Picture from Libertarian Party of Marion County Ed Coleman Press Conference

Below is a picture I took at the February 17, 2009 Libertarian Party of Marion County press conference at the Columbia Club in which Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ed Coleman announced he is switching to the Libertarian Party:

From left to right, LPMC Vice Chair Ed Angleton, Libertarian National Committee Member Rebecca Sink-Burris, Libertarian Party of Indiana State Chair Todd Singer, LPMC Communications Director Sean Shepard and Ed Coleman (L), Indianapolis City-County Councilor.

Here's the press release for the event:

Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ed Coleman Joins Libertarian Party

LPMC Contact: Sean Shepard, 317.513.2406 or by email at sshepard94(at)gmail.com
LPIN Contact: Chris Spangle, Executive Director, 317.997.5558 or by email at cspangle(at)lpin.org
LPIN Website: http://www.lpin.org

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Edward Coleman, a member of the Indianapolis City-County Council, has switched his affiliation from Republican to Libertarian. Coleman was elected in 2007 to an At-Large position, and will serve as Indianapolis' only elected Libertarian official.

"This is not a decision I take lightly, nor did I come to it without deep reflection," Coleman said in a statement released Monday by the Libertarians.

"I have found that the direction of the Republican Party has changed, and it is not the same party I joined many years ago," he said. "Nor do I believe its current leaders truly represent the ideals that the party markets and advertises to voters."

Coleman said he faced criticism from fellow Republicans when he opposed the secretive and expensive affairs of the Capital Improvement Board. "The two old parties want obedient followers, not leaders," he said.

As the Libertarian Party has long been a refuge for disillusioned voters, today's announcement did not come as a great surprise to Libertarian officials.

"I commend Ed Coleman on his courage and his recognition that the Libertarian Party is the only political party in Indiana and the United States that truly stands for limited, fiscally responsible government and real respect for civil liberties," said Bill Redpath, Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee. "I gratefully welcome him, as I hope to do with other elected officials who are tired of the now clearly unaffordable politics as usual, and who yearn to join "The Party of Principle."

"This is an important moment for the Libertarian Party of Indiana, and the Republican Party as well," said Chris Spangle, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana. "Councilor Coleman's switch is the result of a personal journey many former Republicans have found themselves on in the last year or two. They feel as though the GOP has left them, and they are left politically homeless. Former Republicans and Democrats are looking for a Party where words mean something, promises are fulfilled, and principles are important. The Libertarian Party is the only viable political party that upholds true free market principles, true Constitutional government, true personal freedom, and a decent future for our Country. The Republicans and Democrats both are long on rhetoric, but hold true to the failed policies of the past. Many who follow politics are beginning to understand this."

Timothy Maguire, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Marion County, has the interesting situation of being a former opponent of Ed Coleman. "Ed and I were both candidates in 2007, campaigning for an At-Large seat on the City-County Council. While we may have been members of different parties at the time, I came to find that we were in agreement on matters of public policy more often than not."

For Coleman's complete statements, visit http://www.lpin.org/node/607

To arrange an interview with Coleman or other Libertarian Party members, please contact Sean Shepard at (317) 513-2406.

Peaceful Revolt at the State House

Isaiah Berlin, Human Liberty and President Obama's Denial of One's Human Essence

I received the following email from Charles Freeland (campaign treasurer for Andy Horning's 2000 Libertarian gubernatorial campaign) where quotes his favorite passage from Isaiah Berlin:

"As I see and hear our new president announce and explain his policies, I am drawn back to my favorite passage from Isaiah Berlin.

To manipulate men, to propel them toward goals which you - the social reformer – see, but they may not, is to deny their human essence, to treat them as objects without wills of their own, and therefore to degrade them. That is why to lie to men, or to deceive them, that is to use them as means for my, not their own, independently conceived ends…is, in effect, to treat them as sub-human, to behave as if their ends are less sacred than my own. In the name of what can I ever be justified in forcing men to do what they have not willed or consented to? Only in the name of some value higher than themselves. But if, as Kant held, all values are made so by free acts of men, and called values only so far as they are this, there is no value higher than the individual.
Isaiah Berlin, "Two Concepts of Liberty", Four Essays on Liberty, Oxford University Press, 1969

Is anyone else feeling like a manipulated, sub-human object without a will of his own?
For anyone interested in a serious discussion of what human liberty really means, I highly recommend Berlin’s essay, “Two Concepts of Liberty.” It is not an easy read, but your investment of a little time will be richly rewarded. I have an electronic copy that I can forward if interested.

