Libertarian Party of Allen County

Want to run for office?

2012-01-25T15:50:00.000-05:00

The Libertarian Party is looking for people who share our ideals who want to run for elected office. If you can serve on a jury, you can serve in the legislature. Email me at enders.robert@gmail.com if you live in northeast Indiana and you think you can do a better job than the guys that you've been critical of up to this point.

SOPA

2012-01-19T19:23:00.000-05:00

SOPA is nothing more than feel good legislation. Only US websites can be impacted by US laws. Digital pirates will continue to go to foreign websites like they already do. While it would be nice if other governments took responsibility in protecting American intellectual property, it's hardly our top foreign policy concern.

MLK Day

2012-01-16T13:51:00.000-05:00

On this day, we honor not just the man, but the movement. Our nation was founded on an ideal, and with the help of men like him, the country has come closer to making that ideal a reality.

Foreign Aid

2012-01-09T23:32:00.000-05:00

People who are not subject to a government's jurisdiction are not entitled to aid from that government. If I were President, and a foreign government asked me for money, I'd tell them to petition Congress for admission to the Union. Barring unforeseen circumstances, I doubt that government or Congress would move forward on such a thing.

If you feel that a government needs money, write them a check yourself. You probably already are providing money to third world countries every time you buy gas.

Let's be careful about what we say on the Internet

2011-12-30T17:20:00.000-05:00

If you have new information about an ongoing criminal matter, it's usually best to share that information with law enforcement. Be advised that if this is something that you heard from someone else, without any independent verification, then it may not be something that you want to share on the Internet. Some lies can feel like facts when information is scarce. Remember when Richard Jewell was falsely accused of planting the bomb that he found at the Olympics? Before you write your next blog post or say something on Facebook, you should read what John Scalzi wrote about libel.

Some good news

2011-12-27T12:04:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are in need of some good news.

This date in history

2011-12-25T02:30:00.002-05:00

Mikhail Gorbachev resigned as Soviet president on this day 20 years ago. Russia had declared its independence the day before.

There are now adults attending college and serving in the military who do not remember this. We will be vulnerable to the same fate if we are arrogant enough to think that we are immune from it. Occupying Afghanistan and economic mismanagement tends to take a heavy toll on superpowers.

Why you should be worried about indefinite detention

2011-12-14T19:56:00.000-05:00

There are religious terrorists out there. There are also secular terrorists out there. For that matter, I suspect some terrorists are as sincere about their religious beliefs as politicians are about their campaign promises.
There are also right wing terrorists, left wing terrorists, anarchist terrorists, and people with no coherent ideology who just want to blow up things and hurt people. Terrorists can be of any race or ethnicity.
Terrorists can look like anybody. Even elderly and disabled people have joined these movements. So anybody can be mistaken for a terrorist. Maybe a disgruntled neighbor might leave an anonymous type about you taking flight lessons or a chemistry class.

There are a couple of reasons why this will make us less safe:
1. When a suspect is captured, our justice system takes further steps to ensure that the right guy is in custody and the actual perpetrator is still at large. One of these steps is called a trial. Some people might insist that it is better to punish the innocent than let the guilty go free, but allowing people to establish their innocence helps ensure that guilty people do not go free.
2. Here's a hypothetical scenario. Let's say a bomb goes off in Chicago, and some group calling itself the Detroit Lions Liberation Army claims responsibility. The government arrests 10 Lions fans and doesn't give them a trial. Would this make Lions fans more or less loyal to America? Now replace "Lions fans" with "Southerners", "abolitionists", "African-Americans", "Mormons", "Japanese-Americans", "German immigrants" or any other group that has ever been placed under suspicion.

Brief update

2011-12-09T13:31:00.000-05:00

We'll be having a meeting later this month. Since it's at a private residence, I'm not going to announce somebody's address to a bunch of trolls. But the odds are that we have a few lapsed members who haven't been getting our emails. Maybe you have a new email address or an over zealous spam filter. Anyway, contact me and I'll you where and when the meeting is.

Also, I saw this video, and I hope it drives a nail into Rally for Rail's coffin.

Regarding illegal activity at protests

2011-11-23T19:12:00.000-05:00

Some people are upset that protesters are being allowed to camp in Freimann Square in violation of the law. But the most important job of the police is to promote public safety, so discretion must be used in situations where normal police actions could provoke violence. This isn't to say that illegal activity should get a pass just because it's nonviolent. Police simply have to do their jobs in a way that minimizes risk to themselves and others.

One way to handle the matter is to issue citations that require the violator to appear in court. Maybe he'll show up and pay the fine, or maybe a bench warrant will have to be issued. Getting arrested after a traffic stop three months after the protest is over is somewhat less glamorous as getting arrested while your friends film it.

Veterans Day

2011-11-11T13:55:00.000-05:00

The best way to honor Veterans Day is preserve what they protected. We must not discard at home what they fought for abroad.

It should also be noted that November 11, 1918 was known as Armistice Day. It was a celebration of what was hoped to be a long and lasting peace. I suspect that among every generation in every nation there is an impulse to honor the heroes of the past by replicating their feats, by proving we are as brave now as they were then. There may very well be a time when there is no longer a need for heroes, but that is a problem we can only look forward to for now.

The Thin End of the Wedge

2011-11-07T14:26:00.002-05:00

The Occupy protests

2011-11-04T15:43:00.000-04:00

The Occupy movement has no consistent message, aside from the fact that they are upset with corporations, just as the Tea Party movement has no consistent message aside from the fact that they are upset with the federal government. Large organizations are like parents: necessary, but nobody is going to be happy with everything they do.

I do find some of the symbolism baffling. You would think that these people wearing Guy Fawkes masks would realize what Guy Fawkes actually stood for.

Here is something written by an Occupier that all other Occupiers should read.

Ken Burns' documentary on Prohibition.

2011-10-05T00:02:00.000-04:00

I heartily recommend this miniseries. Prohibition was a case of good intentions gone awry. When FDR signed the Cullen–Harrison Act, which legalized 3.2% beer, it was perhaps the single best thing that any US president did for the American economy.

Instead of raising taxes, or addition to raising taxes....

2011-09-20T14:43:00.001-04:00

Ayn Rand said people should be willing to pay 90% in taxes if it were necessary for national defense. It was hyperbole, but the point is that if the revenue is needed, then the taxes must be paid. Even Ayn Rand thought so.
If the government is in a situation in which taxes must be raised on the rich and corporations, then I propose that the following steps be taken as well.
1. End all subsidies to corporations. Corporations are supposed to raise their own capital and generate their own revenue. If a company can't do either, we shouldn't concern ourselves with it. A company that can no longer make money is like a lawnmower that can no longer cut grass. It has completely failed at its purpose. It should be scrapped.
2. End all entitlements to the wealthy. If taxes are charged based on the ability to pay, entitlements should be paid out based on need. If the country is such dire financial straits, if certain people are demanding that their own taxes be raised, why isn't this one of the first things to be cut?

Positive signs in negative ads.

2011-09-19T15:17:00.000-04:00

Recently I've been getting mailers from the Indiana Democratic Party. They want to point out all the times that Paula Hughes has voted to raise taxes. Listed without any apparent irony was the time that Hughes voted for a downtown arena in 2000.
I want to think of this as a positive sign. To me, it's a sign that prior support of subsidies of the entertainment industry is now a political liability.

