Tuesday, March 31, 2009
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Bev Lays Down A Bunt
Governor Bev Bunts on Budget
RALEIGH (March 18) -- Governor Bev Perdue stepped up to the budget plate, pointed to the bleacher seats -- and bunted, the North Carolina Libertarian Party said today.
"Based on her prior statements, we were anticipating a big hit from the governor when she announced her budget," said Barbara Howe, state party chair. "But instead of taking a big swing, she barely beat out a bunt."
Last week, the governor said "everything would be on the table" and implied there would be major cuts that not everyone would be happy about, Howe said. "The budget presented yesterday simply does not live up to that promise. It's a big disappointment."
To begin with, she boasted about filling a $3.58 billion budget gap, but most of that gap will be filled with Federal stimulus money and increased taxes. "In other words, she's allegedly balancing the budget on the backs of people from other states and with money she doesn't have yet."
The Governor claimed she was going to propose cuts in programs and services even though "a lot of people are going to be furious ..." However, her 2010 budget cuts only 20 minor programs.
"Most of her budget announcement was devoted to promoting money she is going to spend, not save," said Howe, "and she constantly referred to this spending disingenuously as 'investment.' "
If the governor really wants to balance the budget and reduce the burden on taxpayers, she should take a look at the John Locke Foundation's just released "Back to Basics" budget plan, Howe concluded.
Thursday, March 19, 2009
LPNC Letters Of Correspondence - #2
LPNC Letters of Correspondence March 18, 2009
================================================
CONTENTS
1. New name for “Weekly Update”
2. 2009 State Convention — Next Move: Building on Success
3. Fellow Travelers: New American Tea Party Movement
4. Libertarian Voter Registration Update: 4,600+!
5. Elevator Pitch: Gun Control
6. LPNC Resources
================================================
1. New name for “Weekly Update”
================================================
Last week we started our new weekly email update for those on the
LPNC's email list. We asked readers to think of a better name than
"Weekly Update". Thanks for the response! JS offered several wonderful
suggestions and is our runner-up, but the winner is GAE, who gave us
the fantastic "LPNC Letters of Correspondence". If you're not familiar
with the Colonial Committees of Correspondence, you might appreciate
learning about that important point in American history here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Committees_of_Correspondence
GAE wins a great shirt from Engrish.com:
http://store.engrish.com/havfunt.html which is based on a real sign
from a Chinese playground:
http://www.engrish.com/2007/10/are-you-smiling/
demonstrating what we all know to be true - that 'communist playgrounds stink'!
Have a story idea? Affiliate news? Feedback on this update? Send it
to Susan at Susan.Hogarth@lpnc.org
================================================
2. 2009 State Convention — Next Move: Building on Success
================================================
http://lpnc.org/convention.php
Join the Libertarian Party of North Carolina as we ponder our Next
Move: Building on Success at our annual State Convention in Burlington
April 17-19, 2009.
For information on attending, tickets, and the convention hotel, check
out the Convention '09 website: http://lpnc.org/convention.php
If you have items you would like to donate for the benefit auction,
you can simply reply to this email with information. Thanks!
================================================
3. Fellow Travelers: New American Tea Party Movement
================================================
[“Fellow Travelers” is a regular feature spotlighting groups in North
Carolina and beyond who help further the libertarian cause in one or
more directions. If you have a group you’d like to share with fellow
Libertarians for this feature, please send it to Susan at
Susan.Hogarth@lpnc.org]
Tea Party Movement
http://newamericanteaparty.com/
From their website:
The New American Tea Party is a coalition of citizens and
organizations concerned about the recent trend of fiscal recklessness
in government.
On February 27th, we got a group of over 300 activists from around the
country to participate in a big event resembling the classic tax
revolt that jump-started the American revolution. It was held AT noon,
on February 27th, at Lafayette Square, by the White House, mere blocks
from the Farragut North and McPherson Square metro stops.
This isn’t a conservative or liberal thing.
