The Ithaca Libertarians Blog

10/24/2007 22:16:04

Check out Reason.tv, a feature of Reason magazine online with libertarian video including a new documentary series, The Drew Carey Project.

In the first installment, Reason.tv host Drew Carey examines the costs and consequences of traffic jams and explores several solutions that can get our roads moving. How does a speedy trip on the "Drew Carey Freeway" sound? Plus, one lucky commuter gets a helicopter ride to work, courtesy of Drew.

http://reason.tv/

It's great to have Drew Carey actively supporting libertarian ideas - I'm looking forward to seeing future episodes.

10/17/2007 17:41:05

UNHAPPY ANNIVERSARY...

Today is the one year anniversary of the Military Commissions Act -
"To authorize trial by military commission for violations of the law of war, AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES."*

The ACLU website, http://www.aclu.org/index.html , summarises this offensive document as follows:

"In the final hours before adjourning last year, Congress passed and the president signed the Military Commissions Act (MCA). In doing so, they cast aside the Constitution and the principle of habeas corpus, which protects against unlawful and indefinite imprisonment. They also gave the president absolute power to designate enemy combatants, and to set his own definitions for torture.
The MCA eliminates the constitutional due process right of habeas corpus for detainees at Guantánamo Bay and elsewhere. It allows our government to continue to hold hundreds of prisoners for more than five years without charges.
It also gives any president the power to declare — on his or her own — who is an enemy combatant, decide who should be held indefinitely without being charged with a crime and define what is — and what is not — torture and abuse."

But according to the White House,

http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2006/10/20061017.html,

"The Military Commissions Authorized By This Legislation Are Lawful, Fair, And Necessary "

What do you think?

Me, I'm wondering about those "other purposes"
(I'm currently reading a book on the Gulag)

Christa



(*emphasis mine)

06/30/2007 16:28:47

Libertarians, free-staters, friends and family!
Just a reminder for our annual
Independence Day BBQ & Camp Out!
Saturday, July 7
430 Enfield Center Rd. E.
Ithaca, NY 14850
from 2 PM until . . . breakfast!
BBQ at 6 PM, lots of room for camping,
we'll have a bonfire too!
Bring a dish, snack, or beverage to share.

See you there!
Christa

04/09/2007 17:46:50

Ithaca Libertarians Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, April 17, 2007 7:00 PM
209 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca
Bool's Flower Shop

All area libertarians and friends are welcome to attend!

Comment: 05/22/2007 16:51:23

that very intersing to go.

03/02/2007 23:11:27

Ithaca Libertarians Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, March 20, 2007 7:00 PM
209 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca
Bool's Flower Shop

All area libertarians and friends are welcome to attend!

02/10/2007 00:44:57

Ithaca Libertarians Monthly Meeting
Tuesday, February 20, 2006 7:00 PM
209 N. Aurora Street, Ithaca
Bool's Flower Shop

All area libertarians and friends are welcome to attend!

11/26/2006 12:31:59

Happy Holidays everyone (except government leeches)!

Curry

10/28/2006 15:00:27

Libertarian candidates on the local ballots for November 7, 2006

- official local ballots: http://www.co.tompkins.ny.us/boe/2006/General/Sample%20Ballots%20Index.htm


Your votes are appreciated!

Governor and Lieutenant Governor:

* John Clifton and Donald Silberger - http://www.electclifton.org/

Comptroller:

* John J. Cain - http://ny.lp.org/news/2006raisecain.html

Attorney General:

* Christopher B. Garvey - http://chrisgarvey.blogspot.com/

U.S. Senator:

* Jeffrey T. Russell - http://www.russellforsenate.org/

Representative in Congress, 24th District:

* Michael J. Sylvia, III - http://www.mikesylvia.org/


Other Libertarian candidates in New York: http://ny.lp.org/campaign/

Comment: 11/23/2006 07:19:54

Who is Peter T.?

