Mises Institute promotes free markets worldwide

The Auburn Plainsman - Libertarian think tank promotes free markets worldwide from Auburn: - Kyle Nazario:

September 29, 2010 - "The Mises Institute is located in a small, two-story building.... Only a small sign at the front advertises an institute is there at all.

"'We are sort of a school, we’re sort of a website, we’re sort of a library and a book repository and we’re sort of a think tank,' said Jeff Deist, president of the Institute. 'We have a pretty broad mission, but first and foremost we are about keeping the legacy and the current elements of the Austrian school of economics alive and healthy'....

"Professor of economics Henry Thompson said the Austrian school of economics is a way of thinking about the economy that focuses on historical and theoretical information rather than empirical data....

"Mark Thornton, senior fellow at the Mises Institute, ... said the Austrian school of economics has an unconventional way of thinking about economic issues.

"'We’re free market (economists), which is an alternative,' Thornton said. 'Some would say it’s a radical alternative.'

"Deist said Carl Menger and Ludwig von Mises, the Mises Institute’s namesake, created a school of thought focusing on minimal government and private sector investment. The nationality of von Mises and Menger, both Austrian, became the collective banner for their theories.

"Work done by Mises scholars has drawn support from famous libertarians, such as Ron Paul and Andrew Napolitano, both of whom, Deist said, have spoken at the Mises Institute....

"Thornton said educating the public, not influencing government policy, is the Mises Institute’s purpose.... Mises scholars educate people through publishing on the website, Mises.org, writing academic papers, and open seminars."

Read more: http://www.theplainsman.com/view/full_story/25829423/article-Libertarian-think-tank-promotes-free-markets-worldwide-from-Auburn?instance=home_news_1st_right
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NY LP state senate candidate cut from ballot

Gia Arnold loses minor party line in senate race - Niagara Gazette: Local News:

September 27, 2014 - "Gia Arnold is officially off of the ballot for the 62nd District state senate race, the New York State Board of Elections confirmed Friday.

"Arnold, 24, who gained headlines after announcing an extramarital affair in August, announced she was off of the ballot on Wednesday. It wasn’t official until Friday said Thomas Connolly, deputy director of public information for the state board of elections, when signatures on her petition to be on the Libertarian line in the election were invalidated by elections board officials.

"'She is off the ballot as a result of staff findings after evaluation of specific objections,' he said, in an email to Greater Niagara Newspapers Friday afternoon.

"Arnold lost the Republican primary handedly to North Tonawanda Mayor Rob Ortt. Ortt is running against Democrat Johnny Destino for the seat being vacated by 19-year incumbent George Maziarz....

"Arnold, who did not return phone calls, emails or text messages seeking comment, endorsed Destino in the race on her Facebook page Friday.... In a Facebook post on Wednesday, Arnold referred to Ortt’s supporters as “fools” for supporting what she called the 'elite establishment'."

Read more: http://www.niagara-gazette.com/news/local_news/article_ac3e05f3-3107-5656-af3e-d5eeb96b3d43.html
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Q&A with Bruce Majors, DC Libertarian for mayor

Q&A With Bruce Majors, DC’s Libertarian Candidate for Mayor | Politics | Washingtonian:

September 25, 2014 - "If DC’s mayoral race has been a bit drab so far, don’t blame Bruce Majors. The Libertarian candidate for mayor brings humor and an enthusiasm for libertarianism—which began with his introduction to the writings of Ayn Rand when he was in ninth grade—to the race. Majors, a realtor by day, saw that steadfast devotion pay off two years ago when he garnered more than 16,000 votes in his first political campaign. (Mayor Vince Gray won with 97,978 votes.) Major’s haul was more than enough votes for the Libertarians to become an official party for the first time on a DC ballot. 

"Majors is running again, spreading the Libertarian philosophy along the way — 'Let people do what they want, and then address a problem if there is one,' he summarizes — and touting the fact that his party is the fastest growing in DC. We chatted with him about his positions and his goals as an underdog candidate in the mayoral race.

What does your party want to achieve? 

"We want to replace the current paradigm with one where everyone makes choices about their own lives, their own bodies, and their own children. I’m sure occasionally there will be a case where somebody’s doing something and you will have to step in and do something about it, but don’t manage them from the very beginning."

Read more: http://www.washingtonian.com/blogs/capitalcomment/politics/qa-with-dcs-libertarian-candidate-for-mayor-bruce-majors.php
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Grover Norquist on the 30-year libertarian trend

Grover Norquist on the Libertarian Trend | C-Notes | OZY - Grover Norquist, Americans for Tax Reform:

September 23, 2014 - "They’re no longer on the fringes. The libertarians are now officially mainstream.... But it’s much more than a moment. It’s the culmination of a powerful narrative building over the past 30 years in American politics. This is a movement — and it doesn’t live or die on the shoulders of one policy or one individual....

"So forget 'moment.' Think trend. And consider the once-impossible political shifts that have taken place over the past 30 years. The relevant dividing line is not right versus left or Republican versus Democrat but the expansion of individual liberty versus whatever and whosoever stands in the way....

"Thirty years ago home schooling was illegal in all 50 states. Parents were (and occasionally still are) actually hauled off to jail for violating 'compulsory attendance' laws. Today, home schooling is legal and lightly regulated in all 50 states, 2 million students are being home-schooled and 10 million Americans have been home-schooled for some part of their K-12 education....

"Thirty years ago there were laws actually criminalizing gays. Gay Americans often lived in fear of legal and social opprobrium. The closet was real because it was safer. State by state, city by city, “blue laws” were repealed or struck down by courts. The culture and our laws opened up. Once unthinkable, now gay marriage appears inevitable. Attitudes toward gay Americans have shifted dramatically.....

"Thirty years ago, 80 percent of Americans supported stricter gun control laws. Certain guns were banned. Organizations formed and expected they would soon 'ban handguns' in private hands.... Today, 41 states have enacted [concealed carry] laws. In 2007 there were 4.5 million such permits. Today there are more than 11.1 million. Arizona, Vermont, Wyoming and Alaska do not even require permits to carry for their citizens. Five percent of the adult population has a concealed carry permit. One in 20. This drive has been fueled and validated by the fact that violent crime falls faster in states with concealed carry laws....

