Proof of Why Less Is More

Some people may not like what I'm about to say, but we need to move away from the township level of government in Indiana, COMPLETELY. After the whole debacle in Washington Township here in Marion County, I've seen the light.

The township has NO fire department (it merged into Indianapolis Fire in the past couple of years), thus cutting its needs by over half. How can you piss on the taxpayers' parade in a recession? Vote yourself a 60% pay raise while taking no public comments, then giving none when pressed by citizens and the press afterwards. Real simple folks, if you can't take the heat, get out of the kitchen! Hopefully, people remember this when more talk of eliminating consolidation happens, or just vote the bums out in four years!

Cut the Crap!

After all of this election hullabaloo, I'm wondering how sincere President-elect Obama is about governing from the center. I think he's going to try some out-there policy shifts, and people will scream bloody murder. Soon afterwards, the test balloons will stop, and he will truly run the country from the center. He knows that it's a two year audition, which makes for an awfully short honeymoon.

What worries me is if the GOP will be trying to shift to the right (which it should, in the name of gridlock, at the very least), or if there will be a sentiment of bipartisanship. I'm thinking Minority Leader John Boehner (R-OH) will be fighting every instance of liberalism tooth and nail.

For the next two years, we libertarians (small-l and big-L) need to keep both parties committed to true social and economic freedom in the face of mounting bailouts and falling markets.

This begins at the most local of government. Libertarians need to step up to the challenge in the next election two years from now, and put the pressure on the incumbents committed to stealing your money and freedom. Township trustees, county clerks (very important, they do run the elections after all), and the General Assembly (all Reps and half the Senate) are up for grabs in 2010. Don't forget, the critical Secretary of State race happens then too. That is our ballot access race. Please remember, just because the country may be down, there is a true change everyone can believe in. It's not just a slogan, it's a way of life. Besides, who doesn't like more money in their pockets, or more freedoms to enjoy? People are not responsible to their government, government is responsible to its citizens.

From the "WTF" Files....

Lawrence Mayor Paul Ricketts is at it again. First, a 17% raise after ten months on the job, now trying to get funding for holiday decorations??

Mayor Ricketts is a good, decent man, he and I don't agree on everything, granted. I know this from conversations on the campaign trail. However, that being said, his priorities are very skewed. I haven't seen any additional police cars or fire stations. I'm worried that in a tight economy that the government is once again is taking advantage of the unsuspecting.

Getting in on the Ground Floor

My friends, Mark Rutherford wrote on his blog recently about how Libertarians need to work the mail room before becoming the CEO. I whole-heartedly agree. We need to look at the smaller races (Township Trustee, countywide offices, with strong State Rep and State Senate candidates) before we look at the Governor's Mansion. With that said, 2010 is our ballot access race for Secretary of State (Any volunteers?)

Libertarians in Indiana have an excellent opportunity to retool, reload, and refocus in 2009. But you say, there's no elections. I say, exactly. Having an off year in the cycle gives us an opportunity to canvas, raise funds, and deliver a message that makes that emotional connection as to why someone should punch the "L" next to the office. It's one thing to be educated and principled, it's another to drive the point home using a real, lasting connection rather than a hypothetical. Trust me, tending bar is easier when you make a connection rather than, make drink, pay for drink. What I mean is, anyone can make a margarita, but the best bartenders give people something to remember, and they come back.

I ask all potential candidates for 2010 start thinking about how to connect with voters rather than tell them how the Libertarian philosophy is the right way. Give people a taste of the good stuff, and they'll wanna drink the whole bottle. Who's thirsty?

Kingmaker??

I'm flipping around and WISH says that Bob Barr is the difference. Jim Shella says that Barr's 25K votes is the difference in the state race with 88% in. Keep in mind Lake County as well as NW Indiana and Evansville are coming in. McCain is 6K up, but where are the last votes coming in??

Fair and Balanced??

I'm watching the Mitch victory speech on WRTV, and heard something slip over the national feed saying that McCain lost Ohio, may as well call the whole race....fair and balanced??? You be the judge!

