Nelson vs. City of Rochester

Motion For Leave To File And Brief Of Amici Curiae CATO Institute, Reason Foundation, Minnesota Free Market Institute, And Libertarian Law Council In Support Of Petitioners | Nelson v. City of Rochester | Cato Institute - JDSupra:

Dec. 23, 2012 - "Rochester, New York, issued administrative warrants against petitioners’ homes based solely on the fact that a six-year period had expired under the local inspection law. The Fourth Amendment, however, prohibits the issuance of general warrants to search private dwellings. The authorities claim to seek evidence of housing, zoning, or other administrative code violations, of course, but they lack individualized suspicion that any of the renters are engaged in such wrongdoing. Indeed, these home invasions are exactly what the Fourth Amendment was intended to prohibit: In colonial days, the Crown granted British officials general search powers against any home they wished, at any time, for any or no reason. In Rochester, the warrants remain valid for 45 days, permitting multiple entries by city employees and courts are no longer involved after issuing the warrants. These administrative warrants sanction videotaping and photography of the home, which becomes publicly available online."

Read more: http://www.jdsupra.com/legalnews/motion-for-leave-to-file-and-brief-of-am-91178/
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Legal marijuana set to become a big Colorado industry

Legalized marijuana set to become a big Colorado industry - Denver Post - Steve Raabe:

December 30, 2012 - "Marijuana is poised to make a big splash in Colorado business after the passage of Amendment 64, allowing its legal sale and consumption.....

"In a fiscal-impact study, the Colorado Center on Law & Policy estimates that legal marijuana sales initially could be as much as $270 million a year. Those sales would produce state and local taxes of $47 million a year, plus savings of $12 million a year in law enforcement costs.

"Marijuana tax revenue dedicated to school construction would create an estimated 372 new jobs, according to the study."

Read more: http://www.denverpost.com/news/marijuana/ci_22277867/legalized-marijuana-set-become-big-colorado-industry
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Meanwhile, in the Libertarian Free State ...

Meanwhile, in the Libertarian Free State | NewHampshire.com - Henry Metz & Dan Moberger:

December 27, 2012 - "The logo of the Free State Project includes a crudely drawn image of a porcupine, a symbol that became part of the movement’s iconography after an online vote by early project participants.... According to the Free State Project’s website, the porcupine was chosen
by popular vote of its members because something more original and 'public relations-friendly' was desired to emphasize the 'freshness' of the movement’s approach....

"There’s little doubt that the Free State Project has established a foothold in New Hampshire. But even one of its more high-profile adherents acknowledges that there’s work to do in order to get the
organization instantly recognized by the average Granite Stater."

"'From what I’ve found, most people in New Hampshire don’t even know about the Free State Project outside of the political class,' said Mark Warden, a Free Stater who has twice won election to the state House of Representatives, most recently on Nov. 6.... 'For the most part, people I’ve met like the idea (of the Free State movement), but there’s no real sense of recognition,' added Warden, who moved to New Hampshire from Las Vegas, Nev., five years ago."

Read more: http://www.newhampshire.com/article/20121227/newhampshire14/121229313/-1/newhampshire01
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The Best and Worst Christmas Films (Libertarian Edition) - Reason.com

The Best and Worst Christmas Films (Libertarian Edition) - Reason.com - ReasonTV:

December 17, 2012 -  "Reason TV's Kennedy throws lumps of coal at the most un-libertarian Christmas movies and specials of all time, a list that includes A Charlie Brown Christmas, A Christmas Memory, Love Actually, White Christmas, and Miracle on 34th Street[*].

"On the flip side, she explains why Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, It's a Wonderfu Life, and The Sound of Music are her favorite fare when snuggling up to the electronic hearth with her kids and a Super Big Gulp filled with 100-proof eggnog."





Read more: http://reason.com/reasontv/2012/12/17/libertarian-christmas-films-the-best-and
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Merry Christmas: Mary gives birth to a great libertarian

Merry Christmas: Mary gives birth to a great libertarian | Washington Times Communities - Thomas Mullens:

December 24, 2012 - "It’s not a surprise that libertarian themes pervade many iconic Christmas specials. After all, they celebrate the birthday of one of the great libertarians of all time.