"Thirty years ago, marijuana was illegal as medicine or even as a 'recreational use' drug in 50 states. Today, 21 states allow the use of medical marijuana, and Colorado and Washington state have legalized its sale for any purpose. Full state legalization will be on the ballot in Oregon and Alaska in 2014 and likely California, Arizona and others in 2016. In Congress, the House of Representatives in 2010 voted to scale back its 100-1 ratio of punishment for crack cocaine versus white-powder cocaine....

"These four radical, unthinkable expansions of individual liberty are not liberal or conservative, Republican or Democrat. All flow from the small 'l' libertarian, live and let live, leave us alone, 'laissez-nous faire' attitude. Four movements calling for increased individual liberty while their opponents explained — with hundreds if not thousands of years of tradition and history to back them up — that society should have the power to control behavior for the public good."

Read more: http://www.ozy.com/c-notes/grover-norquist-on-the-libertarian-trend/34022.article
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Liberty Caucus only voice against 3rd Iraq war

House Liberty Caucus Republicans Stand Strong Against Third Iraq War - Thomas R. Eddlem, New American:

September 13, 2014 - "Members of the U.S. House of Representatives' Liberty Caucus have become the sole congressional voice openly speaking out against President Obama's proposed third war in Iraq.

"In a Facebook posting after Obama’s September 10 speech, Michigan Representative Justin Amash strongly condemned the president's violation of Article I, Section 8 of the U.S. Constitution's reservation of the war powers to Congress: 'The president boldly claimed, contrary to the Constitution, that he alone can order our Armed Forces into a protracted war. And he left unanswered the basic questions responsible Americans and their representatives must ask before going to war. Whom, specifically, will the mission target and what, specifically, is the threat to our homeland?'...

"The anti-war Left has faded into insignificance since the election of a president from the Democratic Party, but the anti-war Right has become more vocal and numerous since its halcyon days of the lone calls by Rep. Ron Paul (R-Texas) against war in Iraq in past decades.... Amash does not stand alone in his opposition to the war, as Ron Paul once did. Other members of the Liberty Caucus have openly questioned Obama's policy of arming the Free Syrian Army, the same organization that first kidnapped U.S. journalist Steven Sotloff and later sold him to the ISIS terrorists who beheaded him. 'I disagree with the president,' fellow Liberty Caucus member Rep. Thomas Massie (R-Ky.) told the Washington Post on the day after Obama's speech.... Fellow House Liberty Caucus member Mick Mulvaney (R-S.C.) likewise counseled a cooler debate in Congress on MSNBC's Morning Joe before any war starts....

"Against this contingent of liberty-loving congressmen is the leadership of both parties in Washington.... The media propaganda effort toward war has even swayed the rhetoric of Amash's closest allies in the U.S. Senate. Leading Senate Tea Party/liberty senators such as Rand Paul (R-Ky.) and Ted Cruz (R-Tex.) have backed the war, but unlike Boehner have insisted that the president follow the U.S. Constitution in pursuing his bombing campaign."

Read more: http://www.thenewamerican.com/usnews/congress/item/19113-house-liberty-caucus-republicans-stand-strong-against-third-iraq-war
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Thomas Massie receives Taxpayers' Friend Award

Massie Honored as Taxpayers' Friend | The River City News:

September 18, 2014 - "This week, the National Taxpayers Union (NTU) presented Congressman Thomas Massie with the Taxpayers’ Friend Award.  Only 45 of the 435 Congressmen in the House of Representatives received the award.  Congressman Massie was the highest rated of all Kentucky Representatives.

"'With so many remaining doubts that our economy has completely turned a corner, it's never been more important for Washington to change direction on fiscal policy,' NTU President Pete Sepp said. 'Fortunately, the taxpayers of Kentucky’s Fourth District could count on Rep. Massie to help put our nation on a saner path. Day in and day out, Rep. Massie earned the title of "Taxpayers' Friend."'

"'On my first day in Congress, I pledged to be an unwavering advocate for personal liberty, economic freedom, and constitutionally limited government,' said Massie. 'I will always fight for the fiscal responsibility that Kentucky’s and America’s taxpayers deserve from their government.'

"Since 1979, NTU has given the Taxpayers’ Friend Award to Congressmen who work to reduce taxes, regulation, federal spending, and national debt.  The award is based on House and Senate votes affecting fiscal policy."

Read more: http://rcnky.com/articles/2014/09/18/massie-honored-taxpayers-friend
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NY LP submits 35,000 signatures for ballot access

35,000 New Yorkers Support Libertarians on the Ballot | Virtual-Strategy Magazine:

September 23, 2014 - "The Libertarian Party of New York submitted over 35,000 signatures last month to afford New Yorkers an alternative to the failed policies of the two major parties....

"New York’s Libertarian ticket will be headed by Long Island Real Estate Broker Michael McDermott for Governor. Michael is joined by fellow Libertarian candidates Chis Edes for Lt. Governor, U.S. Navy veteran John Clifton for Comptroller, Manhattan defense lawyer Carl Person for Attorney General, Grant Lally for Congressional District 3 (Long Island), Gigi Bowman for Senate District 5 (Long Island) and Mark Glogowski, Assembly District 139 (western New York). In all, twelve Libertarians filed for public office in New York State.

"Speaking for the 42 year-old Libertarian Party of New York, which defends constitutionally limited government, individual freedom, and an end to all prohibition, Gubernatorial candidate Michael McDermott stated, 'Now 12 million New Yorkers will not be limited to choosing only between the two major parties. Instead, New Yorkers can cast their votes for a balanced budget, real growth in private sector jobs, an end to the welfare state, and an end to needless suffering caused by drug prohibition.'"

Read more: http://www.virtual-strategy.com/2014/09/23/35000-new-yorkers-support-libertarians-ballot
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Canadian died after 34-hr ER wait; can family sue?

