:: walterindenver ::

:: Monday, December 30, 2002 ::

Don't Try This at Home

When Andrew Olmsted lists his 10 worst blogs of the year he really means his. I won't even bother to list my worst, a 150 way tie for last.

:: Walter 4:36 PM [+] ::
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Atrios and Anti-Semitism

Atrios has an odd post about the links between the John Birch Society and Republicans.

I personally think that the Republican party has purged itself of its anti-semitic demons much more successfully than it has its racist demons, though I'm amazed that people seem oblivious to some history on this issue. The John Birch society was strongly rooted in anti-semitism, and much of their core worldview revolved around the existence of a Vast Jewish Conspiracy - later somewhat repackaged in the religious right's "new world order" conspiracy theorizing of the late 80s/90s. The JBS was instrumental in helping get Reagan elected Governor of California, though he did later distance himself from them. From that time, words and phrases like "Hollywood elite" and "New York Liberals" and others were all code words for "Jews."

I call this odd for a several reasons. Tying the JBS to the Republicans is not unlike linking the KKK to the Democrats - historically correct but irrelevant to the modern political scene. It's a battle that was won long ago. Also odd; the differentiation between 'anti-semitism' and 'racism,' as if there's two different sorts of bigotry. I wonder which of the two Atrios thinks is worse?

:: Walter 10:00 AM [+] ::
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Membership, anyone?

Bag and Baggage reports that Sandra Day O'Connor is on the short list of potential members for Augusta National. This is a good time to point out what a tight spot the golf club is in when it comes to appeasing the folks who want them to admit a female member. Augusta National is one of the most exclusive clubs of any kind in the U.S. Current members are generally qualified in each of the following categories:

1. Rich. Plan on spending well into six figures for your membership.

2. Distinguished in their professions. Captains of industry are the norm. If you believe in glass ceilings in then you can see how this would be an obstacle.

3. Avid and competent golfers. On the golf course avid players, ones who play once a week or more, are represented by men at a rate of about 10 to 1 over women. It's not because of any real barriers that women encounter in the game, it's just that men tend to have more of an interest than women.

Taking those three factors into consideration the list of women likely to be invited becomes just a handful of names. Sandra Day O'Connor, LPGA great Nancy Lopez, and Darla Moore are some of the names that come up. Ms. Moore doesn't even play much golf. So what happens if the women most eligible for membership aren't interested in joining? After all, why pay all that money just to join a club where you may feel less than welcome? What will Augusta National do if the no eligible women want to join?

:: Walter 8:32 PM [+] ::
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Safety First

The Chinese governnment is very concerned with public safety. Free exchange of information is not a concern. Why do you ask?

:: Walter 7:54 PM [+] ::
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Hooray!

Via TalkLeft a very worthwhile website, roadblock.org, run by an organization working against the unconstitutional roadblocks so popular with U.S. law enforcement these days. From the website:

We oppose the use of roadblocks, period. The only justification for stopping citizens under a roadblock scenario is to warn them of an unseen peril that could cause injury or death to an unsuspecting motorist. So-called "sobriety check points," or seat belt checks, or the myriad of other excuses the government concocts to harass and intimidate its citizens through the use of roadblocks are, in our opinion unconstitutional and in direct contradiction to any honest definition of freedom.

Hear, hear! They keep a list of roadblock locations and have other useful info. Here's the fourth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, in case any of you don't remember it. (I know you all have it memorized, but bear with me)

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.

How any judge failed to see how random searches at roadblocks violate this amendment is beyond me.

:: Walter 9:24 PM [+] ::
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A New Columnist?

David Kopel, in today's Rocky Mountain News, fields nominations for new opinion columnists for the two major local dailies:

For proposed new columnists, the readers sent in plenty of great ideas. Locally, there were suggestions for former U.S. Sen. Hank Brown, and for Ari Armstrong, the publisher of the Web magazine Colorado Freedom Report. Armstrong, with whom I've occasionally co-written articles, would add a libertarian voice to the Post, and he works very hard to add original research to his opinion pieces.

Ari Armstrong's Colorado Freedom Report is one of the original links on the left side of this web page. I couldn't imagine a better choice for the job. I think I'll write to the papers and second David's motion.

:: Walter 5:29 PM [+] ::
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James Capozzola

Writes at his blog, The Rittenhouse Review:

It’s odd, I think, that one doesn’t need permission from any governmental authority to reproduce.

A joke, perhaps. Or not. One doesn't need government permission to publish a blog, either. Neither of those facts bother me nor strike me as odd.

:: Walter 6:06 PM [+] ::
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Progress

This is bizarre and cool.

Surgeons in Italy have succeeded in treating a patient with liver cancer using radiation after removing the organ from the body and then re-implanting it.

I wonder how much that costs? Will a standard insurance policy cover it?

:: Walter 8:41 AM [+] ::
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Did I Mention?

I went to a holiday party last weekend, lots of friends there. There was a fellow who I had met maybe once previously, and after a brief conversation with him, I deduced that he is Fusilierpundit. The one and only. When confronted he admitted it.
That's correct, gentle readers. I know the true identity of the Anonymous One. And his real name is.... Peter Parker. No, no, no, that's not true. I won't reveal his name. Not until I come up with a really clever blackmail scheme and milk it for all it's worth.

:: Walter 8:48 PM [+] ::
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Sad

The news is a week old, but I just learned that Stereolab's Mary Hansen has died in a bike accident in London.

:: Walter 9:08 AM [+] ::
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The 50 Most Loathsome People in America

29. BILL O'REILLY
Misdeeds: At least Rush Limbaugh was funny every now and then.

Dead on. But Jim Rome # 15? Ain't no way there's fourteen worse than him.

:: Walter 10:19 PM [+] ::
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More Fed Justice Problems

This seems to be something of an injustice:

According to GOA, Bean, 63, attempted to enter Mexico for dinner March 14, 1998, after sponsoring a gun show in Laredo. He was arrested by Mexican border authorities when they spotted approximately 200 rounds of ammunition lying on his car seat; possession of ammunition is a felony south of the border. ....
Though he was convicted in Mexico for an act that is legal in the U.S., because he spent time in jail on a felony conviction he effectively lost his right to own firearms – a loss that also puts him out of the gun-show business.

The most disturbing part of the story is how Ashcroft and U.S. Solicitor General Ted Olsen sought to overturn the restoration of rights granted by lower courts. This is one more case where this administration actively works against individual rights, even in cases unrelated to the 'War on Terror.'

:: Walter 10:10 AM [+] ::
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David Carr

writing at Samizdata.

If you support drug prohibition than you have no argument with the gun-grabbers, the health fascists or the enviro-mentalists and I can do nothing but dissolve in fury when I hear so many Conservatives complain of 'political correctness gone mad' in response to smoking-bans or the confiscation of toy guns. These idiocies are nothing to do with 'political correctness'; they are the logical consequences of the widespread acceptance of the prohibitionist principle which provides both the moral validation and missionary righteousness of the nanny state.
What they do to cocaine today, they will do to hamburgers tomorrow.

I couldn't say it better myself, which is why I've lifted this paragraph over here to this blog. Readers interested in this subject should go over and read the whole article and the ensuing debate in the comments section.

:: Walter 9:23 AM [+] ::
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"The reality is, Bigfoot just died."

I love a good hoax. This one was one of the best.

:: Walter 3:08 PM [+] ::
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Phyllis from Mulga

This is for Tom and Andy. I think she's maybe even more PO'ed than you guys are.

:: Walter 3:39 PM [+] ::
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Writer's Block

I haven't posted much this week, but it's still more than Vodkafella. I wonder if his hits drop precipitously as do mine when posting is light. I think married life is agreeing with him.

:: Walter 8:41 AM [+] ::
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No Accounting for Taste

Someone else liked Kafka! No, the movie, don't you remember? I knew there was a reason I added Jesse to the blogroll.

:: Walter 5:46 PM [+] ::
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Colorado's TABOR

Paul Marks comments on the TABOR amendment at Samizdata. I added a little more information in the comments. It's all explained there if you care to go read the article.

:: Walter 7:00 PM [+] ::
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Debate? ...II

I've been mulling this post at Shadow of the Hegemon for a few days now.

Glenn says that weblogs solve the "problem" posed by Republic.com, the book: that the Internet creates conversation only among people who agree with each other.
Weblogs point joyously to those with whom they disagree.
You have got to be kidding, Glenn. They aren't the refutation or the solution of the problem posed by Republic.com...
they're the embodiment of it.

As I wrote below, one of the prime benefits of a blog is the ability to debate, to engage the opposition in verbal combat. Some are more willing to do this than others.

Now comes this. One blog delinks a second blog, and takes the further step of banning him from commenting, because he belongs to the wrong political party.
The word 'censorship' gets thrown about a lot in some of the comments floating around the blogosphere relating to this little tiff. But censorship is not the problem here. It's the way debate is avoided. There's not much sense in having political discourse if there's no chance of changing anyone's mind, and that won't happen if there's no interaction between people of differing political views.
I'm not trying to say that all views have equal weight. On the contrary, in a debate one side is usually wrong, and sometimes both sides are wrong. The best way to point out wrongness, or falsehood, is to tackle it head on. Debate, compare, contrast. As I said, "By refusing to engage one gives off the impression of either arrogance or inability to refute his opponent."
The banning blog in this case, is Jennie Taliaferro's Greatest Jeneration. She's a rightie, the banned Wilde is a leftie, the opposite dynamic of the Rittenhouse vs Little Green Footballs incident last week. Seems this problem doesn't have much to do with ideology.

