RichmondLiberty.org

by Robert Russo

Some video coverage of Tuesday night's Norfolk City Council meeting over the abuse of citizens by police in that city is now available at http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=131335&ran=238394, and audio at http://www.vcdl.org/Norfolk/NorfolkCityCouncil082907.mp3. VCDL says full video is pending. This hearing was attended by approximately 100 VCDL members who came in force to protest a history of rights abuses and manhandling of open carry gun owners by police in public places, many of them physical and humiliating confrontations in ignorance of state laws. There were also many non-gun owners reporting police neglect and brutality in general, standing almost unanimously when those supporting the complainants were asked to rise.* According to VCDL's coverage, the council members were scowling and silent for nearly the entire process and left the room "in a flash" the moment the speeches were over (with the exception of one known opponent who walked out as soon as the first speaker began).**

I have watched the responses to this story from both sides, every one of them subjective. Every news article in which someone with a gun on their hip was involved begins with that being the news (because wearing guns like cowboys isn't normal). The actual subject of the hearing, police abuse (including the threatening of kids for loitering on their own front porches, and arresting them on "disorderly conduct" for not providing their social security number)*, was omitted; you have to go to a VCDL member's blog to read about it. Likewise I'm sure anyone who has read VA-ALERT knows they are wholeheartedly, admittedly one-sided in their cause as well. (For example they would never report that European nations with severe gun restrictions have a much lower crime rate, they would dismiss it as not useful to the cause. Unfortunately the Norfolk resident who posted this info to the Virginian-Pilot begins by calling them "gun nuts", so whatever truth in that is lost.)*** Objectivity is hard to find in the gun debate.

One councilman admits "We made a mistake. It was unintentional.".*** So from their perspective this was a courtesy hearing for the victims of renegade/ignorant police misreading the law, albeit a courtesy with such reluctance that it seems to have pained the council to be present for it, their admission seems minimal considering the crimes, and if this weren't indisputably illegal there would probably be no response and no hearing. All because they don't like the fact that open carry is legal in this state. Virginia is split on many such issues and those rifts blind people from what is right in front of them. The future of a debate is irrelevant in respecting existing law.

Abuse comes from oversight, and therein lies the biggest problem. There just aren't enough carriers visible out there for most Virginians to even know they exist, especially those who come from other states. These arrests at shopping malls are treated like first-time incidents, as if this were the first generation of gun-carrying citizens. I myself first saw a friend carrying a handgun about five years ago, and although I wasn't offended, I thought "why does he have a gun?". It's the same reason homeschoolers have to educate the school board on its own education laws, and people who can't wear seatbelts have to lobby against checkpoints, and people who keep exotic pets are evicted. These minorities have always existed and just want to be left alone. Hunting is so commonplace that it's an issue in gubernatorial debates and the NRA moves political foothills, but handguns in public are not. Someone planning a county fair is just not going to consider it unless they are a gun owner themselves, and the burden is on them to tell cops not to panic. (If everyone owned a gun it would be the other way around.) Technology is shrinking our world, lifestyles of rural self-sufficiency and domestic dependency that were once separate are now colliding.

None of this is an excuse however for law enforcement professionals to be unaware. In a democracy the minority always loses, which is why laws can't hope to be omniscient and absolute. Lawmakers wouldn't have to consider so many avenues and niches if they just stopped trying to run everything. A more immediate solution is those who work hard to educate the public, which leads into my question of the week. This article has not yet posted to the VCDL archives, but you can read more by subscribing to VA-ALERT or an even better account at http://sailorcurt.blogspot.com/2007/08/norfolk-city-council-meeting.html.

* http://sailorcurt.blogspot.com/2007/08/norfolk-city-council-meeting.html
**http://www2.vcdl.org/cgi-bin/wspd_cgi.sh/vcdl/vaarchive.html
***http://content.hamptonroads.com/story.cfm?story=131335&ran=238394

Question of the Week: When high-stakes issues like the unlawful arrest of gun-owners occur, what kind of coverage do you prefer? Is objective assessment of both sides a breath of fresh air, or does it distract from the fact that people were hurt by these crimes and we need to fight this tooth and nail? Send your thoughts to russo@richmondliberty.org.

If you have topics of interest to Libertarians please let us know. We welcome your input!

Posted by Robert Russo at 04:03 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This past Saturday (Aug 25) supporters of George Marchenko held a rally. More are planned before the election. Stay tuned for further details.

Photo Highlights:
http://www.richmondliberty.org/gallery/v/20070825marchenko/

Posted by Leonard Harris at 06:38 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From the National Taxpayers Union

(Alexandria, VA) -- "Don't you dare!" That's the defiant stance of 56 citizen groups representing millions of Americans toward proposals to increase the federal excise tax on gasoline. The coalition, which was organized by the 362,000-member National Taxpayers Union (NTU), delivered its message in an open letter sent today to Congress and the President.

"Proponents of a federal gas tax increase insist that few would even notice the change in their fuel bills," the letter stated. "In reality, a 5 cent-per-gallon jump would ... cost American motorists an estimated $25 billion over the next three years. Combined with state gas taxes, many motorists would pay over $7.50 in taxes for the average fill-up. This is a substantial burden on families ..."