Comment: 11/14/2006 12:27:13

Peter T for president

Comment: 11/14/2006 12:27:02

Peter T for president

Comment: 11/09/2006 12:56:52

how come Curry didnt run

Comment: 11/09/2006 12:53:30

i love librarians

Comment: 11/09/2006 12:52:37

wow

Comment: 11/02/2006 10:30:58

A vote for either of the major two parties IS the wasted vote!

Curry

09/20/2006 23:21:53

Next Tuesday's gubernatorial debate at Cornell will be a lively exchange between a number of candidates with differing viewpoints . . . well, maybe in an alternate universe! No,it's just a Republocrat showcase; once again third parties are excluded - here's the reason given to our candidate John Clifton by the NYS League of Women Voters:

" September 20, 2006

Dear Mr. Clifton:

Thank you for your request for participation in the League of Women Voters of New York State sponsored debates for Governor scheduled for September 26, 2006 at Cornell University and October 12m 2006 at WNED Studios in Buffalo.

The Board of Directors of the LWVNY has reviewed your request for participation and has determined that your written request for inclusion does not meet the League’s Guidelines for Candidate Participation in Forums and Debates. Two particular areas lacking substantiation are proof of “serious media attention and 10 % of public support as evidenced in one or more nonpartisan public opinion polls conducted at least 14 days but, but not more than forty days before the debate.”

Again, thank you for your interest and good luck in your endeavors.

Sincerely,

Kristen Hansen
Executive Director "

while from their website:

" LEAGUE MISSION

The League of Women Voters of New York State supports the active and informed participation of citizens in government."

- as long as they're only informed of two parties. What is the real purpose of this organization?

Anyway, this is nothing new. We're always excluded! John Clifton WILL be here the day of the debate; he'll be doing some interviews with the local media. Let's all get out there and make our presence known! Bring your signs, banners, or just yourself to Bailey Hall this Tuesday, Sep. 26 between 6-6:30 PM to protest our exclusion from the debates! We'll have a chance to meet & chat with John afterwards; time & place TBA.

Freedom is . . . more choices!
Let ALL Candidates Debate!

Christa

07/08/2006 15:32:25

We have our first Libertarian candidate!

Mike Sylvia for Congress
Representative 24th District NY

http://www.mikesylvia.org/

Next volunteer meeting will be held Sunday
July 9th. 415 N Albany St., Ithaca at
Brian's office - call 607 277-5085 for info.

Petitioning begins July 11th.

Thanks Mike!

06/08/2006 23:46:14

Congratulations to our Lights of Liberty winners for 2005!

http://www.theadvocates.org/lights-2005.html

Andrew Gardner
Ellen Ricketson
Carl Ricketson
Marshall Stocker
Brian Sullivan
Curry Taylor

You guys are awesome!

The Advocates for Self-Government gives the Lights of Liberty award for working at three or more OPH booths for a minimum of 2 hours each, or for writing three letters to the editor or making three speeches using the words "libertarian" or "Libertarian Party". Let's keep up the good work - there's still plenty of time to be a winner for this year!

Christa

06/02/2006 01:35:46

Federal Marriage Amendment Is Contrary to American Values

Next week the Senate is expected to vote on the proposed Federal Marriage Amendment (FMA), which would prohibit federal recognition of gay marriages even when approved by a state government. According to a study released by the Cato Institute, regardless of how one feels about same-sex marriage, a constitutional amendment is not the answer. In "The Federal Marriage Amendment: Unnecessary, Anti-federalist, and Anti-democratic," Dale Carpenter, an associate professor at the University of Minnesota Law School, argues that the FMA is an unprecedented intrusion on our nation's historic commitment to federalism and is unlike any other constitutional amendment in that it limits the ability of the democratic process to expand individual rights.

Cato

05/22/2006 22:30:07

AT&T, NSA, and the police state

http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70944-0.html

At least one thing is now clear: If you want *anything* you do on
the Internet to be private now, you must encrypt your data with 128-bit,
private key encodings.

