Posts in "Politics"

FreedomWorks invites YOU to the FreedomWorks Spring Break College Fly-In!

Jeff Scully
Feb 25, 2013 at 6:58 PM
By Jeff Scully

As a key leader of the liberty movement, the FreedomWorks team would like to extend an invitation to all YAL members to join us at an exclusive leadership event in Washington, D.C March 9th-12th. 

The FreedomWorks Spring Break College Summit will begin on Saturday, March 9th at 5:00 p.m. at the FreedomWorks offices and will continue with training, panel discussions, congressional office visits, breakout sessions, social events, great speakers, and more. We are also excited to include a dinner featuring Rafael Cruz — father of U.S. Senator Ted Cruz — on Sunday, March 10th.  It will conclude with a media event/press conference on Tuesday, March 12th.

FreedomWorks will pay for your hotel at the Hyatt Regency Capitol Hill as well as all meals/activities while you are here. We are also offering a $300 voucher to help cover the cost of your flight. Space is limited, so please let me know as soon as possible if you are interested in attending. College fly-in is 21+ only as there will be social events during your time with us here in DC!

If you are interested in attending, please contact Anna Scarcella at ascarcella@freedomworks.org. 

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Failed Prohibition and the Fake ID

Joseph S. Diedrich
Feb 21, 2013 at 4:32 PM
By Joseph S. Diedrich

“But officer, I…” Both an excuse and a shameless plea inevitably follow. They do no good, of course, and an illegitimate plastic card is snatched away. 

As a college student, this is a scenario I witness all too often.

What is remarkable, though, is how often a situation such as this could occur, but doesn’t.

Fake IDs are becoming more popular on college campuses every day. Havocscope estimates that well over one million fakes exist in the United States. A University of Missouri study suggests that nearly half of all college students have used a fake ID at some point.

The prohibition of alcohol sales to those under the age of twenty-one has become a complete and utter farce. Few serious people actually support the prohibition for reasons beyond its necessity for the provision of federal highway funding; approval is even less common among those who the law seeks to supposedly “protect”—namely, those under 21.

People want to purchase alcohol. Merchants want to sell alcohol. A transaction of this sort is mutually beneficial. Why then, should anyone, especially over the age of eighteen, be denied the ability to execute such a transaction? 

(For a thorough analysis of the myriad problems caused by prohibition, read Dr. Mark Thornton’s enlightening book, The Economics of Prohibition.)  

Free Roger Christie!

Nicholas Gregory
Feb 21, 2013 at 1:06 PM
By Nicholas Gregory

Hawai'i's "Marijuana Minister" Roger Christie was arrested in Hilo, Hawai'i for possession and distribution of marijuana in July 2010, and he was held without bail or trial in Honolulu Federal Detention Center for more than two years.

Hawai'i State representative, Sam Slom (R), has submitted resolution 'SR 12' to release Roger Christie and initiate an investigation into this miscarriage of justice. Also, State Speaker of the House, Joseph Souki (D), has introduced legislation 'HB 150' to legalize recreational use of marijuana.

Young Americans for Liberty at UH-Manoa are helping the Hawaiian Libertarian Party to bring awareness around Roger Christie's case, and put pressure on elected officials to release Roger Christie and investigate why he was not allowed bail or a speedy trial for so long.

To assist in educating the public about Roger Christies's case we have created a flyer which directs people to a White House petition to release Roger Christie. We distributed hundreds of our flyers at the International Students for Liberty Conference this past weekend, with the goal of getting a flyer in the hands of John Stossel.

Please sign our petition to release Roger Christie.

Take Liberty to the Next Level with KSFP

Jackie Silseth
Jan 29, 2013 at 4:47 PM
By Jackie Silseth

Inspire liberty. Change the system. Advance liberty. Build your future. Get paid.  

The Koch Summer Fellow Program from the Institute for Humane Studies provides opportunities to intern with a homefield advantage or head into the belly of the beast. The Koch Summer Fellow Program is the world's largest liberty focused internship program with over 100 internship positions at over 80 partner organizations across the country and in DC.

KSFP-Graphic

Make a difference in the lives of the people you know.
Internships at think-tanks and other organizations at the state level allow you to make a local impact for liberty. At state-based organizations you'll work on the front line with local single-issue and free market advocates.

Join liberty's largest network.
Make connections with people across the nation and build your future. With over 900 KSFP alumni you'll really be part of the network with the most coverage.