:: Walter 1:44 PM [+] ::
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Taking Inventory

Let's see, there's me, Mrs. Indenver, Edgar, (a malamute) and Natasha (mostly malamute). The guest of honor; a 20 (!) lb turkey. Who gets the lion's share? The line from Vegas goes like this:

Edgar 1 - 1, even odds.
Natasha 2 - 1
Me, 4 - 1
Mrs. 10 -1

Place your bets now.

:: Walter 1:34 PM [+] ::
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Thieves Funding Campaigns

Kevin Raybould at Lean Left celebrates candidates who won elections while spending only public money.

Want to end the corrupting influence of money in politics? This is the way to do it. And, as an added bonus, you end up with people from all walks of life in the legislature. There are simply no losers in this scheme - except incumbents and money men, which is why getting this adopted has turned out to be so hard.

Not quite. You forgot about some other people who lose with this scheme. Public funds don't just magically appear, that's tax money you're talking about. That means no matter which raving loony gets elected, you helped. When some David Duke clone manages to win office, you'll have the pleasure of knowing that you spent some of your hard earned cash to fund his election. Taxpayers lose.

A bigger issue is the gatekeeper problem, as in who decides which candidates are eligible for public funding. That likely will be the people already holding office. Think about that, as laws get closer to outlawing private financing altogether. Want to run against the incumbent? He might be one of the people deciding how you'll qualify for campaign money. Want to run a campaign outside the political establishment? Start a new political party? Good luck! You may well find it's illegal to raise money. Public funding of elections is one more step toward consolidating power in backrooms at major party headquarters. The biggest loser will be grassroots politics.

:: Walter 11:48 AM [+] ::
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Debate?

James Capozzola, writing on his blog, the Rittenhouse Review:

I can no longer in good conscience include on the Rittenhouse Review’s blogroll any weblog that has provided a permanent blogroll link of its own to the site known as “Little Green Footballs” or “LGF.”
It is with great regret and considerable lament that I have adopted this position -- or been forced to adopt this position -- as I am normally a passionate advocate of an author’s right to choose his associates and to establish and maintain her own chosen associations.
However, it has become painfully clear, to the extent it wasn’t already, that the hosts of LGF, while preciously coy about their own political persuasions, all too willingly and not without satisfaction have allowed their site to become a vile cesspool of racism, bigotry, prejudice, ignorance, and hate.
Little Green Footballs, its readers, and what can in fairness only be described as its many contributors, have long since moved beyond the realm of civilized discourse.

How about some examples of that racism, bigotry, etc.?

LGF is not a regular read for me, so after reading the above I hastened over to LGF to find some nastiness. What I found was a whole bunch of people really unhappy with Islamic terrorists around the globe. News items culled from mostly foreign press sources are reprinted and linked to highlight the terrorists as generally bloodthirsty and backward. I think it's safe to say they don't like the way Islam has spawned violence. That's a politically incorrect position to be sure, but is it bigoted? Is it unfair? Well it might be, but the burden falls on the accuser to prove his case.

Mr. Capozzola instead opts to avoid debate, and to refuse to engage LGF at all, saying it's a matter of 'conscience' for him to avoid LGF, even anyone who links with LGF. If one wants to claim the moral high ground, he must first establish that he stands on morality while others don't. This blackballing goes against the spirit of blogging. The strength of a blog is the ability to engage the opposition, to debate, and to fact check. By refusing to engage one gives off the impression of either arrogance or inability to refute his opponent. Certainly that isn't what Mr. Capozzola intended.

LGF responds to the Rittenhouse Review here.

:: Walter 2:49 PM [+] ::
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Chili/e

A week ago I made an offhand comment saying chili should contain no ground beef. That got Jim Henley to say, rightly, that it should have no beans. That set off a blog flurry of comment, and I was compelled to clarify my position in an e-mail I sent to him.

Since I started this no beef/no bean thing I feel I should clarify what I meant.
Chili/e should be green and contain pork. (Chile con Carne) Sometimes this is referred to as New Mexico, or green, chili/e. This contains no beef, beans, or tomato. Red chili has tomato in it and normally contains no meat at all. This is used as a sauce, often on enchiladas. (Spanish word for 'in chile') The thing that most in the US are used to is Texas chili, a beef and bean concoction that while pleasant enough, isn't a Mexican food. I was referring to Mexican chile recipes.

I hope that helps.

:: Walter 8:09 PM [+] ::
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Da Blogroll

I've replaced a couple of off-topic or dormant links on the left over the last week or so. New-ish; Arthur Silber and Dean Esmay. I'm looking to add a (very) few more. If you have a blog that you think I may have overlooked feel free to hit the 'comments' button above and tell me about yours. If you're already getting a thousand hits a day then I'm probably already aware of your blog. If you have an obscure corner of the blogosphere, like mine, that you think deserves more attention, then tell me about it. Your political orientation isn't too important. A current events or public policy emphasis is what I'm looking for.

:: Walter 6:24 PM [+] ::
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Homeland Security and Data Mining

If you're not scared of the Homeland Security Dept. yet, (and where have you been?) then you should read what Kim du Toit has to say. Appearantly this is his field of expertice. It's a long but worthwhile piece, it ends this way:

Folks, this is the final frontier of our personal freedom in the United States. I am uncharacteristically somber when I say this, because it happens to be the truth. When you have no secrets left, you are completely helpless, and depend on the goodwill of the person who knows them all.
It's far worse when that "person" is the State.

Read the whole thing.

:: Walter 5:33 PM [+] ::
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Matthew in Denver (or some tranquil suburb thereof - edit)

Matthew Edgar responds to some stuff written on this site.

Walter has a lot to say about the difference between Republicans and Libertarians. I am not a partisan R or a partisan L. In the last election I did in fact vote for some Republicans. I voted Mike Coffman for treasurer for example. For my local house district I voted for the Republican (Rob Fairbank). Why? Coffman has the right ideas. He is anti-tax. He is anti-cigarette taxes, but he can do nothing about it. As treasurer, he has no other job than watching the money.

I'm stunned that Matthew voted for Coffman and against my favorite candidate, Gaar Potter. Gaar is the only person on the ballot, any ballot, who once appeared on the cover of Modern Drunkard, a hilarious magazine devoted to, well, you know. I keep hoping Gaar will get his own blog and the whole world will get to read his work, instead of a lucky handful here in Colorado.

Rob Fairbank has done some things I disagree with, but ultimately I agree with him 70% of the time. (Well, in that race, no L ran.) Partisanship is ultimately a bad thing as it creates a good deal of uneeded hostility to other parties, some of which might have the right ideas. More than that, it makes a party, which should be merely a tool to get elected, into a religion.

Well, it would be much easier to build a successful religion than a successful Libertarian party. More lucrative, too, I imagine. The question I ask before voting in any election is, 'what choice will best promote liberty?' I'm willing to vote for anyone who best answers that question, regardless of party affiliation. My argument is that Republicans normally do more to harm liberty than help the cause. There are some rare exceptions, and they have my support.

UPDATE: Matthew has more!

:: Walter 8:26 AM [+] ::
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Unqualified Offerings

On the Republican vs Libertarian debate, Jim Henley gets it:

But the Republicans! Their offense is not disagreement. Their offense is much worse. They appropriate our rhetoric, drawing the support of many who appreciate our principles - small government, voluntary exchange, self-defense and free enterprise, responsibility and liberty - but they besmirch those principles by their actions. Instead of free enterprise, corporate welfare. Instead of small government, trivial nips and tucks calculated to annoy no crucial interest group, instead of free trade, price supports and tarrifs, instead of responsibility, drug wars. Republicans traduce our ideals, and the public comes to associate their practice with our principles. It's not fair, but it's the way the mind works.

:: Walter 7:53 AM [+] ::
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Criminal Activity at the Fed's Drug Office

Fed drug czar John Walters toured the country in the last year campaigning against various drug decriminalization ballot initiatives. It looks like there may be a lawsuit in the works. You see, using federal funds for campaigning is usually illegal.
Poetic justice = John Walters behind bars for criminal activity. But, I doubt the judiciary would let that happen.

Link via (who else?) Dale Amon at Samizdata.

:: Walter 8:38 PM [+] ::
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A New Adjective

Evan McElravy, debating with Jesse Walker on some point of ancient Greek literature/philosophy, creates a new modifier:

...to be fair to Hanson, that's not much of a distortion, let alone on a Bellesilian scale.

A-ha. Major distortions are Bellesilian. Minor distortions are what, Clintonian? ('I supported welfare reform.') Bellesilian. I like it. How do you pronounce it?

:: Walter 8:04 PM [+] ::
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More on Republicans vs Libertarians

Jim Henley writes about neolibertarians who rejoiced in the Republican victory:

The other thing that's alarming the otherwise pro-war folks mentioned in the first paragraph is the swift passage of the Homeland Security bill. Glenn Reynolds has been in the forefront of hoping this monster would die of gridlock, but he's had company from many like-minded fellows. (On this issue, UO definitely counts as a like-minded fellow.)
Really, guys, what did you expect? Bush proposed it, Bush campaigned for it, Bush insisted the day after the election that the newly Republican congress pass the thing as submitted, and here it is. You mostly cheered the end of the gridlock that was all that kept this turkey in the freezer. Now we get the HSD and the IAO...

