Fort Wayne may lose A-10's. Oh well!

The Pentagon is considering removing the A-10's from Fort Wayne due to military spending cuts. The A-10 is a slow moving attack plane designed to withstand intense fire from the ground as it destroys enemy tanks. I would be upset by this move, except that enemy tanks have never been a problem here in the Midwest or anywhere else in North America.

Even if you're the type of person who stays up late worrying about hijacked airliners, the A-10 Warthogs won't help you sleep any better. With a top speed of 439 mph, the Warthog is actually slower than many commercial jetliners.

And even if you think government spending helps the economy, why not push for spending on projects that directly benefit taxpayers? Seriously, I can't imagine anyone of any coherent belief system thinking that A-10's in Fort Wayne are a great idea. But if you're out there, feel free to leave a comment below.

201st Composite Squadron, under new Command, looking for new Recruits. Do you have what it takes to be a part of the Civil Air Patrol?

A FEW GOOD MEN AND WOMEN ARE NEEDED FOR CIVIL AIR PATROL: 

Fort Wayne’s 201st Composite Squadron of the Civil Air Patrol has a new commander. Lt. John Deitrick is seeking cadet recruits (high school students up to age 18) and senior recruits (ages 18+). For those who didn’t know that Fort Wayne had Civil Air Patrol or for those wanting more info on how to get involved, please visit: http://www.capglrin201.com/

NEXT BUSINESS MEETING

The next Business Meeting for the Libertarian Party of Allen County, Indiana will be held on Saturday the 8th of February, 2014 from 7:00-9:00 p.m. at the Kroger Marketplace in the Village at Coventry near the intersection of US 24 and I69 mile marker 302. The meeting room is near the Deli area to the south side of the store in a front alcove area. If you arrive before seven they have a hot food and salad bar there that closes when the meeting starts the food is good and reasonably priced. You may RSVP via the EVENT PAGE via FACEBOOK although doing so is not required but definitely appreciated. On a side note we are up to 83 followers on the Facebook Page too. If there are any questions please contact the Outgoing Vice Chair/Incoming Secretary, Kenneth White, Jnr. at 260-312-2200 and leave a message or our Chair Douglas Horner at 260-704-4698. Thank you in advance for your attendance and continued support.

Should Congress decriminalize football for medical reasons?

It's a scientifically known fact that the recreational use of football can lead to broken bones and traumatic brain damage. It has even been linked to obesity and heart attacks. And yet many young people indulge in this pastime. President Ford even admitted to playing football when he was in college. While I wouldn't go so far to insist that recreational uses of football be legalized, the federal government should at least allow football to be regulated for medical purposes on the state level.


Ok, so this is obvious satire. But over a century ago, President Teddy Roosevelt had considered pushing a ban on football. Aren't you glad he didn't do that? Shouldn't adults be allowed to decide what sort of risks they take for their own pleasure?

Why even elected officials need to be worried about domestic spying.

Here's a hypothetical scenario: It's 2019, and the 45th President of the United States already has re-election on his or her mind. Somewhere inside NSA headquarters, there is an analyst who believes in his work, and sincerely believes that he has the nation's best interests at heart. This analyst thinks that some of 45POTUS's policies are leading the nation to disaster.

He can't wiretap the White House's phones, because that would just send up too many red flags. But he might be able to access cell phone records and browsing histories of the President's supporters, business associates, donors, that guy with dreadlocks whom the President knew in college, etc. And that analyst could potential find information that may not be incriminating, but it's still embarrassing.

You think a government employee won't try to blackmail the President? It not only can happen, it has happened before. Pick the worst President you can think of, and that's still not as bad as an unelected bureaucrat who doesn't have to worry about being fired or arrested.

Regarding recent handshakes

How the hell do you make an entire news story out of just one handshake? That is something that world leaders are expected to do on a regular basis. If you really are worried about human rights in Cuba, there are other measures that the US government can take. 1. End the embargo and allow US grown food and consumer goods into Cuba. People tend to be a lot less radical while holding an electronic device on a full stomach. 2. End the travel ban. Let idiot college students see first hand just what it is that they are in favor of. They might even appreciate the irony that the cars on the streets of Havana have more capitalist origins than most cars currently produced in the US. 3. Close the prison in Gitmo. Raul Castro cannot be blamed for every human rights violation in his own country. Someday soon, natural causes will succeed where the CIA failed and the Castro dynasty will come to an end. We can influence what happens next by setting a good example and leaving the Cold War in the past.

