Fire It Up!!

Tonight was the first of three town hall meetings being held in support of a comprehensive smoking ban in Marion County. Anyone who knows me knows I abhor the loss of property rights. I was planning on making the meeting, but had to work. Sounds like more fireworks are in store, it's not my place to say, but the LPMC is adding someone...

Laws of the Best Intentions...

Are also the laws of unintended consequences. Smoking bans are just that....although noble in principle, the consequences are unintended, and usually severe. In a time of economic uncertainty, to put it best, some Indianapolis City-County Councillors think it's best to further control the free market.

Proponents say it's for the health of the workers. As a worker in the hospitality industry, the one potentially hardest hit by a comprehensive ban, I can personally say that it also has a disproportionate amount of smokers in its workforce. So to say it's for the workers is bollocks. Proponents say workers shouldn't be forced into working in a smoky environment. Bartenders and servers know what they get into when they work in a bar, and to say otherwise is pure bullshit as well.

Bar owners go into business for one reason, to make money. They do it by the following three rules:
HAVE FUN.
MAKE MONEY.
DO WHATEVER IT TAKES APPLYING RULES #1 AND #2

Eliminating options for bar owners eliminates their profits, which eliminates taxes, which eliminates city services. Remember, this law is made with the best of intentions.

Here's What Hope Means...

Hope means that millions of lives will never get a chance to come to fruition. Change means the voices of the voiceless will remain that, voiceless. Economic stimulus comes at the expense of good-paying jobs. So help you God, my ass!

Not even a week into his administration, President Obama has reversed the policy of allocating funds for international pro-abortion groups. That's right, your taxpayer dollar is going overseas to help promote "family planning." Family planning is more than infanticide.

Furthermore, he's still planning on signing the Freedom of Choice Act. In a nutshell, it would shutter thousands of hospitals nationwide, because if a hospital receives any federal money, it would then be required to perform abortions. A spokesman with the U.S. Conference of Catholic Bishops said the hospitals would be shut down because they won't perform them in their hospitals...think, St. Vincent and all of its hospitals including the Women's and Peyton Manning Children's, St. Francis and all of its hospitals, including its new Heart Hospital...all gone. And all of the income the physicians, nurses, and staff, gone. All that pro bono work those hospitals do will now disappear for those who need help.

For a man who wants to stimulate the economy, he sure is finding new ways to send it further down the crapper.

Little Bit of This, Little Bit of That

Hope everyone had a great holiday season, whatever the holiday, from Christmas presents to the Festivus airing of grievances, the ball drop on New Year's Eve, and everything in between. The General Assembly is back, and it seems the airing of grievances will continue until April. I took a personal respite, appearing on WFNI (1070 the Fan)'s Voice of the Fan program for two hours yesterday, and had a hoot.

Smoking bans are back. I'm an ex-smoker, but I'm not a Nazi about it. The thing is, stay out of business!! Government, let business owners exercise their rights in their offices or restaurants or halls, and trust the individual to make his own decision. As far as the state budget, I'm more apt to agree with Gov. Daniels. Cuts are painful, but the state has to live within its means. Speaker Bauer wants to dip in the Rainy Day Fund, claiming it's a downpour; my concern is what if it's only the leading edge of an economic hurricane? Then what happens in 2010 if there is no Rainy Day Fund?

It's good to be back on here...what are your thoughts??

Annie, Get Your....$#!^, They Took That Too??

Looks like Greg Ballard has a Greg Bowes-esque view on liberty. Business owners can't make choices on their properties, now weapons owners have to get licensed with the city?? Doesn't the state already mandate a weapons license?? Isn't it already illegal to bring a gun across state lines without AG approval? I mean come one, talk about a law of unintended consequences.

When Plaxico Burress shot himself, albeit accidentally, I told a friend, it's crap like this that will take away gun owners' rights. I didn't think an elected Republican would propose this, then again I didn't think an elected Republican would directly inject billions of tax dollars into the economy, removing the barrier between the government and the free market.

Yet another reason to vote Libertarian. What's more important, keeping with the two headed beast, or voting for everyday people, with decent, common sense ideas??

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.