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Old Dominion Liberty Letter Issue #19
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This issue distributed on Sunday, July 19, 2009.
CONTENTS
1. ObamaCare Protests
2. The "Washington Monument Syndrome" and Virginia Rest Stops
3. "Rand" In Petersburg
4. House Passes Repeal of DC Medical MJ Ban
5. EXPLORING LIBERTY: The LP's "Self-Defense" Plank
6. Next SCC Meeting Sunday, July 26, 2009
7. The "Government Behaving Badly" Files: This week's Criminal Bureaucrats
8. THE LIGHTER SIDE: Political Quips
9. QUOTABLE QUOTE
10. FEATURED VIDEO: Economics in One Lesson: Part 1
11. Calendar
THIS PUBLICATION NEEDS A PERMANENT EDITOR! Volunteer by leaving a message @
703-715-6230, or writing to:
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=odllvolunteer>
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1. ObamaCare Protests
================================================
On Friday, July 17, activists all across America converged on the offices of US
Senators, to encourage them to vote against socialized medicine. Bureaucrash
visited the office of Senator Jim Webb in Arlington:
http://bureaucrash.com/2009/07/17/bureaucrash-visits-senator-webbs-office/
The organizer at Bureaucrash said: "A lot of other groups were there, including
FreedomWorks, the Tea Party Patriots and Americans for Prosperity, on top
plenty of private citizens who showed up independently. I was pleased with the
turnout, especially for lunchtime on a weekday... We were also filmed by the
local news..."
In Tidewater, Robert Dean circulated an announcement of a Cap and Trade /
Obamacare rally at Webb's office in Virginia Beach. We're hoping to hear of a
video of that event as well (hint, hint!).
SIDE NOTE: It seems the staff at Senator McCaskill's office in Missouri was so
terrified of the protest that the office manager locked the doors, pulled down
the blinds, and called the cops -- who promptly and illegally forced the
protesters to move from the **public** property in front of the office, to a
location across the street!):
http://gatewaypundit.blogspot.com/2009/07/mccaskills-office-locks-doors-pulls.html
But of course, if you call the local police chief, he will say his officers
"broke no laws and followed all normal police procedures".
THE LIBERTARIAN ANSWER!
Anyone who wants true health-care reform should consider the following ideas:
1. Eliminate the "lawyer tax" on the medical industry. The easiest way to do
this would be to allow a "liability free" option. "Liability free" medical
care means you give up any right to sue, and in return providers will offer you
care prices that will be from 40 to 60 per cent lower to begin with, with other
benefits downline -- for example, unnecessary (but "CYA") medical tests would
not be required. Yes, lawyers, and the steps medical providers have to take to
stay on lawyers' "good side", really does inflate health care costs that much.
In some specialties (Obstetrics, for example), the lawyer tax is far, far
higher. The "liability free" option would have to be explained in simple terms
to government judges so they know it means they must throw out any suits
attempting to impose liability under a zero-liability contract.
2. Eliminate government medical licensure; move to a system of private
certification. This will open up opportunities for technicians to perform
routine procedures. For example, there is no reason why a dental hygienist
should be prohibited from hanging out a shingle at a 1-seat kiosk at a shopping
mall and charge a fraction of what you now pay to get basically the same
service at your dentist. Under current law, hygeinists are *required* to
operate under the roof of a licensed dentist -- which balloons the cost.
3. Eliminate health care as a worker benefit by repealing the income tax.
Many people do not realize that the only reason employers are now "expected" to
provide health insurance is because it is a fully-deductible business expense
for employers. Health-care benefits are the only "raise" in salary that an
employer can provide where the employee gets 100% of the benefit, rather than
some portion being sucked away by the feds (as with one's cash income).
