Latest News
- Details
- Written by Guest Author
- Category: Latest News
Yesterday the New Jersey State Assembly passed a bill, already approved by the state Senate, that allows judges to waive heretofore mandatory sentences for nonviolent drug offenses committed in "drug-free zones." Under state law, such zones include any place within 1,000 feet of a school or 500 feet of a park, library, museum, or public housing project. Selling drugs (or possessing them with intent to sell) within that area triggers a mandatory minimum sentence of three years. The bill abolishing that rule, which Gov. Jon S. Corzine has promised to sign, follows years of lobbying by critics who argue that drug-free zones, aimed mainly at shielding children from drug dealers, arbitrarily increase the punishment for disproportionally black and Hispanic defendants whose offenses have nothing to do with children. The zones are defined broadly enough to include most or all of many cities.
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
Michael's mother has sent the following message.
Hi Everyone:
Michael was cardioverted again today (with the electric paddles) to try to get his heart to beat more regularly. This evening they did the tracheotomy and looked down his throat. He had ripped the breathing tube out of his throat and they were afraid he damaged his vocal chords. Things looked pretty good and the doctors said the surgery went very well. They will give him antibiotics to be sure there isn't an infection after having the tube in his throat for 14 days. They have kept him very sedated all this time because he couldn't breathe without the breathing tube but it was very uncomfortable for him. He needed to rest so his heart could strengthen.
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
UPDATE: Michael is conscious. He has had a pacemaker installed. Hopefully all is well!
I received a report that Michael's heart stopped. His heart was started again with CPR. He has been rushed by helicopter to Gunderson Lutheran Hospital in Wisconsin. He is in serious condition.
At this time I have no further information.
Michael Badnarik was the Libertarian 2004 candidate for President. My prayers are with him and his family.
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
Today Reason Foundation released its 18th Annual Report on the Performance of the State Highway System. This report ranks the quality and spending on the state highways based on data reported by each state for 2007 and parts of 2008. Our legislators should be hanging their heads in shame while the taxpayers should be sharpening their pitchforks.
- Details
- Written by Guest Author
- Category: Latest News
According to Michael Tanner, a senior fellow at The Cato Institute, approximately 163 million people receive health insurance through their employer. If this third-party arrangement was terminated, and this group added to the present 148 million privately insured (Consumer Population Survey), there would be a level playing field of 311 million people, not including the numerous small businesses. If a nationwide set of uniform rules and regulations were adopted, replacing the patchwork of existing state health insurance requirements, then an enormous market would be open to the private health insurance companies. A potential market of 311 million insureds could be expected to drive down the cost of health insurance, improve affordability, offer portability and provide among other benefits an industry risk pool with which to insure those with pre-existing conditions, an ObamaCare objective.
And at no cost to the taxpayers.
- Details
- Written by Julian Heicklen
- Category: Latest News
I arrived at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan at 11:45 am on Monday, November 23, 2009. The weather was cold and windy. I stood in the middle of the plaza in front of the courthouse.
I passed out 10 of the Fully Informed Jury Association pamphlets entitled "True or False: Factual Information about Jury Service" along with my flyer (see below). At 12:10 pm three Homeland Security police officers approached me. I asked them to identify themselves, but they did not. Instead they asked me who I was. I responded that I did not have to identify myself, but that they did. One of them grabbed my arm and placed me under arrest. I fell to the ground and lay still on the cold ground for about 1/2 hour and said nothing. I was not handcuffed.
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
Recently Steve Lonegan has gone on a campaign demanding government intrusions into our personal lives. He is asking everyone to call their representatives and ask them to have government define marriage as between a man and a woman.
The New Jersey Libertarian Party Platform states:
Issue: Government’s usurpation of activities rightfully carried on by families weakens the growth and effectiveness of voluntary social institutions and replaces them by transferring responsibility to bureaucracies that do not efficiently or adequately accomplish their stated goals.
- Details
- Written by Julian Heicklen
- Category: Latest News
UPDATE: Bile of the Blog of Bile videotaped my recent confrontation. See the video here. Bile also called into Free Talk Live to talk about the situation on Tuesday.
I arrived at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan at 11:45 am on Monday, November 16, 2009. The weather was perfect: warm and sunny. I stood in the middle of the plaza in front of the courthouse.
I started to pass out the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) pamphlet entitled "A Primer for Prospective Jurors" along with my handout. Two photographers, whom I do not know, were present. At 11:48 am, I was approached by two federal marshals, who informed me that I had to leave. I demurred. They said that they would have to report me and left.
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
This past weekend I had the pleasure of attending the Students For Liberty Mid-Atlantic Conference at my alma mater, Drexel University. The Students for Liberty is a fast growing movement of campus liberty organizations. In NJ there are campus organizations at Rutgers and Seton Hall. The formation of additional chapters are in progress. The Conference was well organized and featured several great speakers.
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
John Ray Wilson has refused a plea offer and will be going to trial on December 14th. We reported on his case in an earlier story.
