Tan without the sun or streaking

For many of us, summer means trying to look tan with some spending a great deal of time and money in tanning booths or to be spray tanned. There are other alternatives out there if you want to look tan, things like the tantowel, it uses the chemicals in your body to create a tan instead of dyes and uses a gradual process, so you don't look pale one day and super tan the next.

For the record ...

While I took shorthand back when I was in college, most of the times I report on a story I prefer to record as opposed to taking notes, the modernization of digital recorders makes it easy to transcribe by using my computer and having a recording of an interview or event can come in handy. This is especially important when it's a controversial topic, having the ability to prove a comment as opposed to saying, "that's what I wrote down" can be critical. I've had situations where someone accused me of not quoting them properly, only to have to change their stance when the recording is played back to them. With digital, all you have to do is make sure you have space and batteries as opposed to worrying about mini tapes.

Products for a cause

Although the majority of Americans (96%) say they can identify two to three causes that are important to them personally, the recent 2011 MSLGROUP Social  Purpose Index found that only thirty-seven percent of Americans have actually purchased a product associated with a cause in the past year.  The gap between socially-conscious consumers' and their actual cause-related purchase decisions can be explained through heightened skepticism in the marketplace today. This skepticism is a result of many companies supporting causes that don't necessarily make sense for their business or their brands. Seventy-four percent of Americans agree that there is often too much of a disconnect between the causes companies support and the brands and products they sell (74%), while nearly as many (67%) feel that companies only support causes to sell products.

"These findings suggest that simply tying a cause to your product to get consumers to purchase is no longer enough, despite what others are telling you," said Scott Beaudoin, SVP, North America Director of Cause Marketing and CSR at MSLGROUP, one of the world's top five global  PR and events agencies.  "In order to connect with consumers in an authentic and meaningful way, companies need to elevate beyond purpose-driven table stakes and better align their core competencies with societal needs in order to fuel greater participation and profits."

House Act most extreme pieces of budget legislation in decades

 The "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act" that the House of Representatives will vote on next week stands out as one of the most ideologically extreme pieces of major budget legislation to come before Congress in years, if not decades.  It would go a long way toward enshrining Grover Norquist's version of America into law.  It is so extreme that even the budget plan of House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan would not fully satisfy its requirements — the Ryan plan's budget cuts wouldn't be severe enough.

The bill also would threaten the U.S. government with default and would likely cause the loss of roughly 700,000 jobs in the year ahead.  In addition, the bill would target programs for the poor for cuts, while protecting tax breaks for the wealthy and powerful.

The version of the "Cut, Cap, and Balance Act" that House Republican leaders are now circulating would require total federal spending to be shrunk to less than 20 percent of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) by 2018 and years thereafter.  The Congressional Budget Office (CBO) has estimated that under the Ryan budget plan — which cuts non-security discretionary programs by 33 percent by 2021, cuts Medicaid by$1.4 trillion over the coming decade (and slices it in half by 2030), and shifts thousands of dollars a year in costs to Medicare beneficiaries — federal spending would exceed 20 percent of GDP in most coming years.  CBO estimates, for example, that federal spending under the Ryan plan would equal 20 1/4 percent of GDP in 2022 and 20 3/4 percent in 2030.

Terms of insurance

If you have ever wondered what is term life insurance compared to whole life insurance, the answers can easily be found on the internet. There are many reasons why term life insurance works better for some as an option and there can be a price difference between term and whole life. However, at times whole life can be a better option, while you can easily purchase insurance on the Internet, take some time to do your homework first.

Three vie to replace Ron Paul

Shortly after Congressman Ron Paul announced he was not seeking re-election, three Libertarian candidates announced their interest:

Beaumont real estate agent Amy Jacobellis, 54, serves currently as Chair of the Jefferson County LP affiliate.

Bob Smither, 66, who in 2006 was the Libertarian Party of Texas’ candidate in the special election to replace former U.S. Rep. Tom DeLay. A self-employed engineering consultant, Smither chairs the Galveston County LP affiliate.

Dallas attorney Eugene Flynn, 62, with service on the Texas State Libertarian Executive Committee and experience in immigration law.

How Winnie-the-Pooh took over the world

Recommended article -- from The Atlantic -- just one small part:

The latest Winnie the Pooh film comes out today, marking the fifth time Pooh, Piglet, Tigger, and friends have appeared in a feature-length movie. But the inhabitants of the Hundred-Acre Wood aren't just movie stars: Since A.A. Milne introduced the world to Christopher Robin's animal buddies with his 1926 book Winnie-the-Pooh, the characters have appeared on chinaware, baby bibs, vitamin bottles, and much, much more. In 2004, the characters came in second in a Forbes list of the top-earning fictional characters—just a hair behind Mickey Mouse and company—with a $5.6 billion annual income.

How did Pooh, Piglet, Eeyore, et al transform from introspective children's literary characters to brand ambassadors for everything from paper dolls to bandages?

Check out the timeline for the answer ...

Scanners at the ready

When you have a large number of documents that need to be scanned, it can be time consuming, especially depending on the quality of the equipment you are using to scan. It's why many people and businesses turn to services like RoyalImaging.com document scanning for their needs. A company that does this as a service typically has higher quality (which means faster) equipment and it frees up the employee hours needed to stand or sit there at a scanner.

Gay marriage has always been an ideal niche for liberaltarians

At least according to New York Magazine:

Gay marriage has always been an ideal niche for liberaltarians. After all, it's the states, not the feds, that are the ones deciding whether it should be legal, a question that feeds into libertarians' federalist affinities. And when you strip away the cultural and identity politics, gay marriage is really just a fight about whether the government should be allowed to regulate personal liberty. On that, again, libertarians side with liberals.

Yes -- and no. The actual Libertarian Party position on marriage:

Monday, April 13, 2009

Libertarians applaud steps toward marriage equality

America’s third largest party wants government out of marriage entirely

WASHINGTON – America’s third largest party Monday praised officials in Iowa, Vermont and the District of Columbia for taking recent steps toward marriage equality, and urged legislators in all states to scrap government licensing, taxation and regulation of marriage.

