John Fogerty says he's 'some kind of libertarian’

Rock Legend John Fogerty: ‘I’m Probably A Lot More Like Some Kind Of Libertarian’ | Mediaite - Andrew Kirell

May 30, 2013 - "During a recent interview with comedian Marc Maron, rock legend John Fogerty explored his political leanings, expressing a bit of 'libertarian' nuance beyond his reputation as a 'liberal Democrat' from the 'hippie' era....

"Asked whether he agreed with the overarching 'hippie' philosophy of the 1960s, Fogerty explained: 'The idea of — certainly being a liberal person is who I am — thinking that we have an obligation to our fellow man. The idea of trying to care for the less fortunate. You know, these were all pretty much liberal Democrat precepts, at least, in the 50s and 60s when I grew up.

"But that clear political definition has become 'blurred' for Fogerty, as he explained to Maron that 'I’d still loosely call myself a Democrat, but you know, I realize I’m kind of a lot more like some kind of libertarian or something.'"

Read more: http://www.mediaite.com/online/rock-legend-john-fogerty-i%E2%80%99m-probably-a-lot-more-like-some-kind-of-libertarian/
'via Blog this'

Libertarian Chris Delamo goes homeless for a week

Libertarian Chris Delamo Goes Homeless for a Week - Page 1 - News - Miami - Miami New Times - Michael E. Miller:

May 30, 2013 - "Chris Delamo ... has decided to take to the mean streets of Miami for a week to see what it's really like to be homeless. He's taking nothing but the clothes on his back — oh, and his $800 camera, tripod, and laptop computer....

"Delamo says he's always been 'pretty much a normal guy who for some reason always had a greater tendency to question social norms.' The G. Holmes Braddock Senior High School grad ... dropped out and founded a blog called Red Pill Philosophy (motto: 'One pill a day keeps the falsehoods at bay'). Much of the website is devoted to 'voluntaryism,' which Delamo describes as the belief that 'nobody should ever be forced to do anything against their will.'

He also began making short man-on-the-street videos in which he challenges passersby to debate political philosophy. In one clip from the last Election Day, Delamo points a plastic revolver at voters and asks them how taxation is any different from armed robbery. 'The government should not have the right to point a gun to our heads and force us to give up our money,' he says."

Read more: http://www.miaminewtimes.com/2013-05-30/news/chris-delamo-miami-homeless/
'via Blog this'

NJ Libertarian candidate charged with marijuana possession

Libertarian senate candidate from East Windsor charged with pot possession at Philadelphia legalization rally - Mike Davis, Times of Trenton:

May 29, 2013 - "The Libertarian candidate for state Senate in New Jersey's 14th District said today that he was arrested for marijuana possession at a legalization rally earlier this month, after lighting up and smoking a joint in public.

"Don DeZarn, an East Windsor resident who works at Princeton University, said he was one of five activists arrested on May 18 at Smoke Down Prohibition V, a monthly event hosted by the Philadelphia chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws at Independence Hall.

"Calling the rally and arrest acts of civil disobedience, DeZarn emphasized his support for legalizing marijuana, a chief tenet of his campaign platform.

"'I honestly believe that nothing is going to change unless the people in mass stand up, speak out and fight for their rights,' DeZarn said today. 'They can’t just sit back, relax and wait for the government to change things that we think are unjust laws'....

"On May 13, DeZarn announced his candidacy for the state Senate seat at a press conference at Veterans Park in Hamilton, while smoking a marijuana joint to highlight his position on legalizing the drug."

Read more: http://www.nj.com/mercer/index.ssf/2013/05/libertarian_senate_candidate_a.html
'via Blog this'

Rand Paul coming to Silicon Valley this week

Rand Paul coming to Silicon Valley for a libertarian lovefest | Politics Blog | an SFGate.com blog - Joe Garofoli:

May 28, 2013 - "There’s a huge libertarian vein running through Silicon Valley and Sen. Rand Paul ... is heading to the Valley this week for stops Thursday at Facebook and Friday at eBay.....