Partner organizations include organizations like Reason, The Institute for Justice, REACH Foundation, and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy. Gain experience in a variety of areas ranging from policy and regulation analysis, to directly influencing legislation at the state level, to publishing articles and editorials in local papers.

The January 31 deadline is quickly approaching! Apply now.

U.S. Congressman David Schweikert to speak at Glendale Community College for "Free Markets 101"

Gage Skidmore
Jan 29, 2013 at 4:22 PM
By Gage Skidmore

On February 21, 2013, U.S. Congressman David Schweikert will speak to the Glendale Community College (AZ) Young Americans for Liberty chapter. Congressman Schweikert has been a great champion for liberty, during his two terms in the U.S. House of Representatives, and was endorsed by the YAL PAC in his most recent election in 2012.

David Schweikert

The event will be a part of the "Free Markets 101" project that chapters nationwide will be participating in, in order to educate students on the benefits of a free market, and debunking the myths of socialism, cronyism, and wealth redistribution.

Congressman Schweikert was recently removed from his position on the House Financial Services committee, due to his willingness to stand up to his own party, and challenge the establishment.

The event is free and open to the public, and all Arizona Young Americans for Liberty members are encouraged to attend what should be a great opportunity to hear from a man on the front lines of liberty in the U.S. Congress.

The event is being held at Glendale Community College at 6000 W. Olive Ave., in the Student Union, room 104D/E from 2 p.m. to 3 p.m. There will be a Q&A following his speech.

More info and RSVP can be found here.

How to Read Someone's Agenda — and Begin a Productive Political Discourse

Keith Maskell
Jan 28, 2013 at 6:12 PM
By Keith Maskell

I am sure reams of paper have been archived regarding this topic. I don't claim to be a philosophy scholar or linguist nor have I had any "formal" education on the subject matter. The following, of course, are just my own thoughts.

As with anyone's worldview, mine has been shaped by the various experiences I've had in my relatively short life. I haven't the inclination to explain every experience I've had or to write a compiled treatise of the various works I've read through the years that have shaped my thinking. My intent is not to write extensive biographies on the people in history that have formed my political—and really, my life—philosophy. 

My sole purpose of this article is to explain how to initiate a productive political conversation. I'm not being smug and, really, the tips are relevant to any conversation one might have.

When playing any game, participants must know the rules. A conversation is no different, and certainly a productive one is no game. When starting a conversation with someone, at least three concepts must be understood:

  1. One's entire belief system can not be discussed in one sitting. 
  2. The conversation is the beginning—and will not be the end—of a productive conversation that will take place over time.
  3. A tenacious commitment to the understanding and action of the above two concepts. 
While engaging others in political matters, filter the conversation (and pointedly, the person) through the following three dichotomies:
 
  1. Individualism vs. collectivism
  2. Religious constructs vs. humanism
  3. Idealism vs. pragmatism
As much as I do not like to label and generalize folks, it is somehow ingrained into the human mind. The human mind groups things. This is fact. 

5 Rules for Dealing with Disagreements

Rebekah Johansen
Jan 18, 2013 at 3:39 PM
By Rebekah Johansen

Liberty activists often unfortunately struggle in working with other groups that might not agree 100% with everything we support. And this fact  is a shame, because in order for us to realize any of our goals, we have to be able to work sometimes with those who don't share all of our goals.

Young Americans for Liberty at the University of West Florida is a very ideologically diverse group of activists. We as a club have always tried our best to reach out and integrate within the larger campus community, working alongside groups like College Republicans, College Democrats, Students for Sensible Drug Policy, and others. Our campus debates were a great example of how we were able to work with other clubs in order to host exciting events that can help awaken a new political dialogue on campus. 

With that fact in mind, here are the five rules we've found helpful when working with people with whom we have disagreements.

1. Be Honest

Pretty much everyone knows I'm a libertarian-leaning Republican. Other YAL members are similarly forthcoming about their views. When I attend other club meetings or work with their members, I don't make any sort of effort to hide who I am or what I believe.

Despite the unfair flak many Ron Paul Republicans have gotten throughout the past years for supposedly trying to "infiltrate" the GOP or "pretend" to be members of various establishment groups, it is important to avoid being guilty of such charges. Trying to "pull one over" on people is a bad idea. We should respect others, and we should respect our own views, enough not to try to hide what we believe.

However...