Any libertarians, neo- or otherwise, who voted Republican should have expected this result. I'm sure they expect the GOP to deliver something, a big tax cut, Soc. Security privatization, something, but I'm far from convinced that the cause of liberty will be advanced at home in the next few years.

:: Walter 9:12 PM [+] ::
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Google

Walter in Denver is the # 6 site found for the search "Ed's Funky Diner." There's not much cooler than that.

:: Walter 8:03 PM [+] ::
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GOP vs LP

There's been much debate lately (like here, and here) about the Libertarian Party's effect on Republican election results in the past election. The assumption made by some is that LP votes would go to the GOP if there were no LP candidate on the ballot. That may be true in some rare cases, including the South Dakota senate race, but LP voters that I know, and I know lots, made a careful and reasoned decision when they left the GOP. That's assuming they ever were with the Republicans, many were Democrats or split ticket voters before they saw the light. Most of us are painfully aware that voting GOP is voting for stuff like this: (found at TalkLeft)

Once again we see how federal sentencing decisions lie not in the hand of judges, where they belong, but to prosecutors under the federal sentencing guidelines. Prime example, in today's news: The U.S. Attorney in Boston is seeking much longer drug, gun sentences...
Already in Colorado, according to our sources (and recent clients' charges) pot growing cases of under 100 plants are now being brought in federal court. The Assistant US Attorneys are not happy about having to prosecute these small cases, but we've been told (and not from an AUSA) that this is happening at Ashcroft's insistence.

This sort of thing (and many other reasons) is why LP members take delight in voting against Republicans, and even try to spoil Republican results. As long as partisan Republicans are blind to this there will be no winning over LP voters.

:: Walter 10:39 AM [+] ::
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Blog News

Local columnist Linda Seebach writes about blogs today. She has a pretty good grasp on the phenomonon, but she only mentions something about a site called Instapundit, instead of some other blog right in her back yard. Sheesh.

:: Walter 7:28 PM [+] ::
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A Few Odd Things

Inspired by Dean Esmay, a few odd things I believe:

- Whichever nation can best guarantee the rights of its citizens is the nation that will enjoy the greatest long term economic success. I think history proves this.

- Real chili contains no ground beef.

- No country has ever been too free, as long as it maintained the ability to effectively prosecute criminals.

- Fast food drive-throughs that can produce fresh hot food in less than three minutes are marvels of modern logistics.

- The single basic human right is the right to personal property. From this stems the rights of free speech, self defense, freedom of religion, and any other human right you can think of.

- If more people knew about the climate in Denver even more would move here. So I'm not telling.

- Other, poorer countries educate their children in eight years as well as we do in twelve. And that's not all bad for us.

- Most conspiracy theories are wrong, proved by the simple reason that people in charge are not bright enough to pull of large scale scams like fake moon landings, etc.

- The desire to be intoxicated is embedded in even the basest life forms. Like everything else in creation, there's a reason for this. But don't ask me what it is.

- I'm much better informed of current events since I began reading blogs a few months ago.

- Republican control of the federal government will not lead to a reduction in the size of said government.

:: Walter 8:11 AM [+] ::
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Easy Target

Michael Moore is intellectually lazy and mean. In other words, making fun of him is like shooting fish in, well you know. It's still fun, though!
More Moore Here!

:: Walter 8:04 PM [+] ::
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Today

Kurt Vonnegut, George Patton, Jonathan Winters, Daniel Ortega, Fuzzy Zoeller, Marshall Crenshaw, Demi Moore, Leonardo DiCaprio, and me.

Do you need any further proof that astrology is crap?

:: Walter 8:46 PM [+] ::
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ILTE of the Day

Dave Brown of Jefferson, CO. has a letter in today's Denver Post commenting on the Republican vistories in last week's elections.

"Emperor George" conquered America.
I'm elderly, almost drawing Social Security and gay. I'm not sure if I'll get used to eating dry dog food, but from now on, I'm sleeping with one eye open and my shotgun close at hand. And I'm definitely cleaning up my 40-year-old bomb shelter.

Hmmmm.
UPDATE: The same letter ran, verbatim, in today's Rocky Mountain News! (Monday, 11/11)

:: Walter 9:15 AM [+] ::
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Spooky Post-Halloween Stuff

I don't often ask much from my readers, but please read this. (Look at the whole thing, it's in reverse chronological order, like a blog.)

Creeped out yet?

For more info, look here.

I'm hoping Diana will get a tip jar on her website so we can contribute to her legal defense. Any other bloggers or media types who come across this, please spread the news.

:: Walter 7:52 PM [+] ::
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A Libertarian Take On the Election

A great election cycle for the Libertarian Party. Here in Colorado the LP won two county-wide partisan elections by landslide proportions. Additionally, one race took over 50,000 votes in a single county in a losing effort.
Nationwide, some high profile candidacies were disappointing. Carla Howell managed only 1% in the race for Mass. governor. At the same time her ballot initiative to end the state income tax won over 45% of the vote. That was more than 10% better than the polling numbers predicted. It's hard to understate the significance of that vote in a leftist leaning state like Mass., and in spite of universal opposition from Republican politicians. Safe to say, similar ballot initiatives will be coming to a state near you, and soon.
The best news of all were the unexpected Republican victories, taking control of the federal legislature. It seems they took a page from the Democrats by bringing out the vote in a highly organized election day effort. I don't think there's so much of a shift in mainstream philosophy as simply a better organized Republican party. Democrats assumed, naively, that the electorate would be incensed by the Republican 'theft' of the 2000 presidential election and vote against them this time around. The truth is that the Republicans and independents felt even more strongly that the Democrats made an attempt to circumvent the legal process in Florida.
So, why do I, a partisan Libertarian, see a positive in Republican victory? After all, gridlock is the next best thing to libertarian government. It's because the minarchists in the Republican Party have nowhere to hide. They'll have to put up or shut up.
I'll make a few easy predictions; under Republican rule, the federal government will continue to grow, probably at a faster pace than ever. Government intrusions on a personal level will become more egregious. Small government advocates will have no place in the Republican Party.
Coming elections will provide fertile ground for libertarians of both the large and small 'L' varieties.

UPDATE - Dale Amon touts the Mass. results.

:: Walter 11:16 PM [+] ::
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Big Night

The blogosphere is hyperactive tonight, with commentary on election night. I'd stay and join the fun but I'm on my way to a Libertarian Party victory celebration. Mrs. In Denver will be signing copies of her pinup calendar. She's miss December. Order one now, it's for a good cause.

Yes, I did say Libertarian Party victory celebration.

:: Walter 5:34 PM [+] ::
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To Vote or Not to Vote

Dean Esmay advocates not voting, for all the right reasons:

Indeed, if you don't take the time to inform yourself on the issues, and make a rational choice based on that, I'd like to suggest that it's your duty as a citizen to stay out of the voting booth. I really mean that. If you do not follow the news, the issues debated, and the people involved, please do not vote on Tuesday.

Likewise, I'm tired of public appeals for people to get out and vote. It is certainly not your duty to vote. Better yet, stick to the candidates and issues you know. Don't be afraid to leave blank spaces on the ballot.

Arthur Silber also recommends not voting. I can't quite agree with his reasoning, which I've heard from other libertarians before. Vodkapundit doesn't agree with him, either.

:: Walter 3:01 PM [+] ::
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Surfing

I was getting away from politics for a few moments this morning, reading an innocent article in the Albuquerque Tribune about on-line fan sites. These are places where college sports fans go to share opinions on their favorite teams, trade gossip, typical internet noise. Then I come across this:

"A lot of (fan-sites) are just gripe boxes," UNM Athletic Director Rudy Davalos said. "This is a free country and everybody can do what they want to do. We have a loose situation in what people can say in terms of profanity and nastiness."
Davalos continued: "The only scary part of it is that the government would allow people to analyze and not have any credibility. The problem is being scared for our country that they allow this."

That's right, someone in a responsible position at the University of New Mexico thinks the government should do something about this pesky internet thing.
I wonder if there's someone at the University to follow Rudy around and keep him away from sharp objects. Seems prudent.

:: Walter 7:05 AM [+] ::
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SNOW!!

Arapahoe Basin got hit with 45" in October.It looks like more than they got all last year, and they won't even open for a couple of weeks yet.

:: Walter 7:02 AM [+] ::
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A Quiz I Like

Which Founding Father Are You?

Well of course I would like that. None of it's true, you know.

:: Walter 6:56 AM [+] ::
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ILTE of the Day

This letter from C. DeMarco is found in today's Houston Chronicle, asking for voters to approve more money for the local school district. Excerpt:

I know $808.6 million seems like a lot for the Houston Independent School District to be asking for, especially since Houstonians just passed a $678 million bond issue in 1998. But before voting, please consider that HISD has shown it can be fiscally responsible with taxpayers' money.

This problem is not confined to Houston, school districts around the nation ask for similar budget increases on a regular basis. So I looked up the Houston school budget numbers (pdf file) and found the predictable figures.

Students : 210,670
Expenditures for 2002: $1,410,428,699.

As in 1.4+ BILLION dollars. That works out to $6694.96* per student. You don't often see school district spokespeople trumpeting those kind of numbers when they agitate for tax increases.

The sad fact is that the typical U.S. school district is overfunded while it underperforms.

* That's slightly under the Denver school district budget numbers, per pupil. Denver boasts a higher cost of living. And a similar crummy school system.