4. Eliminate all other regulations on the medical industry, such as a) the law
requiring emergency rooms to treat everyone who comes in regardless of their
ability to pay; and b) Certificates of Need (see
http://freevirginia.blogspot.com/2005/01/do-certificates-of-need-help-or-hurt.html
). Hospitals are **forced** by current law to make other patients (especially
the uninsured who actually pay their own health-care bills) subsidize the
money-losing ER. A majority of ER patients nationwide are uninsured and never
pay; furthermore many studies indicate nonessential cases (where, if not for
the law, it would have been medically appropriate for the ER to send the
patient out to a primary care doc -- for an example see
http://www.boston.com/news/local/massachusetts/articles/2009/04/24/er_visits_costs_in_mass_climb/
) in ER's typically number about half.
5. Eliminate the FDA and transfer the certification of drugs to private-sector
alternatives such as Underwriters Laboratories.
6. Phase out patent & copyright law and transfer protection of innovation to
civil contracts.
7. "Strict construction" enforcement of contracts. One of the more explosive
acts in health care in the last twenty years was a pattern of government courts
forcing insurance companies to cover medical needs they had not agreed to cover
when their client signed the contract.
8. Eliminate all restrictions and regulations on insurance companies, to
encourage more competitors to enter the market. This will increase downward
pressure on prices.
================================================
2. The "Washington Monument Syndrome" and Virginia Rest Stops
================================================
Governor Tim Kaine took a page out of the Clinton playbook this week. Virginia
Department of Transportation officials are closing the rest stops allegedly due
to a $2.6-billion budget short fall. But before we continue with our story,
let's divert a moment, to an explanation of the "Washington Monument Syndrome":
http://chicagoboyz.net/archives/5763.html
Now back to our story.
In light of the alleged "budget shortfall", Virginia officials wanted to change
a federal law that would allow the private sector to run the state's interstate
rest areas. On Friday, July 17, Frank Wolf (R-10th District) attempted to
attach an amendment to the Transportation Appropriations Act to suspend the
federal law prohibiting Virginia from contracting with private vendors to
operate restaurants or service stations at Interstate rest stops as is
currently allowed in MD, OH, PA and DE. Unfortunately, Wolf's amendment was
defeated.
----
Bribery, thy name is Fed.
You see, Virginia could simply refuse federal highway money, lease existing
highways (and their rest stops) to the highest bidders, and get out from under
the Fed behemoth in that area. But that might entail hardship for all the
state workers who get laid off. Can't have that, now can we?
The direct result of the closure of Virginia rest stops will be more crashes
involving commercial vehicles (eg 18-wheelers), due in no small part to the
inability of the private sector to provide off-highway facilities for them to
pull off and rest. Why? Wellll.......
----
Stupidity, thy name is "Zoning".
You see, nowadays, every city, county, and town government in Virginia now has
a zoning code. Right into the nineties, there were still a few holdouts; but
now it's pretty much universal. To wipe your nose after a sneeze, you need
permission from the local zonecrat. What does this have to do with highways?
Wellllll....
Every time someone wants to build a facility to serve truckers off of a highway
ramp, the local busybodies swarm the zoning office and claim that a "truck stop
doesn't fit with 'the character of this area', 'the historic zone', 'our
viewshed'"
This happens whether it's an existing truck stop that wants to expand its
facility, or for proposals for new facilties on greenfields. The end result is
that all of the products the busybodies buy for their everyday "elitoliving"
are carried to their local stores by trucks -- trucks that they won't allow to
park anywhere so the drivers can catch some sleep.
THE LIBERTARIAN ANSWER!
a) Lease or sell interstates to private companies.
b) Lease space at rest stops to private-sector enterprises.
c) Eliminate zoning in favor of property covenants and deed rstrictions.
================================================
3. "Rand" In Petersburg
================================================
For our readers who may be fans of Ayn Rand, the Sycamore Rouge in Petersburg
is offering performances of "The Night of January 16th" (see
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Night_of_January_16th ), RandÂ’s courtroom drama
about a man who dared to rise above the masses. Members of the audience are
chosen nightly to take on the roleof jury members. Join in to see if the Jury
decides the defendant is guilty or innocent. The play will run from July 17
through August 8. Friday and Saturday performances @ 8:00 pm; Sundays at 4:00
pm.
