tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-74277006774204152802024-03-20T21:51:44.699-07:00Don't Tread on AnyoneMegan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.comBlogger32125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-86817413930172063532017-06-14T19:54:00.004-07:002017-06-28T11:34:47.372-07:00What It Is/What It Isn't - LibertarianismI think it's fitting to start off my school marm suite with the number one question I hear from people: What is Libertarianism?<br />
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Now when I answer this question with spoken words, I tend to keep things general to avoid ruffling the feathers of those are deep into the right or left. This leads to either a puzzled expression or some form of scoffing. Yeah. Not good. So I'm taking the opportunity here to explain a little bit more concisely the idea of liberty and what the LP stands for. The plan is to not only create a resource for others but for myself as well since writers have a way with the written word only. Trying to form a complete sentence whilst under pressure (and after my brain has been melted by two pregnancies) is a surefire way for me to forget how to English goodly.<br />
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At the end of this post, I'll also provide links to some resources to help further your research and understanding.<br />
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So what is this libertarian thing anyway?<br />
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The Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 by David Nolan<br />
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<i>Not this guy.</i></div>
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<i>This guy.</i></div>
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The party and its ideals were born in Nolan's living room in response to the Vietnam War and Richard Nixon's fascist moves on the economy. </div>
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In the 45 years since the LP has grown from just a handful of disillusioned Republican defectors to over 327,000 registered voters. Keep in mind this number is just based on registration numbers. There are plenty of liberty-leaners who register as independent or no party affiliation (like me). If the 2016 presidential election was any indication, the tides are shifting towards a desire to protect individual liberties. </div>
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While Gary Johnson and Bill Weld are not the best examples of what the LP has to offer, they did snatch up roughly 4 million votes with an even split between male and female voters. Not too shabby. </div>
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The basic principles can be summed up into a few basic points:</div>
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1. Self-ownership and individual responsibility are at the core of the values.</div>
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2. Adhere to the <a href="https://www.theadvocates.org/aggression/">Non-Aggression Principle</a>. The use of force to achieve any gains personal or otherwise is verboten.</div>
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3. Focus on a free market economy</div>
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4. Advocates a small federal government that works within the constraints of the Bill of Rights.</div>
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5. (Income) Taxation is theft. </div>
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6. Voluntarism and charity > government programs</div>
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While this by no means is all of them, these points are the simplest and most universally agreed upon in the liberty circles. </div>
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There is also a need to buck the outdated (and corrupt) two party system in favor of allowing the people more choice in the political arena. The 4% (about 5 million people) of votes for third parties in 2016 is <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2016/11/23/upshot/election-facts-to-keep-handy-for-thanksgiving-dinner-discussion.html?_r=0">evidence of this. </a></div>
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The primary focus is to shift the national thinking from, "the government need to regulate/control/pay for/be involved in everything" to "allow the public to make their own decisions/vote with their wallets/be in control of their own lives." With the number of federal regulations on everything from education to economics to whether or not we can collect rainwater on our own property, growing exponentially every year, our freedoms are being eroded. Some would say that having personal belongings rifled through or a thorough pat-down at the airport is worth it for security, but where is the line? Giving up our individual liberties is not the path to security, prosperity, or anything else. History has shown (over and over) that such power is guaranteed to be corrupted. We are the frog in the proverbial pot of water. The government is slowly turning up the heat (taking our freedoms) and it's only a matter of time until We The People boil to death.</div>
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The common perception is that because of the LP views on small government and focuses on individuals, that we are a selfish lot. Thus the libertarian principles being twisted to fit a narrative. There are many, but I'll go ahead and debunk a few here.</div>
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"Libertarians don't care about poor people."</div>
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By wanting to shift the focus on to charity and voluntarism rather than subsidies and handouts. The idea is to not only rev up a more local/community minded people but to allow the poor/underprivileged/low skilled to maintain not only their liberties but also their dignity and humanity. Don't confuse this with, "pull yourself up by your bootstraps." That's not what this is. It's encouraging people to use their time and money for good rather than have the federal government do it the most inefficient and expensive way possible.</div>
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"Libertarians are supporters of big corporations and crony capitalists." </div>
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That is a big negative there. The LP places value on a free market and a more laissez-faire approach to the economy. Keep the government from meddling in the affairs of the market. By allowing for the open exchange of goods and services, the small business owner is more likely to be empowered and successful. Thanks to the federal government, the larger more corrupt corporations have more leeway to throw their weight around and smash the little guy. Let's not forget that larger business entities are also political lobbyists who keep political palms greased in their favor. The LP is rather against that. In a free market model, products and services that serve a purpose and are good quality would be allowed to succeed whilst poor quality and lousy service would close a business down. There is no "too big to fail" and no Goliath trying to take David out. Remove government regulations that strangle smaller businesses and watch what happens. </div>
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"Libertarians are atheistic libertines."</div>
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Nope. While the party is much more welcoming of an atheist viewpoint than say the Right, the LP is not inherently anti-religion or anti-spirituality. Being supporters of the Bill of Rights and the Constitution, the LP supports the right to practice your own religion as dictated by your dogma. What is NOT okay, is trying to force your beliefs on others or to cause violence because of them. Because of the need to uphold the NAP there is a built in code of morals and ethics that comes along with that. Ending drug prohibition doesn't mean everyone should get to run around wasted. Driving while intoxicated is still dangerous and should be a punishable offense. Same goes for drugging children and non-consenting adults. If you are a grown adult giving your consent to partake in something not good for you, party on. There are clinics where an addict can exchange dirty needles for clean in order to stop the spread of disease and a push for rehab over jail time for users. By ending the Drug War, the hope is to be rid of the drug lords, gangsters, and violent crime that goes along with it.</div>
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"Libertarians are materialistic and pro-rich guy."</div>
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I think this stems from the "taxation is theft" mantra. By wanting a worker to keep what they make and doing away with income tax (and in conjunction, the IRS), the LP has developed a reputation for being greedy. It's really quite the opposite. The Left-wing cry for wealth redistribution and higher taxes could be described as being as such because those people did not work and earn the money they want to take. Therefore, they are wanting to take a portion whether the other party agrees or not (taxation = theft. Get it?). Wanting an individual to keep the money they worked hard for is not greed because nobody wants to take it. There are infrastructure and some things that tax dollars are necessary for and for that, there is a lot of support for the <a href="https://fairtax.org/">Fair Tax</a>. A tax collected on consumables rather than on income. This way, the money is only taken based on what an individual chooses to spend their money on and evasion is nearly impossible. This is the simplest way to guarantee that everyone "pays their fair share". Since the rich make and generally spend more, they will end up contributing more. No loopholes, no cronyism, everyone participates. </div>
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"Libertarians don't believe in climate change"</div>
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I'll admit, there is a healthy amount of skepticism here, but not for the reasons you'd think. The issue isn't about alternative energies, eco cleanup systems, or saving the whales. The first issue is the gleeful jumping in and the <a href="https://niskanencenter.org/blog/libertarian-principles-climate-change/">subsequent growth</a> of the federal government. History has shown over and over again that when a governing body gets involved in something, then the results are minimal at best and an expensive disaster at worst. The second issue is that climate change/global warming/global cooling/whatever you want to call it is a natural phenomenon that the planet cycles through on Her own (fossil and geological evidence has shown this). Some just aren't sure how much of in impact man has had in our brief time on Earth (don't jump on me, this is from discussions I've had with others, not necessarily my personal opinion). With that controversial tidbit said I can say this: the LP will always support free market solutions to issues. The greatest innovations in the history of man have come out of someone's garage or basement. An individual sees a problem or a need and develops technology as a solution every time. A governing body cannot say the same thing. In fact, they can usually boast the <a href="http://www.activistpost.com/2015/09/how-the-government-suppresses-free-energy-technologies.html">opposite</a> in suppressing "greener" energy sources. Therein lies the source of the hesitation to jump on the climate change bandwagon. </div>
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I hope I was able to give some clear, basic information to start you on your liberty journey. There is really only so much that can be published into one simple blog post, but I hope I've managed to at least, garner enough interest for you to continue your research.</div>
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For more information:</div>
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<a href="https://www.lp.org/">The Official National Libertarian Party website</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.theadvocates.org/libertarianism-101/libertarian-celebrities/david-f-nolan/">David F. Nolan</a></div>
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<a href="https://www.lewrockwell.com/1970/01/murray-n-rothbard/six-myths-about-libertarianism/">Myths About Libert</a><a href="http://www.theorionproject.org/en/">arianism</a></div>
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<a href="http://www.theorionproject.org/en/">Green Energy Info - The Orion Project</a></div>
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<a href="http://ronpaulinstitute.org/">Ron Paul Institute</a></div>
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<a href="https://niskanencenter.org/">Niskanen Center</a></div>
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Podcasts:</div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/libertarianism-for-normal-people/id1196449200?mt=2">Libertarianism for Normal People</a></div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/freakonomics-radio/id354668519?mt=2">Freakonomics Radio</a></div>
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<a href="https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/penns-sunday-school/id504257078?mt=2">Penn's Sunday School</a></div>