:: Walter 8:04 PM [+] ::
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Happy Birthday to Sammy's Data

Hard to believe that the blogging phenomenon is only a year old. Head on over there and toast to their continued success. Which is what I'll do, too.

:: Walter 6:48 AM [+] ::
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For Colorado Voters

From the Colorado Freedom Report:

Unfortunately, one judge up for a retention vote, Henry Nieto, who now sits on the Colorado Court of Appeals, has done considerable damage to the checks and balances that ensure our liberty. Thus, voters should oust him on election day...
Enter the present case. Laura Kriho has a drug conviction on her record, but was nevertheless selected to serve on a drug-trial jury. She was not asked any direct questions about her past, but was urged to "comment" on the proceedings of the jury selection process. She did not refuse to answer any direct questions to her, but she did not volunteer any information. Thus seated on the jury, she exercised her power of nullification, refused to convict, and the case resulted in mistrial.
Immediately thereafter, Kriho herself was criminally charged, ostensibly not for the act of nullification itself, but with contempt of court for not volunteering her position on drug laws, or her knowledge of jury nullification, during the jury selection process.
The judge who ruled against Kriho was one Henry Nieto, who refused to grant Kriho a jury trial. Judge Nieto clearly opposes the Constitutional power of jury nullification and employed his power as a judge to oppress those who would dare exercise it. In order to be consistent, Nieto, if transported back in time, would also have to charge jurors who released defendants accused of witchcraft or harboring escaped slaves.

:: Walter 7:31 PM [+] ::
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Badly Drawn Boy

...played an exhausting two hour set last night. The poor weather and road conditions left the theater half empty, and allowed us to take a spot only an arm's reach from the stage. Good for us, bad for ticket receipts. A pleasant suprise - Andy Rourke is playing bass on this tour. I didn't recognize him. He was introduced toward the end of the show, and I thought, 'Andy Rourke, isn't that the name of the Smiths' bassist?' After the show I did some searching on the internet and found that they are indeed one and the same.

:: Walter 6:45 PM [+] ::
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Talk Left

...has the latest FBI national crime stats. Twice as many people were arrested for marijuana posession last year as just ten years ago. From a NORML press release:

The total number of marijuana arrests far exceeds the total number of arrests for all violent crimes combined, including murder, manslaughter, forcible rape, robbery and aggravated assault.

YEAR MARIJUANA ARRESTS
2001 723,627
2000 734,498
1999 704,812
1998 682,885
1997 695,200
1996 641,642
1995 588,963
1994 499,122
1993 380,689
1992 342,314

:: Walter 6:38 PM [+] ::
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I'm Off

On my way to see the Badly Drawn Boy concert tonight here in Denver. That is, if it's not cancelled. We're under a thick layer of snow and ice, the roads are near impassable. Thankfully, I live close to the concert venue. Mrs. Indenver and I might skate to the show.

:: Walter 7:10 PM [+] ::
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Well Meaning People

Senator Wellstone's death has brought out a flurry of eulogies in the past days, from friend and foe alike. Most praise him for having been a man of principle. The obvious question, to those who disagreed with him, would be, 'If having principles is a good thing, and Sen. Wellstone was a good man for having principles, why do you argue so vehemently with those who share his principles? And doesn't that make you who don't share his principles something less than good?'

James Lileks wrote a bit on that subject yesterday.

What sticks in some people’s craw is the idea that principle = virtue, as though dedication to an idea is, of itself, a laudable thing. Of course it isn’t; the world is full of people filled with terrible certainties. You can quickly Godwinize the argument down to nonsense: Hitler was full of conviction; is then Hitler to be mourned? It’s a valid question in another context. But not here. You have to judge the motives and character of the person who has the convictions. Do they seek something which any objective civilized mind would find evil? One caller to a weekend show insisted that Wellstone believed in Socialism, just like Lenin and Stalin. The host - a rock-ribbed Christian conservative - batted the idea away like an outhouse fly, because it’s tiresome, useless, and counterproductive. Wellstone didn’t want the Gulag, the Purge, the forced transplantation of whole populations, the formation of the faceless masses into a fist directed by cold-blooded elites. He may have been on the fringe of American politics, but his ideas were the outer edge of a dominant political party; he sought change through democratic means; he meant well.

Not all principles are created equal. Let's leave Wellstone's beliefs aside, I'm not aiming my criticism at him as much as anyone who thinks that it's OK to confiscate peoples' property to achieve social goals. The average American is forced to spend somewhere around half his income on taxes, in essence working as a slave for others as much as for himself. That's not as severe as sending that worker to the Gulag, but is it good? Is it in any way honorable for one to favor such a thing?

Political judgements should be based on basic morality. If your principles are good, how can your opponents principles also be good? Motivation means very little then. Anyone can mean well, statists of all stripes, even the most craven, believe they are doing society, and the world, a favor by mandating racial purity/ economic slavery/ religious piety/ or whatever's in vogue that year.
Andrew Olmsted has more on the subject.

:: Walter 6:12 PM [+] ::
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Drug Warriors Dealt a Setback

The Ninth Circuit court of appeals has upheld a ruling prohibiting the feds from revoking the licenses of doctors who prescribe medical marijuana.
Dale Amon responds with this lovely paragraph:

"Come the Revolution", the DEA will be one of the first organizations to go. I'd suggest they all keep their CV's current, but I'm not sure what sort of productive jobs they could get. There's not a lot of call for their skillset in a Civil society, and I don't believe Saddam will be hiring after this winter.

Heh.

:: Walter 5:48 PM [+] ::
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Gun Control at Work

Turns out that our alleged sniper owned guns illegally. From CNN:

Authorities said he was under a restraining order in a domestic abuse case at the time which would bar him from owning any gun.

I could wait anxiously for gun control advocates to learn a valuable lesson here, but experience tells me that their ideology trumps logic.

:: Walter 3:35 PM [+] ::
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Blogger Pro

I upgraded to the pay Blogger service a couple of days ago. Since then, my archives have disappeared, along with a longer post on Oct. 14th. Help!

:: Walter 6:48 AM [+] ::
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ILTE of the Day

Today's winning letter to the editor appears in the Houston Chronicle, courtesy of Anne Sanders. She writes:

I read the Chronicle's Oct. 18 article several times on the replacement of punch cards with electronic voting machines and the instructions on voting machines. I hope that Harris County officials realize how many people in this county have never used an electronic machine in their life.
If people think there were problems before when people had trouble punching a hole through the paper vote, just wait until this election is over.

Electronic voting machines, for those of you who've never used one, are about as hard to use as light switches. Do we really want to have people voting who can't understand how to press a button?

Then again, that does explain how many politicians get elected.

:: Walter 8:59 PM [+] ::
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How Not to Waste Your Vote

Ed Quillen's column in yesterday's Denver Post discusses minor party candidates:

There are a few office-holders in Colorado who belong to minor parties, but only two come to mind who were elected in partisan races, and they're both in San Miguel County, where Sheriff Bill Masters is a Libertarian and one county commissioner, Art Goodtimes, is a Green.
Both initially took office as major-party candidates, though - Masters as a Republican and Goodtimes as a Democrat - then changed affiliations before re-election.
Masters, as you might expect, is a strong critic of the War on Drugs. When he spoke at the state Libertarian convention in Leadville last May, he pointed out that the Drug War is a gross invasion of our privacy and other civil rights. He also explained that, from a law-enforcement perspective, it diverts resources from real threats to our peace and safety just to lock up people who aren't hurting anybody except, perhaps, themselves.
Greens have a reputation for being in favor of more governmental regulation, so I was somewhat surprised at the reply from Art Goodtimes a couple of years ago when he was running for re-election. I asked what his major accomplishment in his first term was, and he said it was eliminating most building and zoning codes in the west part of the county, his district.
"Around Telluride, we need them," he said. "But it's basically big farms and ranches out on my end, and we don't need the rules. So why have them?"
Sensible attitudes like those of Goodtimes and Masters could get more minor-party candidates elected, which would be a blessing in itself. But minor parties are important for another reason - they do the thinking for the major parties....
Whenever I announce my intention to vote for a minor-party candidate, I am invariably told that "you're throwing away your vote." But if there are things you care about, then a vote for a third-party candidate is hardly wasted. It's actually the best way to get the attention of the major parties.

Quillen is an eccentric fellow who lives in a small mountain town in Colorado and writes a regular column in the Post. I had the pleasure of hearing him speak at the state Libertarian convention this year. He's always entertaining and sometimes even correct.
It's worth clicking on the link to this article just to see his picture. That's what he looks like when he's cleaned up.

:: Walter 5:19 PM [+] ::
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ILTE of the Day

The El Paso (TX) Times carried this letter today, from Keith Walker of West El Paso.

I would like to respond to Steve Smith's letter, accusing President Bush of blundering.
I guess Smith thinks we should stand by and wait for another attack on our country from dictators who hated us long before the president was elected....
Smith provides more rhetoric from a party with sore losers who are still smarting over the presidential election.
Smith needs to start watching the Fox news station so that he can become more informed about what's going on in the world today.

Ah, yes, Fox News. Television is the answer. Granted, Fox is a different, and welcome viewpoint, but is that the first choice for building a well rounded view of the world? Literacy, anyone?

:: Walter 9:21 PM [+] ::
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Global Warming

The question isn't so much if warming is happening, but if that warming is caused by humans or other factors. I don't know if War Liberal understands this.