"In the Gospels, government is exposed as evil right from Jesus’ birth. A paranoid Herod is willing to kill all of the babies in the kingdom to try to eliminate the perceived threat represented by Jesus.

Tax collectors are considered de facto sinners, on a par with prostitutes. Libertarians would consider this unfair to prostitutes, but for the times this couldn’t land better.

"Jesus himself doesn’t disappoint, either. From the moment he begins his ministry, he wages a nonstop verbal war against the hypocritical, oppressive, tax-devouring Temple priests. Jews at the time were required to pay annual taxes to the priests and were also expected to come and make sacrifices at the Jerusalem Temple. Of course, they had to buy the livestock for the sacrifices from the priests and deal with the priests’ money changers in order to do that.

"That’s why the libertarian from Galilee kicked them out. This would have been considered a revolutionary act."

Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/reawakening-liberty/2012/dec/24/merry-christmas-great-libertarian-born/
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Libertarian themes pervade Christmas TV specials

Libertarian themes pervade The Little Drummer Boy and Santa Claus is Comin' to Town | Washington Times Communities - Thomas Mullen:

December 8, 2012 - "Santa Claus is Comin’ to Town (1970) ... didn’t disappoint.... One cannot help but see the parallels between Burgermeister Meisterburger’s idiotic law against toys and the U.S. government’s War on Drugs......

"First, the law is completely ineffective in stopping the children of Sombertown from playing with toys, aided by a young, energetic Kris Kringle. When the government confiscates the toys, Kringle brings more. When the government starts searching houses, Kringle hides the toys in stockings hanging by the fire....

"Meisterburger further emulates the U.S. government with ridiculous overreach in enforcing his unjust law, arresting not only Kris Kringle, but his whole family, his future wife Jessica and even the reformed Winter Warlock. All are charged with 'conspiracy,' a tactic utilized by the government to circumvent the rules of evidence in court and put over 2 million people in prison."

Read more: http://communities.washingtontimes.com/neighborhood/reawakening-liberty/2012/dec/8/libertarian-themes-pervade-little-drummer-boy-and-/#ixzz2Fzt05NC7
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Op-Ed: Top five books to get a libertarian this Christmas

Op-Ed: Top five books to get a libertarian this Christmas - Andrew Moran, Digital Journal:

December 19, 2012 - "If you haven't finished your shopping for that special libertarian in your life then here are five books to give that Ron Paul supporter, proponent of Austrian Economics and hater of big government.

"If you have ever come across a libertarian, one thing you’ll understand right away is that they have an extensive collection of books, whether it’s political theory (Frederic Bastiat), economic thought (Friedrich Hayek) and/or issues that affect personal freedom (Ron Paul).

"However, since there is a large selection of books out there, it’s pretty much a given that a libertarian in the United States or Canada doesn’t have every single book by Murray N. Rothbard, Milton Friedman or Thomas Sowell ... now would be the perfect time to surprise the libertarian in your life with some free market economics."

Read more: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/339411
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Libertarian Party sues three cities in Kansas over open carry bans

Libertarian Party sues three cities in Kansas over open carry bans - KansasCity.com:

"Lawsuits were filed Friday against two Johnson County cities and the Unified Government of Wyandotte County and Kansas City, Kan., alleging they are violating citizens’ constitutional rights by banning the open carry of firearms.

"The Libertarian Party of Kansas filed suits against Prairie Village, Leawood and the Unified Government, seeking injunctions to prevent them from enforcing their bans.

"“The denial of inherent truth will not stand!' party officials said in a written statement Friday. 'Our efforts will continue until all law-abiding citizens in Kansas have freedom from persecution to exercise their Second Amendment rights to bear arms by open carry.'"

