Merry Christmas

From my favorite movie:

Campaign Statement Following $6 Million Day

From the Ron Paul campaign:

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA - Following its historic fundraising day on December 16th, Ron Paul campaign chairman Kent Snyder issued the following statement:

"There is an unprecedented outpouring of grassroots support for Dr. Paul. The message of freedom is powerful and uniting people across America. And, Dr. Paul is the only candidate offering real solutions to the issues Americans care about, with the record to back it up.

"Americans are sick and tired of our broken borders and they know the other candidates are not serious about illegal immigration. Dr. Paul has proposed serious and substentative legislation to fix our immigration problems once and for all.

The $6 million one-day total means the campaign has raised over $18 million this quarter, far exceeding its goal of $12 million.

"Finally, as Americans see the value of their dollar plummet, they know Dr. Paul has devoted his political career to stopping the inflation that makes it impossible for middle-class families to get ahead. Only Dr. Paul has a plan to cut spending, balance budgets and take care of people who have become dependent on government programs.

"Americans spoke loud and clear on December 16th. They want Dr. Paul's solutions."

$6 Million in 24 Hours

I thought November 5th was big, but December 16th, the 234th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, takes the prize.

You can find the figures at Ron Paul Graphs and the analysis at their Blog.

Apparently the biggest fundraising day in campaign history (regardless of party or source) was by John Kerry in 2004; he took in about $5.7 million in 24 hours. Ron Paul just made over $6 million with almost 60,000 donors.

What will the establishment make of it? Probably not much. After all, what would they do without more war and more taxes?

Greece - 1, Germany - 0

Probably my favorite YouTube video ever. Monty Python's "International Philosophy":



"Hegel is arguing that the reality is merely an a priori adjunct of non-naturalistic ethics, Kant via the categorical imperative is holding that ontologically it exists only in the imagination...and Marx is claiming it was offside."

How Counterfeiting Can Make Us Rich

One of the greatest blog posts I have seen in a while; short, yet very telling:
"NYT:

A day after the Federal Reserve disappointed investors with a modest cut in interest rates, central banks in North America and Europe on Wednesday announced the most aggressive infusion of capital into the banking system since the terrorist attacks of September 2001.

And it makes you wonder why they don't do a one-time zillion dollar infusion of 'capital' and make the whole world wealthy forever." - Jeff Tucker, Mises.org

This is why I can gladly call myself a follower of the Austrian school of economics. The neo-Keynesians and Friedmanites can't explain why Fed tinkering in the economy is bad. In fact, they encourage it. Printing new money and injecting it into an already ailing economy is not going to make us rich. The only road to true wealth is through free-markets and natural capital accumulation.

Giuliani Wants a New Cold War

"Republican presidential candidate Rudy Giuliani on Friday advocated a strong military build-up by the United States as a bulwark against the oil-rich Russian President Vladimir Putin and his increasing consolidation of power in the country," reports CNN Political Ticker.

Tell me, what good will a new Cold War do? I would venture to say it will do us no good. In fact, I believe only bad things can come from that. It's too bad that the Russians have to deal with a President that is "increasing consolidation of power," but what does that have to do with America and being the American President?

I like this whopper of a statement: "He justified his claim, explaining that a robust military was the primary reason behind the United States' success in the Cold War. Giuliani said U.S. and European demilitarization after the two World Wars was a mistake that contributed to the growth of Nazism and communism..."

First of all, we did not beat the Soviet Empire because we had the most nukes. The two primary reasons for the fall of the Soviet Union were (1) total economic collapse and (2) political independence movements.

Ludwig Von Mises predicted that socialism was doomed to failure...in 1922. The basic reason is that without a pricing system (i.e. free market supply and demand determining prices) there could be no rational economic calculation. Thus, a socialist economy was doomed to fail because no one would know where to allocate scarce resources.

Sure enough, economic downturns in the early 1990's, characterized by a 17% drop in GDP and hyperinflation, saw the end of the Soviet economic system.

Various political reasons were also factors in the collapse of the Soviet Empire. Gorbachev's glasnost, non-communist trade unions, and a plethora of independence movements undercut the centralized power of the communist leaders.

U.S. demilitarization caused the growth of Nazism and communism? What possibly could Mr. Giuliani mean? To begin with, the radical communists, or Bolsheviks, first gained control in the October Revolution of 1917. After that, Russia was ruled by local "worker's councils", or soviets, which were dominated by Bolsheviks. The radical communists would not officially establish the Soviet Union until 1922, when the Red Army defeated the monarchist/liberal White Army, but they still effectively controlled Russia up until that point.

As for the rise of Nazism, any student of history knows that the primary reason for the rise of Hitler and the Nazis was the widespread German opposition to the Versailles Treaty. Their nation was totally demilitarized and forced into bankruptcy by the terms of the Treaty. The global depression of the 1930's also left many Germans looking for a strong government to spring them from poverty.

These movements were established with no connection to the state of the American military. They were bound to keep growing, no matter how many weapons we had. Would attacking Russia and Germany have helped end communism and Nazism? I hardly think so; both countries were in distress and looking for a strong state to direct them. The worst thing we could have done is centralize the ire of those centralized states on us. All totalitarian regimes are looking for some kind of foreign bogeyman to help them control their citizens.

Rudy Giuliani has absolutely no historical knowledge. He does not even know commonly accepted historical truths. How is this man fit to be president?

Ron Paul 4th Place in NH

Two of the latest opinion polls have Ron Paul in fourth place for the New Hampshire GOP Primary. The first, from Marist College Institute for Public Opinion, has Dr. Paul at 7%, tied with Mike Huckabee. The second, from the Boston Globe also has him at 7%, but ahead of Huckabee.

