Washington Libertarian Review

Rolling the dice for President

2007-12-31T06:39:00.000-08:00

According to some recent research the process of selecting a President may be even less predictable than rolling dice.

Sociologists have found that when large networks of people evaluate something together their conclusions are not only powerfully shaped by the views of others, but by the network that binds them together. Washington Post columnist Shankar Vedantam speculates on the effect these findings may have on the selection of a President in Vote Your Conscience. If You Can.

The decisive factor, according to the studies, is not the presence of influential people but of people who are easily influenced. "Random, insignificant events are vastly magnified by networks of such malleable people influencing one another, and this tilts the race one way or another. Blind chance plays a big role," writes Vedantam.

This is a sobering thought. Those of us who take our politics seriously must not take it too seriously. All of the soundest of logic and highest of morality in the world could still lead to an unexpected result.

I suppose in a way this is a good thing, because it prevents any one faction from gaining unassailable control. But on the other hand I can't help thinking it leaves us all rudderless in an ocean of storms.

Taking Marriage Private

2007-11-26T08:14:00.000-08:00

Stephanie Coontz, an Evergreen State College professor, has written this argument for getting government out of the marriage business. Its nice to see that libertarian ideas are getting some traction.

ABC News Poll - Paul's support triples in Iowa, so does Huckabee's

2007-11-21T18:15:00.000-08:00

As can be seen from this ABC News poll Ron Paul's support in Iowa has tripled, from 2% in July to 6% now. But the big news is that Mike Huckabee's support has also tripled, from 8% in July to 24% now. Now only Mitt Romney leads Huckabee.

Paul supporter buys full page ad in USA Today

2007-11-21T17:57:00.000-08:00

See this paid political message in support of Ron Paul in today's edition of USA Today. This ad was apparently paid for by Larry Lepard a 50 year old investment manager, using nearly $85,000 of his own money.

NH CNN Poll: Paul & Huckabee gaining - Thompson slipping

2007-11-21T07:12:00.000-08:00

According to a CNN poll published on 11/19, in the last two months, Ron Paul has doubled his support in New Hampshire to 8%. Also gaining was former Arkansas governor Mike Huckabee.

The big loser was Fred Thompson, who dropped from 4th place to 6th place in the same period.

But all is not rosy for Paul in this poll. 61% of those polled said they would not support Paul under any circumstance.

Meanwhile a Washington Post-ABC News poll in Iowa shows Barak Obama inching ahead of Hillary Clinton and John Edwards losing ground.

Niche Society

2007-11-20T03:45:00.000-08:00

Let us be lovers we’ll marry our fortunes together
I’ve got some real estate here in my bag
So we bought a pack of cigarettes and Mrs. Wagner pies
And we walked off to look for America...

The lyrics of this Paul Simon song came to mind as I read today's op-ed by New York Times columnist David Brooks. Commenting on the fragmentation of the music industry and the death of the so-called mega-group, he laments The Segmented Society. It isn't just the state of the music industry that bothers Brooks. He says,

"It seems that whatever story I cover, people are anxious about fragmentation and longing for cohesion. This is the driving fear behind the inequality and immigration debates, behind worries of polarization and behind the entire Obama candidacy. If you go to marketing conferences, you realize we really are in the era of the long tail. In any given industry, companies are dividing the marketplace into narrower and more segmented lifestyle niches."

Certainly the segmentation of society is not really a surprise. Before 1983 AT&T was the only phone company in town. Now there are dozens. When was the last time anybody referred to GM, Ford and Chrysler as "the big three automakers"? How many networks now compete with ABC, CBS and NBC for TV viewers? Daily newspapers have been steadily losing market shares for years. Google, Yahoo and multiple other web sites now offer "personalized" portal pages. And so on.

Yet in a way there really is something to lament. For baby boomers the music spoke for the generation. From "One pill makes you larger, and one pill makes you small..." to "I read the news today, oh boy..." to "Stop, hey, what's that sound..." to "What's goin' on?..." to "The answer my friend, is blowin' in the wind..." the music defined who we were. And if there was an anthem of the generation, it was this Youngbloods tune:

Come on people now
smile on your brother
everybody get together
and try to love one another right now

What baby boomer does not know this refrain by heart? What baby boomer doesn't hope, deep down, that someday everybody can get together?

But it hasn't happened. The Woodstock generation gave way to the Watergate generation. The things that tied us together in the sixties drove us apart in the seventies. Foreign policy debacle followed foreign policy debacle. Back home the rich got richer and the poor got poorer. The civil rights movement balkanized into the separate movements of several minorities. And we have never been able to reclaim the unity of ideals and purpose that defined "the flower generation."

Conspiracy theorists may blame the Bilderbergs or the Trilateral Commission. But I think, at least as to the music, the seeds of this splintering were there in the beginning. The music that defined the baby boomer generation was a music of rebellion. Both rhythmically and lyrically it marked a significant departure from the music that had come before.

In fact, what we call rock-n-roll was largely a synthesis of different types of music with very different ethnic and religious roots. Blues, bluegrass, country & western and gospel all had a hand in the creation of rock. It was a music that overtly challenged tradition and authority, when both of which had become ossified in the first half of the twentieth century.

But the challenges never stopped and now there is little tradition left. Holidays are now more than ever just days off from work. The celebrations for which these days were set aside are all so much rigmarole that we are more likely pay someone to entertain us than to cook our own meals or create our own activities. According to Brooks very few of today's musicians know the roots of the music they play. Consequently most of it is adrift in a sea of noise, meaningless.

Meanwhile, authority has no respect. And maybe it doesn't deserve any. The unity and sense of purpose that informed World War II has all but vanished from the American landscape. Nixon, Carter, Reagan, Bush I, Clinton, Bush II - all of them demonstrated significant weaknesses of one form or other. Both Congress and the Supreme Court seem content to continually whittle away at our constitutionally guaranteed civil rights. Musically, there are no Dylans or Lennons to rely on either.

So, who are we? What does it mean to be an American these days? Even our common heritage as a nation of immigrants is losing its vitality as those of us who are already here wonder whether America is still "the land of opportunity." Now we seem to have this sense of limits, limits on available resources, limits on the way we treat the ecology, limits on the very freedoms on which the country was built.

Consequently, it seems to me, Americans are not so much interested in growth as they are in protecting what they have. And so they divide up into factions, each one focusing on some particular aspect of life that is most important to them, but each one also knowing that this sort of selfishness can never get us together and love one another right now.

Kathy, I’m lost, I said, though I knew she was sleeping
I’m empty and aching and I don’t know why
Counting the cars on the New Jersey turnpike
They’ve all gone to look for America
All gone to look for America
All gone to look for America

Liberty Dollar Seizure turns into battle cry for Ron Paul supporters

2007-11-17T15:45:00.000-08:00

Anyone who owns so-called "Liberty Dollars" and "Ron Paul Dollars" should be prepared for a dramatic increase in their collectibility and value.

For about eight years, Liberty Dollars have been minted and sold by a group known as the National Organization for the Repeal of the Federal Reserve Act and Internal Revenue Code (NORFED) as a medium for "private voluntary barter" transactions. However, in 2006 the US Mint posted its determination that these coins constituted illegal currency.

NORFED's defense of its activities can be found here. And here is a copy of an amended complaint filed by NORFED seeking an injunction against the US Mint's interference with its business.

But anyone who has spit into the wind knows the results are none too favorable. Last Friday, just as NORFED was preparing to mail out thousands of "Ron Paul Dollars" to customers, the FBI executed this search warrant. According to the warrant, the NORFED's coins were illegal currency and its purpose was to "undermine the United States financial systems." As if.

But that isn't the end of the story. News of the raid spread across the blogosphere like wildfire and legions of Ron Paul supporters are livid. The Washington Post has this story and several posted comments from Paul supporters. Interesting reading.

So, don't count on seeing any more Liberty Dollars for a while. And pay close attention to any you may already have. They are likely to become highly treasured collector's items.

Ron Paul wins straw vote in New York

2007-11-13T07:16:00.000-08:00

The results: Mr. Paul, 26 votes; Mr. Giuliani, 21; Mitt Romney, 6; John McCain, 4; Mike Huckabee, 2; Duncan Hunter, 1; Fred Thompson, 1; Tom Tancredo, 0. The story is here.

Another example of the pointlessness of campaign finance regulations

2007-11-12T07:52:00.000-08:00

This past summer the US Supreme Court ruled that issue based political ads that were not designed to influence an election were not subject to campaign finance regulations. On its face this may seem an obvious and correct result. But consider the behavior of a newly formed group called the Foundation for a Secure and Prosperous America.