The letter is a response to policymakers who, following the bridge tragedy in Minnesota, sought to exploit the opportunity to press for higher federal fuel taxes. House Transportation Committee Chair James Oberstar, for example, has discussed a plan to increase the gasoline tax "temporarily" by 5 cents per gallon. The groups gave several reasons to oppose such schemes:

* Lack of money is not the problem. The 5-year Highway Bill enacted in 2005 represented a 42 percent spending increase over its predecessor, and contained over $20 billion in "earmarked" funds for parochial projects. The Fiscal Year 2008 Transportation Appropriations Bill continues this trend, with more than $2.2 billion in earmarks. Ironically, these two bills alone are laden with earmarked funding whose total would approach the revenue amount lawmakers now seek from a gas tax hike.
* "Temporary" fuel taxes tend to take on lives of their own. The 5-cent-per-gallon increase backed by President George H.W. Bush 17 years ago has yet to vanish as originally intended. The 4.3-cent-per-gallon hike that President Bill Clinton signed into law 14 years ago was billed as a deficit reduction measure, but was later "re-purposed" to other programs once budget shortfalls began to taper off.
* High energy costs make a gas tax hike especially difficult for families and small businesses to make ends meet.

The diverse list of signatories to the statement includes the National Grange, the Family Research Council, the Log Cabin Republicans, and the Islamic Free Market Institute. In addition to national-level citizen groups such as NTU, Americans for Prosperity, and the Council for Citizens Against Government Waste, grassroots organizations from over 20 states gave their endorsement to the open letter. Those groups hailed from California to Iowa to Virginia, and points in between.

"Instead of resorting so readily to tax hikes, Congress and the Executive Branch should conduct a review to determine which transportation projects are really worth funding and which are unnecessary," the letter concluded. "Elected officials should not be feeding more revenues into the gears of an ever-faster spending machine, and we urge you to oppose any federal gas tax hike."

NTU is a non-partisan citizen group founded in 1969 to work for lower taxes and smaller government. Note: The text of the open letter and a list of signatories are available at www.ntu.org.

Related Link:
An Open Letter to the President and Congress: http://www.ntu.org/main/letters_detail.php?letter_id=530

Posted by Leonard Harris at 06:20 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

As usual, the Patrick Henry Supper Club will meet on the first Tuesday of the month (Sept 4, 2007). Please join us to hear what individuals at the forefront of the freedom movement are doing.

Time: 6pm dinner, 7pm main event
Location: Eastern Buffet
7586 W. Broad St. Richmond, VA 23294
(in Merchants Walk Shopping Center)

Posted by Leonard Harris at 06:10 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Matt Martin needs your help. He needs to contact all 40,000 voters of the Brookland district before Election Day. Every day he needs volunteers to distribute literature door-to-door. If you can spend an hour or two after work or during the weekend please contact info@matthewtmartin.com

Also if you live in or near the Brookland district please put a yard sign in your yard. For a yard sign, contact info@matthewtmartin.com.

Posted by Leonard Harris at 06:05 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Volunteers are needed for the Glen Allen Day parade at 9 AM on Saturday, Sept. 15. We've got two great Libertarian candidates running in the area and they need a good showing in the parade.

Please come and show your support. All Matt Martin supporters who participate in the parade will get a free t-shirt.

The LP of Henrico also has an info table in the park. Volunteers are needed to man the two shifts (11-1:30, and 1:30-4:00).

Glen Allen Day is held in Crump Park. The Parade starts on Mountain Rd at John Cussons Drive.

For more information about Glen Allen Day visit www.glenallenruritan.org.

If you plan on participating please contact henrico@richmondliberty.org.

See you there!

Related links:
Matt Martin for Brookland District Supervisor - http://www.matthewtmartin.com
George Marchenko for Tuckahoe Supervisor - http://www.marchenko.com

Posted by Robert Russo at 08:36 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

This Thursday, August 30 will be an important public meeting at the Tuckahoe library, 7-8:30 PM. George Marchenko and Matt Martin are scheduled to speak about their campaigns. The event is open to the public. A good turnout is needed at this event so bring your friends! A dinner outing will follow.

Posted by Robert Russo at 08:30 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

by Robert Russo

History judges civilizations by their ruling class, because they are the recorders of events and choose which posterity will be passed down. Archaeology judges people equally much like the ground itself, a slave quarter, brothel or forgotten evidence of genocide yielding as much information as Tutankhamen's tomb. It would be even more accurate to say attention is not paid to any group or issue until that group itself is in charge, replacing the old aristocracy. When Mark Twain traveled the world he was shocked at the slavery and brutality in other cultures, seeing them through the eyes of their lowest members. This is how to judge a society. What is behind the scenes, who are the nonentities, if citizenship must be earned then where are the non-citizens? I was irked to read yesterday's news story "Runaway Gets on Flight Without Problem". Considering how many teenagers think about running away from home and how often this escape is dramatized, I would think there is a runaway for every dysfunctional home and abusive parent out there. Look at the number of kidnappings publicized, some of them in broad daylight. How do these people travel, by underground railroad? I don't want to live in a country where one minor's success in booking a flight is a national headline. There is no group to which I intentionally belong that so glories in our control that no lower person can escape from "us".

