Official Notice Regarding Candidates up for Election this November.

Official Notice:

Due to a communication error and gaps of information, our Party Chair, Douglas Horner, will not be running for Allen County Council At Large, this November. Local voters will still have the following seven Libertarian Party candidates to choose from in these respective contests that are enclosed below.

Respectfully,

MRev. Kenneth White, Jnr., Secretary
Libertarian Party of Allen County


Federal Elections

Former Georgia Congressman Robert Laurence "Bob" Barr, Jr and Wayne Allyn Root are running for the Presidency and Vice Presidency of the United States against Republican John Sidney McCain III and Democrat Barack Hussein Obama II, both of which have not yet chosen their running mate.

William Larsen is running for 3rd US Congressional District
against 7 term Republican incumbent Mark Souder and Democratic hopeful Michael Montagano.

George Holland is running for 6th US Congressional District
against Republican 4 term incumbent Michael Pence and Democrat Barry Welsh.
Mike Pence (according to rumors) plans to ride out this election and run for Senate against Evan Bayh in 2010.

State Elections

Andrew Horning and Lisa Kelly are contending for Governor and Lieutenant Governor of Indiana
against 1 term incumbent Republicans Mitchell Elias Daniels, Jr. and Rebecca Skillman and against, former Congresswoman and Federal Agriculture Under Secretary, Jill Lynette Long-Thompson and 10 year incumbent State Representative Dennie Ray Oxley II on the Democratic ticket.

Herbert "Jack" Evans is the sole competitor for the people in the 83rd District State Representative seat currently held by Republican Matthew Bell who is running to maintain incumbency and wanted to run for the (13th District) State Senate seat caused by the retirement of Robert L. Meeks from office and just hold the seat for whomever the State GOParty would choose to replace him with, but those plans got fouled up due to a gap of communication too. Supposedly from what I have heard, there is now a Democratic contender in the 83rd as well, but I am still having trouble finding any information.

In every essence that means the vote in the 83rd District State Representative only has one true contender. It is time to tell them no by voting for the only true choice in all these races...

LIBERTARIANS!!

Lugar deserves some of the credit for food crisises overseas.

Senator Lugar has noted that many countries with food shortages prohibit the importation of genetically modified grain. He's right about that, but that isn't the entire reason for the current shortages.

Americans have been eating genetically modifed food for years now. You probably had some for breakfast without knowing it since companies are not required to label products that contain GM grains. Genes do not make a plant toxic. Toxins make a plant toxic. Even though we've been eating this stuff for a while, Africans and Europeans still don't trust it.

The other cause of food shortages is the use of grains in ethanol production, something that Lugar wants the government to support through subsidies. Corn based ethanol is a waste of grain and money. It has not made a dent in gas prices. If we have more grain than we need for food and livestock feed, we should be exporting it. Food is a more basic need than oil, we could leverage our food and medicine exports when dealing with countries that are dependent on them.

But if domestic grain production surpasses domestic needs, and no other country wants to buy it off of us, then many farmers should consider other lines of work.

Libertarians At Large goes live from 7-8 pm Tonight

Our live hour long call in show Libertarians At Large is hosted by Doug Horner and airs on channels Comcast 57 and Verizon 27, from 7-8 p.m., every third Thursday of the month. Tune in tonight as this month's guest will be Libertarian, Jack Evans, candidate for Indiana House District 83, this November. Call in @ 260-422-3902 to ask questions or just let us know you are listening. Contribute to the conversation.

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

LPAC JULY BUSINESS MEETING

MONDAY, July 28th
6:30-8:30p.m.
Little Turtle Branch
Allen Co. Public Library
2201 Sherman Boulevard
Fort Wayne, IN 46808
(1 block south of W. State Blvd.;
before the Speedway Station)

click here for a map

Bill Larsen in Tuesday's News Sentinel

Bill Larsen, the Libertarian candidate for Congress, 3rd District, is not afraid to stand his ground when he knows he's right. Check it out here.

An experiment

They say if you repeat the lie enough, it becomes the truth. Might as well give it a shot:

Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.
Bob Barr can win this election.