Curry

05/01/2006 08:19:37

I attended the LPNY Convention in Albany this past weekend (April 29), where in this election year many decisions were to be made about who would represent us as our Libertarian candidates. Right from the start, this event appeared contrived to showcase a particular candidate. As the meeting began, the agenda was altered to highlight William Weld, a Republican and former Massachusetts governor seeking the LPNY nomination for governor. He was given ample time to speak to the 40-odd delegates, followed by additional time for a question and answer period. The other two gubernatorial candidates, Don Silberger and Sam Sloan (both Libertarians), were given only a few minutes each to speak, with no Q&A time. This treatment of our own member candidates seemed unfair, to say the least! Not what you would expect from the Party of Principle.

Weld’s speech that morning was peppered with libertarian sound bites, including quotes from John Stuart Mills designed to allay any fears about his libertarian beliefs. When pressed, however, he could not stand up for an individual’s right to self-ownership, refusing to support an end to prohibition, or decriminalization, or even the use of medical marijuana. Nor did he advocate for smaller government, choosing instead to say he would limit tax increases – not the same thing as a tax reduction Mr. Weld! This is the same incrementalism that is always used by so-called “fiscal conservatives” to appease voters in an election year.

It seems that many in the state party have despaired of ever having any kind of political success without running a big name candidate. Under a banner claiming “Not politics-as-usual,” GOP member William Weld won the LPNY nomination. I did not vote for him and cannot support his candidacy. Am I politically homeless once again? Libertarian principles such as individual rights and smaller government define our positions on the issues. Without these principles, our positions will be no different than those of the two major parties. Weld knows how to give lip service to these principles, but does not, I feel, intend to communicate libertarian solutions to society’s problems

Maybe the majority of New York Libertarians will be happy with this new direction for the party. Maybe they have visions of becoming players in the big political arena along with the Republocrats. Maybe they’re tired of being called “a tiny organization with highly unorthodox beliefs,” as stated by the Albany Times-Union in their article on the Weld endorsement. Yet, the highly unorthodox belief in individual freedom is why I call myself a libertarian, and why I cannot compromise and call Bill Weld my Libertarian candidate.

Christa

Comment: 05/15/2006 19:12:48

Sensible... Please do sign your name. You are not the only Libertarian that supports a Weld candidacy. There is no need for this anonymous sniping. If you truly stand by your convictions, then please do let us know who you are. Do you live around Ithaca? Might you be interested in carrying some petitions for Weld?

Thanks,

Andy G., AZ Underground

Comment: 05/13/2006 22:23:15

So Sensible, so distant, so missing the point:
Weld is a Republican.

Comment: 05/13/2006 00:56:49

Sorry, my bad. I live about a million miles away from Ithaca, so I don't know about all that the local LP has accomplished there.

Sounds like you guys have a good grip on how to run effective campaigns, and I shouldn't be bad-mouthing your tactics. You've probably got tons of local Libertarians elected in the Finger Lakes region; maybe you can enlighten me as how you're able to accomplish that.

Me? I've run as a Libertarian, but lost. I ran for my city council (of a town of about 35,000) in a partisian race but only got about 45% of the vote in a two-way race. I ran on a sensible platform of lowering our property tax rates, more openness in council meetings, and more reliance on user fees instead of taxes.

Yeah, I really deserved to do so poorly on such a foolish message. Hey, first time mistake.

Maybe if I ran on legalizing crack, privatizing the fire departments, and selling the local parks to Dow Chemical I would have won.

I'd love some pointers for next time...

"Sensible"

Comment: 05/11/2006 22:45:16

Sensible,
Maybe you're right -- and I hope I'm wrong, I think your way would be so much easier. Just sit back and vote for the Demopublican that promises a little less government. And what a rallying cry: "Vote Joe Sensible, a little less taxing than the other guy"; really brings 'em out to the polls. Quite an original platform, too. Voting Sensible sends such a powerful message from the citizens that eventually, politicians and their minions in the huge bureaucracy they've created begin to realize that less government really IS better. For the greater good, they will now accept longer work hours,lower pay, fewer raises, more accountability, less pork, fewer perks. Let's give it a try!

But seriously, Sensible, we DO need some good ideas for promoting libertarian values and reducing government, so please bring those ideas to our meeting and let's put them into action. Volunteer for the Weld campaign and PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG!!!