“The government’s power to define marriage has historically been used as a tool to retaliate against minority groups, and the right to marry is the newest frontier of civil rights. Libertarians everywhere applaud this advancement of civil rights, but warn the only way to guarantee true marriage equality is to get government out of the question entirely,” said Catherine Sumner, LBGT policy advisor for the Libertarian National Committee.

On Afghanistan ...

Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle responded to President Obama's June 22 speech with the following comments today:

"President Obama's speech was disappointing, but not surprising. The withdrawals he announced are painfully inadequate. Obama's withdrawals, even if they are carried out as he described, will still leave about 70,000 American troops in Afghanistan, probably for years to come. The president is commander-in-chief of the military. He has the power to end the war now, and withdraw all American troops, and that's what he should do.

"The U.S. has no business fighting a war in Afghanistan. Nearly three years ago, our Libertarian National Committee adopted a resolution calling for the withdrawal of our armed forces from Afghanistan. We are saddened and angry that there are now more troops there than ever.

"Obama talked about 'ending the war responsibly.' I think the word 'responsibly' is a weaselly escape hatch in case Obama doesn't want to withdraw more troops later. He will just say, 'That would be irresponsible -- I need to keep the war going strong.'

"This war causes the Afghan people to justifiably feel a greater hatred toward America. It makes American taxpayers poorer. And it emboldens other would-be aggressors, who can point to American intervention in Afghanistan whenever they feel like doing the same elsewhere.

"There are two big winners from the continuation of this war: Our military-industrial complex, which seems to have the president in its back pocket, and the Afghan government, which continues to enjoy tremendous benefits at the expense of the American taxpayer.

"If anything, Republican reactions to the president's speech were even more ridiculous than the speech itself. Republican Senator John McCain fretted that this withdrawal was not 'modest' enough. Republican presidential candidate Mitt Romney, feeling the need to criticize Obama despite the fact that they basically agree on everything, complained of an 'arbitrary timetable.' Republican House Speaker John Boehner worried about losing our 'gains' in Afghanistan. All these comments show an inability to comprehend an intelligent, modest foreign policy, as well as a serious lack of respect for American taxpayers."

The Libertarian Party platform includes the following:

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

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

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.

Terms of indearment

No, I didn't spell "endearment" incorrectly, I'm referencing the "in" part of insurance. Where if you aren't "in the know" when it comes to definitions, I recommend reading term life insurance explained to get a clear idea of the differences between the types of life insurance which will help you decide what type of insurance is best for you. There are many times when a term life plan is the best choice for consumers.

Paul one of the FFC speakers

As Republican presidential candidates lined up to speak at the recent Faith & Freedom Coalition event, Ron Paul was one of the speakers who generated some attention. Stephanie Samuel reported on Paul's comments. One part:

Samuel's thinking, he noted, was astute advice for then and now. Paul maintained that by demanding the American government to provide assistance for broken families, job creation and more, its citizens have essentially appointed a king over themselves.

Paul echoed the U.S. Constitution in his call for limited government.

"We have, as a people, lost our confidence and our understanding of what true liberty is all about and where it comes from," he summed. "It doesn't come from the government. Our liberties come from our Creator."

Approved HGH products average hundreds per dose

According to the FDA the cost of approved HGH products is high, averaging several hundred dollars per dose. It is because of this high cost, HGH drugs have been counterfeited and unapproved HGH products are offered for sale to U.S. consumers. Some companies promote compounded HGH for anti-aging purposes. It is sold as a "fountain of youth" in longevity clinics and to build body mass, weight loss, increase libido, and gain stamina. Consumers should know that the FDA does not approve the use of HGH for these "cures."

Consumers are also advised to be careful of HGH products imported into the U.S. from other countries. All of these facts in addition to reading product reviews at places like www.hghsupplementreviews.net should be taken into consideration before taking any supplement product. As well as the standard advice to talk to your health professional first.

A different take on Pawlenty at Cato

This piece from the Washington Post gives a bit of a different take on the meeting at the Cato Institute. The audience questions are not really referenced in great detail.

Pawlenty also had little to say about the Republican plan to overhaul Medicare, which some GOP leaders are blaming for the party’s loss of a special congressional election Tuesday in a heavily Republican district in Upstate New York. Asked what he thought of the Ryan plan in the wake of Tuesday’s results, Pawlenty credited Ryan for a “courageous” plan but said he would put out his own, different proposal soon.

Pawlenty's lack of plenty in answers

David Weigel's piece on some of the answers provided by presidential contender Tim Pawlenty is a recommended read. One part:

In the wake of NY-26, what did Pawlenty make of the Ryan plan? This elicited the safe, smart, tapioca answer that Pawlenty's been giving for weeks.
"In general," he said, "I think the direction of it is positive, but I'm going to have my own plan."
Issue, dodged. Pawlenty pointed into the crowd again.
"We'll take the guy in the purple tie," he said. "That's a Vikings color!"
Unfortunately, the wearer of Vikings colors worked for the Marijuana Policy Project, who asked Pawlenty how he could be taken seriously on health care since he had opposed "my group" on medical pot.
"What was it?" asked Pawlenty? "Marijuana? Yeah. Well... I stood with law enforcement issue on this issue... we just have a respectful difference on this issue."
End of audience questions.

He should have kept answering questions, rather than create the impression that drugs are a key issue or that he will avoid tough questions on the Ryan plan ...