This is about government forking over billions of dollars, OUR MONEY,
to businesses that should have failed. This is about taking money from
responsible people and handing it over to CEOs who squandered their
own.
We are not opposing any specific legislation or politician. We are
instead addressing the broader philosophical implications of a
government that has grown too large and too distant from the very
citizens it taxes. This is scary stuff.
April 15th, Tax Day, is the next date set for a nation-wide protest.
There will also be a protest in Raleigh THIS Saturday, March 21. Check
out the Raleigh Tea Party's website for details:
http://www.raleighteaparty.com/
================================================
4. Libertarian Voter Registration Update: 4,600+!
================================================
http://lpnc.org/libs_by_county.php
Wake County is in the lead with over 600 registered Libertarians!
New Hanover County has the highest percentage of registered
Libertarians, at nearly 0.15%
================================================
5. Elevator Pitch: Libertarians and the National Sales Tax
================================================
[An ‘elevator pitch’ is an overview of an idea for a product, service,
or project. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be
delivered in the time span of an elevator ride - for example, thirty
seconds and 100-150 words. This week's 'pitch' is in response to the
question "Do libertarians support a national sales tax?," and was
written by Mary Ruwart. More of Mary's Short Answers can be found at
http://www.theadvocates.org/ruwart/categories_list.php ]
Libertarians recognize that taxation of any kind is theft and
therefore do not support taxation. However, some dedicated
libertarians have been working to replace the income tax with a
[national] consumption tax.
They feel that people would feel the bite much more if everything that
they bought came with a double-digit sales tax. Tax raises would be
more visible -- and more unpopular for politicians to propose. The
abuses perpetrated by the IRS would also end. Public support for
abolishing taxes altogether would increase.
One danger that many libertarians see in proposing this switch is the
possibility that we would end up with a national sales tax AND an
income tax. Why not simply get rid of the income tax and replace it
with nothing, as Libertarian Party presidential candidate Harry Browne
proposed in 1996 and 2000? If all we did was to restrict government to
its constitutional limits, we could provide for defense and other
necessary functions with constitutionally-permitted excise taxes.
Next, libertarians could work on getting rid of those, too!
================================================
6. LPNC Resources
================================================
Join the LP!
http://lpnc.org/join_choose.php
Keep in Touch:
LPNC Announcement List (includes this Weekly Update and Special Announcements)
http://lpnc.info/mailman/listinfo/announce
LPNC Activist/Discussion List – Connect with Fellow Activists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lpnc/
==============================
CONTENTS
1. New name for “Weekly Update”
2. 2009 State Convention — Next Move: Building on Success
3. Fellow Travelers: New American Tea Party Movement
4. Libertarian Voter Registration Update: 4,600+!
5. Elevator Pitch: Gun Control
6. LPNC Resources
==============================
1. New name for “Weekly Update”
==============================
Last week we started our new weekly email update for those on the
LPNC's email list. We asked readers to think of a better name than
"Weekly Update". Thanks for the response! JS offered several wonderful
suggestions and is our runner-up, but the winner is GAE, who gave us
the fantastic "LPNC Letters of Correspondence". If you're not familiar
with the Colonial Committees of Correspondence, you might appreciate
learning about that important point in American history here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/
GAE wins a great shirt from Engrish.com:
http://store.engrish.com/
from a Chinese playground:
http://www.engrish.com/2007/
demonstrating what we all know to be true - that 'communist playgrounds stink'!
Have a story idea? Affiliate news? Feedback on this update? Send it
to Susan at Susan.Hogarth@lpnc.org
==============================
2. 2009 State Convention — Next Move: Building on Success
==============================
http://lpnc.org/convention.php
Join the Libertarian Party of North Carolina as we ponder our Next
Move: Building on Success at our annual State Convention in Burlington
April 17-19, 2009.
For information on attending, tickets, and the convention hotel, check
out the Convention '09 website: http://lpnc.org/convention.php
If you have items you would like to donate for the benefit auction,
you can simply reply to this email with information. Thanks!