Read more: http://www.kansascity.com/2012/12/21/3977666/libertarian-party-sues-three-ks.html
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LP: Halt the massacre of innocent children by ending prohibition on self-defense in schools

Libertarian Party: Halt the Massacre of Innocent Children by Ending Prohibition on Self-Defense in Schools -Newsroom America:

"Families throughout the nation mourn the horrific deaths of 26 people, including 20 young children, killed Friday during a Newtown, Conn., mass shooting at Sandy Hook Elementary School.

"'It’s impossible to imagine the depths of despair and grief that the victims’ families are experiencing right now,”' said Geoffrey J. Neale, Chair of the Libertarian National Committee. 'Our hearts go out to every one of them.'

"In the immediate aftermath of news surrounding the shootings, pundits and politicians called for new restrictions on firearm ownership, exactly the opposite of the approach needed to combat tragic gun violence in schools.

"'We've created a "gun-free zone," a killing zone for the sickest criminals on the face of the Earth," said R. Lee Wrights, vice-chair of the Libertarian Party. 'We've given them an open killing field, and we've made the children of this country the victims.'

"Wrights pointed out that merely the knowledge that armed people will be present acts as a deterrent for would-be shooters."

Read more: http://www.newsroomamerica.com/story/334779.html
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Volunteering a great gift: LIBERTY RULES | Column | Opinion | Barrie Examiner

Volunteering a great gift: LIBERTY RULES | Column | Opinion | Barrie Examiner - Paolo Fabrizio:

December 17, 2012 - "Christmas has always been my favourite time of the year.

"It’s the time of the year that really brings out a Libertarian style atmosphere, where people help out each other and those less fortunate get to enjoy some Christmas spirit.

"The best part is the government has nothing to do with it, mostly because the politicians are already on their extended Christmas break and aren’t around to mess with it.

"People helping people, and the best part is we can do it for free."

Read more: http://www.thebarrieexaminer.com/2012/12/17/volunteering-to-help-others-can-be-the-best-gift
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Australian ban had no effect on gun deaths

Opposing view: Homicide rate was already declining - Robert A. Levy, USA Today:

December 18, 2012 - "Why not emulate Australia's rigorous gun control model in the United States?

"For starters, it hasn't worked. Twelve years after the new regulations were implemented, Time reported on new research suggesting the new regime 'was a waste of public money and has made no difference to the country's gun-related death rates.' The homicide rate had been declining before the 1996 ban; its post-ban decline has merely been a continuation of that trend. Indeed, not one other country that has banned guns has lowered its murder rate.

"That doesn't mean our existing gun controls are optimal. Early detection and treatment of mental illness might lead to firearms access restrictions that the most ardent gun rights advocates could support. But regulations must be fashioned with great care, not simply as a formulaic response to the Newtown tragedy. Multivictim killings — heart-rending and horrifying — are but a fraction of 1% of all murders in the United States, and they will sadly occur even where stringent gun controls are imposed."

Read more: http://www.usatoday.com/story/opinion/2012/12/18/gun-control-cato-institute/1778507/
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Rapper Big Boi trashing Obama, praising Gary Johnson

Rapper Big Boi: Trashing Obama, praising Gary Johnson · Hammer of Truth:

December 14, 2012 - "Atlanta rapper Big Boi (of Outkast fame) was interviewed by Pitchfork, and he’s mighty unimpressed by Obama:

"'BB: I’m not pro-government at all, I’m pro-people. Our freedoms are getting taken away every day with things that people aren’t aware of, like the [National Defense Authorization Act]. I don’t care who the president is– it ain’t just all about who’s black or who’s white or who’s Republican or Democrat, it’s about who is for the betterment of people, period.'

"And last month, he was on Hot 97 in NYC where he claims it was racist of some people to assume he (or other black people) voted for Obama, when in fact he says he voted for Gary Johnson:





Read more: http://hammeroftruth.com/2012/rapper-big-boi-trashing-obama-praising-gary-johnson/
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Does government trigger mass shootings?

In Mass Shootings Does Government Provide the Trigger? - Blogcritics Politics - Dave Nalle:

December 16, 2012 - "That young men in the 16-24 year old age range have a higher propensity towards adjustment disorders leading to true mental illness is nothing new. But there is a perception that members of this group are more prone to act out violently today than they did in the past. Assuming that this is true and acknowledging the facts that guns and violent entertainment have been around since long before this rise in violent outbursts, I think we have to look for another specific trigger.