Charles M. Freeland"

Thanks Charlie for letting me reprint this for the readers of my blog.

Become a Precinct Committeeperson

Here's a another reminder from the Libertarian Party of Marion County:

"The LPMC seeks volunteers to become Township Chairpersons, Ward Chairpersons and Precinct Committeepeople. Your duties would be to attend neighborhood association meetings and to identify libertarians in your area. This is to help build a grass-roots organization to assist
our candidates running for office.

To get started, contact Vice Chairperson Ed Angleton today at eangleton(at)sbcglobal.net or 317-965-8487"

Life is Busy - But I'm Not Bored

I haven't posted since Thursday, February 19th, but have been very productive nonetheless. Enough said?

Spangle and Coleman to Appear on Amos Brown Show Today at 2 PM

Libertarian Party of Indiana Executive Director Chris Spangle and Libertarian Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ed Coleman are going to be on the Amos Brown Show on 1310 AM, Indianapolis, at 2 PM.

Indianapolis City County Councilor Ed Coleman Now a Libertarian

Here's the press release from the Libertarian Party of Marion County:

Indianapolis City-County Councilor Ed Coleman Joins Libertarian Party

LPMC Contact: Sean Shepard, 317.513.2406 or by email at sshepard94@gmail.com
LPIN Contact: Chris Spangle, Executive Director, 317.997.5558 or by email at cspangle@lpin.org
LPIN Website: http://www.lpin.org

INDIANAPOLIS, IN -- Edward Coleman, a member of the Indianapolis City-County Council, has switched his affiliation from Republican to Libertarian. Coleman was elected in 2007 to an At-Large position, and will serve as Indianapolis' only elected Libertarian official.

"This is not a decision I take lightly, nor did I come to it without deep reflection," Coleman said in a statement released Monday by the Libertarians.

"I have found that the direction of the Republican Party has changed, and it is not the same party I joined many years ago," he said. "Nor do I believe its current leaders truly represent the ideals that the party markets and advertises to voters."

Coleman said he faced criticism from fellow Republicans when he opposed the secretive and expensive affairs of the Capital Improvement Board. "The two old parties want obedient followers, not leaders," he said.

As the Libertarian Party has long been a refuge for disillusioned voters, today's announcement did not come as a great surprise to Libertarian officials.

"I commend Ed Coleman on his courage and his recognition that the Libertarian Party is the only political party in Indiana and the United States that truly stands for limited, fiscally responsible government and real respect for civil liberties," said Bill Redpath, Chairman of the Libertarian National Committee. "I gratefully welcome him, as I hope to do with other elected officials who are tired of the now clearly unaffordable politics as usual, and who yearn to join "The Party of Principle."

"This is an important moment for the Libertarian Party of Indiana, and the Republican Party as well," said Chris Spangle, Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana. "Councilor Coleman's switch is the result of a personal journey many former Republicans have found themselves on in the last year or two. They feel as though the GOP has left them, and they are left politically homeless. Former Republicans and Democrats are looking for a Party where words mean something, promises are fulfilled, and principles are important. The Libertarian Party is the only viable political party that upholds true free market principles, true Constitutional government, true personal freedom, and a decent future for our Country. The Republicans and Democrats both are long on rhetoric, but hold true to the failed policies of the past. Many who follow politics are beginning to understand this."

Timothy Maguire, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Marion County, has the interesting situation of being a former opponent of Ed Coleman. "Ed and I were both candidates in 2007, campaigning for an At-Large seat on the City-County Council. While we may have been members of different parties at the time, I came to find that we were in agreement on matters of public policy more often than not."

For Coleman's complete statements, visit http://www.lpin.org/node/607

To arrange an interview with Coleman or other Libertarian Party members, please contact Sean Shepard at (317) 513-2406.

About Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, and is the only non-major party with ballot access in the state of Indiana. Libertarians believe in being SERVED by a small non-intrusive government that is financially responsible, administratively competent and socially tolerant.

For more information on the Libertarian Party of Indiana visit: www.lpin.org
For more information on the Libertarian Party of Marion County visit: www.indylp.org



Libertarian Party of Indiana
Todd Singer, Chairman
317-920-1994

Don't Go to Chicago For Fun and Conventions

The City of Chicago has aggressively installed due process violating, political crony subsidizing and officer holder fund raising (called taxes) red light cameras.

This is a good reason to consider more friendly cities for your next vacation or convention, in my opinion.

Brad Klopfenstein on WISH TV 8 Tomorrow Morning

Former Libertarian Party of Indiana Executive Director Brad Klopfenstein is scheduled to be on WISH-TV Channel 8 tomorrow morning (Saturday) around 8:40 AM. Brad is currently the Executive Director of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association.

Government Funded and Subsidized Entity Interested in My Last Post

Why am I not surprised that I'm getting a lot of "hits" on my blog from computers from the Health and Hospital Corporation of Marion County, a government funded and created entity (don't give me that municipal corporation legal fiction used to get around the Indiana Constitution as your excuse that you're not government).

Why am I not surprised that I'm getting anonymous posts very critical of the Libertarian Party of Indiana at the same time and its position on the preservation of business property rights?

Government doesn't like to be put in the position of defending itself, does it?

Possible Scandal - Is Smoke Free Indy Supported By Government Funds?

The rumor out there is that Smoke Free Indy is at least partially supported by government funds. I hope I'm wrong. Otherwise, government money is being used to lobby another government agency.

If this is the case, where is the government money for those who disagree with smoking bans? Doesn't government money for one special interest group give them an unfair advantage? Why should taxpayers support a special interest group over another one? Doesn't due process require that both special interest groups receive public funds so the fight at least starts out to be even?

I'm continuing to dive into this and will let you know what I find out.

Brad Klopfenstein on WIBC 93.1 FM this Evening

Brad Klopfenstein will be on WIBC 93.1 FM this evening on Steve Simpson's show that starts at 6 PM.

Brad will be talking about his efforts defending business owners' property rights and the smoking bans intended to infringe upon those rights.

Brad is the Executive Director of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association and is a former Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana.

What I Think About Those Who Push Smoking Bans

Smoking bans are a thinly veiled assault on business owners property rights. The so-called smoking ban activists are socialists who believe government should own all property. They believe in tribes and not individual rights. Indiana - you're continuing to go down a slippery slope.

2008 Libertarian Vice Presidential Candidate Wayne Root Regularly On "Savage Nation" with 8.25 Million Listeners

Here is Root's latest press release:

"For Immediate Release:


Root Savages "Obamaville" on Savage Nation Radio Today

Las Vegas, NV--February 11, 2009--Libertarian 2008 Vice Presidential candidate Wayne Allyn Root will present a Commentary called "Obamaville" on Michael Savage's national radio show "Savage Nation" on Wednesday 2/11/09. Root will appear in the 3rd hour of Savage's show. Root is now a regular commentator on Michael Savage's popular show. "Savage Nation" is the third most popular radio talk show in America, reaching over 8.25 million listeners each day.

Root, the busy 2012 Libertarian Presidential hopeful, and author of the upcoming book, “The Conscience of a Libertarian: Empowering the Citizen Revolution with God, Guns, Gambling & Tax Cuts” will discuss the Congressional Budget Office's own study which proves that doing nothing about the current economic crisis is preferable to Obama's Economic Stimulus Plan. Root believes politicians should take a Hippocratic Oath: ABOVE ALL ELSE, DO NO HARM. Root believes Obama's plan will cause major harm to our economy. "Forget Global warming," Root says. "This is the real proven threat to our children and grandchildren's future- debt."