The Debt Ceiling

2011-07-29T18:07:00.000-04:00

We all understand, or should understand, that politics is fueled by drama. It's hard to make people care about some policy issue unless you can show how if you don't get your way, it'll cost someone their life or job.

I suspect that both sides will reach a deal at the last minute. Give in anytime before then, and the side that gave concessions will look weak in front of their base. But aren't we all tired of having this debate every couple of years? Aren't we worried that there will come a time when both sides dig in their heels and goes into default? Is default inevitable in the long run? I don't have an answer for that. If it happens, it'll be one of those events that looks inevitable in hindsight.

The best way to prepare for and possibly prevent a default is to reduce the amount of power and responsibility that we assign to the federal government. If it's worth doing, and doesn't involve national defense or tangible goods crossing state lines, then it shouldn't be done by the federal government. Our healthcare and your children's education should not be subject to the whims of 536 people who cannot reach a consensus when it matters most.

Tragedy in Norway

2011-07-24T16:56:00.000-04:00

Things I wish I could have said to the perpetrator before it happened:
1. You might think that you are waking people up to the threat of Islam. But it's far more likely that they'll wake up to the threat of you and whatever movements you claim to support.
2. Islamic terrorists have planned attacks against Norway. They've planned attacks in a lot of places. I plan to pay off my house and lose 25 pounds within five years, but it doesn't mean it's going to happen. Why not take a wait and see approach? If foreign terrorists do attack, you can say that you were right and more people will listen to you. If they don't, you can rejoice in the fact that your country has been unharmed by the current crisis.
3. Are you really doing this for the reasons that you claim? Do you really want Norway to become a police state? Or are you doing this for the notoriety and the attention? Do you think that 100 years from now, historians will say "Boy, it's a good thing that this guy killed all those people"?
4. Lie face down on the ground, and put your hands behind your head.

Will Social Security checks arrive on time next month?

2011-07-18T19:58:00.000-04:00

I think that they probably will. But the President says he cannot guarantee that they will. So let's talk about this. Would you buy a product from a company that could not guarantee that they would deliver that product? Maybe you could get your money back, but in the case of Social Security, your money is the product in question. Whether you blame the President or the GOP for the current fiasco, this is simply one more reason why the federal government should not control your retirement.

I think everyone reading this will agree with the following: "I take the time to weigh each candidate's qualifications and stances on the issues. But sometimes they break their promises once elected. And sometimes some douchebag from a different party cons a bunch of morons into voting for him." The fact is that the wrong people have a way of gaining power. People might disagree about who the wrong people are. But if you put your healthcare and your retirement in the hands of the government, you are putting it in the hands of those wrong people.

City tries its hand at real estate speculation

2011-06-29T00:44:00.000-04:00

The first paragraph in this article says it all:

Fort Wayne wants control over how the land near Parkview Field is used, despite having no specific plan for development.

One would think that officials would welcome almost any private investment downtown. Instead, the city has bought this land so that it can cherry-pick potential buyers. If the redevelopment commission tries to micromanage downtown land usage, fewer businesses will be interested in locating there. It seems like many businesses "support" downtown but refuse to move there.

Do we really need the Harrison?

2011-06-16T14:07:00.001-04:00

Barry Real Estate still cannot get the financing to build the Harrison building, which is part of the Harrison Square project that is named after Harrison Street. (This city has a habit of shunning creative names, but that's another post.) Barry Real Estate insists that the recession could not have been anticipated.

It's hard to argue with that. Even economists have difficulty predicting what the economy is going to do. But the recession has taken a heavy toll on the real estate market. The City Council did not know that this would happen when Harrison Square was approved in 2007. Now that the real estate market has changed, perhaps it is time to reconsider what should be in the empty space next to the ballpark. If the goal is still to generate property tax revenue to put in the TIF fund and help pay off the bonds that were sold to pay for the ballpark, then a new developer should be found.

Of course, many important and influential people are going to have conflicting ideas about what should be in that spot. But they should resist the urge to declare "My way or the highway". The city should let a developer willing to invest his own money decide what should be built there, as well as guarantee that his business will be allowed to remain as long as he pays his bills and complies with local ordinances.

Whatever your opinion of the Harrison Square project is, you still need to understand that companies have a love/hate relationship with eminent domain. They hate it when a high-value location is taken away from them, but occasionally they like having the city take an albatross (remember Southtown?)off their hands. If companies have to worry about their buildings being bulldozed to make way for the next mayor's grand vision, downtown could stagnate even if the economy takes off. Whatever happens with the condos, and whatever you think about the project as a whole, let's agree to quit using downtown as a political sandbox.

Dead Kids Make Bad Laws

2011-05-24T17:24:00.000-04:00

Here's an interesting article about a New Jersey law that requires teen drivers to have a special decal on their car. It's not exactly the worst law ever passed, but this is an interesting case where both supporters and opponents of this law cite children's safety as the reason for their opinion. This shows how emotions can cloud the judgement of legislators.

Another video

2011-05-05T17:22:00.000-04:00

You're too lazy to read and I'm too lazy to write. Enjoy a video!

How you can be sure that OBL is dead.

2011-05-04T01:21:00.000-04:00

Some people think that Bin Laden is still alive. While the US government has certain credibility issues, a little common sense would go a long way into understanding why they wouldn't lie about this.

If Bin Laden is alive, I would think that he would be motivated to put out another video in order to embarrass his foes. For him to stay silent and "play dead", you would have to think that it is in both Bin Laden's interests and the US government's interests to mislead everyone else into thinking that he is dead.

Truth may be the first casualty of war, and it can be argued that some lying is needed when the enemy has access to the same Internet as everyone else. But a skilled liar has to tell the truth occasionally in order to keep his lies believable. Whatever you think of this war or the current president, there is no doubt that Bin Laden is dead.

Bin Laden is dead.

2011-05-02T01:50:00.000-04:00

A century before the tragic events of September 11th, 2001, President Theodore Roosevelt said "Speak softly and carry a big stick; you will go far." He claimed that this proverb originated in Africa. Insert your own joke about American Presidents and alleged African origins here.

It should be apparent to people of all nations, no matter their station in life or whatever god they believe in, that America carries many sticks of all shapes and sizes. Let's hope that this still-new millennium gives us the chance to speak softly to the world once again.

Planned Parenthood funding

2011-05-01T12:05:00.000-04:00

Cutting funding for Planned Parenthood was the right thing to do. While it is my opinion that an organism needs a functional nervous system before it has any rights, I still think it is wrong for the state or the federal government to force people to pay for activities that they find morally abhorrent.
I enjoy violent video games, but I don't think Jack Thompson should pay for my fun. I enjoy hamburgers, but I don't think vegans should have to subsidize the beef industry. And I certainly don't think that environmentalists should have to pay to bailout a company that makes SUV's.