Local Democrats pandering @ Festival a violation of the Organization's rules

This is a continuation from a post on my personal blog.

I do want to issue a challenge though to THE DEMOCRATIC PARTY OF ALLEN COUNTY though. In their recent post Deb Monroe stated

"Several candidates will be greeting citizens along the parade route prior to the start of Saturday's Three Rivers Parade. If you would like to walk with or for them, please respond here!"

The TRF is a non partisan event and does not allow political parties to be brandished during TRF events. While the sidewalks may be fair game, I am still crying foul for certain candidates going ahead of the National City Parade on the same route and harassing the citizens and visitors with campaign materials. This is a clear violation of spirit behind the TRF Rules and Practices and the nature of The Festival itself. They came to see a parade not a politician.

While the LPAC members believe that we as a viable community organization and a valid voice for the people, should be able to both a. march in the parade and b. have a booth to distribute information. We have abided by the TRF request to remain outside of The Festival's events. If the candidates do go through with this, I hope that Shannon White will consider pressing criminal trespass and civil rights violations against each of the candidates participating in this indirect violation of Freedom of Association of Festival attendees today.

How to encourage people to ride bikes

Two bicycle lanes are to be added to Rudisill Boulevard. This isn't really necessary, since there are already two trails that run parallel to the street. They are called "sidewalks".

Technically it is illegal to ride a scooter or bicycle on the sidewalk, though this law is rarely enforced. County Commissioner Bill Brown rides a Segway downtown, and nobody has bothered him about it. I don't think Brown should be ticketed. I just think that if he gets to use his $5,000 scooter on a sidewalk, I should be allowed to ride a $100 bike on that same sidewalk.

Though the law is rarely enforced, people obey it anyway. This time of year you see a few brave souls riding their bikes in the street. Since most people seem unwilling to risk their lives to save on gas, the city can go a long way towards encouraging bike riding by opening up sidewalks to bicycle traffic.

Pedestrian safety would have to be considered. Bicyclists should be required to dismount their bikes when approaching a pedestrian. This is a perfectly reasonable restriction since there is very little foot traffic in this city.

This day in history

You can read the full text of the Declaration of Independence here.

From the beginning, the US was a multilingual country.

Do not adjust your monitor...

Finally all the hot air coming from Washington D. C. can power your car

President Bush had it incorrect. It should have been "No Parent Left Behind"

From Wesley In Austin here is a little humor for your weekend.
I promise you cannot read these and not laugh out loud or at least groan vivaciously .
These are real notes written by parents in an ALABAMA school district.
Spellings have been left intact.

1. My son is under a doctor's care and should not take PE today. Please execute him.

2. Please exkuce lisa for being absent she was sick and i had her shot.

3. Dear school: please ecsc's john being absent on jan. 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and also 33.

4. Please excuse gloria from jim today. She is administrating.

5. Please excuse roland from p.e. for a few days.
Yesterday he fell out of a tree and misplaced his hip.

6. John has been absent because he had two teeth taken out of his face.

7. Carlos was absent yesterday because he was playing football.
He was hurt in the growing part.

8. Megan could not come to school today because she has been bothered by very close veins.

9. Chris will not be in school cus he has an acre in his side.

10. Please excuse ray friday from school. He has very loose vowels.

11. Please excuse Lesli from being absent yesterday.
She had diahre dyrea direathe the shits.

12. Please excuse tommy for being absent yesterday.
He had diarrhea, and his boots leak.

13. Irving was absent yesterday because he missed his bust.

14. Please excuse jimmy for being. It was his father's fault.

15. I kept Billie home because she had to go Christmas shopping
because i don't know what size she wear.

16. Please excuse jennifer for missing school yesterday.
We forgot to get the sunday paper off the porch, and when we found it monday.
We thought it was sunday.