From the quote gallery

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul, can always count on the support of Paul. – George Bernard Shaw
America needs fewer laws, not more prisons. – James Bovard
War is just one more big government program. – Joseph Sobran
Remember, democracy never lasts long. It soon wastes, exhausts, and murders itself. There never was a democracy yet that did not commit suicide. – John Adams (1814)
They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety, deserve neither liberty nor safety. – Benjamin Franklin
One of the greatest delusions in the world is the hope that the evils in this world are to be cured by legislation. – Thomas B. Reed (1886)
If you are not free to choose wrongly and irresponsibly, you are not free at all. – Jacob Hornberger (1995)
Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys. – P.J. O'Rourke
The more corrupt the state, the more it legislates. – Tacitus
Government is not reason; it is not eloquence; it is force. Like fire, it is a dangerous servant and a fearful master. – George Washington
No man's life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session. – Mark Twain (1866)
There is no worse tyranny than to force a man to pay for what he does not want merely because you think it would be good for him. – Robert Heinlein
The true danger is when Liberty is nibbled away, for expedients. – Edmund Burke (1899)
Peace, commerce and honest friendship with all nations; entangling alliances with none. – Thomas Jefferson
The triumph of persuasion over force is the sign of a civilized society. – Mark Skousen
A wise and frugal government which shall restrain men from injuring one another, which shall leave them otherwise free to regulate their own pursuits of industry and improvement, and shall not take from the mouth of labor the bread it has earned. This is the sum of good government. – Thomas Jefferson (1801)

Ripped? Really?

While I love the concept of a free market place, there are times when I come across the name of a product and it makes me laugh. I admire the creativity, but I still laugh. Take testoripped as an example. It's clearly designed from the name to increase testosterone, to make you ... "ripped" as in having muscles. The visual derived from the name immediately creates the vision of a muscled Adonis ... Which goes to show you in marketing? The name really does matter ...

Bock touchstone on Libertarian Issues

Libertarian columnist Alan Bock has died at age 67.

Bock wrote four published books: Ecology Action Guide (1970) and The Gospel Life of Hank Williams (1976), Ambush at Ruby Ridge (1995) and Waiting to Inhale: The Politics of Medical Marijuana (2000). He attended UCLA as a National Merit Scholar and majored in political science and journalism.

He died early Wednesday morning at his home in Lake Elsinore, from cancer. He was a senior editorial writer and columnist for the Register’s Opinion section from 1980 to 2011.

So you wear a uniform?

While some would say the uniform for a blogger is pajamas, which to be honest is probably my usual attire when I am able to work from home, many of you have to wear some sort of uniform as a part of your employment. A favorite brand for many is cherokee workwear, it's marketed for it's price and it's durability. They have a variety of uniform items, including the popular scrub wear.

Libertarian Party builds big war chest for 2012

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

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

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

"

Holiday marketing already?

Believe it or not, now begins the time of year where some companies start marketing items for the holidays. Things like Christmas Cards will start to appear in various online advertising to get people to consider picking out their designs and ordering their cards early. It can create some savings to order during the "off-season" ... As long as you remember where you put the cards when it comes time to send them. Given the increase of "Christmas in July" parties for those who want more than one Christmas, you have time to order those invitations as well.

Libertarianism versus Statism

Jacob G. Hornberger's piece is a recommended read and for those of you wanting to read something older and slightly similar? Collectivism vs Individualism may interest you as well.

From the recent piece:

What makes libertarians different from liberals and conservatives is that, although we too have been born and raised within the statist box, we have broken free of it, in an intellectual and moral sense. Moreover, unlike liberals and conservatives, we recognize that statism isn’t freedom at all. It’s the opposite of freedom. Genuine freedom, libertarians contend, entails a dismantling of the statist box in which we all live.

From the older piece:

Collectivism is defined as the theory and practice that makes some sort of group rather than the individual the fundamental unit of political, social, and economic concern. In theory, collectivists insist that the claims of groups, associations, or the state must normally supersede the claims of individuals." -- Stephen Grabill and Gregory M. A. Gronbacher

Individualism is at once an ethical-psychological concept and an ethical-political one. As an ethical-psychological concept, individualism holds that a human being should think and judge independently, respecting nothing more than the sovereignty of his or her mind; thus, it is intimately connected with the concept of autonomy. As an ethical-political concept, individualism upholds the supremacy of individual rights ..." -- Nathaniel Branden

Paul says he would have opposed 1964 Civil Rights Act

Ron Paul making headlines again:

MSNBC anchor Chris Matthews pressed Paul during a TV appearance on whether he would have voted against the '64 law, a landmark piece of legislation that took strides toward ending segregation.

"Yeah, but I wouldn't vote against getting rid of the Jim Crow laws," Paul said. He explained that he would have opposed the Civil Rights Act "because of the property rights element, not because they got rid of the Jim Crow laws."

It's not a new position from some in the Libertarian party:

"This gimmick, it's off the wall when you say I'm for property rights and for states rights, and therefore I'm a racist," said the Texas congressman. "That's just outlandish."

Paul appealed to the free market, and argued that if a business owner were to post signs declaring segregation in his or her business, people wouldn't patronize it.

"For you to imply that a property rights person is endorsing that stuff, you don't understand that there would be zero signs up today saying something like that," he said. "And if they did they would be an idiot and out of business."

That written, there are quite a few postings out there labeling Paul as a racist for this position. He really had two choices, support his free market theory and have some label him a racist or say he would have supported it and then be called a hypocrite for not believing his stance on the free market ...

Need gift ideas for the guy in your life

Not sure what to get for one of the men in your life? Whether it's a son, brother, husband or father, it's easy to find the perfect gift when you look at these Sport Gift Ideas for Men -- you'll find a vast number of gifts to select from. If sports is not something your guy is into? There are lots of other gift ideas out there, with just a little bit if time and a computer connection, all things are possible.

Libertarian and abortion

Ron Paul says being anti-abortion is a Libertarian stance based in faith

That's not how the Libertarian Party addresses abortion:

1.4 Abortion

Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.

Want a small-government Republican? Try Gary Johnson

That's the suggestion of Michael Tanner in the National Review, in a recent article. I recommend his article for several reasons, one of which is the beginning, he is right:

It says something about our political culture that while the mainstream media were obsessed last week with the latest bizarre pronouncements by Donald Trump, another businessman-turned-politician was becoming the first declared Republican presidential candidate, with far less fanfare.