A 15-year-old Alaska girl bought an airline ticket to be with her boyfriend in NC. She "hadn't asked her parents' permission to fly", which as a reader makes me respond "so what?", and the article has a poll on who is more to blame, her parents or the airline.* Blame implies that a crime has been committed. Her parents are stunned that she was not stopped at the ticket counter, and why would she be? 15-year-olds are physically adults. There is no age requirement to buy airline tickets and Alaska Airlines allows minors to fly by themselves, so the parents are demanding a change in policy. Although they describe their family life glowingly they are pressing charges against their own daughter and sent her to a juvenile detention center, citing it "a form of tough love".*

In a laissez-faire society there is no subordination, no delegation and no dominion of one person over another. The community is consensual as any club or neighborhood where joining is a choice. Being born is not a choice and therefore the ultimate ticket to a life of servitude; people creating each other for their own purposes. Policy or "tough love" is whatever those in power choose to call what they want to do. We don't get to choose the minds and bodies of our children however so they are oblivious to these politics. They aren't obligated at birth to follow any of the dogma of their predecessors, so it is ingrained either by the carrot or the stick.

Many people are surprised at the lifestyle within a commune or other closed community where there is no public perception (i.e. children running around naked, being nursed after infancy, fed by hand etc.) or even an individual who cares nothing of perception (a messy house), just as some are astounded by gated communities where perception is everything (yard ordnances, servants etc.). So the maintenance of every front comes with an equal hindside. The grander the showroom the bigger the warehouse, the more beautiful the garden the harder the labor, the more picturesque a society the more destitute its unseen masses. The concept of a minor is part of this maintenance, no one considers it until it goes too far like the eugenics horrors and racial segregation of a generation ago.

Anyone who says they support laissez-faire or equality must face the issues where there is still inequality, that people consider an exception. The reason a minor overstepping her rights is newsworthy is because every parent sees a potential threat to their own authority. Even minors themselves cooperate with the system at its worst because one day they will have their own ticket to absolute authority, just as grunts in the business world don't want to end the using, they want to become the users. How many so-called libertarians and social anarchists would be willing to give up their parental authority? It is the closest personal monopoly, a non-issue, a taboo. Hopefully its mention will anger some readers into revealing themselves, stating how young people foolishly leaping into the unknown could suffer the rest of their lives from a rush decision they weren't ready for, and that everyone would do so at their peril if there was no period of guidance, preparation and supervision. Then I will ask "so if there was a misprint and the girl is 18 instead of 15 her decision suddenly becomes enlightened and acceptable?". Will the boyfriend awaiting her feel more inclined to be dependable? Will her parents care less and not send her to jail, or will they be locked up themselves for detaining an adult?

All libertarians know that any dark corner of our society where the Constitution is waived will eventually be exploited into the rest of adult life. The guise of education is the biggest, "no one is too old to learn" (no one is too old to be treated like a student instead of a citizen, following instruction to earn paper merits all their life). If an airline changes its policy of letting young people go uncarded then everyone who boards will be treated like children. This story can be read at http://news.aol.com/story/_a/runaway-gets-on-flight-without-problem/20070821172309990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001.

*http://news.aol.com/story/_a/runaway-gets-on-flight-without-problem/20070821172309990001?ncid=NWS00010000000001

Question of the Week: What is an underage libertarian's best option and alternative to suicide in the most stifling and brutal households? Should there be an underground for harboring runaways until they turn 18? If you had to be a youth again would you endure the wait a second time or live like there was no tomorrow? Send your thoughts to henrico@richmondliberty.org.

If you have topics of interest to Libertarians please let us know. We welcome your input!

Posted by Robert Russo at 02:01 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

George Marchenko is having a campaign cookout at Deep Run Park Saturday August 25 11AM-2PM.

Related Links:
http://www.co.henrico.va.us/rec/Park_Maps/Deep_Run_Park.pdf

Posted by Leonard Harris at 07:13 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Another zoning lawsuit between developer and public
http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-08-20-0095.html

The Ashland Town Council may vote tomorrow on a proposed 101-acre development, which will include 200+ homes and a shopping mall. Last month's public hearing drew 100% public opposition. As always, the choice is between the community and a single developer looking to fill his pocket, all he can offer the council is to write a check. Will every unclaimed piece of ground in Virginia have the same fate? How many developers are out there marking up our state?

Reminder- The public hearing for the Branner Station superdivision was supposedly postponed to tomorrow at the Chesterfield County courts building due to the weather, although it is not marked on the agenda.

Posted by Robert Russo at 11:27 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

RICHMOND – In a news conference held on August 14th Tuesday in the Virginia Capitol, the 2007 Transportation Bill came under heavy criticism for being fundamentally flawed as transportation policy, constitutionally flawed as legislation, and stunningly inept as a political strategy going into an election. The bill, passed with bipartisan support in the General Assembly, has received bipartisan disapproval at the grassroots level. An on-line petition has now collected more than 171,000 signatures of citizens who demand the repeal of “abusive driver fees” and who pledge not to vote for “any Delegate or State Senator who voted for this bill, or for any Delegate or Senator who does not take action to repeal the sections of House Bill 3202 that inflict these exorbitant and unjust penalties.”