Root's own economic stimulus plan will be the centerpiece of his upcoming book (released in May by John Wiley & Sons). Root favors a one year suspension of personal income taxes. He calls it an "Income Tax Vacation." Root explains, “My plan rewards the people who create all the jobs and pay all the taxes in the first place. It allows American taxpayers to simply keep more of their own money- and cut out the middleman (the government). When taxpayers keep all their money for one year, the result will bbe the greatest economic recovery of all time. My plan puts the money in the hands of its rightful owners- the people that earned it, and the people that know how to use it to invest in stocks, real estate, small business and the creation of jobs. It's time to save the group that truly is too big to fail- taxpayers, business owners, and job creators. I want to let that group keep their own money for a year- without government getting involved. That will create jobs, new businesses, spur investment, and prevent foreclosures.”

To his critics who say his idea is too expensive, Root says, “If we can afford $1 trillion for Obama's stimulus plan, we can certainly afford the $1.3 trillion it costs to suspend income taxes. Why can we hand out $9.7 trillion in bailouts and handouts to fat-cat corporations, banks, Wall Street brokerage houses, auto companies, unions and people that don't pay any taxes, but it's considered too expensive to give the people that actually pay the taxes a one year vacation? This is the CHANGE that Obama should have brought to Washington. Instead he's bringing the same old 'big government, tax and spend, punish successful Americans' policies that have failed miserably so many times in the past.”

Please visit Wayne's Website to see these and many other FOX News and FOX Business appearances by Wayne, as well as hear Wayne's latest appearance on “Savage Nation” with Michael Savage: www.RootForAmerica.com"

Smoking Bans a Thinly Veiled Attack on Business Owners Property Rights

Here's the latest press release from the Libertarian Party of Marion County:

"Libertarian Party Questions Need for Smoking Ban

Indianapolis, IN – The Libertarian Party of Marion County, a political party dedicated to individual and personal property rights, is wondering why non-smokers are trying to eliminate smoking venues for everybody.

Pending legislation in the Statehouse, as well as anticipated legislation in Marion County’s City County Council, seeks to limit choices for all Hoosiers. What is not clear is if these non-smokers are hoping to eventually ban tobacco altogether or if they think they have a right to enter a business and tell the owner how to manage his property.

“Legislation like this will do nothing but erode the limited property rights we still have,” says Timothy Maguire, Chairman of the Libertarian Party of Marion County. “Non-smoking venues are already available to all Hoosiers and nobody is being forced to work for or patronize a business that allows smoking.”

Former Libertarian candidate Mike Kole spoke to the State legislature earlier this year supporting business owner property rights. Look for more announcements from the Libertarian Party in the future as Indianapolis Libertarians plan events to raise awareness.

The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United States, and is the only non-major party with ballot access in the state of Indiana. Libertarians believe in being SERVED by a small non-intrusive government that is financially responsible, administratively competent and socially tolerant.

###

Authorized by the Libertarian Party of Marion County – www.indylp.org

For more information, or to arrange an interview, please contact Sean Shepard at 317.513.2406 or by email at sshepard94(at)gmail.com"

Brad Klopfenstein on Indiana Lawmakers this Weekend

Brad Klopfenstein will be on Indiana Lawmakers this weekend. Indiana Lawmakers is produced by PBS station WFYI 20 in Indianapolis. It is also broadcast on the eight NPR radio stations and eight PBS television stations of IPBS (Indiana Public Broadcasting Stations, Inc.).

WFYI 20 Indianapolis broadcasts it on Fridays at 9:30 pm and Sundays at 1 pm. It is broadcast on Sundays at 6:30pm on WFYI+ (plus).

Brad is the Executive Director of the Indiana Licensed Beverage Association. He is a former Executive Director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana.

Indianapolis is Broke or Light Rail for White Suburbanites

Locally produced, this is very hard edged and biting commentary on Indianapolis' history of corporate welfare with an emphasis on its relationship with the Capital Improvement Board, Indianapolis Colts and the Indiana Pacers.

For example, I disagree with the criticism of the Simons and Irsays. I don't blame the Simons and Irsays for seeing the opportunity for a good deal and getting it. It's shame on the City and people like former Mayor Bart Peterson who agreed to miserable contract terms with the Colts and Pacers. The City should have said no to the terms demanded on Lucas Stadium, Conseco Fieldhouse and the Simons' downtown headquarters.

