================================================ |*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| Old Dominion Liberty Letter Issue #33 |*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| ================================================
In this issue: 1. VIRGINIA NEWS: 11th District Convention Announced 2. VIRGINIA NEWS: 8th District Convention Announced 3. VIRGINIA NEWS: 4th District Convention Held 4. NATIONAL NEWS: Second Amendment March, Washington DC, 4/19 5. NATIONAL NEWS: The war on WikiLeaks and why it matters 6. NATIONAL NEWS: Speaking of WikiLeaks... 7. NATIONAL NEWS: Electric Utility Competition 8. NATIONAL NEWS: The Hutaree Militia Arrests: Is This Something New? 9. HISTORY: Did You Know Woodrow Wilson's Espionage Act is still in force? 10. EXPLORING LIBERTY: The LP's "_____________________" Plank 11. NATIONAL NEWS: More on the Census 12. Register for the National Convention! 13. FROM OUR SPONSOR: LP Issue Bumper Stickers & Signs 14. Interactive Quiz: How Progressive Are You? 15. VIRGINIA EVENTS 16. THE LIGHTER SIDE: Senator Harry Reid Buys a Car 17. Libertarian Radio in Virginia ================================================ 1. VIRGINIA NEWS: 11th District Convention Announced ================================================ A special convention of the 11th congressional district (seat currently held be Demoncrat Gerry Connolly) Libertarian Committee will be held on April 24, 2010 at 3:30 pm. The convention will be held at the City of Fairfax Regional Library in Meeting Room A. RSVP Please! Contact Kara Tappan, LPVA 11th CD Chair, at 571-278-4787 or [email protected]. With your RSVP please include a phone number so you can be contacted in the event of a cancellation. ================================================ 2. VIRGINIA NEWS: 8th District Convention Announced ================================================ A special convention of the 8th congressional district (seat currently held be Demoncrat Jim Moran) Libertarian Committee will be held on May 2, 2010 at 1:30 pm. The convention will be held at the Tysons/Pimmit Regional Library, at 7584 Leesburg Pike, Falls Church, VA 22043. RSVP Please! Contact Kara Tappan, at 571-278-4787 or [email protected]. With your RSVP, please include a phone number so you can be contacted in the event of a cancellation. ================================================ 3. VIRGINIA NEWS: 4th District Convention Held ================================================ On April 4, 2010, the 4th District Libertarians held a convention to consider endorsement of any candidate for congress, to adopt bylaws, and to appoint members to the 4th District Executive Committee. While no candidate for congress stepped forward, the group did adopt bylaws and elected three At Large members to the Executive Committee. Congratulations to Craig Gilkison, and Tony and Donna Grebas. Immediately afterwards, the Executive Committee met and appointed Donna Grebas to carry the hot potato for a while as the 4th District committee's new chair. The LPVA welcomes Donna and the new Vice Chair (sorry, forgot to record who was appointed VC in my notes) as 4th District officers, and of course we look forward to seeing Donna (or her designee) at the next State Central Committee meeting in June. Donna will begin attending events in the 4th and intends to work on increasing membership and recruiting candidates. ================================================ 4. NATIONAL NEWS: Second Amendment March, Washington DC, 4/19 ================================================ From the NRA-ILA: There will be a Second Amendment March in Washington, D.C., on April 19, 2010, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Attendees will gather on the northeast corner of the Washington Monument grounds at 10:00 a.m., and the entire event will take place there (due to logistics, the event will be more of a "rally" than an actual march). The event is sponsored and coordinated by the organization "Second Amendment March," whose stated mission is, "to galvanize the courage and resolve of Americans; to petition our elected officials against establishing anti-gun legislation; and to remind America that the Second Amendment is necessary to maintain our right to self defense." More: http://www.secondamendmentmarch.com/ ================================================ 5. NATIONAL NEWS: The war on WikiLeaks and why it matters ================================================ http://www.salon.com/news/opinion/glenn_greenwald/2010/03/27/wikileaks/index.html ================================================ 6. NATIONAL NEWS: Speaking of WikiLeaks... ================================================ Check out LPVA member Karen Kwiatkowski's most recent article: http://www.lewrockwell.com/kwiatkowski/kwiatkowski248.html On the 5th of April 2010, "WikiLeaks released a classified US military video depicting the indiscriminate slaying of over a dozen people in the Iraqi suburb of New Baghdad -- including two Reuters news staff. Reuters has been trying to obtain the video through the Freedom of Information Act, without success since the time of the attack. The video, shot from an Apache helicopter gun-site, clearly shows the unprovoked slaying of a wounded Reuters employee and his rescuers. Two young children involved in the rescue were also seriously wounded." http://www.collateralmurder.com/ ================================================ 7. NATIONAL NEWS: Electric Utility Competition ================================================ So do you still think electric utilities are "natural monopolies"? Guess what -- they aren't. Utility competition has in fact been outlawed not by the marketplace, but by college-educated government regulators: http://knowledgeproblem.com/2009/01/15/even-in-texas-competition-between-electric-wires-companies-is-prohibited-except-in-lubbock/ ================================================ 8. NATIONAL NEWS: The Hutaree Militia Arrests: Is This Something New? ================================================ Check this out: "The first thing that must be understood is that while the murder of any human being is the most serious crime one can commit, it is not necessarily a crime to kill a police officer. Defensive use of lethal force against criminal aggression is morally legitimate and legally protected, even -- no, make that "especially" -- when the aggressor is clothed in the habiliments of the state's punitive priesthood. This is not the view of some obscure, unsavory self-styled Christian militia group from Michigan. It is the long-established view of the United States Supreme Court as expressed more than a century ago in the ruling John Bad Elk v. The United States." http://freedominourtime.blogspot.com/2010/03/causus-belli.html ================================================ 9. HISTORY: Did You Know Woodrow Wilson's Espionage Act is still in force? ================================================ From Wikipedia: "The Espionage Act of 1917 was a United States federal law passed on June 15, 1917, shortly after the U.S. entry into World War I. It prohibited any attempt to interfere with military operations, support America's enemies during wartime, to promote insubordination in the military, or interfere with military recruitment. In 1919, the U.S. Supreme Court unanimously ruled in Schenck v. United States that the Act did not violate the free speech rights of those convicted under its provisions." http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Espionage_Act_of_1917 Yep, it's still in there, in bits and pieces. Check out 18 U.S.C. § 2387: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/115/2387 ... and 18 U.S.C. § 2388: http://codes.lp.findlaw.com/uscode/18/I/115/2388 Now another Democrat is in the White House... ================================================ 10. EXPLORING LIBERTY: The LP's "3.1 National Defense" Plank ================================================ This issue, we bring you the Libertarian Party's platform position #3.1, "National Defense", which reads: -------- We support the maintenance of a sufficient military to defend the United States against aggression. The United States should both abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world and avoid entangling alliances. We oppose any form of compulsory national service. -------- No draft & No Intervention. Get it? ================================================ 11. More on the Census ================================================ Hmmm.... "more on the Census". Catchy title. Might be even better as "Moron, the Census." But I digress. The Census is not going away, and neither are we -- so we're just going to have to keep throwing brickbats at it... First, I didn't realize Christopher Walken could be so funny, but here's his way of answering the Census: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7XtuPvwBa2U On a more serious note... From "The Independent Institute" <[email protected]> and its "Lighthouse" email newsletter: Civil Liberties and the Census In 2002 and 2003, the U.S. Census Bureau provided information it had gathered about Arab-Americans to the Department of Homeland Security. Although Title 13 requires the Bureau to keep survey responses "strictly confidential," the USA PATRIOT Act, which President Obama renewed, provides exceptions. Public worries about the misuse of census data may help explain the size and scope of the Bureau's $350 million advertisement campaign for the 2010 Census. "Widespread non-compliance, especially among those most likely to be discriminated against by a majority, may not be rooted strictly in the 'ignorance' the ads are designed to overcome," writes Mary L. G. Theroux, senior vice president of the Independent Institute. "History--including very recent history--shows that the information provided to the Census can be used against you." Former Senate majority leader Trent Lott urged people to ignore any census questions they feel violates their privacy, but acting on this advice may come with at a hefty price: adults who refuse or willfully neglect to complete a census questionnaire may be fined $100 to $5,000. "Census Data Not So Confidential After All," by Mary L. G. Theroux (Providence Journal, 3/8/10) Spanish Translation ================================================ 12. Register for the National Convention! ================================================ Don't forget! It's just a couple of months away: http://GatewayToLiberty.com/registration ================================================ 13. NATIONAL NEWS: LP Issue Bumper Stickers ================================================ And now, a word from our sponsor: Wear the LP colors! Check out these bumper stickers: http://www.zazzle.com/immigration_is_also_called_moving_bumper_sticker-128096227542326068 http://www.zazzle.com/abolish_the_irs_vote_libertarian_bumper_sticker-128151456887305334 http://www.zazzle.com/repeal_prohibition_libertarian_party_sticker_bumper_sticker-128231895702692440 http://www.zazzle.com/abolish_the_fed_bumper_sticker-128034935072085282 How about a "Libertarian Precinct Captain" sign: http://cl.exct.net/?qs=60dd440acd057ed8274bd68a30fd9bb390791c8b8cf1435503819d525e340ec05bd645539a27a964 Or a "Repeal the Income Tax / Abolish the IRS" sign: http://cl.exct.net/?qs=60dd440acd057ed8274bd68a30fd9bb390791c8b8cf14355a536f38defdc0d72181e66827dc4f9e8 ================================================ 14. Interactive Quiz: How Progressive Are You? ================================================ Remember the Nolan quiz? Here's one the marxists developed called the "Progressive Quiz". http://www.americanprogress.org/issues/2009/03/progressive_quiz.html I was rated "very conservative." I'm breaking out my GWB signs right now. Sheesh! One more example of how utterly useless the 2-dimensional political scale is! My guess is that an equivalent conservative survey would rate me a raving lunatic leftist. Not only do the quiz completely ignore libertarianism (or even authoritarianism), but it's only in a single dimension -- they think only in terms of "left" and "right". Some of the questions you may find truly frustrating, because a libertarian might agree with half of the question but then they have to go and spoil it by making the question about government involvement. Even when they don't say it that way, you know that's how they mean it, too. There was one question, for instance, that said (paraphrasing): "Many of the wealthy would say that they gathered their wealth due to their own efforts; but much of their wealth has been contributed by society." Yeah, maybe some robber barons here and there, but most people gather their wealth under their own steam. In a libertarian society with government restricted to a few simple and easy-to-understand functions, there would be few opportunities for robber barons. In any case, there's no way to answer that cleanly. Try it. It's around 40 (or was it 50?) questions. Guaranteed to get your motor running. If nothing else, it opens a window into the leftists' way of thinking. ================================================ 15. VIRGINIA EVENTS ================================================ To stay current on upcoming activities of Libertarians across the state, check out the Calendar: http://lpva.com/Calendar/events08.asp ================================================ 16. THE LIGHTER SIDE: Senator Harry Reid Buys a Car ================================================ Sen. Reid goes to a local GM dealer in Washington, D.C. with the intention of buying a brand new vehicle. Harry looks around and finds one he likes. After going back and forth with the salesman, Harry settles on a price of $45,000. Harry and the salesman go back to the office to complete the paperwork. Harry works out a 4-year payment plan, and signs on the bottom line. The salesman shakes Harry's hand and says, "Thanks Senator Reid, the car will be ready for pickup in 4 years." Harry says, "What are you talking about? Where are the keys to my new car?" The salesman replies, "No, you don't understand, Senator. You make payments for 4 years... THEN we give you the car. You know, just like your health plan". ================================================ 17. Libertarian Radio in Virginia ================================================ What's on your mind? Unlike those right-wing or left-liberal extremist shows, Free Talk Live is talk radio that ANYONE can take control of. Yes, even you. Free Talk Live is the next generation of issues oriented talk. What is the meaning of freedom? This show is about Liberty with a capital L. Check out some of the archives on the FTL Main Page http://freetalklive.com/ to get an idea of what this all means. FreeTalkLive ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Call Freq Band City Affiliate Live? Days Hours Sign Since On On ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- WCHV 94.1 FM C'ville 2008-10-18 Yes Sat 7-10p ET WCHV 1260 AM C'ville 2008-10-18 Yes Sat 7-10p ET WSVG 790 AM Mt. Jackson 2008-08-23 Yes M-F Sat 8-10p 7-10p ET WTAR 850 AM Norfolk 2009-10-31 Yes Sat 7-10p ET ================================================ The editors of Old Dominion Liberty Letter are always seeking stories for our regular features: STATE NEWS: The "Government Behaving Badly" Files: This Issue's Criminal Bureaucrats VIRGINIA TASER TALLY: Something for the Police State to be proud of FEATURED LINK ================================================ ================================================ |*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| Old Dominion Liberty Letter Issue #33 |*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*|*| ================================================ 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 ================================================ Sign up for the latest news from The Libertarian Party of Virginia: http://www.LPVA.com/html/EmailLists.asp ================================================ Got a news tip? Click: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=vlw> Allow me to emphasize this: We prefer Virginia news to news you can get elsewhere. If you have a good liberty-oriented story centered in Virginia, please alert us to it. ================================================ WHAT'S GOING ON where you live? Make sure all Virginia Libertarians are informed of your activities. Send announcements and news to <[email protected]> or <mailto:[email protected]?subject=vlw> ================================================ JOIN THE PARTY - Never been a member of the Libertarian Party of Virginia? There's no time like NOW to become a member of Virginia's third largest political party. http://Membership.LPVA.com ================================================ RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP - Have you been a member in the past, but for one reason or another chosen not to renew? Renew today and resume the fight for Liberty! http://Membership.LPVA.com ================================================ BEGIN YOUR PLEDGE - Are you ready to make the 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! ############################################################# Have an announcement you'd like to post? 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