Attention birthers

2011-04-27T14:46:00.000-04:00

Pick one and go with it.
1. Obama has cleared up a huge misunderstanding by doing more to establish he was born in the US than any previous president. It's time to focus on other issues.
2. There is a vast leftist conspiracy to make the president's critics believe in conspiracies. This conspiracy is intended to make Obama's critics look like whackjobs. Until this conspiracy is finally uncovered, the best way to counter it is to: (A)disregard any information you read about the president in a chain email (B) avoid relaying any information about "something that you heard happened to a friend of a friend who was a Marine or a cop or something" (C) remember that if the President attends church and says he is a Christian, that is an indicator that he isn't Muslim.

Why bother raising the debt ceiling?

2011-04-19T16:33:00.000-04:00

It strikes me as absurd that Congress and the President even bother to go through with the formality of raising the debt limit. Why have a limit at all when it can be raised at will?

The real debt limit is how much foreigners are willing to lend us before they decide Treasury bonds aren't a good investment anymore. Nobody knows what that limit is, and I just assume that we never find out.

Thoughts on the 150th anniversary of the Civil War

2011-04-11T17:40:00.000-04:00

1. Whenever the anniversary of a war rolls around, I wonder if there is a subconscious urge among our leaders to make themselves remembered, to make become "great" men as opposed to merely good men. I would like to hear a presidential candidate promise that his term in office will be prosperous and uneventful, and that school children a century from now will have trouble remembering his name. Learn from history, draw inspiration from it, but never, ever attempt to imitate it.
2. From time to time, we'll hear someone speak fondly of states' rights. But in my view, the right of individuals trump the rights of both state and federal governments. My right to leave your plantation is more important than your right to leave the Union.

Government Shutdown

2011-04-08T11:20:00.000-04:00

The federal government might shut down all non-essential functions tonight. Some folks see this as a good thing. But it is my understanding that a shutdown will end up costing us more money in the long run, since furloughed government employees will get back pay for the time that they weren't allowed to work.

The possibility of a government shutdown brings up a good question: If it isn't essential, why should we be paying for it at a time when financial resources are scarce? Of course, we can all argue over what is and isn't essential all day long. But if a "non-essential" program is really essential to you, the possibility of a government shutdown is all the more reason that you shouldn't trust the government to provide it for you.

Is Mitch Daniels a Time Traveler?

2011-04-01T00:05:00.000-04:00

When I first heard of Barack Obama, I thought that he was too smart to be a real American. But when he claimed that his uncle liberated Auschwitz, that was all the proof I needed that he was educated in the United States.

But after seeing this:

and this:

I am starting to have my doubts about where and when our governor is from. This raises several questions.
1. Are "Crewman Daniels" and Governor Daniels the same person?
2. If Governor Daniels intends to run for president, can he show proof that he is at least 35, both biologically and chronologically? For all we know, he could have skipped over several years of his own lifespan.
3. Was he born in a timeline in which the United States existed?
4. Couldn't he have prevented certain catastrophes with his knowledge of the future? Couldn't he have warned the Colts that the Saints were going to attempt an onside kick after halftime in last year's Superbowl?

Why They Fight

2011-03-24T10:25:00.000-04:00

Libya

2011-03-21T12:21:00.000-04:00

Some thoughts:
1. Gadaffi deserves to be overthrown. But whoever kills him or otherwise ousts him will bear the responsibility of running Libya. America does not need that responsibility right now.
2. I really hope that we do not get in the habit of intervening in Middle Eastern civil wars. If the objective is to protect civilians, why not do the same for Egypt, Bahrain, Yemen, and Syria?
3. Obama has promised not to send ground troops. Does he intend to keep that promise if Gadaffi defeats the rebels on the ground? This is yet another conflict fought with use of half-measures.

Fort Wayne's drug house law

2011-03-15T14:20:00.000-04:00

Here's a pop quiz for Fort Wayne landlords: Which of the following are you not allowed to lease a house or apartment to?
A. A convicted murderer.
B. A convicted child molester.
C. A suspected drug user who has not even been arrested or charged with a crime yet.

To be clear, Section 130.06 of City Code prohibits property owners from knowingly allowing gambling, prostitution, or illegal drug crimes to take place on their property. I would think that if a landlord knew that a tenant was selling drugs, he would notify the police and file for eviction, or he would insist on a share of the profits. People who run criminal enterprises go to great lengths to conceal their operations from law-abiding citizens.

So how exactly is a landlord supposed to know if a tenant is a drug dealer? Here's what the law says:

Upon completion of investigation by the Police Department revealing that such suspected illegal activity is taking place at a particular premises, the Police Department may send a Notice of Investigation to the owner of the real estate and a copy to the tenant/occupant whose premise is the subject of the investigation, by certified mail, return receipt requested, informing the owner that the investigation revealed suspected illegal activity and the fact that there is an on-going investigation. The Notice of Investigation shall inform the owner that it is a violation of the Fort Wayne Code for the owner of real estate to knowingly permit its real estate to be used as a site for any use or sale of illicit narcotics or controlled dangerous substances, gambling or prostitution. The Notice of Investigation shall also state that the city may initiate enforcement proceedings against the owner of the real estate if the suspected illegal activity does not cease. Finally, the Notice of Investigation shall advise that it is a defense to a proceeding to enforce this section if the owner of real estate institutes and completes eviction proceedings in compliance with division (F) of this section against the person suspected of engaging in the criminal conduct giving rise to the Notice of Investigation.

Got all that? What it means is that if the police thinks that a tenant is a drug dealer, they can pretty much require his landlord to evict him.

This law hasn't been enforced recently, but the city plans to change that. First, let me stress that my opinion of police officers is much higher than that of drug dealers. But I have three questions.
1. If the police think that a guy is selling drugs, why not simply arrest him instead of sending a certified letter to his landlord?
2. If a landlord did know all along that drugs were being sold at his house, why not simply charge him as an accessory and seize the house?
3. Mistakes do happen. If a man is found innocent, shouldn't he be allowed to go back to the home he had when he was arrested?

There are many anti-drug laws on the books, most of them harsher than Section 130.06. The reason why I am bringing this one up is because I think this law has the highest immediate potential for causing innocent people who pay their bills on time to be thrown in the street.

What to do with the $75 million

2011-03-08T13:47:00.000-05:00

Some of it, if not all of it, should be set aside for a rainy day fund. Remember last year when we were warned that property tax caps would cause revenue shortfalls? If that is the case, then the city doesn't need to find a new project to blow its wad on.

I've also been hearing for the past two years that the recession is either ending or is over. Property values and tax revenues may go back up, and they may go down. The mayor might hope for the former, but he would be wise to prepare for the later.

"Right to Work"

2011-02-22T10:53:00.001-05:00

"Right to work" laws have a misleading name. It's a given that everyone has a legal right to work in this state. Everyone has a legal right to get married too, but the reality is that not everyone who wants a spouse or a job will actually find one. You can't just hire or marry anybody who answers your classified ad. People have to meet certain requirements that vary greatly between potential employers and mates.

Employers have a right to require an employee to join a union, just as they have a right to insist that a worker receive training or attend certain classes. Admittedly, many now wish to give up this right and have lobbied the state legislature to that end. This is obviously intended to weaken unions.

The government has been used as a weapon by both labor and management against each other in disputes. It's wrong when either side does it.

It's my opinion that government should not interfere with either companies or unions. Our current economic state is the result of government interference. Asking for more interference is the wrong way to correct it.