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12474952964217122829noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-60717669115315257692017-06-12T18:39:00.005-07:002017-06-12T18:49:51.319-07:00A Libertarian Education - A Short SyllabusBeing the research and history nerd out of the pair of Meg(h)ans that run this blog, I've decided to create a suite or learning library if you will for those interested in joining the liberty movement.<br />
There are a lot of common misconceptions about the Libertarian Party and Liberty movement in general that I think need clearing up.<br />
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For example: The LP is a blend of the best of Republicans and Democrats (thank Gary Johnson for that one). Libertarians are selfish and don't care about their communities or climate change or poor people or... you catch my drift. Our public perception isn't great. I wish I could blame the media for it or some other outside force, but there are quite a lot of people within our own party that have made "libertarian" a dirty word. The fact that rejected members of other parties are just slapping themselves with the LP label in order to run for whatever office isn't helping matters either.<br />
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I'm looking to find ways to "fix" those misconceptions because frankly, individual liberties are important. With more of them being taken from us all the time, it's imperative to educate others in the hopes of not only preserving what we have left, but also to hopefully get back what we have lost. The political pendulum in this country keeps swinging dangerously from one extreme to the next and an equilibrium must be found before our entire culture crumbles. While the tiny nihilist that lives inside my brain applauds the idea, the larger, more pragmatic side knows that this will be bad. Education is key and knowledge is power. As a society, we can't survive if we continue to base our decisions on emotions and sensationalized click bait.<br />
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There is a ton of misinformation floating around about what our government is and isn't as well. Thanks to budget cuts and political agendas infiltrating our public school system, we are all in need of Civics and Poli Sci 101.<br />
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So be on the lookout in the coming weeks for my first suite of posts titled: What it is, What it isn't.<br />
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Seacrest, out!<br />
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<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12474952964217122829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-15779518601040764912017-06-12T06:50:00.003-07:002017-06-12T06:50:54.991-07:00The Philosophy of Liberty<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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"<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">You Own Your Own Life...</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">To lose your Life is to lose your Future, to lose your Liberty is to lose your Present</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">…and to lose the product of your Life and Liberty is to lose that portion of your Past that produced it</span><br style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">A product of your Life and Liberty is your Property."<br /><br />If this is making sense to you... please reach out to me so that I can help connect you with liberty minded people in your area. </span>Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-24441427310924941322017-05-21T08:40:00.000-07:002017-05-21T08:40:21.728-07:00Mail Service: The Free Market at WorkTo start, let's define Free Market since I'm not sure I've actually gone into that here.<br />
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Free market refers to an economy where the government imposes few or no restrictions and regulations on buyers and sellers. In a free market, participants determine what products are produced, how, when and where they are made, to whom they are offered, and at what price—all based on supply and demand.<br />
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In the US, the majority of blockage to a truly free market comes from the government. They forbid producers from polluting, pricing below cost, or being a monopoly. In addition, they often require minimum safety standards, the disclosure of ingredients, licensing of certain professionals, and protection of original ideas, to name just a few. They even control the money supply to minimize the negative effects of natural economic expansion and contraction.<br />
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Some of these things may SEEM like a good idea. We all want the market to thrive, but time and time again it has been proven that the market thrives best, when it is left alone. When there is competition, consumers will choose the best available option for their goods and services needs. Factors such as time, distance, ease of use, customer service etc all effect companies well being in a buyer's market. When the government interferes with the market, buyers lose control. Here in the United States, there is a lot of favoritism for government sponsored programs that are supported by taxpayer dollars that would NOT survive in a free market.<br />
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The best example I can think of is USPS. Now, I don't know how your local postman treats you where you live, but I've gotten mail at 5 different addresses over the last 3 years. I can say with certainty that amongst the big 3 delivery services: UPS, FedEx, and USPS that USPS by far has the least reliability and the worst customer service. When I ship something with FedEx or UPS, it gets where it's going within the time frame I am quoted or in rare cases where it does not, I get a partial or full refund.<br />
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At my last apartment (the last one I'll live in, at least for the next 30 years, thankfully) USPS failed to deliver 6 packages in the short 9 months we lived there. When we called to talk to them, they insinuated that it was OUR fault, for not being home to receive the package and therefore it had to be rerouted. However, none of those packages required a signature. They could have left them at our door.<br />
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FedEx and UPS are typically a great deal cheaper than USPS, they have better <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/explainlikeimfive/comments/32q70m/eli5_why_does_the_united_states_postal_service/">customer </a>service, a higher overall <a href="https://www.consumeraffairs.com/delivery/us_postal_service.htm">rating </a>by consumers, a lower failure rate and from my experience, much nicer employees. So why does the USPS still exist? If overwhelmingly, the buyers PREFER other companies that provide the same services one would assume that they would take over the market. So why isn't that happening? Why do USPS employees continue to exist to complain about their employer (rightly so) on the <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/story/10-things-the-postal-service-wont-tell-you-2012-08-27">internet</a>?<br />
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Because they are supported by the US government. Because even though they have operated at a <a href="https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2016-05-19/making-no-cents-u-s-postal-service-s-bad-business-model">deficit </a>for YEARS we continue to finance them out of our tax dollars. So, not only is the IRS stealing money out of my paycheck, they are stealing it to support a company that I purposefully DONT shop at due to rude employees and overall incompetence.<br />
<br />Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-60423855899809596082017-05-15T10:41:00.000-07:002017-05-15T10:41:02.579-07:00Libertarian Party of Florida Executive Committee OutcomesI apologize that this post is so late in coming to you. I've been trying to get all my ducks in a row following the LPF convention the weekend before last in Cocoa Beach. I think I speak for all the Seminole County Delegates when I say we had a great time.<br />
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I'd like to announce the results of the Executive Committee Race. Marcos Miralles has replaced Char-Lez Braden as the Chair of the Libertarian Party of Florida. Miralles is seeking to have at least 100 Libertarians in public office by 2021 and hopes to dramatically increase help to candidates running for office. He also seeks to increase the fundraising efforts of the county affiliates and LP Florida. I am excited to see what he will do to better the Libertarian Party of Florida in the next 2 years.<br /><br />Omar Recuero was re-elected Vice-Chairman of LP Florida and Alison Foxall was re-elected Director At Large 1. LP Florida newcomer Greg Peele won Director At Large 3 by an overwhelming majority.<br /><br />I don't know Omar very well and my first interactions with him were at the LPF convention. They were all positive and I think he's done a good job thus far as Vice Chair and hope he will continue to advance liberty here in Florida.<br /><br />Alison Foxall is an outstanding advocate for Liberty. She works hard at the local, state and national levels helping to streamline processes and project a positive image of the LP across social media. She does a tremendous job running the communications committee (of which I am a member) here in Florida and I believe does a great job as At-Large 1. I can not say enough great things about her!<br />
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Greg Peele is near and dear to all of our hearts here in Seminole as he is the treasurer (and overall do-er of things) at our sister affiliate in Orange County. I say with great confidence that he will do wonderful things in his new position as At-Large Director 3.<br /><br />I would also like to take this time to publicly thank Char-Lez Braden for his work as chair. I appreciate all you've done for the LPF and am happy to see that you'll be continuing your action to further liberty in FL as a region representative.<br /><br />Thank you to everyone who came out to the convention. I enjoyed <span style="background-color: #f6d5d9;">getting </span>to meet my fellow FL libertarians.<br />
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Until next time.<br />In Liberty,<br />Megan Killion<br /><br />Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-12855250423281096722017-05-08T13:21:00.000-07:002017-05-08T13:22:07.438-07:00Homeschooling In FloridaEvery year that my son goes to public school is another year that his education disappoints me. I feel like when I send him to school he ends up being babysat and then sent home with weird new propaganda. He's had some great teachers and I appreciate them, but it's become pretty clear that the public school system isn't for us. So I did some research on homeschooling here in FL. I started at the Department of Education (DOE) website to find more info.<br />
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<b><u>Requirements</u></b><br />
Section 1002.01, Florida Statutes (F.S.), defines home education as the sequentially progressive instruction of a student directed by his or her parent or guardian in order to satisfy Florida's compulsory education requirements.<br />
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Florida Statute 1002.41 specifies the responsibilities of parents who establish a home education program.<br />
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<ul>
<li>Send a written notice of intent to the school district superintendent. The notice must be filed within 30 days of beginning the home education program and must include the following information:</li>
<li>Name of the home education student(s)</li>
<li>Birthdate(s)</li>
<li>Address</li>
<li>Parent's signature</li>
<li>Maintain a portfolio of educational records. Statute defines a portfolio as</li>
<li>A log of educational activities which is made contemporaneously with the instruction and which designates by title any reading materials used, and</li>
<li>samples of any writings, worksheets, workbooks or creative materials used or developed by the student.</li>
<li>Make the portfolio available for inspection by the superintendent upon 15-day written notice (The statute does not require the superintendent to inspect all portfolios).</li>
<li>Provide an annual educational evaluation of the student's educational progress to the superintendent. The evaluation must consist of one of the following:</li>
<li>A Florida certified teacher chosen by the parent may evaluate the child's progress based on a review of the portfolio and discussion with the student.</li>
<li>The student may take any nationally normed student achievement test administered by a certified teacher.</li>
<li>The student may take a state student assessment test at a location and under testing conditions approved by the school district.</li>
<li>The student may be evaluated by a psychologist holding a valid, active license pursuant to section 490.003 (7) or (8), F.S.</li>
<li>The student may be evaluated with any other valid measurement tool as mutually agreed upon by the parent and the superintendent.</li>