2. Don't Be Abrasive

We've all seen (and to be honest, probably been at some point) the type: no conversation is safe, no situation immune, from this person's insatiable attempts to "educate" and convert every single person into a bumper sticker-sporting Ron Paul Rothbardian (or something). And while certainly there is quite a bit of value in strongly held beliefs and the desire to share them, if we are single-minded pursuers of political converts, we won't get very far working with others - or converting them.

The Middle Class In America Is Being Wiped Out—Here Are 60 Facts That Prove It

Robert Bentley
Jan 15, 2013 at 7:54 PM
By Robert Bentley

With the policies of the past 50 years we have seen the dwindling of the Middle Class of America. Even though Presidents like Obama think they are fighting for the middle class it would appear they are sorely mistaken. The Middle Class is being wiped out by the policies of our government and the mounting debt they are incurring on a daily basis.

Here are 60 facts that show the middle class is going away:

  1. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, the middle class is taking home a smaller share of the overall income pie than has ever been recorded before.
  2. As the middle class shrinks, more Americans than ever have been forced to become dependent on the federal government.  Federal spending on welfare programs has reached nearly a trillion dollars a year, and that does not even count Social Security or Medicare.  Welfare spending is now 16 times larger than when the “war on poverty” began.
  3. Median household income in the U.S. has fallen for four consecutive years.  Overall, it has declined by over $4000 during that time span.
  4. The U.S. economy continues to trade good paying jobs for low paying jobs. 60 percent of the jobs lost during the last recession were mid-wage jobs, but58 percent of the jobs created since then have been low wage jobs.
  5. The number of Americans living in poverty has increased by more than 15 million since the turn of the century.
  6. The number of Americans on food stamps has grown from 17 million in the year 2000 to more than 47 million today.

Les Misérables, the Berkeley Riots, and College Activism Today

Zach Foster
Jan 15, 2013 at 7:34 PM
By Zach Foster

 Les Miserables artworkAnyone who hasn’t seen the musical film Les Misérables starring Hugh Jackman and Russell Crowe is highly encouraged to do so.  Even if one isn’t a fan of musicals, this particular story offers a plethora of historical gems and political insights to the audience.  My focus in this message is the film’s stylized portrayal of the June Rebellion, also known as the Student Revolution of 1832.  Believe it or not, this long-ago uprising—mostly forgotten until recently—holds a lot of relevance for us as student activists.

 One of my favorite songs in the production is “Red and Black,” sung in the tavern in which Marius’ group of college friends headquarter their activism and plot their revolution.  Red represents “the blood of angry men” and black “the dark of ages past.”  I find this scene to be incredibly poignant for multiple reasons.  First and foremost, the students are young, idealistic, and incredibly naïve, though their passion is clear and emotionally moving in their performance of their song.  Second, the June Rebellion’s insurgents were annihilated and evaporated after one day and night. Their loss is inevitable.

Who I Nominated for Liberty Inspiration Award 2012—and Why

Eric Sharp
Jan 3, 2013 at 6:40 PM
By Eric Sharp

Coley, Chartier, Hunter — these are three fellows who are not just inspiring but whose work is changing the world and the libertarian landscape. One could choose 3 people to nominate for the annual Liberty Inspiration Award, sponsored by liberty candidates. Here's who I chose and why:
m4l

First, Will Coley with Muslims for Liberty. He work is two fold. He does lectures for Tea Party groups demystifying Sharia and Islam. He even got a council of Tea Parties in East Tennessee to vote 12 to 14 to stop attacking Islam and to even publicly oppose a “Sharia ban” bill in the Tennessee Legislature. That was how he started out, moving from there to start the classical liberal Islamic organization, Muslims for Liberty, which now has chapters all around the world!

It's really awesome because a brand of Islam that embraces liberalism and the non-aggression principle has the potential to completely change the face of Islamic politics internationally and especially change things for the better in the middle east. Classical liberalism, Coley holds, while utterly opposite of radical Islam, in fact meshes excellently with classical Islam from the 12th century, before the faith went in a more authoritarian direction. I'm not a student of a Islam, so I can't give merit or deny this claim but it is an interesting and different take on the subject.

MTSU YAL had the pleasure of hosting Will Coley for a lecture on Islam and Liberty last March 2012. It was very interesting and several members of the MTSU Islamic student organization were in attendance and found the lecture insightful. He spoke about how classical liberalism isn't only compatible with Islam, much of it was developed out of the Islamic legal tradition. It's very interesting that Coley presents such a different viewpoint in the defense of freedom.