Just the thing to wrap up your trip to Richmond for the July 26th State
Committee meeting!
Sycamore Rouge is located in historic Old Towne Petersburg. Surrounded by
antique shops, boutiques and fine restaurants, Sycamore Rouge sits in the heart
of a downtown making it a great destination for those seeking something
exciting and new.
For Tickets and Information Call 804-957-5707. 21 West Old Street -
Petersburg, VA - 23803
http://www.sycamorerouge.org/msperformances.html
Anyone up for a group trip to the play after the SCC meeting, please write
[email protected] to make arrangements.
================================================
4. House Passes Repeal of DC Medical MJ Ban
================================================
>From Rob Kampia, the Executive Director of the 27,000-member Marijuana Policy
>Project, comes this bit of welcome news:
--------
[Last week], the U.S. House of Representatives passed legislation that, once
enacted, will remove a decade-old provision that has prevented Washington,
D.C., from implementing the medical marijuana law passed by 69% of voters in
1998.
Known as the Barr amendment, the provision has forbidden the city from
implementing a voter-approved ballot initiative that protected medical
marijuana patients from arrest and jail.
Repealing this democracy-unfriendly amendment has been a primary focus of
Marijuana Policy Project's federal lobbying efforts for many years. In 2007, we
even hired former Congressman Bob Barr (R-Ga.), the original author of the
amendment, to lobby to overturn it.
Tonight's vote represents a victory not just for medical marijuana patients,
but for all Americans, who have the right to determine their own policies
without federal meddling. Ten years ago, D.C. residents overwhelmingly made the
sensible, compassionate decision to pass a medical marijuana law, and now,
finally, suffering Washingtonians will be allowed to focus on treating their
pain without fearing arrest.
================================================
5. EXPLORING LIBERTY: The LP's "Self-Defense" Plank
================================================
This issue, we bring you an exploration of the Libertarian Party's platform
position # 1.6 Self-Defense, which reads:
--------
1.6 Self-Defense -- The only legitimate use of force is in defense of
individual rights - life, liberty, and justly acquired property - against
aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by
any other individual or group. We affirm the right to keep and bear arms, and
oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of
self-defense. We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring
registration of, or restricting, the ownership, manufacture, or transfer or
sale of firearms or ammunition.
--------
Libertarians, like other Americans, want to be able to walk city streets safely
and be secure in their homes. We also want our Constitutional rights protected,
to guard against the erosion of our civil liberties. In particular,
Libertarians want to see all people treated equally under the law, as our
Constitution requires. America's millions of gun owners are people too.
Law-abiding, responsible citizens do not and should not need to ask anyone's
permission or approval to engage in a peaceful activity. Gun ownership, by
itself, harms no other person and cannot morally justify criminal penalties.
Read more from our gun rights flyer:
http://web.archive.org/web/20000815070723/http://www.lp.org/issues/gun-rights.html
Libertarians generally believe the right to keep and bear arms should be an
inviolable concept. Therefore, we:
- Oppose all laws at any level of government restricting, regulating,
registering or requiring the ownership, manufacture, transfer, or sale of
firearms or ammunition;
- Oppose any bans or restrictions on the sale or carry of tear gas, "mace," or
other self-protection devices;
- Support repeal of the National Firearms Act of 1935;
- Call for the repeal of the Federal Gun Control Act of 1968;
- Call for the abolition of the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms; and
- Favor the repeal of laws banning the concealment of weapons or prohibiting
pocket weapons. We also oppose the banning of inexpensive handguns ("Saturday
night specials").
================================================
6. Next SCC Meeting Sunday, July 26, 2009
================================================
The next meeting of the state committee will occur on Sunday, July 26, 2009 at
12:00 pm, with an 11:00 am lunch preceding. Exact location TBA. Directions:
Minutes of previous meetings are posted at:
http://www.LPVA.com/Archives/SCCMinutes/Minutes.php
Bring your appetite, your ideas, be ready to roll up your sleeves, and help us
win a free country!