<li>Preserve each student's portfolio for two years.</li>
<li>Submit a letter of termination to the school district superintendent upon completion of the home education program, enrollment in a public or private school or moving from the district.</li>
</ul>
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<u><b>Your Choices Under Florida Law</b></u></div>
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Florida statutes provide three options for families who wish to educate their children at home. Each will meet the state’s compulsory attendance laws. Families may:</div>
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1. Enroll in a noncampus-based private school, that is, a private school that facilitates home education, and follow the procedures set by the school.</div>
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2. Establish a home education program as defined in the statutes by sending a Notice of Intent to the local school superintendent, maintaining a log of activities and portfolio of work, and filing an annual evaluation using one of five evaluation choices.</div>
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3. Establish a Private Tutoring Program.</div>
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While any of the above choices will provide compliance with Florida’s compulsory attendance laws, each has different implications for you. While some of these differences go to issues of recordkeeping and methods, the heart of the distinction is whether you want to be accountable to the state or to a private entity.</div>
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<b><u>Private Versus Public Homeschooling</u></b><br />
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Most families choose either private or public home education. Private tutoring programs are extremely expensive and infrequently used. Regardless which method you choose, you can educate your children at home, using the materials and methods you select. The key difference between enrolling in a private school and registering as a home educator is this:<br />
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<ol>
<li>Private school students are overseen by administrators you select. Identifying data about the student and samples of the student’s work are never shared with anyone outside of the private school (other than at your request).</li>
<li>Home education students are overseen by government employees at the school district. Parents must file annual evaluations with the district and are be required to show their record-keeping and samples of the student’s work upon demand by the Superintendent.</li>
</ol>
Since I think this is probably going to be the only solution for my family, I will continue to do research and keep you all posted!!<br />
<br />Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-34379488349952056372017-05-08T08:19:00.000-07:002017-05-08T08:19:33.690-07:00Florida SB 614 Has Been Indefinitely PostponedLet your representatives know that you're disappointed in them for postponing (indefinitely) <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/0614">SB 614</a>.<br /><br />SB 614 would have authorized a qualifying patient or his or her caregiver to purchase, acquire, and possess up to the allowed amount of marijuana, medical marijuana products, and associated paraphernalia for a qualifying patient’s medical use; providing that a physician must certify, on a specified form, that a patient is suffering from a debilitating medical condition and that the benefits to the patient of using marijuana outweigh the potential health risks before a patient may register with the department and obtain a registry identification card; requiring that the department create a secure, online, electronic medical marijuana patient registry containing a file containing specified information for each qualifying patient, caregiver, and certifying physician, etc.<br />
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This was a <span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;">GENERAL BILL by </span><a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S24" style="background-color: white; color: #cc0000; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; outline: 0px; text-decoration-line: none;">Brandes</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> ; (CO-INTRODUCERS) </span><a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S19" style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; outline: 0px;">Rouson</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> ; </span><a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S23" style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; outline: 0px;">Steube</a><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px;"> ; </span><a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/S13" style="background-color: white; color: #4b4b4b; font-family: "Trebuchet MS", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 12.8px; outline: 0px;">Stewart</a>.<br />
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I urge you to find your legislators <a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Senators/Find">here </a>and let them know how detrimental postponing this bill is to our communities.<br />
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<br />Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-23941842261332594532017-05-08T08:12:00.002-07:002017-05-08T08:12:48.805-07:00Celebrate Libertarian VictoriesThese are all seated, elected libertarian officials in the state of Florida. I consider every one of them a major victory. Let's get more candidates and win more elections! I'd love to see someone in Seminole on this list next. Are you ready to run? Can you help someone else run? Let me know!!<br /><br />
<b>Bruce Reichert</b><br />
Collier County Soil and Water Board<br />
Seat 1<br />
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<b>Carol Morris</b><br />
Fort Myers Beach Fire District Board<br />
Seat 3<br />
Lee County<br />
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<b>Gary Gerstein</b><br />
Fisher Island Community Council<br />
Miami-Dade County<br />
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<b>Jared Grifoni, Vice Chair</b><br />
Marco Island City Council<br />
Collier County<br />
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<b>Keon A. Grayson, Community Councilman</b><br />
North Central Community Council, Seat 83<br />
Miami-Dade County<br />
2016-2020<br />
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<b>Marc Tancer, Supervisor</b><br />
Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors<br />
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<b>Marco Alvarez, Jr., Supervisor</b><br />
Century Gardens Village Community Development District, Seat 1<br />
Miami-Dade County<br />
2016-2020<br />
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<b>Marialexandra Garcia, Supervisor</b><br />
Islands at Doral III Community Development District, Seat 4<br />
Miami-Dade County<br />
2016-2020<br />
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<b>Dennis Misigoy, Supervisor</b><br />
Enclave At Black Point CDD, Seat 1<br />
Miami-Dade County<br />
2016-2020<br />
<br />
<b>Martin Sullivan</b><br />
Frostproof City Council<br />
Polk County<br />
<br />
<b>Austin Gravley</b><br />
Frostproof City Council<br />
Polk County<br />
<br />
<b>Matthew Bymaster</b><br />
Palm Beach Soil & Water Conservation District Board of Supervisors<br />
Seat 2<br />
<br />
<b>Richard D. Paul</b><br />
Lee County Mosquito Control District<br />
Area 4<br />
<br />
<b>Larry Allen Schneck</b><br />
Osceola County Soil and Water Conservation BoardMegan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-62458616508065319122017-05-08T07:53:00.000-07:002017-05-08T07:56:28.182-07:00HB 141 Passed: Win for Liberty!!!<b><a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/141/ByVersion">HB 141: Free Craft Distilleries from Unnecessary Regulations</a></b><br />
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HB 141 massively helps craft distilleries. A craft distillery is defined as one that is “a licensed distillery that produces 250,000 or fewer gallons per the calendar year of distilled spirits on its premises."<br />
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HB 141 allows craft distilleries to get their products to more people by removing restrictions on the volume of product distilleries can sell directly to customers. The previous law limited customers to purchasing two bottles per brand/style per year.<br />
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Obviously selling on-site is more profitable, and it allows for customers to try the product and share it with others outside the area without involving third parties and middle-men.<br />
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HB 141 passed on 5/5/17<br />
<br />Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-64841576606503734422017-05-08T07:50:00.002-07:002017-05-08T07:51:26.395-07:002 Important Bills in the Florida House This WeekThis week 2 Important Bills are in the Florida House that I believe are deserving of your support.<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/00013">HB 13: End the Slush Funds for Politicians</a></b><br />
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Here in Florida under our current laws, local governments can designate areas as "Community Redevelopment Areas" and create a Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA). CRAs are funded by property taxes (theft) and are charged with "helping blighted neighborhoods." While the mission of a CRA is billed as "anti-poverty measures", CRAs have been used to subsidize museums, concert halls, production studios and other pet projects of local political officials. CRAs are no longer being used for anti-poverty measures, but are now primarily used as slush funds to repay political donors and keep private campaign promises.<br />
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HB 13 will place tighter restrictions on CRAs and begin a phase-out period for current CRAs.<br />
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Note: HB 13 was indefinitely postponed on 5/5/17<br />
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<b><a href="https://www.flsenate.gov/Session/Bill/2017/141/ByVersion">HB 141: Free Craft Distilleries from Unnecessary Regulations</a></b><br />
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HB 141 will massively help with craft distilleries. A craft distillery is defined as one that is “a licensed distillery that produces 250,000 or fewer gallons per the calendar year of distilled spirits on its premises."<br />
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HB 141 would allow craft distilleries to get their products to more people by removing restrictions on the volume of product distilleries can sell directly to customers. The current law limits customers to purchasing two bottles per brand/style per year.<br />
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Obviously selling on-site is more profitable, and it allows for customers to try the product and share it with others outside the area without involving third parties and middle-men.<br />
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Note: HB 141 passed on 5/5/17<br />
<b><i><u><span style="color: red;"><br /></span></u></i></b>
<b><i><u><span style="color: red;">TAKE ACTION</span></u></i></b><br />
HB 13 and HB 141 are on Special Order Calendar for Tuesday, April 25th, 2017 and could be voted on by the full House this week.<br />
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Call and e-mail your district Representative to support HB 13 to end CRA abuse and HB 141 to free Craft Distilleries from unnecessary regulations.<br />
<a href="http://www.floridaactionalerts.com/r?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myfloridahouse.gov%2FSections%2FRepresentatives%2Frepresentatives.aspx&e=a4e12704c721ce62582f0998ad638c2b&utm_source=lfn&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=424171&n=2"><br /></a>
<a href="http://www.floridaactionalerts.com/r?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.myfloridahouse.gov%2FSections%2FRepresentatives%2Frepresentatives.aspx&e=a4e12704c721ce62582f0998ad638c2b&utm_source=lfn&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=424171&n=2">CLICK ON THIS LINK TO FIND YOUR REPRESENTATIVE</a><br />
<br />Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-54898011849989255992017-02-28T15:53:00.001-08:002017-02-28T15:58:19.078-08:00Taxation is NOT the same as charity.<i>by, Meghan Beverly</i><br />
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I have seen a lot of memes and implications from the left that seem to make those in favor of limiting welfare and other entitlements look like uncaring, greedy pigs. Somehow having money stolen from their pay and redistributed amongst those less fortunate makes those same people feel somehow superior. Morally righteous even. What these people don't understand is that forced distribution is not the same as being charitable.<br />
