Being Libertarian | The Government Made You Fat Being Libertarian Libertarians focus so much on the prolonged approval process for drugs by the FDA that we forget this administration also affects what we eat, and has for a long time. The obesity crisis is just another in a long list of problems created by government ... |
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The Government Made You Fat - Being Libertarian
Afraid theyll invite alt-right transphobes to campus
Wichita State Universitys student government will recognize a newly formed libertarian student organization, an about-face from its rejection of the clubearlier this month.
Student senators had blocked official recognition of the Young Americans for Liberty (YAL) chapter because of its dangerous free-speech agenda and the hateful behavior practiced by the national organization.
The senates decision drew nationwide scorn, with the Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE) warning the administration that the senates move violated the First Amendment.
A student senator still wants to censor the new chapter, asking colleagues in a senate meeting Wednesday how they would be able to block transphobic speakers if they allow YAL on campus.
YAL is perhaps best known for some of its chapters sponsoring appearances by Milo Yiannopoulos, the gay anti-feminist provocateur.
You discriminated against them
The student governments six-member judicial body unanimously overruled the senate, saying the chapters viewpoints were protected free speech and the public universitys bylaws explicitly prohibit blanket bans of organizations based on their affiliation.
Its decision prompted vigorous debate about 26 minutes into Wednesdays senate meeting.
MORE: Student government rejects YALchapter because its dangerous
Vice President for Student Affairs Teri Hall, who filed the complaint with the Supreme Court, told student senators they had violated everything youre supposed to stand for as student government, according to an archived video of the meeting.
You talk about not discriminating and you discriminated against them.
What if they invite a speaker from an alt-right entity where they express white supremacist ideas and transphobic thoughts, Sen. Debbie Ojeda asked Hall. How can we stop that from happening? Because I see this as being a disaster for this university.
Hall said speakers come to campus all the time that students may not want us to bring, even those less controversial than YAL, but Wichita State is built on freedom of speech. The administrator asked Ojeda not to judge this chapter for the actions of other YAL chapters.
Im not judging, said Ojeda. I think you are, Hall replied.
Im just scared, Ojeda said, citing legislation allowing concealed carry on campus starting in July. As a queer student of color, Im afraid.
KKK, Neo-Nazis, Young Americans for Liberty all in same league
Ojeda wrote on Facebook Saturday that she didnt expect those who are privileged to understand her view that YAL is against our very existence.
I don't expect those who are privileged to understand, quite honestly, I am not surprised of the comments stating that "
Posted by Debbie Ojeda-Leitner onSaturday, April 15, 2017
In my 29 years, this has been the hardest sense of minority stress I have ever experienced, Ojeda wrote in an op-ed in The Sunflower Friday. After YAL was approved, she came home in tears.
She also wrote that Hall had made her feel blatantly disrespected and said it was Halls choice to override the decision. The administrator is not a member of the Supreme Court.
YAL is like other hate groups like the Klu Klux Klan [sic], Neo Nazis, and the Westboro [Baptist] Church, Ojeda wrote. They use freedom of speech as a tool to condone violent language toward minority groups.
She angrily responded to Halls comparison of the senate rejecting YAL to its hypothetical rejection of Wichita States existing Muslim Student Association (MSA), which also faced opposition when it came to campus.
MORE: Student government restricts who can use inclusion pledge
Such a comparison adds a layer of racial injustice, Ojeda wrote. Those who are vehemently against MSA because of its ties with a terrorist organization are being racist and Islamophobic it is different from my opposition of [sic] YAL.
She had told the senate about 36 minutes into the meeting that being Muslim doesnt make you dangerous, which started a three-way argument among senators.
Halls comments on MSA may have touched a nerve with student senators. Last month the administrator fought off accusations that she had suggested Muslim students wash their feet in a janitors closet before prayer, in response to their request for a special wash station.
Ojeda did not respond to a Facebook query from The College Fix to elaborate about the difference between YAL and MSA.
Its agenda is helping you understand the tax code
YAL found an outspoken ally in Paul Raymond after the student senator attended one of the chapters meetings earlier last week. Some members were LGBTQ, he noted at the senate meeting.
[H]opefully their intentions are not to undermine their own identities for the sake of an agenda, said Raymond. They planned to take advantage of tax-filing season to educate students about the United States tax code, he told senate colleagues.