Cracking the knuckles to buckle down in 2014 Midterm General Elections. Are you ready to make the difference in politics as usual?

Ken Heare is one potential candidate in 2014 for the Libertarian Party of Indiana in the Third Congressional District currently held by Republican Congressman Marlin Stutzman.

Please be reminded that no candidacy is official until the person is selected by the State or County Party respectively, typically during the Annual Convention, held in the Spring. The Annual State and County Conventions are yet to be announced but that doesnt stop you from finding out what is required ahead of time. If you also wish to consider running for any office in 2014, please contact either our 3rd District Central Committee Coordinator and Libertarian Party of Allen County, Indiana Chairman, Douglas Horner at 260-704-4698, or our State Party Chair, Dan Drexler, or Executive Director, by calling 317-920-1994.

For more information please visit: http://lpin.org/run-for-office/candidate-training/

Securing The Blessings Of Liberty,

Kenneth White Jnr,
Vice Chair, LPAC 

How much is the Congress Member in the Window; I wonder if they are for sale? Congressional Pay: Does 30 dollars an hour sound fair to you?

Congress works a third to a half less then our kids are forced to be in school. http://www.dailykos.com/story/2013/10/31/1252118/-House-Republicans-announce-how-many-days-they-ll-work-next-year-hint-not-very-many?

So $174,000 divided by 12 months is $14,500 Does Congress need a paycut? ..... I think so.
 
That is $14,500 per month per all 537 Member of Congress minimum. Even pulling 15 hour days times the typical twelve days per month scheduled next year plus and extra 3 days per two week intervals for constituent (that is you the voter) issues and travel time to and from their Congressional District (18 rd days =6.5+12), means that each member of Congress earns at least $805.55r for every minimum working and traveling day and if you go by per diem (each day of the month avg. 30.5) they received a stipend from your tax dollars of $475.41ru. So based on those two numbers $805 and $475 per day divided by 15 hours, each member of Congress at minimum receives an hourly wage of $53.66 per hour or $31.66 per hour.

Even going off the basic work schedule of 113 days the per diem would set at an astonishing $1,539.82 and that is without modifiers and allotments provided. Let us force them to drop their hourly rate by Statute and Amendment to twice the level of the minimum wage but still tagged to inflation and see how fast they raise it for everyone else now.

Chuga Chuga Woohoo!! Is passenger rail a Legacy we can afford or sustain in Fort Wayne?

I know that I would love to take a day trip to Chicago or Indy: museums, movies, plays, shopping, etc. and not have to worry about driving back home after all that walking, with all those packages, after eating a really really big meal, and partying/drinking up at Boystown or Gregs respectfully. Having a Red Light Shuttle back to Fort Wayne would be amazeballs and I could sleep and sober up on the way back get in my car and drive home too.

The other problem I have is the area surrounding the old train station is already log jammed with CitiLink, Parkview Field/Harrison Square, and Greyhound Bus Service. The Businesses around there and especially Powers Hamburgers, all at the same intersection and not enough inexpensive short term or long term parking to make it feasible for development that will actually be used. And God forbid it if they try to close down After Dark Nightclub (Dont piss off the Drag Queens!) or St. Vincent de Paul Thrift Store to provide more parking or eliminate one more bar from their site plans for that area or turn it over to one of their cronies at a profit.

It would be better to use the midsize buses or full size vans on an isolated path road (like I dont know an interstate or state/federal highway) and become more diverse in both travel destinations and fuel economy. Rail for passengers outside of Chicago, Indy, Columbus or Toledo, and Lansing, anything outside of a two hour window, then I would consider it necessary. However, Fort Wayne is also a central location for all of those Cities mentioned above and that is where you achieve the rub of two competing interest groups: travel from the Summit City and commerce coming to the Summit City. Where we need transportation service isnt just to and from the larger Cities it is the small towns within an hour or two or three from here like Columbia City or Syracuse or Defiance, etc. and that is where the CitiLink Service buses could be best used, out on the open highway saving the smaller buses and full size vans for in City and small town driving.