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The ridiculous logic that taxation is the answer, makes it difficult to use the rational argument that if allowed to keep their own money and spend as they will, the population will give to those who are needy because they can. To have the means to actually maintain a standard of living as well as having the freedom to give as one sees fit is a beautiful thing. I believe there is a general good in the world and that the majority of Americans <i>want </i>to help. If you pay attention, you can see it everywhere. It can be as simple as buying a coffee for the next person in line or giving a coat to a homeless person all the way up to running fundraisers and volunteering time. Look at how many pages of crowd funding have been fulfilled for cancer patients and surgeries are out there. In general people <i>are </i>good and <i>do </i>good.<br />
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Taxation =/= Charity.<br />
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But if one was to believe the liberal rhetoric, it would seem that we were really quite the opposite. The American people can't be trusted to "do the right thing" so therefore, need to be forced to. It's important that the government intervenes to make sure that everyone gets their "fair share". It makes them feel righteous to know that the feds are taking money from hard working people every week to fuel whatever that agenda may be.<br />
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It's time to wake the hell up!<br />
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Charity is voluntary. That's the part that makes a good person. One actively seeks out a cause and participates thus making a difference. A good person doesn't hesitate to give money, food, or clothing to someone who needs it. They also do it for zero praise and want nothing in return. What makes someone inherently good is the drive to make the world a better place <u style="font-style: italic; font-weight: bold;">without the threat of force.</u><br />
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Once more for those in the back: <b><i><u>Taxation =/= Charity.</u></i></b><br />
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This is the problem with the left-wing agenda and socialism as a whole (and likely why so many are running away screaming from the party) decent and potentially generous people are being <a href="http://humanevents.com/2015/01/30/obama-loads-taxes-on-the-middle-class-again/">taxed</a> to the point where taking care of themselves and their families is becoming difficult. They find themselves will little to no room to help in the way they like. In the meantime, the pious, self-serving tax mongers are patting themselves on the back for a job well done, when all they've done is take money from hard working people. It's not the mega rich that's hurting, it's your neighbor.<br />
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There is also the point that the government hurts and inhibits far more than it helps. Stories come out regularly in the news about a cosmetology student offering <a href="http://reason.com/blog/2017/02/14/cosmetology-board-investigates-student-f">free haircuts to the homeless</a>. The guy is being investigated for practicing without a license. Or how about the BBQ competition in Kansas City that had the donation food <a href="https://fee.org/articles/try-to-feed-the-homeless-and-the-food-police-will-bleach-your-bbq/">bleached</a> by the health department. 3000 people went hungry because of this.<br />
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Frankly, there are too many instances where government on every level shut down acts of decency and kindness. <a href="http://wreg.com/2016/12/05/church-fined-12000-for-helping-homeless/">Churches get fined</a>, volunteers are<a href="http://www.tampabay.com/news/publicsafety/carlton-arrested-for-feeding-homeless-people-its-complicated/2309132"> arrested</a>; I guess it isn't truly help unless the government does it. Until the self righteous pull their heads from their collective asses and stop vilifying those who are actually decent, we will never really know the true potential of the American people.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12474952964217122829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-45438005889162309572017-02-24T08:37:00.000-08:002017-02-24T08:37:18.204-08:00Florida's Red Light Cameras Face Repeal This YearIf Florida repeals it's Red Light Camera law it will be a major win for Liberty! As crashes at intersections with Red Light cams rise, lawmakers may repeal the state's red-light camera law entirely. On January 11th House members sitting on the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee heard an overview of the Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles report that found crashes at intersections with red-light cameras rose 10 percent in 2015. This could be the first step in repealing a law I consider to be unconstitutional. The report on increased crashes also found pedestrian-involved accidents dropped nearly 20 percent, and state representatives were unsure how to take the overall results.<br />
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<br /><br />However, the next time they discuss the law should be whether to repeal it. State Rep. Bryan Avila, R-Hialeah, has proposed repealing the law, and state Sen. Frank Artiles, R-Miami, has filed a similar measure.<br />
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The legality of the law itself has been in question for a while now. There have been conflicting rulings in state appeals courts requiring a review by the Florida Supreme Court. A federal class-action suit demanded the return of fines paid by motorists under the potentially illegal law and is on hold pending that review. With all the legal uncertainty, more and more cities are choosing to end their red-light camera programs once and for all.<br />
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The number of cameras in use in Florida has already dropped to 688 in 2015, down more than a hundred cameras from the year before. Despite the decrease in cameras, the number of citations has actually risen. Artiles and other critics call this evidence that the cameras are a revenue-generating system, not a public safety issue.<br />
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<b>"The purpose of red-light cameras is not about safety. It's about money," Artiles said. "We finally have the proof we need."</b><br />
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<b><br /></b>Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-26976505893117235712017-02-17T17:06:00.000-08:002017-02-17T17:06:07.730-08:00Hi! My Name Is...What is up, everybody? I'm Meghan B, contributor and newest Lady of Liberty. I'm a married mother of two, hairstylist, and reformed republican (silence the judging). I'm also frugal, friendly, and fluent in sarcasm. My obsessions include: Outlander, movies, Hard Rock, and Doctor Who. If it's nerdy, I'm in.<br />
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I love my country and see amazing potential and goodness in the citizens around me every day. I believe in the NAP, Free Market, Fair Tax, and helping our fellow man. And while i have a hard time identifying with the "F-word" (feminism), I am a woman who stands for equality. I just like mine with a touch of dignity and class.<br />
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Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/12474952964217122829noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-44467122707335088252017-02-11T12:56:00.002-08:002017-02-11T12:56:41.766-08:00Libertarian Must ReadsSo first I really just need to throw it out there that I've been reading the <i>Thinblade </i>series by David A Wells and if you love fantasy with tons of libertarian philosophy thrown in I highly recommend it, and the first 2 books are free on <a href="https://www.amazon.com/Thinblade-Sovereign-Seven-Isles-Book-ebook/dp/B005563J7A">Kindle </a>so you can't really go wrong there.<br />
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Here is a list of a few more standard books I recommend:<br />
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<i>The Libertarian Mind </i>by David Boaz<br />
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You can also find <i>Libertarianism a Primer</i> by Boaz for free <a href="https://www.cambridgelibertarians.org.uk/media/uploads/2014/06/libertarianism_a_primer_boaz.pdf">here</a>.<br />
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Consider <i>The Law</i> by Frédéric Bastiat.<br />
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You can find it free <a href="http://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/44800">here</a>.<br />
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<i>The Machinery of Freedom: Guide to a Radical Capitalism</i> by David Friedman<br />
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Find a second addition copy free of charge <a href="http://daviddfriedman.com/The_Machinery_of_Freedom_.pdf">here</a>.<br />
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My road to libertarianism admittedly started with this Dystopian fiction:<br />
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<i>Atlas Shrugged</i> by Ayn Rand<br />
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Found free online <a href="https://s3.amazonaws.com/scschoolfiles/112/ayn-rand-atlas-shrugged.pdf">here</a>.<br />
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Also try:<br />
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<i>America's Great Depression</i> by Murray Rothbard<br />
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<i>The Road to Serfdom</i> by Frederich Hayek<br />
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I'm sure I'm missing some on my list. What books do you recommend?<br />
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<br />Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-82683506484188799602017-02-11T12:43:00.001-08:002017-02-11T12:43:31.852-08:00Voluntaryism, it works!In order for the Libertarian party to truly be the "party of principle" we, as libertarians, must practice what we preach. How do we prove we don't need the government to govern our morality? By being moral without their interference. By giving of ourselves, our time, and our money to better our society WITHOUT the threat of violence looming over our heads. So this is my not so subtle reminder to go out and better your world today.<br />
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Whatever is voluntary is ethical. The implementation of force (or the threat thereof) to achieve what we consider to be "right" bastardizes the nature of said "good deed". However, the argument many leftists make against a libertarian society is that we are incapable of governing our own moral actions. The best way to dispute this is to be living, breathing examples of voluntary charity.<br />
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Here are just a few ways to get involved in Central Florida, so that the next time someone tells you charity would cease to exist without government involvement you can be a living example of why they are wrong:<br />
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<a href="https://www.juniorachievement.org/web/ja-centralfl">Junior Achievement of Central Florida</a><br />
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<a href="https://twloha.com/get-involved/">To Write Love on Her Arms</a><br />
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<a href="http://www.handsonorlando.com/">Hands on Orlando</a><br />
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Consider going to your local VA and asking what they need most right now. Check out a local animal shelter and spend time volunteering there. No matter your income, or talents somewhere there is someone who needs you, and you can find a way to help and change the world. Don't let libertarians be targeted as a "selfish" party. Let's stand together and show them who we are: The Party of Principle.<br />
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You can also <a href="https://www.volunteermatch.org/search/index.jsp?r=msa&l=34974#k=&v=false&s=&o=recency&l=Maitland%2C+FL&r=msa&sk=&specialGroupsData.groupSize=&na=&partner=&usafc=">Go Here </a>to get matched with volunteer opportunities in your area.Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-17142195654785635092017-02-11T12:32:00.001-08:002017-02-11T12:32:15.689-08:00You down with NAP? Yeah, you know me.If you spend any time online amongst Libertarian groups you may see a lot of "TAXATION IS THEFT?" "AM I BEING DETAINED?" and "ABOLISH _______". While all of these things can be/are libertarian principles. They aren't THE basis of what I consider to be all things libertarian. For me libertarianism starts with the Non Aggression Principle, or NAP for short.<br />
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The Non Aggression Principle asserts that any act of aggression is inherently illegitimate. Anything that has to be imposed upon people by force is regarded as criminal in nature. This applies to government as well as our personal lives, and can be applied to almost any thing. There are few issues that fall outside the logical repercussions of this singular theory. Most of which, we as libertarians, rarely chime in on.<br />
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Aggression in this case refers to any initiation of a coercive relationship. It's easy enough to see how one could follow this theory to insert that taxation is indeed theft, or that many government programs are not legitimate since we, as citizens were not ASKED if we'd like to pay for them. Anything I am forced to participate in at threat of violence is a violation of the NAP.<br />