Some interesting things to note:

Boston Globe Poll

- 60% of Republican voters have not decided on a candidate
- Ron Paul is in 4th Place for "Which candidate is the strongest leader", "Which candidate can best deal with terrorism", "Which candidate has the most experience", and "Which candidate has the best chance of beating the Democratic nominee"

Marist Poll

- Paul breaks his tie with Huckabee among self-described "Republicans"
- He is polling at 18% among those who make less than $50,000 a year, putting him in third place behind only Romney and Giuliani.
- He is at 12% in the 18-44 age group, once again putting him only behind Romney and Giuliani.
- Paul is also in fourth place, beating Thompson and Huckabee, when asked "Who has the best chance of beating a Democrat"

Great Ad Suppoting Ron Paul

I just saw a link to this new ad at LewRockwell.com

Ron Paul is the only GOP that gets it about Iraq:

State Senator Robert Clegg Loves War

New Hampshire State Senator Robert Clegg was recently quoted in the Nashua Telegraph as saying this about Ron Paul: "That guy (Paul) is the most un-American person in this country as far as I’m concerned." Of course Clegg is a Huckabee supporter. And to be a Huckabee supporter you must support perpetual war. Ron Paul, being the extremely intelligent man that he is, opposes the war. And that is why Clegg thinks Ron Paul is "un-American."

So Clegg is an American because he supports the needless deaths of 3,500 soldiers, the wounding of 27,000 more, and the annihilation of over 100,000 Iraqis. Ruining the lives of at least 130,500 people is what passes for good old-fashioned Americanism these days.

I love these choice quotes from the Bosnian conflict dug up by Thomas Woods over at LewRockwell.com:

"Explain to the mothers and fathers of American servicemen that may come home in body bags why their son or daughter have to give up their life?"
-- Sean Hannity, Fox News, 4/6/99

"Victory means exit strategy, and it's important for the President to explain to us what the exit strategy is."
-- Governor George W. Bush (R-TX)

Justin Raimondo ask the question: Is Huckabee a Nice Guy or Slanderer-by-Proxy?

I would lean toward the latter.

Death and war didn't make us Americans; Peace and prosperity is what made us who we are. Senator Clegg has been good on a lot of issues in New Hampshire, but boy is he wrong on this one.

Ron Paul is My Hero

Because of his performance in last night's debate at UNH:

Goodbye, New Hampshire

It is somewhat unfortunate to say that I am no longer in New Hampshire. The college selection process drew me to Kenyon College in Gambier, Ohio.

I hope to make the best of my experience here by promoting Ron Paul and turning my fellow students away from leftism. I must say that the college campus is a hostile place for libertarians and paleoconservatives. The culture of intervention, both foreign and domestic, has ensnared the majority of my colleagues.

This is a war of ideas. The theories of Marx and many other collectivists have gone into the annals of history as atrocious failures. But freedom and liberty have been ever-present and can never be truly suppressed.

I will be content if I can convert just one more group of students so that we may keep the tradition alive and well.

And because of my (temporary) relocation, I will most likely have fewer updates on New Hampshire politics, and more pieces pertaining to Ron Paul, national politics, and the college political scene.

Keep up the good work in America's freest state.

Ron Paul Wins Strafford Straw Poll

Ron Paul paid a visit to this year's Strafford County GOP Picnic and Straw Poll, and what a visit it was. The place was filled with about 300 people, about 200 of whom were Ron Paul revolutionaries. This is all supported by the results of the Straw Poll:

Ron - 208 (73%)
Romney - 26
Huckabee - 20
Tancredo - 8
McCain - 7
Cox - 5
Hunter - 5
Fred Thompson - 3
Giuliani - 3
Brownback - 1

I love how John Cox, a shadow candidate, even beat Rudy. And yes, this picnic cost $20 for entry, and no, Ron Paul did not buy his supporters' tickets. We used spontaneous grassroots organization via Meetup to make sure we carried the day.

Why couldn't Rudy McRomney get more votes? Well, they are establishment shills and really do not enjoy the type of popularity that Ron Paul does. People only vote for Rudy McRomney because they believe it is the only choice they have. When they hear Ron Paul, they become believers.

Long Live the Ron Paul Revolution!

This is Freedom

I have been searching for things to do on my days off from work. I decided that I should go hiking on the 100+ miles of trail in Waterville Valley. I was amazed by the beauty of the views from the short hikes I took.


That picture is from Goodrich Rock, a short hour and half hike. I began to think about the feeling I got when I ventured into the wilderness and experienced the magnificent views. I realized that this was a total state of freedom; I had no obligations to any man or state. I was free to do as I pleased with no one telling me what to do.

It reminds me of the state of nature expressed by enlightenment philosophers. I was all alone, left to my own devices. Total freedom from coercion.

Why can't we all take a walk in the woods and realize that we don't need to be telling each other what to do to lead a happy life.

Ron Paul 6th out of 16 in WMUR/UNH Poll

304 likely GOP primary voters were polled by UNH between July 9th and 17th. Here are the results:

Romney 33%
Giuliani 18%
F. Thompson 13%
McCain 12%
Gingrich 3%
Paul 2%
Huckabee 2%
T. Thompson 1%
Other 3%
Undecided 12%
Brownback, Tancredo, Hunter, Gilmore <1%

Full Poll Results [.pdf]

Given that the margin of error is +/- 5.6%, there is a theoretical probability that Ron Paul could join the likes of McCain and F. Thompson in the "top-tier". I think it is just a matter of getting Dr. Paul better name recognition. Once we can start putting up some official campaign signs here in New Hampshire it will be only a matter of time before the "official" polls start showing our true support.

Ron Paul Rakes in the $$$

The figures are in for the 2nd quarter fundraising in the race for president. Ron Paul came in 4th place out of all Republicans in money raised for this past reporting cycle. Dr. Paul was only beat out by the Rudy McRomney trio in total receipts for the quarter. However, Dr. Paul does have more cash on hand than John McCain!