As explained more fully in this story the group is now running ads in South Carolina urging citizens to contact Congress to express their support for the so-called Wounded Warriers Act. What's wrong with that, you say?

1. Congress is already in support of the bill, and it is virtually guaranteed to pass anyway. 2. The bill's sponsor, John McCain, is targeting South Carolina for a win in his race for president, and 3. The ad prominently features McCain.

When the legality of this kind of ad was before the Supreme Court McCain's lawyers filed a brief opposing the practice. But the Supreme Court ruled the First Amendment rights of issue based groups could not be stiffled just because they might want to speak during an election. As the story points out, "The decision removed virtually any restrictions on these groups’ ability to advertise, and made nonprofit corporations, with their few disclosure requirements, the tool of choice for big donors looking to influence elections because of their wide latitude to advertise."

Here is yet another example why campaign finance regulations are foolish, and frankly, anti-democratic. They become so complex that lawyers are necessary to figure them out. And no matter how intricate or nuanced the regulations, the First Amendment rights to speak supercede most of them anyway. So what's the point of having them?

The Ron Paul momentum

2007-11-11T07:55:00.000-08:00

Today's New York Times has this article that discusses the groundswell of interest that Ron Paul has generated on the Internet. Apparently Paul is as surprised as everyone else about the success of last Monday's internet fundraising drive.

Particularly important, although not explicitly stated, is that Paul's is not a traditional personality driven campaign, as were George Wallace's or Ross Perot's campaigns. While it is true that Paul isn't willing to softpetal any of his principles, it is also true that he is not micromanaging his campaign. Monday's $4 million fundraiser was organized and carried out by two internet junkies living in two different parts of the country, and whole independent of the campaign itself.

Clearly, it is the ideas, and not Paul's personality, that has created the Paul groundswell.

Republicans do not like Libertarian candidate

2007-11-09T13:36:00.000-08:00

Washington Poll, an academic research project at the UW, recently included former Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Ruth Bennett in its 11/8/07 poll of Washington voters' preferences for the 2008 governor's race. Even though incumbent Christine Gregoire and former Republican challenger Rossi got the most support, the results are interesting to Libertarians for other reasons.

According to the poll, Bennett appeals most to young non-Republicans (i.e., Democrats and Independents) on the east side of the state. Particularly significant is that few if any self-identified Republican voters on either side of the state supported Bennett in this poll.

These poll results suggest, contrary to the prevailing wisdom of the political pundits, Republicans and Libertarians are not the kindred spirits everyone thinks they are.

Campaign Finance Red Tape - the bane of political action

2007-11-07T14:58:00.000-08:00

The libertarian leaning Institute for Justice has just published this report of a study of campaign finance requirements in three states. Result? All participants committed errors sufficient to warrant penalties. Most could not complete even half of the tasks required for full compliance.

Of course, here in Washington the PDC cheerfully provides technical assistance to those who ask. But that begs the question, why are the requirements so complicated that technical assistance should be needed?

Ron Paul in the money

2007-11-05T19:35:00.000-08:00

According to an ABC News story Ron Paul raised 3 million dollars in 24 hours. If true, its a record for internet fundraising.

UPDATE: By the end of Monday's drive the Paul campaign had raised 4.2 million, an apparent record for ANY presidential candidate. Go Ron!

Is this the man you want protecting American voting rights?

2007-11-05T06:48:00.000-08:00

The battle over Voter ID laws reached a fever pitch the other day when John Tanner, who heads the US DOJ division voting rights section, testified in Congress recently.

In 2004 Washington's gubernatorial race was decided by 132 votes after two recounts. Along the way we learned of massive errors at virtually every level of the election system. Sad to say, this was more evidence of a nationwide problem with election systems, as demonstrated most clearly by the circumstances of the 2000 presidential election in Florida.

Since then Democrats and Republicans have been fighting fiercely over voter ID requirements. Republicans argue, with some merit, that the voting franchise belongs to eligible US citizens only, and not to aliens, felons or dead people, all of whom somehow manage to cast votes in every election. Democrats argue, also with some merit, that the real problem of elections is administrative, and the number of illegal votes cast is miniscule by comparison to the number of miscounted or uncounted votes that often tip the balance of elections.

Of course, the real issue isn't election integrity. Rather, the issue is the competence and wherewithal of the voter pool. Voters who are better educated and well off financially tend to vote Republican. Voters who are poor or otherwise disadvantaged tend to vote Democratic. Obviously a Voter ID requirement will further disadvantage those already disadvantaged, if only for the extra rigmarole that will be required to access the voting booth.

But what happened in Congress was something new. Basically, Mr. Tanner relied on racial stereotypes to justify the administration's support of voter ID requirements. Outraged, the New York Times has called for his termination.

Ignorance is bliss - as long as the administration is on your side.

2007-11-05T06:32:00.000-08:00

Today former US Attorney General John Ashcroft published this stupifying op-ed in the New York Times in defense of the telephone companies who cooperated with the Bush administration in illegal wire taps of suspected terrorists.

You will have to read it to believe it. But the essence of it is that the law is irrelevant. If some government official tells you its OK to break the law you are immune from suit.

Really!

Meanwhile, of course, his first successor has no trouble using DOJ for political purposes and the nominee for his second successor has trouble defining torture. One must hope that Bush's successor will have more respect for the Constitution, and for human dignity.

Bob Barr's speech to the Libertarian Party National Convention

2006-07-05T19:16:00.000-07:00

At 8:00 AM July 1, 2006, former Georgia representative Bob Barr gave the following call to arms at the Libertarian Party national convention in Portland, Oregon. Its worth the read.

Partisanship shows in elections appeal

2006-03-30T09:03:00.000-08:00

The Seattle Times reports Washington State is going to appeal a King County judge's ruling granting voting rights to felons who owe fines. Republican Attorney General McKenna and Republican Secretary of State Reed made the decision. Meanwhile Democratic Governor Gregoire who won in 2004 with a 129 vote margin in an election that included about 1600 votes of felons, expressed support for the ruling.

I'm sure all of our elected officials will claim they are acting in accordance with the general welfare.

Libertarian Party trashed

2006-01-23T09:27:00.000-08:00

In what amounts to a derivative of the wasted vote argument, Jon Henke of the Neolibertarian claims the Libertarian Party is dead. He points out that all of the 590 Libertarians elected to public office are in low level positions, and that the party has never done as well as it did in 1980. Then he talks about renegades from the Socialist Party and the American Labor Party working within the Democratic Party to implement virtually all of the 1928 Socialist platform and argues that libertarians should work within the Ds and Rs.

All of this presupposes that the Libertarian Party, as it is today, has no influence on politics, which is basically hogwash. While the LP generally controls a mere 3-5% of the electorate, that 3-5% is often enough to sway elections either way to the Ds or Rs, as the LP may choose. The LP is in the unique position of having much, but not everything, in common with both the Ds and Rs. Consequently, the LP can influence them both, and hence the entire political process, by "running left" or "running right" as the circumstances of each election cycle may suggest.

Big Brother is watching

2006-01-06T07:26:00.000-08:00

According to the Tacoma News Tribune the IRS has tracked taxpayers' political affiliations in at least 20 states.

Washington residents may have escaped this dragnet because Washington does not require voters to register by party.

Arizona Libertarian voter registration rises as R's and D's drop

2005-12-23T09:38:00.000-08:00

Story here. Hmmm.

Freedom fighter dead at 58

2005-12-12T17:03:00.000-08:00

On December 8, 2005, long-time Washington libertarian activist Bill Bradford died at his home in Port Townsend, Washington. The Seattle Times' obituary is here.

I will always remember him as a thoughtful and intelligent man who worked hard for the cause of liberty for all Americans. May he rest in peace.

Huxley would be proud

2005-12-11T14:40:00.000-08:00

1984 is now 20 years past and the brave new world is upon us.

For a taste of things to come, read E-tracking, coming to a DMV near you | Perspectives | CNET News.com, another scoop for Declan McCullagh.

Does Alito have Libertarian beliefs?

2005-11-12T13:21:00.000-08:00

The CATO Institute thinks Supreme Court nominee Samuel Alito does. See, Alito's Libertarian Streak.

But even if Alito leans libertarian that doesn't mean Libertarians should support him. Its time libertarians started holding out for people like Richard Epstein or Randy Barnett to be nominated.