==============================
3. Fellow Travelers: New American Tea Party Movement
==============================
[“Fellow Travelers” is a regular feature spotlighting groups in North
Carolina and beyond who help further the libertarian cause in one or
more directions. If you have a group you’d like to share with fellow
Libertarians for this feature, please send it to Susan at
Susan.Hogarth@lpnc.org]
Tea Party Movement
http://newamericanteaparty.
From their website:
The New American Tea Party is a coalition of citizens and
organizations concerned about the recent trend of fiscal recklessness
in government.
On February 27th, we got a group of over 300 activists from around the
country to participate in a big event resembling the classic tax
revolt that jump-started the American revolution. It was held AT noon,
on February 27th, at Lafayette Square, by the White House, mere blocks
from the Farragut North and McPherson Square metro stops.
This isn’t a conservative or liberal thing.
This is about government forking over billions of dollars, OUR MONEY,
to businesses that should have failed. This is about taking money from
responsible people and handing it over to CEOs who squandered their
own.
We are not opposing any specific legislation or politician. We are
instead addressing the broader philosophical implications of a
government that has grown too large and too distant from the very
citizens it taxes. This is scary stuff.
April 15th, Tax Day, is the next date set for a nation-wide protest.
There will also be a protest in Raleigh THIS Saturday, March 21. Check
out the Raleigh Tea Party's website for details:
http://www.raleighteaparty.
==============================
4. Libertarian Voter Registration Update: 4,600+!
==============================
http://lpnc.org/libs_by_
Wake County is in the lead with over 600 registered Libertarians!
New Hanover County has the highest percentage of registered
Libertarians, at nearly 0.15%
==============================
5. Elevator Pitch: Libertarians and the National Sales Tax
==============================
[An ‘elevator pitch’ is an overview of an idea for a product, service,
or project. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be
delivered in the time span of an elevator ride - for example, thirty
seconds and 100-150 words. This week's 'pitch' is in response to the
question "Do libertarians support a national sales tax?," and was
written by Mary Ruwart. More of Mary's Short Answers can be found at
http://www.theadvocates.org/
Libertarians recognize that taxation of any kind is theft and
therefore do not support taxation. However, some dedicated
libertarians have been working to replace the income tax with a
[national] consumption tax.
They feel that people would feel the bite much more if everything that
they bought came with a double-digit sales tax. Tax raises would be
more visible -- and more unpopular for politicians to propose. The
abuses perpetrated by the IRS would also end. Public support for
abolishing taxes altogether would increase.
One danger that many libertarians see in proposing this switch is the
possibility that we would end up with a national sales tax AND an
income tax. Why not simply get rid of the income tax and replace it
with nothing, as Libertarian Party presidential candidate Harry Browne
proposed in 1996 and 2000? If all we did was to restrict government to
its constitutional limits, we could provide for defense and other
necessary functions with constitutionally-permitted excise taxes.
Next, libertarians could work on getting rid of those, too!
==============================
6. LPNC Resources
==============================
Join the LP!
http://lpnc.org/join_choose.
Keep in Touch:
LPNC Announcement List (includes this Weekly Update and Special Announcements)
http://lpnc.info/mailman/
LPNC Activist/Discussion List – Connect with Fellow Activists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/
Wednesday, March 18, 2009
LP Cabarrus Supports 10th Amendment
The Libertarian Party of Cabarrus County supports the following resolution, which defends the 10th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The Buncombe County GOP passed the same resolution at their county convention on March 7th. It was introduced by our peers in the Liberty Asheville Ning group.