Christa
:-)

Comment: 05/10/2006 09:53:16

I'll make this brief.

Maybe you all should ask yourselves why the LPNY did not elect to nominate a "60%-libertarian Democrat with a track record", or a "60%-libertarian Green with a track record", etc. The war, gun rights, free speech, eminent domain, and other personal liberties are just as important as money matter issues. In fact, I'd argue that the former issues are even more important in our current "wartime" mentality where supposedly anything goes. Spending is out of control, but so are the rest of all our protections against tyranny. Now that we've nominated Weld, might we have to also adopt the typical braindead Republican response to every question, so that we don't seem to contradict him?

Like I have said many times on the listserve, I realize that Weld's nomination is a political strategy which hasn't been tried in the LPNY's history, but you are all fooling yourselves if you think it is not a cheap, desperate, dirty political move. I strongly disagree with the assertion that this will "help the LP get its name out there" in a positive manner. It probably will help the LPNY get its name out there, but as a strike against it. Have you all forgotten that this is a mostly leftist state, with many voters sympathizing with the Democrats and who call themselves "liberals"? In a state in which the Republican Party is deemed something akin to the "enemy" by the voting majority, how exactly can associating ourselves with the Republican be a positive move for our party? I have yet to hear a convincing answer to that query.

Political expediency is a silly reason to do anything. You should all know that based upon the principles of this party and what you have learned from being a part of it! I don't care if the "goal" of the LPNY is to get "people" elected (non-libertarians at that, I might add). If your organization's goal is to earn a million dollars, you do not do so by following the old lady to the back alley and hitting her over the head with a cane and stealing her wallet -- you do it the hard, honest way: earn that million dollars. As members of this party, we have all decided that we want to try to use the political process to invoke real change in our lives, instead of revolution. But honest political process requires the support of the people, the general voting populace. That is a *requirement* of fair political discourse. If the voters of this state do not yet want libertarianism, then we will fail in our "goal" to elect libertarians this year. It doesn't matter how tired you are of the status quo; we don't deserve to get elected until we've earned it by changing the hearts and minds of the people. Anything less than that is dirty politics, aka political expediency.

Please do not slap your fellow libertarians in the face by nominating Weld and then turn right around and slap them in the face again by telling them to "grow up" for simply expressing their passion and concern about this action. Who is really acting more childish?

Curry

Comment: 05/09/2006 09:24:05

Small-l libertarianism is a philosophy, there's no need for compromise. The Libertarian Party is a political organization, and by definition must compromise in order to GET ELECTED and move public policy in a libertarian direction.

What's better - getting elected to reduce spending by 1% or not even getting close to being elected on a platform of reducing spending by 90%? You you say the latter, you're doing more harm than good to the libertarian movement.

By signing on to a "no compromise" political stance you are ensuring more Republicrat wins at the ballot box and the government will continue to grow.

For the sake of small government advocates everywhere, please grow up. Seriously.

SIGNED,
A Sensible Libertarian

Comment: 05/07/2006 14:08:05

If I wanted to compromise, I'd be a Republicrat.

Please sign your posts.

Thank you.

Christa

Comment: 05/03/2006 20:37:14

Ah yes, the old "if you're not 100% Libertarian get the f&^$ out of my party" mentality. This is Exhibit A of why the Libertarian Party has gone absolutely nowhere in 34 years. Keep up the good work.

04/07/2006 13:35:46

My rent has gone up average of $20/year since I've been here. It has
increased $60 since I moved in 3 years ago, and believe me, I'm not living in
the Ritz. My landlord keeps apologizing, citing increasing taxes and increased
oil costs. If I didn't know much about the tax situation in Ithaca, I might not
believe him.

He's also been under audit by the IRS for the past several months. He is
visually very angry at them, and even yelled and tossed things around when I was
signing my lease. This is the good news (his reaction).