There is less and less focus on quality candidates, no matter which party or political philosophy you subscribe to. All too often it's charisma or controversy that drives the attention. It shouldn't ...

P.J. O’Rourke reviews Atlas Shrugged

I have read the book, but I have not seen the movie, I'm not sure I'll agree with P.J. O'Rourke considering I don't agree with him on more than a few topics, including how he feels about our shared hometown.

However, it was an interesting read One part of:

The movie version of Ayn Rand’s novel treats its source material with such formal, reverent ceremoniousness that the uninitiated will feel they’ve wandered without a guide into the midst of the elaborate and interminable rituals of some obscure exotic tribe.

Meanwhile, members of that tribe of “Atlas Shrugged” fans will be wondering why director Paul Johansson doesn’t knock it off with the incantations, sacraments and recitations of liturgy and cut to the human sacrifice.

His review didn't make me want to rush out and see it ...

Checking for side effects

There are quite a few herbal nutritional supplements out there that claim to provide "natural male enhancement" -- no matter which product you look at, you should look for possible side effects, there are websites out there that specialize in providing extenze side effects as well as several other of the products. It's a touchy subject for some, which is why having the information out there on the internet can make it easier for those who don't feel comfortable talking with someone about it.

20 issues trump birth certificate circus

WASHINGTON - In the wake of the much-discussed release of President Obama's long-form birth certificate, Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle had this to say:

"Instead of wasting so much ink on this birther story, the press should be giving a lot more attention to the many real disasters of the Obama administration. The Libertarian Party recently released a list of '20 Obama problems, 20 Libertarian solutions.'

"Of course, President Obama and the Democrats in Congress are only part of the problem equation. The Republicans deserve an equal share of the blame, for their unwillingness to cut military spending or entitlements, their addiction to government programs like farm subsidies, and their big-spending compromise bills of December 2010 and April 2011.

"I wonder if Obama and the Republicans might just be conspiring to keep this birther stuff alive, to distract everyone from all the real problems they're causing. The president might have been worried that the birther talk was about to die down.

"When you consider that we're involved in three foreign wars, our entitlement state is crumbling, we have record-level spending and deficits, unemployment is high, and inflation is growing, the president's birth certificate seems less significant somehow.

"We need to be more focused on the fact that massive debt is driving our government toward bankruptcy -- something Republican birther Donald Trump would know a lot about.

"Nearly two years ago, one of our junior staffers mocked this very issue:

Socialized healthcare is on the horizon. The DHS, NSA, TSA police state is expanding, the Drug War is still being pursued by an arrogant, ignorant government and Obama is expanding the war in Afghanistan! Frankly we have got bigger problems to pursue than blogging endlessly about where the President was born.

"Hopefully Americans will worry less about long-form birth certificates, and more about thousand-page spending bills."

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

The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.

20 Libertarian solutions

LP Monday Message: 20 Obama problems, 20 Libertarian solutions

Dear Friend of Liberty,

We're a little over halfway through President Obama's term, and I wanted to send a reminder of the "top ten disasters" from his first year, plus ten newer problems, and how Libertarians would avoid or solve these problems.

1. Cash for Clunkers
The government should not try to dictate what vehicles people drive, or what mileage they get. This program paid people to destroy their cars and buy new higher-mileage cars. It wasted both money and natural resources. Libertarians would never have done this.

2. War escalation in Afghanistan
We would withdraw American forces from Afghanistan. President Obama has escalated the war.

3. Giant government health care expansion bill
Libertarians would return health care to the private sector and the free market, instead of repeatedly increasing the amount of government interference.

4. Post office loses money hand over fist
Libertarians would end the post office's monopoly, and allow competition and the free market to provide the mail services people demand.

5. Stimulus package
The key to a robust economy is shrinking government, not growing it. Libertarians don't believe in stimulus packages.

6. Expansion of "state secrets" doctrine
The president is not a dictator. Libertarians would not allow presidential actions to avoid judicial scrutiny.

7. Big increase in unemployment
High unemployment is mostly caused by government interference. Libertarians would let the free market work.

8. "Bailout" Geithner as Treasury Secretary
Libertarians would appoint someone who understands economics and the importance of free markets.

9. Skyrocketing federal spending
Libertarians would would make huge cuts, not increases, in government spending.

10. Huge federal deficits
Libertarians would cut government spending so much that deficits would disappear.

And here are ten new ones:

11. War in Libya
Libertarians want to end America's foreign wars, not start new ones.

12. Assassination doctrine
Libertarians would never claim that the president can assassinate American citizens just because he personally believes them to be terrorists.

13. Big-spending deals with Republicans
Last December, and again this month, President Obama and Republicans came together to keep federal spending huge this year. Massive defense spending, unemployment extensions, ethanol subsidies, etc. Libertarians would demand cuts in the current year, and we'd be happy to let the government shut down if our opponents refused.

14. Keeping Guantanamo open
Before he was elected, Obama promised to close Guantanamo Bay. He hasn't done it. Libertarians would shut it down.

15. Fed massively inflates fiat currency
With the support of President Obama and Treasury Secretary Geithner, the Federal Reserve has continued its massive inflation of the money supply. Libertarians wouldn't allow it -- in fact, we would end the Fed.

16. War on Poker
Less than two weeks ago, Obama's Justice Department decided to trample on the rights of millions of Americans by shutting down several online poker websites and indicting their executives. Libertarians believe that Americans have the right to gamble.

17. Patriot Act extensions
Obama has signed bills to extend the life of the Patriot Act, which violates the civil rights of Americans. Libertarians would refuse to renew it.

18. Sustaining warrantless wiretaps
As a candidate, Obama said he would end these violations started during the Bush administration. But apparently he lied. Warrantless wiretaps are still being used today. Libertarians would end them immediately.