Within the money reports are two promising events: Ron Paul is a solid contender in the money race here in New Hampshire and he is also the most popular among the military.

Dr. Paul is just about $1,500 shy of beating Rudy Giuliani for money raised in the Granite State. The Ron Paul Revolution has raked in a total of $34,211 in New Hampshire, a total of 5% of all funds raised in the state (both Republican and Democrat).

Some of the biggest news is that Paul, being the lone antiwar Republican, raised more money from donors listing their employer as the military than any other candidate, Republican or Democrat.

The latest Gallup Poll reports that Ron Paul is in 5th place among the Republican contenders. He comes after Rudy Giuliani, Fred Thompson, John McCain, and Mitt Romney. Paul is at 3% among the respondents to the survey, 5 points below Romney's 8%. Given that the margin of error is +/- 5%, there is a probability that the true proportion of Ron Paul supporters is greater than that of Mitt Romney.

I want to see Ron Paul's fundraising take off this next quarter. I also want to see some hard campaigning so we can overtake Mitt Romney. Let's make the next quarter even bigger than this one. I think we can beat Rudy in fundraising and Romney in polling.

In Libertate,
Tyler

Donate to the Campaign

Ron Paul Wins CNHT Straw Poll

I went to the Coalition of New Hampshire Taxpayers' annual picnic today. On years that we are approaching a presidential primary, CNHT adds a presidential straw poll to the list of events for the day.

The following press release from the Ron Paul campaign sums up how the picnic and straw poll worked out:

Ron Paul Wins Big in First New Hampshire Straw Poll

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 7, 2007

ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA – Presidential candidate Ron Paul today won the Coalition for New Hampshire Taxpayers (CNHT) straw poll at their annual picnic in Hopkinton, New Hampshire. Dr. Paul received 182 of 294 votes cast, or 65 percent. In second place was Rudy Giuliani with 24 votes, or 8 percent.

"Today's strong victory is further proof that Dr. Paul's message is resonating throughout New Hampshire," said campaign manager Lew Moore. "Dr. Paul is the only candidate in this race truly dedicated to smaller government and lower taxes for all Americans."

CNHT is a statewide, grassroots organization dedicated to reducing the size of government at all levels, stopping judicial activism, providing students and parents with a choice of educational opportunities, expanding job markets, and protecting property rights.

-30-

Ron Paul - Hope for America

I just sent out a Letter to the Editor. Here is the contents:

Ron Paul – Hope for America

To the Editor:

Americans are disappointed with how the government is being run. Most national polls give our Democratic congress an appalling 27% approval rating. Our Republican president hasn’t faired any better; Bush has been hitting new lows at about 30% approval. It appears that Americans are sick of Bush-style wannabe conservatives, but are no more impressed by liberal Democrats.

I can see why the citizens of this country are disappointed with both the liberal Democrats and neoconservative Republicans. According to the most recent polls, approximately two-thirds of Americans oppose the occupation of Iraq. One might say “I suppose we should vote out the Republicans for Democrats!” On the contrary – almost 60% of Americans favor making the Republican tax cuts permanent. Most Democrats want to let the tax cuts expire.

America has only one hope if it wants to end the killing in Iraq, and still save money on its taxes – His name is Ron Paul. Dr. Paul is a 10^th term congressman from Texas. He is one of a very small minority that has opposed the Iraq War from its inception. Ron Paul is the only Republican presidential candidate that opposes the war. He is also a member of an exclusive group named a “Taxpayer’s Best Friend” by the National Taxpayers Union.

Do you want tax relief? Do you want an end to America’s involvement in the Iraqi civil war? Ron Paul is the only presidential candidate that will do that and more. Visit RonPaul2008.com to find out more. Ron Paul is Hope for America.

Tyler Stearns

Liberty Ratings

The New Hampshire Liberty Alliance has just released their annual Liberty Report Card. The Report Card rates Representatives and Senators on their votes for selected "liberty" issues. Liberty, as defined by the NHLA, is an absence of laws that restrict personal and economic freedoms and that bar the practice of good government.

I would like to congratulate Rep. Richard Barry for being this year's Legislator of the Year. He was the only representative to receive an "A+" rating. I would also like to congratulate the other 18 reps. that received "A" ratings.

We still have a lot of work to do, however. There were numerous "F" ratings and even a handful of "Constitutional Threats"! I hope we can get them voted out in '08!

Finally, I would like to report that my own representative (the man that defeated me last fall), Bob Matheson, received a rating of "D". That mean that he voted against liberty almost 75% of the time! Thornton and Woodstock could have had better, but alas, the Democratic tsunami swept the state last fall. I hope that the voters of these two communities will realize that they deserve better.

In Libertate,
Tyler

Liberty Activist of the Year

I would like to thank the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance for choosing me as their Activist of the Year. It is a humbling honor to receive this distinction from New Hampshire's #1 promoter of liberty. I couldn't have been so involved if it weren't for the NHLA and all of the other liberty activists throughout the state. They give me courage and motivation when it seems that all hope is lost. I thank all of you.

The important thing I have learned from my political activism is that ideas do not die. The message of liberty is eternal and can never be silenced. By the same token, however, liberty cannot be spread to all corners of New Hampshire without its tireless supporters. I see myself merely as a symbol of all the hard work and dedication that goes into preserving and expanding liberty.

I feel a great sense of sadness that I will be leaving New Hampshire to continue my education. I hope that I can return permanently in a few years with a greater depth of knowledge and a stronger drive to accomplish my goals.

Freedom is the greatest end that can be achieved in society. I will expound the message of liberty on my college campus and return to New Hampshire to aid all of the other great activists that are working to preserve our "Live Free or Die" way of life.