However, more than just the abusive driver fees component of the legislation came under fire at the news conference. “In a dishonest attempt to fool the voters of Virginia into thinking that they were not raising taxes, our legislators passed one of the worst pieces of legislation in Virginia’s history. This contorted bill is a massive tax increase that will not pass constitutional muster,” said Paul Jost, chairman of the Virginia Club for Growth. “It is time for new leadership in both houses of the General Assembly,” he added.

Also rejecting the tax increases contained within HB 3202, Robert Dean, the cofounder and communications director of the Virginia Beach Taxpayer Alliance, stated, “HB 3202 penalizes folks who buy or build a home close to work with a grantors tax – an additional 40 cents per $100 – which, on the sale of an average Virginia Beach home, will cost the seller $1,800.” Dean concluded, “In a legislature in which the majority party is completely unable to field a leadership team, the Republicans are reduced to relying on more spending and higher taxes as the universal answer to every problem.”

Patrick McSweeney of the Richmond law firm McSweeney, Crump, Childress & Gould, P.C. participated at the news conference to explain the legal bases for the constitutional challenge to the 2007 omnibus transportation legislation that his firm filed in the Circuit Court of the City of Richmond. McSweeney outlined the claims in the lawsuit that the legislation violated the provisions in the Virginia Constitution 1) limiting all statues to a single subject, 2) prohibiting the delegation of taxing power to regional authorities, 3) prohibiting the exaction of impact fees that are not tied to the impact of a new development, 4) prohibiting the issuance of either state or regional tax-supported bonds without voter approval and 5) barring the assessment of civil redial fees that are actually fines as a violation of the due process, double jeopardy, and excessive fines clauses and as a violation of the requirement of the provision that fines be paid into the Literary Fund. Some of the claims are also based on the United States Constitution.

Criticizing the Commonwealth of Virginia’s transportation policy for lacking any coherent goal or objective, Dr. Ron Utt, a senior research fellow with The Heritage Foundation, asserted, “What we need is not more money for transportation in the commonwealth, but a performanced-based Virginia Department of Transportation that utilizes quantitative measures of congestion relief and safety based upon the application of cost/benefit analysis to prioritize projects as well as to guide investment among alternative modes of travel.”

Wrapping up the news conference, John Taylor, president of Tertium Quids and host of the Tuesday Morning Group coalition, reacted to comments made last week by a Republican leader in the House of Delegates who said that the citizens voicing opposition to the Transportation Bill are the same anti-tax folks who oppose all progress. “My goodness. In the last five years the federal budget has grown by a trillion dollars. In the last decade the Virginia budget has grown by 120 percent. In communities across the commonwealth, property taxes are growing by double-digit percentages. And yet, despite this explosion in spending and taxing, according to Virginia’s politicians the problem is that we do not have enough layers of government, we do not have enough layers of taxation, and we do not have enough unelected taxing authorities,” responded Taylor. “The 2007 Transportation Bill is fatally flawed for any number of reasons. It needs to be scrapped and we need to start again with the understanding that our first transportation priority in Virginia is congestion relief,” concluded Taylor.

Posted by Leonard Harris at 06:51 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

The 24th Annual Carytown Watermelon Festival was held this past Sunday.

The Liberty tent was at its usual location at Cary and Nansemond.

Big thanks to Jon Walker for organizing the Liberty Tent.

Volunteers:
Tony Arjona
Bob Russo

Photo Hightlights:
http://www.richmondliberty.org/gallery/v/20070812watermelon/

Posted by Leonard Harris at 07:46 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AFfdB5OzlyQ

Posted by David Lively at 02:56 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

Sorry about the financial slavery we’ve sold the country into for the next 2 generations

http://www.gao.gov/media/video/fiscal/windows/amfiscal.wmv

Posted by David Lively at 02:46 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

http://www.washingtontimes.com/article/20070813/METRO/108130057&SearchID=73290232056579

Posted by Robert Russo at 08:55 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From VCDL's VA-ALERT:

I was **disgusted** with the blatant manipulation of government last
night at the Goochland County Board of Supervisor's (BoS) meeting!

Around 30 gun owners stayed until 11:30 PM to speak against the
County interfering with the creation of a new sporting clays range in
the middle of a *600* acre hunting preserve (the largest in Virginia)!

The County Attorney was the driving force pushing the BoS to vote to
reinstate Conditional Use permits for commercial shooting ranges.

The County Attorney shamelessly used the Boy Scouts as his excuse to
get this ordinance rammed forward. The Boy Scouts, who are holding a
fund raiser in October, have NEVER had to get a "Conditional Use"
permit in the past for the event that they have held for over 20
years. But suddenly they MUST have one and need it NOW.

The Boy Scouts were nothing but a pawn to pressure the BoS into
putting the ordinance in place immediately.

It worked, unfortunately. The BoS voted to reinstate the ordinance,
even though the County's own Zoning Board asked the BoS not to do so!
:-(

HOWEVER, there is a silver lining. Some supervisors would only
support the ordinance if it it NO WAY interfered with the legal case
that shooting preserve owner, Andrew Dykers, has going right now.
The County Attorney said publicly several times that Mr. Dyker's case
would NOT be affected by the ordinance, as Mr. Dyker's case was
already in the works.

That clarification came as a shock to those in the audience who are
opposing the range! They were clearly hoping this would derail Mr.
Dyker's legal fight, forcing Andrew to apply for a Conditional
Permit, which would then be denied as it had in the past.