"When you put guards and metal detectors in your schools, when you invasively search airline passengers, when you begin to spy on your own citizens: you create an atmosphere of fear and the expectation of violence. The average citizen finds this heightened level of state security oppressive. Red light cameras, TSA checkpoints, random blood draws, internet data mining and new security laws like the warrantless indefinite detention of citizens in the NDAA all contribute to this environment. For someone who is troubled and prone to paranoia this creates a world which is directly threatening....

"We all react to ... stress differently, but logic suggests that in those already prone to irrational violent impulses the high level of stress we are subjected to and the threats posed by government can lead to the heightened paranoia which triggers violent action.

"This isn’t just speculation. The writings, statements and behavior of these killers consistently express a fear of government as one of their overriding concerns. Even in the sane community this has been responsible for increased political radicalism, higher gun sales, and an increase in harmless paranoid behavior like 'Doomsday Prepping.' It’s about time we admit that the actions of government play a major role in encouraging this violence. 

"Ironically the reaction to these incidents is invariably to try to implement more security and take away more rights. They’ll want to seize guns, fortify schools and other public places, track the mentally ill,. monitor more of our communications and take away more of our rights. None of these will be very effective at solving the problem and all of them are likely to contribute to pushing more volatile people over the edge to violence."

Read more: http://blogcritics.org/politics/article/in-mass-shootings-does-government-provide1/
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Former Libertarian politician polo player releases book filled with humor, wisdom

Cherokee Tribune - Gem of insight: Former Libertarian politician polo player releases book filled with humor, wisdom:

December 16, 2012 - "Jack Cashin knows first-hand about a lot of things from his years as a restaurant owner, politician, polo player, actor and model. Now he is sharing his knowledge and more in a book he complied and just released titled A Gift of Wit, Wisdom, and Modern Folklore....

"[R]eaders can find a collection of funny, thought-provoking and touching emails, articles and minutiae the author has collected over the years. Poems, cartoons, hilarious pictures and stories are included ... on topics such as “The Rules by Men,” “The Rules by Women,” “You Know You’re Getting Old When,” “Rules of Politics,” Things I’d Wish I’d Known,” and “Golf Humor.”

"Cashin is the oldest active polo player in the United States. He is president of Chukkar Farm Polo Club in Alpharetta, publisher of DARE Magazine, an actor and model on TV and in industrial films, as well as founder of CASHIN’S PLACE, a Georgia restaurant chain.... In 1996, Cashin was a Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate and in 1998, a Libertarian candidate for governor in Georgia....

"A Gift of Wit, Wisdom, and Modern Folklore is available for $25 at Yawn’s Books & More in Canton or online at www.yawnspublishing.com, www.barnesandnoble.com and www.Amazon.com. 

Read more: http://cherokeetribune.com/bookmark/21144400-Gem-of-insight-Former-Libertarian-politician-polo-player-releases-book-filled-with-humor-wisdom
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Rand Paul calls for cutting entitlement spending instead of raising taxes | Politics and Government | Kentucky.com

Rand Paul calls for cutting entitlement spending instead of raising taxes | Politics and Government | Kentucky.com - John Cheves, Lexington Herald-Leader:

December 14, 2012: "Congress needs 'to cut domestic welfare and entitlement spending' to balance the budget rather than tax the rich more, U.S. Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., told a Commerce Lexington luncheon on Friday.

"Instead of raising taxes to avoid the approaching 'fiscal cliff,' the debate should focus on what federal spending to cut and how much, Paul said.

"'We should try to minimize how bad our government is and how much it gets in the way,' he said.

"Unless Congress and President Barack Obama reach a compromise by Dec. 31, there will be an immediate 9.4 percent drop in defense funding and an 8.2 percent reduction in discretionary domestic programs, sparing most entitlements'.

Read more: http://www.kentucky.com/2012/12/14/2444082/rand-paul-calls-for-cutting-entitlement.html
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The most Libertarian place in America?