Mideast protests and uprisings

2011-02-17T19:58:00.000-05:00

If it were not obvious before, perhaps it is now: Not even the most powerful nation can ever force people to be free. It's a decision that they have to make for themselves.

The case against the internet kill switch

2011-01-29T19:39:00.000-05:00

Egypt has activated its own internet kill switch. This was a desperate act, but the consequences of using such a contingency plan would be even more dire. I don't have to tell anyone reading this that much of the US economy depends on the Internet. If the Internet went offline tommorrow, many Americans would be unable to make phone calls, and thus would not have access to emergency services such as police, ambulances, and firefighters. Whatever the reasons for activating the kill switch, there will be panic and conspiracy theories galore. It could very well cause more civil unrest than it prevents.

Proponents of a US kill switch claim that it could be to prevent a cyberattack. Talk about destroying the village in order to save it. Thousands of IT departments ewploying various security measures can do a better job of protecting themselves than a single giant bureaucracy.

Bombing at a Moscow airport

2011-01-25T14:56:00.000-05:00

My immediate thought about this is the federal government can spend billions of dollar turning every domestic flight into a flying Alcatraz, and terrorists will decide that they don't even need to board a plane to cause mayhem. If your highest priority is to avoid being killed by a terrorist, then perhaps you should stay home, hide in the cellar, and avoid saying anything inflammatory. But please let everyone else live their lives. The world cannot be as safe as we would like it to be. We should not let maniacs dictate national policy. Nail clippers don't hijack planes, people do.

This is what irony is.

2011-01-24T13:27:00.000-05:00

I just saw this commercial yesterday. I find it ironic that my tax dollars bailed out the company that made the product in this commercial. Here's hoping Americans in Detroit start getting cars right, and Americans in Washington DC start getting freedom right.

Just a reminder...

2011-01-14T14:45:00.000-05:00

If Maniac A advocates Idea B, that should never be taken as refutation of Idea B. Bad people can still have good ideas (example: the Volkswagen Beetle). Crazy people will attempt to imitate other people in order to appear sane, and therefore will espouse some of the same ideas. And some maniacs might attempt to apply reverse psychology by outwardly advocating for a cause that they secretly want to discredit.

Congresswoman shot, others killed

2011-01-08T18:58:00.000-05:00

The first reports that I heard was that Representative Gabrielle Giffords (D, AZ 8th) was killed, but as of this writing she was merely wounded and was even responsive. I hope that she recovers enough to serve out the rest of her term.

After visiting the suspected shooter's Youtube page, (hat tip to DailyKos) I think that he was either mentally ill or trying to convince everyone else that he was mentally ill. Whatever the case, I hope he stays locked up for a long time.

Lastly, I hope that this does not have any undue impact on public policy. I hope that this does not affect any upcoming votes in Congress. I don't want any controversial bill to lose by a margin of one and have people say that it would have passed if Mrs. Giffords had not been shot. Finally, I hope that this is not used to rationalize more infringement on our civil liberties. The world can never be as safe as we would like it to be, but we can still live our lives as we choose.

Who should you take seriously in 2011?

2011-01-06T10:32:00.000-05:00

If the Republicans in Congress vote to raise the debt ceiling, it's time to stop taking them seriously as fiscal conservatives.

If Democrats continue to push for more government spending as a cure for economic woes, it's time to stop taking them seriously on economic matters. If the recession isn't over by now, it's time for a different strategy. On the other hand, if you want to think that the recession is over, then there is no need for further stimulus.

Net neutrality

2010-12-21T13:24:00.000-05:00

Does anyone reading this blog really think that all data traveling over the internet should be treated equally? Is this video as important as an online course or a doctor communicating with a patient via web cam?

I use the Internet to write on this blog and to play Call of Duty online. There are corporations and universities that have way better things to do with their bandwidth than I do. If they want to reach an arrangement with their ISPs to get the better access that they need, they should be allowed to do so.

Do we really want the FCC regulating the Internet? Ever notice that networks will still air "Pearl Harbor" but won't show "Saving Private Ryan"? You can thank the FCC for that.

Wikileaks and Hacktivists

2010-12-13T15:03:00.000-05:00

I work as a private security officer, so I understand the importance of secrecy. I have signed a confidentiality agreement, and I will not breach that agreement on this blog or any other website. Military personnel and civilians who hold security clearances have an obligation to protect secrets as well.

If a soldier releases a classified secret to a journalist, then that soldier should be disciplined. But secrets are like intestinal gas: once passed along, everyone knows about it and it cannot be taken back. Sometimes you don't even know who spilled the beans or cut the cheese. Once it's out, everyone is free to talk about it.

Journalists should be allowed to publish these former secrets because the damage is either already done or is inevitable. If Julian Assange knows something, Osama bin Laden probably knows it too. What I find bizarre is all this emphasis on one website. Aren't there plenty of other conspiracy theory websites? Why is Wikileaks taken anymore seriously than any other forum filled with anonymous trolls?

What is really making me mad are the "hacktivists". These politically motivated hackers are no better and no worse than common vandals. They should be denounced for their methods rather than be admired for their cause. In my opinion, those people are the ones who really do belong in prison.

Should poor people pay taxes at all?

2010-12-10T14:56:00.000-05:00

Since poor people are more likely to spend additional income, liberals tend to advocate policies that steer money towards the poor. Since taxes are a net drain on the economy, conservatives tend to support cutting taxes.

So here's my idea that I think everyone can get behind: make all income up to the federal poverty level tax exempt. For an Alaskan (the federal poverty level is the highest in that state.) living by himself, that would be $13,530.

People can argue all day long about what the poverty level should be later. But can't we all agree that a government that has enough money to give to multi-billion corporations should not be taking money from people who can barely make ends meet?

This would be a tax break that can pay for itself in the long run: poor people who can take care of themselves would be less dependent on social services.

Close Guantanamo for Christmas

2010-12-09T10:16:00.002-05:00

This time of year, we are all reminded that most Americans worship a shaggy haired Middle-Easterner who was brutally tortured and killed by a superpower.

While I recognize that sometimes not even Middle-Easterners can avoid killing other Middle-Easterners, we probably should leave out that whole torture thing. I don't want us to be the antagonists in somebody else's New and Improved Testament centuries from now.

Civil Forfeiture in Indiana

2010-12-04T14:10:00.002-05:00

Here is a good article about civil forfeiture in Indiana.

How does this issue affect you and your kids?

It could affect you if you are ever accused of a crime. To put you in prison, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that you are guilty. But to take your house, the prosecutor only needs to establish that you probably committed an offence.

It is affecting your kids because seized funds are supposed to be turned over to public schools, but instead the money has been going to private attorneys and the police departments who pursued the cases.

Another Modern Modest Proposal: Convert to Islam to Make Yourself Safer!

2010-11-28T15:35:00.003-05:00

(Before sending me any hate mail or posting flame comments, kindly read about the original Modest Proposal.)

It seems that there are many people who are willing to sacrifice their own liberty to make themselves safer from terrorists. I'm not here to judge people for having values that are different from mine, but I did have an idea. Why not go all the way and convert to Islam so that terrorists won't want to blow you up?