A Resolution to Restore State Sovereignty
Whereas, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads as follows:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."; and
Whereas, the Tenth Amendment defines the total scope of federal power as being that specifically granted by the Constitution of the United States and no more; and
Whereas, the scope of power defined by the Tenth Amendment means that the federal government was created by the states specifically to be an agent of the states; and
Whereas, today, in 2009, the states are demonstrably treated as agents of the federal government; and
Whereas, many federal laws are directly in violation of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and
Whereas, the Tenth Amendment assures that we, the people of the United States of America and each sovereign state in the Union of States, now have, and have always had, rights the federal government may not usurp; and
Whereas, Article IV, Section 4 says, "The United States shall guarantee to every State in the Union a Republican Form of Government", and the Ninth Amendment states that "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people"; and
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has rules in New York v. United States, 112 S.Ct. 2408 (1992), that Congress may not simply commandeer the legislative and regulatory processes of the states; and
Whereas, a number of proposals from previous administrations and some now pending from the present administration and from Congress may further violate the Constitution of the United States:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the State of North Carolina concurring therein, hereby claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States; and
Be it further resolved that this concurrent resolution serve as Notice and Demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers; and
Be it further resolved that all compulsory federal legislation which directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed; and
Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the North Carolina House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate of each state's legislature, and each member of the North Carolina Congressional delegation.
A Resolution to Restore State Sovereignty
Whereas, the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States reads as follows:
"The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people."; and
Whereas, the Tenth Amendment defines the total scope of federal power as being that specifically granted by the Constitution of the United States and no more; and
Whereas, the scope of power defined by the Tenth Amendment means that the federal government was created by the states specifically to be an agent of the states; and
Whereas, today, in 2009, the states are demonstrably treated as agents of the federal government; and
Whereas, many federal laws are directly in violation of the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States; and
Whereas, the Tenth Amendment assures that we, the people of the United States of America and each sovereign state in the Union of States, now have, and have always had, rights the federal government may not usurp; and
Whereas, Article IV, Section 4 says, "The United States shall guarantee to every State in the Union a Republican Form of Government", and the Ninth Amendment states that "The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people"; and
Whereas, the United States Supreme Court has rules in New York v. United States, 112 S.Ct. 2408 (1992), that Congress may not simply commandeer the legislative and regulatory processes of the states; and
Whereas, a number of proposals from previous administrations and some now pending from the present administration and from Congress may further violate the Constitution of the United States:
Now, therefore, be it resolved that the members of the State of North Carolina concurring therein, hereby claims sovereignty under the Tenth Amendment to the Constitution of the United States over all powers not otherwise enumerated and granted to the federal government by the Constitution of the United States; and
Be it further resolved that this concurrent resolution serve as Notice and Demand to the federal government, as our agent, to cease and desist, effective immediately, mandates that are beyond the scope of these constitutionally delegated powers; and
Be it further resolved that all compulsory federal legislation which directs states to comply under threat of civil or criminal penalties or sanctions or requires states to pass legislation or lose federal funding be prohibited or repealed; and
Be it further resolved that the Chief Clerk of the North Carolina House of Representatives be instructed to prepare a properly inscribed copy of this resolution for the President of the United States, the President of the United States Senate, the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and President of the Senate of each state's legislature, and each member of the North Carolina Congressional delegation.
LP Cabarrus Supports N.C. Stop Annexation
The Libertarian Party of Cabarrus County encourages local libertarian activists to support the grassroots effort to fight forced annexation here in Cabarrus and across the state.
http://www.stopncannexation.com/
http://www.stopncannexation.com/
The Libertarian View
"I like the libertarian view, which is to leave everyone alone. Even as a kid, I was annoyed by people who wanted to tell everyone how to live."
Clint Eastwood
*Thanks to the Future of Freedom Foundation for the link...
Clint Eastwood
*Thanks to the Future of Freedom Foundation for the link...
LP Cabarrus Endorses LPNC 2009 Liberty Agenda
The Libertarian Party of Cabarrus County endorses the LPNC's 2009 Liberty Agenda. We encourage local candidates and activists to promote this common sense agenda.
We, Libertarian Party of North Carolina propose this agenda for action to the 2009 General Assembly.
1. End forced annexation and stop private property seizure under the power of eminent domain by amending the state constitution.
