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On May 19th Iran will hold its 20th presidential election.

The stakes for this election are high as the regional cold war between Sunni Saudi Arabia and Shia Iran has intensified since Trumps election. The United States, Saudi Arabia, and Israel have been on a united front against Iran, pushing forincreased sanctions, especially in the light of Irans ballistic missile test.

Current presidentHassan Rouhani, who presented himself to Iranian voters as a moderate during his2013 presidential campaign, has drawn international criticism for the test, and for his order for Irans Atomic Energy Organisation to begin construction on nuclear-powered warships, a violation of their nuclear deal.

He does, however, remain the front-runner for the election as the Reformist candidate. Also running is the independent Hamid Baqai, a former confident to former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, and Iran Revolutionary Guard General Ezzatollah Zarghami.

The main political division is between reformist candidates, who are politically liberal and offer more in terms of womens rights, and principalists who adhere to the doctrines put forth during the Islamic Revolution.

The results of the election will have far-reaching implications for the Middle East, where the Iranian-backed Asad regime waged a successful war against the rebels and ISIS, and in Yemen where the Iranian-backed Houthi rebels staged a successful coup detat in 2015.

Iran has also been involved in the political landscape of Lebanon, funding Hezbollah.

Although the president of Iran is the highest elected office of the nation, the Supreme Leader is in charge of their armed forces, judiciary system, state television and has the final authority on economic, environmental, and foreign policy.

In order to run for president in Iran a candidate must be over the age of 21, Iranian-born, believe in Islam, and approved by the Guardian Council, which does not accept women.

Photo: Time

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Iran to Hold Presidential Election - Being Libertarian - Being Libertarian

The demonetization of high-denomination notes of Rs. 500 and Rs. 1000 by the BJP-led Government of India in November last year sent shock waves across the country. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his 2017 New Years speech, dubbed this move as a historic rite of purification, giving it a religious aspect. In the same speech, Modi struck a philosophical note by claiming that humans are inherently good, but over time, evil creeps into societies. He later clarifies that evil is synonymous with corruption, black money and counterfeit notes.

But, judging by the prominent place black money takes in his speech, one can safely assume that the government stripped two currency notes of their legal status principally to undermine Indias underground economy. Black money can be defined as income illegally obtained or not declared for tax purposes. The second part of the definition is often ignored by governments.

In his essay The Underground Economy Hans F. Sennholz accurately predicted this stance of governments when he wrote:

Government officials and agents are ever eager to lump both together, the criminals and their organization with the producers in the underground. Both groups are knowingly violating laws and regulations and defying political authority. But they differ radically in the role they play in society. The underworld comprises criminals who are committing acts of bribery, fraud, and racketeering, and willfully inflicting wrongs on society. The underground economy involves otherwise law-abiding citizens who are seeking refuge from the wrongs inflicted on them by government.

True to Sennholzs prediction, Modi, in his speech, said, It is accepted the world over, that terrorism, Naxalism, Maoism, counterfeit currency trade, drug trade, human trafficking all of these depend on black money. The underlying assumption in this argument that black money serves only criminals is incorrect. There are doctors, lawyers, accountants, and businessmen who seek refuge in the underground economy because of the enormous burden of taxation. Tax is a legalized form of theft and it reduces the marginal utility of productive efforts. In other words, the will to do productive work is lessened because the returns on productive work is reduced. Therefore, the only way such money can be brought into the formal economy is by reducing tax rates across all income groups.

Modi supports his flawed argument with several flawed premises. Economists agree that when cash is outside the formal economy, it is a cause of worry, he said. This is clearly an appeal-to-authority logical fallacy since he fails to mention which economists find it worrisome. There, certainly, will be economists who will be on board with governments agenda to capture money that escaped taxation.

Modis reason for why he wants to incorporate black money into the economy is, When it joins the mainstream, it is an opportunity for development. That is Orwellian double-speak for government spending and it ought to be seen for what it really is: an opportunity to provide even more subsidies to the partys voting blocs. Government spending distorts the economy, and contrary to popular belief, it does not lead to economic growth. True growth is fueled by growth in valuable goods and services in any economy.

Modi declared that inflation is the fallout from an increase in black money in the economy. The excess of cash was fueling inflation and black-marketing, he said. It was denying the poor their due. Granted, monetary inflation erodes the value of money and the poor are hurt most by it, but it is futile to blame black money for it. Monetary inflation is caused by an excess of money and credit circulating in the economy, and it is the Reserve Bank of India, with its market-distorting interest rate cuts, that ought to be blamed.

