prosecutors and judges eliminate intelligent, aware people, who are routinely eliminated via "pre-emptive strikes" which require no explanation, or "for cause."
And, an increasingly common question is something like: Do you believe that the jury can judge the law? Have you heard of jury nullification? Can you agree to set aside your own convictions and follow the law, and convict the defendant if the evidence proves guilt? If you wish to avoid jury duty, an answer to the effect that Yes, you do understand your right to vote your conscience, will get you sent home. But, if instead, you wish to be seated, what should you do? First, say as little as possible. Do not volunteer information.
So, if the judge asks you if you can apply the law as he explains it, say "Yes." You may believe the judge when he says "this is what the law is" (though judges will disagree on points of law) but no one can force you to convict against your conscience and better judgment. Certainly you can follow the judge’s instructions, so you are not lying by saying "yes" when asked that question, but you also know the well established truth that you can also acquit even in the face of the law as given by the judge, and in spite of the facts. You can just keep that knowledge to yourself without volunteering it.
Some may call this taking a "mental reservation" as in, Question: "Can you follow my instructions on the law?" Answer: "Yes" – but with a mental reservation (to yourself) of: I may believe your description of the statute law, but the higher law is the Constitution, if there is a conflict.
Others see it as simply retaining the knowledge of the fact that a jury can acquit even in the face of the judge’s instructions – which is well settled law. No acquittal can be overturned, even if the jury didn’t follow the law. The statute law may be as the judge describes it, but the judge has no power to dictate a verdict of "guilty" to the jury. If the judge requires an "oath" of the jurors which requires them to follow the law as given by the judge and to convict if the facts are proven, that oath is a false oath and is not enforceable.
As the Penn trial established hundreds of years ago, jurors may not be punished for their verdict. An attempt to punish a Colorado juror (Laura Kriho) with contempt of court for not being forthright during jury selection questioning (voir dire) ended when she was released by an appeals court ruling.
However, what has occasionally happened is that seated jurors have been dismissed for refusing to discuss a possibility of finding the defendant guilty, taking a clear jury nullification stance. The United States Court of Appeals for the Second Circuit held, in 1997, that if you insist that you will acquit regardless of the evidence, you can be removed for being "incapable" of being impartial. However, if you express "reasonable doubt" about the evidence, or the credibility of the witnesses and informants, or the credibility of the police, in addition to questioning whether the law itself is unjust, the judge cannot remove you from the jury, because they can't prove that you were determined to acquit regardless of the evidence. You might also suspect that evidence favorable to the defense has been withheld from the jury.
Jurors should be aware that if an acquittal is not possible, a hung jury is an acceptable outcome if a juror believes it necessary to prevent a conviction that would be unjust. A series of hung juries sends a signal to the legislature and to prosecutors that a significant portion of the population does not support that law. A mistake jurors sometimes make is to throw the prosecution a bone by convicting the defendant on a "lesser charge." (Prosecutors often multiply charges on the hope that something will stick, and to encourage a plea bargain.) That can cost the defendant years in prison if the judge so decides at sentencing. If justice requires it, nothing short of an acquittal or hung jury on all counts is appropriate. It can take intestinal fortitude to stand alone but a single juror can hang the jury.

The power of the jury to vote according to conscience and judge the merits, fairness, constitutionality and applicability of the law itself, is the only real, undiluted power the individual citizens have in our system of government. If we are engaged in a struggle for our fundamental rights against governments on all levels, and we are, then we must view our role as partisan guerrillas, and we have a powerful yet peaceful tool at our disposal. It has been hidden from us, and we are intimidated into thinking it is not our right, but if we will summon the courage to grasp it, we can use jury veto power, or jury nullification, as a weapon in defense of liberty.
Frankly, when awake and aware lovers of liberty choose not to serve on a jury, they are leaving the battlefield with Goliath still standing, jeering at them as they walk away. By not serving, they are denying to themselves one of the critical "boxes of freedom" and a chance to sling one right between Leviathan's eyes. If they don't take that shot, what is left? Not much. The ballot box is a joke, the soap box, while still there, is also under relentless attack, with mainstream media now nothing more than Mordor's mouthpiece. Why give up the jury box to the enemy? You know what comes next.
Serving on a jury should be viewed as a form of liberty guerrilla warfare in the current "soft" or cold war between the forces of liberty and the forces of tyranny. We'd better use it while we can before the war goes hot. Besides, It's good practice. We need to exercise our liberty muscles and our own cunning and resolve in the face of adversity. Step into the ring!
We must close with the enemy and battle him in every arena, including in the courtroom. Give Leviathan no safe place, no place to let down his guard, and instead take the fight straight to him in a place where he thought he was supreme and could not be defeated. One juror, just one, can shut down all the gears, all the levers, and all the apparatus of unjust power, and make it stop. One juror can throw a critical monkey-wrench into the works. And if enough jurors do that, the cursed machine will be prevented from working at all. Just you, a lone liberty guerrilla, in a peaceful, bloodless, mini-revolution of conscience, can drive a dagger into the soft underbelly of the beast and set someone free. Talk about focus of effort! There can be no better time spent in the struggle to directly stop oppression.
April 25, 2011
Don Doig [send him mail] is a co-founder and vice president of the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA). Stewart Rhodes [send him mail] is an Army Airborne veteran, former member of Rep. Ron Paul’s DC staff, a 2004 graduate of Yale Law School, and is the founder and president of Oath Keepers.
Copyright © 2011 by LewRockwell.com. Permission to reprint in whole or in part is gladly granted, provided full credit is given.

