http://www.thelibertypapers.org Life. Liberty. Property. Defending individual freedom and liberty, one post at a time. Fri, 16 May 2008 16:45:01 +0000 http://backend.userland.com/rss092 en Why do I like the electoral college? Because living in California, these people aren't canceling out my vote. Remember, those of you who worship at the altar of democracy, these people are actually allowed to vote. Hannitized, every last one of them. It's about individual rights, people, not about democracy. The ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/16/in-favor-of-the-electoral-college/ Libertarian Party Presidential candidate Bob Barr released the following statement about yesterday's ruling from the California Supreme Court on gay marriage: “Regardless of whether one supports or opposes same sex marriage, the decision to recognize such unions or not ought to be a power each state exercises on its own, rather ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/16/bob-barr-on-the-california-gay-marriage-decision/ Our government sure has a strange take on drugs. If you want to take them to get high, or to improve sports performance, or to dull the pain of debilitating diseases, you deserve to be put in jail. But if they're trying to make someone malleable and complacent, ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/15/ice-sending-drugs-out-of-the-country-inside-deportees/ Chicago, city of broad shoulders and big steaks, has repealed its ban against fois gras: Chicagoans can feast on foie gras once more. The Chicago City Council just repealed the ban on its sale that it put in place two years ago. Monica Davey, the Times’s Chicago bureau chief, says the ban ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/14/a-victory-in-the-war-against-the-food-police/ With record-high corn prices, and plenty of subsidy money floating around, an interesting thing is happening. Less farmers are growing corn! Why? Because the inputs used in growing corn are rising in price even more quickly: The amount of corn planted in the U.S. is expected to dip this year. ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/13/farmers-struggling-despite-high-corn-prices/ Gene Healy from his new book, The Cult Of The Presidency: The chief executive of the United States is no longer a mere constitutional officer charged with faithful execution of the laws. He is a soul nourisher, a hope giver, a living American talisman against hurricanes, terrorism, economic downturns, and spiritual ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/13/quote-of-the-day-imperial-presidency-edition/ Which Presidential candidate is worse for liberty, John McCain or Barack Obama? http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/12/open-thread-whos-worse-for-president/ Glenn Reynolds reviews Ron Paul's The Revolution: A Manifesto: The main shortcoming in Paul’s book, as with his candidacy, is in the follow through, the transition from critique to action. Although he does include a chapter entitled “The Revolution,” about reducing the size of government, it’s a pretty skimpy plan. Were ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/12/the-revolution-reviewed/ As expected, former Congressman Bob Barr, announced his candidacy for the Libertarian Party's nomination for President today: (CNN) – Former Republican Rep. Bob Barr formally jumped into the White House race Monday as a candidate for the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination. Barr, the onetime darling of conservatives who led the impeachment fight ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/12/bob-barr-announces-presidential-run/ Don't count anything other than the audacity of hype when it comes to the War On (Some) Drugs: As president, I would use the bully pulpit of my office to warn Americans about the dangers of performance enhancing drugs, and I would put greater resources into enforcement of existing drug laws. ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/12/barack-obama-on-the-drug-war/ Time Magazine asks the question: That's why it's time to consider a more serious option: invading Burma. Some observers, including former USAID director Andrew Natsios, have called on the U.S. to unilaterally begin air drops to the Burmese people regardless of what the junta says. The Bush Administration has so far ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/11/question-of-the-day-time-to-invade-burma/ Via Third Party Watch, here's a rather bizarre comment from Mary Ruwart, one of the candidates for the LP's Presidential nomination: For years, myself and other libertarian candidates have pointed out that “when guns are banned, only criminals will have guns.” The shift in popular perception has come about primarily because ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/09/why-liberterians-never-get-taken-seriously-exhibit-a/ For your consumption... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/08/reasontv-showcases-the-cory-maye-case/ This time, it's the Philadelphia Police Department that's under scrutiny: PHILADELPHIA — A half-dozen police officers kicked and beat three suspects pulled from a car during a traffic stop as a TV helicopter taped the confrontation, and the city's police commissioner said "it certainly does not look good." The video, ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/08/more-news-from-the-police-watch-from/ A great deal of attention is focused on the recent raids on the FLDS compound in Texas. The behavior of the state has rightly been condemned, most effectively by Les Jones who wrote: Imagine that some parents in a school district were accused of child abuse. Now imagine ... http://www.thelibertypapers.org/2008/05/07/help-reduce-child-abuse-legalize-polygamy-now/