Let's face it, the TSA simply will not do what it takes to make you completely safe on an airplane. I don't doubt the sincerity of the intent of these civil servants, but how do they expect to keep bombs off the plane if they aren't checking body cavities? But assuming that Al Qaeda is sincere in its intentions, a plane full of innocent Muslims will do more to deter a suicide bomber than any federal official.

Islam will make you safer on the ground as well. Any state that adopts sharia law can dramatically reduce drunk driving overnight. You don't hear about drunks running over little kids in the streets of Saudi Arabia. Why do some people put the First Amendment over the safety of our children?

Ban on perfume at Northrup?

2010-11-24T13:06:00.002-05:00

A mother wants Northrup High School to ban perfume. She insists that her son is allergic to freshly sprayed perfume. Some allergists say that this isn't possible, but it still could be an asthmatic reaction. Whatever it is, let's assume for the sake of argument that there is a causal relationship between high concentrations of perfume and respiratory distress in this particular boy. Students could still be allowed to wear modest amounts of perfume, as long as they didn't spray it in the same room as the boy. However, it should be explained to the students that deliberately trying to cause breathing problems by spraying perfume could be construed as battery or even attempted murder, depending on the mood of the county prosecutor.

I wonder if Dr Crawford is going to push for a ban on perfume in private clubs.

What does TSA stand for?

2010-11-19T15:37:00.000-05:00

TSA=Touch Some Ass?

2010-11-16T13:24:00.002-05:00

The TSA has started making airline passengers go through body scanners that see through clothing. Even if you are willing to go through this in order to feel safer, you should still understand that this will cause the airline industry to lose a lot of business. Body scanners and enhanced pat downs are not going to be tolerated by non-exhibitionists. People are going on trips by car that they would have previously taken by plane.

You are all adult enough to know that it is more dangerous to drive than to fly, so we can expect a rise in highway deaths as a result of these new humiliating procedures. Wasn't the whole point to save lives?

Veterans Day

2010-11-11T16:13:00.001-05:00

Go hug a veteran today, if he's into that sort of thing.

Another dumb idea for a law

2010-11-10T13:23:00.002-05:00

The Indiana Association of Beverage Retailers is seeking a statewide ban on alcoholic energy drinks. The reason they cite is that caffeine masks some of the effects of alcohol, and young people are over-consuming as a result.

This particular effort to protect idiots from their own stupidity is a exercise in futility. Anyone with ID can still buy a case of beer, and anyone at all can still buy caffeinated products. You can take them home and mix them into a glass. If you don't have any clean glasses, you can drink one after the other and have both chemicals in your bloodstream at the same time.

Vote!

2010-11-01T11:07:00.002-04:00

Be sure to vote on Tuesday. On Wednesday, be sure to get screened for colon cancer. Having smoke blown up your ass all year can't be very healthy.

Did he really just say that?

2010-10-20T23:12:00.003-04:00

Republican Senate candidate Joe Miller cited East Germany as a place that was able to effectively control their border.
First of all, I'll concede two points:
1. East Germany did control their border effectively.
2. Just because they were socialists doesn't mean we can't learn anything from them.

But I think that there are certain differences between East Germany back then and the US today. Namely, East German border guards were ordered to shoot anyone trying to cross on site. On the other hand, the United States is not going to use lethal force against unarmed civilians on our own soil. (At least I hope not.) So unless you're willing to adopt similar policies and tactics, East Germany doesn't really serve as a useful model.

Watch the 3rd district debate here.

2010-10-16T08:53:00.000-04:00

Why vote for this guy?

2010-10-07T10:39:00.002-04:00

Charles White has committed voter fraud, yet is still leading in the polls for the Indiana Secretary of State race. If you're planning on voting for Charles White, then I invite you to explain your decision by leaving a comment below.

Take Washington to school

2010-10-01T14:08:00.000-04:00

Longer school years?

2010-09-29T16:20:00.002-04:00

Forget the cost for a moment. This will decrease graduation rates.
As things stand now, high school students in Fort Wayne already have the option of taking extra classes by coming into school earlier or by attending summer school. Some do it to get ahead, but many do it to avoid falling behind. By requiring every student to attend longer days year round, it makes it harder for kids who want to catch up to do so.

Picking apart the Pledge

2010-09-24T15:28:00.002-04:00

We pledge to honor the Constitution as constructed by its framers and honor the original intent of those precepts that have been consistently ignored – particularly the Tenth Amendment, which grants that all powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.

Suppose Proposition 19 passes in California. Will the 112th Congress still respect the Tenth Amendment? Or will Californians be subjected to laws imposed on them from the other side of the continent?

Is the recession over?

2010-09-21T09:12:00.002-04:00

I will pretend to believe that the recession is over if Congress and the President stop trying to fix it. Would you want to be treated by a doctor who just told you that you were healthy? Especially if he was not able to predict the effects of all his previous treatments?

2010-09-11T11:00:00.000-04:00

Suicide terrorists are like roaches. There are way more than the ones you see because they are always hiding You can never hope to scare them off, none of them are smart enough to be afraid of you. Sometimes you can kill them when they come out into the open, but that doesn't happen very much and often you don't see them until it's too late. You can devise ways to kill them where they hide, but as stupid as they are, they still find ways to adapt.

The best way to deal with roaches and terrorists is to deprive them them of what they feed on. Roaches live off of filth. Terrorists feed off of hate and fear.

Job poaching

2010-09-09T14:06:00.002-04:00

Companies rise and fall. Sometimes between that rise and fall, a company will relocate. It sucks when they move from here to there, it's great when they move from there to here, but on the whole it creates undesirable uncertainty for locals. A city might lose 1000 jobs one month and gain 1000 jobs the next, but wouldn't you rather keep the original jobs if you could?

While companies have a right to move from state to state, (and should do so if it means staying competitive) states and cities should not encourage arbitrary corporate migration. Indiana should pursue a reciprocal agreement with other states that they will not use tax dollars to lure a company away from another state. In other words, we won't steal your jobs if you promise not to steal ours. A federal law would be nice, but Congress has been unpredictable as of late.

Interstate job poaching is a drain on state resources. Rather than spending millions to attract companies that will only stay until they get a better offer, states should reaffirm their commitment to companies that are in it for the long term.

Just so you know....

2010-09-06T17:43:00.001-04:00

Should Drinking Be Mandatory?

2010-09-02T12:43:00.003-04:00

Governments discourage and forbid the use of certain drugs because they are bad for your health. But if a drug has been shown to have positive health effects, should the consumption of that drug be mandatory?

It could make for some interesting pickup lines:
"Can I buy you a drink?"
"No, thanks."
"It's the law, toots."

Does anyone else get the feeling that scientists keep finding medical benefits for politically correct drugs?

Harrison FAIL!

2010-08-31T09:19:00.002-04:00

Barry Real Estate agreed to pay $5000 a day for each day the condos were delayed. Some apologists insist that Barry Real Estate should not be held to this agreement because "no one could have anticipated the recession".

First of all, recessions happen. They are a contingency that responsible adults have to plan for. I don't anticipate having a car wreck today, but I have insurance and am willing to bear financial responsibility if it does happen. This is a matter of corporate accountability.