In Libertate,
Tyler

Fred Thompson the War Monger

I have said that we Ron Paul supporters really have no reason to fear competition from Fred Thompson. But we do need to fear him as a government official. This article by Fred Thompson is further proof why Ron Paul does not share a base with Thompson and why he should be feared:

http://www.townhall.com/Columnists/FredThompson/2007/06/14/the_castrochavez_axis

"America is facing a growing threat from Latin American totalitarianism and we need to call on those who are most familiar with it to lead the resistance." - Fred Thompson

We know that Thompson supports the Iraq War and will probably help to provoke a neocon war of aggression against Iran, but this article shows that he also has his eyes on Latin America. We've meddled in Latin American politics before and it wasn't very productive.

Remember the Bay of Pigs invasion? Around 1,500 Cuban expatriates (trained and supplied by the CIA) invaded Cuba in the hopes of deposing the reign of terror of Fidel Castro and Che Guevara. Needless to say, they ran out of ammo after three days of fighting and the invasion failed. JFK's special counsel, Robert Goodwin, met with Che Guevara after the failure at the Bay of Pigs: "[Che] went on to say that he wanted to thank us very much for the [Bay of Pigs] invasion - that it had been a great political victory for them - enabled them to consolidate."

It is partially the fault of our policy in Cuba that has allowed Fidel to stay this long! Castro and Chavez want us to attack. We will be seen as the aggressors and everyone will come to the aid of the poor defenseless Latin American country.

Fred Thompson and the rest of the neocon candidates must be stopped!

Video from New Hampshire Debate

Here is a video that shows the support for Ron Paul before and after the debate, as well as Dr. Paul's amazing performance during the New Hampshire GOP debate. I believe that this is the "official" Ron Paul 2008 video of the St. A's debate, seeing that it is the front page video on Dr. Paul's YouTube page. Enjoy, and remember to visit RonPaul2008.com!

Ron Paul TV

I recommend you all check out Ron Paul TV. The station plays a string of Ron Paul videos in succession to help inform those who are curious about Dr. Paul. There are some great videos on there and we can all learn more about the Good Doctor.

Ron Paul Rally and Debate Party

The rally for Dr. Paul was amazing! I would take a guess that we had at least 150 people there. That was about twice as many supporters as any other candidate. We were a lot louder, also. The Ron Paul supporters drowned out the Rudy McRomney drones with very enthusiastic, and quite original, chanting.

After the rally we all went to Murphy's Taproom in Manchester to watch the debate. I won't delve into the particulars of the debate, but I will say that Dr. Paul did very well given his lack of time compared to the "Big Three".

The real highlight at Murphy's was when Ron Paul showed up at about 10:30 (after an hour and a half of the press bombarding him with questions!) to say Hi to all his supporters. The Good Doctor seemed a little overwhelmed, and rightly so. The place was packed wall-to-wall with frantic supporters that cheered and chanted as Ron squeezed in.

I think this is a sign that Dr. Paul does have a strong base of support, especially in New Hampshire. Here is a montage of the rally and after party:

Ron Paul Rally

The first New Hampshire Republican debate will be held tomorrow night starting at 7. There will be a rally for Ron Paul at St. Anselm College (where the debate is being held) preceding the debate. The rally will start at 4/4:30 and last until about 6:30, when we will go watch the debate at another location.

Signs and what not will be supplied! All you need to bring is your person. Use the inter-web to get directions to St. A's.

In Libertate,
Tyler

Stepping Outside the Political Party Box for the Best Candidate

A recent guest commentary in the Record Enterprise by my very own mother. I taught her well!

--------------------------------------------------------------------------

Presidential contenders are already aggressively marketing themselves to voters. After watching the last several debates and doing my own research, I've made up my mind. Congressman, Dr. Ron Paul (R-Texas), will get my vote in the primary.

Who's Dr. Paul, you ask?

Ron Paul graduated from Gettysburg College and the Duke University School of Medicine. He served our country as an Air Force flight surgeon before going into private practice as a specialist in obstetrics/gynecology. Dr. Paul is a refreshingly straightforward and principled member of Congress and a leading advocate for freedom. Largely ignored by the mainstream media (even after outpolling most of the other candidates post-debates), Dr. Paul has an ever-growing grassroots support system. Unlike the slick and polished Rudy McRomney candidates who will tell you what they think you want to hear, Dr. Paul proudly and openly works and votes for limited constitutional government, low taxes, free markets, and a return to sound monetary policies. Former Treasury Secretary William Simon, said that Dr. Paul is the "one exception to the Gang of 535" on Capitol Hill.

As you might guess, Dr. Paul's limited-government ideals have not been popular in Washington. In 1976, he was one of only four Republican congressmen to endorse Ronald Reagan for president. Congressman Paul's consistent voting record prompted one of his congressional colleagues to say, "Ron Paul personifies the Founding Fathers' ideal of the citizen-statesman. He makes it clear that his principles will never be compromised, and they never are." Another colleague observed, "There are few people in public life who, through thick and thin, rain or shine, stick to their principles. Ron Paul is one of those few."

He has never voted to raise taxes.

He has never voted for an unbalanced budget.

He has never voted for a federal restriction on gun ownership.

He has never voted to raise congressional pay.

He has never taken a government-paid junket.

He has never voted to increase the power of the executive branch.

He voted against the Patriot Act.

He voted against regulating the Internet.

He voted against the Iraq war.

He does not participate in the lucrative congressional pension program.

He returns a portion of his annual congressional office budget to the U.S. treasury every year.

I spent 30 years voting the Democratic party line. No more. I now vote for the best candidate for the job – regardless of party affiliation. I urge you to step outside the political party box and research the individual
candidates. Learn more about Dr. Paul at www.ronpaul2008.com.

Jan Stearns lives in Thornton.