Mr. Dyker's legal case is strong and the other side (including the
County Attorney) knows it. They are desperately trying to stop it.

We need to contact the BoS to let them know that we expect them to
make sure that the reinstated ordinance in NO way interferes with Mr.
Dyker's case. We also need to urge them to modify the ordinance to
clarify that the ordinance only applies to *commercial* ranges and
not private ranges.

Suggest message:

--

Dear Goochland Board of Supervisor member:

The County Attorney promised that the "Conditional Use" requirement
for commercial shooting ranges that was reinstated Tuesday night
would NOT affect Mr. Andrew Dyker's legal case dealing with a
sporting clays range on the Oropax property.

I expect the Board of Supervisors to honor that promise.

Also, the ordinance needs to be changed to clarify that the ordinance
ONLY applies to COMMERCIAL shooting ranges. As currently written,
that is NOT clear.

Please let me know what you are going to do.

Sincerely,
[YOUR NAME]
[YOUR ADDRESS]

--

Email addresses for BoS and their phone numbers:

District 1
Andrew W. Pryor
(804) 457-4177
apryor@co.goochland.va.us

District 2
William E. Quarles, Jr.
(804) 556-2927
wquarles@co.goochland.va.us

District 3
Joseph T. Lacy, Jr.
(804) 556-4836
jlacy@co.goochland.va.us

District 4
Malvern R. Butler
(804) 784-4241
mbutler@co.goochland.va.us

District 5
James W. Eads
(804) 784-3944
jeads@co.goochland.va.us

Posted by Leonard Harris at 05:39 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

by Robert Russo

The easiest political issues to discuss are those that affect someone else, but in this age of government intrusion every voter has an issue that has smited them personally. As a law firm might say, personal injury is devastating. It is no longer a matter of debate or upholding a process. It is extremely difficult to speak in a civil tone that treats injustice with consideration, gives allowance to criminals or pretends that the subject is not painful. For some this issue is a president who sent their sons overseas to die, for others it is the Patriot Act, abortion or immigration, but what angers me above all topics is discrimination based on appearance; how much we weigh, how old we look, how we dress etc. The Indiana-based medical company Clarian has drawn national attention by vowing to dock pay from "unfit" employees, $5 per pay period for smoking, $10 for being fat, and $5 each for high blood pressure, high blood sugar and high cholesterol, for a total of $780 a year.*

In the biblical story Daniel and his friends Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego introduce vegetarianism to the court of Babylon and become healthier than the king's own warriors.** Since this innocence is how Clarian views its decision let's consider their perspective. A medical care provider should take notice of the health of it's own employees, as should any employer. It is also good business, as Noah Oppenheim of MSNBC writes "...they pick up a chunk of the bill for their employees' health care. The healthier their workers, the less that care costs... So, the triathlete in accounting who never needs a doctor pays the same monthly premiums as an obese diabetic who visits a hospital every month. The more obese diabetics, the more those premiums go up for everyone."* So now the company is acting on behalf of its healthy employees to keep them from being disadvantaged. This sounds exactly like what an honest, upstanding corporation that cares about its workers would do, except that it doesn't. Employees who care about each other might do likewise, but they don't. This is the 21st century. State parks shouldn't cut down their own trees, but they do. Hospitals let patients die on the floor and refuse to treat the uninsured.***

The truth is the consensus on what constitutes "health" doesn't exist, the myriad approaches and methods have simply been taken over by a single competitor, the "whoever lives longest wins" philosophy, the strive for physical perfection. This is the same monopoly that has nearly destroyed holistic medicine and other alternative practices (which is why international healers who are respected around the world find their lecture circuits halted in this country because it treats them like shamans). Companies are a similar monopoly. A doctrine that judges health by physical appearance is profitable, and incites discrimination. Large people are diagnosed on sight as unhealthy because they are considered unattractive. People in other demographic groups can't accept their appearance, and don't want them in the workplace. (The current hype is to equate people's weight with diabetes. Prognosing the entire public with diabetes would be a huge moneymaker, since everyone's blood sugar fluctuates. I predict mood swings, compatibility etc. will be attributed to it in the future, but why stop there? Employees could be hired and promoted based on health projected at birth from their DNA like in the movie Gattaca.)

Oppenheim says "I have no problem helping to pay for the care of a colleague who discovers they have breast cancer. Such ailments are outside our control... Choosing to smoke or over-eat is everyone’s personal prerogative."* Assuming people are lazy overeaters is not medical, educated or newsworthy. Clarian president Daniel Evans said on the Today show "If one diabetic improves their health it will save us and the individual thousands of dollars a year"*. Obviously a "true" Type I diabetic who has that illness for life is not saving anyone a dime, he is talking about weight appearance and judgment. A single group is being targeted by members of a different demographic group based on their physical appearance, and that by definition is discrimination. People prefer to work among members of their own lifestyle, religion, race, wherever they can draw a line.

The claim that unhealthy people are a financial burden on their healthier neighbors and coworkers because of insurance is an illusion manipulated by those who decide insurance premiums and company policies. A parent can teach their children to share by saying if one child takes two cookies the other gets none, because he holds the cookie jar. It is classic manipulation to draw people's attention toward each other and away from the decision-makers.

