the life you live could be your own

anarchophobia

2006-11-11T23:41:00.000-05:00

check out this blog by a friend of mine....

http://anarchophobia.blogspot.com/

GCLP watches State of the Union 2006

2006-08-27T10:42:00.000-04:00

Wow, these are soooo out of date. But I just found 'em and I like 'em...

Chinese food before we leave

The crew at the moviehouse about to see dubya on the big screen

Just the gals

i feel awed

2006-06-03T16:13:00.000-04:00

this isn't a libertarian post for once, but its so damn cool i had to share:

http://www.wefeelfine.org/

just click on the "open we feel fine" to load the app. i think this is THE neatest online art project i've seen yet, and i look at quite a bit of art online.

p.s. i like "murmurs" and "montage" the best out of the features....

This Year's Tax Day

2006-04-30T17:54:00.000-04:00

Despite the oddball screaming at Paul and telling him that he "wouldn't exist without the IRS," and even though the weather was the worst in the history of greensboro tax day protests, we still stood out there and even got some press, although Rob was horribly mis-quoted... the author is supposedly going to print a retraction.

Nostalgia

2006-04-30T17:44:00.000-04:00

Pics from the 2004 Tax Day Protest (when the weather was much nicer!):

Policy

2006-03-23T21:58:00.000-05:00

Click here to get a .pdf of the full text of the new policy dealing with the Free Speech Zones.

UNCG still doesn't get the point....

2006-03-22T00:04:00.000-05:00

Here's a link to the most recent development in the UNCG Free Speech Zone Saga: http://tinyurl.com/nsc23

UNCG's attorney (a grown man who calls himself "Skip") made this ignorant statement to a News & Record reporter: "[The new policy] does away with the notion of free-speech zones completely." To illustrate just how clueless he is, let me begin by explaining the new policy.

First, the good news: The new policy does NOT designate specific "zones" any longer where students may exercise their first amendment rights. Instead, they have specific distances an assembly of students must be from certain types of facilities. And, of course, the totally reasonable restriction on blocking sidewalks and roadways.

Now the bad news: School identification is now specifically required to be present on all students participating in a peaceful assembly of any kind. It is bad enough that the state of NC requires its own citizens to carry their "papers" at all times, but now students assembling on their campus lawns must also be sure to bring their school issued ID. Have your papers out and ready for inspection...

Here's the worst part: At least 12 hours notice of an assembly or petitioning/distribution of literature must be given to campus police! This is wrong on many, many levels. This means that one individual handing out pamphlets to fellow students on his/her way to class can be subject to a violation of school policy if they did not call the police station the day before to report the intent to distribute literature. This also means that spontaneous protests are not allowed ever on campus grounds. For example, immediately following the morning of Sept. 11, 2001, many university religious organizations held prayer circles and vigils on campuses all across the country. Under UNCG's new and improved policy, this wouldn't have been allowed without the required 12 hours notice. When this was brought up in the meetings where they drafted this policy, several administrators claimed that an "exception" would be made for those kinds of events. I see, I see... but what if the event in question was directed against the University itself? Or was of a controversial nature? Would they give all of those exceptions as well? Of course not. This is yet another tool used to filter the content of speech on campus.

During the spring of 2003, when the "shock and awe" attack on Iraq was imminent, many groups planned for local emergency protests to take place on the afternoon of whichever day the administration actually went ahead and bombed the citizens of Iraq into oblivion. The idea was that we all knew *what* we were going to protest and *how* we were going to protest it, but we didn't know *when*. This widely used form of protest is still illegal on the campus of UNCG.

If the Chancellor of UNCG and "Skip" Capone had half a brain between them, they would realize that the only policy that needs to exist is one that states that assemblies or groups of students are subject to the same regulations as individual students. Assemblies must not be allowed to harass or assault others, block thoroughfares, create excessive noise or incite a riot. These are all restrictions that already exist for all students, faculty and staff that attend UNCG (and for all individuals in the state of North Carolina). Why not leave it at that and let *peaceful* assembly thrive on campus?

Stay tuned for updates on continuing protests and direct action from the College Libertarians....