Forced annexation and the seizure of private property ostensibly for "public purpose" is a violation of the fundamental rights of Americans. Forced annexation is not about providing services, or controlling growth. Forced annexation is about money. Communities should only be annexed with the consent of those annexed. No government, at any level, should have the power to take or seize private property for any purpose, without the express consent of the owner, and without just compensation.
2. Improve public education through school choice and competition.
It has become fashionable to bash public education rather than sincerely seek ways to improve it. There are many good things happening in North Carolina education. The path to continued improvement is to foster choice.
The problem is that anyone who proposes thinking out of the box when it comes to education is beat over the head with the supposed public school mandate in the state constitution.
This selective devotion to constitutional principle is curious, since the legislature freely ignores other parts of the constitution, including the requirement that "all elections shall be free, fair, and open" by restricting the right of people to vote for anyone other than Democrats and Republicans.
3. Restore free, fair and open elections to North Carolina by removing barriers to ballot access.*
North Carolina has one of the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation. These barriers are specifically designed by the Democratic-Republican duopoly to restrict the people's freedom of choice, and to prevent independent and third party candidates from getting on the ballot. Elections laws also are used to restrict free speech by limiting how much an individual can contribute to the candidate of their choice. The people should have the unregulated and unrestricted right to vote for and support candidates of their choice.
4. End all corporate welfare and subsidies.*
Economic incentives and subsidies, more properly called corporate welfare, are an immoral tax on individuals for the benefit of corporate profits. Recent news reports that the Dell computer company may sell their three year old Winston-Salem plant, built with nearly $300 million in corporate welfare, demonstrate that corporate incentives are ineffective as well as immoral.
Conclusion
Ending property theft by government, improving education, ending corporate welfare, and restoring fair elections are only our top four issues, the beginning. The ultimate goal of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina is to reduce the size, scope, and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and consistently oppose any increase in the size, scope, and power of government at any level, for any purpose.
We, Libertarian Party of North Carolina propose this agenda for action to the 2009 General Assembly.
1. End forced annexation and stop private property seizure under the power of eminent domain by amending the state constitution.
Forced annexation and the seizure of private property ostensibly for "public purpose" is a violation of the fundamental rights of Americans. Forced annexation is not about providing services, or controlling growth. Forced annexation is about money. Communities should only be annexed with the consent of those annexed. No government, at any level, should have the power to take or seize private property for any purpose, without the express consent of the owner, and without just compensation.
2. Improve public education through school choice and competition.
It has become fashionable to bash public education rather than sincerely seek ways to improve it. There are many good things happening in North Carolina education. The path to continued improvement is to foster choice.
The problem is that anyone who proposes thinking out of the box when it comes to education is beat over the head with the supposed public school mandate in the state constitution.
This selective devotion to constitutional principle is curious, since the legislature freely ignores other parts of the constitution, including the requirement that "all elections shall be free, fair, and open" by restricting the right of people to vote for anyone other than Democrats and Republicans.
3. Restore free, fair and open elections to North Carolina by removing barriers to ballot access.*
North Carolina has one of the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation. These barriers are specifically designed by the Democratic-Republican duopoly to restrict the people's freedom of choice, and to prevent independent and third party candidates from getting on the ballot. Elections laws also are used to restrict free speech by limiting how much an individual can contribute to the candidate of their choice. The people should have the unregulated and unrestricted right to vote for and support candidates of their choice.
4. End all corporate welfare and subsidies.*
Economic incentives and subsidies, more properly called corporate welfare, are an immoral tax on individuals for the benefit of corporate profits. Recent news reports that the Dell computer company may sell their three year old Winston-Salem plant, built with nearly $300 million in corporate welfare, demonstrate that corporate incentives are ineffective as well as immoral.
Conclusion
Ending property theft by government, improving education, ending corporate welfare, and restoring fair elections are only our top four issues, the beginning. The ultimate goal of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina is to reduce the size, scope, and power of government at all levels and on all issues, and consistently oppose any increase in the size, scope, and power of government at any level, for any purpose.
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