This is not to naysay all mainstream medicine, only to acknowledge it is no different from mainstream politics. Anyone can spout facts to support their political purposes because it is that purpose that drives the research to back it. (One poster asks "So what about someone that is anorexic?")* Many citizens are starved for mental and social tolerance and acceptance. I myself fall under the category of someone who "never needs a doctor", I have zero allergies and a lightning metabolism, but I'm not bothered that other people aren’t this way. Just as it shocks people to hear entertainers like Louis Armstrong, Josephine Baker and Nat King Cole grew up with racial injustice, it disturbs me to know the beautiful plus-sized models we see in magazines were abused from childhood to the present day, every one of them. Many are employed in the field of nursing.

Clarian is giving its workers till 2009, just a year and a half, to amend their lifestyles. At least those who can't meet the requirements due to a diagnosed medical condition will be exempt,**** which hopefully is a loophole they all can fit through, but having a diagnosed illness when one works for a medical facility makes it a two-edged sword. "The ultimate goal isn’t to collect more money.” Clarian attests, “The ultimate goal is to create a healthier population."*****, and they are right. Adopting a lifestyle or culture that is taking over society is profitable in a way no pay cuts could match. A religion-like initiative of many companies working together to convert people. It is the reason McDonald's suddenly became the number one buyer of apples in the nation.****** There is no price too high for the belief that one is on the winning team. The presidential debates and all other political competitions have adopted the Highlander philosophy, "in the end there can be only one".******* Greed erases diversity and democracy. Matt Lauer's response, "You can turn health care into a police state.".***** This issue and public responses can be read at http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/10/312031.aspx and http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/20212332/.

*http://allday.msnbc.msn.com/archive/2007/08/10/312031.aspx
**http://www.biblebb.com/files/pniv/MISHAEL.TXT
***http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-calls13jun13,0,3172164.story?coll=la-home-local
****http://www.wthr.com/Global/story.asp?S=6916548&nav=9Tai
*****http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/20212332/
******http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,155244,00.html
*******http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Highlander_(film)

Question of the Week: How would you feel if you were fined for being a smoker, being overweight or having diabetes? When this happens to people do you put yourself in their shoes, or see them as a separate group that may be affecting your own freedoms? Send your opinions to henrico@richmondliberty.org.

If you have topics of interest to Libertarians please let us know. We welcome your input!

Posted by Robert Russo at 12:07 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

You can now add RichmondLiberty to your iGoogle page or your Google Reader. Just click the "Add to Google" button on the lower left of the front page.

RSS and Atom Feeds are a much more reliable than email for delivering content. We of course will continue email updates. However spam and the response to spam have made email down right unreliable. We will continue to look for other ways to get you information. If you have suggestions or comments, please send them to info@richmondliberty.org or use our feedback form

Posted by Leonard Harris at 07:47 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

We are looking for volunteers for the Libertarian table at the Cary Street Watermelon Festival for Sunday, August 12. We will be spreading the word from 7:30 to 3pm. Drinks will be provided for workers courtesy of the Richmond Libertarian Party.

The Liberty Tent will be set up at the corner of Cary and Nansemond.

Please contact Jon Walker at 804-440-0777 to volunteer for a two hour shift. Your help will make a difference!

Posted by Jon Walker at 11:56 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

by Robert Russo

The Times-Dispatch reports yesterday and today that in response to the Richmond school board's frivolous lawsuit against Mayor Wilder earlier this year and the tax money it wasted, some 26 "business and academic leaders" politically allied to the mayor have signed a petition to abolish the electoral process within the school system. The motives behind this retribution are revealed in the statement "The School Board proposes a budget, yet has no control over raising revenues and, as we have learned recently, has no control over when they will receive their operating funds during the course of the fiscal year."*

As is always the case, the last vestige of democracy in an institution is objected to because elections just don't appoint enough like-minded leaders. "We believe a fundamental flaw exists in the governance structure..." the letter puts it.* Instead of using the democratic process to break up a corrupt and self-serving club (i.e. by backing candidates like Keith West who opposed the suit), the city of Richmond wants to make it part of their own bigger club. If the issue is money, at least change the policy before expelling democracy.

This change would require amending the city's charter at next year's general assembly. If successful the new board will be appointed by the City Council after a review of each candidate by a nominating committee. All such proposals are made under the illusion that this will erase political motives in the name of productivity, when in reality all nominees will be chosen based on their affinity to one political bent, that of the winning side. This is the same tune that monopolized the school board in the first place, "I'm in the majority, you're in the majority, all God's chillins are in the majority".

No fresh, alternative candidate with the public on his side would ever hold a seat again (or anyone who doesn't bend over for these appointers). Like the brainwashed student who grows to become the disciplinarian adult, the victims of this backward institution have become the victimizers. The school board's ambitiions have been turned back upon them (not that they don't deserve it, but please leave the public out of it). Only through elections is there hope of finally curing the system, and make our leaders sing the cooperative tune they're supposed to, "There ain't no good guy, there ain't no bad guy, there's only you and me and we just disagree.".**

If a feud between two branches of local government not content with the powers the city charter allows them results in the law being changed to erase one of those branches, how soon will this occur at the national level when the President or congress is no longer satisfied with the constitution? Please appeal to Mayor Wilder to resist this gilded temptation by his constituents, and not let a political vendetta erase any chance of curing the school system. This issue can be read at http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-08-06-0207.html and http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-08-07-0129.html.

