Libertarian Journey

Vote No on Health Care

2010-03-20T13:39:00.000-07:00

Deem and pass is dead. Up or down vote, yes, the “old fashioned” way of doing things, is back on the table for tomorrow. What would the result be if the American people were able to do an up or down vote instead of those who insulate themselves from the American people?

My HOPE is that health care is voted down. But for anyone who has ran anything that requires planning, execution, and follow up; anyone who has ran a business, family, school project, we know that HOPE IS NOT A PLAN.

The President stated a few minutes ago if you believe in your heart of hearts this health care plan will not be an improvement to what we currently have, you should vote no. I agree and have two supporting comments:
1. Math is math, not opinion. Show me the money, not the opinion. I don’t need to hear an opinion on how this will save money, I need to hear about the plan that will keep our country out of bankruptcy.
2. Know this, people lie. And most importantly this weekend, know this: whenever anyone says that you cannot get health insurance because you have a chronic illness, they are LYING.

I understand that hope is the magic of elections. However, since my Constitutional protections have been overran, in this final day and half, I will sit with a little magic of hope, because our country is planless. After tomorrow, it will be time to make new plans.

Be a Mentor

2010-01-19T08:25:00.000-08:00

I'm happy to see Senate is taking an active role in something I feel very strong about and urge everyone to find the time to do - MENTOR a youth.

U.S. Senate Passes National Mentoring Month Resolution

December 29, 2009: The U.S. Senate has officially recognized January as National Mentoring Month 2010 with a resolution introduced by Senators John McCain (R-AZ) and John Kerry (D-MA).
Additional cosponsors for the resolution (S Res. 380) were Senators Begich (D-AK), Burr (R-NC), Cochran (R-MS), Collins (R-ME), Feingold (D-WI), Grassley (R-IA), Inouye (D-HI), Lincoln (D-AR), Murkowski (R-AK) and Specter (D-PA).
U.S. House Representatives Betty McCollum (D-MN), Mike Rogers (R-MI) and Susan Davis (D-CA) have introduced a similar resolution that should be addressed when Congress resumes following the new year.
The ninth annual National Mentoring Month begins January 1 with General Colin L. Powell as its key spokesperson and with the theme "Expand Your Universe. Mentor a Child." Lead local partners coast-to-coast have planned events, media campaigns and activities to highlight mentoring and the opportunity for adults to become mentors to the 17 million children who need and want a caring adult in their lives.
Last January, more than 500,000 individuals responded to the campaign by seeking information about local mentoring programs needing more volunteers.
National Mentoring Month is spearheaded by the Harvard Mentoring Project of the Harvard School of Public Health, MENTOR and the Corporation for National and Community Service. Media partners include: CBS, FOX, NBC, MTV, Comcast, Time Warner and the National Association of Broadcasters.
To contact your U.S. House representative to ask for cosponsorship of the National Mentoring Month Resolution, please check http://www.house.gov/. For more information on National Mentoring Month, visit www.SERVE.GOV/MENTOR.

Christmas Day Terrorist

2010-01-02T07:54:00.000-08:00

On December 25, 2009, a terrorist’s inexperience prevented the loss of 278 lives on a Northwest Airlines flight on approach into Detroit.
On December 27, 2009, I boarded a Northwest Airlines flight leaving Detroit, on my way home from Michigan.

Like most Americans, I stayed on top of the story. Since I would be a traveler approximately 48 hours later, I especially paid attention to changes in security so I would be a prepared traveler.