:: Walter 8:44 PM [+] ::
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Timely

Instapundit linked this morning to the archery story found here last Friday. Folks, if you want to keep up with the really important stories you have to visit Walter in Denver regularly.

:: Walter 9:44 AM [+] ::
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ILTE of the Day

From today's Rocky Mountain News, posted here in its entirety:

The bottom line
Real men wage peace. No war on Iraq.
Mike Phalen
Denver

I'd really like to see intelligent debate on the war question. If it turns out that war in Iraq is a bad idea I'd like someone to make a cogent argument to that effect. Instead we get this.
And I suppose 60 years ago while American soldiers overran Europe the real men were back home 'waging peace.'

:: Walter 8:24 AM [+] ::
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Ouch

The Houston Chronicle reports a local hunter shot and killed a car thief... with a bow and arrow. Any of you who are familiar with broad-tip hunting arrows might agree whan I say I'd much rather get shot with a conventional bullet.
Anyhow, congrats to the hunter. That'll look great over the fireplace.

:: Walter 8:17 PM [+] ::
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Lileks Today
" I’ll leave you with this prediction: it is not a matter of if, but when someone blames North Korea’s pullout of the agreement on the Bush Administration’s withdrawal from the ABM treaty. Just you wait. Fisk? Scheer? Pilger? MoDo? Gentlepersons of the press: start your Yugos."

:: Walter 6:22 PM [+] ::
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Another Drug War Victim

One Jaime Chavez has just been released after serving two years in prison on a drug dealing conviction based on false testimony. Seems that police informants planted fake drugs as evidence against dozens of people, most of whom have already had their cases thrown out.

The Dallas Morning News reports: (registration required)

The informant, Enrique Martinez Alonso, in an affidavit filed as part of Mr. Chavez's appeal, said that he lied when he testified that Mr. Chavez displayed a large plastic trash bag of methamphetamine while three other men negotiated a drug buy.

To wit:

"The testimony I gave concerning Jaime Chavez's action and his knowledge of the fact that there was methamphetamine in the black plastic bag was false," the document signed by Mr. Alonso read. "I have no independent recollection of Jaime Chavez's participation in the drug transaction.
"I identified Jaime Chavez as the person who showed me the drugs because I was told that it was necessary to obtain a conviction, and I was in the process of working off my own narcotics case to avoid a 15-year prison sentence."

The reduced sentences in exchange for testimony ploy is common practice in drug prosecution around the country. Considering that many of these drug dealers are not the most savory characters, it's not suprising that some of them would finger innocent people in an effort to save their own hides. I'd like to think this case in Dallas is unusual, but I suspect most of these false testimonies go undetected.

Jaime's lucky he lost only two years of his life to the drug war. It could have been many more.

:: Walter 7:32 AM [+] ::
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More Zompist Deconstruction...

...from Perry de Havilland, writing
on Samizdata yesterday. That's the same article referenced here on Monday. Advantage: You know who.

And thanks to Lucas Wiman who posted in the comments section at Samizdata mentioning my post. He sent me this e-mail:

Walter,
That critique of libertarianism is astounding. I don't think I've ever
seen so many fallacies in one place. Incredible.
Her arguments start out with basically the following: a lot of
republicans has certain similar ideas to libertarians, and the
republicans are bad, and therefore the libertarians are bad. I don't
even know where to start on that one. The LP also usually agrees with
the ACLU. Would she be opposed to the ACLU by similar logic?
Then there are a number of complete misrepresentations of libertarian
views (like that libertarians are opposed to governmental regulation of
any kind). Then the baffling "Sins of the Market", including "People in
the inner city pay more for food and pay surprisingly high rent," "The
entire near west side of Chicago, just east of where I live, doesn't
have a single movie theater," and "Services the middle class takes for
granted, like cashing their paychecks for free, are expensive for the
poor."
So the only possible explanation that life is more expensive in a city
is that the market doesn't work. Never mind that taxes are higher in
big cities, real estate prices are higher due to higher demand, and
transaction costs are higher. The markets failed.
Perhaps the reason there are no movie theaters is that too few people go
to movies. Finally, every bank I've ever heard of gives you free
check-cashing if you have an account. Poor people can't get a bank
account? My bank has a no-minimum balance checking account with a $50
minimum starting deposit. Even the very poor could swing that on payday.
"If you press the point, libertarians will generally cotton to being
against corporate welfare and for legalizing drugs. The Libertarian
Party website makes as much of social liberty as it does economic
liberty. However, I've never seen the libertarian elements among the
Republicans do a thing about these theoretical ideals"
If this is true, then why did the Connecticut LP refuse to allow Ann
Coulter to run for the house on the Libertarian ticket? They seemed to
care about personal freedom there.
Then there's the fact that "libertarians benefit like the rest of us
from government services: defense, public safety, universal education,
consumer protection, a court system, highways and airports, Social
Security. I can't respect a philosophy that enjoys services it objects
to paying for."
How, exactly, would she suggest not using highways? Not getting social
security*? Not enjoying national defense? Not using airports**? This
is ludicrous. In any case, libertarians have to pay taxes, and may as
well get something for their money, even if it is an inefficient
governmental something.
I agree with many of the Libertarian party's views, and could write a
better critique of libertarianism than this. Sheesh.
-Lucas
* I wonder in what way you "benefit" from social security. Even if the
program functions exactly as it should, then you only get back
inflation-adjusted money you "put in" to social security. It's like a
crappy bank account.
** Wouldn't she be opposed to this kind of corporate welfare?

I think that 'she' was a he, but accuracy isn't crucial over at Zompist, so what the hey.

:: Walter 7:55 PM [+] ::
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Home Grown Terrorism
From this morning's Rocky Mountain News:

" A group claiming to be the Earth Liberation Front has threatened to destroy the town of Winter Park's water storage, officials verified Monday.
"The warning was received Oct. 2 in a letter sent to the Denver Water Board by the alleged eco-terrorists, who took credit for burning the Two Elk Lodge atop Vail Mountain in 1998."

:: Walter 5:52 AM [+] ::
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What's Wrong With Libertarianism

I was browsing through comments on Dawn Olsen's site when I found a critique of libertarianism. Occasionally someone does put out a thoughtful and well written critique of the movement, but this is not one of those times. It's found on Zompist.com. Let's go straight to the action with a few choice passages and my responses.

Libertarianism reads like someone (let's call her "Ayn Rand") sat down to create the Un-Communism.

Hyporbole. The roots of libertarianism go back long before communists were a factor. Libertarians were called 'liberals' a few centuries ago, before leftists hijacked the word.

Libertarianism (=) property is sacred.

Untrue. Individual rights are sacred, within sharply defined boundaries, of course.

(Libertarianism = ) any government is bad.

Simply false. Libertarians recognize many legitimate roles for government.

(Libertarianism = ) Capitalists are noble Nietzchean heroes

Hyperbole. Capitalists are just people.

(Libertarianism = ) Workers have no particular rights.

Wrong. Workers share very specific personal rights with everyone else.

(Libertarianism = ) The oppressed deserve their oppression.

A lie. Libertarians believe in punishment for oppressors and restitution for the oppressed.

The communist of 1910 couldn't point to a single real-world instance of his utopia; neither can the present-day libertarian. Yet they're unshakeable in their conviction that it can and must happen.
This disdain for reality manifests itself in other ways. Libertarians love abtract, fact-free arguments. Thanks to my essay on taxes, I routinely get mail featuring impassioned harangues which never once mention a real-world fact; or if they do, the statistic is simply made up.
This sort of balls-out aggressivity probably wins points at parties, where no one is going to take down an almanac and check their figures; but to me it's a cardinal sin. If someone has an answer for everything, advocates changes which have never been tried, and presents dishonest evidence, he's a crackpot. If a man has no doubts, it's because his hypothesis is unfalsifiable.

Great, so some 'crackpot' makes a poor argument, and that's evidence of the invalidity of an entire school of thought? Have you never heard of the Cato Institute, or any other libertarian think tank? If you want to argue statistics, it can be done.
As for the 'real world instance of Utopia,' that's an old argument, and a tired one. Libertarians are decidedly anti-utopian. No pure libertarian government has ever existed, and probably none ever will. However, the more a government is able to secure individual right for its populace, the more likely that government and nation is likely to prosper. This was true of the classical empires, and of more recent successful nations. There were some exceptions, free(er) countries that failed and brutal regimes that did well, usually in the absence of more open societies to offer competition.

Crackpots are usually harmless; but I consider libertarianism to be quite dangerous. The "Libertarian Party" is a joke; but an unattractive subset of libertarian ideas has become mainstream in American politics. The former Speaker of the House, Newt Gingrich, took most of his program from libertarianism

Newt Gingrich's program? Did I miss the parts about eliminating the income tax, decriminalizing drugs, and reducing U.S. military presence overseas? Any overlap between Gingrich's program and libertarianism is strictly utilitarian, he borrowed some arguments from libertarians where it was convenient to do so. Gingrich as a libertarian is the ultimate straw-man debate tactic.

If you press the point, libertarians will generally cotton to being against corporate welfare and for legalizing drugs. The Libertarian Party website makes as much of social liberty as it does economic liberty. However, I've never seen the libertarian elements among the Republicans do a thing about these theoretical ideals; on the contrary, they're happy to ally themselves with Ashcrofts willing to trash judicial rights, Starrs poking into politicans' sex lives, Bushes mocking the protection of civil rights, and theocrats wanting the government to control movies, university courses, and women's wombs.