The bad news is that he also hates Exxon. Why? Because his fuel costs
are very high, and Exxon is making a huge profit. He sees evil in making a huge
profit. The reason oil prices are higher now (and will continue to increase
forever) is because of supply and demand. More and more people want fuel to
power their more sophisticated lives, all the world over, and the supply of fuel
is decreasing faster and faster all the time. There is a finite amount of oil
out there. Therefore, whomever owns the oil will get richer and richer as there
is less and less of it. Sorry; that's how property works when it is a rare
commodity. Scarcity of a resource is supposed to make people angry, so that they
will look to invest in and support alternative arrangements, like other types of
fuel. You aren't entitled to cheap fuel, period.

He also lauded Chavez for "giving" free fuel to low-income and welfare
people in inner city New York. I asked him where he thought Chavez got the oil
from. His response was, "Why, that country is the largest supplier of oil
anywhere!" As if that were justification enough for Chavez, since he is leader
of the country, to somehow "own" that oil and have the right to give it away.

It's impossible to talk to my landlord about things like this, because
he's not open to discussion. I hate it when the situation is like this: A person
sees (and really feels) the horrible effects of the economy and the government
spending, but he cannot make the connection as to the root cause. The big
picture is completely transparent to him. I think this is why our task as
libertarians is difficult. My landlord hates Exxon, and yet he needs oil (at
least in the current mode) to survive. This is a conflict which he cannot seem
to resolve. How can I explain to him that the government is not here to provide
him, or anyone else, with entitlements? How can I explain to him that free
markets are always the best solution, even when prices are high due to scarcity?

Oh well. At least he also hates the city and the increased property
taxes and the IRS as well. Will he ever ask the fundamental question why his
costs are truly as high as they are, in each case? Only by doing so can he
direct his anger at the true criminals.

Curry

03/28/2006 23:46:15

Bill Weld will be a guest on the cable news show Capital Tonight on News
10 Now, the Time Warner cable news channel. It's on Wednesday, tomorrow night March 29th at 8pm, and repeated at 11:30pm.

I sent the show host, Brian Taffe, a request to ask Mr. Weld, "if he
will seek the support of the Libertarian Party of NY."

He replied that he would try to get it in, or at least the idea of it in.

http://news10now.com/content/capital_tonight/

Brian

Comment: 04/01/2006 01:56:13

There was no mention of the Libertarians on the show. He will be a guest on that show again - maybe next time. I think the show host was sincere.

03/20/2006 16:51:22

"People should not be afraid of their governments,
governments should be afraid of their people."

Anyone see a good movie this weekend?

Tell us tomorrow 3/21 at the Ithaca Libertarians meeting,
7 PM at 209 N. Aurora St., Ithaca

Christa

Comment: 03/25/2006 14:48:25

I wouldn't be surprised if the left adopted that slogan just as easily, with their (traditional) calls for massive government planning, organization, and programs.

"Strength through unity, unity through faith IN THE STATE"

Incidentally, have any of you seen "The Wave"? This tagline comes straight from that film. That film was about a high school class which tried to re-create the unity, spirit, and comraderie of the Nazi Party, with disasterous results.

Curry

Comment: 03/23/2006 19:55:52

"strength through unity and unity through faith" seems like that would be W's new campaign slogan if he could run again. The graphic novel was supposed to be about Thatcher and I don't know a lot about her, but I would guess that in some respects she and W were cut from the same cloth.

03/03/2006 07:39:23

On March 1st Harry Browne passed away after a long illnes at the age of 72. Mr Browne made contributions to the Libertarian Party too numerous to count. Harry Browne was a champion of freedom that will be truly missed. He had helped light the fire of liberty in many of us, and for that I say,"Thank you Mr. Browne." He shall one day be remembered in history as a prophet of the greatest truth known to man.

Carl

02/27/2006 22:19:50

Like death, governments are inevitable.
Both are the result of life -
and both should be avoided by the individual at all costs!

Carl

02/24/2006 23:32:34

Bookmark this!