"On Friday, he’ll deliver the Reagan Forum address at a sold-out event at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation and Library. He’ll be signing copies of his book released last September entitled Government Bullies: How Everyday Americans are Being Harassed, Abused, and Imprisoned by the Feds....

"Paul is also scheduled ... at the conservative Hoover Institution think-tank in lovely Palo Alto."

Read more: http://blog.sfgate.com/nov05election/2013/05/28/rand-paul-coming-to-silicon-valley-for-a-libertarian-lovefest/
'via Blog this'

LP: Cut government waste to fund infrastructure repair

Libertarian Party: Cut government waste to fix dangerous bridges - Your Houston News: Opinion:

May 24, 2013 - "In the wake of the dramatic collapse of the Interstate 5 bridge in Mount Vernon, Wash., on May 23, federal and state politicians will make their usual claims that ever-higher government spending is needed — funded by more taxpayer dollars and more deficit spending — to fix the country’s roads in need of repair.

"But it’s a fraud. More money is not the answer. Much lower total government spending is.

"The first step is to open the government’s books to learn how those federal and state government politicians are spending the trillions of dollars they already collect and spend every year.

"'Don’t be surprised to learn that, in most states, less than 2 percent of state government spending goes toward building, fixing, or maintaining roadways,' said Libertarian National Committee Executive Director Carla Howell."

Read more: http://www.yourhoustonnews.com/atascocita/opinion/libertarian-party-cut-government-waste-to-fix-dangerous-bridges/article_5b738d90-022f-522b-8168-173b633bb223.html
'via Blog this'

Free State Project gaining in New Hampshire

Libertarian movement gaining steam in New Hampshire | Fox News - Joseph Weber:

May 25, 2013 - "Libertarians eager to move beyond mere ideological victories are making progress in a long-term effort to migrate to one state to concentrate efforts and reshape communities based on their ideals of less government and individualism.

"The grand social experiment can be traced to a 2001 essay by a Yale doctoral student who lamented about Libertarians’ failure to get candidates elected and argued the best way to make a real impact is for 20,000 activists to move to a relatively small state with low taxes and job opportunities, then making inroads in government, communities and courts.

"New Hampshire won in a 2003 online vote. And 10 years later, more than 1,200 activists have already moved there, with roughly 13,000 others pledging to follow after the 20,000 sign up for the so-called Free State Project.

"Though their numbers remain relatively small, and achieving full strength appears at least several years away, Libertarians now living in New Hampshire say they have already had several successes, including at least a dozen members winning seats in the 424-member state legislature."

Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/politics/2013/05/25/libertarian-movement-in-new-hampshire-10-years-later-successes-more-challenges/
'via Blog this'

Rand Paul’s Risks | The American Conservative

Rand Paul’s Risks | The American Conservative - W. James Antle III:

May 22, 2013 - "Rand Paul has emerged as the leading politician preaching the liberty-movement gospel, but occasionally he still runs afoul of the faithful. A recent example was the reaction to remarks he made at an evangelical gathering in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

"'I’m not advocating everyone go out and run around with no clothes on and smoke pot,' the Washington Post quoted Paul as saying. 'I’m not a libertarian. I’m a libertarian Republican. I’m a constitutional conservative.'

"Damn straight you’re no libertarian, responded Reason’s Mike Riggs. 'He wants to keep everything illegal, but institute gentler penalties,' Riggs wrote of the senator from Kentucky. 'That’s not remotely libertarian.'

"Riggs’s colleague Nick Gillespie added, 'If he’s serious about scraping the moss off the Republican Party, he needs to boldly defend his most contrarian, libertarian positions rather than temper his comments based on his speaking venue.'"

Read more: http://www.theamericanconservative.com/articles/rand-paul-republican-hopes-libertarian-fears/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=rand-paul-republican-hopes-libertarian-fears
'via Blog this'