19. Sustaining War in Iraq
As a candidate, Obama promised the Iraq War would be over by now. But there are still upwards of 50,000 American troops in Iraq. Libertarians would end that war and withdraw all of the troops.

20. Medical Marijuana raids
In October 2009, we sent a press release commending the Obama administration's new policy to end raids on medical marijuana providers. Unfortunately, they were lying. The feds have continued to raid medical marijuana providers. Libertarians would completely end the tragic and destructive War on Drugs.

Sincerely,

Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee

If you have it, you probably won't need it

Life seems to take an interesting path, where if you have something like additional insurance, travel insurance or a roadside assistance plan, you probably won't need it. Yet if something happens and you don't have it? You'll wish that you had it. Recently one of my daughters drove alone from Ohio to Arizona. I added her on our account so that if something did happen? She'd not be stranded. With the exception of driving through a blizzard, she made it without needing the assistance plan, but it gave me a semblance of peace of mind ...

Libertarians speak against Obama's War on Poker

Following the Obama administration Justice Department's April 15 shutdown of three online poker sites and indictment of their executives, Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle said, "The Obama administration has just trampled on the rights of millions of Americans."

Hinkle continued, "This is also a scary reminder of President Obama's vision of a government with the power to shut down websites it doesn't like, before a trial has even started.

"Even worse, shutting down this peaceful, honest commerce further weakens our economy.

"We Libertarians believe that adults have the right to gamble with their own money. Government has no business interfering. The Obama administration should drop these charges and restore the websites. Congress should repeal the laws that prohibit gambling, whatever the format."

Ron Paul set to go one more time

I heard the news yesterday that Ron Paul was going to announce he was forming an exploratory committee for president. That's been confirmed now by many media sources - New York Times as one example. Part of their report:

A

s Representative Ron Paul of Texas begins his third presidential campaign by announcing the formation of an exploratory committee, there are reasons to think that the blunt congressman might wield more influence over the shape, direction and conversation of the Republican contest this time around.

As a potential candidate, Mr. Paul has a larger national profile in 2011 than he did in 2007, when he ran for the Republican nomination as a largely unknown lawmaker. His key issues — concern about federal debt, spending and the size of government — are front and center this year. And his passionate, libertarian followers are, if anything, better organized as part of the Tea Party movement.

Rising prices

It may be nice at times to think about taking one of those epson printers and printing out your own money. Getting beyond the fact that it's illegal, in a way that is part of what has happened in our country. Money is continued to be printed by the federal government and some wonder what it is actually backed upon. With the price of gold, some have again broached the concept of a gold standard.

Sexual Harassment and the Loneliness of the Civil Libertarian Feminist

Highly recommended article -- Sexual Harassment and the Loneliness of the Civil Libertarian Feminist by Wendy Kaminer.

Just one small part:

Civil libertarian feminists have always been a political minority, but these days we seem on the verge of extinction. Reviewing the charges of sexual harassment underlying the Title IX complaint by a group of Yale students and alumnae, I can't find feminism -- at least not if feminism includes independence, liberty, and power for women. Instead I find femininity -- the assumption that women are incapable of fending for themselves in the marketplace of epithets or ideas, the belief that women are rendered helpless by misogynist speech and the sexist tantrums of their male peers.

Online marketing

Many companies opt to take advantage of the free market place by using online marketing over traditional print. You'll see this with quite a few products like, adapexin-p, as one example. Keywords, or purchasing online advertising using keywords has proven to work for them as a more cost effective option. Which makes sense given the rising cost of advertising in some areas. It's also easier to target specific target groups on the internet when advertising is placed on websites that attract specific groups more likely to use a product or service.

Libertarians say Paul Ryan is worse than Bill Clinton

An earlier release I missed, but it is worth sharing:

In response to House Budget Committee Chairman Paul Ryan's new budget proposal, Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle issued the following statement today:

"Americans hoping to get real about our national debt just got sucker-punched by Republican Paul Ryan.

"Republicans want to spend $40 trillion over ten years. That averages a staggering $4 trillion per year. As recently as 2000, federal spending was only about $1.8 trillion.

"They also want to increase the federal debt from $15.0 trillion to $23.1 trillion. I hope our children and grandchildren enjoy paying interest on that extra $8.1 trillion.

Libertarians call for permanent government shutdown

As elected officials put on a dog-and-pony media show about a temporary shutdown of small parts of the federal government, the Libertarian Party calls for a permanent shutdown of most of the federal government.

Libertarian Party Executive Director Wes Benedict said, "Just think how a permanent government shutdown would allow so many Americans to regain the blessings of liberty.

"Education would blossom as the Department of Education ended its War on Learning, no longer wasting our money and preventing educational innovation with one-size-fits-all centralized mandates.

"Job opportunities at companies big and small would multiply, providing opportunity and choice for American workers.

Things to consider when printing

One aspect many don't stop to consider when they are buying a printer is to compare the prices of the ink cartridges before buying. If several printers you are considering are all within the same quality range and a similar price range, checking to see how much it's going to cost you to actually use the printer is something you should look at. It's also important to check your settings. While that color laserjet 3500 may give you beautiful color portraits similar to photo quality, if you are printing something that doesn't require that depth of color, using the quality settings on your printer will save you ink and money.

Would CPAC's Vetting Process Kick Out Libertarians?

That's the question posed by David Weigel, and it is a very valid one to ask, you can read his post in full as well as his previous linked material - here.

Personally I've never believed that CPAC and the Libertarian Party held the same values despite the fact some Republicans like to claim they are Libertarians. There is a difference and on issues like Weigel raises, they are important issues:

ACU President Al Cardenas's "vetting" process for CPAC, and his statement that support for gay marriage or opposition to DADT are not "within the scope of what we believe the three legs of the stool of the movement are."

The "Republican Wall of Shame"

WASHINGTON - At their booth at the Conservative Political Action Conference, the Libertarian Party is displaying a "Republican Wall of Shame." (View low-res JPG or high-res PDF.)