Michael Badnarik, 2004 Libertarian Presidential candidate, is running for Congress in Texas District 10. He and his staff are working hard to "Light the fires of Liberty," and it is inspiring to read his blog, which he updates frequently - check it out at
http://www.badnarik.org/supporters/blog/

Christa

01/13/2006 19:02:12

Don’t miss next week’s meeting of the Ithaca Libertarians, which also doubles as the annual convention – Tuesday, January 17, 7 PM at 209 N. Aurora St., Ithaca. In addition to selecting officers and planning activities, we have a special guest, Jeff Russell, who is seeking the LPNY nomination for US Senate. His campaign will be focused on the war in Iraq, the Patriot Act, and Homeland Security, three things he is very much opposed to. He is scheduled to speak at 7:30, with some time for questions and discussion. Please join us to meet Jeff and get together with fellow libertarians!

Christa

12/10/2005 18:40:51

"Housing Slowdown May Claim 800,000 Jobs" the headline says. Isn't it funny how all these reports coming from the media are always about job losses, and never any job gains? Boy, that must mean everybody is losing their job, and no one gaining any! How horrible! No, of course not. The media just doesn't report good news (job gains), and concentrates on bad news (such as job losses) in order to scare the hell out of people (and most importantly, our politicians, who then fuck everything up). In addition, the media often makes these speculative "forecasts" which are actually *projections* of losses over the course of a certain number of years, and of course can't reflect actual figures. The predictions are quite often false and overly pessimistic. Such alarmist modes of reporting from the media are yet another example of how the media is biased in a certain way and does not subscribe to objective principles when reporting.

Still, occasionally people do lose jobs in the free market. Let's think about the housing problem objectively, then. The free market is a dynamic place -- supply and demand are changing all the time. In one period, housing might be in super-high demand, as the people (consumers) are in need of new housing desperately all over the country. Accordingly, new businesses and jobs are formed to meet the demand for new housing. These might include contractors, architects, construction workers, and the like. All seems well. During a housing decline, however, housing stocks dwindle, workers lose their jobs and companies downsize. But this is a normal part of a world in which supply and demand are constantly changing: not everybody wins all the time. However, in a free market most people win most of the time, and that is the point! There is no such thing as job security in a free market, and that is wonderful. It allows for rapid and efficient change so that the laid-off worker can find a job which his neighbor actually does want (and will pay him) him to do. This is why many people refer to the free market as “self-correcting”. Does it really make sense for everyone to be producing houses (and being stubborn enough not to change jobs) if houses lined every square foot of American soil? Of course not.

Think about how the government might react to a headline such as the one in the first sentence of this article. In the recent years of the housing boom (or bubble, depending on your belief), investors, businesses, and Congress sit back and watch as they see nothing wrong with the increased number of jobs created, more houses being built, and of course, more tax revenue flowing in from income taxes, zoning laws, sales taxes, property taxes, and the like. *groan* Accordingly, the government does nothing. However, perhaps later housing demand has hit its peak. Then, the market downsizes accordingly. Some people lose their jobs to go on to look for other jobs which *are* more marketable (i.e. profitable). That's okay, because it's perfectly natural (and benficial to all) for the worker to be acting in his own self-interest, and people don't want houses so much anymore. However, Congress panics. All kinds of jobs are being lost! What should we do? What should we do? I know: We have to *protect* those jobs by creating more work for the poor laborers who no longer have any work from the parasitic free market. So the politicians use tax money (stifling the free market) to fund construction projects which are of little functional or aesthetic value to anyone, then pat themselves on the back for re-employing housing laborers against the grain of the free market. A job well done! "See?" the politicians proclaim, "Where the free market fails you, we will always be there to help!"

But what happens when those construction projects are over? Does the government continue to fund more projects indefinitely, wasting money and resources for things which are of currently of little demand to the free people? Does the government think that the economy should continue to grow despite all stifling in the form of taxation? Are they so arrogant as to presume that they know better how to spend the people's money than the people do? If, during a housing boom, the government acted according to such interventionist logic as they applied during a housing decline, then they would have to *force businesses to fire employees*, because there is simply too much demand for labor during a boom. Clearly, this makes little sense: but we trust the government and accept the logical opposite during a housing stall. Why?

