Weekly News Roundup For October 26 2009

Gonzo Times Weekly News Round Up for the Week of October 25 2009

We are attempting a new column here at Gonzo Times. I will be posting some of my favorite articles, podcasts and videos from around the web.

We are libertarian leaning so most of the articles will be pointing out small government concepts and focusing on liberties, rights, and truth.

LGBT

the National Libertarian Party attended the National Equality March in D.C. last week.  Read about it at the official site of the Libertarian Party Here.

Cato:

Cato has a new site if you have not seen it yet you should check it out, downsizing the federal government. They posted a great article this week Organized Crime Hits Medicare / Medicaid.

David Boaz at Cato also addressed Frontline and NPR’s pro-state bias in their reporting with his piece: What Caused the Crisis? (Click Here)

The War on Drugs:

Skeptical Eye put up a post of John Stossel debating Bill O’Reily.

O’Reily uses the age old argument of the tobacco prohibition and most left and right statists.  If the adults don’t control and kill each other then the nursery schools will run red with blood!

Elsewhere online The Drug War leads to Gun Control (Click Here).

There was also at least one pseudo victory on the War on Drugs this week.  A court slammed LAPD For Illegally Seizing Medical Marijuana Profits (Click Here).

Philosophy of the State, War and violence:

Stefan Molyneux who runs freedomain radio always has great stuff for the anti-statist.  He may differ from many concepts of libertarians often, but I find that there is a great deal that I respect about his positions and I more often agree than disagree with him.

Environment:

Doctor Edwin X. Berry PhD an atmospheric physicist and certified consulting meteorologist with Climate Physics, LLC posted a great article over at Lew Rockwell.  This article talks about the negative impact climate legislation is having on job markets.  He also confronts has an interesting confrontation with the EPA:

“I know more than you because I am a lawyer and I work for the EPA.”

Stop by and read the article: How They Are Turning Off the Lights in America ( Click Here)

You can check out Edwin X. Berry’s site Climate Physics here.

There has also been a great deal in the media last week concerning the treaty to be signed in Copenhagen this December. Downsize D.C. has addressed this Click Here.

Also online this week Cap and Trade: A Regressive Tax that will Hit the Poorest the Hardest (Click Here).

Health Care:

The health care debate rages on and Open Congress has posted a “Handy Guide to Congress’ Health Care Leglislation.”

War on Smoking:

Adam M. Mueler wrote a good piece on The war on Smoking (Click Here).

Libertarian Drama:

There seems to be some drama under the “big L” Libertarian party and the libertarians.  There was some online talk where the New York Times called Sarah Palin libertarian (Click Here).  The first I head was from my google alerts when I read the article Doug Mataconis posted to from the Nolan Chart by Phil Manger: Sarah Palin a candidate for Libertarians? (Click Here)   Many libertarians have a hard time seeing any similarities, and many were offended at the suggestion.  It is my belief that this shows just how little main stream media understands a libertarian perspective.
Doug Mataconis at United Liberty was not happy to hear this and posted a response to both: Sarah Palin: Libertarian For President? Are You Kidding Me?

There have been many similar controversies and arguments over Glenn Beck and Bill Maher recently.

David Nolan Chimed in on the issue.  I found a post on the peace, freedom and prosperity movement site that had this video:

Crystal Gross at United For Liberty Wrote a critical piece that I thought was good.  In it she questioned and challenged this practice of libertarians telling others they are not “libertarian enough”, in her piece: Why Libertarianism must change or die (Click Here).

No doubt I have opinions differing from all of the above.  I have a hard time seeing where Glenn Beck, Bill Maher or Sarah Palin are remotely libertarian.  Glenn Beck may be the closest but he embraces some extreme conservative views.  I do however like the tone and concept of Crystal Gross’s article.  I do see how attacking these people may be counter productive and the wrong thing to do.

It has been a difficult task for libertarians to get their message out.  I see how it is frustrating being lumped in with conservatives by the left and how it is frustrating getting pushed over to the left by the right.  I see also that the public’s misunderstanding of libertarianism has played a huge role in this.  I feel it is important for us to continue to make an effort to reach out with our message more so than to fight over who is and who is not our “allies”.  I do also think it is important for us to show people how the conservative movement is not a movement of small government but just more imperialism and large government solutions.

We libertarian minded individuals must avoid the mud slinging drama of the Republicrats.