17. Sally won't be in school a week from f riday.
We have to attend her funeral.

18. My daughter was absent yesterday because she was tired.
She spent a weekend with the marines.

19. Please excuse Jason for being absent yesterday.
He had a c old and could not breed well.

20. Please excuse mary for being absent yesterday.
She was in bed with gramps.

21. Gloria was absent yesterday as she was having a gangover.

22. Please excuse brenda. She has been sick and under the doctor.

23. Maryann was absent december 11-16, because she had a fever, sorethroat, headache and upset stomach. Her sister was also sick, fever an sore throat, her brother had a low grade fever and ached all over. I wasn't the best either, sore throat and fever. There must be something going around, her father even got hot last night.

Now we know why parents are screaming for better education for our kids.

SCOTUS

(WARNING:This video has some naughty language.)

Supreme Court Rules Death Penalty Is 'Totally Badass'

Of course we Libertarians are thrilled to bits over the Heller decision.

Bob Barr Calls Heller Decision on Gun Rights “One of Court’s Most Important Rulings on behalf of Liberty ”

Washington , DC - Today the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the individual right of Americans to own guns in District of Columbia v. Heller. The ruling “will go down as one of the Supreme Court’s most important rulings on behalf of liberty,” says Libertarian Party presidential candidate Bob Barr.

Until today, the Court had never held that the Second Amendment directly applied to individuals. “Today’s decision marks a new era for gun rights in America ,” explains Barr, who is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Rifle Association. Barr also drafted the Libertarian Party’s amicus curiae brief in Heller. “By protecting an individual’s right to keep and bear arms, the Second Amendment ensures that all Americans are able to participate in sporting activities, hunt, and protect themselves and their families,” he explains.

The right to self-defense is particularly important for women and minorities in a city like Washington , D.C. “Where crime rates are high, a gun may be the only means for law-abiding citizens to safeguard themselves and their families,” Barr notes. “Lawful gun ownership deters an untold number of crimes every year.”
But the Court’s ruling, though welcome, is not enough. “It is important to have a president who also supports the right of Americans to own firearms,” says Barr. “Sen. Barack Obama says that he believes in such a constitutional right, but he supports the District of Columbia ’s ban, which gives criminals an advantage over law-abiding citizens,” notes Barr.

Sen. McCain has not advocated an absolute prohibition, “but he cosponsored legislation which could require registration of attendees at gun shows and even ban such shows,” Barr warns. And Sen. McCain’s campaign legislation “curtailed the First Amendment right of gun owners to protect their rights by participating in election campaigns.”

The Supreme Court also decided that the death penalty was unconstitutional in rape cases. While I have no sympathy for convicted rapists, the severity of the punishment must be based on the severity of the offense. The harshest punishment, the death penalty, must be reserved for the worst of crimes. As heinous as rape is, murder is still worse.

The reason behind the housing glut

Housing demand is linked to population growth. Only a handful of people own more that one home, and most people share a home with a spouse or roommate. Most first time home buyers are in their thirties and twenties. Thirty years ago, the baby bust was still going on. Fewer babies 30 years ago mean fewer homes sold today.

To me, a crisis is when there is too little of something. If there were so few homes that many people were forced to live on the street, that would be a crisis. It is always better to have too much than too little. Since the housing glut meant that I bought my house for $30K, I like this glut just fine. The person who sold it to me doesn't like the glut one bit.

But the buyer's market should end by itself in the next decade. No doubt that the next president will take credit for that. But the real reason why demand will go up is because the birth rate went up during the 1980's. So I can expect to sell my house for $40K ten years from now, assuming the perceived hazards of living in my neighborhood remain the same. (The key word is "perceived". It doesn't matter if a neighborhood is safe, it only matters if the buyer thinks it's safe.)

Aside from traveling back in time and impregnating as many women as possible, there is little that McCain, Obama, or Barr can do about the so-called housing crisis. The best way for the next president to increase housing demand is to make it easier for people to legally immigrate to the US.

Interesting article on Slate.com about flood control

The article talks about why cities continue to use sandbags, (the bags are cheap and voluteers are free, and in Fort Wayne's case we get the bags free from FEMA) and notes a couple of alternatives to sandbags, such as the Rapid Deployment Wall and the Portadam.