The most Libertarian place in America - POLITICO.com - Charles Mahtesian:

December 14, 2012 - "Is Austin’s Travis County the nation’s Libertarian Party stronghold?

"The co-founders of a Libertarian political action committee based there make that case, arguing that the Texas locale is the “most Libertarian large county in America.'

"Wes Benedict and Arthur DiBianca of Libertarian Booster PAC note that 31 Libertarian candidates were on the Travis County ballot this year, more than any other county in America. Among the other stats they cite:

"Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson won 2.7% there, his highest percentage nationwide for large counties outside his home state of New Mexico.

"Four Libertarians got over 40% of the vote for the portion of their district within Travis County

"The current chairman of the national party, Geoffrey Neale, lives in Travis County, and 2004 Libertarian presidential nominee Michael Badnarik had previously run for office as a Libertarian in Travis County, and his presidential campaign headquarters were located in Travis County."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/blogs/charlie-mahtesian/2012/12/the-most-libertarian-place-in-america-152016.html
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Rand Paul scores libertarian victory; Feinstein-Lee passes Senate

Rand Paul Scores Libertarian Victory, Proves He is One of Us - Jason M. Farrell, PolicyMic:

December 2, 2012 - "Rand Paul’s months of hard work have paid off; the Feinstein-Lee amendment eviscerating that awful NDAA 2012 Section 1021 passed in the Senate 67-29. If this passes the House and the president signs it into law, libertarianism can take pride in a major victory — the law will not permit American citizens to be held indefinitely. The language reads: 'an authorization to use military force, a declaration of war, or any similar authority shall not authorize the detention without charge or trial of a citizen or lawful permanent resident of the United States.'

"If not for the persistent yet delicate advocacy of Fourth Amendment principles Rand Paul has advocated in the Senate, U.S. law would still permit the executive branch to indefinitely detain any American citizen suspected of supporting terrorists (which can apparently be proven just by liking a status on Facebook), without charge or trial. Yes, at least for now, politics have actually repealed a small but crucial snippet of state power and pushed us in the direction of liberty. Pinch me, I still can’t believe it."

http://www.policymic.com/articles/19983/rand-paul-scores-libertarian-victory-proves-he-is-one-of-us
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Amash to Speaker Boehner: "Show Us the Scorecard!"

Amash to Speaker Boehner: "Show Us the Scorecard!" - Joe Wlverton II, ''New American:

December 12, 2012 - "Republican Representative Justin Amash ... and Representative Tim Huelskamp (R-Kan.) were booted from the Budget Committee - likely a result of the two congressmen’s record of opposing the Speaker on key fiscal issues. Last year, for example, Huelskamp and Amash voted against raising the debt ceiling and are adamantly opposed to any tax increases.... Huelskamp and Amash cast the only House Budget Committee votes against Paul Ryan's budget plan....

"Regarding the forced exile of Amash, Huelskamp, and [David] Schweikert (R-Ariz.) ... FreedomWorks said: 'These three principled legislators have stood with the Constitution even when it was unpopular to do so. Their dedication to the principles of lower taxes and limited government is now being punished by a Speaker who would rather concede to the big spenders in Congress instead of making the tough choices.'"

Read more: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/politics/item/13910-amash-to-speaker-boehner-show-us-the-scorecard
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Libertarian and environmental groups unite against five-year farm bill | AgriPulse

Libertarian and environmental groups unite against five-year farm bill | AgriPulse: Sarah Gonzalez, Agri-Pulse Communications, Inc.:

"WASHINGTON, Dec. 10, 2012- Conservative and taxpayer groups joined the Environmental Working Group (EWG) today to oppose passage of a five-year farm bill during the lame duck session as an attachment to a fiscal cliff package.

"During a press conference titled, 'No Secret Farm Bill in Fiscal Cliff Deal,' several speakers requested that Congress pass a one-year extension of current policy, but eliminate direct payments as a 'down payment' toward deficit reduction.