These are the prominent Republicans featured on the Wall of Shame:

• Mitt Romney, supporter of the RomneyCare socialized medicine program in

Marketing curiousity

A popular marketing technique designed to take advantage of our natural curiosity are ones that advise you to click here without telling you what you are clicking on. Unfortunately hackers and those with less than honorable intentions have taken advantage of this natural curiosity as well, which means if you do decide to click here or there, if you are asked to download something? Don't do it unless you are certain it's safe. I recently experienced this on classmates.com where some spy scam pop up began. So don't just assume if it's a place you believed to be credible that it's okay, it may not be.

Rupert Boneham for Governor?

The latest political rumor in Indiana is that the Indiana Libertarians are trying to recruit Rupert Boneham as a candidate. 

Boneham, nationally known as Rupert, is a popular Survivor television show contestant.  In 2004, he received 10 million votes from television viewers as the most popular contestant (and was awarded one million dollars).

The rumor became public yesterday morning when Indianapolis talk show host Abdul Hakim-Shabazz (WXNT 1430 AM) blogged that Indiana Libertarians may be recruiting Rupert as a Libertarian candidate.

There is now a Facebook page on this, Rupert for Governor?.

A source of the rumor may be the web site of the Libertarian Party of Indiana.  Rupert is an announced guest at the Saturday night Poker Tournament fund raiser at the LPIN's upcoming state convention.

In Indianapolis, Rupert is known for his work with at-risk youth, through Rupert's Kids.

LP criticizes Obama administration on military spending

The Libertarian Party criticizes the Obama administration's recent statement demanding more military spending from House Republicans.

The administration claims that the Republican spending bill currently under debate does not provide enough military funding. According to the administration, "The bill...would reduce funding for the Department of Defense to a level that would leave the Department without the resources and flexibility needed to meet vital military requirements."

As a percentage of GDP, military spending under Obama has been higher than it was during any year of the hawkish George W. Bush administration.

Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle said, "Apparently the Republican spending bill isn't military-friendly enough for President Obama.

Hinkle continued, "Liberals are supposed to want schools, not bombs, but Obama wants all the bombs he can get.

"The Republican bill actually increases Defense Department spending 1-2% over 2010 levels, but the administration calls that a reduction.

By candle light

I love the look of candles and lamps that use the candelabra style light bulb and yes, some of those are also made to be energy efficient. One company that makes this style of light as well as others is hudson valley lighting, the lamp pictured here is one of their lights designed for a foyer area of the home. They also have some additional lamps that use candelabra bulbs as well as traditional bulbs. If you are looking for something that creates a little "light" drama in your home, then have fun searching through the different lights they offer, you may find just the one you've been looking for.

Hey, idiots! Stop pointing lasers at planes!

Recommended article from Time where I admit I tend to agree that creating another law doesn't appear to be the real solution. Though as the daughter of a former pilot I completely understand the dangers, this part was entertaining as a visual:

It takes only about five seconds of thought to see that Rhode Island Senator Sheldon Whitehouse's amendment to impose federal penalties — up to a five-year prison sentence — for attempted plane zapping would be completely useless. How exactly would it be enforced? Would pilots who get lasered in the air contact a federal anti-laser-pointer task force on the ground? Would Tommy Lee Jones be recruited to lead the manhunts? And if a local cop somehow caught a 12-year-old goof-off trying to Luke Skywalker a 747 with a laser pointer he stole from his corporate mom, would the kid go to the federal pen? Sure, it's conceivable that someone with truly menacing intentions would point a laser into a cockpit. But does Congress think there's nothing in the existing federal code that would allow him to be prosecuted for trying to blind a pilot in midflight?

Golden internets

When you read that you can buy gold online, you may think, 'of course you can, gold jewelry' -- however that's not the only kind of gold you can buy online, you can actually buy ingots, bullion, and gold in other forms that's designed for a monetary value as opposed to a bling one. Some investors believe that owning gold is a smart part of their portfolio, others opt for other types of precious metals to hedge against any kind of a large economic failure where traditionally precious metals would be more valuable as to paper items such as dollars, notes or bonds.

He's not a Reagan fan...

Some have raised the image of the former president to such a high level that it's no wonder some take issue -- this piece by Jeff Riggenbach is one that looks at some of the things people like to credit Reagan for and how he disagrees. One small part:

Like most Republican politicians since the early 1930s, Ronald Reagan always portrayed himself throughout his political career as a champion of limited government, individual rights, and free enterprise — the classical-liberal values, which, of course, he absurdly described as "conservative." But, like almost all Republican politicians since the early 1930s, he seemed to forget all about these values once he got into office and assumed the reins of power. Consider, as a case in point, Reagan's eight years (1966–1974) as governor of California. As Murray Rothbard noted in 1980,

Despite his bravado about having stopped the growth of state government, the actual story is that the California budget grew by 122 percent during his eight years as governor, not much of an improvement on the growth rate of 130 percent during the preceding two terms of free-spending liberal Pat Brown. The state bureaucracy increased during Reagan's administration from 158,000 to 192,000, a rise of nearly 22 percent — hardly squaring with Reagan's boast of having "stopped the bureaucracy cold."

President Reagan was very good at one aspect of politics, salesmanship ...

Libertarian paternalism is "in" again

It's interesting to watch words and catch phrases return. Libertarian paternalism is one of those, it's also referred to as "soft paternalism" meaning government can:

help you make the choices you would make for yourself—if only you had the strength of will as well as the sharpness of mind. But unlike 'hard' paternalists, who ban some things and mandate others, the softer kind aims only to skew your decisions, without infringing greatly on your freedom of choice

Some credit Richard Thaler and Cass Sunstein from their book "Nudge" -- but the reality is the term has been around much longer.

Even before Thaler and Sunstein wrote a 2003 piece for the Chicago Law review, "Libertarian Paternalism Is Not An Oxymoron" -- However most seem to have not noticed that.