The Portadam and the Rapid Deployment Wall work better than sandbags under lab conditions, and are less labor intensive. People are usually happy to help out with sandbagging, but suppose we have a flood at 3am when only Hillary Clinton will answer the phone?* Also, these devices could make floodprone area habitable again so as long as businesses and homes that choose to locate in those area have their own flood control equipment available.

*Sorry, the joke is already dated but I couldn't resist.

What does a "young professional" look like?

Maybe this is what they meant.

I feel like the engineers who warned NASA about the Challenger's O-rings. My advise was ignored and all I can do now is sit back and watch.

Libertarians At Large goes live from 7-8 pm Thursday

Our live hour long call in show Libertarians At Large is hosted by Doug Horner and airs on channels Comcast 57 and Verizon 27, from 7-8 p.m., every third Thursday of the month. Tune in as this month's guest will be Libertarian, William Larsen, Third District Congressional Candidate against a seven term incumbent Republican, Mark Souder and Democratic hopeful, Mike Montagano. Call in to ask questions or just let us know you are listening. Contribute to the conversation.

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

Ron Paul ends his presidential campaign

I neeed your help! Trying to find all the area festivals is giving me triple vision!!!

For my personal blog F6 and for our planning as LPAC I have been working on a progressive link list for the area festivals. As of right now I am primarily focusing on Allen County and will then move outward to surrounding counties but it has taken me days to get this far with the info and then type it into a links list also. And so I am asking our readers for help. Do you know of a fair or festival going on in Allen County that is not on this list? Please tell me in the comments below

Tahkns, I mean, Thanks,

+Kenneth
LPAC Secretary
Editor, F6

three rivers area festivals & major events

• Late Nights @ The Fort Wayne Museum of Art
• Thursdays from 5p-9p. Admission Is Free
• ARCH's South Side Farmers Market @ 3300 Warsaw Street
• Saturdays from 3rd May to 22nd November from 7a-1p
• New Haven Canal Days done
• 3rd-7th June
• German Fest @ Head Waters Park done
• 4th-8th June 11a-12m W&Th 11a-1a F&S
• Scottish Highland Games @ Concordia Thelogical Semminary
• 14th June 9a-8p Admission $10 ages 13 and up $5 ages 6-12 Free for ages up to 5
• B2Q Ribs & Blues Fest @ Head Waters Park
• 19th-22nd June Free on Sunday and daily til 5:30p
• After 5:30p $6 for ages 16 and older
• THREE RIVERS FESTIVAL
• 11th-20th of July Locations and Costs vary
• PRIDE Fest @ Head Waters Park
• 25-26th July 6p-12m F 10a-12m S
• Unlimited Age World Series (CABA)
• 8-12th August Locations and Accomodations vary
• Muddy River Run @ Allen Co Fairgrounds
• 11th-12th August 8a-5p Sat and -4p Sun
• Admission $5 Children: 12 & under are free
• The Grabill Country Fair
• weekend after Labor Day
• Johnny Chapman Appleseed Festival
• 20th-21st September from 10a-6p Sat and -5p Sun
• Appleseed Park is behind Memorial Colesium and Stadium
• Hilger's Friendly Market Fall Festival
• last weekend in September

According to Citilink's website, public buses ferried 1,935,587 riders in 2006. That is a rough average of 6300 riders per day. It cost $4 per passenger in government subsidies per rider. For one person to ride the bus one way in 2006, it cost taxpayers the price of a 2008 gallon of gas.

For the cost of Citilink's total operating budget, we could simply buy everyone who rides the bus on a daily basis their own used car. That's not a feasible solution though, since many people who ride the bus do so because they cannot legally drive. But we still need to come up with a more cost effective way of getting these people to work. Here are some ideas that I have:
1. Let the free market decide. Citilink will still continue its profitable routes, while private "jitney" cabs handle the rest. Fares would increase somewhat, but service would improve.
2. Often, buses will run their routes with only a handful of passengers. Sometimes a bus will go its entire route without picking up a single rider. This is a huge waste. Citilink could save on fuel costs by running lower demand routes less often.
3. Citilink could share buses and drivers with FWCS. The pooling of resources would save on fuel.