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The Encyclopedia of Libertarianism, published in 2008 in hard copy, is now available free online at Libertarianism.org. The Encyclopedia includesmore than 300 succinct, original articles on libertarian ideas, institutions, and thinkers. Contributors include James Buchanan, Richard Epstein, Tyler Cowen, Randy Barnett, Ellen Frankel Paul, Deirdre McCloskey, and more than 100 otherscholars.

A couple of years ago, in an interesting discussion of social change and especiallythe best ways to spread classical liberal ideasat Liberty Funds Online Library of Liberty, historian David M. Hart had high praise for the Encyclopedia:

The Encyclopedia of Libertarianismprovides an excellent survey of the key movements, individuals, and events in the evolution of the classical liberal movement.

One should begin with Steve Davies General Introduction, pp. xxv-xxxvii, which is an excellent survey of the ideas, movements, and key events in the development of liberty, then read some of the articles on specific historical periods, movements, schools of thought, and individuals.

He goes on to suggest specific articles in the Encyclopedia that are essential reading for understanding successful radical change in ideas and political and economic structures, in both a pro-liberty and anti-liberty direction. Heres his guide to learning about the history of liberty in theEncyclopedia of Libertarianism:

I could add more essays to his list, but Ill restrain myself to just one: Along with the essays on the Constitution and James Madison, read Federalists Versus Anti-Federalists by Jeffrey Rogers Hummel.

By the way, you can still get the beautiful hardcover edition. Right now its half-price at the Cato Store.

The rest is here:
Learn the History of Liberty with the Encyclopedia of Libertarianism - Cato Institute (blog)

It kind of sounds like an odd pairing at first, no? A self-described neo-libertarian and a progressive Democratjoin forces. Yet what they are advocating for is something most people will agree on: We need fairer elections.

Manu Koenig the neo-libertarian and Faisal Fazilat the progressive Democrat are two locals of Santa Cruz, California, who want their city to adopt ranked choice voting. It is reform that theysay has been endorsed byformer President Barack Obama, Sen. John McCain, and Sen. Bernie Sanders, among others.

Its an issue that both sides of the political spectrum can agree onbecause, in the end, every side wants fair elections. Everyone wants it to be democratic, says Fazilat. (Good Times, August 16, 2017)

How does ranked choice voting work? Here is a video that explains it and why advocates support it:

Here are a few things supporters say ranked choice voting can do:

Ranked choice voting would encourage candidates to actually talk about the issues that voters care about. This kind of system favors grassroots campaigns where candidates are going door-to-door. Theyre talking with as many people as they can, saysFaisal Fazilat.

Read more about Manu Koenig and Faisal Fazilat and their grassroots effort to adopt ranked choice voting in Santa Cruz, California here.

Ranked choice voting is currently used in 11 cities, will be used in Memphis starting in 2019, and is the law of the land in Maine for statewide and non-presidential federal elections. Voters in Santa Fe, New Mexico, approved ranked choice voting in 2008, but the city council has yet to implementits use in city elections.

Photo Credit: Steve Heap / shutterstock.com

Continued here:
A Libertarian and Progressive Agree: This Reform Is Needed to Fix Elections - IVN News

On Sunday night, dozens of people showed up in downtown Astoria, Oregon to stand in solidarity with Charlottesville after an act of domestic terrorism.

The residents of this small coastal town in Oregon gathered together to sing songs and hold a candlelight vigil in honor of the victims that were caught in an act of political violence when a car driven by a man from Ohio plowed into a crowd of counter protesters on Saturday, August 12, 2017.

The event was put together by an organization known as Indivisible North Coast Oregon (INCO). On Saturday, August 12, 2017 the organizations website posted on their front page notifying the townsfolk of when and where the vigil would take place, saying:

Stand with us in solidarity with Indivisibles nationwide and with our brave friends in Charlottesville who fight against white supremacy. Well stand together for respect and civility and against hate and bigotry. We will grieve, and we will stand together for America. Sunday, August 13, [at] 8 pm, outside the Astoria Post Office, 8th and Commercial. Bring flameless candles or flashlights.

Directly underneath the header of the website is Indivisible North Coast Oregons mission statement and it reads Indivisible North Coast Oregon (INCO) defends democracy by opposing authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption.

Indivisible North Coast Oregon was founded in response to the 2016 presidential election to oppose authoritarianism, bigotry, and corruption. The organization also demands accountability and transparency in government and support American rights like equal justice, free speech, a free and independent press, and separation of church and state.

Some of the basic principles of INCO include affirming the importance of defending democracy, resisting an agenda that will take America backwards, modeling inclusion and fairness, encouraging involvement in like-minded groups that value freedom, compassion, community, and responsibility.

However, INCO was met with some criticism:

It isnt unreasonable to expect an organization that hosts honorable candlelight vigils for victims of white nationalist violence, to also condemn the actions of left wing organizations that incite violence.

The content on the Indivisible North Coast Oregon webpage is critical of President Donald Trumps policies and agenda.

Nowhere on the INCO page do they condemn the actions of the group Anti-Fascist Action (Antifa) even though Antifa isnt known for their peaceful demonstrations.