A word about investing. Critics of capitalism say that "Well, with all these market fluctuations, how is a common investor supposed to invest his money in order to prepare for his retirement?" The answer is simple: market growth. Whereas market fluctuations occur on relatively short time scales (a few years), the overall behavior of the market on long time scales almost always shows a definite upward trend. Diverse investment portfolios always go up every 30 years, and most go up significantly. Based upon past market behavior, this is almost a certainty, or at least more certain that any government program which purports to replace the free market with "something better". In fact, the overall growth of the free market is an excellent measure of the growth of human knowledge and progress. As the market grows, so do the overall number of jobs, the overall number of businesses, the overall number of producers and consumers, and the overall number of sciences and technologies. Stifle the market, and you will stymie that kind of growth and progress.

If the market still scares you because of the inherent risks involved, let me remind you that you don't have to play it. You can, instead, put your retirement savings in a risk-free bank account where it collects dust for years and years until you need it. You will gain a meager interest rate, as comparable to a market investment, but at least you are "certain" the money will be there. When you retire, you will extract from the bank more money than you put into the system: how is that a bad deal? Do you really expect even that good of a deal from Social Security? Ha! If so, I've got a bridge to sell you.

Curry

10/29/2005 21:31:07

Gouging in Ithaca

At least with higher fuel prices we might have the chance of adjusting our usage to lower our expenses. I have very little choice, however, about paying my newly re-calculated Ithaca city school tax bill. Imagine my shock when I opened the bill and found it up 46% over last year. This orchestrated windfall is an obscene abuse of political power.

The re-assessment and spending choices that have been made by our elected representatives truly amount to gouging of the worst kind, one we can’t control. I suggest we treat this situation like the Tompkins County Legislature, the Ithaca City Common Council and the Ithaca City School Board are managing a business of ours. Guess what people, you’re all fired! Fired for mismanagement and breech of ethical conduct. Taking our property with eminent domain, overspending and sending us these ridiculous bills, failing to keep our roads maintained, transferring our tax money to corporations as tax abatements, local tax subsidies for those ‘special’ corporations in the forthcoming Empire Zone, and on and on and on. Please start acting in the best interest of the people who live here. We’ve had enough.

Brian Sullivan

09/25/2005 22:26:20

Hey all. I hear there will be Libertarian Speakers at the 11th Annual Damn Sam Harvest Fest and Freedom Rally in Bainbridge next weekend Oct 7th thru 10th. Maybe some of you will be there too.
www.damnsam.com

Ron

09/18/2005 22:32:20

I would strongly encourage everyone in the country, of every socioeconomic class, to read Neal Boortz and Congressman John Linder's new book "The FairTax Book", available at major book retailers everywhere (ISBN: 0060875410). This is a proposal to replace the current federal tax system (all federal taxes) with a nationwide consumption tax.

Now before you say anything, let me proclaim loudly that this will NOT put any additional tax burden onto the poor. I'll repeat once again: This will not put any additional tax burden onto the poor, after everything else is considered, and it will actually benefit them (along with productive citizens) both at the same time.

If you're wondering how this might occur, please pick up the book and read it. Pass it on. Call our senators and congressmen. This book reflects a bill on the floor now (HR 25) which could pass. America needs this legislation to pass desperately.

www.fairtax.org

Curry

Comment: 12/12/2005 16:39:06

http://mises.org/story/1975

Comment: 10/03/2005 18:49:12

I like the idea of a "fair tax" but their are some benifits to having a flat tax. For instance, you could replace the current welfare system with a negative income tax.

09/11/2005 08:43:11

I am willing to admitt I may have been a little quick in judgement of other nations in the world. It does please me to see the sudden out pouring of sympathy and goods from almost every nation of the world, even countries that cant afford it. I appologize for my quick denouncement of the world and europe in particular.
respectfully
carl ricketson
ps: What tastes good with foot...