Another major activity of an underground economy is economic production that flouts minimum wage laws. Minimum wage laws are a form of price control. About minimum wage laws, Sennholz stated:

Minimum wage laws are nothing more than government orders to workers that they must not work for less than the stated minimum, and to employers that they must pay the minimum, or not employ at all. But such mandates may deny millions of workers the right to work, which is synonymous with the basic right to sustain their lives through their own efforts.

Indias Minimum Wages Act of 1948 specifies minimum wages on a per day basis. Last year, Rajasthans state government set Rs. 5,642 (approximately $84.6) per month as the minimum wage for housemaids. In a country where 828 million people (or 75.6% of the population) live below $2 a day, paying a housemaid $84.6 per month seems like a ludicrous proposition.

Underground economies have existed since the dawn of civilizations and they serve a useful purpose. The government would do well to realize that the road to prosperity does not begin with shredding currency notes, increasing taxes and attacking the underground economy.

Sriparna Neogi has a Masters degree in Business Administration. She works as an analyst in one of Indias largest e-commerce companies.

Image source: https://www.pexels.com/search/rupees/

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Demonetization: A Thinly-Veiled Attack on India's Underground Economy - Being Libertarian

Im going to say this as simply as possible: Rand Paul is the best member of the Senate and the most libertarian leaning senator in over half a century, comparable to Robert Taft, who was the Senate Majority Leader in the early 1950s. Rand Paul was this man who in 2009 I remember seeing announce a bid for the Senate and felt it was kind of a long shot. He went up against a popular statewide-elected Republican in a primary, and via small online donations, a realistic take on libertarianism that fits the demographics of Kentucky, and a ton of work from volunteers, he won both the primary and general elections in landslide wins. He was elected to the Senate and for the last six years proposed countless bills on criminal justice reform, economic reform, the best foreign policy the post-9/11 Senate can offer.

But, libertarians now are just being hostile to him like they had been to Bill Weld, Gary Johnson and anyone wanting to expand the base so it isnt just a club on the Internet, and it freaking sucks.

First off, Rand Paul isnt perfect. Hes human, he has a tough job and is trying to be many things to many people, which is how mistakes happen. One of those mistakes was the abortion known as his 2016 campaign. It was the Land of Boring where he just acted like a regular Republican, had horrible media content, a detached staff, lack of ability to fundraise and focused on C level issues people dont care about, such as Planned Parenthood and the NSA, which proved to be yawn topics. The campaign peaked with a CPAC, and the Flat and Fair tax plan, which was a pretty awesome proposal, but fell flat with a campaign focused on making useless phone calls to talk about how Rand was your ordinary anti-gay, anti-immigrant, anti-abortion and anti-legalization Republican. I was 100% aware the campaign was not a success.

I wanted a Rand Paul whod just come out and say gay marriage should be legal and not half-ass it with, We should have nameless civil unions nationally!

I wanted a Rand Paul who would say Immigration is a free market and Im proud Ive introduced amendments to make it simpler!

I wanted a Rand Paul who would go up on the debate stage and say Let me make something clear. Black Lives Matter and thats why Ive proposed all my criminal justice reform laws!

I wanted a Rand Paul whod be like Donald Trump was in the debates, looking Jeb Bush in the eye and saying Your legacy and your team is the team who screwed America on Iraq.

I wanted a Rand Paul who would actually have more clear solutions on energy, education and health care, similar to what he had on taxes.

I wanted a Rand Paul which bragged about how hes had bills co-sponsored with everyone from Ted Cruz to Barbara Boxer and hes the most bipartisan senator.

But, heres what I like about Rand Paul:

Rand Paul is awesome on fiscal issues. Hes by far the most fiscally conservative member of the Senate and has time after time proposed balanced and simple budgets.

Rand Paul is basically the lone fighter in the Senate on the NSA and poor data collection.

Rand Paul works with everyone and has co-sponsored bills with Cory Booker, Ted Cruz, Mitch McConnell, Barbara Boxer, Pat Leahy and others.

Rand Paul is Americas Black Lives Matter senator. He wrote a chapter in his book praising the movement for bringing up valid issues in America, had the guts to go out and take a meeting with Al Sharpton, and talks about criminal justice issues, admitting our legal system is rigged against the poor and minorities; middle class white people do drugs and other crimes just as much, but never get the same searches or penalties as poor minorities.

Rand Pauls foreign policy proposals, while not perfect, is the best option we have.

I like everything hes done in the Senate and dont think it was a bad idea he voted for Jeff Sessions and Betsy DeVos. I hated them and Im pretty sure deep down he did also. However, when hes trying to repeal and replace Obamacare, cut spending, cut regulation and not go to war, him being blacklisted by the new administration for voting against Sessions and DeVos would have sidelined his voice and advocacy.