*http://www.timesdispatch.com/cva/ric/news.apx.-content-articles-RTD-2007-08-06-0207.html
**http://www.rhapsody.com/davemason/thebestofdavemasonlonglostfriend/wejustdisagree/lyrics.html

Posted by Robert Russo at 09:49 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From ISIL:

Dear Virginia Libertarians,

An exciting, unique libertarian event is about to occur in your own

back yard. The 26th annual World Libertarian Conference of the
International Society for Individual Liberty is being held August
11th-15th in Williamsburg. The first ISIL event to be held in the
United States since San Francisco in 1990, this presents a unique
opportunity to you to be able to meet libertarians from around the
world without the cost of an overseas plane trip.

The conference theme is "The Re-founding of America". There are
three major components of the program:

(1) Celebration of the 400th anniversary of the founding of
Jamestown, plus several presentations on the colonial era.
Conference co-host Dick Cheatham of Living History Associates in
Richmond will perform as John Rolfe and Bill Barket will perform
his famous "The Life of Thomas Jefferson".

(2) Presentations on key problems facing us today in America, and
innovative solutions.

(3) Input from international libertarians on their progress. We
have speakers and other participants from Canada, Mexico, Sweden,
Holland, France, Romania, Africa, and Australia (possibly more
pending visa clearances).

In addition, we have provided scholarships to numerous libertarian
students. We hope to energize the student movement in America as a

result of this conference. Dr. James W. Lark III of the University

of Virginia (and former USLP National Chair) will lead a session on

campus organizing. Scholarships at our overseas conferences have
led to the creation or expansion of freedom organizations and
publications in dozens of countries.

We hope you can make it to this memorable conference, and get to
meet a fascinating international collection of freedom-lovers!

Details (including event and day rates for locals) are on the World

Conference page at http://www.isil.org.

PS: Even if you cannot make it to Williamsburg, we encourage you
to check around the ISIL site on our other publications and
activities. And please consider lending us your support!

Yours in liberty,

Vince Miller,
President, ISIL

International Society for Individual Liberty
836-B Southampton Rd. #299
Benicia, CA 94510-1960

Tel: +707-746-8796
Fax: +707-746-8797

isil@isil.org
http://www.isil.org

ISIL is recognized as a 501(c)3 non-profit educational foundation .

Contributions are tax-deductible in the USA.

Posted by Leonard Harris at 07:31 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

In this story from last week, a number of you asked what COOL and NAIS were.

COOL = Country of Origin Labeling
NAIS = National Animal Identification System

More on NAIS:

NAIS is another expensive, large government program that discriminates against small farmers. Proposed by the USDA, NAIS imposes on all livestock and animal owners a high-tech, high-cost livestock backtrack system requiring:
a. Registration of any premises where even one animal, a chicken, pet donkey, etc... is kept, in a database accessible to many agencies and foreign governments.
b. Radio Frequency ID (RFID) microchipping or tagging of every animal.
c. Reporting and recording each animal’s movements within 24 hours, under threat of severe penalty, including confiscation of animals and fines of $1000 per day, per infraction.

More on COOL:

Summary of COOL in the compromise Farm Bill:

Penalties – Reduced from $10,000 to $1,000 for continuous willful violations. (Note: In the past 2.5 years seafood COOL has been implemented, USDA has issued $0 fines for non-compliance cases) (Applicable to meat and produce)

Audit – Provides USDA Secretary authority to audit retailers and suppliers of covered commodities to determine compliance. (Applicable to meat and produce)

Record keeping – The Secretary is prohibited from requiring anyone subject to an audit to provide records other than those maintained in the course of the normal conduct of business, including animal health papers, import/customs documents or producer affidavits. (Applicable to meat and produce)

Meat grandfather clause – Animals in the U.S. prior to January 1, 2008 will be presumed as U.S. for the purposes of COOL; animals imported and born in the U.S. after January 1, 2008 will be required to meet the obligations outlined in COOL.

Produce – State, regional or locality labeling is sufficient to meet the requirements of COOL. (e.g. Washington Apples, California Grown, etc.) According to the agreement between NFU and anti-COOL groups, they will not support any amendments to COOL throughout the 2007 Farm Bill drafting process (House floor, Senate consideration, conference committee). See letter to Chairman Peterson and Ranking Member Goodlatte. Also the letter from R-CALF USA to the committee in support of the COOL compromise which compares it side by side. If you haven’t done it yet, send a letter or make a call of thanks to Peterson and Goodlatte.

Posted by Leonard Harris at 06:39 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From GrassrootsFreedom.com:

Has the First Amendment lost out to judges who prefer to rely on convoluted judicial precedent rather than the actual language of the Constitution itself?

In the Pagan Parking Case, seven dissenting federal judges thought that protecting the right to place a “For Sale” sign in your own car parked on the street, “cheapen[ed] the grandeur of the First Amendment.”

Does that sound like the judges want to lock the First Amendment away and break it out only for special occasions? Are some judges protecting the “grandeur” of the judiciary more than the First Amendment?

Many of us in the grassroots believe that the First Amendment protects even what some judges may think is “unimportant” speech.