It maybe over-the-top but it makes many good points.

An Easy Explanation of the Concept of Socialism

Liberty File - the Libertarian Alternative to Drudge Report.

Check out Liberty File - a website that is the Libertarian alternative to the Drudge Report. Click here to go to Liberty File.

City of Chicago and Local Unions Continue War on the Poor by Fighting Wal-Mart

Read more about this by clicking here.

The elites in the City of Chicago and the local labor unions don't like Wal-Mart. I bet it is partly because it doesn't look nice, it's beneath the elites too and it puts pressure on unions to be competitive. It doesn't matter that it means more good entry level (and better) jobs and affordable prices for the citizens as well.

Don't be poor and in the City of Chicago. You must be rich and able to afford more pricey commodities. You must be among the elite of union membership (let's keep our guild small and strong so those lucky enough to be in it make a lot of money - to heck with the poor). It's a strategy that has worked in San Fransisco where few of those troublesome poor can afford to live in most areas of the City and taint the elites there.

100th Anniversary of the Opium Exclusion Act and the Unprecedented Crime, Violence and Corruption it has Unleased

"On February 9, 1909, Congress passed the Opium Exclusion Act, barring the importation of opium for smoking as of April 1. Thus began a hundred-year crusade that has unleashed unprecedented crime, violence and corruption around the world —a war with no victory in sight."

Read more in the article "Marking 100 Years of Failed Drug Prohibition - The Opium Exclusion Act of 1909".

The Special Interest Pork Bill to Stimulate Political Favorites Has Passed the United States Senate

The Special Interest Pork Bill to Stimulate Political Favorites passed the United States Senate tonight.

Like the groundhog who sees its shadow in February, when the Special Interest Pork Bill "critical" to stave off a depression sees its shadow, I believe this means at least 16 more years of a Depression until Keynesian economics are once again seen for what they are - the defender of special interests with political power and the bane of the poor.

I do I hope I'm wrong.

By the way, I hope many of you "loyal" Republicans enjoyed voting for allegedly "small government Republicans" like George W. Bush. They sure did a good job keeping government small and keeping Keynesian economics at bay, didn't they -- whoops -- I mean to say they did a good job growing government and rewarding special interests through Keynesian economics.

Centerville Libertarian Named to Wayne County Economic Development Commission

The Town of Centerville (Indiana) has named local Libertarian Mark Smith as its representative to the Wayne County Economic Development Commission.

Smith is currently a member of the Centerville Plan Commission as well. He was a Libertarian candidate for Wayne County Council in 2004 and 2006.

Being Accurate Doesn't Mean Being Believed

"Libertarians spend their lives accurately predicting the future effects of government policy. . ."

John Hasnas, associate business professor at Georgetown University, and currently a visiting professor at Duke University School of Law.


Read more at The Meck Deck blog post "Visions vs. Reality".

Bailout for Organized Crime - Let's Make Tobacco Illegal

One of the significant sectors of the United States economy - organized crime trafficking in prohibited items - probably needs government bailout help as well.

Here's what I propose:

Make tobacco illegal and declare a War on Drugs Including Tobacco.

I'm sure organized crime is hoping that tobacco is made illegal. Remember the famous scene in the move "Key Largo" where the organized crime thugs bemoan the end of alcohol prohibition and the economic "hit" they took to their pocketbooks. Well it's about time this country did something to make up for that. Poor, poor organized crime criminals. What a travesty they lost those great and lucrative illegal booze markets.

I'm sure organized crime is looking for new territories and markets and they just love prohibition of all forms. It's good for their business!

Also, prohibiting tobacco will be good for law enforcement officers, including prosecutors, probation officers, companies that provide services to probation departments, companies that build jails, prison guard unions and towns that depend on the local prison to support their existence. It will provide more inmates and probationers! What a stimulus for the economy.

Let's take this farther - BAN LARD NOW! This also will achieve full employment for organized crime and jail guards and help save the children. What a great idea.

(Warning - this is satire to me and most of my friends - unfortunately it will provoke stimulating discussion and new laws by the authoritarian elites who know better than me how I should lead my life.)