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Libertarians oppose the initiation of force to achieve social or political goals. They reject “first-strike” force, fraud or theft against others; they only use force in self-defense. Those who violate this “non-aggression principle” are expected to make their victims whole as much as possible. This “Good Neighbor Policy” is what most of us were taught as children. We were told not to lie, cheat, steal, not to strike our playmates unless they hit us first. If we broke a friend’s toy, we were expected to replace it.<br />
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Most of us still practice what we learned as children with other individuals, but we have grown accustomed to letting government assert aggression against others when we think we benefit. Consequently, our world is full of poverty and strife, instead of the harmony and abundance that freedom (i.e., freedom from aggression) brings.<br />
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There are many other ideas and concepts that surround libertarian principle, and it has even been suggested that we move away from the NAP as it is a somewhat limited philosophy, but I for one agree in entirety that it should be the basis of all our principles, and that anything that could be considered a violation of the NAP should not be supported by libertarians. If it can't be supported by this one principle I don't believe it should be a part of our platform. However as libertarians we are allowed to disagree and hold beliefs different than one another.<br /><br />So what do you think? Should we abandon the NAP and build a more specific platform/philosophy?Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-65144044469116838212016-10-12T10:10:00.001-07:002016-10-12T10:10:30.521-07:00Florida's Libertarian Candidates<a href="http://stanton2016.com/images/vdi/paul-stanton/paul-stanton-headshot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://stanton2016.com/images/vdi/paul-stanton/paul-stanton-headshot.png" height="320" width="244" /></a><br />
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Obviously as I've stated in previous blog posts <a href="http://stanton2016.com/">Paul Stanton</a> is running for Senate here in Florida. He's running on a platform that "Freedom is for Everyone". From my personal interview with him I can say that he's focused on decriminalizing drugs, and creating a system of rehabilitation rather than ruining lives with our current legal system. He's heavily focused on lowering and limiting taxes, blocking unfair bills in Congress, and strongly believes in a system which does NOT use force. He is a computer programmer, veteran and Libertarian activist. I'll be voting for him, and am proud to endorse him.<br />
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<a href="http://nebula.wsimg.com/9da945fe3d1c1881940311b6bebc5115?AccessKeyId=D7D253AAA785CEEE552A&disposition=0&alloworigin=1" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://nebula.wsimg.com/9da945fe3d1c1881940311b6bebc5115?AccessKeyId=D7D253AAA785CEEE552A&disposition=0&alloworigin=1" /></a></div>
<a href="https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/images/8/80/Florida's_2nd.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/images/8/80/Florida's_2nd.JPG" width="200" /></a><a href="http://www.robforcongress.org/">Rob Lapham</a> is running for U.S. House in the 2nd Congressional District. To be clear his district is down by Tallahassee and Panama City, so I can't vote for him. But if you live anywhere on this map I think you should!<br />
Rob promises 15 things on his campaign website: To never expand big government, downsize the military, shut down the TSA/NSA/mass surveillance and end the drug war are amongst them.<br />
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Ken Willey is running for State House in District 18. He doesn't have a campaign page, but you can follow him on <a href="https://www.facebook.com/WilleyForFLRep18">Facebook </a>to learn more about his platform. District 18 is over by Palm Beach to be clear, so if you're in that area. He's a Libertarian you can vote for.</div>
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<a href="http://artie4liberty.com/images/vdi/artie-lurie/artie-head-shot.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://artie4liberty.com/images/vdi/artie-lurie/artie-head-shot.png" height="200" width="164" /></a><a href="https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/images/thumb/4/48/FL_HD_090.JPG/200px-FL_HD_090.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://ballotpedia.org/wiki/images/thumb/4/48/FL_HD_090.JPG/200px-FL_HD_090.JPG" width="165" /></a><a href="http://artie4liberty.com/">Artie Lurie</a> is running for State House in District 90. He claims to be a vote for Liberty and Small Government. He's for tax reform and responsible gun ownership. He's been a member of the Libertarian Party since 1996 and has been living in Florida since '94.<br />
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<a href="http://www.voteforjamesmorris.com/Graphics/Slider-01.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://www.voteforjamesmorris.com/Graphics/Slider-01.jpg" height="136" width="320" /></a><a href="http://www.voteforjamesmorris.com/">James Morris</a> is running for Bay County Commissioner in District 2. He wants personal and economic liberty and has a plan for securing it. He's lived in Bay County since 1974<br />
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Other Libertarians running for office in FL:<br />
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<a href="http://www.lp.org/candidates/liberty-candidates-16/joshua-knezinek" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Joshua Knezinek</span></a></h2>
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Hillsborough County Water District 4</div>
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Monroe County State's Attorney</div>
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<a href="http://www.lp.org/candidates/liberty-candidates-16/dale-doelling" style="text-decoration: none;"><span style="color: #f1c232;">Dale Doelling</span></a></h2>
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Sebastian City Council</div>
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Palm Beach Soil and Water Board Conservation District Group 4</div>
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Palm Beach Soil and Water Board Conservation District Group 2</div>
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I encourage you to research those running in your county. If they aren't "Libertarian" I highly recommend reaching out to them for interviews to see if perhaps they lean towards liberty but have caught in the bi-partisan net.</div>
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<br />Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-1350814215387220772016-10-12T06:49:00.002-07:002016-10-12T06:49:46.433-07:00Gary Johnson on TwitterLet's start with his live tweets during the debate this week.
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He criticized Trump's lack of apology for his crude remarks that recently leaked:<br />
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An apology does not include shifting this to Bill Clinton. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debate?src=hash">#debate</a></div>
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGaryJohnson/status/785289174949695488">October 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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Obviously complained that they refuse to actually talk about the issues facing America:<br />
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23 minutes in, and we still have had no serious discussion about <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/jobs?src=hash">#jobs</a>, <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debt?src=hash">#debt</a>, or our security. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debate?src=hash">#debate</a></div>
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGaryJohnson/status/785290130412150784">October 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I've got to agree with Gary... I keep thinking things can't get worse, and they do...<br />
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I did not think that <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debate?src=hash">#debate</a> number 2 could be more pathetic than debate number 1 and yet to this point, it is.</div>
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGaryJohnson/status/785291245174284288">October 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
He questioned Donald Trump's policies:<br />
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump">@realDonaldTrump</a> thinks we're safer by violating the <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Constitution?src=hash">#Constitution</a> and imposing religious bans. <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/debate?src=hash">#debate</a></div>
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGaryJohnson/status/785295879364239360">October 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
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AND Hillary Clinton's policies:<br />
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
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.<a href="https://twitter.com/HillaryClinton">@HillaryClinton</a> thinks we're safer with <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/regimechange?src=hash">#regimechange</a> despite Libya, Iraq, Syria</div>
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGaryJohnson/status/785296103725998080">October 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
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The unforgivable in life is <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/hypocrisy?src=hash">#hypocrisy</a>: doing one thing and saying another. You are guilty of hypocrisy when it comes to Wall Street Hillary</div>
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGaryJohnson/status/785297543752257537">October 10, 2016</a></blockquote>
<br />
You can see more of his tweets during the debate <a href="https://twitter.com/i/moments/785315293174329344">here</a><br />
<br />
One of my personal favorites:<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>
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<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" data-lang="en">
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3rd Party candidate has never won? Hmm...Abraham Lincoln? <a href="https://t.co/ScLZs3WZzD">pic.twitter.com/ScLZs3WZzD</a></div>
— Gov. Gary Johnson (@GovGaryJohnson) <a href="https://twitter.com/GovGaryJohnson/status/780474591235993601">September 26, 2016</a></blockquote>
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I'll add to this later when I have some more time to go through his twitter, but I encourage you to follow him and check him out yourself.<br />
<script async="" charset="utf-8" src="//platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"></script>Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-24875928446698551922016-10-12T05:52:00.000-07:002016-10-12T05:52:41.838-07:00Gary Johnson is Making Libertarian History, Win or LoseThe former New Mexico governor will almost certainly win the highest vote percentage of any Libertarian Party candidate in history. The title is now held by 1980 nominee Edward Clark, who earned 1.06 percent of the vote (his campaign was buoyed by the checkbook of his running mate, David Koch).<br />
<br />
There is some question as to what his polling numbers really look like right now. There have been reports that "millenials" those aged 18-35 are being excluded from the usual reporting numbers, as well as military personnel. As most of you may know, those are the groups Gary Johnson and Bill Weld perform best in. Whether this is some kind of conspiracy to make Gary look bad, or just "the way things have always been" I leave up to you to decide.<br />
<br />
The fact of the matter is Gary was polled at 39% amongst active duty, beating out both Hillary and Trump. Among Marines, Gary was at a whopping 45%. However, despite Clinton's underwhelming performance among active duty troops in the poll, their family members preferred Clinton at 29 percent to 27 percent for Trump. Johnson came in third, at 24 percent.<br />
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I found varying results when looking for polls specifically targeting millenials, but across the board the numbers showed that Trump was losing ground in that age group, and Johnson was atleast beating the Republican nominee, and sometimes Hillary as well.<br />
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If Johnson can snag 5 percent of the national popular vote, the Federal Election Commission will HAVE to classify the Libertarians as an official “minor party,” granting the 2020 nominee a lump sum of cash for the fall campaign, courtesy of the American taxpayer. While we're anti-taxation, we're going to need to recoop some cash after these campaign costs. National recognition is a huge deal for our party, which has been struggling for years to gain media attention, and to be acknowledged as more than just tin-foil hat wearing conspiracists.<br />