Second, since this "unforeseen" housing crisis is now taking place, perhaps the city should consider investing in something other than housing? Personally, I didn't think that this was a good idea even under ideal conditions. But now this is boiling down to basic economics: When demand is down and supply is up, it is a bad time to become a supplier.

The city should sell the lot. It's a great location. Potential buyers may be put off by the fact that it's in the middle of a political sandbox, with many influntial people holding strong and conflicting opinions about what should go there. The city can put those fears to rest by establishing a reputation for consistency: keep all promises, carry out all threats.

Senate candidates to debate at IPFW

2010-08-28T19:18:00.002-04:00

I've just heard that Rebecca Sink-Burris and Dan Coats have agreed to three debates. The first will be held October 11th at IUPUI. The second and third debates will be likely be held at IPFW and Vincennes.

LPIN NEWS: MEET THE SECRETARY OF STATE AND OTHER 102 CANDIDATES

2010-08-27T08:19:00.010-04:00

Why does a race like the Secretary of State's race matter?
Please check out this article by Mike Kole on the necessity of your consideration to vote this November. Here left is the latest Libertarian Party of Indiana podcast with Mike Kole whom introduces and interviews candidate Mike Wherry for Indiana Secretary of State.

On the 5th of September from 2-4PM there will be an opportunity for you to meet Mike, and all of our candidates and State Officers at the home of Sam Goldstein, LPIN State Chair, 8074 Claridge Rd, Indianapolis. Come meet many of our other 102 candidates from all across Indiana. Hear their plans for the election season, eat, drink and get ready to rumble! $25 per person contribution payble to the LPIN. RSVP to 317-850-0726 or 317-920-1994

Personally speaking, with Libertarian options in all federal offices filled and State offices slated across a wide spectrum, I think we have enough fortitude this year to go to the proverbial wall, and ask for 10 percent in the Indiana Secretary of State race. With all the changes that would entail for local government authorities and advisory boards the Hoosier constituency will finally have change they can grasp not just believe in. (PHOTO: US SENATE CANDIDATE REBECCA SINK-BURRIS)

ERIC KNIPE our candidate for STATE AUDITOR would like to remind everyone to not forget to register to vote. The deadline is October 4th for the November elections. If unsure that you're already registered, go to www.indianavoters.com and click on "Confirm Voter Registration." Beginning this year you may register to vote online in Indiana (through that site).

Push polling taking place

2010-08-12T20:22:00.002-04:00

I just got a call from a poll taker. He asked if I was voting for Mike Obergfell or Win Moses. I told him I was voting for Elizabeth Sepponen. If a poll does not include all of the available options, it is not a legitimate poll. I have noticed that some poll takers are better than others about including all the candidate in a particular race.

FLOTUS in Spain

2010-08-09T19:23:00.002-04:00

I emphatically do not care what Michelle Obama does in her free time. She is a private citizen who happens to be married to an elected official. She is free to come and go wherever she wants, just like anybody else. The President should not be held responsible for her actions.

The proposed NYC Islamic center

2010-08-06T07:32:00.003-04:00

The World Trade Center was destroyed by terrorists who happened to be Muslims. The Alfred P. Murrah building was destroyed by terrorists who happened to be military veterans. The vast majority of Muslims and veterans are not terrorists. An Islamic center in New York City will be as harmless as a VA hospital in Oklahoma City.

The proposed center does not present any substantial threats to national security. Terrorists do not ask permission from the New York City Landmarks Preservation Commission before demolishing a building. No competent sleeper agent would spend much time hanging out in a $100 million building with a big sign that says "Islamic Center" out in front.

Instead, the arguments against the proposed center stem from matters of "sensitivity". It would seem that political correctness is no longer the sole domain of the left.

Why isn't the recession being blamed on the Iraq and Afghan wars?

2010-08-05T08:48:00.003-04:00

If I were an advisor to the POTUS, I would tell him to blame our economic troubles on the War on Terror. It would get him off the hook for a lot of things. And it would be an accurate statement. The Iraq war costs more than TARP, and much of the money isn't being spent here. Our best and brightest are putting their time and energy towards overseas destruction, rather than building up our own economy. Plus it should be obvious to all that permanent injuries suffered in battle will cause further strain on our healthcare resources.

In a necessary, justified war, these are unavoidable costs. But these costs are also one more reason to rethink going to war in the first place. Civilians may think that they are unaffected by what happens on the other side of the world. While you may be at less personal risk than a soldier in a combat zone, wars mean higher taxes, higher prices, and less resources for non-defense industries. It certainly can have an impact on your quality of life.

One would think that economic considerations would be secondary in a time of war. When there is an ongoing life or death crisis going on, the collapse of a few companies doesn't seem so bad. On the other hand, it feels so good to gripe about a new ballpark for a change of pace.

Ending the war in Iraq may be the best thing that Obama will ever do for the economy. Starting another war would be the worst.

Why K2 should stay legal in Fort Wayne

2010-07-25T13:25:00.002-04:00

1. Seeing as the proposed ban is limited only to Fort Wayne, K2 users will simply either buy the product outside of city limits or order it online. Passing a local law would be a symbolic gesture at best.
2. Experience shows that official discouragement of a drug usually only serves to increase demand. In European countries that allow pot use, the rate of marijuana usage is actually lower than in the US. Some young people have such an instinct for defiance that I shutter to think what would happen if Congress passed a law against jumping off a bridge.
3. The legal consequences of pot use are its most serious consequences. Smoke pot and if you get caught, you can go to jail and have a criminal record. (Don't get caught, and you might have a bright future in politics.) Drinking too much alcohol in one sitting can kill you if you're not careful. (There aren't enough careful people in fraternities these days.) So far, K2 has not resulted in any deaths or arrests in our fair city. As things stand now, alcohol, pot, and even tobacco pose a far greater threat to the futures of 18 to 21 year olds. Shouldn't the youthfully indiscreet have a perfectly legal and relatively safe alternative to illegal drugs and alcohol?

2010-07-24T13:49:00.002-04:00

Last year Obama said that the middle of a recession is the wrong time to cut spending. Next year, the White House is predicting a record deficit due to record spending and decreased revenues.

Quick question: If Obama touts government spending as a way to fix the economy, and he has no intention of reducing spending next year, then does that mean he fully expects the recession to continue for another 6 to 18 months?

New state ID law is idiotic.

2010-07-16T22:20:00.003-04:00

Now Indiana requires everybody to show ID when buying alcohol, no matter how old they look. Maybe there is some 19 year old out there who looks like George Burns due to some horrible illness that I shouldn't even joke about. If he is out there and he looks that old, then he deserves a drink.

LeBron James leaves Cleveland

2010-07-10T17:36:00.002-04:00

Yeah, I really didn't care when I heard the news either. But I'm bringing this up because I wanted to point out that, unless you're a team it is foolish to pin your financial well-being on the success of a professional sports team. When a person does it, it's called gambling. When a city does it, it's called economic development.

Music Video

2010-07-09T08:42:00.001-04:00

Sounds a bit too much like gospel for my taste. Other than that, I like it.

Happy Independence Day!

2010-07-04T17:16:00.003-04:00

To think that all I had to do to become an American was continue to breathe after they cut the umbilical cord.