Rhino LTE

2006-03-01T17:38:00.000-05:00

As promised, here's the very informative LTE that the Rhino printed a few issues ago:

Right to assemble

Dear Editor,

I was proud to be a part of a peaceful protest on South Elm Street, Jan. 31, 2006 in Greensboro, to protest George W. Bush and his regime. The event took place at The Scene on South Elm Street. The group (over 200, despite what the News & Record reported) was made up of high school and college students, parents, lawyers, businesswomen and men, artists, actors and professionals.

At 9 p.m. the protesters took to the streets for a peaceful (and, yes, loud) march throughout the streets of downtown Greensboro, symbolically drowning out President Bush’s State of The Union address.

Again, all of this was peaceful without any violence or trouble making whatsoever. At approximately 9:45 p.m., when protesters had regrouped in front of The Scene, the Greensboro Police Department began to bully protesters to silence. It was the most sickening display I have witnessed since the 1979 communist shootings (of course, there were no police there then when needed). Several people were thrown to the ground for no reason and arrested (again, I was witness to this) and one college-aged girl was maced in the eyes by one of the police who walked away after she fell to the ground screaming.

When I myself began to shout “police brutality” at the officer, he yelled at me to, “Shut your mouth or you’re next”.

I have always had a great respect for the Greensboro police, as I think they usually do a wonderful job of protecting the citizens of Greensboro (my home town), but after this brutal display of strong arming, bullying, unnecessary violence, working up a peaceful crowd into a panicked frenzy, I have lost all respect for the police. They were completely out of line and dangerous in their tactics.

Frighteningly, it reminded me of pre-roundup in Nazi Germany. Is the Police Department being strong-armed by the government? I am beginning to believe that the Police Department is just as corrupt as the rest of our so called leaders.

We, as citizens, have the right to assemble and the right to peaceful demonstration and, most importantly, in my opinion, freedom of speech. We, as American citizens, will not be silenced by threats or scare tactics. (License plate numbers were also being photographed thanks to our so-called Patriot Act.) I am an adamant patriot of our country but not of the Bush administration, and this is my right as an American citizen.

I am outraged at the police for inciting an otherwise peaceful protest, the News & Record for printing such a lame and misleading story in the paper Feb. 1, 2006, which made the protest seem like nothing but a bunch of extreme leftist, crazy groups, which it was not, and the cowardice of the rest of the media for not truthfully and honestly covering this story. Someone actually had to phone WFMY to let them know what was going on. To their credit, they did send out a reporter. Whether or not we will see any of the footage remains to be seen. But there were very few news teams or reporters there to cover any of this protest which was part of a nationwide effort.

The media has twisted itself towards the interests of George. Is every media going to become another Fox network?

James Tunstall

And the Editor had this to say in response:
Editor’s Note: The police have been photographing license plates for over 50 years. It has nothing to do with the Patriot Act.

Three's a Crowd

2006-02-12T17:34:00.000-05:00

A recent post on lp.org has cemented my resolve to move to NH:

Congress Attempts to Kill the "Third-Party Threat"

Proposed Legislation Creates Treasury-Funded Campaigns for the Two Major Parties, Leaving Third Parties with No Means to Run

(Washington, D.C.) On February 1, congressional Democrats, led by Rep. Obey of Wisconsin, introduced a bill, H.R. 4694, that would end viable, third-party competition in races for the U.S. House of Representatives.

The bill, ironically named the "Let the People Decide Clean Campaign Act," would mandate public funds (taken from the U.S. Treasury) to candidates for the House of Representatives and forbid candidates from taking private funds such as contributions from individual donors.

The ambiguously-written bill provides funds for candidates of the "two major parties" but essentially scuttles any campaign efforts of third-party or independent candidates.

For third-party candidates to be eligible for the same funds that Republicans and Democrats would receive, they would have to obtain enough signatures to exceed 20% of votes cast in the last election within their district.

The catch under the proposed legislation is that third-party or independent candidates cannot pay petitioners to collect any signatures, making it impossible to fund their campaigns.

H.R. 4694 is yet another attempt by our politicians in office to shut down Libertarian Party candidates and other competitive third-party and independent campaigns.