Meet Energy Hog

2005-11-09T07:09:00.000-08:00

Last month the Bush administration unveiled a long-term clean-energy and conservation program complete with cartoon mascot. The Department of Energy (working with consumer group Alliance to Save Energy) introduced a campaign featuring Energy Hog, a sneering swine in leather jacket and jeans who, as a local rag put it, "will join McGruff the Crime Dog and Woodsy Owl in the pantheon of animated mascots failing to solve national problems."

Well, hey! If you can beat it, make fun of it.

Northwest Pork Fish Takes to the air

2005-10-28T18:58:00.000-07:00

A local nonprofit agency, the Alaska Fisheries Marketing Board, gave Alaska Airlines a $500,000 grant to paint the jet (like a king salmon). The money came out of about $29 million in federal funding U.S. Sen. Ted Stevens of Alaska and his congressional colleagues have appropriated to the marketing board, created in 2003, to promote and enhance the value of Alaska seafood. The senator's son, state Sen. Ben Stevens, is chairman of the agency's board of directors.

Cantwell Watch

2005-10-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

For anyone wondering why posts to this blog have dropped off, there have been a number of reasons, some personal and some political. To the extent I have found time for political observations and comments, I have been focusing primarily on watching the race in Washington State for US Senate. Here is the link to Cantwell Watch. Check it out.

Democratic poll shows significant opposition to war

2005-10-12T19:15:00.000-07:00

Click here for a poll report from the Democracy Corps, a left-leaning polling organization. The leading reason, by a factor of at least two, among those thinking America is going in the wrong direction is the War in Iraq. Gas prices, believe it or not, placed 6th, behind the economy, poor handling of Katrina and a general dislike for Bush.

Internet sales tax in the works

2005-10-11T06:44:00.000-07:00

For several years, state and local governments have been in dispute who has a right to tax an Internet sales transaction. Now, according to the Tacoma News Tribune retailers will soon be asked to voluntarily collect tax money from online shoppers and remit it to the states where those shoppers live. This measure still needs state legislative approval, but given that taxes are the lifeblood of government, the chances of passage are pretty good.

Just wait until the folks at ebay get hold of this one. Anybody who has sold an old watch or a book collection on ebay is not going to want to prepare a form and mail $1.35 to Wisconsin. These guys must be dreaming.

Its a brave new world

2005-10-01T07:40:00.000-07:00

Have cold? Forget your ID? Too bad.

Oh, give me a home where the buffalo roam
Where the deer and the antelope play
Where seldom is heard a discouraging word
And the skies are not cloudy all day

Why there needs to be a viable third party instead of a "top two" system

2005-09-29T10:41:00.000-07:00

Peter Callaghan of the Tacoma News Tribune points to exactly the kind of jingoistic, sound-bite politics that has given the Ds and Rs a bad name. And it is exactly why we have to expand the field of political party options rather than muzzle the two fattest and ugliest ones with non-partisan election rules.

Setting aside the fact that muzzling the two biggest parties with non-partisan type rules has the collateral effect of making third parties an endangered species, muzzling the offenders won't change their behavior, and it chills the First Amendment besides.

The beauty and strength of the first amendment is in allowing everyone their 15 minutes of fame. Yes, that has its downside too, but on balance we are a stronger, richer, nation because for the most part people get to say what they think.

But what has happened over the last century is that the Ds and Rs have found arguably legal yet highly pernicious ways (thanks to an ignorant supreme court that never has to stand for election) to make sure that they are the first ones to the podium, and they get to stay there the longest. The labyrinthian and oppressive campaign finance rules are Exhibit A to this fact. Nobody in third parties has the time or resources even to understand them, let alone form 501s and 527s to end-run them.

And so we are left with the Apple Cup on a grander scale. The red team calls the blue team a bunch of fags. The blue team yells the red team coach is an idiot. And they get away with it because they are the only game in town. Little do they realize that the bleachers are emptying because the fans are disgusted.

What the voters didn't realize was that I-872 destroyed the game as well as the teams. We don't need a free-for-all. We need a new game, one where more teams can have at least a fighting chance to win. When the Mets came to New York the Yankees improved their W/L ratio by about 50 points.

Washington State poll reflects skepticism, distrust of government

2005-09-25T09:16:00.000-07:00

The Atlanta based Republican polling firm Strategic Vision has released its 9/23/05 poll of Washington voters. Overall the poll reflects a significant level of voter dissatisfaction. Here is a brief list of winners:

Dino Rossi
John Roberts
Patty Murray
Hillary Clinton
Rudy Guiliani
Likelihood of another terrorist attack

and losers:

Christine Gregoire
George Bush
Tax increases to pay for gulf coast storm damage
Reliability of Washington's elections system
Condolezza Rice

Winner and loser:

While Maria Cantwell is shown as shown as leading Mike McGavick, her job approval rating is below 50%

Whither CATO?

2005-09-24T10:08:00.000-07:00

The venerable libertarian think tank CATO institute is under attack for supporting the IRAQ war, or at least not opposing it, and for cozying up to the Republican neoconservatives.

And it appears there are some disgruntled over what is perceived as a "suck up" mentality at CATO to whichever political philosophy is then in power. When Clinton was in office, for example, CATO tried to sell libertarianism as "low tax liberalism."

No doubt there is a problem of staying relevant as the political winds blow. But it has been shown time and again that there are no favors in politics, except among those within the same political party or philosophy, and CATO would do well to ignore the invitations of the neoconservatives and hold on to its integrity.

Is the image of politics changing?

2005-09-17T06:44:00.000-07:00

Conventional wisdom is that beards are the kiss of death in politics. But in New Jersey gubernatorial candidate Jon Corzine, who sports one, is 20 points ahead of his chief rival. Beards were de rigour in the 19th century. Maybe they will enjoy a comeback in the 21st. This would be a good thing since my wife insists I keep mine.

Analysis of Roberts' testimony

2005-09-15T09:44:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post has decided supreme court nominee John Roberts is A Conservative, Yes, but Not a Scalia. Very interesting to note the article quotes libertarian law school professor Randy Barnett extensively, and none of the other recognized scholars.

NJ Libertarian qualifies for gubernatorial debates.

2005-09-14T15:02:00.000-07:00

The price of the ticket: $300,000.

Swan songs for the Rs?

2005-09-11T08:44:00.000-07:00

As I speculated last Thursday the Washington Post suggests Katrina Darkens the Outlook for Incumbents.

I have often predicted that political pendulum is near the end of its conservative swing. Now it appears that gas prices, the War in Iraq and Hurricane Katrina will provide the catalyst for significant changes in Washington D.C.

While I, unfortunately, don't think the NLP is ready to assume the lead, I do think, with the right ideas and rhetoric, there is an opening for more libertarian ideas in the wake of the neoconservative crash.

Republican eats own young

2005-09-11T08:33:00.000-07:00

Well, it seems Karl Rove may not be eligible to vote in Texas (scroll down). Two days after the Washington Post article hit the streets, Texas Secretary of State Roger Williams canned a staff attorney for speaking generically about voter residency requirements and not discussing Rove in particular.

Is this what Bush meant when he spoke of "compassionate conservatism?"

State judicial races to become more political

2005-09-10T08:16:00.000-07:00

The News Tribune reports: State judicial races might get bigger shot of party politics, apparently with some sense of alarm. A federal court of appeals recently lifted a prohibition against judges identifying their political affiliations and opinions. After all, say critics, "that could open courtroom doors to biased judges, unfair trials and increased special interest influence."

This is nothing but a matter of perspective. The very reason why judges are asked to decide cases is because there is a strong difference of opinion between the litigants about what is right or wrong in the circumstance.

Although it is possible for a judge to come down somewhere in the middle, more often than not one side wins and the other side loses. Then the winning side says the judge was fair, unbiased and without undue influence, and the other side suspects foul play. Its in the nature of the beast.

Nobody really thinks judges don't have opinions before they come to the bench. It's only human nature to have them. And before they come to the bench they have typically honed the skill of advancing those opinions as attorneys representing clients.

So, how could it possibly be that allowing judicial candidates to express their opinions before they get elected is a bad thing? The alternative is to promulgate a sham on an unsuspecting public.

Failures of the Bush Administration

2005-09-08T07:19:00.000-07:00

Sidney Blumenthal has this engaging, if somewhat inaccurate, criticism of the Republican brand of limited government. But what it shows, more than anything, is that incompetence reigns supreme at the White House.

On the right Bush has been accused of snatching defeat from the mouth of victory by elevating John Roberts to Chief Justice. The thinking goes, if Bush had left Roberts to fill O'Connor's seat he could have nominated another conservative to replace Rehnquist, thus moving the court "one notch to the right." Now, with centrist O'Connor's seat open again, the risk is he is going to have to nominate someone more palatable to the left.