There seems to be a shift in campus culture, YAL Wichita State founder Maria Church told FIRE. We are encouraged by this small win, but there is still work to be done. At Young Americans for Liberty, we are committed to fighting for the First Amendment on campuses across the country.
MORE: Student government threatens papers budget for publishing crime reports
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Student government forced to recognize libertarian student group it called 'dangerous' - The College Fix
Being Libertarian | Entertainment Taxes Hurt Locals Being Libertarian No one has ever said that taxes are fun; but is it possible that taxes can be used specifically to fight fun? I live in a small town about an hour away from Pittsburgh, one of my favorite places to go for entertainment. The only problem is that ... |
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Entertainment Taxes Hurt Locals - Being Libertarian
Being Libertarian | Trumpism Is Not Compatible With Small Government Being Libertarian My greatest concern regarding this new regime is Trumpism, whatever it means each day, is beginning to replace the formerly dominant conservatism or libertarianism of the Republican Party. With only the strongest surviving, many of our principles ... |
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Trumpism Is Not Compatible With Small Government - Being Libertarian
Brendan Cox bcox@norwichbulletin.com, (860) 425-4225 bcoxNB
Two years ago, Norwich Republicans in a coup secured a supermajority on the City Council, riding voter frustration over burdensome local taxes. But if the voters who elected them want to take it a step farther this year and if theyre willing to take a big gamble on an untested radical ideology they may get an opportunity in the Libertarian Party.
Bill Russell, the Libertarian who ran for mayor in 2013 and may mount a campaign again this year, is not interested in wimpy scalpels and the surgical budget cuts they effect: He said the citys $120 million-some-odd budget needs the meat cleaver treatment. When I egged him on, he upgraded to power tools.
Lets take a chainsaw to the budget. Lets take a chainsaw to the regulations. Lets get government out of peoples lives so they can start enjoying their lives again, Russell told me.
Norwich Libertarians held a town committee meeting last week, an event Russell said wasnt as well-attended as hed hoped. Nonetheless, he hopes the party can put up a full slate in Norwich, and unless Russell finds someone else to run for mayor, he said, I guess I will have to do it.
State party Chairman Dan Reale, of Plainfield you may remember him from his runs at the 2nd Congressional District seat held by Democrat Joe Courtney said there are now Libertarian committees in 33 Connecticut towns. The party has been engaged in unprecedented levels of activity and organization, Reale wrote in a party newsletter recently.
I was unable to get in touch with Reale, who I expect to run for selectman in Plainfield, last week. But if Russell is any indication, the party focused on individual liberty would use local power to eviscerate government with various kitchen and lawn implements, rescuing the taxpayer from the injustice of having to pay for ample firefighters and police. (And good luck convincing the rest of the council of the insidious evil of the government they represent.)
Russell was light on details the party is just starting its work on the 2017 election but one was to eliminate Norwichs paid fire department.
Moreover: Theres a lot of things we can do with the police station to make it more efficient and make it so we never have to move the police station, Russell said. What those things are is anyones guess.
But Russell, at least, is firm in his convictions: Government has grown way too big, way too intrusive. Its time for government to take a back seat to liberty or freedom or whatever you want to call it.
And government only stays in the front seat because voters keep electing Democrats and Republicans, who just want to control peoples lives, Russell said. When you control peoples lives you end with Nazi Germany, is what you end up with. (I seem to recall a certain White House spokesman getting into some trouble for using that nasty Nazi reference last week.)
Russell is serious about slashing and burning the city budget, though this philosophy doesnt really merit being taken seriously. But I do agree with him about one thing.
The city of Norwich is damn near a ghost town right now The Democrats and Republicans have really screwed this town up, he said. Given a chance, perhaps Russell, or whoever ends up running on a Libertarian line, could prove just the wake-up call the city needs, or thinks it needs.
What do we have to lose? Well, we can only find out if we hand a Libertarian the keys to City Hall and an oilcan for that lawn tool.
Politically speaking, 2016 was an outlandish year. Norwich could continue the theme if theyre willing to risk the Norwich Budget Chainsaw Massacre. Who doesnt love a good horror movie?
Brendan Cox is The Bulletins opinion page editor. Email him at bcox@norwichbulletin.com or follow him on Twitter: @bcoxNB.
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Brendan Cox: Norwich Libertarian vows budget massacre - Norwich Bulletin