That's why there is an LP. Libertarianism represents a diverse range of opinions, but there are some constants. Support of free speech, free trade, medical feedom, and freedom of religion are basic, one who doesn't support those concepts can scarcely be called a libertarian. If some in the conservative side of the Republican party want to call themselves 'libertarian' they are usurping the term, much like leftists stole the word 'liberal.' I won't readily allow them to take the label.

In practice, then, libertarianism has nothing to do with social liberty, and everything to do with removing all restrictions on business. So what's wrong with that?

Well, you're incorrect on the first point, and I'll bet you'll tell us what's wrong with the second.

We tried it, and it failed
We used to have a government which was within spitting distance of the libertarian ideal.

But you said above... oh, never mind.

Business could do what it wanted-- and it did. The result was robber barons, monopolistic gouging, management thugs attacking union organizers, filth in our food, a punishing business cycle, racial oppression, starvation among the elderly, gunboat diplomacy in support of business interests.

Blaming management thugs, racial oppression, and gunboat diplomacy on libertarianism. Kind of like blaming doctors for the existence of disease. For a short discussion on the myth of the Robber Barons, try this. Longer (book length) discussions are out there, too.

Libertarianism is essentially the morality of a thug. It's a worship of the already successful, privileging money and property above everything else-- love, humanity, justice. And let's not forget that lurid fascination with firepower.

More junk. Libertarianism is the first political philosophy to successfully bring morality into the political process. You remember the golden rule and all that? Every other 'ism' is based on the use of force, using the power of the state to force society to do whatever it is you think society should be doing.
The kicker is at the end. The author lists what he would like from politics:

I have my own articles of faith. For instance, I think a political philosophy should
-benefit the entire population, not an elite of whatever flavor
-offer a positive vision, not just hatred for another philosophy
-rest on the best science and history can teach us, rather than science fiction
-be modified in the light of what works and what doesn't
-produce greater freedom and prosperity the closer a nation comes to it.


And how, exactly, do you propose to establish this, err, utopia? The Nazi's thought they offered the best from science and history. And that last point sounds rather libertarian.

All right, it's not really fair to pick on this critique, since there are better ones out there, including Mike Huben's. And my rebuttal isn't as good as David Friedman's response to Huben's. I suppose one rises to the level of the competition.

:: Walter 8:06 AM [+] ::
...

I couldn't agree more

The Prior-Art-O-Matic says "walterindenver is like a normal fusebox, but it can be used by children." Well, of course. Everyone knew that.

:: Walter 8:06 PM [+] ::
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It's Gotta be True, It's Printed Right Here

Seventeen magazine has published a list of top colleges, "where girls can get the best college experience."

At # 76 on their list is Wabash College, an, ah, all male institution.

I'll leave it to readers to speculate on what sort of "college experience" girls can get there.
(link via Instapundit)

:: Walter 7:15 PM [+] ::
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Things to do in Colorado

From The World Wide Rant

For those interested, Matt and I will be present at the Phelps demonstration on the 4th anniversary of the death of Matthew Shepard this Saturday in Fort Collins. We plan to visit Phelps and his (cronies) family, as well as those staging a peaceful presence against Phelps and his hatred. If other bloggers would link to us on Saturday to help expose Phelps and his hate-mongering, it would be much appreciated.

Can't make it myself. Feel free to throw some rocks on my behalf. No, wait, that would be illegal, unwise and Palistinian-like. On second thought, those creeps aren't convincing anyone anyway. You'll do enough just by outnumbering them.

:: Walter 6:43 PM [+] ::
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Reclaiming the Language

According to the dictionary, a liberal is one who believes in the fullest amount of personal freedom. This does not come close to describing American leftists. But they've hijacked the word, knowing it gives their statist policies a human, even individualist nuance. Michael at two blowhards.com sees things the same way. Writes he:

I also find it helpful to refuse to let the American left get away with calling itself liberal. I insist on referring to them as leftists, and to their views as leftism. Why let that crowd of sentimentalists, thought-police and socialists maintain exclusive ownership of a word as beautiful as “liberal”?

Liberal; it's our word, we need to take it back.

:: Walter 10:12 PM [+] ::
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ILTE of the Day
From Jeffrey A. Dorsey, in today's Denver Post.

As president and CEO of HealthONE - metro Denver's largest health-care system - I am extremely concerned that unless Congress acts quickly to improve Medicare payments and prevent scheduled Medicare cuts, our patients and senior citizens will be the ones who suffer.

This reminds me of a joke. A man walks into a charity office. He says, "There's this family, they're having some hard times. The husband lost his job, they've got four kids, and they're three months behind on the rent. Unless they get $2,000 to bring their rent current they'll be evicted."
Charity caseworker, "Oh, that's terrible. Are you a relative of the family?"
"No, I'm the landlord."

:: Walter 8:32 PM [+] ::
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Some Self Indulgence

Last week Samizdata had this post, listing songs for a CD to while away the time on a desert island. I added my choices, reproduced here with additional comments.

Kansas - The Wolfgang Press TWP were on the 4AD record label, one of the most innovative outfits in the 80's. There's a special joy in listening to music that not many others have heard, but I doubt the band shared that sentiment.
Wicked Game - Chris Isaak I first heard this in the David Lynch's movie 'Wild at Heart.' The song left a bigger impression than the movie.
Yin and Yang the Flowerpot Man - Love and Rockets Sheer manic bliss. Always fun live.
Way Down Now - World Party I don't go more than a few weeks without putting this one in the CD player.
So. Cenral Rain - REM I could have chosen any of several REM songs for this list.
Greetings to the New Brunette - Billy Bragg Billy is a socialist, and his politics color his music, but not on this song. Proof that dumb political views are no obstacle to musical genius.
Here Comes Your Man - The Pixies 4AD's first American band, I could have picked several Pixies tunes for this list as well.
Ed's Funky Diner - It's Immaterial This duo released one brilliant record and then disappeared. Proof that mere musical genius is not enough to guarantee success in the industry.
Zero Zero Zero - Sam Phillips No, not that Sam Phillips. This Sam is a she, and she's married to T-Bone Burnett.
Ever Changing Moods - The Style Council Why do Brit bands do the blue-eyed soul thing so well?
Folsom Prison Blues - Johnny Cash Especially the version recorded live in prison.
Blood and Roses - The Smithereens Back in my college days, right after this came out, I had the pleasure of interviewing Pat Dinizio, lead singer, for a radio show. Still love their first CD.
Once Around the Block - Badly Drawn Boy Yeah, I'm still listening to new music. I haven't included much on this list, but I suppose if I were to redo this a few years from now I'd change some selections.
Mrs. Robinson - The Lemonheads This was the promise of punk, clean, loud, short songs with lots of punch. That formula still works.
Heartland - The The I noticed a couple of the lists at Samizdata had The The songs. My wife would have included a fourth song, Infected. Not bad for a band that never enjoyed much commercial success.

So there it is. After compiling the list I noticed a lot of my favorite artists didn't make the cut. Wilco, Ministry, Belle and Sebastian, The Reverend Horton Heat, and several others, might be better artists than ones on this list, but it is a list of favorite songs, not bands.

:: Walter 8:09 AM [+] ::
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Some Words

From Lileks.

"...she has a knack for taking legitimate concerns and filtering them through the clue-remover."

He speaks, in this instance, of Barbara Streisand. But I'm sure you can think of other worthy targets.

:: Walter 8:40 PM [+] ::
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Y'all Better Get to Work, Earn Some Money

You're deeper in debt than you think. LP Press Release:

“The federal government claims its debt is about $6 trillion, when in fact it is six times as large. According to budget expert Andrew Rettenmaier at the National Center for Policy Analysis, the actual debt includes $12.9 trillion in federal obligations to people who are owed Social Security and Medicare benefits, and $16.9 trillion for Medicaid benefits.
“Thus the actual federal debt is approximately $36 trillion, calculates Rettenmaier, a figure that amounts to $120,000 for every man, woman, and child in America.

This means Andy and his Better Half are soon to be down by $360,000. Oh, and congratulations.

:: Walter 7:08 PM [+] ::
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Denver Police Spy Files - The National Press Release

The U.S. Libertarian Party sent out a press release yesterday detailing the dubious activities of the Denver Police Department. One familiar name appears in the article:

Walter Schlomer, the Colorado LP's fundraising director, picked up a copy of the Libertarian Party's file on September 5.
"It's an outrage," said Schlomer. "In spite of no record of violence or illegal activity of any kind, the Denver P.D. felt it necessary to secretly spy on the LP and keep track of our activities."

O.K., the rest of the article is also worthwhile, go ahead and read it. My limited interaction with the press makes me appreciate the rare pleasure of being quoted accurately.

:: Walter 10:06 PM [+] ::
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Read It for Yourself

That one church in Kansas, you know, the one, will be marking the anniversary of Matthew Shepard's death by picketing against gays in Fort Collins, Colorado.

So, what kind of Christian "celebrates" (the 'Rev.' Phelps' word) the death and "entry into hell" (again) of a fellow human?

No kind. By objective measure, these people are worse than satanists. They do more damage to Christianity than people who actively try to damage the Church. Read about the planned protest here, if you want. I won't link to their website. Libertarian Samizdata does, appropriately under the heading 'havens of flourescent idiocy.'