"'A five-year bill will have sweeping fiscal, social and environmental impacts and should be the result of careful and transparent deliberation. In our view, this Congress simply does not have the time to undertake such legislation this year,' according to an open letter to members of the House sent last month, signed by several groups including Americans for Prosperity, Club for Growth, Americans for Tax Reform and Heritage Action for America.

"The groups represented today claim the proposed farm bill would cost $1 trillion over the next ten years, and would exceed its Congressional Budget Office (CBO) score as did the previous two farm bills.

"CBO estimates the House Agriculture Committee’s farm bill would save more than $35 billion and the Senate bill would save more than $23 billion, with an overall cost of around $960 billion over ten years.'"

Read more: http://www.agri-pulse.com/Libertarian-environmental-groups-unite-against-five-year-farm-bill-12102012.asp
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Green Leaf unveils libertarian strain - Jerusalem Post

Green Leaf unveils libertarian st... JPost - Diplomacy & Politics Ben Hartman, Jerusalem Post:

December 10, 2012 - "If you were expecting plumes of sticky cannabis smoke and mounds of Cheetos at the 'Green Leaf New Liberal Movement' press conference in Tel Aviv on Monday, you would have been sorely disappointed.

"The party, which first ran for the Knesset in the 1999 general elections, now has a platform for their fifth election campaign that is almost completely taken over by the libertarian 'new liberal movement,' with a cleancut message of less government and more personal freedom, and nary a dreadlock in sight.

"New party head Yaron Lerman said on Monday that the joint Green Leaf New Liberal Movement list would “work to strengthen the power of the voters over that of the politicians,” and unveiled the party slogan “say yes to freedom.”"

Read more: http://www.jpost.com/DiplomacyAndPolitics/Article.aspx?id=295381
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Conservatives demand answers on Boehner snub

Conservatives demand answers on Boehner snub - FOXNews.com:

December 8, 2012 - "House Republicans who were removed from plum committee posts are demanding an explanation from House Speaker John Boehner....

"'We write to request a full and complete written explanation of the rationale for removing us from our current committee assignments, including any "scorecards" presented to the Steering Committee to justify our removals,' they wrote. The letter was signed by Reps. Tim Huelskamp, R-Kan.; Justin Amash, R-Mich.; and David Schweikert, R-Ariz.

"Huelskamp was yanked off the budget and agriculture committees; Schweikert was pulled from the financial services panel; and Amash was also booted from the budget committee. A fourth, Rep. Walter Jones, R-N.C., lost his seat on financial services.

"The three who wrote the letter lamented that they were never 'officially informed' and never got a 'formal explanation.' But they claimed to have found out a 'scorecard' of past votes was presented to make the case for removing them....

"Boehner has also faced criticism from conservative groups and members for putting revenue on the table as part of fiscal talks with the White House, with some going so far as to say Boehner could be risking his speakership."

Read more: http://www.myfoxphoenix.com/story/20297388/2012/12/08/conservatives-demand-answers-on-boehner-snub
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Book makes free-market case for copyright reform (video)

New book makes free-market case for copyright reform - Jerry Brito, Technology Liberation Front:

December 6. 2012 - "I’m happy to announce today that the new book I’ve edited, Copyright Unbalanced: From Incentive to Excess is now available. The book is not a moral case for or against copyright; it is a pragmatic look at the excesses of the present copyright regime from a free-market, limited government perspective....

"Conservatives and libertarians, who are naturally suspicious of big government, should be skeptical of our ever-expanding copyright system. They should also be skeptical of the recent trend toward criminal prosecution of even minor copyright infringements, of the growing use of civil asset forfeiture in copyright enforcement, and of attempts to regulate the Internet and electronics in the name of piracy eradication. These are the issues Copyright Unbalanced addresses."

Read more: http://techliberation.com/2012/12/03/new-book-makes-free-market-case-for-copyright-reform/
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How copyright criminalization threatens online innovation

How Copyright Criminalization Threatens Online Innovation - Forbes - Timothy B. Lee:

December 6, 2012 -: "Jerry Brito has pulled together an edited collection of copyright reform essays by libertarians (and one from a pair of libertarian-leaning conservatives) called Copyright Unbalanced.... Jerry’s book promises to be a handbook for free-market copyright reformers....