Ron Paul Wins Debate

Ron Paul steps into national spotlight

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 4, 2007

ARLINGTON, VA - Congressman Ron Paul finished first in the MSNBC poll following the GOP primary debate last night held at the Reagan Library in Simi Valley, California. Dr. Paul received 43 percent, beating the second-place finisher by five points, and crushing the rest of the field.

"Last night, Americans met Ron Paul and loved what they heard," said Ron Paul 2008 campaign chairman Kent Snyder. "Dr. Paul's message of freedom and limited government resonates with Republicans hungry for a return to their party's core values."

"Ron Paul is the only true conservative in the GOP race. Americans saw that last night," continued Snyder. "The campaign looks forward to further debates and opportunities so even more Americans will discover Dr. Paul's message of freedom, peace and prosperity."

------------------------------

Despite ruling the internet and dominating the nation's first debate, Dr. Paul has been largely ignored by the mainstream media. The major news outlets still only focus on Romney, Giuliani, and McCain. I also hear endless stories on Fred Thompson.

Note to Mainstream Media: Romney, Giuliani, and McCain floundered in the debate and Fred Thompson isn't even a candidate! They should be focusing on the only real conservative in the race: Dr. Ron Paul.

Virginia Tech: Not a Reason for More Gun Laws

The recent events at Virginia Tech have horrified the nation. The day saw 32 students murdered in cold blood. Another 21 students were wounded in this heinous act. Unfortunately, many gun control advocates are using this rampage as a reason to have more laws preventing Joe-citizen from possessing a weapon for self defense.

The Virginia Assembly had considered a law that would allow law-abiding individuals to carry weapons on the campuses of state schools, which would include Virginia Tech. The bill was killed and the powers-that-be at Virginia Tech praised the defeat: "I'm sure the university community is appreciative of the General Assembly's actions because this will help parents, students, faculty and visitors feel safe on our campus."

Maybe they all felt safe, but in reality they were not any safer. On the contrary, everyone on the campus was even more vulnerable to an attack like the one that happened earlier this week. Just because the school says "no guns" doesn't mean that a criminal person will not bring a gun.

Dr. John Lott, author of More Guns, Less Crime, is the author of the largest study of gun control laws ever. He concluded that mass public shooting almost never occur in areas with more lax gun laws.

A perfect example of how guns save lives is available right here in New Hampshire. A disgruntled club patron, who was ejected from the club, returned with a pistol. He was ready to shoot the bouncers that threw him out. After the man shot a few rounds, an innocent bystander pulled out his concealed handgun and shot the criminal twice. If it weren't for that man with a gun, there could have been more people shot.

If students and faculty were allowed to defend themselves with weapons, maybe this whole tragedy could have been avoided. But we will never know.

Could the Court Be Wrong?

Here is the text of a letter to the editor that I sent out today. I have many more constitutional arguments to make, but alas, I can only write so much for a letter to the editor.

Constitutional Questions

Why is the legislature rushing along to define and cost an ‘adequate’ education? Why are they so willing to do the bidding of an unelected five-member court?

The supreme judicial court based its Claremont education funding decisions primarily on Part II, Article 83 of the New Hampshire constitution, which says in the relevant part: “it shall be the duty of the legislators and magistrates, in all future periods of this government, to cherish the interest of literature and the sciences, and all seminaries and public schools, [and] to encourage private and public institutions…”

Do any of you understand how that article “imposes a duty on the State to provide a constitutionally adequate education to every educable child and to guarantee adequate funding”?

The court said in the second Claremont decision that it is the “duty of the legislature to ‘cherish’” public schools. But doesn’t Article 83 say it is the duty of legislators and magistrates, and not the duty of the legislature as a whole, to ‘cherish’ public schools? One might say it is merely semantics. Well, why do the words ‘legislature’ and ‘general court’ (synonym for legislature) appear a combined 78 times in the constitution, while the word ‘legislator’ appears but once (in Article 83). I highly doubt the framers of this wonderful document would change that one word if it meant the same thing as the others.

And why does the court only mention public schools? The constitution also includes ‘seminaries’ and ‘private…institutions’. Of course, that would not help them increase the size of our state government, so they just left that part out.

Apparently there remain some unanswered questions. Please contact your legislators (notice I didn’t say legislature) and ask them to answer those questions. And maybe ask them why the U.S. Chamber of Commerce ranks New Hampshire #3 in the entire nation for quality of education, while the area that spends the most per pupil (Washington D.C.) is dead last in rankings. Could local control and fiscal responsibility have anything to do with it? If they can not give you straight answers, ask them if they still really support the court’s unconstitutional power grab.

No Real ID in New Hampshire

The New Hampshire House voted to pass HB 685 on Thursday. The bill prohibits the New Hampshire government from participating in the federal Real ID program. Real ID would create a de facto national identification card out of our state driver's licenses.

New Hampshire kicked off a wave of dissent across the country when the House voted to ban Real ID last year. The Senate, however, killed the bill.

The fight has come back even stronger this year; 25 other states have pending legislation denouncing Real ID and the general court of New Hampshire does not want to be left out on the party it started. The the same bill passed the House by a narrow margin last year. This year it passed by a near-unanimous vote of 268-8.

I hope you will contact your Senator and tell them you don't want the federal government to create a national ID card.

In Libertate,
Tyler

Who's Pulling the Strings in Concord?

This is a great commercial from the New Hampshire Advantage Coalition.

Fiat Money is Unconstitutional

Fiat money has taken over the world. There is nothing really good about it either (unless you work for the government). The inflationary tendencies of fiat money are a hidden form of taxation. The lack of any commodity backing leaves the value of our money at the whim of the U.S. Government and the Federal Reserve (which is neither federal, nor a reserve).