"The Republican and Democratic parties exist to maintain power for their own benefit. The Libertarian Party exists to grasp power for the benefit of the nation," stated Shane Cory, chief of staff for the Libertarian Party. "American voters are waking up to this reality, and as they do, the two parties are trying everything within their power to shut us down."

Drown Out Bush

2006-02-12T17:25:00.000-05:00

Despite the random rumors flying about, I was NOT maced at the Drown Out Bush protest on January 31st in dowtown Greenboro. I was in The Scene trying to watch the State of the Union and heckle Bush. But, as I understand it, some very wrong things were happening outside. In case you've only read the N&R perspective, there's a wonderful LTE printed in the Rhino Times (the issue printed last Thursday). Thanks to the Rhino for publishing this - they're not as evil as most of you think they are! As soon as their online edition catches up to date, I'll post the letter to this blog.

Time to Switch to BB&T?

2006-01-25T23:20:00.000-05:00

Regional Bank to Refuse Loans in Eminent Domain Projects
By PAUL NOWELL
Associated Press Writer

http://tinyurl.com/7o5l2

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — Regional bank BB&T Corp., one of the
nation's largest financial institutions, will make no
loans to developers who plan to build commercial
projects on land taken from private citizens by the
government through the power of eminent domain, the
company said Wednesday.

"The idea that a citizen's property can be taken by
the government solely for private use is extremely
misguided, in fact it's just plain wrong," John
Allison, the bank's chairman and chief executive, said
in a statement.

In an interview, BB&T chief credit officer Ken Chalk
said the bank expects to lose only a tiny amount of
business, but believes it was obligated to take a
stance on the issue.

"It's not even a fraction of a percent," he said. "The
dollar amount is insignificant.

"We do business with a large number of consumers and
small businesses in our footprint. We are hearing from
clients that this is an important philosophical
issue."

Chalk said he knows of no other large U.S. bank with a
similar policy.

BB&T, which is headquartered in Winston-Salem, ranks
among the nation's top 10 banks by assets.

In June, a divided Supreme Court ruled that cities may
raze people's homes to make way for shopping malls or
other private development. The 5-4 decision gave local
governments the power to seize private property in the
name of increased tax revenue.

The ruling upheld a decision by the City of New
London, Conn., to seize seven property owners' land so
developers could build a hotel and high-end
condominiums to keep pharmaceutical giant Pfizer
expanding in the state.

Scott Bullock, a senior attorney with the Arlington,
Va.-based Institute of Justice who represented
homeowners in the case, applauded the bank's decision.

"Eminent domain abuse is wrong and unconstitutional,"
Bullock said in a statement. "BB&T has stepped up and
recognized its corporate responsibility to not be a
part of this shameful abuse of individual rights."

In its statement, BB&T said 38 states have recently
passed or are considering laws to ban the use of
eminent domain for private development. Similar
legislation is pending before the U.S. Congress.

"While we're certainly optimistic about the pending
legislation, this is something we could not wait any
longer to address," Chalk said in a statement. "We're
a company where our values dictate our decision-making
and operating standards. From that standpoint, this
was a straightforward decision; it's simply the right
thing to do."

BB&T, with $109 billion in assets, operates more than
1,400 branches in 11 states and Washington, D.C.

UNCG Backs Down

2006-01-21T13:19:00.000-05:00

UNCG drops charges against me and Rob. Check out the News & Record article.

Go Texas!

2006-01-06T10:51:00.000-05:00

The Texas LP is fielding a record number of candidates this year! Give them, and Badnarik, your full support.

http://tinyurl.com/cwg8v

Badnarik already has an office set up and the staff is putting in 10 hr. days and it's only January! I love that man.

Patriot Act now due in 5 weeks

2005-12-23T11:03:00.000-05:00

The House rejected the Senate plan of a 6 month extension on the Patriot Act - they now have only 5 weeks to throw together some new fascism. Although they have all kinds of stuff just waiting in the wings, I'm sure. New Hampshire? Anyone?