I think we will shortly see more and more Republicans in congress bolting from administration policy, and Bush is already a lame duck, even before the 2006 elections.

Partisanship increasing - good or bad?

2005-09-07T07:23:00.000-07:00

Contrary to prior catastrophes America has not pulled together behind its president. An ABC/Washington Post poll reflects a Deepening Divide between Ds and Rs over current administration policies in general and Bush's performance in particular.

The question is what this means for third parties. In one sense it is good sign, because "bipartisanship" is now revealed as the sham that it is. On the other hand, I'm afraid the need to be on the winning (or "right") side is going to cause independents to take sides, which reduces the pool of available supporters for alternatives to the Ds and Rs.

Time will tell.

Libertarians gaining in Costa Rica

2005-09-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

While the LP languishes on the sidelines in the US, Movimiento Libertario in Costa Rica has gained 10% of country's Congress. One very big advantage the Ls in CR have is proportional representation. But, as the latter article explains, there are other factors as well.

Congress has the Endangered Species Act in its sights this fall

2005-09-06T07:02:00.000-07:00

The property rights / environmentalist war is bound to heat up this fall as Congress has the Endangered Species Act in its sights.

Web site analyzes roll of internet in politics

2005-09-05T17:47:00.000-07:00

Two academics, Kirsten A. Foot, Ph.D., of the UW, and Steven M. Schneider, Ph.D., from SUNY, have developed PoliticalWeb.Info providing analytical reports, working papers and publications, and multi-functional interfaces to Web collections, all to help explain the impact of the Internet on politics.

Hi-tech no panacea for ID theft woes

2005-09-05T08:51:00.000-07:00

Now that the British are considering their own version of the REAL ID, a security expert says it can make matters worse. Dr Emily Finch, of the University of East Anglia, said the introduction of Chip and PIN on credit cards and UK government plans to introduce identity card schemes will only encourage crooks to become more imaginative. She said there was no substitute for individual vigilance.

But it really isn't about identity theft is it? Its about amassing monstrous databases for purposes of crowd control, isn't it?

Bush Nominates Roberts to Replace Rehnquist

2005-09-05T08:32:00.000-07:00

In a rare display of responsiveness, George W. Bush Nominates Roberts to Replace Chief Justice Rehnquist. Of course, this confirms prior speculation that Roberts has always been the choice to replace Rehnquist, it being merely a matter of time, and prehaps a matter of a second confirmation hearing.

Much has already been written about Roberts' background. He will likely fall into line behind Rehnquist and side with Scalia and Thomas on most issues. This does not bode well for minor political parties, whose rights have continually been ignored by conservatives on the bench.

Democrats to hold annual dinner

2005-09-04T13:23:00.000-07:00

Erstwhile senator and vice-presidential candidate John Edwards will be in Seattle Tuesday for the annual Warren G. Magnuson dinner. Why should Libertarians care? Because the Ds are charging $100 a plate for a party building event. Maybe the Ls should take a page from the D playbook.

Who is proud to be a Republican today?

2005-09-03T08:03:00.000-07:00

Amidst continuing criticism of the slow federal response to the Hurricane Katrina disaster NBC stiffled an unscripted criticism of George Bush, which accused him of ignoring blacks. Rapper Kanye West also accused the media of treating blacks differently from whites. "If you see a black family, it says they're looting. See a white family, it says they're looking for food," he said.

The show was live on the east coast, and so NBC officials were unable to censor the comments until it was reaired on the west coast. And NBC has taken great pains to distance itself from West's comments. ""It would be most unfortunate," it said in a prepared statement, "if the efforts of the artists who participated tonight and the generosity of millions of Americans who are helping those in need are overshadowed by one person's opinion." NBC must be proud.

One of the marks of a man who has exceeded his capacity to lead is that he is slow to react. W did the same thing on 9/11, sitting in a classroom of children for nearly half an hour after being told of the attack. But even if he never had a particular thought about the plight of the inner city blacks in New Orleans (I frankly think he never did) those around him should have known better, and they let the disaster spread without taking immediate action.

We are now full circle. The political party that came into being championing the rights of blacks has demonstrated, now that it is in power, that it couldn't care less about them.

Pro-gas-tax campaign slow to take shape

2005-09-03T07:34:00.000-07:00

Friday's P-I reports the pro-gas-tax campaign is having trouble getting started.

Of course, the argument goes, Washington's infrastructure (old bridges, bottlenecks, etc.) need help. But the fact of the matter is the gas tax is DOA. If the proponents could have overcome the 400,000 signature groundswell of opposition, they have little control over the fact that gas is now over $3 per gallon, thanks to the combined effects of Katrina and W's wrongheaded foreign policy.

Long Term Questions for New Orleans

2005-09-02T11:11:00.000-07:00

While critics are faulting the planning for and response to the devastation of Hurricane Katrina, a $10 billion relief plan has been proposed.

While it is obvious that authorities need to provide immediate relief, food, shelter, etc., for those afflicted, the real question is whether New Orleans should be rebuilt. It is, for most part, below sea level now. And if there is any truth to global warming (I've seen it in my own neighborhood and you probably have in yours as well. Like, when was the last time that it really, I mean REALLY, snowed in your back yard?), the chances of another similar catastrophe will only get larger. Check the attached map for the prediction of one futurist.

These are your tax dollars at work. Even in this arena of obvious need, hard questions need to be asked what plans should be made for the future of New Orleans.

Blogspamed!

2005-09-01T18:07:00.000-07:00

Today this and another blog I post to got "spamed" with several obviously impertinent Anonymous comments containing links to commercial sites. Henceforth, if you want to comment on this or the other site, Cantwell Watch, you will have to register. Sorry for the inconvenience.

Waiting for a Leader

2005-09-01T07:08:00.000-07:00

If the New York Times editorial page is any indicator, W's successor will have no trouble rising above expectations.

Greedy lawyers and negligent doctors

2005-09-01T06:59:00.000-07:00

See this rundown on the coming nasty election battle over two medical-malpractice initiatives in Washington. One, I-330, backed by the medical community, puts caps on jury awards and attorney fees. The other, I-336, backed by lawyers, makes a doctor's malpractice history public information and creates a mechanism to revoke the licenses of chronically negligent doctors. So far, the doctors are outspending the lawyers by a factor of 2 to 1.

Frankly, neither initiative is particularly attractive. There is no guarantee jury award and attorney fee caps are going to lead to lower medical costs and the truly injured will be deprived of a remedy. At the same time doctors are already under intense scrutiny, and there is no indication that increased scrutiny will lead to better care.

Pirro trots out tired and failed challenge to Clinton

2005-09-01T06:25:00.000-07:00

Jeanine Pirro, a Westchester County, New York, district attorney, thinks she can beat Hillary Clinton in next year's race for the U.S. Senate by arguing Clinton wants to be President.

This is the same argument Clinton's last opponent used. It failed then and it will fail now. In fact, it is the kind of argument that will help bring about the result Pirro threatens.

If this is the best the New York Republicans can do they are in big trouble.

Outlawing Teacher Strikes

2005-09-01T05:58:00.000-07:00

Peter Callaghan argues teacher strikes add up to harm for communities that justifies anti-strike legislation for teachers.

Citing to a bill introduced last year by Rep. Hans Dunshee (D-Snohomish), Callaghan argues teachers should be required to work without contracts and submit to binding arbitration, as the police and fire fighters already have to do. Education, according to Callaghan, is as important as public safety.

But this is a solution looking for a problem. Rarely is there more than one teacher strike in any one year, if there is any at all. The last teacher strike in the state, in Marysville, was in 2003.

More important, it can lead to increases in the state role in education in unintended ways. Public safety and public education are more different than they are alike. While the role of government in public safety is primarily to prevent harm, the role of government in education is to confer a benefit.

The public safety role is already leading to, in this writer's opinion, serious losses of fundamental rights and unwarranted invasions of privacy, all in the name of fighting terrorism. If public education is important enough to compromise the rights of teachers to strike, how long will it be before somebody argues it is important enough to (further) compromise the rights of parents and students?

Veteran White House reporter lambasts Democrats

2005-08-31T06:13:00.000-07:00

Veteran White House correspondent Helen Thomas has taken the Democrats to task for backing a senseless war in Iraq. Accusing the Ds of lacking backbone, she suggests that voters will not be very forgiving in future elections.

The trouble with the argument is, unless there is a major change in election systems across the country, voters will not have a chance to vote against the war. If they vote R they vote for the war. If they vote D they, well, vote for the war.