Thus, I wrote the following in support of House Bill 853, which establishes a commission to study the effects of fiat money on the wealth of New Hampshire citizens. The commission, as written, would only study the effects on wealth; I think we need to also look into the constitutional questions surrounding fiat money:

Fiat Money: “Legal tender, especially paper currency, authorized by a government but not based on or convertible into gold or silver.” – American Heritage Dictionary

“No State shall…make any Thing but gold and silver Coin a Tender in Payment of Debts” – Constitution of the United States, Article I, Section 10

Article I, Section 10 of the Constitution provides that the states may only pay off debts with gold and silver coin. The definition of debt from West’s Encyclopedia of American Law: “A sum of money that is owed or due to be paid because of an express agreement; a specified sum of money that one person is obligated to pay and that another has the legal right to collect or receive.” All of the State of New Hampshire’s expenditures can be thought of as debt.

Furthermore, the article says that States may not use “any Thing but gold and silver” for payment of these debts. “Any Thing” can in no way be construed to mean Federal Reserve Notes or any other fiat money.

Therefore, all money, except for gold and silver, is prohibited from use as payment of debts. The State of New Hampshire should do all in its power to return to Constitutionally-sound money.

“And be it further enacted, That there shall be from time to time struck and coined at the said mint, coins of gold, silver, and copper…” - Coinage Act of 1792, Section 9

The Coinage Act of 1792 was the first act related to money after the passage of the Constitution. It can be reasonably asserted that all the money referenced in the Coinage Act is in line with the Constitution, given that both documents were greatly influenced by many of the same authors.

All money to be minted was made of gold and silver, except cents and half-cents, which were copper. The coinage and money referenced in the Constitution is the same money that is prescribed for in the Coinage Act.

One denomination of money mentioned in the Coinage Act was a “dollar”. Today’s Americans would almost certainly associate the word dollar with the Federal Reserve Note that bears the likeness of George Washington. However, this association is wrong.

The Federal Reserve “dollar” is not the dollar that is provided for in the Constitution. The Constitution references the word “dollar” twice. The Coinage Act defines a dollar as follows:

“Dollar - each to be of the value of a Spanish milled dollar as the same is now current, and to contain three hundred and seventy-one grains and four sixteenth parts of a grain of pure, or four hundred and sixteen grains of standard silver.”

In fact, the use of the Spanish milled dollar in America far out dates our Constitution. Queen Anne of England issued the Proclamation of 1704 (passed by Parliament in 1707) that declared the Spanish milled dollar as the standard for money used in the American colonies.

The dollar, in its constitutional context, is based on the silver Spanish milled dollar, and has nothing to do with today’s Federal Reserve “dollar”.

Senate Bill 44: Shot Down

Senate Bill 44, which aimed to put restrictions on the issuance of concealed carry licenses, was unanimously defeated in a Senate committee this past Thursday. I would say that a conservative estimation would put the number of people in attendance at about 200. Other estimates, including those by Gun Owners of New Hampshire, have put the number in attendance at almost 600!

Only three people testified in favor of the bill: one sponsor and two police chiefs. There were dozens that testified in opposition, including members of gun organizations and even one of the co-sponsors. The Chair of the committee saw that there was overwhelming opposition to the bill and therefore ended testimony and moved the bill to a vote. There was essentially no debate among the committee and the bill was promptly voted Inexpedient to Legislate (DEAD).

This was a good victory for gun owners. We showed those in power that we will not stand for any limitation on our right to keep and bear arms!

In Libertate,
Tyler

Thursday, March 15th: Important Hearings!

This is a repost from the New Hampshire Liberty Alliance website:

Start: 15 Mar 2007 - 8:00am

End: 15 Mar 2007 - 4:30pm

description:

Thursday, March 15th is a critical day for Liberty in the State of New Hampshire

On that day, the legislature will hold public hearings for input on four key pieces of legislation.

The New Hampshire Liberty Alliance (NHLA) opposes:
• SB 44, which would limit New Hampshire's "shall-issue" firearm licensing, 9:00 AM State House room 103

The NHLA supports:
• HB 819, which would assert an employee's right to work, whether or not the employee is a member of a union, 10:00 AM Representatives' Hall
• HB 906, requiring Fully Informed Juries, 10:30 AM Legislative Office Building room 208
• HB 685, which would opt New Hampshire out of the Federal "Real-ID" program, 3:00 PM Legislative Office Building room 203
  • More Info: NH law vs Real-ID

If any of the above issues are important to you, then we need you -- yes, you -- to be in your State House in Concord on Thursday, March 15th!
If AT ALL possible, meet at 8:00 AM in the State House Cafeteria.
Here's a map to the State House; here's a map to the Legislative Office Building (it's right behind the State House)
If you can't be there at 8:00 AM, come as early in the day as you can. The last hearing (on "Real-ID") will start at 3:00 PM.
We will break for lunch.

All you need to do is show up.
You don't need to testify. You don't need to be a member of any party or organization.
You just need to be a New Hampshire resident who values FREEDOM.
Your mere presence as a concerned citizen will make all the difference!

A day like this happens rarely -- just one or two times in a legislative session.
We understand people have responsibilities with work, school, and family.
If there is one day you can arrange to be free of those responsibilities, make it Thursday, March 15th.

If you can take a sick day, this is a good day to do so. If you can hire a babysitter, this is a good day to do so.
If you would normally be in school at this time, take this day to learn more about Government than you ever will in a classroom.

This day is an investment not only in your freedoms, but in those of your friends, your neighbors, and your children.
Please forward this message to anyone you feel could benefit from it.

If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact the NH Liberty Alliance: info@nhliberty.org

Second Amendment Victory

Probably one of the few good things to come out Washington D.C. lately is a decision by the District of Columbia federal court that found D.C.'s ban on handguns (and other firearms restrictions) unconstitutional. The decision is a huge victory for everyone, especially gun owners in our nation's capital. The door now may be open for the Supreme Court to finally decide whether the Second Amendment - "A well regulated militia, being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms, shall not be infringed" - is an individual or "collective" right.