<br />
Meeting the threshold would at least guarantee the part a 10 million dollar pay back, more if we gain more of the popular vote. That may seem like very little compared to the hundreds of millions of dollars major party presidential nominees routinely raise, and spend. However, our boy Johnson has gotten this far after raising only $8 million through August. Knowing the Libertarian Party’s nominee is guaranteed $10 million will allow him or her to hit the campaign trail running, improving the odds of getting into the debates, winning an even larger share of vote and fortifying the party’s place in the American political landscape.<br />
<br />
With Trump's campaign in a tail-spin it may look like Hillary has this election in the bag. But, win or lose, for the Libertarian Party, all we really need is 5% of the popular vote for this to be a major win in our history. Maybe this isn't going to be our year, although I truly still hope the electoral college works in our favor. But if it's not our year, it will at the very least be the beginning of a true revolution.<br />
<br />
Keep fighting ladies and gentleman. Let's get liberty and justice for all.Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-41256644206567105462016-08-09T09:55:00.002-07:002016-08-09T09:55:53.227-07:00Drew Carey Hosted a Fundraiser For Gary JohnsonDrew Carey has been a long time vocal Libertarian but when he hosted a fundraiser at his home in support of Gary Johnson, he took a big leap forward in his involvement. Carey spoke out against Trump, "I don’t know what America he’s living in but he’s crazy.” When Johnson addressed the crowd later, he echoed Carey’s sentiments by asking, “What country is he talking about?”<br />
<br />
Johnson said that Carey is one of the several celebrities who have expressed their support for him, even if many are not yet willing to do so publicly. Johnson had just arrived on the West Coast from Cleveland, where he said he spent the week giving over 70 interviews and had upwards of 500 people come up to him to pledge their support, including some delegates who were decked out in Trump gear. He is still holding out for the type of game-changing endorsement that could launch him beyond the 15 percent threshold in polls and put him on the general election debate stage.<br />
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Carey was initially approached by the Johnson campaign to host a fundraiser at a bar or restaurant in Los Angeles. But instead, he offered to do it at his home in the Hollywood Hills. “I throw a good party,” he said. The comedian spent the evening strolling the grounds, mingling with guests and pulling out his signature black-framed glasses only for selfies.<br />
<br />
As for why Carey supports Johnson, he said, “I don’t need a national daddy or mommy.” Like Johnson, Carey would not say which of the two major candidates he believes would be worse for the country. Asked who the “lesser of two evils” is between Clinton and Trump, he replied, simply, “Gary Johnson.”<br /><br />“I don’t give a fuck,” Carey says, bluntly. “If your person doesn’t get enough votes, you lose. I don’t want to hear it. There are more than two choices and you are allowed to vote for whoever you want. This is America. If you can’t get the votes to win, tough shit.” <br /><br />I'm glad to have you on our team Drew!<br />
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Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-24987603222398261212016-06-30T07:55:00.001-07:002016-06-30T07:55:51.781-07:00Why We Should Put An End to The DraftCongress has been debating the merits of adding women into Selective Service to be drafted with men during times of national emergency.<br />
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Kentucky's Senator Rand Paul suggests that it would be better to just end the draft.<br />
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The Libertarian Party agrees.<br />
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"The draft is simply slavery by another name. Drafting people to go abroad and kill or be killed is barbaric and a discredit to our military and country," said Nicholas Sarwark, chair of the Libertarian National Committee.<br />
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If a national emergency is so severe to merit mobilizing extra troops, Americans from all backgrounds, ages, and genders should pitch in to do what is needed. However, this should not be forced. It is an insult to the idea of a "free country".<br />
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The draft, whether for military purposes or some form of “national service,” violates the basic moral principles of individual liberty upon which this country was founded. Furthermore, the military neither wants nor needs a draft.<br />
<br />
Former President Ronald Reagan eloquently expressed the moral case against the draft in the publication Human Events in 1979: “[Conscription] rests on the assumption that your kids belong to the state. If we buy that assumption then it is for the state not for parents, the community, the religious institutions or teachers to decide who shall have what values and who shall do what work, when, where and how in our society. That assumption isn’t a new one. The Nazis thought it was a great idea.”<br />
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The Libertarian Party urges elected leaders to end the draft and also to pursue foreign policy which is less dependent on military might. The money we spend annually on our military is a waste, when we have a presence in foreign conflicts.<br />
<br />
Economic hardship is great in all wars. War is never economically beneficial except for those in position to profit from war expenditures. The great tragedy of war is that it enables the careless disregard for civil liberties of our own people. Abuses of German and Japanese Americans in World War I and World War II are well known.<br />
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The real sacrifice comes with conscription forcing a small number of young citizens to fight the wars that older men and women promote. It's easy to promote a war for your own glory when you aren't the one being shot at. The draft encourages wars with neither purpose nor moral justification, wars that too often are not even declared by the Congress.<br />
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Without conscription, unpopular wars are difficult to fight. The Vietnam War came to an end quickly <br />
after the draft was undermined. Most importantly, liberty cannot be preserved by tyranny. A free society must always resort to volunteers. Tyrants think nothing of forcing men to fight and serve in wrongheaded wars. A true fight for survival and defense of America would elicit the defense of those who love her. This is not the case with wars of mischief far away from home, which we have experienced often in the past century.<br />
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The United States has many tools of foreign policy at our disposal that do not require force. Military force should always be a last resort and only in defense.<br />
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The Libertarian Party is the only political party in America devoted to protecting all rights, of all human beings, all the time. The Libertarian Party also strongly condemns the use of force except in self defense.Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-23441026686005228682016-06-28T06:14:00.001-07:002016-06-28T06:14:20.442-07:00Paul Stanton is Running for Florida State Senate<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Another Libertarian has announced plans to run for U.S. Senate in Florida. Paul Stanton announced that he will place his name on the Libertarian primary ballot, joining fellow candidate Augustus Sol Invictus. Personally, while I always vote for a Libertarian on the ballot if there's one available, I couldn't bring myself to vote for the circus act that is Invictus. So for me, this is good news. Stanton seems like a much more reasonable option for Libertarians looking to vote in a Senator. According to Independent Political Report's Tom Knapp, Stanton says he has the resources to qualify for the ballot.<br />
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Bio from Stanton’s <a href="https://m.facebook.com/StantonForLiberty/info/?tab=page_info">Facebook </a>page:<br />
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Paul Stanton is honored to run as a candidate to represent the State of Florida in the U.S. Senate. A world-traveled individual, Paul has been living in Florida after serving in the U.S. Army and roaming the continental U.S. as an information technology specialist. After six years of service and a tour of duty in Iraq, Paul received his honorable discharge from the U.S. Army and immediately adopted a philosophy of responsible service to community. He was the founding member of the Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne Students Against War organization and led protests against violence and interventionism in Iraq and Afghanistan. At one point he even sued the airport for the right to protest the use of overly-invasive body scanners in airports. As your Senator, he will fight for the rights of everyday citizens to preserve the freedoms that are quickly being eroded by corrupt partisan politics.<br />
<a href="http://i1.wp.com/independentpoliticalreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/FB_IMG_1463099139148.jpg?resize=201%2C300" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://i1.wp.com/independentpoliticalreport.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/FB_IMG_1463099139148.jpg?resize=201%2C300" /></a><br />
Paul is committed to an agenda based on the principles of individual freedom and a common sense-approach to taxes. As Senator, he promises to advance a platform of non-aggression, seeking to end the United States involvements in the Middle East and mitigating the harm we have already caused. Additionally, he advocates for an end to the “War on Drugs” and incarceration of users, and instead advocates for treatment and education for those who are addicted. Paul will also demand an overhaul of the federal tax system, where even those who are poor are still overburdened with taxes on the fruits of their labors through a “War on the Poor.” A resident of Deland, Florida, Paul lives <br />
surrounded by family, friends, and neighbors who are proud to call him one of their own.<br />
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According to his Twitter, @StantonForLiberty, his stance can be simplified into "Anti-violence, anti-coercion, anti-fraud". So what does this mean, and where does he stand on the issues?<br />
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<h4>
<u>On Business Taxation:</u></h4>
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Businesses leave the United States for a multitude of reasons, one of which, is corporate taxation. While corporate taxation can contribute to stifling business and job growth, this is especially true for small businesses. Large corporations are actually in a much better position to handle taxation because of their ability to pay it and/or move operations offshore as to avoid the taxation. Small businesses that are incorporated and looking to grow are not awarded those same privileges.</div>
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The first step to fostering competition is producing a more free market with lower government intrusion and taxation for small businesses. If elected, I will propose to cut taxes for companies with less than $500,000 in revenue completely, and work to reduce taxation for all businesses as much as possible. This reduction for small businesses is a positive first step, as small businesses will be able to take that saved money and invest it in growing their business and expanding the economy. </div>
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In addition to lowering tax rates for small businesses as a first step to reducing taxation for businesses across the board, I will work to eliminate the taxation on repatriated profits from overseas. There is over $2.1 trillion dollars sitting overseas that should be in the United States if it were not due to our tax policies. I will work to bring those dollars back here so they can be invested and help grow the economy. </div>
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<h4>
<u>On Drug Reform:</u></h4>
The “War On Drugs,” has become a device through which those in power have taken our liberties from us, and provide only fear and oppression in return. By bringing this war to an end, we will be able to remove the roadblocks that prevent addicts from getting help, and end the pattern of selectively-enforced felony convictions created by the “War on Drugs” that oppress minorities, the poor, and those not well connected, and that encourage drug users to retreat in fear from their families, their aspirations.<br />
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To this end, I support the immediate decriminalization of all drugs, the end of mandatory-minimum sentencing for drug-related offenses, and the end of policies that mandate costly and ineffective drug testing for recipients of welfare and other forms of government aid. I also support reducing tax burdens for private rehabilitation programs in order to make them affordable for more people, and to protect the privacy of those suffering from drug addiction. Additionally, I support returning the right to vote nation-wide to those convicted of nonviolent drug-related offenses.<br />