INCO was silent when Antifa attacked a journalist in Portland for filming, when Diablo Valley College professor and Antifa member Eric Clanton clobbered Trump Supporters with a bike lock, or when ANTIFA was throwing explosives into a crowd of people.

When discussing terrorism, violence, and politics, it is important to put aside partisan opinions.

These partisan glasses must be put aside in order to actually analyze the objective reality of current events.

Political leanings can subconsciously persuade you into disregarding important information all because it challenges your beliefs or understanding of the world. It is easy to gloss over the wrongdoings of those who are more politically aligned with you. As a result of this, we become inconsistent and we start betraying our principles.

* Logan Anderson is a working class political activist, political analyst, and YouTube content creator that has a passion in freedom and economics.

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Small Town in Oregon Holds Vigil for Charlottesville Victims - Being Libertarian

By Christie Zizo, Digital Media Producer Last Updated: Tuesday, August 15, 2017, 7:28 PM EDT ORLANDO --

The National Libertarian Party says it stands for freedom for all, but it won't stand for white nationalists.

The party, considered the fastest growing third party in the country, issued a statement Tuesday asking any white nationalists who belong to the party to leave.

"There is no room for racists and bigots in the Libertarian Party," said Libertarian National Committee executive director Wes Benedict. "If there are white nationalists who inappropriately are members of the Libertarian Party, I ask them to submit their resignations today. We dont want them to associate with the Libertarian Party, and we dont want their money. Im not expecting many resignations, because our membership already knows this well."

Benedict says the Libertarian Party supports civil liberties, regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender or sexual orientation. The party also believes in open borders, racial diversity and free trade -- things he says white nationalists abhor.

The statement comes in the wake of a white nationalist rally in Charlottesville that turned violent as protesters engaged with some counterprotesters and one suspected white nationalist drove his car into a crowd of counterprotesters, killing one and injuring 19.

Among the headliners of that "Unite the Right" Rally was Augustus Invictus, who ran for U.S. Senate as a Libertarian in 2016.

At the time his candidacy caused a stir. Florida Libertarian Party Chairman Adrian Wyllie resigned his post because he believed Invictus was a white nationalist who believed in eugenics wanted to start a civil war. Invictus denied the charge.

On Invictus' Twitter account, he describes himself as "the Most Dangerous Libertarian in America."

Invictus announced he was leaving the Libertarians in July for the Republican Party. He announced Tuesday he is running as a Republican candidate for Senate in Florida in 2018, though his name does not yet show up in the listing on the Florida Division of Elections website.

Read more from the original source:
Libertarian Party to White nationalists: Get out - Central Florida News 13

You know its going to be a good day when you open your Idaho Press-Tribune and find a political opponent opining that Idaho Libertarians may not understand the partys philosophy! In her Aug. 8 column, Judy Ferro starts by chiding Libertarians for allegedly not knowing that our think tanks support abolishing public schools and roads.

Yet those are libertarian positions! Reports of widespread poor public school performance and poor public road maintenance are readily available. She did overlook reporting that our country had both effective schools and a functioning road network long before those functions were taken over by an ever-growing state. Returning to private, market-based solutions in these two areas is what she refers to as, destruction of infrastructure.

In most places, government insists that only it can design, build and control our roads with decidedly mixed results. In contrast, consider the modern automobile in all the market-driven styles and sizes, a marvel of engineering and of responding to the needs and desires of drivers, mostly in spite of state interference via regulations. And, sure, some government rules improve auto safety, but how much safer might they actually be, if safety were left to the consumers, their insurance companies and ratings organizations?

She then devotes most of the column to describing and then decrying the idea that circles around from time-to-time that our government should shut down most social programs and just send people a check each month. Make no mistake, guaranteeing your income is still socialism; its just repackaged as The Welfare State writ large. As our national debt approaches $20 trillion, its also not clear how funding might work. In this case she appears to oppose one version of socialism in favor of just tweaking todays socialist programs.

So theres less room for error, please note that the two older political parties are not tied in any way with the Libertarians, the third largest political party. Libertarians generally support: personal and economic freedom; non-interventionist foreign policy; robust national defense; tolerance of others peaceful choices; respect for others property rights; civil liberties; individual right to keep and bear arms; separation of church and state; giving generously to those in need; less strict immigration policy; and lower taxes. Libertarians generally oppose: government-regulated economy or morality; UN-led U.S. military action; regime change; using eminent domain for private gain; war on drugs; surveillance state; and taxpayer funding of government or private charities.

Most government activities opposed by libertarians are direct violations of existing constitutional limits on permitted government actions.

In the Treasure Valley, anyone interested in learning more about libertarian philosophy is welcome to join us for our monthly, no-host philosophical libertarian brunch the second Saturday of every month at the TNT Dynamite Bar & Grill, next to the Shiloh Inn at Exit 36 in Nampa. We gather starting at 10:30 a.m. and typically have a program from 11-noon. There are no exams, no fees and everyone is welcome.

Libertarians are keeping the light of liberty burning!

Rob Oates, Caldwell, is chairman of the Libertarian Party of Idaho. Email him at chair@lpid.org.

See the article here:
What the Libertarian Party supports - Idaho Press-Tribune