The other obvious objection would be to the use of $200,000 dollars of Legacy Funds, that expense should be covered from the surrounding businesses that will be affected by the expanded tourist dollars and travel lodgers first, and then paid by all the tax revenue that Harrison Square is allowed by law to retain under Special Zoning for maintenance and development, not the rest of the City for a project that by its own record wouldnt even consider turning a profit let alone be self sustaining until at least 2030 by its own speculations.

Besides there is always something else to waste $200,000 on like non supported QR technology (via Dan Turkette's Angry White Boy, October 2013) on street signs. (Really, City of Fort Wayne? Get with the times! You dont even have full wifi blanket across downtown and you want to use something that is three years out of date.) Maybe we could start by actually hiring a consultant that knows what they are talking about for a change? I suggest we start with rotating groups of students in college and/or high school whom have the latest technical knowledge in a particularly given field and pay them a thousand to five thousand bucks each (in scholarship grants partially), depending on the scope of the project and detail to which they are responsible to put together the proposal, action plans, and finally oversee implementation, even if it does or doesnt require a professional directly in charge of the project fruition. They will get it done a lot quicker and for a lot less money and it will last because they will want to show it to their grandchildren.

For more information read this article: http://www.news-sentinel.com/article/2013131109664

What you SHOULD have learned from the shutdown

The more government is involved in your life, the more politics is going to play a role. Which might work out great for you for about 8 to 12 years, and then things come undone when a new administration is inaugurated or a new Congress is elected. Ask any government employee what that's like, and then ask yourself just how much you want the federal involved in your healthcare.

You might be thinking "The Republicans will not win the White House in the foreseeable future." Remember that a lot of people said the same thing in 1999. The foreseeable future in politics is only a few months. Suppose you woke up one day to find Michele Bachmann is the new Secretary of Health and Human Services. Would you like having her decide what treatments you will be eligible for and what's bad for your health?

Man on the street videos with Iranians

Impending government shutdown

This is why things like healthcare and retirement accounts are too important to be handled by an organization as dysfunctional as the federal government.

New Obamacare video

Hoping Obama evolves some more

When a politician changes his stance on a issue and you disagree with the new stance, you might call that "flipflopping". But when you agree with the stance, you could call it "evolving". I'm hoping that the President evolves on Syria and doesn't launch airstrikes. I'm hoping that he realizes that this isn't the way to restore America's reputation. I'm hoping that even if people remember what he said about a red line being crossed, he realizes it's better to lose a little face than lose a lot of lives and property. I hope that he realizes that you cannot bring about peace nor can you win a war just by dropping bombs. I'm hoping that he realizes that neither the Assad regime nor the Syrian rebels are worthy of being our allies. Assad's chief redeeming quality is that he wants to kill the type of people who record themselves dismembering corpses and eating pieces of them. The rebels' chief redeeming quality is that they want to kill Assad. That really doesn't give us much to work with here.

The value and limitations of individual privacy and government secrets

We all have something to hide. For the most part, we have legitimate reasons for hiding personal information. The government doesn't want civilians to know ICBM launch codes, and neither do I. Movie producers don't want you to know how their films in production are going to end. While I love spoilers, but many people understandably dislike them.

Common people have legitimate reasons for concealing things about themselves. For example, I am 34 years old, and I have never been married. From that statement, you may logically conclude one of three possibilities: 1) I have engaged in premarital sex that some people might judge to be sinful 2) I am a 34 year virgin, and some people would ridicule me if they believed that 3) I've just lied to you about having never married. I believe that if the truth about my private nocturnal activities were widely known, I would be treated unfairly in my personal life and professional life. (No, I'm not gay. But unless you want to sleep with me, why should you care?)

I also don't want people to know my comings and goings, and what sort of stuff I have at my home. Maybe all I have is a 10 year old computer and an analog TV, and I'm embarrassed by my home's lack of amenities. Maybe I have all sorts of cool gadgets and I don't want people to know that because they might try to steal my stuff.

What we don't have a right to do is cover up the activities that we didn't have a right to do in the first place. A con artist doesn't have a right to wipe his computer if the police are on their way to arrest him for ripping off pensioners. And the government does not have a right to cover up its own misdeeds or the misdeeds of others.

Often it isn't the scandal that ruins a politician's career, but the cover up. Nixon was forced out of office because he tried to cover up the Watergate burglary. On the other hand, the public largely forgave Bill Clinton after he admitted to having sex with a subordinate. The current administration would be wise to learn from these two examples.

Why move the Anthony Wayne statue?