Appeal Court hears family’s argument over Brian Sinclair ER death - Winnipeg | Globalnews.ca - Chinta Puxley, Canadian Press:

September 22, 2014 - "The family of a man who died during a 34-hour wait in a Winnipeg emergency room is asking Manitoba’s highest court to reinstate its lawsuit against a health authority.

"Lawyer Murray Trachtenberg told three Appeal Court justices Monday that Brian Sinclair’s charter rights were violated when he died in a hospital waiting room in 2008.

"Lower court judges struck down the heart of the family’s lawsuit against the Winnipeg Regional Health Authority, saying Sinclair’s charter rights died with him.

"But Trachtenberg said it’s absurd that a man who died because he didn’t receive the care due him under the Charter of Rights and Freedoms isn’t allowed to sue because he’s dead.

"'The breaches in question took place while Mr. Sinclair was alive,' Trachtenberg told the court.

"'The alleged breaches are the very actions and inactions which caused his death and necessitate his personal representative to bring forward the claim as he is obviously incapable of doing so'....

"Although Sinclair spoke to a triage aide when he first arrived at the emergency room, he was never formally entered into the hospital’s system. He languished in the waiting room for hours, growing sicker and vomiting several times, but was never asked if he was okay or awaiting care.

"By the time Sinclair was discovered dead, rigor mortis had set in."

Read more: http://globalnews.ca/news/1575854/appeal-court-hears-familys-argument-over-brian-sinclair-er-death/
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Wyllie on track to get record LP vote in Florida

Libertarian an alternative in governor's race - SaintPetersBlog - Associated Press:

September 22, 2014 - "Beer containers aren’t usually a topic in Florida gubernatorial races, but for Libertarian candidate Adrian Wyllie the state’s ban on small brewers filling half-gallon jugs illustrates how regulations reward campaign contributors and stifle competitors....

"'Tallahassee shouldn’t be setting up road blocks for small businesses, they should be clearing them out of the way,' said Wyllie, ... during a month-long tour of Florida craft breweries to promote his campaign.

"Wyllie, 44, of Palm Harbor, is a longshot, but he is gaining support as voters are turned off by their choices in what’s become one of the most negative campaigns waged in Florida. Republican Gov. Rick Scott still struggles with his approval rating and polls show many voters also don’t trust Republican-turned-Democrat former Gov. Charlie Crist.

"Recent polls show Wyllie getting about 5 percent of the vote, which would be a Florida record for a statewide Libertarian candidate. Wyllie is the first Libertarian to run for governor in Florida, but the party’s presidential and Senate candidates have never topped a half-percent....

"'Voters are so frustrated by both parties that I wouldn’t be surprised if the third-party candidate did better than they usually do,' said Matthew Corrigan, a University of North Florida political science professor. 'If Wyllie gets 5 to 10 percent, that could have a major impact on our governor’s race depending on which way voters go.'

"As a Libertarian, Wyllie believes government should stay out of most personal and business affairs as long as no one is harmed. He wants to cut state spending, taxes and regulations but he also supports gay marriage, the legalization of marijuana and abortion rights. It’s a philosophy that appeals to some Democrats and some Republicans."

Read more: http://www.saintpetersblog.com/archives/160323
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Spencer and the anti-militarist libertarian heritage

The Anti-Militarist Libertarian Heritage - Reason.com - Sheldon Richman, Future of Freedom Foundation:

September 21, 2014 - "With the United States on the verge of another war in the Middle East — or is it merely the continuation of a decades-long war? — we libertarians need to reacquaint ourselves with our intellectual heritage of peace, antimilitarism, and anti-imperialism. This rich heritage is too often overlooked and frequently not appreciated at all. That is tragic. Libertarianism, to say the least, is deeply skeptical of state power. Of course, then, it follows that libertarianism must be skeptical of the state's power to make war — to kill and destroy in other lands. Along with its domestic police authority, this is the state's most dangerous power. (In 1901 a libertarian, Frederic Passy, a friend of libertarian economist Gustave de Molinari, shared in the first Nobel Peace Prize.)

"Herbert Spencer, the great English libertarian philosopher of the late 19th and early 20th century, eloquently expressed radical liberalism's antipathy to war and militarism. His writings are full of warnings about the dangers of war and conquest. Young Spencer saw and cheered the rise of the industrial type of society, which was displacing what he called the militant type. The industrial type was founded on equal freedom, consent, and contract, the militant on hierarchy, command, and force. Yet he lived long enough to see a reversal, and his later writings lamented the ascendancy of the old militant traits. We have a good deal to learn from the much-maligned Spencer, who is inexplicably condemned as favoring the 'law of the jungle.' This is so laughably opposite of the truth that one couldn't be blamed for concluding that the calumny is the product of bad faith....

"He starts by pointing out that the 'parent' country's government must violate the rights of its own citizens when it engages in colonial conquest and rule. Spencer advocated just enough government to protect the freedom of the citizens who live under it ... and he claims that the money spent on colonies necessarily is money not needed to protect that freedom.

"Spencer proceeds to demolish the argument that foreign acquisitions increase the wealth of the parent society, as though such acquisitions are analogous to voluntary trade relations.... He invokes the law of comparative advantage to argue that the parent society loses, not gains, when the government coercively creates artificial foreign markets for products the society can't produce as efficiently as others can.

"As for those on the receiving end of colonial policy, Spencer was blunt: 'We … meet nothing but evil results'."

Read more: http://reason.com/archives/2014/09/21/the-anti-militarist-libertarian-heritage
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The rise of the Hispanic millennial libertarian

The Surprising Rise of the Hispanic Millennial Libertarian - Rachel Burger - TownHall.com:

September 8, 12014 -"Libertarianism isn’t confined to caucasians anymore. The Pew Research Center recently released a study on who in America describes themselves as libertarian while being able to accurately identify what the label actually means. Of the total demographic, 12 percent of respondents who identified as libertarian were white, unsurprisingly the largest demographic population. However, Hispanics self-identified as libertarian at almost the same rate, 11 percent. By comparison, only three percent of blacks fell into the same category (other demographics were not included in the final results). Libertarians also tend to be young; Millennials are the largest group of libertarians, with the Silent Generation making up the smallest...."