Theil says New Zealand is a utopia

Libertarian Peter Thiel, famous for making billions off Facebok, said he finally found "utopia" – New Zealand.

Thiel has been investing heavily in the country. According to the San Francisco Chronicle:

He's already made two noteworthy venture investments there in the space of a few months. In October 2010, he invested $3 million in online accounting firm Xero, which is based (and publicly traded) in New Zealand. Then he invested $4 million in Pacific Fiber, an ambitious company that is building a fiber-optic cable from Australia to New Zealand to the US and is raising $300-400 million more to do so.

These investments aren't just one-offs. Thiel has set up a local venture firm called Valar Ventures. Valar Ventures LP was registered in New Zealand in July 2009, more than a year before Thiel's first known New Zealand investment, and is managed by Valar Capital Management LLC, based in San Francisco, according to official records. Valar Ventures LP's offices are at prominent New Zealand law firm Bell Gully, which suggests it doesn't have full time staff yet. Peter Thiel founded two other companies in New Zealand: Second Star Limited, where he is sole shareholder, and Silverarc Advisors.

Perhaps there will be accounting jobs galore in New Zealand. :-)

Libertarianism, the New Anti-Americanism?

Apparently so, according to this The Market Oracle piece. Part of:

Why should you or I celebrate less an improvement in the welfare of a South Korean than we celebrate a comparable improvement in the welfare of a South Carolinian?

That's it. So finally we have it: after years of telling us that libertarian economics -- deregulate this, deregulate that, believe that the free market is always right -- is best for America, they admit that, in the end, they just don't care.

This philosophy has the perverse virtue of perfect logical consistency: if you don't care about what's good for Americans, why not have free trade? I must grant -- and the reader should, too -- that the entire policy of free trade makes perfect sense if one adopts this premise.

The idea of caring equally about the well-being of people all over the world sounds, of course, like a very sweet and humanitarian philosophy. And in a perfect world, maybe it would be. But there are two very big realities that get in the way:

1) We live in a world of ruthless economic rivalry, so if Americans aren't willing to stand up for the economic interests of Americans, we just get rolled by multinational corporations and foreign powers that lack such delicate qualms.

2) Libertarianism, for all its pretensions of universalist humanitarianism, is in fact a notoriously selfish philosophy. Someone once defined a libertarian as "an anarchist with a credit card;" they were onto something.

Open ended questions

When you come across a website that asks an open ended question like, does apidexin work? The answer to the question is almost always, "yes" -- which is logical. If the product did not work for someone out there, word of mouth alone would have killed it. However, as most of the websites state, the results experienced by some are not the same results everyone gets. There is no one magic cure that's a one sized fits all.

Tea Party story making media rounds

This article on the Tea Party movement has been making it's rounds since it was released by AP -- this NPR link is one example. Libertarians are still being linked with the Tea Party, some will agree with that, some will not.

One part of the AP piece:

Some tea party activists — part of a loose-knit, libertarian-tinged network advocating small government and less federal spending — already are dismayed to see their new lawmakers plunge into familiar patterns of raising political cash, hiring former lobbyists and stopping short of the often-heard vow to "change the way Washington works."

I'll say 'I told you so' later -- if you don't change the system but only change the players? Nothing ever changes ...

Research reviews

Almost every diet, health or skin care product out there has reviews on their website or another website is created to provide reviews. Take ephedra reviews as an example, it's designed to give you reviews on a product. Don't rely on just one website to give you the answers you are seeking when it comes to any product, be wary of sites that have no negative reviews since these products do not work for everyone and don't forget to talk to your health care professional first. No matter how great a product sounds, they don't know your medical history.

Truck loads of products

If I kept every different skin product or acne lotions that my four daughters have tried and found either not strong enough, too strong, or not just right, I'd probably need several trucks to haul it away in. However, it shows how marketing works. Had the products not been marketed in a way that one of them thought would work? They would not have bought it. Perhaps they have a future as a product testing company -- they have the experience.

:-)

Libertarian chair "sort of" commends Obama's Cuba decision

WASHINGTON - Mark Hinkle, Chairman of the Libertarian Party, sort of commends President Obama for his decision to just barely ease travel restrictions and restrictions on sending private financial assistance to the people suffering under the socialist government of Cuba.

Hinkle said, "The president has shown less-than-tremendous courage here. I suppose it's a tiny positive step that our government will permit Americans to send $500 to a Cuban every three months. And churches will be allowed to arrange trips to Cuba, as long as they jump through a lot of bureaucratic hoops first.

"However, it's such a small improvement in such an awful policy, that I'm not sure the president really deserves a compliment.

"It's absurd that the U.S. government prohibits travel and trade with Cuba. In addition to being an unjust violation of Americans' rights, it's bone-headed policy. If the goal was to topple the Castro regime, then the policy has been a spectacular failure. The embargo has probably strengthened, not weakened, the Castro dictatorship.

"Libertarians call for unrestricted access to travel to Cuba and complete freedom for Americans to engage in economic activity there.

"Unrestricted access to the world markets will help Cubans lift themselves out of their disastrous socialist economy. Libertarians know that free trade and free travel are a fast-track ticket to prosperity.

"Next time, Mr. President, try to do something a little more impressive."

The Libertarian Party platform says the following on free trade and migration:

3.4 Free Trade and Migration

We support the removal of governmental impediments to free trade. Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. Economic freedom demands the unrestricted movement of human as well as financial capital across national borders. However, we support control over the entry into our country of foreign nationals who pose a credible threat to security, health or property.

Going LCD

We have not replaced any of our television sets with a lg lcd screen, in part because we watch very little television. We have however replaced all of our monitors for our computers. Gone are the monster clunker monitors that would take up a huge amount of space replaced by slimmer ones that are not only larger in screen size, but much better in resolution. Some of the LCD's can be a monitor for your computer and also a television, which gives you even more options.