You can make better use of your time by reading the Good Book yourself, instead of the 'Rev.' Phelps' perverted version.

:: Walter 8:56 PM [+] ::
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Mail

Lucas Wiman writes:

Right on about the AIDS research. If you make something less
profitable, then the corporations won't want to do it. There are then
two possible solutions. You could remove price controls, and eliminate
the problem. Or, you could start a massive government program to
research AIDS drugs, and patch the problem in this case, at taxpayer
expense. I think the second one is more likely to happen, unfortunately.

Didn't Bill Clinton promise something like that, a 'Manhattan Project,' to find AIDS treatments?

(Which leads to an interesting aside. What's worse, an ineffective politician who promises enormous amounts of government expansion, but doesn't deliver most of it, or one who promises less expansion but carries through on almost all of it?)

There is another option. Have the administration organize a nation-wide effort, soliciting donations from business and individuals. Call it the 'Push to Eliminate Cancer,' (or whatever disease) and see how much you can get. I'd bet it would bring in hundreds of millions of dollars per year if the fundraising was well organized.

Billions if taxes weren't as high as they are.

:: Walter 7:38 AM [+] ::
...

??

A flyer left on my car yesterday:

"African American Elected Officials & Ministers Endorse Democrat Tom Strickland for U.S. Senate"

and farther down the page, in large print,

"DON'T LET COLORADO BECOME THE NEXT FLORIDA"

Do they mean to say, "If we can't win it at the ballot box we'll be forced to try to win in the courtroom, as in Florida?"

In fine print, at the bottom, "Paid for by the Colorado Democratic Party."

:: Walter 6:59 AM [+] ::
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ILTE of the Day

If I'd keep up with this feature a little more regularly then I wouldn't have to explain. It's Idiotic Letter to the Editor.

Anyway, today's winner is Gregg Wolfe of Arvada, Colorado, for his entry in the Rocky Mountain News, excerpted:

I have never yet heard or read about a plan to limit, plan for or control growth that accomplished its original intent without undesirable consequences. Limiting newcomers based upon income, education, skin color, religion, language, or such would not be acceptable or legal. So what can be done that is workable and fair to everyone?
One plan that I have not heard discussed as yet is a lottery. As individuals and families depart the area their "space" could be placed into a lottery.
People wishing to move into Colorado could place their names on a waiting list and hope that their number is drawn. Waiting lists at charter schools and such are common and millions of people buy lottery tickets knowing that the odds are against them, so the precedents and technology are there.

That's hilarious, but I think Gregg really means it! Gregg, if you read this, drop me a note and tell me this is satire. I'm worried about you.

:: Walter 12:42 PM [+] ::
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AIDS Activists Win, Patients Lose

For as long as AIDS activists have been protesting 'greedy drug corporations' for profiteering, free-marketeers have been quietly warning, 'You might not want to do that.'

Now the Jerusalem Post reports new anti-HIV drug development is off by 5% to 30%, likely closer to 30%. Why?

One of the rare industry executives who would actually discuss the topic, but did not wish to be identified, agreed that although he didn't like to admit it, "we have lost the battle with the activists, and now the market is less profitable.
The result is that we are spending less R&D time on anti-retrovirals. Why bother to innovate these products when any advance will not be profitable?" he said.

Do naysayers think it mere coincidence that the country most friendly to business is also the leading country for drug research and development? Are people supposed to be happy that they've got cheap, but less effective medicines? Well, I suppose no one will ever know what new drugs will never be discovered now.

When some corporation finds a cure for AIDS I'd hope they make a huge profit, and its executives and researchers make Bill Gates-like money. That goes double for cancer.

Link via Andrew Sullivan.

:: Walter 6:37 AM [+] ::
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YEEEE HAAAWWW
Matthew Edgar has got hisself a troll. A real lively one, too, layin' the F-bombs all over his site. In true troll fashion, he offers nothing in the way of constructive debate, just cussin' this and that and tryin' to dis Matthew as well as his limited vocabulary will allow. Matthew responds with a little more than his troll deserves.
I guess matthewedgar.net has now hit the bigtime.Them trolls don't bother with little blogs like this one.
Then again, maybe I'll reconsider trying to add a comments feature here.

UPDATE: Seems the troll comments have been deleted. ((sigh))

:: Walter 8:02 PM [+] ::
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More Blogging

Regular readers of this site (Hi, Mom!) will remember this post, the response to a
reader asking about libertarianism. He requested anonymity then, but he has since outed himself. On his own blog. No shrinking violet, this Lucas, but he's got no permanent links to anything. It's as if he doesn't want anyone to find him. Well, the secret blog is no longer secret.

UPDATE: Oh, now he's got links. Including Talkleft. one of the more worthwhile leftist websites.

:: Walter 6:17 PM [+] ::
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The Latest News From the World of Sport

Oh yeah, it's all fun and games until someone loses an eye. Or a tooth.

Then it's a sport.

:: Walter 6:33 PM [+] ::
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A Higher Calling

Matthew Edgar is back to blogging, much to the distress of faceless bureaucrats everywhere, and to the delight of everyone else.

:: Walter 7:43 AM [+] ::
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Aurora Authorities

Someone sent me an e-mail in response to the post immediately below. His opinion is that the city of Aurora prosecuted the victim as a preemptive strike against likely future lawsuits. I suspected the same, of course. I was giving them the benefit of the doubt by calling them idiots, instead of sick evil bastards.

Which is what they would be if my correspondent is correct.

:: Walter 7:58 PM [+] ::
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Quick Quiz

Imagine you're a city attorney, or otherwise responsible for law enforcement in Aurora, Colorado. Now imagine that police officers in your jurisdiction went to the wrong house, where they shot the innocent resident twice, wounding him seriously.

Would you:

A. Apologize profusely on behalf of the police department.
B. Offer to pay the victim's medical expenses.
C. Offer an out of court settlement to cover pain and suffering.
D. All of the above.
E. Charge the victim for menacing police, potentially sending him to prison for three years.

You've already guessed, the correct answer is E.

Now imagine yourself to be an idiot. But I repeat myself.

Fortunately, the jury was a bit brighter than the folks running things over there in the city of Aurora.

:: Walter 9:21 PM [+] ::
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Ashrawi According to the Rocky

Rocky Mountain News reporter Rebecca Jones reports:

Afterward, students who heard Ashrawi's remarks and the protests and counterprotests outside Armstrong Hall were irate that protesters appeared to be grinding their political axes at their campus event.
"She's all about having freedom of speech and not being intimidated," said Ryan Segal, 19, a student from Salt Lake City. "I ran into a lot of people today who came here with closed minds. There are people that are here to just totally push their own ideas."
Other students said they didn't know enough about the Middle East conflicts to take sides. But they didn't like the protest signs they saw, and they didn't like the name-calling they heard.
"I was just dumbfounded when one of the protesters said it's typical of colleges to bring in a speaker that would promote terrorism," said Candy Rodriguez, 19, of Houston.
"He's turning her entire presentation into something negative," said Brian Edstrom, 21, from Wisconsin, as he listened to counterspeaker Daniel Pipes, author of several books on militant Islam. Pipes was recounting for protesters who had not heard Ashrawi's address what she said. "It's not very professional," Edstrom said. "He's twisting her words."

She couldn't find a single person to take an opposing view? How hard did she try?

Good thing we have the Blogosphere to provide balance. Look for eyewitness reports from Stephen and Matt. As soon as they get around to it.

:: Walter 6:39 AM [+] ::
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Bail Money?

A few weeks ago Jeff at Protein Wisdom hung a 'gone fishing' sign on the door and left, promising a Sept 1st or 2nd return. Now the sign says Sept 12th. Does he need some help? A lawyer? Should I start a Free Protein Wisdom charity drive?

Send me your contributions. Cash or whatever you think Jeff might need.

:: Walter 7:33 AM [+] ::
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Denver Police Secret Spy Files Feature the Libertarian Party

Yeah, I went down to Denver Police HQ this week to look for a file on me. None exists, at least that they were willing to share. (I feel slighted.)

But I did find one on the Libertarian Party. Ari Armstrong's report is as least as good as anything I could write.

Is anyone not bothered by the DPD's willingness to spy on a mundane, peaceful political organization? And, yes, before you bring it up, this predates 9/11.

:: Walter 7:26 PM [+] ::
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Keep Your Receipts

FusilierPundit thinks gun purchases should be tax deductible because private gun ownership benefits the greater good. Spot on.

But don't stop there. Everything I buy benefits the greater public good. $120 for steak and wine at the Chophouse? Think how many jobs I'm supporting! $50 for detailing the Jeep? Why, those people might even be poor! I should get a tax credit for that. $1000 for a weekend of skiing and partying in Telluride? I'm supporting a whole bloomin' community!

It seems everything I purchase benefits someone. I daresay the money I spend on myself does greater good than the money I pay in income taxes.

So is it safe to say that the income tax does more harm than good? Why not? Let's make every purchase deductible. Really.

:: Walter 6:31 PM [+] ::
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What's Been Lost

A Sept. 5th AP story lists, matter-of-factly, the rights that citizens no longer enjoy in the USA, thanks to the 'war on terror.' Under the bland title 'Overview of Changes to Legal Rights' are listed seven former rights including:

"RIGHT TO A SPEEDY AND PUBLIC TRIAL: Government may jail Americans indefinitely without a trial."