Tuesday, May 3, 2011

New Editor For The Free Kansan Newsletter!

The Free Kansan

April was an exciting and dynamic month for the Libertarian Party of Kansas, and one that included some fantastic successes.

State Convention
April 17th marked the date of the Libertarian Party of Kansas' annual convention, where,  the outcome probably had some Republicans and Democrats wondering if the Libertarians are getting serious.

Al Terwelp was elected as Chair, signalling a new era for the party in terms of its public image. Terwelp who works in advertising and marketing explained, “The principles and values of the Libertarian Party of Kansas are those of Kansans.  Our liberty-based ideas have always been strong, but how we have shared those ideas has been weak.  We are going to communicate what the Libertarian Party is all about through new media forms with a more consistent brand.”
                                                                                                                               
In a further demonstration of the Libertarian Party’s new commitment to better communication of their principles and ideas, the party membership made a move that caught many by surprise; they chose to dramatically update the LPKS’s nearly one decade old Party Platform and their nearly four decade old Statement of Principle. 

The party’s Statement of Principle now begins:

“We, the Members of the Libertarian Party of Kansas, believe in the people of Kansas.  We hold that all adults are capable of deciding what is best for themselves, their families, and their communities.  We recognize that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.”

Party Media Spokesperson, Stacey Davis, says that the new Statement of Principle holds true to the values of the party and is one that the vast majority of Kansans will identify with.  “We Kansans just want to be treated like adults and that is what the Libertarian Party of Kansas is all about.  Most Kansans are Libertarians; they just don’t know it yet…but they will soon.”

The new Platform and Statement of Principle are available on the Libertarian Party of Kansas’ website, www.LPKS.org which was redesigned in 2010 and is described by many as the most attractive and modern political website in Kansas.  

The Libertarian Party of Kansas officers elected during the 2011 state convention include:

Chair                          Al Terwelp, Overbrook KS
Vice-chair                Steven A. Rosile, Wichita KS
Secretary                  Michael Kerner, Lenexa KS
Treasurer             Michael Dann, Baldwin City KS
1s Dist Coord.           Matt Mercer, Dodge City KS
2nd Dist Coord.          Rob Garrard, Edgerton, KS
3rd Dist Coord.    Jeff Caldwell, Overland Park KS
4th Dist Coord.            Dave Thomas, Wichita KS

City Elections in Topeka
Former Libertarian Party of Kansas Chair, Andrew Gray, was elected City Councilman for District 8 in a landslide victory over Jeff Preisner, the eight year incumbent competing for the district on April 5th. Gray's commitment to one to one contact with voters in his district brought him victory againt incredible odds in the race with Preisner raising approximately eleven times more campaign contributions than Gray.
Full Story Available at CJOnline.

Moving Forward
From this isue of the Free Kansan forward, Action Alerts and Local Events will display along the right-hand side of newsletter. If you are interested in participating in the events that are advertised, we ask that you contact the event coordinators via the e-mail links provided. If you have information on, or are holding an event that aims to promote social and/or economic liberty in Kansas, you can forward it to Garrett Mentzer and we'll include it in the next Free Kansan Newsletter!

Monday, May 2, 2011

Burn Out?

May 2, 2011 From Wes Benedict:

Dear Friend of Liberty,

Last Saturday I spoke at the LP Minnesota state convention. I enjoyed my time at the convention, and I'd like to thank them for hosting me.