Mr. Wilson was growing marijuana for personal use to alleviate his Multiple Sclerosis. The plea offer, in exchange for a guilty plea, would have meant Mr. Wilson would have to serve three to nine years in prison. Now he may face up to twenty years. There is no advantage to neither Mr. Wilson nor society by placing this man in prison.
His only chance now is a pardon from Governor Corzine. The Star Ledger has recently written an editorial asking the Governor to pardon him. Senators Nicholas Scutari and Raymond Lesniak have both asked the Governor to pardon him
Now its your turn! Visit the Governor's contact page and send him a message asking for him to pardon Mr. Wilson.
- Details
- Written by Julian Heicklen
- Category: Latest News
I arrived at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan at 11:45 am on Monday, November 9, 2009. The weather was perfect: warm and sunny. I stood in the middle of the plaza in front of the courthouse.
I started to pass out the FIJA pamphlet entitled "A Primer for Prospective Jurors" along with my handout (see below). A freelance reporter from Free Talk Live was present. At 11:48, I was approached by two federal marshals, who identified themselves as Musumeci and Sullivan. They would not give first names and said that they had no badge numbers. They informed me that I had to leave. I demurred. They said that they would have to report me and left.
- Details
- Written by Julian Heicklen
- Category: Latest News
I arrived at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan at 11:45 am on Monday, November 2, 2009. The weather was sunny, but a little cooler than the two precious weeks. I stood in the middle of the plaza in front of the courthouse. I did not have my JURY INFO sign, because I did not have the time to replace the one that was seized the previous week.
- Details
- Written by Julian Heicklen
- Category: Latest News
Updated: Video added below.
I arrived at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan at 11:45 am on Monday, October 26, 2009. The weather was perfect: about 60°F and sunny. I stood in the middle of the plaza in front of the courthouse.
I started to pass out the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) pamphlet entitled “A Primer for Prospective Jurors” along with my handout (see below). Immediately the three Department of Homeland Security Officers of last week approached me and told me that I could not pass out that material. I informed them that I could. They said that I could not and that I had quoted the wrong law in my e-mail distribution of last week. They had checked the FBI records to find my identity and accessed my web page. They said that if I distributed the FIJA pamphlets, I would be put under arrest.
- Details
- Written by Julian Heicklen
- Category: Latest News
I arrived at the U. S. District Court for the Southern District of New York, 500 Pearl Street in Manhattan at 11:45 am on Monday, October 19, 2009. The weather was perfect: about 50°F and sunny. I stood in the middle of the plaza in front of the courthouse.
I started to pass out the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA) pamphlet entitled "A Primer for Prospective Jurors" along with my handout (see below). Within a few minutes a Homeland Security police officer approached me, accepted a pamphlet, informed me that I cannot distribute literature on federal property without a permit, and asked me to leave. I disagreed with him and said that I would not leave. He left momentarily, but soon returned with another officer, and we repeated the conversation.
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
Movie review was reviewed here. Upcoming showings are listed here.
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
School children at the B. Bernice Young Elementary Government School in Burlington, NJ were forced to sing praises to Barack Obama in June.
Hello, Mr. President we honor you today!
For all your great accomplishments, we all say "hooray!"
Hooray Mr. President! You're number one!
- Details
- Written by Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
While traveling through Freehold last week I passed a group of people gathered with signs demanding immigration rights. I found a place to park and walked over to investigate. I found a group of about 35 people gathered with signs demanding rights for immigrants.The group consisted mostly of people from Casa Freehold and representatives from the NJ Immigration Policy Network.
The rights we enjoy as Americans belong to all humans. The right to freely travel provides humans with the ability to vote with their feet. If a regime (be it a country, state, or municipality) abuses the rights of its citizens, those citizens must be free to travel to another region. The right to freely contract for labor is an essential component of free and open markets. Free markets benefit all parties. Protectionism penalizes everyone.
Our current immigration policies are too complicated, too oppressive, and too restrictive. Immigration and Customs Enforcement locks up way too many people and disregards the rights of citizens and non citizens alike. Immigration control has been used as a pretext for National ID cards, financial surveillance of Americans, border and travel surveillance, and a growing police state.
- Details
- Written by Webmaster
- Category: Latest News
Agreement Ends Eminent Domain and Begins Restoration Of the MTOTSA Neighborhood
WEB RELEASE: September 15, 2009
Media Contact:
John Kramer
(703) 682-9320
Arlington, Va.—The Long Branch, N.J., property owners are finally safe at home. After years of battling eminent domain for a developer’s private gain, Long Branch’s MTOTSA homeowners declared victory with today’s announcement that eminent domain actions filed against the homeowners have been withdrawn and that the city and the developer must take steps to restore the neighborhood damaged by eminent domain abuse.
“Today’s agreement finally ends this government-created nightmare that was imposed upon these Long Branch homeowners,” said Scott Bullock, a senior attorney at the Institute for Justice which, along with noted New Jersey eminent domain lawyers Peter H. Wegener and William Ward, represented the homeowners. “With this agreement, the neighborhood can be restored to the kind of wonderful community it was before the city and the developer targeted it. These modest, proudly-maintained homes will no longer be threatened by the bulldozers.”