The most compelling argument that I've heard for moving the equestrian statue of General Anthony Wayne came from Mayor Tom Henry. He said

"I've talked to residents who do not even know where this statue is."

You can share this with your friends and show them where the lovely statue is. I just saved the city $75K.

Tweet of the year.

@Mikexxxx1 No. Taxes are paid on profits not sales. It’s irrelevant to pricing.
— Matt Yglesias (@mattyglesias) July 30, 2013

I could say something here, but I'll let my readers do it for me. Have at it.

Service Members and State's Rights Salute The Timely Demise Of DOMA & PROP 8!?! Gay Lesbian BiSexual TransGendered Americans Can Finally Begin To Celebrate Equality Almost!!

via Fort Wayne Equality https://www.facebook.com/fwequality

On the tenth anniversary of the decision of Lawrence v. Texas (2003), which began the restoration process of Gay, Lesbian, BiSexual, and TransGendered or InterSexed, (GLBTI) Citizens, as full and equal members of this American Civil Society, by repealing certain laws which did not allow for GLBT persons the freedom to associate freely, and engage in private romantic activities, amongst many other things, including adding a extra classification for JUDICIAL SCRUTINY and placing 'indelible characteristics which cannot be muted' into a Title IX compliance issue, The Supreme Court of the United States took Marriage Equality (which already exists in 13 States or 33% and up to ten Sovereign Tribal Territories) five steps further to a full reality today by repealing the third section of the 1996 Defense Of Marriage Act (DOMA) and ordered the lower Ninth Circuit Court to dismiss based on grounds of STANDING and lack of JUDICIAL OVERSIGHT AUTHORITY, the attempt to secure Proposition 8 (PROP 8) as the Constitutional force of the People in California, when the right to marry previously existed by order of the Courts interpreting the State Constitution, and again was repealed by the Courts, because of the trichotomy of Statuses caused by the several different Statuses caused in the impending legal wranglings and pandering by interest groups, leaving well established families to clean up the whirlwind around them and the effect that it had on their children within social peer settings.

However as much todays decisions were five steps forward for Marriage Equality it has taken States Rights into a whole new universal reality. Through a casual skimming of the documents and later analysis, what the Court did today was anything short of expected, they in essence, established the STATE as a Corporate Personhood, the head of that being the Person of the Governor in Office and other Officers of the State in subsequent authority rather than even dealing directly with the individuals involved they issued to the State as a Corporate Person the 1st, 4th, and 5th Amendment Guarantees and therefore was then able to fry the cord on both the People of California trying to defend PROP 8 (which banned gay marriage) by saying they had no authority to overstep their Governor/Secretary of State/Attorney General etc.decision to not appeal and with DOMA Section 3 repealled, told the Federal Government to get their hands of the throat of the State and her citizens whom the State says can lawfully marry because it has and always will be a State sanctioned action, the Church doesnt even come in second place in this ruling.

The decision in DOMA helped facilitate the decision in PROP 8 (as cited by Chief Justice Roberts dissent). Below you will find links to the rulings and other analysis, and I would encourage you, as even I still am doing so, to diligently read thru them not just make off the cuff remarks about the intrinsic results that will and have now forever changed the conversation not just on Marriage Equality but State's Rights and the issue of Corporate Personhood as well.

Lastly there are several things that have immeadiately come about full circle in light of these two rulings:

1.) All GLBT Service Members (All Seven Branches of the Military and Civil Defense) and Federal Employees whom were married in a State that acknowledges Marriage Equality, even if they no longer reside in that State, can now begin to receive partner benefits, as well as file joint income tax returns next year, along with all the other 1,000 federal benefits and protections. Dont Ask Dont Tell (DADT) has finally been killed off completely, ironically by friendly fire!!

2.) Edie Windsor. Remeber that name. 42 years of together forever love was enough to bring down hate; but it took one 84 year old woman to tell the Courts who where and how, when it comes to Marriage Equality. Dont ever say one voice cant change the world forever, because today, one voice did just that!

3.) Marriage is still defined by the State not the Federal Government nor the Church. The Courts reaffirmed that right to the State indefinitely. They also did not challenge the legitimacy of either PROP 8 or Marriage Equality in California or in the Federal DOMA Statute. They simply stated that the People of California and of the other 13 States attempting to override their dually elected officials did not have the right to usurp the States interest in choosing not to defend the amendment to the State Constitution or act of the State Legislature; therefore in all cases the legitimacy of Marriage Equality itself was not challenged, just the application of it to federal law and benefits.