"While Latinos are more likely to support big government, it is important to bear in mind that these Hispanics tend to be older, first-generation immigrants. Since immigration from Mexico has all but reversed due to America’s poor economy, most of the Hispanic population growth in the US comes from second- and third-wave Hispanic Americans. In other words, Millennial Hispanics, unlike their parents, grew up as native-born Americans.

"This population is huge; fully 65 percent of American Hispanics are between the ages of 22 to 35, and they’re filtering into common traits found in libertarianism. For example, they graduate college at higher rates than any other demographic group, including whites. Additionally, Pew Research shows that younger Hispanics don’t particularly care for the 'Hispanic' or 'Latino/a' label....

""Hispanic Millennial support for Obama dropped nine percent between 2013 and 2014. Their trust in bigger government is dwindling.... The disappointment with Obama’s presidency runs even deeper, pushing Hispanic Americans away from mainstream political camps....

"Libertarianism also appeals to issues that matter deeply to Hispanic Millennials and young people in general: a greater emphasis on civil liberties. Hispanic Millennials overwhelmingly support gay marriage. They want to legalize marijuana. And of course, they show greater support for relaxing laws on unauthorized immigration, a libertarian cornerstone."

Read more: http://townhall.com/columnists/rachelburger/2014/09/08/the-surprising-rise-of-the-hispanic-millennial-libertarian-n1887818/page/full
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Rand Paul backers tolerate interventionist rhetoric

Libertarians give Paul a pass - POLITICO.com - Katie Glueck with Kenneth P. Vogel:

September 19, 2014 - "Rand Paul insists he’s not an isolationist. Luckily for him, many in his libertarian base are willing to let him keep saying that....

"In more than a dozen interviews at a libertarian conference this week in Alexandria, Virginia, many attendees said they understand if Paul, who recently came out in favor of airstrikes against militants in Iraq, has to hedge on some issues to gain broader appeal — but that they still believe he’s one of them at heart.... [A]t this week’s Liberty Political Action Conference, it was clear that, for now, Paul maintains a large reservoir of support even among the most hardcore libertarians.

"More than 600 ardent libertarian activists gathered for the event, which is tied to Ron Paul, who is idolized at LPAC. Those gathered were far from mainstream Republicans....  Yet they represent an energetic segment of the grass roots that would be vital to a Rand Paul presidential bid....

"Rand Paul ... has sought to explain — with some success in the broader Republican Party — that being cautious about intervention doesn’t equate to isolationism.... He has held meetings with some of the most hawkish donors in the GOP, has visited Israel and made other overtures to that wing, including bringing on Lorne Craner, who served in former President George W. Bush’s State Department and worked for Sen. John McCain, to serve as a foreign policy adviser....

"But in private meetings with major libertarian-oriented donors on the sidelines of an Americans for Prosperity activist summit in Dallas late last month, Paul affirmed his noninterventionist views, and contrasted them with those of his more hawkish prospective 2016 rivals, according to people familiar with the sessions. They said the message was well received, since many top AFP donors — including the billionaire Koch brothers — opposed the Iraq War and generally bristled at the Bush administration’s aggressive foreign policy.

"Paul has tried to make the case that, when it comes to foreign affairs, intervention should be done cautiously and on a case-by-case basis.... 'He’s a conservative realist who will look at each situation,' said Doug Stafford, a senior political adviser to the senator."

Read more: http://www.politico.com/story/2014/09/rand-paul-libertarians-111157.html
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LP candidate for Illinois governor stays on ballot

Judge: Libertarian candidate for Illinois Governor can be on ballot | FOX2now.com - Associated Press:

September 18, 2014 - "A Sangamon County judge on Thursday rejected the Republican Party’s attempt to have a Libertarian candidate for Illinois governor struck from the Nov. 4 ballot.

"Judge Patrick Kelley denied GOP attorneys’ appeal of a State Board of Elections decision to allow Chad Grimm of Peoria on the ballot. His name will appear alongside those of Democratic Gov. Pat Quinn and Republican challenger Bruce Rauner.

"The GOP attorneys had challenged the validity of the voter signatures gathered by several Libertarian petition circulators. Grimm, a fiscal conservative who advocates minimalist government, could draw votes that otherwise would go to Rauner in what’s expected to be a close race.

"Kelley found that the evidence supported the board’s decision, noting that the court could overturn it 'only if it finds the rulings are clearly erroneous.'

"Illinois GOP attorney John Fogarty had argued that thousands of signatures were invalid because they were illegible, not genuine and because petition circulators didn’t reside at their stated addresses....

"Fogarty declined comment Thursday on whether attorneys would appeal."

Read more: http://fox2now.com/2014/09/18/judge-libertarian-candidate-for-illinois-governor-can-be-on-ballot/
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Supreme Court ruling hasn't stopped warrantless data requests in Canada

Supreme Court ruling hasn’t stopped police from warrantless requests for data | Toronto Star - Alex Boutillier:

September 17, 2014 - "Police in Canada used to ask telecom companies to voluntarily hand over data on Canadian customers more than a million times per year. In June, the Supreme Court struck down this warrantless method as an invasion of privacy.

"But while the number of warrantless requests has dropped since the decision, they have not stopped, an investigation by the Star and the Halifax Chronicle Herald has found. Key players, including the country’s largest police force and a major telecom, aren’t saying whether they still send or accept them.

"Another of Canada’s 'big three' telecoms, Rogers, started demanding warrants for all requests after the June ruling, known as the Spencer decision. Even after this policy change, the company continues to receive warrantless requests, according to Ken Engelhart, vice-president of regulatory affairs at Rogers....

"TELUS confirmed in a statement that they also require a warrant to access such data in all but the most extreme circumstances. The company did not disclose, however, if it is still receiving warrantless requests....

"The last of Canada’s 'big three' telecoms, Bell, has repeatedly refused interview requests on the issue."

Read more: http://www.thestar.com/news/canada/2014/09/17/supreme_court_ruling_hasnt_stopped_police_from_warrantless_requests_for_data.html
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Ohio Libertarians to get new day in court

Federal Court Will Hear Ohio LP’s Appeal for Ballot Access - Uncovered Politics:

September 14, 2014 - "A federal court judge will hear a complaint from Ohio Libertarian candidates who were removed from the ballot earlier this year.  The trial, scheduled for September 29, has been fast-tracked as the LP candidates are demanding the state place them on the November ballot before absentee voting begins.