Here’s what I was told to expect by the media, as they were supposedly reporting the “response from the White House:”
• Arrive 2 hours early for domestic flights for extensive security scrutiny
• Physical pat downs
• Hand check of carry on luggage
• Last hour of flight – nothing on my lap, not even a book
• Possibility of limiting my carry on’s to one bag
• Every TSA and other types of security people who were off duty were being pulled in to the airports

SOME THINGS STAY THE SAME, SOME THINGS STAY THE SAME...
When I arrived at DTW, I was surprised to see they were still allowing curbside check-in. I had checked in online, so I proceeded to baggage drop off. I remember the good old days when I had to take my baggage to a second screening area when threat levels were high. Not that day in Detroit; we were maintaining only orange. I arrived 2 hours and 15 minutes early. I believe I was sitting at my gate less than 30 minutes later. I was not patted down, and no one went through my carry on bags. I debated whether or not to take my knitting needles, thinking everyone in Detroit would be so on edge that they would go overboard with the carry on items. Silly me, perhaps. No one blinked. Basically, going through ticketing and security was exactly the same on December 27th as it would have been on December 24th.
I saw absolutely no evidence of increased security personnel. I remember after 9/11, seeing all the cammies and assault rifles. Not in Detroit on 12/27/09. I carried on both my bags. During the last hour and all the way until the wheels touched down, I had balls of yarn in my lap and needles in my hands. When I landed in Seattle, I did not see any increased security there either.
SO NOW WHAT?
That wraps up my personal experience. The Libertarian Platform, section 3.2 applies to this current event: Internal Security and Individual Rights. It walks a fine line between defending our country by detecting (preventing) threats while maintaining our civil liberties. There’s a lot of debate going on right now about both these issues around tightening airport security. This balance will be difficult, and I am willing to give up some civil liberties to protect myself and others in the air. However, regardless of the party in power, I expect action to be taken in the real world, not this debate lost in the ideological world. I expected my current government to do what they said they would do when I flew home, even if some was in vain. But nothing happened.

WHICH BRINGS US TO TONE AT THE TOP
President Lincoln and many effective political, military, and business leaders believed and live the leadership doctrine of taking blame for missteps, and giving away credit for victories. Throwing blame around while on vacation instead of instituting practical security interventions by December 27th, 2009 is not mentioned in the Libertarian platform, but I've filed it in my fundamental leadership skill portfolio under “not to do.”
PREVENTION
On Christmas Day, 2009, a terrorist’s inexperience prevented the loss of 278 lives. My interpretation of section 3.2 of the LP is that government should prevent terrorism, not terrorists preventing terrorism, and I agree. Resources at the intelligence and security agencies that could be used right now to prevent terrorism are being deflected to defend and protect themselves from the blame Obama is throwing their way.

Would a rose by any other name...

2010-01-01T17:05:00.000-08:00

From the Libertarian Party website

For Immediate Release
Thursday, December 31, 2009

Libertarians release top 10 disasters of 2009 Obama administration
Note similarities to previous administration

Top 10 disasters of the 2009 Obama administration (in no particular order):
1. Cash for Clunkers
2. War escalation in Afghanistan
3. Giant government health care expansion bill
4. Post office loses money hand over fist
5. Stimulus package
6. Expansion of "state secrets" doctrine
7. Big increase in unemployment
8. "Bailout" Geithner as Treasury Secretary
9. Skyrocketing federal spending
10. Huge federal deficits

Top 10 disasters of the 2001-2008 Bush administration:
1. Cash for Car Companies
2. War in Iraq
3. Giant Medicare expansion bill
4. Post office loses money hand over fist
5. Stimulus "rebate" checks
6. PATRIOT Act
7. Big increase in unemployment
8. "Bailout" Paulson as Treasury Secretary
9. Skyrocketing federal spending
10. Huge federal deficits

My Process

2009-12-31T08:52:00.000-08:00

I don’t expect to agree with everything in the Libertarian Platform, but am journaling, on a journey, to determine where I fit politically. My plan is to do a three way comparison:
a) current events
b) my interpretation of how the Libertarian Platform would apply to them, and
c) my personal reaction to a) and b)

With regard to b) my interpretation of the Libertarian Platform – I am not an expert, simply reading the outline and doing my best interpretation and application.

Want to hear about your interpretations and reactions as well. Please sound off.

Libertarian Platform

2009-12-31T08:06:00.000-08:00

The Party of Principle

To view the full Libertarian Platform, go to http://www.lp.org/platform.