Brutal Killers' Plans Thwarted

2005-12-22T10:46:00.000-05:00

Late Wednesday night, Senators voted to extend the Patriot Act for six additional months. 16 provisions of the act were set to expire at the end of December. Bush had some enlightening words to say on the issue: "This obstruction is inexcusable. The senators obstructing the Patriot Act need to understand that the expiration of this vital law will endanger America and will leave us in a weaker position in the fight against brutal killers." Atleast for now, we are safe from these brutal killers. How much do you wanna bet that when they revise this thing to re-pass it in six months, it will end up more abusive than it is now?

Have your citizenship papers out and ready...

2005-12-06T14:18:00.000-05:00

Meet Deborah Davis. She's a 50 year-old mother of four who lives and works in Denver, Colorado. Her kids are all grown-up: her middle son is a soldier fighting in Iraq. She led an ordinary, middle class life... until one morning in late September 2005, when Deb was riding the public bus to work. She was minding her own business, reading a book and planning for work, when a security guard got on this public bus and demanded that every passenger show their ID. Deb, having done nothing wrong, declined. The guard called in federal agents, and she was thrown to the floor, handcuffed, arrested and charged with fede ral criminal misdemeanors after refusing to show ID on demand.

This Friday morning, on the 9th of December 2005, Deborah Davis will be arraigned in U.S. District Court in a case that will determine whether Deb and the rest of us live in a free society, or in a country where the 4th Amendment to the United States Constitution has been rendered null and void... where we must show our "papers" whenever a cop demands them.

U.S. Constitution: Fourth Amendment
The right of the people to be secure in their persons, houses, papers, and effects, against unreasonable searches and seizures, shall not be violated, and no Warrants shall issue, but upon probable cause, supported by Oath or affirmation, and particularly describing the place to be searched, and the persons or things to be seized.

To read the details of Deb's story, go to:
http://papersplease.org/davis/index.html

Article on our Free Speech Zone protest

2005-12-02T16:06:00.000-05:00

FAILURE TO COMMUNICATE: Standing up for what they believe
STAND and FIRE have two different approaches to protesting for their causes
By: Luke McIntyre
Issue date: 11/29/05 Section: Opinions

Almost two weeks ago, a group of both UNCG students and non-students
emailed the Office of Student Life with the announcement that they
would be meeting on the library lawn and holding a protest. They were
going to meet in front of the library to protest the free speech zone
some fifty yards away. Their email, thought it was sent only the night
before, did not go unread and police showed up to the site thirty
minutes before the group did. Even with the police present they set up
their signs and quietly stood in protest to university policy. The
group was separate from but promoting an organization called FIRE, or
Foundation for Individual Rights in Education. Their signs declared
"UNCG hates free speech" and that we attend "UNC-Gestapo."

Their obvious intentions were to break the rule and to get some sort
of reaction from university officials, which sort of happened. Perhaps
it had something to do with the cameramen present, but the police
decided that since the group wasn't breaking any other rules that they
could stand where they were. It's not like they were laying down in
the street or anything. Then, as if the sweet gods of irony decided to
rain their sarcastic gifts upon us, another protest group showed up
and laid in the street.

Members of STAND, or Students Taking Action Now: Darfur, showed up for
a die-in. A die-in is like a sit-in except, of course, you pretend
you're dead. Unfortunately for them, police were already nearby and
this protest group was breaking another rule. They were obstructing an
emergency vehicle pathway by laying forty or so people down in the
middle of College Avenue.

Much like the first sit-in that coincidentally took place in 1960-era
Greensboro, these students made a symbolic protest to bring attention
to their cause. Unlike the four A&T students who so bravely demanded
service at a whites-only lunch counter however, when these protesters
were threatened with arrest they fled as if they had been set aflame.
All it took was one threat from a police officer and the die-in
participants suddenly sprung to life. Then, in a gesture they probably
thought defiant, some of the protesters linked arms and began walking
up and down College Avenue. I say some because several people
abandoned the protest altogether after police came. It was really as
if they had completely forgotten that they just folded by following
police orders to get off the ground and they thought their new protest
was really sticking it to the man. The man, were he present, would
probably have been holding in his laughter.