We saw in the Perot campaigns in the 1990s the extraordinary efforts that are necessary even to place an outside candidate in the running, let alone given a fighting chance to win. If Ms. Thomas really wants the Democrats to do something, she is going to have to show how they will lose elections with their current strategy.

Capitalism wins again, for this round anyway

2005-08-30T05:47:00.000-07:00

In yet another handwringing story about the illegal drug problem, local law enforcement now says that 75% of all methamphetamine consumed in Washington is coming from California and Mexico. Why Oregon escapes opprobrium isn't clear.

Why should this be a surprise? The fact is that illegal drugs will continue to be a problem for as long as there is a profit in the manufacture and delivery of the stuff. Sooner or later, one hopes, our national and state leadership will finally get the message that decriminalization and medical treatment is the only workable solution. Witness the steady, relentless, campaign against cigarettes. Regulation is always more powerful than interdiction.

The CIA leak: Infighting, grudges, justifying a war

2005-08-27T07:23:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Times has an interesting article that chronicles the Wilson/Plame/CIA affair. Long but worth it.

County must pay $300,000 in dispute over public records

2005-08-27T07:03:00.000-07:00

Armen Yousoufian still isn't happy. The former landlord to the Libertarian Party of Washington sued King County 7 years ago over its failure to disclose economic impact statements related to the then proposed Seahawks Stadium.

This past week a King County judge ruled County must pay $300,000, partly as a statutory penalty for delaying in production of the statements and partly for Yousoufian's attorney fees. But according to Yousoufian the judgment will not have the deterent effect against future disclosures that the penalty provisions were designed to create.

At issue is the application of the public records penalty statute, which provides that an agency can be fined between $5 and $100 per day for failure to produce properly requested information. In 2001 a judge imposed a $5 per day fine on the county and Yousoufian appealed. The Supreme Court said that was too low and sent it back to the trial court for a reevaluation of the penalty award. The most recent judgment is based on a $15 per day fine.

I have litigated this provision in the past and I have never seen a court award a $100 per day fine. In Yousoufian's case the court specifically held the King County officials were not liable for misconduct, merely incompetence. So, the question is what the penalty is for incompetence. I have to agree with Yousoufian. $15 per day is too low.

Evolving opinion of one man

2005-08-25T07:40:00.000-07:00

Yesterday's Seattle Times contains an interesting article about a retired UW scientist and devout Christian who was once attracted to and later repelled by the Seattle based Discovery Institute's efforts to introduce "intelligent design" into classrooms. The campaign, according to Dr. Bob Davidson, is an insult to both science and religion. I think he is probably right.

Smoking ban opponents launch campaign

2005-08-25T06:48:00.000-07:00

The "NO on I-901" campaign will hold a news conference today in Olympia. Blaming the pharmaceutical companies for funding the anti-smoking measure, the group accuses them wanting to sell more stop-smoking patches and other drug aids. Every page of the "No on I-901" web site contains this message:

"This is not a debate on the merits of smoking. The debate is whether we wish to give our government the right to outlaw smoking by adults on ones own personal property, private business or vehicle while at the same time knowing all tribal lands and businesses will be exempt."

The Libertarian Party of Washington should go on record as opposing I-901. People who don't like to be around smokers can, and should, vote with their feet. The invisible hand of market forces will quickly tell restaurant and business owners what they should be doing.

Citing Sacrifice, President Vows to Keep Up Fight

2005-08-23T07:19:00.000-07:00

Speaking to a veteran's group President Bush vowed to keep up the fight in Iraq.

So, when is he sending his daughters over to help out?

Cantwell Watch blog online

2005-08-22T23:00:00.000-07:00

In 2006 THE political campaign to watch is going to be the election for Maria Cantwell's seat in the U.S. Senate.

In 2000 Cantwell barely squeaked by incumbent Slade Gorton by 2200 votes out of nearly 2.5 million.

Many believe Cantwell won because Libertarian Jeff Jared, who garnered almost 65,000 votes, took more votes from Gorton than he did from Cantwell. There are others who believe that Jared merely reduced Cantwell's margin of victory.

Regardless, Cantwell's performance will be at issue in 2006, as Gorton's was in 2000. Hence I have inaugurated Cantwell Watch, a blog dedicated to tracking what Cantwell does (or doesn't do) to warrant her reelection, or ouster, in 2006.

Depending on time available I will try to provide regular updates. However, I am more than willing to turn this project over to a faithful libertarian volunteer.

Special Prosecutor Looking Into Presidential Recount In Cleveland

2005-08-22T16:16:00.000-07:00

As a result of the complaints of Libertarian and Green presidential candidates, prosecutors have opened an investigation into the recounting procedures in Cleveland, Ohio. The state went for Bush in the 2004 election.

We're from the government and we're here to help you.

2005-08-22T08:24:00.000-07:00

By year end all 911 dispatchers will be able to pinpoint cell phone users within a few yards. The technology is being developed at the behest of the FCC, which set a year end deadline for the system to be in place.

There. Don't you feel safer already?

Apologies for Bush

2005-08-21T09:02:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Times has this explanation why Bush refused to see Cindy Sheehan, despite her vigil of nearly two weeks. It seems administration officials saw her demand for a meeting as the first of hundreds or thousands of similar demands from ordinary people for the president's time.

Jesus had the same problem, crowds flocking to Him for healing and encouragement. And He didn't turn them away. As the New York Times' Frank Rich puts it: "When Mr. Bush's motorcade left a grieving mother in the dust to speed on to a fund-raiser, that was one fat-cat party too far."

Republicans tap insurance co. exec. to challenge Cantwell

2005-08-20T09:09:00.000-07:00

Amidst trading barbs both Democrats and Republicans admitted that the race for the U.S. Senate in Washington for 2006 has begun. The Republicans have all but chosen an unknown insider, SAFECO executive Mike McGavick, to slay the Cantwell dragon.

Opinions differ whether the race will follow the 2000 Cantwell-Gorton script or the 2004 Murray-Nethercutt script. I lean to the latter. McGavick has no experience in public life. He is associated with a disliked industry. He is a virtual unknown. Of course, anything can happen in the next 16 months, but frankly, this is Cantwell's race to lose.

The question for Libertarians is whether they can tap a candidate who will gather enough votes to help her lose. Although he has not said whether he is interested in running, early interest within the party is upon alternative medicines guru Jonathan Wright. Stay tuned.

'08 hopefuls already flocking to Iowa

2005-08-20T08:36:00.000-07:00

The Seattle Times has an interesting background article on the coming 2008 presidential race.

Besides listing those who have expressed interest, including McCain and Clinton for example, the article points out a very significant fact--Cheney isn't running. This will be the first time in 50 years when a former vice-president isn't seeking an open seat.

This is all the more reason why the LP should be seeking out qualified potential candidates now, in hopes that we don't wind up settling for everybody's second choice.

States' Budget & Tax Picture exceeds projections

2005-08-18T06:30:00.000-07:00

According to the National Association of State Legislature's State Budget & Tax Actions 2005: Preliminary Report: "State finances improved during FY 2005, substantially eclipsing policymakers' expectations entering the fiscal year. Year-end balances were twice as high as expected and overall budget stress eased."

Washington State is about average with between 5% and 10% of its annual budget in a rainy day account. Federal aid and reduced spending are the two biggest factors in this picture.

So much for unfunded mandates....

Judge boots Garrett from ballot

2005-08-17T08:06:00.000-07:00

As predicted, a King County Judge boots convicted felon James Garrett from ballot.

States complain of national ID costs

2005-08-17T07:28:00.000-07:00

National Conference of State Legislatures, a BIPARTISAN group meeting in Seattle this week, released its unfunded mandate monitor, estimating that implementation of the heinous REAL ID Act, surreptitiously slipped into a budget bill this past summer, will cost the states 13 billion dollars to implement.

And the REAL ID Act isn't the only problem. This is from the preamble to the report:

The National Conference of State Legislatures (NCSL) first published the Mandate Monitor in the late 1980’s through the mid-1990s as a result of the increasing number of costly intergovernmental mandates. The Mandate Monitor played a key role in the enactment of the Unfunded Mandates Reform Act of 1995. The provisions of UMRA clearly have shown to be effective. Only five intergovernmental mandates as determined by UMRA that exceed the threshold have been enacted over the past decade. However, the federal government continues to shift costs—at least $51 billion for FY 2004 and FY 2005 collectively—to state and local governments. This is due to the fact that state officials view unfunded mandates more expansively than UMRA. This includes legislation that: establishes conditions of grant aid; reduces current funds available for existing programs without a similar reduction in requirements; extends or expands existing or expiring mandates; creates a loss in state or local funds; compels coverage of a certain population under a current program without providing full or adequate funding for this coverage; and, creates underfunded national expectations.