In their historic decision, the D.C. court said they "conclude that the Second Amendment protects an individual right to keep and bear arms." They continue on further by saying "[t]hat right existed prior to the formation of the new government under the Constitution..." and it was seen as a means of "resistance to either private lawlessness or the depredations of a tyrannical government (or a threat from abroad)." Probably the best language I have heard a court use in a long time; it actually sounds like they read the constitution for once.

Many onlookers see this as an opportunity for the Supreme Court to finally rule on the true meaning of the Second Amendment. The only time the court came close was in USA v. Miller (1939) and that ruling was ambiguous enough to have both sides of the gun control debate claiming victory. If our highest court upholds the decision of the D.C. justices, it could lead to greater freedom of law-abiding people to own and carry firearms.

I can merely relate to you that this is a great victory for the rights of gun owners. To feel the real meaning of the words you must read the decision for yourself (second link). It could take quite a while for the Supreme Court to hear the arguments for this case. I recommend trying to fight Senate Bill 44, here in New Hampshire, while we wait for the 9 justices to render their decision.

In Libertate,
Tyler

Down with the Bar Association!

I love House Bill 670. It is a shining example of the kind of bill our legislators should be introducing (click here for an example of bad legislation).

The basic goal behind this bill is to repeal the incorporation of the New Hampshire Bar Association. The Bar is basically the group that all of those in legal profession claim membership to. Essentially, the sponsor believes that the Bar is an unconstitutional corporate monopoly. And I believe he is correct in his assertion. The Bar holds an effective monopoly on the legal profession in New Hampshire.

As you can see from the Secretary of State's site, the New Hampshire Bar is registered as a non-profit corporation. Now I will cite Part II, Article 83 of the New Hampshire Constitution:

Free and fair competition in the trades and industries is an inherent and essential right of t he people and should be protected against all monopolies and conspiracies which tend to hinder or destroy it. The size and functions of all corporations should be so limited and regulated as to prohibit fictitious capitalization and provision should be made for the supervision and government thereof.

I think that pretty much goes to show that the Bar is unconstitutional. Not so fast, say the government employees (who go to testify in opposition to this bill on behalf of government agency using our tax dollars). One such bureaucrat claimed that the Bar is "not really a private corporation; it is part public and part private so it is in a unique situation." So because the government says so, the Bar does not have to follow the same rules as everyone else? I think its time that we figure out exactly which it is; they can't have their cake and it too.

Another prestigious government authority rose in opposition citing a New Hampshire Supreme Court case where the justices declared that the Bar Association is under the direct authority of the Court. What? Once again, in Article 83, it says:

Therefore, all just power possessed by the state is hereby granted to the general court to enact laws to prevent the operations within the state of all persons and associations, and all trusts and corporations, foreign or domestic, and the officers thereof, who endeavor to raise the price of any article of commerce or to destroy free and fair competition in the trades and industries through combination, conspiracy, monopoly, or any other unfair means...

The general court is the constitutionally given name for the New Hampshire legislature. It would be pretty hard to construe that with Supreme Court. How exactly does the Supreme Court think that gives them the authority over the Bar? And why would any reasonable legislator not realize it is their duty to break apart this unconstitutional monopoly?

Unfortunately, the House of Representatives will almost certainly kill this bill. It is a sad day when our legislators no longer have any respect for the sacred document that is our Constitution.

In Libertate,
Tyler

Senate Bill 44 - The Beginning of the End

Alright, maybe it isn't the beginning of the end, but there is nothing good about this piece of legislation.

Senate Bill 44, to be heard on March 15th at 9 AM in room 103 of the State House, aims to change a few different things regarding New Hampshire's concealed carry laws for pistols and revolvers.

It first adds a little clause that states an issuing authority may deny a person a license if "the official reasonably believes [them] to be a member of a terrorist or criminal organization, as shown by sworn affidavit by such official or other law enforcement official or any other reliable person." Who determines criteria for a terrorist or criminal organization? Well, to the best of my knowledge, the government can label any group a terrorist or criminal organization. Gun Owners of New Hampshire could be considered a criminal organization for advocating gun rights.

That single clause moves New Hampshire from a shall-issue state to a may-issue state. Currently, the issuing authority can only deny a license to a person that is not allowed to own firearms under state or federal law, essentially only convicted felons and domestic abusers. SB 44 opens the licensing process up to the sometimes misguided whims of local police officers. A personal vendetta or even a lack of belief in gun rights could lead the issuing authority to deny a license to an otherwise able person.

Under current law there is a pretty good accountability system if the issuing authority abuses their power and does not issue a license when they should have. A person can sue the issuing officer and the entity they are associated with. So the police chief is more likely to behave himself if he knows that he is personally liable. The officer would be held accountable for his actions and could be forced to pay the attorney's fees of the disgruntled party. The burden of proof for denying a concealed carry license is on the issuing authority, and they can be forced to pay attorney's fees if they knowingly broke the law.

Now to the part they changed with this bill. The sponsors first strike the reference to officers being personally liable. They then up the ante on when attorney's fees can be awarded: from a knowing violation to gross negligence or malice. Much of the accountability is removed from the government. Let me quote a section of Article 8 of the New Hampshire Constitution: "Government, therefore, should be open, accessible, accountable and responsive."

I don't think they could have conceived a more horrible bill (save banning guns outright). If passed, abuse of authority would be much easier. We need to protect Article 2-a of the New Hampshire Constitution: " All persons have the right to keep and bear arms in defense of themselves, their families, their property and the state." One of the best ways to properly defend yourself with firearms is through concealed carry of a handgun.