But, there are so many libertarians that hate Rand Paul, and to them I say: shut the hell up! If youre so much better than Rand, Bill or Gary, go elect your own little purist to office and see how many reforms can get done. However, until that point, realize managing a state or an office in the US Senate is a lot different than talking about Murray Rothbard on some podcast!

This post was written by Charles Peralo.

The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions.

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If You're a Libertarian & Hate Rand Paul, You're the Problem - Being Libertarian

National Libertarian Party vice chair Arvin Vohra, a former candidate for the U.S. Senate in Maryland, is the keynote speaker at the Colorado Libertarian Party Convention March 24-26, 2017, in Westminster. (Photo courtesy Arvin Vohra)

The vice chair of the National Libertarian Committee and a frequent candidate for federal office in Maryland, Arvin Vohra, headlines a diverse group of speakers including past presidential candidates this weekend at the Colorado Libertarian Party convention in Westminster, the party announced.

The partys convention runs Friday-Sunday, March 24-26, at the Westin Hotel in Westminster the home of Libertarian Party co-founder David Nolan and, in a distinction it shares with Colorado Springs, the birthplace of the party. The weekend is filled with speeches, panel discussions and entertainment, including casino-style games and dancing to a live band.

The party will elect state officers and consider its platform and bylaws in the morning on Saturday and Sunday. Anyone can attend these functions, but only Colorado residents registered as Libertarian for at least 90 days can participate. Tickets for other convention events, including Saturdays banquet and keynote address, are available at the state partys online store.

Vohra, an author and founder of the Vohra Method education service, ran for the U.S. Senate in Maryland last year as a write-in candidate and ran for two different congressional seats in the state the two elections before that. His main campaign themes have been eliminating the federal income tax, ending the drug war, repealing gun free school zones and cutting military spending by at least 60 percent.

Publisher and pundit Austin Peterson, who came in second to former New Mexico Gov. Gary Johnson in last years crowded Libertarian presidential primary conservative leaders Mary Matalin and Erick Erickson were among those endorsing his presidential bid is also slated to speak.

Coloradan Matthew Hess, a systems administrator and former gubernatorial and congressional candidate, is a recipient of the Presidential Volunteer Service Award and a past candidate for Douglas County commissioner. His philosophy, he says, is spreading the message of freedom and liberty in Colorado, reversing the gun control legislation, cutting taxes and getting government out of the way of businesses.

Another speaker, Nebraska state Sen. Laura Ebke, was elected to that states non-partisan legislature in 2014 and then changed her registration to Libertarian last year. She was a state leader of Ron Pauls presidential campaigns in 2008 and 2012 and founded the Republican Liberty Caucus of Nebraska. Last year, she led the effort to ban civil forfeiture in the state.

Steve Kerbel, another 2016 Libertarian presidential hopeful, is also scheduled to speak. The author of Take Everyman Down, described as an eye-opening piece showing who is truly responsible for the condition of our country, Kerbel runs the Truth in Polling nonprofit and plans to support ballot initiatives to promote liberty nationwide.

The convention will also include a discussion about alternative voting methods, such as Approval Voting and Ranked Choice Voting.

ernest@coloradostatesman.com

approval voting, Arvin Vohra, civil forfeiture, Colorado Libertarian Party, David Nolan, Erick Erickson, Gary Johnson, Laura Ebke, Libertarian Party, Mary Matalin, matthew hess, Nebraska, ranked choice voting, Westminster

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National vice chair among liberty luminaries set to speak at state ... - The Colorado Statesman

Former Massachusetts Gov. Bill Weld chided the media for taking "the bait" every time President Trump tweets.

In an interview with the Boston Herald's Inside Track, Weld, who ran as 2016 Libertarian presidential nominee Gary Johnson's running mate, said journalists are enabling Trump's agenda by breaking "one of the rules of politics" by jumping on every 140-character message sent by the president.

"One of the rules in politics is don't go for the bait," Weld said. "When someone drags a wiggly nightcrawler in front of you, don't snap at it every time. The media seems to be snapping at every single tweet that Mr. Trump does and I think he knows exactly what he's doing. The media is making it work for him."

Weld went on the say that Trump is having "fun" in his war against the media, in which he often singles out certain certain outlets like CNN and the New York Times for criticism and calling them "fake news."

Despite the sometimes questionable nature of the tweets, which sometimes verges on the edge of conspiracy (i.e. Trump's tweets alleging without proof about President Barack Obama wiretapping Trump tower), Weld said the president is confident the media will cover him "no matter what he says or does."

"I think he's having fun with the media," Weld said. "He knows they're going to cover him no matter what he says or does, so there's no penalty for dabbling in alternative reality."

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Libertarian VP nominee Bill Weld chides media for taking Trump's ... - Washington Examiner