"The trend has not been good," said John Hurson, a Democratic state lawmaker from Maryland and NCSL president.

ALL of Washington's congressional representatives, except Jim McDermott, voted in favor of the REAL ID bill. Although allegedly passed as an anti-terrorist measure, the REAL ID Act is a serious invasion of privacy. Here is a summary of what the Real ID Act requires. Here is what security expert Bruce Schneier and Congressman Ron Paul have to say about it.

I think the Libertarian Party should hammer our representatives on the REAL ID Act during the 2006 election cycle.

Good Space Guy running for King County Executive

2005-08-16T07:56:00.000-07:00

It's true! Former Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Michael Nelson has filed as a Democratic candidate for King County Executive. Let the fireworks begin!

Ordinary citizens bad guys again

2005-08-16T07:49:00.000-07:00

In this week's installment car owners are blamed for increasing pollution in the Puget Sound. It seems the chemicals that come out of our tailpipes settle on the streets and eventually wash through the stormdrains into the sea.

Forget freedom and any right to mobility. Take the bus. No, don't take the bus. Stay home. Feel guilty.

But wait there is another solution. Local public works departments could easily set up storm water filters that trap the pollutants before they reach the Sound.

This, of course, raises the question of funding. Libertarians are said to be fond of user fees. And even though many Libertarians see the idea of a gas tax as heresy, I think a gas tax dedicated to area transportation needs and the consequent pollution issues should be viewed as a user fee. This is a simple solution to the multiple collateral problems created by our exercise of our freedom to travel.

Living Large, by Design, in the Middle of Nowhere

2005-08-15T08:00:00.000-07:00

File this one under Lifestyle.

The American Dream of owning your own home is taking a decided turn toward planned unit developments set up on rural farmlands that are anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour from urban centers. Forget the quaint little cottage on a country road. More interior space and more security on smaller lots in gated communities are the guideposts. And the big box stores like Costco and Home Depot are right there to help the new homeowners fit in. Oh, incidentally, these manufactured communities tend to vote Republican.

Libertarian Party should support Tacoma City Manager's tax proposal.

2005-08-14T08:46:00.000-07:00

As the News Tribune reports local citizens are hotly debating City Manager Eric Anderson's proposal to replace property taxes with user fees as a method of paying for police, fire and library services.

The plan is merely in the concept stage. But a few things are immediately apparent. First, depending on the final framework, only users pay, not merely a selected group of real property owners who may or may not use the service. Second, the plan introduces a transparency of public funding unavailable in a general taxing fund. Those who pay will know exactly how much they are paying, and what they are paying for. Third, a user fee system is good for local business and investment, because it lowers fixed operating costs.

Of course, there are questions to be answered. How are the police going to charge (or collect) for responding on a domestic violence call? Would landlords pass on the tax savings to tenants, who would now have to pay for library cards? But these are details to be worked out, not reasons to reject the idea at the outset.

Finally, the City Manager's proposal, regardless of its internal merits, has created an opening for significant tax reform whether or not his proposal is ultimately adopted. The Libertarian Party should ensure that its views are at the table when the final plan is hammered out.

U.S. Lowers Sights On What Can Be Achieved in Iraq

2005-08-14T07:37:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post reports U.S. Lowers Sights On What Can Be Achieved in Iraq.

Yep. Now thoughts are turning to an exit strategy. "We've said we won't leave a day before it's necessary. But necessary is the key word -- necessary for them or for us? When we finally depart, it will probably be for us," a U.S. official said.

Setting aside my fundamental problem with the reasons for the invasion--wrongheaded preemptive strike foreign policy, no WMD after all, etc.--I have never understood the arrogance of the Bush administration, thinking it could impose a Western style democracy on a culture that has thousands of years of older, richer traditions. Several other tyrants, Khan, Alexander, Napoleon, the British, the Russians, have tried and failed.

The article reports that even basic elements of infrastructure--i.e., water and electricity--are in shorter supply than when Saddam was in power. And instead of a withering insurgency, it continues to grow. Barbers are getting murdered for shaving men contrary to religious custom.

And by far most important in my view, the rule of law simply has not taken hold. The very concept of a written constitution has provoked death threats. Meanwhile, administration officials scratch their heads and lower their ambitions.

"Under pressure to get a constitution done, they've lowered their own ambitions in terms of getting a document that is going to be very far-reaching and democratic. We also don't have the time to go through the process we envisioned when we wrote the interim constitution -- to build a democratic culture and consensus through debate over a permanent constitution," said Larry Diamond, a Stanford University democracy expert who worked with the U.S. occupation government and wrote the book "Squandered Victory: The American Occupation and the Bungled Effort to Bring Democracy to Iraq."

The goal now is to ensure a constitution that can be easily amended later so Iraq can grow into a democracy, U.S. officials say.

Hmmm. An easily amendable constitution? What's the point? As soon as we have left (We ARE leaving, sometime, aren't we?) one of two things will happen--one faction or another will amend it to favor itself or it will be thrown out altogether.

Mortimer Adler once said, "America doesn't fix it's problems. It leaves them behind."

Just as Nixon's "peace with honor" exit strategy for Vietnam failed, here is one more mess for us to be embarrassed about.

Should felons be allowed political rights?

2005-08-13T09:00:00.000-07:00

King County has ruled James C. Garrett, a convicted felon who filed as a candidate for Mayor of Seattle, can't vote. They are also taking steps to take Garrett off the ballot altogether.

State law prevents felons from participating in the electoral process unless and until their rights are restored by court order. Although this issue played a major role in the recent gubernatorial election contest, it has been a continuing controversy in election law circles for several years. The debate isn't merely about civil rights either, because the prevailing assumption is that felons tend to vote Democratic.

So, here are the questions:

1. Do felons tend to vote Democratic? Or are they more likely to vote Libertarian? Or Republican? Or Green?
2. Should felons be deprived of their right to vote? And if so, for how long?

Democrats Conflicted on Playing Rough

2005-08-13T08:38:00.000-07:00

The Washington Post has this interesting article discussing the disarray within the Democratic Party over the Roberts nomination.

In essence, it appears, the NARAL ad did more to damage the opposition to the Roberts nomination than it did to help it. Rather than rallying behind NARAL, as the Republicans had rallied around the Swift Boat Veterans, the Democrats ran for cover.

Astroturf campaign for Roberts comes to Washington

2005-08-13T07:43:00.000-07:00

Washington State Attorney General Rob McKenna and former U.S. Senator Slade Gorton now head WAforJudgeRoberts.com, an organization created to support the nomination of John Roberts to the U.S. Supreme Court. This effort is being paid for by Progress for America, a Republican led soft money laundering operation with close ties to the Bush Administration.

Claiming to be an "ad-hoc coalition ...formed to ensure that Judge John G. Roberts receives genuine consideration for the Supreme Court Associate Justice vacancy, not baseless attacks," the group exhorts, "Judge Roberts deserves an 'Up or Down' vote."

If you want another Supreme Court justice in the Scalia/Thomas mold, then Roberts is your man.

But setting all of that aside, these web sites are slick. The "UporDownVote" site, for example, wants to "Restore the Constitution". But this part of the site really relates to the Republican goal of ending filibusters of judicial nominations. Never mind that the Democrats wanted to do the same thing when they were in power.

And, designed to do more than merely inform, they invite action: Readers can "Donate", contact "Congress", "Tell-A-Friend" and "Sign the Petition".

This, I think, is a classic example of what has become known as astroturf lobbying, or the organized arrangement of an ersatz grassroots movement. There is nothing "ad-hoc" about it.This is all part and parcel to the new face of politics in an IT world. Goebbels would be proud.

IRV moves forward in Tacoma

2005-08-12T08:01:00.000-07:00

Citizens for Instant Runoff Voting - Tacoma held a public forum at UW-Tacoma yesterday to promote Proposition 1, an initiative to provide for election of non-partisan candidates by order of preference. For an explanation how IRV works see IRV - Wikipedia.

IRV has received a lot of attention from left leaning groups such as the League of Women Voters and other grass roots organizations around the country. And in non-partisan races IRV makes a lot of sense.