Remember the end of "Saving Private Ryan"? The title character is told "You better earn this."

We all better earn this.

Another video

2010-07-02T14:22:00.000-04:00

Is globalization the key to peace?

2010-06-29T20:45:00.004-04:00

Once long term mortal enemies, mainland China and Taiwan have signed a trade agreement. In spite of over 60 years of mutual hatred, they have recognized that it is in their best economic interests to remain at peace.

Some of you may feel guilty about buying products made in China. Yet all those cheap gadgets may have prevented a Sino-American war.

You Might Be A Drug Dealer If

2010-06-28T16:04:00.003-04:00

You might be a drug dealer, pimp, or prostitute if the FWPD simply says you are.
Fort Wayne City Code prohibits landlords from knowingly allowing tenants to sell illegal drugs or run a brothel. Federal civil forfeiture statutes already give landlords a strong incentive to keep drugs out, but how are landlords supposed to know? Easy! The police simply tell the landlord that the tenant is selling drugs or turning tricks.

Here is what's wrong with the ordinance: If the police know that the tenant is breaking the law, why not just arrest him? Why have the landlord disturb a crime scene by throwing everything out on a curb? This law makes a mockery of due process. If the police are wrong, an innocent person loses his home. If the police are right, the guilty party can simply set up shop just outside of city limits or sublease from an accomplice.

It is also worth noting that while SUSPECTED drug dealers are forced to leave Fort Wayne, CONVICTED murderers and rapists are permitted to stay. Does that seem right to anyone?

Want to work on a farm?

2010-06-25T11:33:00.002-04:00

If you are a US citizen who is tired of immigrants taking our jobs, now is your chance to take theirs.
http://www.takeourjobs.org/

Sarah Palin on Marijuana

2010-06-18T19:44:00.002-04:00

Sarah Palin says that marijuana should be a lower priority for law enforcement.

“If somebody's gonna smoke a joint in their house and not do anybody any harm, then perhaps there are other things our cops should be looking at to engage in and try to clean up some of the other problems we have in society.”

But she is against legalization because she feels that it would send the signal to young people that smoking pot is okay.
Here is how I see it: Keeping pot illegal sends the message to pot smokers that breaking the law is ok. For example, former casual users Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and Bill Clinton all placed the same value on the Constitution as POTUS as they placed on drug laws while in college.

Two misleading labels

2010-06-17T19:59:00.003-04:00

Labels can been convenient, but they can be misleading. Editorial pages have limited space, broadcasters have limited time, and people have limited attention spans.

"Un-American", like the f-word, usually means whatever the speaker wants it to mean. Unlike the f-word, it always has negative connotations and is still used on TV. Taken literally, it means "not American" or "foreign". Use of the term implies that the speaker is closed-minded by dismissing certain ideas as foreign.

"Anti-government" seems to be another word for "anarchist". It's not a fair term to describe those of us who acknowledge a role for government. Those who advocate dissolving all national, state, and local governments either don't understand what the consequences would be, or have a completely different value system than the rest of us.

So the next time you hear "un-American" or "anti-government", take what that person says with a grain of salt.

The part of "illegal" that I don't understand

2010-06-07T17:02:00.005-04:00

You know those signs at anti-illegal immigration rallies that ask "What part of 'illegal' don't you understand?" A question like that deserves an answer.

George W. Bush has publicly admitted to committing a crime: ordering the torture of a criminal suspect. If he is not prosecuted for this, then Barack Obama is the President of a country that condones torture and ignores its own laws. We're Americans. Aren't we supposed to be the good guys?

If the Obama administration does not uphold the law, does the law matter? If Bush did not have to obey the law, why should anyone else have to?

The argument that the torture saved lives does not hold water. If such measures are needed for reasons of national security, why aren't the measures kept secret? Wouldn't terrorists prepare themselves if they knew what they would face in US custody? Why would a former president speak publicly about such a sensitive issue if it really was a matter of life and death? Waterboarding is not a means of gaining information; it is a form of extra-judicial punishment that has failed to deter further attacks. It only serves as fodder for enemy propaganda.

Idiotic lawsuit against Google

2010-06-01T13:36:00.003-04:00

A woman is suing Google for bad directions.
She is suing because Google Maps allegedly told her to walk down a highway that had no sidewalk. She was hit by a car.
ATTENTION: If you use computer software in place of your own good judgement and do something obviously dangerous and stupid as a result, this not only calls into question your status as a competent adult, but also challenges your status as an organism capable of free will.

Life after Souder and Gomorrah: Now what?

2010-05-25T08:27:00.005-04:00

1. While I have no doubt that Mitch Daniels is making a good faith effort to do the right thing with regards to the special election, ideally the governor of a state should not have that kind of discretion. As we have seen in Illinois last year, this is a power that can be abused. While Daniels won't get to directly appoint Souder's replacement, there is a lot at stake in regards to the timing of when the special election is to take place. Sometime in the near future, the General Assembly should make ironclad rules about the replacement of Senators and Representatives so that the governor won't have to make a judgement call and won't be subject to second guessing.
2. Whether they are married or not, no elected official should be allowed to have a romantic or sexual relationship with a staff member. There are already rules against employing a spouse or family member, but Congress did not have a rule in place for what Souder did. If this happened in the private sector, he could have been liable for sexual harassment for taking advantage of a subordinate.

Souder resigns

2010-05-18T10:36:00.003-04:00

Souder has admitted to an affair and is now leaving Congress. Let this be a reminder that we are all human and that we all make mistakes. This why the amount of power that we give any frail and imperfect human should be limited.

My opinion is that adultery is a private matter that should be resolved between the cheater and the aggrieved spouse. I would not rule out voting for a candidate based on an affair anymore than I would make a decision to hire or fire someone on that same basis (unless it was a relationship that presented a conflict of interest). To fire a man over an affair can potentially cause financial harm to his wife if she decides to stay with him, or leaves him and demands alimony or child support.

Charlie Butcher to talk to and about Libertarians tomorrow!

2010-05-10T20:45:00.002-04:00

Tune in at 6:30am on Tuesday, May 11th.

Proposed national ID card

2010-05-02T05:17:00.002-04:00

Majority Whip Sen. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., who worked on the outline and helped present it Thursday, said the public has become more comfortable with the idea of a national identification card.

"For a long time it was resisted by many groups but now we live in a world where we take off our shoes at the airport and pull out our identification," Durbin said. "People understand that in this vulnerable world we have to be able to present identification."

Read the rest of the article here.

Even Arizona is against a national ID card. The only way this stands a chance of happening is if the public is spooked into supporting this. Don't tell me that this crap is going to make us safer. There were more people murdered by their own family members in this country in the past ten years than by terrorists. Privacy and family are both sacred institutions in this country. If our lives are not our own, why should we care what happens to us?