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<h4>
<u>On Poverty Alleviation:</u></h4>
While many politicians pay lip service to helping the poor and disadvantaged, the policies they have put in place actually look more like a war on the poor than a war on poverty. Creating opportunities for all Americans, especially the most marginalized in society, must be a priority. Instead, the focus of policymakers has been on creating a system by which the rich are able to socialize their losses across society at the expense of the poor and working class. We must have a strong economy that provides opportunities for Americans from every walk of life, not just the corporate elite. <br />
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The first step that should be taken is to eliminate FICA taxes for all workers under the poverty line. While this will certainly help the individual worker, this will also help employers and encourage job growth. The disenfranchised in society also rely heavily on government services that often produce more waste than results. Direct charitable help to the poor should be encouraged, and this can be done by instituting a dollar for dollar tax rebate for charitable donations. This will help eliminate a lot of the waste that is incurred by federal programs designed to provide services to the poor, while also encouraging individuals to be more charitable.<br />
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In order to create opportunities to tackle poverty, we must foster the environment that allows small businesses to thrive. I will work to cut down the bureaucracy instituted by many federal agencies that price small businesses out of the market. The federal government stifles jobs by forcing regulations crafted by the corporate elite that help large corporations push small businesses out of competition. So while politicians will try and sell every regulation as protection of the individual, often times they protect monopoly like conditions for big corporations. In addition, while lowering taxes for all businesses should also be a priority, we need to start with eliminating the corporate tax for small businesses so they can invest in their businesses and their communities. In addition, eliminating taxation on repatriated profits from overseas could potentially bring over $2.1 trillion sitting overseas back to the United States.<br />
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One of the largest problems facing all Americans is the symbiotic relationship between the federal government and big business. Crony policies, such as corporate bailouts, contribute to massive inequality within our country. In addition to bailouts, subsidies pick winners and losers in the economy, distorting the market. In the case of energy subsidies, they can even have an effect on the environment. I will work to reform crony policies, that again, only go to serving the small minority of corporate elite at the cost of the working class and working poor. We must build a truly free market system in which businesses succeed and fail on their own accord, not by government favors and contributions.<br />
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The current policies set in place do more harm than good exacerbating inequality and choking off innovation and growth. We must work to make these changes to truly lift people out of poverty by providing the conditions necessary for a successful economy to thrive. A truly free market with less government intervention in the marketplace and less pressure on the poor can produce not only a stronger economy, but a more equitable society. We can certainly not guarantee equality of result through government intervention, but we must work to provide equality of power to all individuals to empower those currently marginalized to produce a better life for themselves and their families.<br />
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<h4>
<u>On Ending Crony Capitalism:</u></h4>
The market is not what is wrong with the United States economy, but the perversion of the market in favor of a government owned by big business in a symbiotic relationship between the two. Large corporations lobby government and contribute large sums of money to campaigns in order to have their bills passed through congress. Many regulations are made not to protect the consumer, but to protect big business from competition. Competition is what makes the market work, and without it, monopolistic conditions rise that distort the market and further inequality. We should not fight against calls for equality because many of the solutions presented by the current duopoly involve the state, but we should recognize that inequality and, in many cases, poverty are caused by crony policies that seek to give an advantage to one business over another.<br />
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One large aspect of cronyism was on full display for the economic crash in 2009. The Federal Government took unprecedented measures to bail out large financial firms that were seen as too big to fail. The result was years of mal-investment in the real estate sector subsidized by the Federal Reserve’s low interest rate policies was not allowed to be properly liquidated in the marketplace and the risk taken on by these firms was rewarded. This is a major diversion from the free market. I am in favor of free market policies that allow businesses to grow and thrive, as well as fail when they take on too much risk or function ineffectively. The federal government should not be in the business of propping up failed firms in the economy.<br />
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<u><b>His Monetary Policy:</b></u><br />
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There is a long history within the United States of strong opposition to the establishment of a national bank, and that battle lives on today. The Federal Reserve has devalued our currency through quantitative easing and low interest rate policies, erasing the savings of many hardworking Americans. Loose monetary policy has been an aid to a growing federal government, using the funds for wars and bailouts. I advocate a complete and full audit of the Federal Reserve as a first step to bring transparency to an organization that largely operates in the shadows. We must challenge the notion that artificial bubbles created by easy money policies will be solved by more easy money policies when the bubbles finally burst.<br />
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Interest rates are meant to be set in the marketplace, and currency is meant to hold intrinsic value. Today, our currency is backed by nothing more than the promise of the federal government there is value. I will work to deregulate the monetary system as to allow multiple currencies to compete with each other. This system will greatly reflect the market for credit cards, with different banks offering different banknotes. Ultimately, competition will foster the stronger currencies to trump the weaker currencies. The marketplace should determine the value of the currency and that cannot be done as long as the Federal Reserve maintains a monopoly on our monetary system.<br />
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As such, we must recognize the rise of bitcoin and other digital currencies and reject calls for government oversight and regulation. If we believe in the free market of goods and services that helped grow the United States into one of the largest industrial nations in the world, we must recognize that the free market in interest rates and currency must be reestablished.<br />
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<u>On Peace:</u></h4>
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As an Iraq War combat veteran, I have seen that our military ventures overseas have not brought us greater liberty or safety. Instead, they have bred resentment and hatred of our policy overseas, and have provided a convenient pretext for those in power to chip away at our civil liberties.</div>
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In an ever changing world politically, socially, economically, and technologically our current policy of military interventionism is a costly and dangerous heavy hand to use to confront real and potential threats to American safety. Not only is it costly in dollar value, with military spending comprising over half of the federal discretionary spending budget, but it is also costly in political capital. Frequently our nation has been criticized for imperialism at home and abroad. Too often Congress has been able to use the threat of terrorism as an excuse to erode liberty by suspending constitutional rights. I think we, as a nation, are weary of costly, prolonged, and fruitless military campaigns overseas.</div>
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Our foreign policy is also costly in human lives, and the goodwill of those we claim to be trying to help. During my tour in Iraq, my friend and fellow soldier shared an epiphany he had that one cannot win the hearts and minds of anyone, friends or foes, while pointing a gun at them. Rather it closes the minds of those who may have once welcomed the idea of American aid and fosters the distrust, fear, and anger that terrorism and other violent ideologies thrive on. This negative sentiment abroad is pushed further with our growing policy of using drones to “selectively target” suspected enemies. News and social media has been flooded with reports of military drones killing and maiming thousands of civilians in Iraq, Pakistan, Yemen, and elsewhere. These are people that often had no connection to terrorism. Violence begets violence. This is not conducive to creating a more stable, peaceful world wherein everyone can have a greater opportunity to prosper.</div>
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I stand behind promoting foreign policy that focuses on compassion and understanding. The reality of threats to the security of American citizens should not be justification for the wanton use of military intervention or the erosion of our civil liberty. I support and will work towards the reduction of our military presence overseas in an effort to promote diplomatic solutions and encourage the return to a positive view of America, globally and domestically. I will strive to end our reckless use of drones overseas that have tragically killed so many innocent people (including the Denver-born American child, Abdulrahman Anwar al-Awlaki) in the name of fighting terrorism. And I will endeavor to rebuild the bulwark protecting our freedom that has been torn down by claims of national security.</div>
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<h4>
<u><br />On Social Security:</u></h4>
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The United States government made a promise to workers to provide social security benefits in retirement, and that promise must be kept for retirees and those that have significantly paid into the system. The government’s promise has essentially made many retirees dependent on the current system, and we cannot break those promises to retirees. We must work to make the social security system solvent again, though, instead of using appropriated funds for general government spending. In addition, we must explore different options for young workers that may be a more efficient system.</div>
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One aspect of social security that needs to be addressed is the double taxation of social security benefits. Social security contributions are taxed and then payments to retirees are taxed again. This system of taxation makes no sense and reduces benefits to seniors who we have already committed to. Even more than that, though, this taxation of social security benefits allows the Federal Government to appropriate social security money to other parts of the government. I will work hard to end this system of double taxation.</div>
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<h3>
<u>Endorsements:</u></h3>
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Paul Stanton has received the following endorsements:</div>
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<br /></div>
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<b>People</b></div>
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Gary Johnson - Libertarian presidential nominee, former Governor of New Mexico</div>
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Bill Weld - Libertarian vice presidential nominee, former Governor of Massachusetts</div>
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Jim Gray - Jurist, author, former judge, former libertarian vice presidential nominee</div>
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John McAfee - Cybersecurity legend, businessman, inventor, former presidential candidate</div>
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Darryl W Perry - Activist, author, radio host, lobbyist, former presidential candidate</div>
