News
- Details
- Written by: Alex Pugliese
- Category: Selected Blogs
There are many politicians and others, liberal, "moderate," and conservative, that take the position that if a particular legislative action or policy has failed, the people should judge them by their "good" intentions and not if the action or policy is successful. They will say that their "motives" were "good," That their "idea" was "good,"That their "belief" was "pure," no matter if the policy or action has caused hardships and difficulties for individuals. It is a way to excuse it all and not do much else. This often causes problems for society at large.
- Details
- Written by: Webmaster
- Category: Latest News
NJ Libertarian Party Members,
On Friday, March 13 at 10:00 PM, John Stossel and ABC News has a special, "Bailouts, Big Spending and Bull." As John put it in his announcement, this special is produced in partnership with Drew Carey and Reason Magazine. Indeed most of the segments are based on videos from Reason.TV.
- Details
- Written by: Webmaster
- Category: Selected Blogs
 Michael Beitler (pronounced Bite-ler), Ph.D., CPA, is the host of "Free Markets With Dr. Mike Beitler," a libertarian internet-radio talk show, and the author of Rational Individualism: A Moral Argument for Limited Government & Capitalism. Mike was the CFO of a profitable bank for more than ten years. |
Originally published at Campaign For Liberty
Fannie Mae reported a loss of $25.2 billion for the fourth quarter of 2008 (losses of $58.7 billion for full-year 2008). Total nonperforming loans were $119.2 billion at year-end. Fannie is requesting additional capital from the U.S Treasury. The other gargantuan government-sponsored enterprise, Freddie Mac is likewise running up billions of dollars in losses. Freddie is preparing to ask for additional capital from the U.S Treasury of $35 billion.
Why should you, the taxpayer, be concerned? Isn't the Federal government using bailout funds allocated by Congress to clean up the mess?
The problem is the Federal government is on the brink of bankruptcy itself. The U.S. government is $11 trillion dollars in debt. (That figure does not include tens of trillions of dollars of off-balance sheet, unfunded liabilities.) Congress has no "money to allocate" to Fannie, Freddie, or anything else. You, the taxpayer, are on the hook for these massive obligations.
Go back to the first paragraph and substitute "additional taxpayer money" for "additional capital."
- Details
- Written by: Webmaster
- Category: Latest News
The convention shall be held on March 28th and 29th. For more information see the Convention Registration page.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Pugliese
- Category: NJ Libertarian Blog
On October 2, 1996 in the “New York Post,” then columnist Carl T. Rowan wrote a piece entitled “Liberal Is Not a Four Letter Word.” In it, he described what it meant to be “a liberal” and what it entailed. After reading it, it just reaffirmed to me that the ideology had nothing to in common with the liberalism of the past. That the ideology was hijacked. Where once liberalism believed in the chains of the Constitution, the limits of power and government, as well as rugged individualism, it, along with the conservatism of the modern variety today, believes in the omnipotence of the state. To me, it was a sad read.
- Details
- Written by: John Paff
- Category: Preempted Ordinance Repeal Project
On February 15, 2009, the Pilesgrove Township (Salem County) Committee introduced an ordinance to repeal parts of The Township's "Peace and Good Order" Code. The ordinance, as introduced, is below and the NJLP's January 19, 2009 letter which requested the repeal is online HERE.
- Details
- Written by: Webmaster
- Category: Latest News
UPDATE 2/23/2009: Passed by the Senate!!! 22 - 16
URGENT ACTION NEEDED! From our friends at the Drug Policy Alliance:
Critically ill New Jerseyans, many battling life-threatening conditions, are enduring unnecessary pain and anguish because, in our state, many people cannot safely access their medicine.
A little over a month ago, you helped bring New Jersey one step closer to becoming the 14th state to allow access to medical marijuana. Because of you, members of the Senate Health Committee supported our medical marijuana bill.
The entire Senate will vote on Monday for the first time on this legislation. With your voice telling senators that you are concerned about reducing suffering in New Jersey, we can build on this momentum.
You have the chance to transform the lives of sick patients by telling members of the New Jersey State Senate that you support New Jersey’s Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.
The time is now. Together, we can make certain that, with their doctor's recommendation, seriously ill patients have safe access to medical marijuana, but only if you act now.
Sincerely,
Roseanne Scotti
Director
Drug Policy Alliance New JerseyP.S. Follow this link to learn more details about the New Jersey Compassionate Use Medical Marijuana Act.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Pugliese
- Category: Selected Blogs
There are many people in the United States that have this belief that society, government or other "owes us." This belief came to fruition in the late 1890s and early 1900s. It was made famous men such as William Jennings Bryant, Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, Eugene Debs, Franklin Roosevelt as well as others. This belief goes by names such as "soak the rich" and, my favorite. "compassion." What thsi belief really entails is the punishment of achievement and the promotion of class envy. It is the belief of pitting one group against another.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Pugliese
- Category: Latest News
Despite the change in administration we are still being used as the world's policeman!
Ike Skelton, Chairman House Armed Services Committee
For Immediate Release: February 17, 2009 Contact: Loren Dealy or Lara BattlesSkelton Praises Announcement to Increase
U.S. Troop Commitment in Afghanistan
Washington, DC – House Armed Services Committee Chairman Ike Skelton (D-MO) praised today’s announcement to increase U.S. troop levels in Afghanistan:
“Commanders in Afghanistan have been calling for more troops to meet mission requirements. Today’s announcement committing additional U.S. troops in Afghanistan signals that we are restoring American leadership to the coalition effort to defeat al Qaeda and the Taliban and to support the Government of Afghanistan. I hope our NATO allies will take our example to heart and provide more assistance as well.