"RIGHT TO LIBERTY: Americans may be jailed without being charged or being able to confront witnesses against them."

:: Walter 6:26 AM [+] ::
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Lileks

...is often my favorite read in the blogosphere. Or anywhere. So, frequently, I read the day's 'Bleat' out loud to my wife. I read this one to her, about a family flying on their way to Disney, on 9/11, without reading it myself first. It's, ummm, kinda dark. It ends:

Little Christine was Gnat’s age, give or take a month; bin Laden’s lackeys killed her - and did so to ensure that other fathers, mothers, brothers, and sisters died as well, preferably by the tens of thousands. This little girl’s death wasn’t even a comma in the manifesto they hoped to write. They made sure that her last moments alive were filled with horror and blood, screams and fear; they made sure that the last thing she saw was the desperate faces of her parents, insisting that everything was okay, we’re going to see Mickey, holding out a favorite toy with numb hands, making up a happy lie. And then she was fire and then she was ash.
I feel the same anger I did on 9/11; I feel the same overwhelming grief. Nothing in my heart has changed, and God forbid it ever does.

'Gnat' is Lilek's nickname for his daughter. Read the whole thing yourself.

:: Walter 8:28 PM [+] ::
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Call Your Senator Today
...suggests TalkLeft. The goal; to protest a truly terrible piece of legislation called the Rave Act. As in our national Senate has at least a few raving lunatics as members.

:: Walter 12:28 PM [+] ::
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Denver Secret Police Files Now Less Secret

Colorado residents and regular readers of this blog have been following the story of the secret files Denver Police have kept on political activists. Hundreds requested to see their files yesterday, the first day that they were released. Only the people who are subjects of the files are allowed to retrieve them.

The Denver Post reports on the crowd that showed up, including:

Barbara Cohen, a member of Denver Copwatch, was surprised to see two entries in her 16-page file associating her with the Brothers Fast motorcycle club.
"I've never heard of them," she said. "I've never been on a motorcycle." The file also says she has an FBI number.

Hmmm, inacuracies in secret spy files? Say it ain't so. I think I'll go down and see if there's a file on me. I'd lay the odds at 3 - 1 against it.

:: Walter 7:50 AM [+] ::
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I'm Speechless

Someone paid to have the ad banner that was atop this page removed. I don't know who. Thank you.

I'm tempted to go do the same for somebody else's site.

:: Walter 9:13 AM [+] ::
...

Hahahahahahaha

No. Wait. The damage socialized medicine does to a healthcare system will kill people. That's really not funny.

Link via Ben Fischer.

:: Walter 10:02 AM [+] ::
...

Dearth of Blogging on this Site
In large part because of this. Please read it.
Thanks. I've been busy this week, 'cuz I'm one of the unfortunate board members who had to offer judgement on the whole sordid affair. For more detailed information go to Ari's site, where he's got lots of good, accurate info on the whole thing.
So imagine my chagrin, when I today get this e-mail:

Uh oh, you've been linked!
By general acclamation amongst the anarchic Samizdata Team, your site 'Walter in Denver' has received the dubious honour of a permanent link on Samizdata.net.
Regards,
The Samizdata Team

Finally, the Holy Grail, recognition from the grandaddy of libertarian blogs. And from all the way over there across the pond, no less. Just look over there on the left, it's the first link on this page.

And I've got no new content.

:: Walter 9:27 PM [+] ::
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More on Barr's Defeat

From CNN's Inside Politics:

(Emory University political science professor Emory) Black said Linder would probably have prevailed without help from non-Republicans. Nonetheless, he said Linder likely benefited strongly from Libertarian voters, whose party ran a stinging TV ad this month criticizing Barr for opposing the use of medical marijuana.

I guess a few mainstream observers did notice. Democrats and Republicans aren't likely to publicly admit that Libertarians could influence politics inside their parties and primaries. Especially not Republicans.

:: Walter 6:18 PM [+] ::
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Instant Runoff in Alaska
TalkLeft reports the northernmost state is considering adding instant runoff rules to its elections. This is great news for third parties, and for voters, who no longer have to vote for 'the lesser of two evils.' Pick your favorite candidate, instead of voting against your least favorite.
Read how it works here.

:: Walter 7:40 AM [+] ::
...

You, Too, can be a Libertarian

I recieved a lovely letter from a university student asking about The Mysteries of LIbertarianism. I'll excerpt some parts and see if I can answer some questions....

I'm a sophomore mathematics student at ____ State
University, and I've recently started reading a lot about political
issues (though I've been interested in economics for much longer). I
scored libertarian (leaning towards left-liberal) on the world's
smallest political quiz, but I'm not sure so sure of the results. In
the past, I've aligned myself with the left for mostly social reasons,
but I've been opposed to many economic policies of the democratic
party. I do, however, have the following doubts about labeling myself a
libertarian:

It's hard to study economics and still agree with Democratic Party economic policies.
The world's smallest political quiz can be found here.

First of all, I support some limited forms of welfare and medical aid.
My parents were extremely poor when I was a child (my father discovered
he had no marketable skills other than his training as a
minister--hardly useful for someone who lost his faith), and they were
able to get by only by getting food stamps and subsidized medical care
for their children. On the other hand, my father got out of poverty by
working very hard at learning marketable skills (he's now a network
administrator with no formal training). I think welfare should be very
much limited in its scope, but is a great help to those who need it.

Libertarians , or people who claim that name for themselves,are a pretty diverse bunch, with diverse opinions. I'll try to answer these questions from a sort of orthodox libertarian viewpiont. Inevitably, there will be libertarians out there who disagree with me. So here goes.
Libertarians have nothing against helping folks who need help. The main objections to welfare system/public assistance programs come on two points.
One, government programs on such a large scale will always become inefficient, bloated bureaucracies. One of the results is that large numbers of people will use those programs as permanent sources of income, and actually make the poverty problem worse than it should be. Another result is a set of bureaucracies so expensive that we could bring every poor person in the nation up to middle class income levels just by paying them directly instead of funding the myriad programs out there.
Two, and to my mind most important, welfare is funded through income taxes. That means the government is forcing one set of citizens to work for, indirectly, another set of citizens, without compensation. When the poor did this for the rich it used to be called slavery. I, too, could support a limited welfare system to support people like your dad, if we can find an alternate funding system. And I'm sure we could do that.

Second, I support harsh, enforceable laws limiting anticompetitive or
dishonest behavior and monopolization on the part of businesses. I'm
not really certain how this fits in with libertarian thought, but it
seems to me that when a business attains monopoly status that most of
the advantages of free competition go out the window.

You are absolutely right. But consider, most monopolies are actively maintained by governments. Those would be things like cable and telephone companies, oil companies, and other businesses which receive exclusive rights through government contracts or non-competition laws. Other monopolies tend to fade quickly, and state action to end them does more harm than good. See Microsoft.

Third, I strongly support harsh environmental protection laws, for
fairly obvious reasons. Once again, I'm not sure how this fits in with
libertarian philosophy.

No conflict there. Libertarians favor fair punishment for polluters and restitution for pollution victims.

Fourth, I think that going to strictly private education would result in
a huge disaster from the introduction of commercial culture into
schools. Also, this would make it more difficult for poor people to get
any kind of an education, which would tend to exacerbate the class
distinctions in education, and create an even more unfair environment
for the poor in terms of competing with the rich for good jobs.

I think it's difficult for poor people to get an education in this country right now. This is a complicated issue, and deserves more space and time than I'm going to take right here, but one of the solutions I see is going to a sort of neighborhood co-op system. That would be similar in some ways to the highly effective system practiced in rural America toward the end of the nineteenth century.
I don't see a 'commercial culture' takeover in the schools, unless that's what parents want.

Last, it seems that nearly every libertarian website I can find that
mentions it is extremely hawkish. I was raised Mennonite, and while I'm
now an atheist, I'm still an ardent pacifist on secular moral grounds
(and opposed to the "war on terror" for a number of pragmatic reasons as
well). I see war as just another means of oppression, and really a form
of state-sanctioned murder. Furthermore, military spending is by far
the greatest chunk of the government budget (perhaps other than social
security). Hawkishness strikes me as a very anti-libertarian viewpoint,
but most libertarians seem to support it

Your postion IS the orthodox libertarian position. The hawkishness a recent development, largely represented by the blogosphere. Look at some of the official national Libertarian Party news releases, and you'll see a strong anti-war stance. Too strong for me, sometimes.

On the other hand, I'm opposed to all but very small income taxes, drug
laws in general, tariffs and quotas on trade, minimum wage laws,
subsidies of any business for any reason, anti-abortion laws, and any
law which tries to legislate personal activities which harm no one but
the person doing them. I support gay rights, strong church-state
separation, human rights both here and abroad, and the principle of a
free market.

Smart kid. That abortion thing is probably the most divisive issue. Every national Party convention rehashes that plank in the platform and votes it back in by a narrow margin.

Do you think it's fair to call me a libertarian, or are my doubts well
founded? You seem to know a lot about the spectrum of libertarian
thought, and hence I thought you would be a good person to ask.

Nice of you to say that. I officially pronounce you a libertarian. Go directly to the nearest underground meeting, pick up your complimentary case of ammo, and learn the secret handshake. Find much more useful info for the neophyte at libertarian.org.
Keep in mind the saying, 'There may be two libertarians who agree on everything, but I'm not one of them.'

:: Walter 7:15 AM [+] ::
...