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Dr. Marc Allan Feldmen (deceased) - Physician, former presidential candidate, former candidate for Ohio Treasurer</div>
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Kevin McCormick - Former presidential candidate</div>
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Will Coley - Activist, radio host, political adviser, former vice presidential candidate</div>
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Charles Peralo - Inventor, activist</div>
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<b>Libertarian Party Affiliates</b></div>
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Libertarian Party of Collier County, Florida</div>
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<b><br /></b></div>
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<b>Organizations</b></div>
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Eastern Liberty Alliance PAC</div>
</div>Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-4816759529733384382016-06-28T05:56:00.000-07:002016-06-28T05:58:27.770-07:00How Does the House Feel AboutThe Presumptive Nominees?<h4>
<u>The Top Ranking Republicans on Trump</u></h4>
<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/05/25/politics/paul-ryan-no-endorsement-donald-trump/">Paul Ryan</a> "isn't ready" to endorse Donald Trump. When asked why not just endorse Trump now, Ryan said he wanted to have a "sincere deliberative process" to discuss common GOP principles.<br />
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<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/05/kevin-mccarthy-donald-trump-222998">Kevin McCarthy</a> has become a delegate for Donald Trump.<br />
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<a href="http://thehayride.com/2016/05/majority-whip-steve-scalise-endorses-trump-cites-supreme-court-nominees-and-taxes-as-key-issues/">Steve Scalise</a> is endorsing Trump.<br />
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<a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/may/19/donald-trump-picks-endorsement-top-house-republica/">Cathy McMorris Rodgers</a>, the top female House Representative, is endorsing Trump.<br />
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<a href="http://www.indystar.com/story/news/politics/behind-closed-doors/2016/06/09/luke-messer--donald-trump-not-racist/85658648/">Luke Messer</a> has spoken against Trump repeatedly, calling him racist and childish.<br />
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<u>The Top Ranking Democrats on Hillary</u></h4>
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<a href="http://www.politico.com/story/2016/03/nancy-pelosi-2016-endorsement-220179">Nancy Pelosi </a>claims the timing "isn't right" for endorsing Hillary.</div>
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<a href="http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2016/mar/1/steny-hoyer-hillary-clinton-will-be-tougher-smarte/">Steny Hoyer</a> has endorsed Hillary as the "tougher foe" against the GOP. </div>
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<a href="http://www.cnn.com/2016/02/18/politics/south-carolina-rep-jim-clyburn-to-endorse-clinton-on-friday/">James Clyborn</a> is endorsing Hillary.</div>
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<a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-becerra-clinton-20150806-story.html"><br /></a></div>
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<a href="http://www.latimes.com/local/politics/la-me-becerra-clinton-20150806-story.html">Xavier Becerra</a> heavily endorsed Hillary and was at one point rumored to be vetted as her VP.<br />
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Based on the public opinions of the top-ranking members of the House, it looks as though the parties are split on their stance on the presumptive nominees. For Gary Johnson, and any other third party nominee, this is good news. It presents the opportunity for a 3rd party candidate to be elected by the House if neither bi-partisan candidate can win the popular vote.<br />
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Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-29430389849955045912016-06-27T09:10:00.001-07:002016-06-27T09:12:20.404-07:00Gary Johnson Could Officially be on the Ballot in Every StateNews is coming in from across the country reporting Gary on the ballot officially. <a href="http://www.vtlp.org/blog/2513/gary-johnson-officially-vermont-ballot-libertarian-presidential-candidate/">Vermont </a>and <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/Libertarian/comments/4q1t8w/gary_johnson_will_be_on_the_ballot_in_illinois/">Illinois </a>are among those verifying his slot. Johnson himself has come forward to state he will be on the ballot in all 50 states.<br />
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<a href="http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Gary_Johnson-750x400.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/Gary_Johnson-750x400.jpg" height="339" width="640" /></a></div>
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So what does this mean for those of us backing the LP ticket this year? It's been said in the past that <a href="https://alibertarianfuture.com/2016-election/gary-johnson-elected-president-home-state-new-mexico/">if Gary can win his home state of New Mexico that he has a chance at the presidency</a>. Emerging polls indicate that Johnson could not only win electoral votes (something that independent candidate Ross Perot never achieved, despite winning nearly 19% of the popular vote in 1992), but could also—in admittedly extraordinary, but nonetheless possible, circumstances—win the presidency itself.<br />
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Some may scoff at this idea since even 12% in the latest Fox News poll seems a long way from victory, and it is. But naysayers are forgetting that Johnson’s target isn’t 50% plus one, as is the case in most two-way races. Trump and Clinton are polling in the 20’s and 30’s when respondents are specifically offered Johnson as an alternative, meaning he could win a state with as little as 34% of the vote, or thereabouts.<br />
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Johnson is polling especially well in Utah, one of the few states to show us more localized results. The 1,519 registered voters were first asked about Trump and Clinton, as well as a generic “other” option. 36% chose Trump, 29% Clinton, and 35% other. That alone is promising; considering the 2.5% margin of error, “other” could win Utah. But when respondents were offered Gary Johnson in addition to “other,” support for Trump and Clinton dropped to 29% and 26%, respectively, 16% chose Johnson, and 29% other, for a total of 45% who claim they’d vote for someone other than Trump or Clinton today. Even assuming that some will grudgingly vote for them when push comes to shove, these are the kind of numbers that could precede a third-party victory, particularly considering the possibility that Mitt Romney might endorse Johnson.<br />
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If Utah’s six electoral votes go to Gary, that alone could deprive both Trump and Clinton of the 270 required to win outright, though, of course, that would depend on the outcome in swing states. If he managed to win a couple of other states—even states with few electoral votes, like New Mexico (his home state) and Nevada—a House election would be much more likely.<br />
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In which case, the vote would go to the House. You might jump to the conclusion that the conservative/republican House would vote Donald Trump, the presumptive nominee of the Republican Party. However, considering how many Republican insiders already want to dump Trump, as well as the certainty that he will continue to anger and embarrass them between now and November, it’s entirely possible that a two-term Republican governor will be their first choice by then. Factor in the possibility of Clinton being indicted or rocked by some new scandal, and the notion that a majority could back Johnson doesn’t seem as ridiculous as it might have had he faced different opponents.<br />
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So, if Johnson/Weld hasn't been announced as "officially" on the ballot in your state, keep fighting, you can turn the tide. He may be the "underdog" but he's no fringe candidate.<br />
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Let's get him in the debates and on the ballot.Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7427700677420415280.post-85615344720903322232016-06-24T06:39:00.002-07:002016-06-26T11:42:06.867-07:00Why You Need To Understand The Electoral CollegeIt's come to my attention recently that many of my friends don't seem to understand how voting WORKS. Which is terrifying, since most of them are voters. It appears a little elementary school history lesson is in order.<br />
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Here's the thing. You don't choose who the next president is going to be. None of us do. Our votes "count" but not if the electoral college disagrees. (The electoral college is a process btw NOT a place) The founding fathers established it in the Constitution as a compromise between election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens.<br />
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So here's how the electoral college currently operates:<br />
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<li>Each State is allocated a number of Electors equal to the number of its U.S. Senators (always 2) plus the number of its U.S. Representatives (which may change each decade according to the size of each State's population as determined in the Census).</li>
<li>The political parties (or independent candidates) in each State submit to the State's chief election official a list of individuals pledged to their candidate for president and equal in number to the State's electoral vote. Usually, the major political parties select these individuals in their State party conventions while third parties and independent candidates merely designate theirs.</li>
<li>Members of Congress and employees of the federal government are prohibited from serving as an Elector in order to maintain the balance between the legislative and executive branches of the federal government.</li>
<li>After their caucuses and primaries, the major parties nominate their candidates for president and vice president in their national conventions - traditionally held in the summer preceding the election. (Third parties and independent candidates follow different procedures according to the individual State laws). The names of the duly nominated candidates are then officially submitted to each State's chief election official so that they might appear on the general election ballot.</li>
<li>On the Tuesday following the first Monday of November in years divisible by four, the people in each State cast their ballots for the party slate of Electors representing their choice for president and vice president (although as a matter of practice, general election ballots normally say "Electors for" each set of candidates rather than list the individual Electors on each slate).</li>
<li>Whichever party slate wins the most popular votes in the State becomes that State's Electors - so that, in effect, whichever presidential ticket gets the most popular votes in a State wins all the Electors of that State. (The two exceptions to this are Maine and Nebraska where two Electors are chosen by a statewide popular vote and remainder by the popular vote within each Congressional district).</li>
<li>On the Monday following the second Wednesday of December (as established in federal law) each State's Electors meet in their respective State capitals and cast their electoral votes - one for president and one for vice president.</li>
<li>In order to prevent Electors from voting only for "favorite sons" of their home State, at least one of their votes must be for a person from outside their State (though this is seldom a problem since the parties have consistently nominated presidential and vice presidential candidate from different States).</li>
<li>The electoral votes are then sealed and transmitted from each State to the President of the Senate who, on the following January 6, opens and reads them before both houses of the Congress.</li>
<li>The candidate for president with the most electoral votes, provided that it is an absolute majority (one over half of the total), is declared president. Similarly, the vice presidential candidate with the absolute majority of electoral votes is declared vice president.</li>
<li>In the event that no one obtains an absolute majority of electoral votes for president, the U.S. House of Representatives (as the chamber closest to the people) selects the president from among the top three contenders with each State casting only one vote and an absolute majority of the States being required to elect. Similarly, if no one obtains an absolute majority for vice president, then the U.S. Senate makes the selection from among the top two contenders for that office.</li>
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If you're still confused, you can learn more <a href="http://study.com/academy/lesson/the-electoral-college-definition-process.html">here</a>.</div>
Megan Killionhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/01865449763919188910noreply@blogger.com0