Please contact your Representatives and Senators and tell them NO on SB 44!

In Libertate,
Tyler

Ron Paul for President - Part Deux

Congressman Ron Paul was in New Hampshire this weekend. He made many stops, including one in Pembroke that I was able to attend. The stop in Derry is covered Here, and the story from the Liberty Forum is included Here.

In my earlier post, I mentioned that Dr. Paul is considered a "second-tier" candidate. Well, I ask all you non-believers, skeptics, and reporters: does an unknown candidate get over 150 people to come to one party, and about 350 to come to a speech? How about raising $14,000 in one trip (more still coming, send your support funds)? Now I know $14,000 might not sound like a big number compared to the big-shot candidates, but remember he got crowds in the hundreds. It should go to show that he does in fact have supporters. Maybe if he gets more attention we can expect bigger donations.

He is a win-win for both Democrats and Republicans. The Iraq War has become unpopular among most people; Dr. Paul has been against the War from its outset. Low taxes and a sound monetary policy should be welcomed by all; Dr. Paul is the premier advocate in Washington for both of those. If you want a strong national defense and more of your hard earned money then Dr. Paul is your candidate.

Remember to visit his Exploratory Committee website. Do all you can to support the best candidate around!

In Libertate,
Tyler

Education Adequacy Forum

I went to the Forum at Plymouth High School on Monday night to discuss Adequacy in Education. The Supreme Court has mandated, in their latest Londonderry case, that the Legislature must define an "adequate" education by July 1st of this year. Thus, this Task Force has been established to figure out just what an adequate education is.

I would say that a majority of the speakers conceded that a one-size-fits-all education is not desirable. Most also brought up the point that the definition of an adequate education is entirely subjective.

Also, as the coordinators of this forum stated, these meetings are about defining adequacy and not about how to fund it. This is typical. The legislators on the Task Force know that to fund an adequate education it will take a sales or income tax. They also know that everyone is opposed to both of those options. So their solution: 'Let's not talk about it then'.

But, it is ridiculous not to attach a cost to adequacy while defining it. First of all, it was mandated by the Court in Claremont and reiterated in Londonderry that the state must define adequacy and also fund it. And if price isn't made a factor then what is to prevent a gross over-spending? They could very well vote to define adequate as giving every child their own tutor, a personal laptop, and a limousine. That sounds outlandish, but something equally costly could come if they don't talk about funding it also.

Enough of the digression. I chose to address the Task Force because I have deep convictions about education, given my personal experience. In short, I urged this group to adopt a constitutional amendment in order to prevent centralization of our traditionally decentralized education system, and to also consider a plan for adopting a school choice program. I have the unique experience of having gone through two years at public high school and two at a private high school. I have a seen a world of difference. The private school has an environment that is more conducive to my learning. I only think it reasonable to give all children that option via school choice, such as vouchers. The competition will only serve to raise students' scores.

You can go Here to watch video coverage of the various forums. You can see me speak by clicking on the Plymouth link; I start speaking about halfway through.

I also urge you to check out The New Hampshire Advantage Coalition and School Choice NH. It's only sensible to allow parents to choose the school that is best for their child. And who knows, maybe school choice (and telling the Supreme Court to back off) could prevent a sales or income tax and save the NH Advantage.

In Libertate,
Tyler

Ron Paul for President!

United States Congressman Ron Paul (R-TX) is in the crowded hunt for the GOP presidential nomination. Many would say that Dr. Paul is a relative "unknown" or "second-tier" candidate. I would say, in the area of name recognition, that he does have a slight disadvantage. In the area of ideas, however, he is well ahead of the many current candidates.

Dr. Paul is the premier advocate for Constitutionally limited government in Congress. He has made a habit of only voting for legislation that involves a power specifically delegated to Congress. He has rightfully been given the nickname of "Dr. No" for his frequent 'No' votes. For example, he voted against the No Child Left Behind Act on that grounds that Congress has no Constitutional power to be involved in education.

Against the war in Iraq? Worried that you are losing too many civil liberties in the Global War on Terror? Dr. Paul agrees with you. He has voted against the Iraq War from the outset and has consistently broken from his party to vote against the Patriot Act.

Personally, economic issues are more my cup of tea. I am genuinely concerned with our inflationary central banking system and ever-rising taxes. The good news is that Dr. Paul is a true fiscal conservative. The National Taxpayer's Union has rated him as either the number 1 or 2 in all of Congress since his return in 1997. I guess that's where he gets his other nickname: The Taxpayer's Best Friend. Dr. Paul supports the repeal of the unconstitutional Federal Reserve and the return to sound monetary policy via a gold standard.

Dr. Paul will be in New Hampshire a few times in the near future. The closest date is next Saturday night! Click Here for more info on this particular event.

And for more info on Dr. Ron Paul you can go Here, Here, or Here.

Remember, whether you are a Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, or Green: Vote Ron Paul in '08!!!

In Libertate,
Tyler

Sorry for the Wait

I would like to post a lot more than I have. The reason I haven't had a post since mid-December is because I had shoulder surgery right before Christmas. I couldn't really type that well for the past few weeks so I have just put off posting until now.

I wanted to put a few updates in here. I posted earlier that I had applied for a concealed carry license. Well, I got the license after 14 days of waiting. And to make things better, just a few days before I got the license I got my first pistol. So now I actually have a gun to carry!

The Plymouth Liberty Network is still in the formation stage. Our website is still in the making, but it is looking more complete by the day. Check out the site -- http://plymouthliberty.org. We will be having a meeting within the next two weeks so check back for updates.

And finally, the legislative session is starting up and there will be lots of bills to look over and contact our reps about. I will post some big bills on here and add my own commentary on them. I would like to post info for local reps and senators so that people might find it easier to become involved.

In Libertate,
Tyler