Unlike the STAND protesters, Allison Jaynes, who organized the free
sppech protest, and her group stayed put despite threats of
punishment. Jaynes herself said that she showed up that day expecting
to "either get arrested or tried by the Student Code." It was for this
reason that they employed two camera men to film the event, with at
least one other camera filming from a hidden spot if police attempted
to confiscate their tapes. In comparison, we can really see how
dedicated STAND is to fighting the genocide in Darfur.

The free speech protesters did a bit more than stand with signs, they
got results. At the protest was Associate Director of Student Life
Checka Leinwall, who spoke with several protesters and promised a
meeting to discuss the free speech zones. In the end, Jaynes' group
took their free speech by force.

I thought it quite funny when, while protesters and police were
battling it out in the middle of campus, some poor tour guide had to
bring a group of high school kids and their parents through what
looked like a scene from PCU. Then someone joked that the tour group
was blocking the sidewalk, which made me think about the Darfur
protest, which made me laugh. But later, after I composed myself,
something occurred to me. If College Avenue is really a road intended
for emergency traffic and can't be blocked, then what are university
employees doing zipping up and down it on golf carts? Emergency
traffic means only the vehicles that are carrying police, firefighters
or paramedics, not maintenance vehicles or anything else. But at UNCG,
as I always forget, if something is university sanctioned then they
obviously don't need to follow university policy.

Log on to Luke's blog at www.livejournal.com/~luke_mcintyre.

Just Say No to National ID

2005-11-22T11:56:00.000-05:00

On Saturday, November 12, Free State activists from Keene and as far
away as New London Connecticut gathered to defy national
identification systems. In full view of the social security
administration, social security cards were burned, sending a message
that national ID will not be accepted. Around twenty activists
gathered to take part in the torching festivities.

When Social Security was first foisted on America, the cards were
imprinted with, "Not to be used for Identification." People were wary
of the tyranny involved with a national ID card, so the government had
to promise that the Social Security number would never be used for ID.
They have broken that promise. As Americans became resigned to the
idea of having a national number, the promise was quietly removed from
the cards. Now, of course, the social security number is used for so
many purposes, it is a defacto national ID number. Doctors, banks,
motor vehicle departments, utilities companies…the list is endless of
groups wanting your national ID number, groups having nothing to do
with social security and retirement funds.

Now, with the passage of the Real ID act, the National ID card is
outright law, and no longer just a defacto national ID number.
Individuals wishing to travel in this country, whether it be driving
themselves or riding on trains, busses, and airplanes will now be
required to carry their national ID card, with their national ID
number included on it. Even walking in public requires a person to
carry their ID, as recent court decisions show. National ID cards are
to carry "biometric data" probably in the form of a RFID chip, which
can be read from a distance. Personal data about you will be
available to any hacker on the street, in addition to being given to
the Mexican and Canadian governments.

National ID cards have long been a tool of tyrannical government. A
government which abuses and therefore fears its populace needs to be
able to track them at all times. No government who governs justly
need barricade itself in, as Washington D.C. has done. A government
who remains the servant of the people need not track the peoples'
every move.

To protest the injustice of the national ID number and national ID
card, Russell Kanning, Kat Dillon and Lauren Canario of NHFree.com
burned their social security cards in front of the social security
administration in Concord, NH. A battered Lady Liberty made her
appearance. National ID and the Patriot Act have given Ms. Liberty a
rough few years. Signs at the event read, "Your number citizen,
Welcome to the Machine," and "Social Security: The Big Lie. World's
largest pyramid scheme. Ponzi would be proud." Signs were left for
SS Admin employees to enjoy the next workday. Kanning left the event
with the satisfaction of knowing that, "I finally said no to the
government on issues of being numbered and being a part of the social
security system." Young William G., age 4, who attended the event
stated emphatically, "I don't want to be a number!"

Social Security Card Burn, The Movie is now available, free!
(About 5 1/2 minutes)

For more information, visit:
http://nhfree.com
http://freestateproject.org
http://keenefreepress.com

Free Constitution

2005-11-09T10:22:00.000-05:00

Order your free pocket constitution today and READ it!

(Also fun to carry around in your glove box. I keep my registration tucked in to the Fourth Amendment and ask cops at road blocks if they'd like to read it.)