"I contributed a chapter focusing on a recent development that I find particularly alarming: the increasing use of harsh criminal penalties, including civil asset forfeiture, against online intermediaries....

"In 2008, Congress passed the PRO IP Act, which for the first time allowed the use of civil asset forfeiture in copyright cases. This tactic, which has become infamous due to its abuse in drug cases, allows the police to seize property without convicting, or even indicting, its owner of any crime. The police have used this tactic with devastating effect against startups such as Megaupload, a popular file-sharing site that was shuttered by the federal government in January. The feds seized the Megaupload servers, all the firm’s assets, as well as the personal assets of founder Kim Dotcom. And they have charged Dotcom with criminal copyright infringement and are seeking his extradition from his home in New Zealand."

Read more: http://www.forbes.com/sites/timothylee/2012/12/06/how-copyright-criminalization-threatens-online-innovation/
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Amash slams GOP leadership for purging him without notice | The Daily Caller

Amash slams GOP leadership for purging him without notice | The Daily Caller - Vince Coglianse:

December 5, 2012 - "Michigan Rep. Justin Amash, who has reportedly been removed by Republican leadership from his post on the House Budget Committee, wrote on Facebook Tuesday that he has yet to receive official notification that he has indeed been removed:

"'Rumor has it that I’ve been removed from the House Committee on the Budget. Remarkably, I still have not received a single call, e-mail, or text from Republican leadership confirming this story. In fact, I wouldn’t even have learned about it if not for the news reports. I look forward to hearing from my party’s leadership about why my principled, conservative voting record offends them....

"'Rep. Tim Huelskamp, who was kicked off of both Budget and the Committee on Agriculture, voted with me against the 2013 House budget resolution because it does not sufficiently address the federal government’s debt crisis. That was one of only three times during this Congress that I voted against the Chairman’s recommendations in committee.'"

Read more: http://dailycaller.com/2012/12/05/amash-slams-gop-leadership-for-purging-him-without-notice/#ixzz2EHo551Dl
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Right Fears ‘Purge’ As GOP Leadership Takes Control | TPMDC

Right Fears ‘Purge’ As GOP Leadership Takes Control | TPMDC - Benjy Sarlin:

December 4, 2012 - "Conservatives fear they’re being pushed aside by Republican leaders as the party looks to regroup from its election losses.

"'At the end of the day we lost seats in the House, we lost seats in the Senate, we couldn’t win the presidency, and the response is to purge conservatives,' Rep. Tim Huelskamp (R-KS) said Tuesday during a briefing at the conservative Heritage Foundation think tank in Washington.

"Huelskamp is one of four Republicans who were stripped of committee seats this week for bucking leadership over the last term. Huelskamp lost his spot on the Budget Committee, where he voted against the House GOP’s budget last year along with Rep. Justin Amash (R-MI), who also was removed this week. David Schweikert (R-AZ) and Walter Jones (R-NC), who also voted against the budget from the right, lost seats on the Financial Services Committee....

"Amash, speaking at the same briefing, said he had not received any personal messages or phone calls from leadership announcing his demotion. But he attributed his calls for reduced military spending as the most likely cause for the conflict.

"'I think they are willing to raise taxes to avoid any defense cuts,' Amash said. 'I think they’re willing to take really bad deals to avoid any defense cuts of even a few dollars.'"

Read more: http://tpmdc.talkingpointsmemo.com/2012/12/right-fears-purge-as-gop-leadership-takes-control.php
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Libertarians Are the Only Hope For American Business to Be Competitive Again

Libertarians Are the Only Hope For American Business, and Republicans, to Be Competitive Again - John Mills, PolicyMic:

December 3, 2012 - "To defeat big government Democrats, business needs to organize a new coalition of libertarians, business, and 'Blue-Dog Democrats.' The Republican Party is fatally connected with the religious right’s rejected social agenda, and so the most plausible way to creating this new coalition is for business to leave the Republican Party and start providing serious financial support to the Libertarian Party.