"Among the Libertarians fighting to get back on the ballot is Charlie Earl, the party’s nominee for governor and a former Republican state legislator.  Earl won about 180,000 votes or 5% as the Libertarian nominee for Ohio Secretary of State in 2010....

"The report from WFMJ…

Libertarians recently updated their lawsuit with what they say are Republicans’ connections in the case. They say a GOP consultant and appointee of Gov. John Kasich (KAY’-sik) was responsible for hiring the law firm whose challenge pushed two of their candidates off Ohio’s ballot.

Terry Casey worked for Kasich’s 2010 campaign. The governor has since appointed him chair of the state personnel review board."

Read more: http://www.uncoveredpolitics.com/2014/09/14/federal-court-will-hear-ohio-libertarian-appeal/
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Russian libertarian elected to Moscow council

Second-Ever Libertarian Elected in Russia - Hit & Run : Reason.com - Zenon Evans:

September 15, 2014 - "The people of Russia have spoken, and they have elected a libertarian.

"Or, at least, 662 individuals cast ballots for Russian Libertarian Party Chairman and independent candidate Andey Shalnev in the Moscow regional council race.

"That might not sound like much, but at 28.36 percent of the vote in the Pushkino District, he received the second-most votes, which earns him the seat as the deputy councilman of a district with over 100,000 constituents.

"Shalnev, who has been party chairman since 2010, is the second-ever Libertarian Party member to be elected to office in Russia. The first, Vera Kichanova ..., describes Shalnev as 'a principled politician' and his victory as 'huge for our team.'

"Getting here wasn't easy. Russia is already ranked by Freedom House as 'not free' (and getting worse) and Vladimir Putin is engaging in a major crackdown on Russia's political opposition, independent journalists, and social media activists. This almost certainly puts Shalnev in the crosshairs. The candidate claims there was 'in comparison with previous elections, an increased ... percentage of early voting' that he believes is the result of 'systematic vote-buying of alcoholics, local [hooligans] and needy pensioners.' People were paying these individuals 200 rubles (about $5.25) to vote for the candidate of Putin's United Russia Party."

Read more: http://reason.com/blog/2014/09/15/second-ever-libertarian-elected-in-russi 
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CBC warns: U.S. police are after your cash

American shakedown: Police won't charge you, but they'll grab your money - World - CBC News - Neil Macdonald, Senior Washington Correspondent:

September 11, 2014 - "Across America, law enforcement officers — from federal agents to state troopers right down to sheriffs in one-street backwaters — are operating a vast, co-ordinated scheme to grab as much of the public’s cash as they can....

"It usually starts on the road somewhere. An officer pulls you over for some minor infraction — changing lanes without proper signalling, following the car ahead too closely, straddling lanes. The offence is irrelevant.

"Then the police officer wants to chat, asking questions about where you’re going, or where you came from, and why. He’ll peer into your car, then perhaps ask permission to search it, citing the need for vigilance against terrorist weaponry or drugs....

"And if you were foolish (or intimidated) enough to have consented to the search, and you’re carrying any significant amount of cash, you are now likely to lose it.

"The officer will probably produce a waiver, saying that if you just sign over the money then the whole matter will just disappear, and you’ll be able to go on your way.

"Refuse to sign it, and he may take the cash anyway, proclaiming it the probable proceeds of drugs or some other crime.

"Either way, you almost certainly won’t be charged with anything; the objective is to take your money, not burden the system.

"You’ll have the right to seek its return in court, but of course that will mean big lawyer’s fees, and legally documenting exactly where the money came from. You will need to prove you are not a drug dealer or a terrorist.... It might take a year or two. And several trips back....

"Authorities claim it’s legal, but some prosecutors and judges have called it what it is: abuse."

Read more: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/american-shakedown-police-won-t-charge-you-but-they-ll-grab-your-money-1.2760736
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Libertarians can be a significant force for good

Libertarians Can Be a Significant Force for Good in U.S. Politics - The Atlantic - Conor Friedersdorf:

August 14, 2014 - "Has the 'Libertarian Moment' Finally Arrived?"

"The question was put to New York Times Magazine readers by journalist Robert Draper, who has elicited disdainful responses from Paul Krugman of the Times, Jonathan Chait of New York, and my colleague David Frum. All three concur that the notion of a libertarian ascendancy is an unsophisticated, laughable fantasy. That's a vexing position to hear from this particular trio. If there is no real prospect of tomorrow's voters embracing libertarian ideas, let alone libertarians exercising meaningful power over policy, why have these three spent years dedicating countless hours, numerous articles in prominent publications, and tens of thousands of words criticizing, mocking, and vilifying libertarians, even as centrist elites carried out disastrous policies from Iraq to Wall Street? They're perfectly within their rights to proceed as though libertarianism is a political force that imperils us, or an obvious nonstarter, but it cannot be both.

"I'd respectfully argue that libertarianism is neither dangerous nor doomed, and that people who think otherwise are misled by a double standard they use when analyzing this political faction. When they write about a 'libertarian moment,' they act as if it would mean the immediate embrace of an extreme, ideologically pure version of a philosophy that most actual sympathizers embrace with pragmatic moderation.... But in the real world, libertarian ideas will only ever be implemented partially in a system of checks and balances where modest reforms are difficult to achieve, never mind sweeping, rapid changes....

""The relevant question is whether younger voters will support policies and elect leaders that enhance liberty in comparison to the status quo. If that's what is meant by 'a libertarian moment,' and it seems like a perfectly reasonable definition of the phrase to me, then we may indeed be witnessing one."