However, the Libertarian Party should be wary of IRV in a partisan arena. Most supporters of IRV assume that minor party candidates are preferred by many voters who perceive (rightly or wrongly) that the minor party candidate has little chance of winning. Consequently, goes the logic, many voters choose a less preferred candidate but one with a chance of winning; see, e.g., wasted vote. While this is theoretically possible I am aware of no polling or other empirical evidence that it is true. (And if any readers of this blog know of any such evidence I want to hear about it!)

And what if this premise isn't true? What if most voters still prefer "D" or "R" candidates over minor party candidates? Then the minor party candidates are eliminated in the first or second round of counting and the "D" and "R" candidates can claim not merely a plurality of support but an outright majority of support (i.e., a mandate). Worse still, minor party candidates lose the "balance of power" factor, the ability to gather enough votes to swing the election.

In a partisan arena IRV probably does more damage to minor parties than good. In my view proportional representation makes far more sense.

Another observes the cultural segmentation phenomenon

2005-08-11T07:16:00.000-07:00

The New York Times' David Brooks says All Cultures Are Not Equal, noting that globalization of technology has not brought about homogeneity but rather segmentation of cultures.

This is, of course, a double edged sword. While it suggests that Libertarians, for example, are likely to gain respect in a multifaceted society it also suggests that the LP, for one, may never benefit from a national groundswell.

League of Women Voters weighs in on election reform.

2005-08-10T09:50:00.000-07:00

Amidst a spate of angst and worry, there is a call for more standards and more federal involvement, i.e., not much new here.

Debunking the Drug War, again

2005-08-10T08:24:00.000-07:00

So, every once in a while somebody in the mainstream points out the absurdity of the drug war. Here is the most current installment.

My guess is, now that the "leaders" of the United States have the "war on terror" to rant and wail about, the war on drugs will eventually disappear, and a more rational treatment agenda will be adopted.

Could Tacoma's new city manager be a closet libertarian?

2005-08-10T07:33:00.000-07:00

Last night Tacoma's recently hired City Manager unveiled a radical vision for tax reform in the City. The city's portion of the B&O tax would be gone, and utility taxes would be lowered. In their place would be user fees for police, fire and library services.

Of course the City Council had plenty of questions and the City Manager was short on answers. And it may be too radical for timid city officials. But the basic idea sounds very libertarian to me.

National Libertarian Party abandons dues requirement for membership effective 1/1/06

2005-08-09T18:01:00.000-07:00

The National Libertarian Party announced today that it is moving to Zero-Dues Membership system.

For its entire life the National Libertarian Party has based membership in two things: (1) payment of annual dues, and (2) certification of a non-aggression pledge. This past weekend the Libertarian National Committee voted to set the dues requirement at zero, leaving only the pledge requirement for membership in the party. The move to the zero-dues structure will take effect on Jan. 1, 2006.

At the same meeting the LNC voted to end the United Membership Program (UMP) that served as an agreement between the LNC and the Libertarian Party's state affiliates. Through that agreement, states where provided with revenue based on how many dues-paying members they had. The UMP will begin phase-out on Sept. 30, 2005. The party announced its intention to develop training programs to assist states in making the transition, but the announcement provided no specifics what those programs would entail.

While at first blush this may seem to be a mistake, we must recognize that neither the Democrats nor the Republicans require payment of dues to be considered party members. Both operate almost exclusively on donations.

I believe this decision will ultimately strengthen the party. I think voters are far more likely to join the party if joining is merely a matter of endorsing a non-aggression pledge. I also think potential donors are far more likely to donate sizable amounts if they know the party doesn't have a dues structure to depend on.

Bush signs bill for special elections if more than 100 members of congress die

2005-08-09T09:01:00.000-07:00

On August 2, 2005 President Bush signed a legislative appropriations bill that had a curious, and largely unnoticed provision for a special election in "extraordinary circumstances", i.e., if more than 100 seats in the House of Representatives are vacant. See, Title III of H.R. 2985.

The questions are why did Congress think this provision necessary and why hasn't the press picked up this story?

- Thanks go to Richard Winger of Ballot Access News for this tip.

High-Profile Prosecutor to Run Against Clinton - New York Times

2005-08-09T06:52:00.000-07:00

Click here for an interesting article about the newly annointed challenger to Hillary in New York's 2006 U.S. Senate race, which race many are watching as a prelude to Hillary's bid in 2008 for president.

The strategy seems remarkably similar to Bush the younger's annointment for his presidential bid, and, for that matter, Dino Rossi's annointment for Washington's governor.

Maybe Americans aren't sheep after all.

2005-08-07T07:25:00.000-07:00

After three years in Iraq we still don't have a workable exit strategy. Meanwhile Newsweek reports a mere 34 percent of Americans approve of the way Bush is handling it, and the mother of a fallen soldier leads a protest to Bush's Texas ranch.

But where it will all lead is anyone's guess. America swallowed Bush's claim about WMD hook, line and sinker. And now that the truth is out Congress still isn't holding hearings.

There was a time when "My country, right or wrong" was overshadowed by "Question Authority." Its quite clear, as long as Republicans dominate congress the mantra is "My President, right or wrong".

Why the Red Delicious No Longer Is

2005-08-06T07:03:00.000-07:00

Today's Washington Post has this interesting (and somewhat depressing) article about one of Washington State's major exports.

Bush as anti-intellectual

2005-08-06T06:32:00.000-07:00

Washington Post columnist Eugene Robinson points out the Bush administration is obstructing science in three major areas; stem cell research, global warming and most recently in resurrecting creationism as basic curriculum in schools. Even some top Republicans are complaining.

This is not to say that the scientific community is always right about its theories. Even Darwinism has been proven only anecdotally, and not yet conclusively. And assuming natural selection is valid where did the mathematical reality of chance, on which natural selection ultimately depends, come from? If the concept of odds-making and statistical relationships for the propagation of species is fixed and immutable, why is that so? Who planned it that way?

But this note is not intended to open a debate about "intelligent design." It is merely to point out there are two sides to every issue.

But Bush really doesn't care about that. He has demonstrated over and again that his primary purpose is to help his friends and family, and the rest of the world be damned.

America became great because it championed freedom and ingenuity. Ever since 9/11 that forward looking policy ethic, in Bush's hands, has all but disappeared. Now its all about power and security, both of which are the marks of an society in decline.

Wake up America!

Technology and Politics

2005-08-04T07:37:00.000-07:00

Imbedded in a shirt-renting complaint about the difficulty of using cell phones in subways, New York Times Columnist Thomas Friedman says this:

"Message: In U.S. politics, the party that most quickly absorbs the latest technology often dominates. F.D.R. dominated radio and the fireside chat; J.F.K., televised debates; Republicans, direct mail and then talk radio, and now Karl Rove's networked voter databases.

The technological model coming next - which Howard Dean accidentally uncovered but never fully developed - will revolve around the power of networks and blogging. The public official or candidate will no longer just be the one who talks to the many or tries to listen to the many. Rather, he or she will be a hub of connectivity for the many to work with the many - creating networks of public advocates to identify and solve problems and get behind politicians who get it."

The Libertarian Party is overrun with computer geeks. Its time it made the best use of its resources. Readers of this blog are welcome to comment.

Supreme Court candidate John Roberts' record on voting rights analyzed

2005-08-03T09:22:00.000-07:00

Today's L.A Times has an op-ed by Loyola Law School professor and election law expert Rick Hasen in which he suspects that Roberts will vote to gut the 1965 Voting Rights Act whenever it comes up for review. While the act has so far had little impact on minor party ballot access rights, Roberts' writings on the VRA, according to Hasen, reflect an antagonism by Roberts to minority representation in government. Setting aside the question whether Hasen has Roberts pegged, I can not fathom why Hasen, who is an avowed supporter of "top two" election systems, would find this objectionable.

Who should be the next LP presidential candidate?

2005-08-03T08:32:00.000-07:00

Given the LP's track record for picking presidential candidates, including, for example, a dead-beat dad, a shameless self-promoter and most recently a virtual unknown (who may have been articulate, but an unknown nonetheless), it seems appropriate to start asking the question: Who can best represent the principles and values of the LP in its most visible public position during the next presidential election?

Some have suggested John Mackey, the brains behind Whole Foods Market, a national grocery chain for the granola crowd. Setting aside the substantial question whether he has any interest, I think it will be hard to find another candidate with advance coverage such as this.

Readers of this blog are invited to suggest their own favorite candidate.

Crossroads for mainstream thinking

2005-08-02T09:36:00.000-07:00

In a thoughtful and lengthy New York Times article entitled Bad News Richard A. Posner, judge on the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit and senior lecturer at the University of Chicago Law School (and a small "l" libertarian) discusses the fragmentation of mainstream media. Newspaper subscriptions and market share of TV news programs is in continual decline. The culprit is, of course, the IT revolution and specifically the advent of extremely cheap methods of disseminating information, i.e., blogging.

