One of the regular knocks on libertarians is that we are cruel bastards who want children, the poor and aged to just go away and die. According to our detractors, this view is “proved” by our seeking dramatic reductions in taxes because we are greedy and just want to keep our money to ourselves.

Unfortunately, many times we (libertarians) take the bait and launch into a diatribe on how it is our money in the first place and our right to keep the fruits of our labor should be protected, blah, blah, blah. This seals the deal for the naysayer and libertarianism is further vilified by the person raising the argument.

In this post I wish to explore another, more subtle side of the argument that I think may win some converts as opposed to reinforcing the aforementioned belief. I believe that if more libertarians use this argument, we might be able to shift the thinking of some folks who have genuine concern for their fellow man. In short, the argument boils down to this – society and the state (government) are not the same thing.

Let’s take education as an example. Do I think society should provide a basic education to all of its members? Of course! This makes sense for many reasons, some of them clearly of self-interest. I want all members of society to be able to pursue their own goals and dreams to the best of their ability. It benefits me if they do! But, do I want this to be funded by the state? A resounding, “NO!”

State funding of education is a mistake, because it allows people in society to think, “Well that is taken care of” when nothing could be further from the truth. If society funded education, and by society here I mean the voluntary contributions of the people who are members, children would be better educated because there would be a natural check on its effectiveness, namely the parents of the students.

If a school was not properly educating the kids, the parents would let the donors know about it. This in turn would put pressure on the school to get better or go out of business.

This is why I advocate for a system that is completely in alignment with the Texas Constitution which calls for a “public free education.” Notice it is not a “free public education.” A system of vouchers, or better yet tax credits, would be a bridge to this idea. If we give the parents control over the flow of money and not the politicians and bureaucrats the system would improve dramatically.

I do believe that society can, should and would have a huge impact of many of the social welfare problems that plague us. The trouble is that the state (government) has usurped the authority of society to the detriment of all.

On Society and the State (in Education) is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

I am thrilled that there are several contested races coming up at the Libertarian Party of Texas Convention which is being held in Fort Worth on June 8 – 10. Like the contest for LNC Chair at the National Convention, I truly believe that these are a sign of health and not of division of the Party.

That said, I am calling on all those who are running either for elected office or for leadership positions in the party to consider the following:

• Everything is on the table. There are no issues that I see that are off limits to constructive dialogue. Abortion, immigration, borders, liberty, toll roads, taxation, education, and drug laws are but a few of the important issues which need to be talked about in the open. 
• No ad hominum attacks. The quickest way to lose my vote will be to attack your opponents with what are personal criticisms. This would include charges of violations of personal integrity. If you accuse someone of being dishonest, you better have some video evidence.
• Provide a clear vision of the future. I am interested in hearing what you have to say about the future of our country, state and party. The more you can illustrate your vision with specifics the more likely you are to win my vote. What is different about a country, state, or party with you at the helm?
• Exhibit a non-anxious presence. Anxiety and creativity are always inversely proportional to each other. The more anxious you are the less creative you will be. As a candidate for any position, I believe this is what is most needed today. In short, I want to see that you are calm under pressure. I want to see your ability to self-regulate your emotions.
• Embrace the genius of the AND by rejecting the tyranny of the OR. I want to hear how Libertarians are the future. I want to know how your candidacy will embrace the ideas the Libertarianism is about both debating the finer philosophical points AND can win elections. I reject the notion that they are mutually exclusive.

Now, go, fight hard, and clean and win my vote!

On Contested Races at the Upcoming LP Texas Convention is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

The Huffington Post reports that Actor Will Smith “is supporting President Barack Obama’s call for higher taxes on the country’s top earners.” Specifically, the POTUS has called for what is known as the Buffet rule that anyone earning over $1 million a year should have to pay a minimum of 30 percent in tax. In Smith’s case this would be at least $20 million for 2012.

Now, let me leave the insignificance of this number when compared to the deficit or debt and instead posit that nothing precludes Will Smith or any of the 210,000 tax payers whom this affects including the sage of Omaha from making a voluntary contribution today. He should go to https://www.pay.gov/paygov/forms/formInstance.html?agencyFormId=23779454 to make his voluntary contribution of $3 million (30 percent of $20 million) to reduce the public debt.

If they are not technically savvy, they can send a check payable to the Bureau of the Public Debt, and in the memo section, notate that it’s a Gift to reduce the Debt Held by the Public and send it to:

Attn Dept G
Bureau of the Public Debt
P. O. Box 2188
Parkersburg, WV 26106-2188

After that he can encourage the rest of the 210,000 to do that same. Once they all do that then the can make any contributions to the Obama campaign.

A Suggestion for Will Smith is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

Much has been written in the press and in social media about the fight for the LNC Chair position and most of it negative. Even late on Saturday, a well-meaning delegate who was new to the party, took to the microphone to call for an end to the in-party squabbling.

In my opinion this fight has made the party stronger, more unified, more principled, and, at the same time, more electable at the polls in November. More principled because however crazy it might have looked to an outsider, the availability of NOTA, “none of the above,” as an option on every ballot did exactly what it was supposed to do – it compelled the body to find a better candidate that appealed to the majority of the membership and not just to one faction. We, current members of the party, owe a debt of gratitude to those who came before us who had the wisdom to make NOTA part of the rules. It worked!

Granted, there were some delegates on the floor who viewed it as a slow painful train wreck. Let me predict that in years to come, it will be looked on as one of the party’s finest hours. A time when our principles were adhered to, yet at the same time, it created a stronger and better outcome.

Sometimes you don’t want to see the sausage being made.

I believe the National Libertarian Party has truly turned a corner.  I believe we are beginning to embrace the genius of the AND and not succumb to the tyranny of the OR. We are become a philosophical debating society that can also win elections.

My congratulations to Geoff Neale, the once and future (I guess actually present) Chair and to all the candidates and delegates of every race and state. You have all made me proud to be a Libertarian. Thank you!

On the vote for the LNC Chair is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

Buzz is building.

Presidential Nomination Process Has Begun is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

The opening statements from Lee Wrights and Gary Johnson.

Libertarian Presidential Debate is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

Something tells me this does not happen at the Democratic and Republican Conventions.

Impromptu Debate of Candidates for Party Chair is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

Scene from the floor of the convention. We are debating proposed changes to the National Party Platform.

From the National Libertarian Convention Floor. is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

Tonight I had the opportunity to speak to the Plano Homeowners’ Council. As part of the setup to one of the great questions. Robert Miller, 2nd Vice-President of the Council held up this book, which contained the 76 pages of new regulation passed by the Texas Legislature during their last session in 2011.

Mr. Miller than went on to ask each of the candidates present (big surprise Ken Paxton did not attend) if they supported this type of legislation.

My answer, “I will see your 76 pages and raise you another 50 to 75 percent of the current laws on the books in the state.

On Speaking at the Homeowners’ Council is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.

Hat tip to my cousin Eric for sending this one to me.

Especially telling is the statist about the probability of getting cancer and the probability of being killed in an attack as being equal.

TSA Infographic is a post from: Elect Ed Kless. Please click to view any multimedia content and/or comment on this post. Thanks.