4.) The Libertarian Party since its founation in 1971 has held that, Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption, immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships. Furthermore the LP National Committee and the LP Allen County applaud yesterday's decision to strikedown DOMA.

Dan Drexler, The State Chair of The Libertarian Party of Indiana also had the following commentary to provide regarding the decision and the forth coming sanctimonious outrage by Governor Mike Pence and others within the Republican controlled General Assembly:

“Today’s decision by the U.S. Supreme Court is clearly an historic move toward marriage equality consistent with the long-held libertarian belief that government does not have the authority to define, license or restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices and personal relationships.”

“We encourage Republican leaders in the Indiana Statehouse to heed this ruling and abandon their ongoing efforts to build discrimination into Indiana’s own state constitution in this year’s legislative session.”

5.) Take the time to read the decisions for yourself dont just base your opinions on what other people assert find out why the Justices delivered a three tier punch and a roundhouse kick to the Federal Government and the People of California. Your going to be shocked at some of their reasons, dismayed even, but it will challenge your heart and mind for the sake of our Nation, where to one day, we can all be EQUAL in the sight of God and mankind, but most especially first, in the eyes of the law!

United States v. Windsor (DOMA) | Hollingsworth v. Perry (PROP 8)

6.) THE ISSUES OF STANDING FOR THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES AS 'BLAG':
In other words, how many millions of dollars did Congress waste trying to Defend DOMA? 
http://www.scotusblog.com/?p=158053

7.) Will the Federal Full Faith And Credit Clause force States that do not recognize gay marriage to recognize a marriage that was legal in another state? A different section of DOMA says that States do not have to recognize same-sex marriages from other states. That provision was not challenged in today's decision. So the constitutionality of that provision remains an open question.

8.) A Couple Excerpts from SOCTUSBLOG from todays DOMA/WINDSOR ruling:
 
Unconstitutional as a deprivation of the equal liberty of persons that is protected by the Fifth Amendment. "DOMA singles out a class of persons deemed by a State entitled ot recognition and protection to enhance their own liberty." The opinion and its holding are confined to those lawful marriages.

page 20: There is a "careful consideration" standard: In determining whether a law is motivated by improper animus or purpose, discriminations of an unusual character especially require careful consideration. DOMA cannot survive under these principles. 

Bottom of 25-26: The federal statute is invalid, for no legitimate purpose overcomes the purpose and effect to disparage and injure those whom the State, by its marriage laws, sought to protect in personhood and dignity. By seeking to displace this protection and treating those persons as living in marriages less respected than others.

What I don't understand about Snowden and PRISM

I value my own privacy, and I understand the importance of government secrecy. We can argue about what should be private or secret in another blog post. If maintaining the secrecy of the PRISM program was so important, why not just lie about it? If I were Obama, I'd brush this off by saying it's another conspiracy theory. I'd say something sarcastic like "So this guy has evidence of a secret spying program? Does he also have my real birth certificate?" The White House press core would laugh, and the nation would go back to talking about Honey Boo Boo and Justin Bieber. But by prosecuting Snowden, the government is admitting that PRISM exists. Why is putting this man in jail more important than protecting the secrecy of the program?

PRISM and Privacy

Here's why you should be worried about this.
1. A lot of Americans break the law, but very few actually get arrested for it. You probably think that you have nothing to hide, right? Remember that stuff that you bought online but didn't pay the sales tax on? Remember writing $0 when your IT-40 asked you to calculate the sales tax for these purchases? PRISM remembers what you bought online, and the Indiana Department of Revenue remembers what you reported.
2. But maybe you are 100% in compliance with all federal and state laws. Maybe you're utterly confident that the government has bigger fish to fry, like terrorists, drug lords, and conservative activists. You still should be worried about data collected on you. If the government can't keep PRISM a secret, it can't keep collected data a secret either.
3. This isn't going to make us safer. There are always going to be ways to send messages that can't be traced. Mail a letter with the wrong return address. Post a cat video with a hidden code. ("Calico if by land. Tabby if by sea") And do you think all those spam messages are really trying to sell you something?
4. Private citizen who volunteer information are law enforcement's best resource for gathering information on dangerous criminals. Anything the government does to antagonize citizens makes them less of a resource.