08/31/2005 23:40:48

I spent the last hour watching the City of Ithaca’s Common Council meeting on cable tonight, where they discussed raising their own salaries and the salary of the Mayor. Present at the meeting were members of the Common Council, the Mayor, a couple of city employees and a few observers. There are a number of things terribly wrong with this picture. Imagine, if you will, a group of employees in a company meeting discussing how hard they work and how each of them deserve a nice pay increase. They even discuss going back 8 or 10 years with the planned pay increase. Then, this group moves ahead with complete rationalization and self-agreement and votes to give themselves a raise! Of course, companies do not operate that way - local companies do not either. It’s just not right, and it creates a very clear moral hazard. Politicians voting themselves a raise is simply unethical, whether it occurs in Common Council, the Tompkins County Legislature or at midnight in the U.S. Congress.

It was also reported tonight at the meeting that Common Council puts in an average of 30 hours each week in their positions. I’m sure the Council members work very hard and put in a lot of hours, however, local government has obviously grown way out of proportion to what it was intended to be. My suggestion is that Common Council and the Tompkins County Legislature work less and spend less, not pay themselves more and spend more.

It’s also been stated many times locally that paying our elected public servants a ‘living wage’ plus benefits would allow more people to run for these offices. It would open up the option of running for office to those of all income levels. Frankly, if someone has not yet successfully provided for themselves and their family, they don’t seem to be qualified to administer the issues of the city and effectively spend our tax money. How about retired business people or successful pre-retired people that might have adequate time to volunteer and serve. These are elected public service positions, not jobs.

Brian Sullivan
August 31, 2005

08/31/2005 19:47:09

On August 29th hurricane Katrina hit the gulf coast and New Orleans, causing massive damadge and loss of life. Although I am basing my knowledge on information provided by CNN and Fox News, very little has been said in Europe. From germany is a scathing critique of Bush's enviornmental policies from the minister of enviorment of germany, Jurgen Tritten, saying that Bush has not done enough to prevent global warming, thus causing the hurricane disaster. I do not belive that if a disaster had befallen the people of germany our president would remind the citizens of that nation of the Holocaust. I do not expect these nations to open their coffers to America, but a word of condolance would seem to be apropriate. If europe,especially germany, is that shallow and full of hatred then they can all burn in hell....

Comment: 09/28/2005 01:27:02

It is generally easier to blame somebody else or somebody else's government for a disaster like Katrina than it is to take effective action to repair that disaster and to diminish the probability of its approximate recurrence.
Germany today seems less likely to head for a new Holocaust than does the country which currently imprisons a larger number of its citizens, and a larger percentage of its citizens, than any other nation on Earth. Those citizens are
also permanently disenfranchised; their disenfranchisement tilts our country away from a repeal of the unjust laws under which many of them were incarcerated.

08/20/2005 00:10:14

Welcome to Tompkins County!

Buying or selling a new home or business property here in the county? The Tompkins County Legislature just voted to increase our taxes once again (Res. 141). It’s just a little bit out of your back pocket this time. It will take the form of an additional tax on real estate transfers. NY now imposes a $4 per thousand tax, and the county will now add a $2 tax, for a total of $6 per thousand. If you sell a property valued at $150,000, your transfer tax was formerly $600, paid to the state. The new tax on the transaction will include an additional $300, to be spent by the Legislature. The new total is $900. All the taxes are really starting to add up, aren’t they? Have you had enough yet?

And, by the way, this latest forced confiscation of our money is also applied to the sales of tax-exempt property in Tompkins County. They squeeze you on your way in, while you’re here, and on your way out.

Brian Sullivan
September 19, 2005

05/20/2005 21:12:06

There is a hatred of freedom in this country, it goes beyond party lines. It even goes beyond simple supply and demand which, if allowed to act properly, would determine which establishments or which vices would remain in existence due to simple exercise of will. It is the unrelenting arrogance of politicians who think they know better than you do how to run your own life. These people are elite members of particular sects with pre-determined conclusions about how YOUR life should be. They don't care about your choices. They don't care about diversity. They don't care about suffering or pleasure. They only care about homogeneity and in enforcing their particular taste in lifestyle. This is unacceptable and outrageous.

By god, I can scream even louder than they can!

Bars in Chicago Threatened to be Closed

Curry

Comment: 09/28/2005 01:30:33

I am in strong concurrence with Curry. -- Donald Silberger 28 Sept 2005