Below are two questions I was asked after my speech, along with my responses. (The questions and my responses are not verbatim, and may be embellished with a few phrases I wish I had thought of at the time!)

Question 1: Is burnout a problem when Libertarians continually receive single-digit percentages?

My answer: We have over 160 elected Libertarians. They mostly serve in nonpartisan offices in small jurisdictions. I tell prospects, if you run for a high office like Congress, you do the important work of building the party and educating the public, but you're very unlikely to win, based on past trends. That sometimes evokes angry responses from a few who insist they can win their partisan races for Congress or other high offices. It's often those "winners" who burn out and quit after election day. Those with more realistic expectations often comment after election day that they enjoyed the process and would do it again.

I also pointed out that just because a trend line doesn't point toward imminent Libertarian Party victories for Congress, it doesn't mean surprises won't happen. Ron Paul raised over $30 million for his 2008 Presidential run, a man named Barrack Hussein Obama became President, the Tea Party movement exploded across the nation, and Jesse Ventura became governor of Minnesota. (Who would have predicted that?) Feel free to keep working hard, because you can't predict when a movement will take off.

Question 2: If people want to volunteer, what's the number one thing you recommend they do?

My answer: I gave the response I heard from Paul Jacob at the the 2009 LP Maryland convention. Paul Jacob is a former LP national director and now head of Citizens in Charge. I'm reciting from memory, but Mr. Jacob presented ten pieces of advice. Number one was "Do something." The most important thing is to take action. No one knows for sure what will work. His number two piece of advice was "Don't stop others from doing something." Spend your energy doing more of your preferred type of activism, rather than spending it trying to stop others from defending liberty in their preferred way. I added, as I often say, our rights won't be secure until Republicans, Democrats and Libertarians are all fighting over the best ways to reduce government and increase freedom.

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

From Our Friend John Todd

AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY FOUNDATION
Wichita Area Chapter Meeting
Guests welcome!

Monday, May 9, 2011

7:00 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.


Alford Branch Wichita Public Library
3447 S. Meridian (Meeting Room)
Wichita, Kansas 67217

Jeffrey Tucker, of the Ludgwig von Mises Institute, conducts
 A series of video Interviews with Austrian Economists
Based on Henry Hazlitt’s book:
 “Economics in One Lesson”

Video 5: The Curse of Machinery, Robert Murphey, Institute for Energy Research, 15:43  
           Video 6: Disbanding Troops & Bureaucrats, Walter Block, Loyola Univ., New Orlean, 17:16 
Video 7: Who’s “Protected” by Tariffs?, Mark Thornton, Ludwig von Mises Institute, 17:34

Video 8: “Parity” Prices, Peter G. Klein, University of Missouri, 22:07

The four DVD video presentations will be followed by group discussion. 

 For additional information on this program please contact:
John Todd, Wichita-area AFP volunteer coordinator at john@johntodd.net, (316) 312-7335
 Or 
Susan Estes, AFP Field Director at sestes@afphq.org, (316) 681-4415

Economics in One Lesson, The Video Series
Jeffrey Tucker with the Ludwig von Mises Institute did some spontaneous interviews with
Economists based on Henry Hazlitt’s book, Economics in One Lesson.  The DVD videos were provided for our use courtesy of the Ludgwig von Mises Institute.  They are also available online from the Mises Institute at the following link:

          Americans for Prosperity Foundation is a section 501(c)(3) organization under the Internal Revenue Code.  Contributions to AFP Foundation are tax deductible.  AFP Foundation’s focus is to educate the general public about public policy issues, not to support or oppose specific legislation.

It Was Our Foreign Policy That Created The Monster We Just Destroyed!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 2, 2011

Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222


Libertarian Party celebrates end of bin Laden era

WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party Chairman Mark Hinkle issued this statement today:

"I am glad to hear of the death of Osama bin Laden, who had no qualms about slaughtering American civilians.

"Unfortunately, bin Laden leaves behind an evil legacy in the United States: the Department of Homeland Security, the TSA, the PATRIOT Act, warrantless wiretaps, the 'state secrets' doctrine, and other violations of Americans' civil and economic rights.

"Just like Osama bin Laden, these programs must be terminated.

"President Obama must also end the wars in Afghanistan, Iraq, and Libya. It's time to stop being the world's policeman. It's time to bring all those troops home.

"Our government should also end its foreign aid programs, which create future terrorists by funding many dictators around the world."

The Libertarian Party platform (section 3.3) states, "American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups."

In 2008, the Libertarian National Committee adopted resolutions calling for an end to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
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P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.