"This year, majorities of voters in four states approved marriage equality by popular vote. By large margins, voters in Colorado and Washington approved marijuana legalization. This tells us a tipping point has been reached on some serious social issues.... Similarly, The total percentage of Americans who believe abortion should be illegal under all circumstances is only about 20%. When it comes to war, a March, 2012 NY Times-CBS poll found that more than two-thirds of those polled — 69% — thought the United States should not be at war in Afghanistan. The number almost certainly is rising, not falling."

Read more: http://www.policymic.com/articles/20024/libertarians-are-the-only-hope-for-american-business-and-republicans-to-be-competitive-again
'via Blog this'

Gary Johnson sets record with Michigan write-in total - San Jose Libertarian | Examiner.com

Gary Johnson sets record with Michigan write-in total - San Jose Libertarian | Examiner.com - Shane Witting::

December 3, 2012. - "Libertarian presidential candidate Gary Johnson has set a record in Michigan, receiving 7,774 write-in votes. The record was previously held by Ralph Nader who received 2,322 write-in votes in Michigan in 1996, running on the Green Party ticket.

"Johnson's vote total exceeded that of Justice Party candidate Rocky Anderson, whose name was printed on the ballot and received 5,147 votes. Anderson was placed on the Michigan ballot by the Natural Law Party....

"Johnson would have appeared on the ballot if not for a technicality during the GOP primary season. Johnson's name was placed on the Michigan primary ballot without his knowledge, and was unable to withdraw his name after filing the necessary paperwork minutes past the deadline....

"As of the writing of this article, Johnson and running mate James P. Gray have set a Libertarian Party record with 1,268,869 votes nationwide, or 0.99% of all votes cast."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/gary-johnson-sets-record-with-michigan-write-total
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Will Texas LP work to nullify TSA, NDAA? - Dallas Libertarian | Examiner.com

Will Texas LP work to nullify TSA, NDAA? - Dallas Libertarian | Examiner.com:


"'The Texas Libertarian Party supports nullification of unconstitutional federal acts,' The Texas LP's Kathie Glass told Dallas Libertarian Examiner today. 'We are the only party with a nullification plank in our platform and the only party with statewide candidates who ran on a nullification platform. Unlike secession, nullification is simply a return to constitutional government.'

"On November 12, 2012, reported the Tenth Amendment Center, Texas Rep. David Simpson (R-Longwood) pre-filed House Bill 80 to stop aggressive TSA groping in Texas.

"This was a very popular effort in the 2011 legislature that had broad support from Texas citizens and their elected officials but was stymied at the eleventh hour when the federal government sent officials to pressure the state's top political leaders by threatening to declare the entire state a "No Fly Zone" if they dared pass the bill."

Read more: http://www.examiner.com/article/will-texas-lp-work-to-nullify-tsa-ndaa
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Caution on the Cliff From a Flat-Tax Flagwaver

Caution on the Cliff From a Flat-Tax Flagwaver - The Fiscal Times, Maureen Mackey - November 30, 2012:

"New Mexico governor Gary Johnson, ... the Libertarian Party candidate who received more than one million votes in this year’s presidential election, sent an email to supporters and others on Friday afternoon from his home in New Mexico. He said, “In Washington, their definition of a "cliff" is that government spending will be cut next year by slightly more than $100 billion, if Congress and the president don’t come to an agreement to cut spending by less than that.

"'With a $16 trillion debt and trillion-dollar deficits as far as the eye can see,' he added, 'only in Washington would cutting $100 billion be viewed as an impending disaster'....

"So – 'here we go again,' says Johnson. 'That sound you hear is the can being kicked down the road.' He predicts that after three weeks of 'posturing and posing,' the country’s political leaders will “cut a deal to once again avoid dealing with the disastrous debt problem.'

Read more at http://www.thefiscaltimes.com/Articles/2012/11/30/Caution-on-the-Cliff-from-a-Flat-Tax-Flagwaver.aspx#y6dD5xqlJmhHJARk.99
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