Read more: http://www.theatlantic.com/politics/archive/2014/08/an-opening-for-libertarians-to-be-a-significant-force-in-us-politics/375972/
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LP House candidate survives 2nd ballot challenge

Samuel Davenport, Libertarian candidate for the 2nd District congressional seat, stays on the ballot | NOLA.com - Robert McClendon, Times-Picayune:

September 9, 2014 - "Libertarian candidate Samuel Davenport overcame a second effort to disqualify him from the 2nd Congressional District race Tuesday. The 4th Circuit Court of Appeal ruled 8-3 that the challenge to his candidacy, filed by Eliza Eugene and Lawrence Galle, had no legal merit, affirming the decision of Civil District Court Judge Lynn Luker.

"Davenport greeted the ruling with jubilation and a challenge to incumbent Cedric Richmond, D-New Orleans. 'My opponent, instead of trying to bully himself an election, should just let the people decide,' he said. He encouraged his supporters to help him win another victory, this one at the ballot box on Nov. 4....

"Eugene and Galle's objection to Davenport's candidacy was made predominantly on the grounds that Davenport filled out the wrong address on his forms to register for the ballot. Davenport listed his domicile as 317 St. James Place in LaPlace, where he said he plans to move at the end of the month from a Metairie apartment where he currently lives. The LaPlace residence is in Louisiana's 2nd Congressional District; the Metarie apartment is not.

"The qualifying form implies that residency in the district is required, as it is for state offices. However, federal rules do not require congressional candidates to live within the district that they wish to represent, and the 4th Circuit Court's majority said in its opinion that the state has no authority to impose additional requirements."

Read more: http://www.nola.com/politics/index.ssf/2014/09/samuel_davenport_libertarian_c.html
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Senator Leyonhjelm hires Helen Dale as adviser

David Leyonhjelm calls on Helen Dale to help fight for libertarianism - Paul Sheehan, Sydney Morning Herald:

September 10, 2014 - "Only one official libertarian sits in the [Australian] federal Parliament, though there are many closet libertarians hidden inside the tax-and-spend big government of Tony Abbott. This week that libertarian, Senator David Leyonhjelm of the Liberal Democratic Party, ... appointed Helen Dale, born Helen Darville, also known by the literary pseudonym Helen Demidenko, to his staff as a senior adviser.....

"I first met Dale and Leyonhjelm at a libertarian conference in Sydney earlier this year where both were delivering papers. Dale's presentation focused on social changes caused by technology, not expensive social engineering....  Practising law, she saw government regulation and compulsion as frequently having both adverse and unintended consequences.

"'I noticed the extent to which government regulations often had a malicious effect,' she said. 'Unlike many lawyers, I do not think the solution to every problem is "pass a law". Law has limits.'

"She arrived at this belief via a circuitous path, having become famous at age 20, as Helen Demidenko, for a novel written when she was 19, The Hand that Signed the Paper. It won the Miles Franklin Award in 1995....

"In 2002, at the age of 30, she turned to the law. She graduated with first-class honours from the University of Queensland and became a judge's associate. She won a scholarship to the University of Oxford, where she graduated with a bachelor of civil law. Because she has dual nationality, holding British and Australian passports, she remained in Britain and practised law. While doing a graduate course at the University of Edinburgh School of Law, she won the Law Society student essay prize....

"'Senator Leyonhjelm is a classical liberal, as am I," Dale says.... 'Working for him means leaving a job I enjoy and a city, Edinburgh, I love, ... but if I can help introduce the public to the radical notion that people are often best left alone, then my move will be wholly worthwhile'."

Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/comment/david-leyonhjelm-calls-on-helen-dale-to-help-fight-for-libertarianism-20140910-10f132.html
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Idaho Libertarian runs against GOP 'good old boys'

Libertarian Bujak’s candidacy could be trouble for Otter - Spokesman.com - Sept. 6, 2014: - Betsy Z. Russell, Spokane Spokesman-Review:

September 6, 2014 - "If Libertarian candidate John Bujak succeeds in his bid to appeal to disaffected Republicans who voted against Gov. Butch Otter in the GOP primary, he still might not win, but he could pull enough votes from Otter to give Democrat A.J. Balukoff a chance.

"Bujak, the former GOP Canyon County prosecutor, made headlines in recent years for his own legal troubles: He represented himself in five criminal trials in the past three years and was acquitted in every one.

"'After what the party did to me in Canyon County, I didn’t trust a lot of the leadership – certainly after seeing the way that Republicans run politics behind the scenes here in Idaho,' Bujak said. 'They surround themselves with their buddies, they give deals to their buddies, they give contracts to their buddies, and when something happens that is unethical, they all just look the other way.'

"Bujak has a law degree from Gonzaga University, he’s a Navy veteran, and he’s been a deputy attorney general for the state Human Rights Commission and a lawyer in private practice. But he says when he went into politics, serving as the elected prosecutor in Canyon County, 'I hit a brick wall in the form of what I would call the "good old boys".'

"He clashed with the county’s power structure over reopening a notorious attempted murder case in which the Idaho Innocence Project had unearthed evidence that a young woman may have been wrongfully convicted, a victim of mistaken identity. That young woman, Sarah Pearce, is free now, though her conviction stood.

"Bujak found more and more issues on which to disagree with other county officials and ultimately had to resign.... Now he’s running for governor, seeking to capitalize on Idaho conservatives’ unease with Otter, who took 51.4 percent of the vote in the primary against tea party-backed GOP state Sen. Russ Fulcher."

Read more: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/2014/sep/06/libertarian-bujaks-candidacy-could-be-trouble-for/
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University libertarians win a free-speech battle

Coalition comes together to aid libertarian college group - Bob Kellogg, OneNewsNow:

September 5, 2014 - "Like many college conservatives and Christian groups, Young Americans for Liberty is finding their free speech rights threatened on college campuses.

"Young Americans for Liberty students at Boise State University were being charged a $465 "security fee" to hold a pro-Second Amendment event on campus.

"YAL spokesman Elliott Engstrom says a broad coalition of legal organizations stepped in to help. Those groups ranged from the conservative Idaho Freedom Foundation to the left-leaning ACLU, and the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which is libertarian.

"YAL is also a libertarian organization.

