Just A Friendly Reminder: May Business Meeting and Part 2 of our Annual Convention is Wednesday

May Business Meetings &
LPAC Annual Convention

The Annual Convention has been continued
from the April Meeting to the May Meeting
on WEDNESDAY, May 28th 7:00-9:00p.m.
Jack and Hillary Evans residence
4205 North Washington Road
(West of Ardmore near Noll Park)

Only State and National Members
may vote during LPAC Convention.

Vote For Bob

Former US Congressman Bob Barr is the 2008 Libertarian Candidate for President of the United States. I'll offer him the use of my signs.

EDITOR'S UPDATE:
Wayne Allyn Root also secured the Vice Presidential Candidacy @ the Libertarian National Convention

Citilink trying to cut services before improving them while they have the greatest opportunity to do so

Scott Bryson writes over at American Societal Review and covers the story pretty well so I will defer to him for now.

The Fort Wayne Public Transportation Corporation/Citilink will host the following community information sessions:

Monday, June 2, 6:45-8:30am & 3:45-5:30pm Citilink Superior Street Transfer Facility

Tuesday, June 3, 4:30 - 6:30pm, Fort Wayne Urban League, 2135 S. Hanna Street

Wednesday, June 4, 10:30-Noon, Citilink Administrative Offices, 801 Leesburg Road

Thursday, June 19, 4:30-5:30, Public Hearing, Citilink Administrative Offices, 801 Leesburg Road

Copied from What's Going Down(town) by Scott and Brian Spaulding

Jury duty

I received a jury duty survey the other day. I would guess that being a card-carrying Libertarian would probably keep me from serving as a juror on a drug case. Other than that, I really do look forward to serving on a jury.

I believe that jury duty should be a civic obligation contingent on whether or not one chooses to vote. When a person votes, that person is expressing a preference on who should enact new laws. Since it is more important to enforce existing laws than it is to pass new laws, a person who chooses to vote must also be willing to serve on a jury.

Having said that, if anyone out there wishes to decrease their odds of being picked for a jury, simply do the following:
1. Go to www.lp.org and become a member today.
2. Vote Libertarian. A libertarian society would mean fewer laws, and thus fewer criminal trials involving juries.

Libertarian Party of California and Presidential Candidates respond to Marriage Equality decisions

First let's start with the Libertarian Party of California (Courtesy of Third Party Watch):

The Chair of the Libertarian Party of California said today’s California Supreme Court decision regarding same-sex marriage was the right one, but that it is only a small victory in the larger battle against government interference in marriage.

Kevin Takenaga, chair of the Libertarian Party of California, issued the following statement:

“People who truly cherish freedom see today’s Supreme Court decision as a victory for liberty and common sense. There’s no reason why consenting adults should not be allowed to marry so long as their arrangement doesn’t interfere with any other individual’s ability to live their life in any way they want to.

“Many supporters see the decision as a repudiation of bigotry and narrow-mindedness. But Libertarians also see it as a step towards a revision of the larger public policy issue surrounding marriage. Californians should start asking their elected officials why government is involved in granting marriage licenses at all.

“Adults should be allowed to arrange their personal, financial and legal affairs in any way that best suits their needs. Businesses make private contractual arrangements all the time. Arrangements in the name of marriage should be no different.”

Now the Libertarian Party's POTUSA Candidates (also via Third Party Watch):

Bob Barr | Mike Gravel | George Phillies |

Maplecrest Extension

I was on the fence on the Maplecrest extension project. The purpose of a road is to reduce travel time. If enough time and fuel would be saved by a new road, then the new road construction would be worthwhile.

From Kevin Leininger

Whatever the project's economic impact, it would yield other benefits, said Dan Avery of the Northeast Indiana Regional Coordinating Council, a transportation planning agency. By 2036 the project would reduce travel by 28,500 miles daily, resulting in a savings to drivers of $23.9 million over 25 years. It would also reduce automobile emissions - an important consideration, Councilwoman Paula Hughes said, because Allen County's air quality has at times failed to meet federal standards.

They could have sold me on it if the gas savings to drivers was high enough. According to their own figures, it would take over 50 years to pay for itself through reduced fuel consumption. That’s assuming people still drive cars in the year 2058. Would you start a business that would not make a profit for 5 decades?

It would be like spending $1000 to save $20 a year. You could make more money than you would have saved if you just put that money into a CD.

Hat tip to Fort Wayne Politics

Want to move to the southeast side?

For the low, low price of $129,800 you can live in the same part of town that Phil Marx and I live.

I appreciate the intent the city's intent to revive my corner of the city, but not it's effort. Right now, low cost housing is the southeast quadrant's strongest selling point. I live here because I was able to buy a house for $30K. While low house prices are lamented by many economists, that is exactly what attacts young people to an area. For many folks my age, it is either live on the south side or live with their parents.

Trying to sell a southeast home for 100K is like slapping a Cadillac logo on a Chevy Cavelier and trying to charge twice as much. It may be a good quality home or car, but it simply isn't worth what you are trying to charge for it.

The city also should not be offering grants to those who can afford their own housing

Libertarians At Large goes live from 7-8 pm

Our live hour long call in show Libertarians At Large is hosted by Doug Horner and airs on channels Comcast 57 and Verizon 27 from 7-8 p.m. Tune in as tonights guest will be K. P. Nfr from the Libertarian Party of LaPorte County Indiana. Call in to ask questions or just let us know you are listening. The number is 260-422-8708. Contribute to the conversation.

As always the Libertarian Party of Allen County would like to thank Access Fort Wayne and The Allen County Public Library for providing us these opportunities to serve the public and promote the discussion at all levels of government about what is best for the future of of our communities, state, and nation.

What You Can Do About Gas Prices

As a Libertarian, I cheerfully point out that the federal government is the world's largest consumer of fuel, and that it would use less gas if only it reduced it size and scope. But aside from being used by politicians like me to further our own agendas, high gas prices also encourage people to reduce their own personal consumption. By exercising some personal responsibility, you can do more to reduce what you spend on gas than the government is able or willing to do about gas prices.

Should you give up driving to work? As long as the time you save by driving is worth more than the gas you burn, then it makes perfect economic sense to drive instead of walking, biking, or riding the bus. But you could consider using your time productively while riding the bus by doing work on your laptop. You might also consider canceling your gym membership and ride your bike for free.

Maintain your car better. Change your oil every 3000 miles. Change the air filter whenever it looks dirty. Keep your tires inflated. Clean out all that crap that you've been storing in the trunk or the back seat. Unecesary items in a car reduced fuel milage.

Should you get another car? If the amount you expect to save on gas is greater than the expected depreciation of the car's value, than it would make sense to buy that car. But if you are going to sell that hybrid in 5 years as soon as the fad is over, you might end up selling that car for $10,000 less than what you paid for it while only saving $2000 on gas.

Activity @ TInnel Vision

As of last Wednesday there is activity on Kody Tinnel's Vision with rumors of normal blogging soon. Welcome back to the blogoshpere Kody your wit and demonstrative will have been missed.