================================================
7. The "Government Behaving Badly" Files: This week's Criminal Bureaucrats
================================================
"Exposing criminal government employees (but I repeat myself...) with the harsh
glare of ridicule since June 2009!"
Seen any government employees facing justice for crimes committed while on-duty
lately? Let us know about it! Send announcements and news to <[email protected]>
or <mailto:[email protected]?subject=criminal_bureaucrats> !
================================================
8. THE LIGHTER SIDE: Political Quips
================================================
-------
They say that Christopher Columbus was the first Democrat. When he left to
discover America, he didn't know where he was going. When he got there he
didn't know where he was. And it was all done on a government grant.
-------
================================================
9. QUOTABLE QUOTE
================================================
"Next to being shot at and missed, nothing is really quite as satisfying as an
income tax refund."
-- F. J. Raymond
================================================
10. FEATURED VIDEO: Economics in One Lesson: Part 1
================================================
On the Mises Media Institute YouTube channel, here's a video you should
persuade your local elected official to watch. Recorded during the 2008 Mises
University, Jeffrey Tucker interviews Walter Block on the topic of Henry
Hazlitt's classic book "Economics in One Lesson." This is the first in a series
of twelve interviews with leading Austrian Economists discussing each chapter
of Hazlitt's book.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24nVarM20KQ
================================================
11. Calendar
================================================
------------------------------------
Sunday, July 26, 2009
LPVA State Committee
Quarterly Meeting
All LPVA members welcome!
Group lunch at 11:00.
Meeting begins at 12:00
Bleu Bistro Restaurant
8982 Quioccasin Rd., Richmond, VA 23229
------------------------------------
September 24 - October 4, 2009
LPVA Outreach Booth at Virginia State Fair
The Meadow, Caroline Co.
------------------------------------
November 3, 2009
General Elections
Remember to Vote,
and Vote Libertarian!
------------------------------------
December 2009 - February 2010 -
congressional district committee conventions
- consider formal endorsements of candidates
for 2010 election
- elect LP congressional district officers (chair, etc).
------------------------------------
Jan 29-31, 2010
Annual meeting of LP activists from every state
See: http://StateChairsConference.org/about
Also sit in on the Libertarian National Committee,
the Bylaws and Platform committees.
Location will be Austin, registration information
to follow in future newsletters
------------------------------------
March or April, 2010
LPVA State Convention
Exact location & Date TBA.
------------------------------------
May 4, 2010
Municipal Elections
Remember to Vote,
and Vote Libertarian!
------------------------------------
May 28 - May 31, 2010
LP National Convention
Renaissance St. Louis Grand and Suites Hotel, in Missouri.
------------------------------------
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Old Dominion Liberty Letter Issue #19
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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share
Alike 3.0 United States License by Marc Montoni.
================================================
Publishing Schedule: Weekly - But it depends on YOU!
Publisher: LPVA Communications Committee
Editor: Marc Montoni
Distribution: 500 + readers, via LPVA-Announce
================================================
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Allow me to emphasize this: We prefer Virginia news
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alert us to it.
================================================
WHAT'S GOING ON where you live? Make sure all
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================================================
JOIN THE PARTY - Never been a member of the
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http://Membership.LPVA.com
================================================
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP - Have you been a member in
the past, but for one reason or another chosen not
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Liberty!
http://Membership.LPVA.com
================================================
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ultimate commitment? Join the LPVirginia Pledge
Program and help us promote our Libertarian
ideas to all your friends and neighbors!
http://Contribute.LPVA.com
================================================
NOTES: This newsletter will be migrated to a CMS with an RSS feed (which our
webmaster has been very generous in setting up!) sometime soon. This version
is primarily to guage interest. If you want it to continue, then participate!
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