The Republicans Will Never Cut Deep Enough!

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 3, 2011

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

Libertarians say Paul Ryan's Medicare plan fails

WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle released the following statement today regarding the ongoing debate about the future of Medicare:

"Republican Paul Ryan's plan to 'privatize' Medicare is just rearranging the deck chairs on the Titanic.

"If Congressman Ryan is so worried about the cost of Medicare, maybe he should not have voted for the huge Republican Medicare expansion in 2003.

"The essential problem with Medicare is that it's a coercive program. All Americans are forced to participate in the Medicare scheme, whether or not they think it's good for them. Paul Ryan's plan does nothing to address that essential problem.

"We believe that Medicare should be terminated. The Constitution does not give the federal government any authority to provide or pay for health care, and besides, forcing young people to pay the bills of old people is just plain wrong.

"At the very least, people should be allowed to opt out of Medicare. No one should be forced to pay taxes into a system they dislike and don't want to use.

"Getting the government out of health care will rapidly cut costs and improve quality for Americans of all ages.

"Unfortunately, there is no way to painlessly 'phase out' Medicare. Senior citizens will have to face reduced benefits. No matter what arguments are presented, some senior citizens will feel that they have been cheated.

"Certainly, no matter what path we take, senior citizens are going to get less -- much less -- than they have been promised by the government.

"To the senior citizen who says 'I paid into Medicare, and you can't cut me off!', I would refer you to this comment from the Cato Institute:

Medicare is less a "sacred bond between the generations" than a pyramid scheme allowing each generation to take advantage of the next. Since the elderly are a politically powerful group, each generation has been able to secure larger Medicare subsidies at the expense of young working-age Americans. Medicare has spawned an average of one tax increase every three years for the past 45 years.

"Rather than perpetuating this system, and throwing enormous debt and taxes onto the backs of our children and grandchildren, and frankly ruining their hopes for good medical care, instead let's suffer the pain now, and end this system now, so that their lives can be brighter, and their health can be stronger."

The Libertarian Party platform says the following about health care:

"We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want, the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of their medical care, including end-of-life decisions. People should be free to purchase health insurance across state lines."

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.

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.

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.

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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.

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

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

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:


(Click image or click this link to view the video.)


(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.