Immigration

2010-04-29T20:21:00.003-04:00

Some thoughts:
- My biggest problem with securing a border is that it is a complete waste of money. France tried to secure their border during the 1930's. They were fully justified in doing so, but it still didn't do them any good. The goal should not be to protect an arbitrary line in the dirt, but rather to protect people and property.
No modern nation can be sealed off from the outside, because no modern nation is resource independent. Products have to be imported and exported. As long as trucks are allowed to cross over, planes are allowed to land, and ships are allowed to dock, people will be able to get in. Any walls along the border will be symbolic at best.
- The US birthrate is currently below replacement levels. Current US population growth is due to immigration.
- If we can consider Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, and Dick Cheney as allies in the War on Terror, then immigrants could be consider allies as well. If the legal immigration process is streamlined, more attention could be paid to those who try to sneak in anyway. As things stand now, there are 12 million illegal immigrants. Finding any terrorist needles in the alien haystack will require the help of non-terrorist aliens. A common police tactic is to use minor offenders to squeal on worse criminals. We need immigrants to feel safe in approaching the police for help.

Downloading porn on a government computer

2010-04-26T09:08:00.002-04:00

We all heard the story about the SEC employees who downloaded porn at work. Here are my thoughts:
Many private companies allow their employees to use company PC's for personal use, as long as they get their work done. The extra amount of electricity consumed and the extra wear and tear to the PC are negligible. Ultimately it boils down to balancing productivity with morale, so it is a decision best left to the discretion of management. Any policy regarding the use of PC's and the Internet should be made clear.

No matter who you work for, never do anything on a computer unless you want your boss to know about it!

1500TH POST: Annual Convention proves that taxpayers should not have to pay for party politics! Plus a recap of Allen County and Indiana Conventions.

2010-04-24T20:27:00.011-04:00

This is going to be a wonderful post for our fifteen hundredth! It has been my pleasure to serve you and on occasion have y'all to read my ranting on the state of politics and social concern around Fort Wayne and Allen County and abroad for the last two and a half years and the rest of the Officers pounding it across the electronic super highway for the last six years or longer.

This year The LP of Indiana [Website][Facebook][Twitter][YouTube][FreeHoosiers] and LP of Allen County proved that not only can we have a contentious convention, with not one but two contested federal nomination fights but that we can do so with mutual respect of all parties and without the taxpayer footing the bill for a political party to make a decision! The Libertarian Party in every effect had not just a Convention but an actual Primary election, and you the taxpayer were not charged one red cent or green backed bill, unless you chose to participate in the process. It is time to take a stand and make the Republicans and Democrats do the same across the Hoosier State! You can start by demanding an open primary or no primary at all! You the voter sets the agenda contrary to any cynicism that develops on which ever isle in the marketplace of ideas.

Let's start with the State Convention, going on in Indy as I am writing this, the results so far as I have been told in communiques between members are subject to revision (*name = final result) with official results but are as follows:

FEDERAL ELECTIONS

US Senate *Rebecca Sink Burris [Facebook][Website]
US House 3rd *Scott Wise [Facebook][Website]
US House 5th *Chard Reid [Facebook]
US House 6th *T.J. Thompson [Facebook][Campaign Facebook][Website]

STATE ELECTIONS

Secretary of State *Mike Wherry [Facebook][Website]
Auditor Eric Knipe [Website]
Treasurer TBA

GENERAL ASSEMBLY

House Districts In Allen County
District 81 Elizabeth [Facebook]
District 85 Paul Leslie [Facebook]

TOWNSHIP TRUSTEE, ASSESSOR, ADVISORY BOARD etc.
Lake Twp Adv. Board Tom Pearl (currently a Republican incumbent)

(MORE INFO 2 FOLLOW PLEASE SAVE POST TITLE IN ORDER TO REFER BACK TO IT THANKS!)

15th anniversary of Oklahoma City bombing

2010-04-19T15:55:00.003-04:00

Before I was born, someone tried to blow up my dad. During the 1970's, Puerto Rican secessionists placed a series of bombs in New York and Chicago. One of them was in a federal building that my dad was in. Fortunately, that bomb was discovered and disposed of safely.

I was lucky because my dad was lucky. This child would have been 15 right now had he been lucky.

Whatever your cause, no matter how noble your intentions, history judges you by your actions.

Obligatory Tax Post

2010-04-15T12:20:00.002-04:00

I will concede that taxes are necessary to pay for things like police, national defense, and courts. Even if you never call the police and never set foot in a courtroom, you still benefit from their existence. If you don't agree with that, perhaps you can ask the county to disconnect 911 from your house.

But there are programs that do not universally benefit every citizen. There is nothing wrong with sport stadiums, but they are a luxury enjoyed only by sports fans. Ethanol has both industrial and recreational uses, but it should be funded solely by the people who actually use it. And if you want to help struggling banks, I won't stop you from sending a personal check.

Annual tax protest.

2010-04-13T21:15:00.002-04:00

We'll be having our annual April 15th tax protest to 4:30pm and until it gets dark in front of the Anthis Career Center parking lot, next to the downtown post office. This has been an annual ritual for LPAC since 2005.

This year might be interesting. Apparently there is a movement to "crash the tea parties". I look forward to meeting these people if any are in Fort Wayne. But I do wonder about the wisdom of announcing in advance that they will try to embarrass us. Now if anybody says anything outrageous or embarrassing at any Tea Party, then the "party crashers" have provided us with the perfect scapegoat.

LPIN NEWS: ALL CANDIDATES STATEWIDE

2010-04-13T19:45:00.003-04:00

LPIN has to many potential candidates for your votes this November. Official Status of Nomination/Candidacy Form announced, please fill out and turn it in 48 hours before the opening of our State Convention (this also includes county level seats too) to be properly considered for nomination and state website promotional advertising as a candidate for the Party of Individual Liberties and Open and Small Government. To read more from Christopher Spangle, Executive Director, Libertarian Party of Indiana click this link.

Point I was trying to make with the polls

2010-04-08T08:34:00.003-04:00

Online surveys are as about as meaningful as a Hollywood marriage. But the point is that if they can make you buy insurance, they can make you do about anything if it serves the public good. To me, this is a violation of privacy, since it's nobody's business if I have insurance or not. So if this survives a SCOTUS challenge, it can set the precedent for overturning Lawrence vs. Texas during the next GOP administration. We could very well be one STD scare from having federal sodomy and chastity laws. That would suck for me, because premarital sex is the only kind of sex that I get to have right now.

Remember Democrats. If you get to violate the Constitution, so do Republicans.

Annual Convention RSVP

2010-04-07T14:09:00.004-04:00

We have less than 10 days before our Annual Convention. This is a general reminder and a request for RSVP so that we can meet our minimum requirements for the venue. We need to make sure we have at least 30 people with a suggested $10 minimum purchase to retain the deposit fee. The meeting will be between 1-4 on Saturday the 17th of April and we would like to encourage all members to RSVP on the facebook event page or email privately to lpallencountyinfomail@gmail.com

This year's venue is Mad Anthony Brewing Company [website],[facebook], which will be celebrating their anniversary the weekend we are holding our Convention. They will have couple specials: Peel and Eat Shrimp for $5.99 per half pound and $10.99 for a full pound as well as Crawfish at $6.99 per half pound and $34.99 for a family platter which feeds 7 and includes taters and corn and something else...They will also have drink specials....

Only Members of the State and National Party have a vote at our Annual Convention you must become a member in order to nominate or run for political office in the November elections. We do not hold a primary. We do not expect the taxpayer to pay for politics.