"'And the result was that the school refunded the fee to the student organization,' Engstrom tells OneNewsNow."

http://www.onenewsnow.com/education/2014/09/05/coalition-comes-together-to-aid-libertarian-college-group
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Feliciano loses GOP primary, still in as Libertarian

Vermont primary reveals dissent against establishment gubernatorial candidates « Watchdog.org - Bruce Parker, Vermont Watchdog:

August 27, 2014 - "In a primary election marked by low voter turnout and scores of unchallenged races, Vermont’s major party establishment candidates saw significant protest votes....

"On the Republican side of the aisle, moderate establishment candidate Scott Milne won the support of 72 percent of the vote, but not without a serious threat from Libertarian Dan Feliciano, who mounted a last-minute write-in campaign to be the Republican Party nominee for governor.

"Practically unknown until one month ago, Feliciano went viral on the Internet after blasting Shumlin on single-payer and taxes. As of Wednesday morning, the Keurig Green Mountain employee from Essex had garnered more than 2,000 votes of the total 14,000 votes cast on the Republican ticket.

"Far from viewing the primary as a loss, Feliciano said his write-in tallies prove he now has the name recognition to share a stage with establishment party candidates Shumlin and Milne — yet as a third party candidate.

"'I’ll continue on as the Libertarian candidate carrying the flag of stopping single payer, reducing costs, promoting school choice and reducing property taxes,' Feliciano told Vermont Watchdog. 'I’ll continue onward with my message and put on a good battle and go head-to-head with Peter Shumlin. I’ll still carry the flag, and I’ll continue with the ground force I have that’s growing every day.'

"Feliciano became an overnight social media sensation after strongly opposing Shumlin’s single-payer health care agenda. Under single-payer, the government — not private insurance companies — would pay all health care costs for all Vermonters using taxpayer dollars....The Libertarian has developed major viral buzz on Facebook and Twitter, and even garnered national attention from The Blaze. His campaign even won significant endorsements from the vice chair and treasurer of the Vermont Republican Party."

Read more: http://watchdog.org/167374/vermont-primary-shumlin/
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The way to help ALS victims: Legalize marijuana

Want to really treat ALS? Legalize pot | TheHill - Andrew Gargano:

August 27, 2014 - "The Ice Bucket Challenge continues to generate viral waves across social media, garnering awareness for Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) — popularly known as 'Lou Gehrig’s Disease.' Meanwhile, over half of the 30,000 Americans who suffer from the illness continue to be denied a viable medical treatment that has been proven to mitigate their painful symptoms and even to help increase their life expectancy....

"Over the past few weeks, the Ice Bucket Challenge has promoted awareness for ALS and has raised over $15 million in funding for the ALS Association. The challenge has attracted attention from many notable celebrities, public figures, and even a few politicians. However, as awareness burgeons, many remain unmindful of the significant benefits that cannabis has in treating ALS and the continued governmental restrictions that impede research and treatment.

"A number of studies have shown that cannabis functions in many ways that are beneficial to those with ALS, from serving as an analgesic to acting as a soothing muscle relaxant. Cannabis also functions as a saliva reducer, and so it has the ability to reduce symptoms of uncontrollable drooling that is common among those with ALS. Additionally, cannabis has been found successful in use as an antidepressant, results which have also been confirmed by an anonymous, self-reported survey of ALS patients conducted by the the MDA/ALS Center at the University of Washington.

"Most importantly, however, is that a 2010 study found that cannabis offered anti-oxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects when tested on laboratory mice. The researchers found that cannabis slowed the progression of the disease and prolonged cell survival, ultimately concluding that 'it is reasonable to think that cannabis might significantly slow the progression of ALS, potentially extending life expectancy and substantially reducing the overall burden of the disease'."

Read more: http://thehill.com/blogs/congress-blog/healthcare/215689-want-to-really-treat-als-legalize-pot
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Is this the libertarian moment?

Is This the Libertarian Moment? | Value Walk - Llewellyn Rockwell, Ludwig von Mises Institute::

September 3, 2014 - "Earlier this month the New York Times wondered aloud if the 'libertarian moment' had arrived. A good question, to be sure.

"To answer it, though, Times reporter Robert Draper sought out not quite the top libertarian thinkers in the world, but instead those people most easily reached within a ten-minute walk from the Capitol or the Empire State Building....

"The Times, too, thinks primarily about politics, of all things, when assessing whether the libertarian moment has arrived. The article is fixated on the political class. But why conceive of the question so narrowly? Why should we assess the growth and significance of libertarianism on the basis of political metrics alone?

"The left understands this point. Recall Antonio Gramsci’s strategy for bringing about lasting leftist victory. He did not advocate immediate and exclusive emphasis on political activity.... Vastly more important, Gramsci taught, was for their ideas to work their way through the universities, the arts, and all the other institutions of civil society. At that point, it wouldn’t matter who won the elections. The people would already be in their hands — and in all likelihood, the two competing candidates would themselves have adopted leftist language and ideas, whether they realized it or not....

"But if we define the term 'libertarian moment' more modestly, a different conclusion emerges. No, we have not reached a point at which anything like a majority of Americans have embraced our ideas. But we have reached a point at which even mainstream sources, which in the pre-Internet age could get away with ignoring us altogether, are forced to acknowledge us, if only for purposes of dismissal and ridicule.

"Economic commentary can no longer pretend that our choices are either fiscal expansion or monetary expansion....

"Thanks to Ron Paul, a new generation understands it’s all right to favor the free market and to oppose war....

"After decades of virtually no progress at all against the war on drugs, the prohibitionist regime is beginning to crack all around us....

"In other words, we are having discussions that we did not have in the past. Libertarians have staked out positions that a lot of ordinary people share, but which they never saw articulated in public, thereby giving people the confidence and courage to express dissent."

Read more: http://www.valuewalk.com/2014/09/libertarian-moment/
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SC Libertarian will be in governor debates

Libertarian for governor commits to Post and Courier gubernatorial debates - Post and Courier - Schuyler Kropf, Palmetto Politics:

September 5, 2014 - "Libertarian candidate for governor Steve French today committed to taking part in both of the political debates being sponsored this election season by The Post and Courier and its media partners.

"The addition means all five candidates for governor will be on the stage for the first go-round, to be held Oct. 14 in the Charleston area.