Predictions and Prognostications

OK, it's not Jimmy the Greek or the Great Carnac, but here are my predictions for tomorrow's election. Abdul put his predictions up and I commented there, here are my guesses (all they are, I have no scientific basis to claim expertise here)

Presidential - Obama 303-238…53%
Indiana Prez Vote - McCain 52-47
Gubernatorial - Daniels with 55% of the vote…JLT gets some straight ticket, not enough to overcome six weeks off the air.
US Senate - Dems pick up 4 seats in the Senate
US House - Dems pick up 12 seats in the House.
State House - 51D-48R-1L
Public Question #1 -Adios assessors
Public Question #2 (in IPS district) -Praying no, but what Dr. White wants, Dr. White gets

Internal Preferences, not Schools

Those should be the initials of IPS. My wife is an IPS teacher who found out her school is closing at the end of the academic year. Her school was one of the ones improving, actually on a path to make National Blue Ribbon status. Her school is on the list for Phase III. My friend Ed Angleton knows what that means...Bonding.

Her school was part of the referendum for $273 million in capital improvements. Unfortunately, it's too late to pare back the bond amount. Now that the school closings have been leaked/announced, Superintendent Dr. Eugene White says that the board won't use all of the monies allocated. Right, and I'm the Pope. I'd be very interested if the school board discovers other "improvements" in other current schools to be made by the end of the year.

White believes that the money is more important than the students. I thought teachers and administrators were in the business of educating the youth of today to prepare them for tomorrow. While I understand that declining enrollment means fewer schools open, why close one of the schools that's actually exceeding expectations, building a reputation, and turning out good kids??

Bad Cop, Worse Cop

Now most of us know the time honored situation of good cop, bad cop. One is friendly, one is not. The campaign is turning not into good cop, bad cop, but rather bad cop, worse cop.

McCain would only vote for the bailout if it had no pork (Bad Cop). He voted for it after $140 billion was added to motivate certain holdouts (Worse Cop).

Obama seems only to talk in rallies, or carefully crafted interviews, making him inaccessible to the masses (Bad Cop). He never holds press conferences, preferring to buy time on TV and move the World Series in accordance with his wishes (Worse Cop.)

I can go on and on, but the only GOOD COP in this scenario is Bob Barr, Libertarian candidate for president.

Buyer Beware

It seems a lot of people I know are going to pull the Obama lever. First of all, it's heartbreaking. Second, of all, buyer beware!!

In the ebb and flow of the American political scene, it's been center-right or center-left, not moving to far to one end of the pendulum or the other. As far as I can remember, there hasn't been an extreme shift one way or the other. Voting Obama would be an outright vote to the far left, making voters feel good now, but they will be paying (literally) for it in 2009 and beyond. Obama has the MOST liberal voting record in the Senate since he took office, and his running mate, Joe Biden is #3.

Now, I believe in equality at all levels as far as individual rights are concerned, but not in the pocketbook. Voting for Obama is nothing more than romanticizing a modern day Robin Hood, except you're the evil doers that he's taking from to give to the "poor."

What I mean is that for every hard-working, ball-busting individual out there, there is someone that has been a product of the system waiting for the next handout. I'm sick of the people that will have the government take care of them. I'm sick of my taxes going up to pay for their lazy butts. Now I understand that some people have certain situations, and I get that they need assistance. What I don't understand is that I'm supposed to subsidize someone's poor decisions in life.

I work hard, pay my taxes, am happily married, and have no children, but have to pay for someone that couldn't keep her legs closed, someone who has no desire to work, or someone who just wants to stick it to the man. Well, I'm a man, and I'm tired of it! If you want a true change in Washington, vote Bob Barr. He'll stick it to those that have stuck us taxpayers for way too long!

Random Musings

-So the stock market gained 11% on Monday, putting it at 9300 and change...bailout trickle down, or has everyone returned from their Chicken Little paranoia??

-GM and Chrysler have talked about a merger or swapping of assets, should it be looked at as a preclude to the American automotive manufacturing collapse, or as two failing companies joining forces to return to glory??

-Bart Peterson endorsed centralizing the assessor's office and eliminating the township positions...Is Satan serving iced tea??

-When will the Blackhawks lift Lord Stanley's Cup??

-When will the Cubs win the World Series??

Any other musings, muse away my friends.

Vote Early, Vote Often, Vote Johns Jimmy!!

It appears that 105% of the voting population is registered in Marion County. Beth White has some more explaining than just vote early and get preferential seating for an Obama campaign stop. She needs to nip this in the bud immediately and rationally. She's on the hot seat for 2010, and can't afford many more Keystone Cop routines in the Clerk's office.

Hat tip to Advance Indiana and Ogden on Politics

Mark Your Calendar

"SPLIT THE TICKET"...What do I mean...I mean Libertarian, Republican, and Democrat candidates are invited to Monument Circle on October 17th at 5:10PM for a press conference. Eliminating township government and repealing property taxes are among the issues to be discussed.