While many bemoan this turn of events, Posner welcomes it. Just as FOX News keeps tabs on the reporting of CNN, and vice-versa, millions of bloggers keep tabs on the media, and on the important stories that are sometimes too hot to handle or might otherwise offend advertisers.

The result, of course, is a tendency toward polarization of news focus and style. If the Wall Street Journal is hogging conservative readers the New York Times has to drift to the left to keep its circulation up.

Sooner or later this same phenomenon will likely happen to the major political parties, and the minor parties, all of them, will come into their own. How it will happen, and when, is a topic for another day.

Church/State debate moves back to public schools

2005-08-01T08:04:00.000-07:00

Ever since ENGEL v. VITALE, 370 U.S. 421 (1962) outlawed school prayer controversy has raged over what schools should teach children about religion and the metaphysical. The debate is reaching a new crescendo in Odessa, Texas, where local school board recently voted to add an elective Bible Course for students. But even though it will be offered as an elective opposition to the course is strong. Predominately, the opposition relates to the evolution/creationism debate.

Matters of faith are, of course, always emotional. And by definition they exist outside the realm of scientific proof. And so the question ultimately devolves to whether schools should be trusted to teach children what they should believe in the arenas where proof--in the Newtonian sense--doesn't exist. It should be obvious there are as many answers to that question as there are people with an opinion. And because opinions and beliefs are philosophical cousins it is equally obvious that there can be no "correct" or "one size fits all" answer to the question what our children should be taught while in school.

Families who can afford it home school their children or send them to private schools that teach the curriculum they prefer. Families who can't afford private schools or a stay-at-home parent develop compensatory strategies or else ignore the problem. While some recognize this solution fosters economic discrimination, few recognize that the public schools are themselves a "religion" of sorts, i.e., a belief system that denies the existence of the supernatural.

This is not to say that religion is "right" and atheism is "wrong". It is to say that public education has a long way to go before it meets the needs of all people. It is also to say that many on the left--those who preach diversity and tolerance when it comes to race or gender--are outright hypocrites when it comes to creed.

Public Referendum Powers Dead - 7/14/05 - R.I.P.

2005-07-15T08:27:00.000-07:00

In yet another setback for the citizens of Washington the state supreme court has ruled that the state legislature may use the emergency clause whenever it wants to avoid a public referendum on the legislation. At issue was a challenge to tax increases with less than a 2/3 majority vote. The 2/3 majority provision for increased taxes was at the heart of a voter initiative passed several years ago.

But a majority of the legislature declared an emergency existed, and the 2/3 majority requirement had to go. The irony--What is the nature of an emergency when less than 2/3 of those voting believe an emergency sufficient to require the tax increases exists?--apparently received no attention from the court, which relied on another case debacle, a challenge to the legislation that authorized construction of "Large Insurance Company" Field, in which the court adopted a fully deferential view of legislative determinations of emergency.

Stated alternatively, the court has adopted the position that if the legislature says an emergency exists then one exists, and the referendum powers do not exist. Period. End of discussion.

Justice Charles Johnson authored the majority opinion. He has twice sought, and received, endorsements from the Libertarian Party in past elections. In my view, he should not receive another, ever. After all, its an emergency.

Blind justice gets a new guide elephant

2005-07-12T07:53:00.000-07:00

This drawing accompanied Frank Rich's New York Times 7/12 article We're Not in Watergate Anymore in which he recounts the similarities between the Watergate coverup and the coverup of the retaliatory "outing" of CIA agent Valerie Plame.

The last laugh

2005-07-11T07:38:00.000-07:00

There's an old saying: What goes around comes around.

Twenty years ago urban planners worried about sprawl and gridlock. For some reason local regulation seemed inadequate. So they appealed to the state for help. The result was the Growth Management Act.

Property owners and developers screamed themselves hoarse, all to no avail. After all, our quality of life was at stake.

Now, it appears the property owners and developers have had the last laugh. Using the same powers that the urban planners used to get statewide regulation of land use, the developers have figured a way to make a buck anyway, manufactured homes in residential neighborhoods, regardless what local regulations may say.

Here is another old saying: The road to hell is paved with good intentions.

Fighting morbid obesity of the mind

2005-07-10T06:19:00.000-07:00

The Fort Worth Star-Telegram has this interesting op-ed about Judith Miller, the New York Times reporter who went to jail rather than reveal a source.

The writer, a retired journalist himself, remembers the days of Watergate, when the media was much fiercer about getting the "real news." He quotes historian Richard Rider: "Real news is the news you and I need to keep our freedom."

But, sad to say, I wonder how much difference it makes anymore.

We have known for months that the War in Iraq was shamelessly based on pretense and the most dangerous (and wrong headed) foreign policy the United States has had since the days of the Cuban missle crisis. And so what happens? Subways get bombed and civilians get beheaded. And America goes on about its business, marketing video games containing explicit sex scenes and buying designer clothes made in China.

As reported in the Wall Street Journal, some have taken the business of what is newsworthy into their own hands. Shortly after the infamous Downing Street memo was published in the London Sunday Times, a group of IT wonks created The Downing Street Memo :: What is it?, and began contacting the news media.

Their effect has even drawn the notice and dismay of the Bush supportering Wall Street Journal: "'It really is just six people, and I don't even know the name[s] of two of them,' spokesman Bob Fesmire said. 'People find it hard to believe it when I tell them that for a $20 Web-hosting fee, you too can get something like this going.'"

Poor Exit Strategy from Iraq

2005-07-02T07:56:00.000-07:00

The national Libertarian Party recently posted a plan for phased withdrawal from Iraq on its web site, www.lp.org.

Their plan generally calls for a reduction in force over a year, coupled with military and financial assistance to help the Iraqi government build its own policing capabilities.

Most Americans now agree that the War in Iraq was a mistake. All thoughtful Americans agree that we need to find a way to end the fighting. But, the Libertarian plan is just a bad plan.

First, any gradual withdrawal is a bad idea conceptually because it means we have a slowly dwindling force left behind by design.

There is considerable question right now about whether a force of almost 150,000 is sufficient to adequately defend Americans and American installations against the insurgents. As our military muscle is slowly diminished in a phased withdrawal, those forcibly left behind (pursuant to the plan) are deliberately exposed to greater and greater danger.

It's just wrong to leave a force behind that's incapable of adequately defending itself. If the Libertarian’s plan were adopted, how would you like to be assigned to the last brigade scheduled for departure in late 2006?

No matter how fast we get out, someone will be on the last helicopter. Those particular soldiers will be most exposed. Why make them (essentially) sit at the airport for months and months?

Also, the announcement of a full and complete withdrawal as fast as is possible might be met by a kind of unannounced “grace” period, allowing a clean get-away. But, a plan to leave behind a dwindling force for long periods of time surely will be seen as a lengthy opportunity to fire away at more and more poorly equipped Americans.

So, a “gradual,” or incremental, withdrawal is just a bad military idea. Once it’s time to leave, we should do so as rapidly as it’s possible to move, getting everyone out together.

Second, the plan’s reason for staying another year is to provide a military defense of the current Iraqi government.

My objection is to the very strategy of our providing assistance to the current government. There are people in Iraq who oppose this government.

Yes, it was elected. But, how do we know anything really about the fairness of the election? (It was fair because President Bush says so?) The minority Sunni Muslims mostly boycotted it and are not represented – at the very least, they are under-represented.

So, what we have is a current government run by the majority Shiite clerics who have a long-standing beef with minority Sunni's and a reason to abuse and oppress the Sunnis, yet we have decided to train, arm and protect the Shiites. Why? It’s like deciding to assure the Nazis have enough firepower to defeat any Jewish opposition.

We gave arms, money and protection to the Shah of Iran. We gave arms, money and assistance to Osama bin Laden when he led the Mujahadeen against the Russian invasion of Afghanistan. We gave arms, money and assistance to Saddam Hussain when he made war on the Iranians who'd overthrown the Shah. At the time, we thought we were arming and assisting “friends,” but each time things didn’t exactly pan out as planned. Isn't it time we quit arming, training and equipping armies in the Middle-East?

The LP’s plan is designed to assure that the current Iraqi regime gets its hands on an effective military force. Why, why, why should we do that again, thus earning the enmity of whoever is abused by one more military power we’ve created?

The existence of a plan – any plan – is encouraging, but a thoughtful argument for adopting the Libertarian plan must address these essential objections.