You can read the full text of an article about the Pagan v. Fruchey case at Human Events Online by clicking here: http://www.humanevents.com/article.php?id=21716

Posted by Leonard Harris at 06:16 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From VCDL's VA-ALERT:

On Tuesday, August 7 at 7:00 PM, the Goochland Board of Supervisors
is going to be asked to change the County's zoning ordinance to
reinstate shooting ranges as a 'conditional use' requiring a special
permit.

This is a thinly veiled attempt to keep Andrew Dykers, owner of
Virginia's largest hunting preserve, Orapax, from being able to have
a sporting clays course on his vast acreage!

The individual driving this is apparently afraid Mr. Dykers is going
to win in court under the current ordinance. Thus, the change in the
ordinance is a hedge so that the County can simply deny the permit
for the range in the future.

While this tactic is not illegal, it certainly shows the shenanigans
a few well connected people will employ to further their agenda of
restricting shooting ranges.

Finally, this proposed change would adversely impact recreational
shooting ranges throughout the County since every range would have to
be approved as "Conditional Use" and thus require a "Special Permit."

The public hearing is located at:

County Administration Building
Village of Goochland Courthouse
Corner of River Road West (Va. Rt. 6) and Sandy Hook Rd. (US 522)

Please attend this meeting and show your opposition to the scheme to
change the County's zoning ordinance.

In addition, if you wish to contact the Board of Supervisors, here is
their information:

District 1
Andrew W. Pryor
(804) 457-4177
apryor@co.goochland.va.us

District 2
William E. Quarles, Jr.
(804) 556-2927
wquarles@co.goochland.va.us

District 3
Joseph T. Lacy, Jr.
(804) 556-4836
jlacy@co.goochland.va.us

District 4
Malvern R. Butler
(804) 784-4241
mbutler@co.goochland.va.us

District 5
James W. Eads
(804) 784-3944
jeads@co.goochland.va.us

Suggested email/message:

--

Please do NOT change Goochland's ordinance for Agricultural General
A-1 to reinstate shooting ranges as a "Special Use."

Such a change would make it harder for shooting ranges to be
established, at a time when it is already hard for citizens to find
places to shoot.

Protect our ranges and our ability to have safe places to shoot!

Please let me know what you are planning to do on this matter.

Sincerely,

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

Posted by Leonard Harris at 06:08 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

According to http://yro.slashdot.org/article.pl?sid=07/08/05/0752244

The House of Representatives voted 227-183 to update the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act (FISA) to allow warrantless wiretapping of telephone and electronic communications. The vote extends the FISA amendment for six months.

Related Link: http://clerk.house.gov/evs/2007/roll836.xml (Roll Call Vote)

Posted by Leonard Harris at 08:34 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

VA-ALERT has released a campaign letter from Sen. Ken Cuccinelli (R) of Fairfax who is running for reelection in 37th district, although it has not yet been posted online, asserting unequivocally that he is the gun owners' candidate.

"Today we face continuing attacks on our 2nd Amendment rights. From Washington, D.C. to Richmond, liberals and their pals in the news media lump honest, law-abiding citizens in with common criminals. Their goal, plain and simple, is to completely restrict the 2nd Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens."

"That’s why you and I can never give up the fight for our Second Amendment freedoms. I am recognized as the premier advocate for 2nd Amendment rights in the Virginia State Senate. Year after year, I am on point protecting your constitutional rights. That’s why the liberals are going to do everything they can to defeat
me this November. Will you let them succeed?"*

The rest can be read by subscribing to VA-ALERT. Cuccinelli has a history of defending the rights of gun owners, although it is not a prominent issue on his campaign site. He endorsed the sales tax holiday we just enjoyed which is one of the most libertarian agendas to succeed this year, although I'd prefer it went to a better cause than school supplies. (I'm a bit tired of seeing "back to school" collection boxes in my face at the grocery store, especially when there is money inside.) Cuccinelli appears to be a diehard academician, however he does mention items besides school supplies covered by the tax break, just as he recognizes non-gun-owners who support the 2nd amendment. He also opposes the hiking of traffic fines.

www.cuccinelli.com

*VA-ALERT: VCDL-PAC: Senator Cuccinelli promises to **lead** fight for 2nd Amendment rights!

Posted by Robert Russo at 09:02 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

From http://isc.sans.org/diary.html?storyid=3225

FTC wants your comments on SSN usage by the private sector.
Published: 2007-08-03,
Last Updated: 2007-08-04 15:32:11 UTC
by donald smith (Version: 1)

From: https://secure.commentworks.com/ftc-SSNPrivateSector/

“The Task Force recommended that these agencies gather information from stakeholders – including the financial services industry, law enforcement agencies, the consumer reporting agencies, academics and consumer advocates – in making this assessment.”

When commenting you should realize that they are planning to publish the comments and contact information associated with those comments. But the only required fields are last name, state and country.

Posted by Leonard Harris at 12:53 PM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)

David Lively writes:

I hope everybody has all the iodine they’ll ever want. The DEA has decided to outlaw all iodine solutions over 2.2 percent because they could be used as a precursor in the manufacture of meth. This includes iodine crystals like you would find in water purification tablets so make sure you get them quick (before august 10). http://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/fed_regs/rules/2007/fr0702.htm

Posted by Leonard Harris at 10:41 AM | Permalink | TrackBacks (0)