"Four of the candidates have also committed to the second debate date, Oct. 21, to be held in the Upstate.

"Democrat Vincent Sheheen has cited a potential scheduling conflict....

"The debates are being put together as part of a cooperative between The Post and Courier, WCIV-TV in Charleston, WACH-TV in Columbia, WPDE-TV in Myrtle Beach and WLOS-TV/WMYA-TV in the Greenville market.

"Ticketing information and venues will be announced at a later date."

Read more: http://www.postandcourier.com/article/20140905/PC1603/140909664/1031/libertarian-for-governor-commits-to-post-and-courier-gubernatorial-debates
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Paying salaries in Bitcoin a growing trend in Canada

Growing number of workers choosing to be paid with Bitcoin, payroll firm says | CTV News - Ethan Lou, Canadian Press:

September 1, 2014 - "A small but growing – and surprising – number of workers are rejecting Canadian dollar salaries for Bitcoin, according to a Waterloo, Ont., payroll firm.

"Wagepoint CEO Shrad Rao said his firm came up with the cryptocurrency payment option in November last year as a side project and did not expect any take-up.

"But as the online currency gained popularity this year, he said, employees from 10 firms have signed up for the Bitcoin option, and many more are asking about it."

"'When we started off, we didn't even think we'll get one,' he said over the phone from New York, where Wagepoint has another office.

"'What's interesting is that we've actually had customers come to us because of the (Bitcoin) integration, which we were not expecting at all.'

"Rao said the firms are overwhelmingly technology companies, whose workers have higher interest in new innovations and tend to dabble more.

"In addition to Canadian interest, he said [he] gets about five inquiries for Bitcoin payment per month from the United States, where Wagepoint also operates, although it has not yet launched such an option in that country.

"Bitcoin, a decentralized currency, was launched in 2009 by a yet unknown person or group. It gained mainstream attention in 2013, and subsequent adoption caused one bitcoin to rise to a high of $1,000."

Read more: http://www.ctvnews.ca/sci-tech/growing-number-of-workers-choosing-to-be-paid-with-bitcoin-payroll-firm-says-1.1985660
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Kasich consultant behind move to get LP off Ohio ballot, court hears

Libertarians protest Kasich ties to ballot decision - News - The CantonRep - Canton, OH - Julie Carr Smyth, Associated Press:

September 2, 2014 - "Libertarians in Ohio cried foul Tuesday after learning a Republican consultant and appointee of Gov. John Kasich was responsible for hiring the law firm whose challenge pushed two of their candidates off the statewide ballot. 

"Terry Casey worked for Kasich’s 2010 campaign and the governor has since appointed him to the $70,000-a-year job chairing the state personnel review board.

"Casey’s role hiring Zeiger, Tigges & Little emerged in a case in which Libertarians are asking federal Judge Michael Watson to restore governor candidate Charlie Earl and attorney general candidate Steven Linnabary to November’s ballot.

"In a new court filing, the party also says Bradley Smith, hired to oversee the disqualification hearing by Republican Secretary of State Jon Husted, didn’t disclose he was working for Ohio’s Republican attorney general, Mike DeWine, doing pro bono work at the time.

"DeWine’s office confirmed Smith held an appointment from Feb. 27, five days before the Libertarians’ hearing, through June 30....

"Libertarians have asked Watson to expedite a trial in their case on grounds the disqualifications were based on partisan, not principled, reasons. The U.S. Constitution prohibits government officials from removing candidates for partisan reasons."

Read more: http://www.cantonrep.com/article/20140902/NEWS/140909913/10286/NEWS/?Start=1
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Some gamers see a value in police militarization

Swatting: What is the latest pranking craze? - Gaming - Gadgets and Tech - The Independent - Rose Troup Buchanan:

September 2, 2014 - "Last month an American gamer accidentally filmed himself being arrested by a highly trained SWAT team. His crime? He was the victim of an online prank called ‘swatting’....

"An anonymous individual rings the local police force, describing a credible threat or situation (often involving hostages) bringing a SWAT team to a chosen location and giving the prank [its] particular name.

"It has been given a 21st-century twist by many of the 'swat' calls coming from online gamers, who watch the reactions of their victims in real time, via live streaming software.

"Recently, cases such as Jordan Mathewson, an online gamer with over 200,000 Twitter followers, who filmed himself being ‘swatted’ have brought the craze to national attention in America....

"However, it is not only online gamers who are targeted. In 2012 the conservative political blogger, Erick Erickson, was a victim when an anonymous caller claiming to be Mr Erickson 'confessed' to shooting his wife, before giving his address and hanging up.

"The call was later confirmed as a hoax.

"Obviously, making false claims to police drains police time and can cause extreme distress to the victim or first responders. Although there have been some arrests, ‘swatting’ is notoriously difficult to trace."

Read more: http://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/gadgets-and-tech/gaming/swatting-what-is-the-latest-pranking-craze-9706452.html
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Illinois LP files criminal complaint over GOP tactics in ballot access investigation

Libertarians file criminal complaint against the GOP | Peoria Public Radio - Hannah Meisel:

September 1, 2014 - "The Illinois Libertarian Party has filed a criminal complaint against the state's Republican Party. The Libertarians allege the GOP hired armed private investigators to go to the homes of voters who had signed the petitions to put the Libertarian slate on the November election ballot.

"The PI's supposedly had guns visible when asking individuals to sign an affidavit confirming that their original signature was NOT valid. Brian Lamprecht, with the Illinois Libertarian Party, says the tactics the GOP used end up hurting democracy.

"'When people look in the news and they see that armed private investigators are showing up at their doors, and people are being intimidated into signing affidavits, that's a scary thing to happen to citizens anywhere.,'

"Lamprecht says Libertarians don't buy Republican gubernatorial candidate Bruce Rauner's claim that he knew nothing about the armed investigators, despite previous ties linking those involved to Rauner's campaign. The Libertarians have filed criminal complaints with the Illinois Attorney General and the Cook County State's Attorney against both the GOP and Rauner's campaign."

Read more: http://peoriapublicradio.org/post/libertarians-file-criminal-complaint-against-gop
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