“But in addition to our military contributions, we must also increase the civilian resources available to improve security and stability in Afghanistan. This is extremely important. The military’s role is critical, but we must use all of our tools – military, diplomatic, economic – to meet the challenges in this region. I look forward to working with the administration to chart the path ahead in Afghanistan.”
- Details
- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
From the Cato Institute:
There is plenty of disagreement on whether a big-government stimulus project is the best way to bring the United States out of recession. The Cato Institute purchased a full-page ad in major newspapers across the country listing the names of several hundred economists who object to massive deficit spending as an economic stimulus. Cato scholars and ad signatories have made their case on television since the spending program was proposed.
See Cato's Fiscal Reality Central.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Pugliese
- Category: Selected Blogs
Published on cnn.com:
CAMBRIDGE, Massachusetts (CNN) -- When libertarians question the merit of President Obama's stimulus package, a frequent rejoinder is, "Well, we have to do something." This is hardly a persuasive response. If the cure is worse than the disease, it is better to live with the disease.
In any case, libertarians do not argue for doing nothing; rather, they advocate eliminating or adjusting policies that are bad for the economy independent of the recession. Here is a stimulus package that libertarians can endorse:
American Business Has Sold Its Soul to the Devil: Exhibit A- Obama Warns Companies Not to Book Event
- Details
- Category: Selected Blogs
Government is filled with people who couldn't get a job in the private sector. Why on earth would we put them in charge of our economy? If they knew anything about running a business, they'd be running a business. George W. Bush was a failure at virtually everything he ever did in the business world- except buying the Texas Rangers. He succeeded at that because of his family connections and wealth. Anyone could make money buying a baseball team- if you have the connections and millions of dollars necessary to buy one in the first place. Then Bush proved his lack of business skills by running our country into the ground, ruining our economy, and increasing our debt dramatically.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Pugliese
- Category: Selected Blogs
For most people, the term "moderate" means someone who is "middle of the road," a "centrist" or a "pragmatic." It also is described a person who "avoids extremism" or "extremes." After doing research and after watching so-called "moderate" politicians and others in action, sort to speak, I come down to a conclusion that they stand for nothing at all. If they did, they would only stand for themselves and nothing else. I seen this when "moderate" politicians like Arlen Spector, Susan Collins and Olympia Snowne who voted for the $800 billion dollar "stimulis" plan in Congress. I saw it also when "moderate" Justices like Anthony Kennedy and Sandra Day O'Connor sided with the majority on the court in the Kelo decison as well as in the Campaign Finance Reform decision. They stand not for the plain words of the Constitution, nor good fiscal policy and when it comes to individual rights, they think that those can be "compromised" as well. They stand for statism.
When it comes to "extremism," I have come to the conclusion that "moderates" regard that as "one who stands for his or her principals." If that is the case, then there should be more extremists around. They would be blessed. They would stand more for freedom than a "moderate" would.
- Details
- Written by: Jay Edgar
- Category: Latest News
The Democrats have adopted the behavior of George Bush with the Big Spending/Corporate Welfare Bill being rushed through congress. George W. Bush used 911 to increase executive power and to immensely increase the size government. Now Barack Obama is using the same tactics with the financial crisis. I at one time had hope for Obama. Boy was I wrong.
George W. Bush made the same mistakes as Herbert Hoover, and Obama is making the same mistakes as Roosevelt. During Obama's speech last night he clearly believes that Rooselvelt's New Deal worked. Nothing could be further from the truth.
The Myth of the Laissez-Faire Bush Years
By Anthony GregoryOne of the most pernicious misconceptions of our time is that the Bush administration represented an era of free-market capitalism. By wrongly blaming the financial crisis and economic woes associated with Bush on his alleged devotion to laissez-faire, many in the mainstream press, academia and political life are misdiagnosing the problem and prescribing the wrong solution: More government, which will in reality only make things worse.
- Details
- Written by: Alex Pugliese
- Category: Letters to Editor
Published in the Home News Tribune, February 8, 2009
For more than 60 years there have been many in power and elsewhere who stated that to mention the word "God" or anything of a spiritual nature violates the law. They have stated the so-called "separation of church and state" must be maintained, a phrase that is nowhere in the Constitution. I have now come to a different conclusion. Those who advocate that spirituality should be forbidden in the public square do so for one reason: irrational fear. These individuals, whether they be on the courts, in political office, in the legal profession, in religion, in the press, or where have you, fear that if one follows a particular form of spirituality, then people will turn away from other beliefs or philosophies. They believe that philosophies like existentialism, utilitarianism, Marxism or others cannot compete with the Bible, the Torah or other holy books. So these individuals have to force it out in order to make their "morality" dominant. It is foolish. None should be forbidden from competing in the public square. It is time that we realize this truth and not give counsel to fears.
ALEX PUGLIESE
Kenilworth
- Details
- Written by: Alex Pugliese
- Category: Latest News
Published on FreedomWorks.org:
By: Matt Kibbe
When you get beyond the rhetoric of change, it is astonishing how close President Barack Obama is following his predecessor in economic policy. Just as George W. Bush attempted to jump-start the economy with a jolt of hundreds of billions of dollars, Obama is doubling down on the bailout bets. In the Troubled Assets Relief Program process, the legislative branch is authorizing nearly a trillion dollars in spending.
But isn’t this backward? Doesn’t Congress have the sole power to authorize executive branch spending, and the president, the power to veto congressional spending authorizations?