Economics Lesson from Tom Sawyer

2005-10-26T11:14:00.000-04:00

*** Tom meets Huck while on his way to school. Tom asks:

"Say -- what's that?"

"Nothing but a tick."

"Where'd you get him?"

"Out in the woods."

"What'll you take for him?"

"I don't know. I don't want to sell him."

"All right. It's a mighty small tick, anyway."

"Oh, anybody can run a tick down that don't belong to them. I'm satisfied with it. It's a good enough tick for me."

"Sho, there's ticks a plenty. I could have a thousand of 'em if I wanted to."

"Well, why don't you? Becuz you know mighty well you can't. This is a pretty early tick, I reckon. It's the first one I've seen this year."

"Say, Huck -- I'll give you my tooth for him."

"Less see it."

Tom got out a bit of paper and carefully unrolled it. Huckleberry viewed it wistfully. The temptation was very strong. At last he said:

"Is it genuwyne?"

Tom lifted his lip and showed the vacancy.

"Well, all right," said Huckleberry, "it's a trade."

Tom enclosed the tick in the percussion-cap box that had lately been the pinchbug's prison, and the boys separated, each feeling wealthier than before.

That last line captures the essence of a free market system. The only transactions that should occur are ones in which each party values what they're receiving more than what they gave in return.

(Thanks to Susan Hogarth for this illumination.)

Dixie Classic Fair

2005-10-12T11:11:00.000-04:00

It came to an end this past Sunday, but we had a highly impressive booth set-up this year thanks to our talented decorators, Bev and Susan, and all who donated various materials. The display was simple, succinct and eye-catching. It really focused on our ballot access efforts which was a genius move, since almost everyone has heard of our misfortune (which is good and bad). All the people that showed up to work the booth were real troopers and I have to be grateful to each and every one of them. Since this may well be Guilford's last year participating in the Dixie Classic, I thought some pictures were in order.

Animal Law

2005-10-09T15:46:00.000-04:00

This law recently discovered by Paul Elledge in the NC general statutes:

Permitting bitch at large.

If any person owning or having any bitch shall knowingly permit her to
run at large during the erotic stage of copulation he shall be guilty
of a Class 3 misdemeanor.

(makes me giggle.)

Also just found out from the animal shelter I volunteer for that all animals that have resided at an animal shelter in NC for more than 30 days must be provided with one toy.

So deprive them of love and home for 30 days, THEN throw them a chew toy. See how many will be interested in a squeaky bone after 30 days in a cage.

New 'New Deal'

2005-09-29T10:26:00.000-04:00

"So far, Congress has sped through bills providing $62.3 billion for Katrina relief - and made it clear these are just first installments.
'That's a good start, but victims need more,' Senate Minority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., said..."
(from here)

Some stats on previous natural disaster spending:

$15.5 billion - total spent from all levels of government on the 1994 Los Angeles earthquake
$14 billion - total spent on last year's Florida hurricanes
$10.8 billion - spent on Hurricane Andrew in 1992

So Katrina is already seeing five times the gov't. money as the LA earthquake, and that's just the beginning. I don't want to downplay a tragedy here, but these things happen all the time and those homeless families don't get this kind of money thrown at them. As John Hammer, editor of the Rhino Times, pointed out last week,

"It is a tragedy that people are homeless, but they are no more or less homeless than those people who were flooded out by the Mississippi River during the Clinton administration. Nor are they any more homeless that the people of Princeville, or other towns in eastern North Carolina who were flooded out by Hurricane Floyd."

Could all this money-throwing perhaps have something to do with Bush's latest approval ratings???

Only in New York

2005-09-28T10:40:00.000-04:00

Woman gets ticketed for sitting on a park bench without a child...

Some Humor for a Boring Tuesday

2005-09-27T10:47:00.000-04:00

Donald Rumsfeld is giving George Bush his daily briefing, and he
tells Bush, "Yesterday, 3 Brazilian soldiers were killed in Iraq."

"Oh, no!" the President exclaims. "That's terrible!"

His staff sits, stunned at this sudden display of emotion, nervously
watching as the President sits, head in hands.

Finally, the President looks up and asks, "How many is a brazillion?"