Beam's piece has unintended consequences

Another item out there in response to the Beam article referenced a post or so down is this one from American Culture where it's claimed Beam's piece has positive unintended consequences:

In all, I appreciate Beam’s article above all for an unintended consequence: It highlights what makes the libertarian/classical liberal position so important, relevant, and appealing — today more than ever.

The stone of your birth

I've always been a fan of birthstone jewelry, not necessarily my birthstone though, my second engagement/wedding set was the birthstone of that particular husband instead of a diamond. In part because the size of the stone was much cheaper in an amethyst than a diamond, but also because it seemed like a romantic thing to do at the time. My birthstone is the aquamarine, thankfully I'm a fan of blue, one of my daughters hates green, as luck of the month would have it, her birthstone is a green gem. However, for those who love the stone of their birth, there are many different jewelry creations you can show it off in.

Libertarian debate from NY post article

A piece written earlier this month by Christopher Beam is causing some reaction on the internet. One example is this American Conservative article.

It's been interesting to follow. Beam states things like this:

For all the talk about casting off government shackles, libertarianism is still considered the crazy uncle of American politics: loud and cocky and occasionally profound but always a bit unhinged. And Rand Paul’s dad is the craziest uncle of all. Ron Paul wants to “end the Fed,” as the title of his book proclaims, and return the country to the gold standard—stances that have made him a tea-party icon. Now, as incoming chairman of the subcommittee that oversees the Fed, he’ll have an even bigger platform. Paul Sr. says there’s not much daylight between him and his son. “I can’t think of anything we grossly disagree on,” he says.

James Banks this:

Movements like these aren’t “crazy,” “impossible” or “utopian.” They seek to implement policies which are not so far beyond the pale of what an average American would be willing to live with. But the lengths to which libertarian activists go seem out of proportion from the perspective of the general public; why move to New Hampshire or a seastead in the ocean when the average citizen’s most intimate, obnoxious interaction with government occurs only once a year (in mid-April) and he is still free to express his opinion at the ballot box? For this reason, some politicians and voters will always channel their inner-libertarian (when organizations like TSA exist to hate)–but being fully possessed by that inner-libertarian is as rare as channeling him is common.

Green & Libertarian in PA

Interesting Ballot Access article on the increases of Green and Libertarian candidates:

The Green Party nominee for State House, 194th district, Hugh Giordano, received 18.50% of the vote in a race that also included a Democrat and a Republican. Giordano almost outpolled the Republican, Timothy Downey, who got 19.77%. The district is partly in Montgomery County and partly in Philadelphia County. Giordano is a 26-year-old organizer for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union (UFCW). He won the endorsement of one of the Democrats who had sought the Democratic nomination for this seat. Giordano’s share of the vote is the highest for any Green Party nominee (who was not simultaneously the nominee of the Democratic Party) for Pennsylvania legislative races. The previous Green Party best percentage for a Pennsylvania legislative race had been 17.43% in 2006, but that was a race with only one major party nominee.

The Libertarian Party nominee for State House, 120th district, Tim Mullen, received 14.91% of the vote in a race that also included a Democrat and a Republican. The district is in Luzerne County, which contains Wilkes-Barre. Mullen is a health care professional and a veteran of both Iraq wars. He knocked on the doors of a majority of the voters in the district. He was endorsed by the Luzerne County Controller, as well as the Republican nominee for the 120th district from the 2006 election. He is the only Libertarian for Pennsylvania legislature (running against opponents from both major parties) who has ever exceeded 8.81% of the vote.

I'd inhale

Cigars are still popular with some of those I know, including several friends who are women. Yet as a decade long cigarette smoker, the few times I've tried a cigar I've found it difficult to resist the years of the inhaling reflex. Even something as smooth as a camacho triple maduro is not meant to be inhaled. Though ironically some of those I know who smoke cigars used to smoke cigarettes and managed to give those up, yet still enjoy an occasional cigar. Perhaps it would take more time and a bit more practice.

:-)

Father and son reunion

It's more of a fluff story than one related to Libertarian politics, but the Houston Chronicle recently reported that Ron Paul and his son Rand will be sharing a condo in Washington, D.C. The story also states that while the two men will be sharing a home and share some similar political philosophies, it's not expected for Rand to be too much like his father.

Political analysts say it would be a mistake, however, to say that Rand Paul is a carbon copy of his father.
"In his two presidential campaigns, Ron Paul ran to educate," said John Samples of the libertarian Cato Institute. "Rand Paul is more about holding power and making changes, pushing the agenda to libertarianism."
Occasionally, Rand Paul may push in directions his father won't go. But the junior Paul promises it'll never get personal.
"We don't really have heated disagreements," he said of his relationship with his father. "Neither of us are yellers. I do joke that I don't criticize my dad on TV or I might get kicked (out) from the adult table."

On labeling

Most times labeling is not something that is supported in our society, yet when it comes to paying attention to clothing lines, that is an area where some in our society place a high value -- an example those who cherish blac label clothing -- The virtues of placing importance on clothing labels is also one that creates discussion. Yet no matter your opinion on it, it is a part of a free market society and marketing strategies are designed to try to enhance the desire related to owning a particular label.

Will 2012 be the year of the libertarian?

That's the premise behind this National Review piece that I recommend reading. One small part:

If Gary Johnson were president, he would immediately cut all federal spending — entitlements, defense, education, everything — by 43 percent to rectify our fiscal blunders. And he’d just be getting started. In a recent interview with National Review Online, the former governor of New Mexico — and a rumored presidential candidate — outlined his governing philosophy and some of its practical applications.

What is that philosophy? In two words: limited government. From 1995 to 2003, Johnson served as governor of the Land of Enchantment, where Democrats outnumber Republicans two-to-one. During his tenure, he vetoed more bills than the other 49 governors combined — 750 in total, one third of which had been introduced by Republican legislators. Johnson also used his line-item-veto power thousands of times. He credits his heavy veto pen for eliminating New Mexico’s budget deficit and cutting the growth rate of New Mexico’s government in half.