More details as they become available....

The Obamanomics of It All

First came socialism, now comes Marxism...Senator Obama is in town today, and talks proposing cutting insurance premiums and giving the uninsured Congressional insurance...how does he plan on paying for this? We went away from the gold standard because of the Great Society, what would this plan be, the Next Society...Lenin is smiling somewhere.

With the economic crisis continuing, and the Dow down 160 points, is more regulation the answer? How much more can Congress turn this country into Venezuela, and how much longer will the American people take it? The stock market is like a marriage, it has ups and it has downs, but it works out if both parties want it too...the market and the investors are married with money, it just seems that the government is the homewrecker on the side, offering something one can't offer the other. Is divorce really worth it?

Debate Review

Are Senators McBama the Pied Pipers or what...don't worry about the economy, the government will take care of you. That is the gist of what they're saying in regards to the bailout (don't call it a rescue plan). McCain offered a plan that would authorize the Treasury Department to spend $300 billion to buy bad mortgages. Republicans advocating socialism...Reagan's spinning in his grave. Obama talks of how 101 million people would not get a tax break, there is still 200 million people in this country. More socialism. I'm waiting for one to say, "To each according to their abilities."

That day is coming sooner than later, no matter which candidate you choose. Unless you choose Bob Barr, then you choose your wallet and your life.

Lawrence Losers

The losers are all of us taxpayers in the City of Lawrence. On Monday, five Republicans approved a salary increase of $11,000 to Mayor Paul Ricketts. Unfortunately, the Mayor went back on a pledge of cutting the budget five percent in non-public safety in order to fatten his wallet at taxpayers' expense.

This obvious abuse of power is just another reason why Deb's Democrats and Ricketts' Republicans should be run out of town on a rail. There is no good option in Lawrence, and when the voice of reason appears, it's dismissed as radical. Sometimes radical is reality, and the reality is is that there is no difference if an R or a D runs the city.

Will Time Tell?

I was reading Charles Krauthammer's column online via the Detroit News, and he brought up an interesting, albeit slanted, thought. Is George W. Bush the next Harry S. Truman? I say perhaps in time, but only if he's eventually vindicated on Iraq. If not, he could be the GOP's two-term Jimmy Carter.

What do you think??

Sunday Shenanigans

I'm sitting here watching the Chicago/Tampa Bay game with my wife, checking my fantasy football scores, and if I wasn't working tonight, I'd probably enjoy a couple of cold ones over the course of the day. I don't want to go to a restaurant or tavern to do it, I want to just kick back at home and have a frosty beverage. It's unfortunate that I would have had to gone out last night to get my supplies for today.

The liquor laws in this state are a bit asinine to say the least. On Sunday, if you want a cocktail and have none at home, you have to go out and have it, then drive home, risking your safety and the safety of others. I don't understand what the problem is if you want to get a six-pack and go about your day around the house.

Has Enough Been Enough?

Yesterday in Coral Gables, FL at a rally, Democratic presidential nominee, Sen. Barack Obama (D-IL) was chanted against by protesters holding signs that read "Blacks Against Obama" or "Obama for Abortions." Another sign mentioned his candidacy was supported by the Ku Klux Klan.

My thing is that the Democratic party uses minorities the same way they used the immigrants a century ago. They would have you think they have your best interests at heart because your one group or another. All they have done is conspire at all levels of government to erode your freedoms. Sometimes of their own volition, sometimes in concert with Republicans.

These freedoms are many, from property rights to economic liberty to name only a couple. Democrats aren't the only party doing this though. Republicans have made it a point over time to grow government their way into more of a Norsefire than compassionate conservatism. The Patriot Act and nationalizing AIG are two of the glaring examples of this activity.

If you're tired of feeling like you're being taken for your finances or your freedom, vote Libertarian. They represent every minority, the individual.

Are You a Socialist or a Socialist?

In the wake of an unprecedented bailout by the Fed, I am now convinced that there is NO difference between Republicans and Democrats on the fiscal level. Socially, there is a dichotomy, but when it comes to matters of economics, there truly isn't a dime's difference anymore, and that's a shame. I thought deep-down that the GOP would return to its small-government roots not be a player in the private sector. I can wish in one hand and crap in another and I'll tell you which one fills up first.

Today is a dark day for America. The American dream is quickly becoming a nightmare, and few seem to notice.