Archive for the ‘Libertarian’ Category

Vote Today for Your Favorite Libertarian – ConservativeHQ

Cast your vote for your favorite Libertarianandas a bonus get a $100 discount on your ticket toFreedomFest.

Choose among your favorites in politics, business, the media, authors, and think tanks. Think of Ron Paul, John Stossel, Judge Andrew Napolitano, Steve Forbes and John Mackey.

In the survey, we suggest you choose five in each category. But actually, you can vote for as many people as you wish.

When you are finished, you can see instantly whos in the Top 50 so far.

The final list is going to be announcedat this yearsFreedomFest, the10th anniversaryof the annual event, and then published byNewsmaxmagazine with grand fanfare. Spread the word!

FreedomFestorganizers arealso planning a special photograph of the Top 50 Libertarians on Friday, July 21,right beforeWilliam Shatnerspeaks. You dont want to miss this historic event of all your great libertarian heroes.

Please consider taking this opportunity to vote for your favorite Libertarian AND earn a discount toFreedomFests10thanniversary extravaganza. After taking the survey, you will receive a $100 discount off the retail price ofFreedomFest. Or register athttp://freedomfest.com/register-now/and use code FS2017 for the $100 discount. You also can register by calling toll-free 1-855-850-3733, ext. 202 and talk to Amy, Karen or Jennifer.

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Vote Today for Your Favorite Libertarian - ConservativeHQ

White nationalist Richard Spencer attempts to troll Libertarian conference and is promptly rejected – TheBlaze.com

According to Reasons Robby Soave, white nationalist and alt-right leader Richard Spencer attempted to crash a Libertarian gathering in Washington D.C., but after a heated argument with one of its famous attendees, Spencer was escorted out.

The incident happened Saturday night during 10th annual International Students for Liberty Conference at thethe Marriott Wardman in Woodley Park where the event was being held. Spencer reportedly attempted to host an unscheduled and unwanted conversation at the bar of the hotel regarding his pro-white nationalist views with attendees.

According to economist and author Steve Horowitz, the group Hoppe Caucus a group of alt-right libertarians named after philosopher Hans-Hermann Hoppe intended to bring Spencer to the hotel at the same time as the ISL conference as an intentional troll, even including a sign that saidRichard Spencer ISFLC 17.

Soave gives more details of Spencers time at the hotel, and his inevitabledeparture.

Eventually, Jeffrey Tuckeran influential libertarian thinkerconfronted Spencer and made clear to the alt-right provocateur that he did not belong at ISFLC. Some shouting ensued, and hotel staff intervened. Shortly thereafter, Spencer left.

Its not completely clear whether Spencer departed of his own accord: he seems to think he was forced to leave, while others say he asked security to see him out safely, even though he was in no danger. But it hardly matters: the Marriott Wardman hotel is private property, and should enjoy the absolute right to evict irksome and unwelcome guests from its premises.

Horowitz says that when conference attendees heard Spencer was at the bar, and number wentto confront him. At first there was an attempt at rational discussion, but as the crowd grew in size, and the shouting match between Spencer and Tucker grew heated, the hotel staff saw fit to kick everyone out of the bar. Spencer reportedly asked to be escorted out for his own safety, though Horowitz denies that Spencer was ever in any danger.

You can watch video of the exchange between Spencer and Tucker below:

One common theme many of the Libertarians discussing this incident share is that Spencer, and the alt-right are not welcome amongst the Libertarians. As the Libertarians of SFL demonstrated, and Soave writes into words, the incident should make abundantly clear that the alt-rights racism is incompatible with the principles of a free society. Libertarianism is an individualist philosophy that considers all people deserving of equal rights. In contrast, Spencer is a tribalist and collectivist whose personal commitment to identity politics vastly exceeds the lefts.

As well, the SFL President Wolf von Laer said in a statement that his organization did not invite Spencer, and that they reject his hateful message and we wholeheartedly oppose his obsolete ideology.

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White nationalist Richard Spencer attempts to troll Libertarian conference and is promptly rejected - TheBlaze.com

Alt-Right Leader Richard Spencer Crashed a Student Libertarian Conference and Was Shunned – Reason (blog)

Jeff Malet Photography/NewscomOn Saturday, alt-right leader Richard Spencer crashed the 10th annual International Students for Liberty Conference at a hotel in Washington, D.C. After quarreling with conference attendees, he left the premises.

Spencer, a self-declared white nationalist who believes the U.S. is losing its white identity, had no business attending a gathering of libertarian students, and conference organizers had every right to eject him. Indeed, their decision to do so was a valid exercise of libertarian principles in action.

I attended the conference, along with several other Reason staffers. The Reason Foundation is a co-sponsor of ISFLC, and hosted several events during the conference. One of those events, a panel discussion about sex trafficking featuring Reason Associate Editor Elizabeth Nolan Brown and Director of Criminal Justice Reform Lauren Krisai, unfolded at roughly the same time as Spencer's unsolicited visit. I was in the audience at that event, and did not cross paths with Spencer.

But it's clear from video footage that Spencer set himself up in the bar of the hotelthe Marriott Wardman in Woodley Parkand attempted to host an unscheduled and unwanted conversation about his despicable views. To be absolutely clear: Spencer was not welcome at the hotel and had not been invited to participate in ISFLC.

"We did not invite Mr. Spencer," said SFL CEO Wolf von Laer in a statement. "We reject his hateful message and we wholeheartedly oppose his obsolete ideology."

Eventually, Jeffrey Tuckeran influential libertarian thinkerconfronted Spencer and made clear to the alt-right provocateur that he "did not belong" at ISFLC. Some shouting ensued, and hotel staff intervened. Shortly thereafter, Spencer left.

It's not completely clear whether Spencer departed of his own accord: he seems to think he was forced to leave, while others say he asked security to see him out safely, even though he was in no danger. But it hardly matters: the Marriott Wardman hotel is private property, and should enjoy the absolute right to evict irksome and unwelcome guests from its premises.

Spencer has attempted to wring as much publicity from the incident as possiblehe tweeted about it no fewer than 40 times, by my count. In his mind, libertarians are "lolbertarians" who need to "accept the reality of race" and get serious about "white replacement." To the extent that his only goal in life is to garner more attention for his fringe worldview, I suppose the stunt was a successhere I am writing about it. Congrats to you, guy who thinks "the United States is a European country."

In any case, the incident should make abundantly clear that the alt-right's racism is incompatible with the principles of a free society. Libertarianism is an individualist philosophy that considers all people deserving of equal rights. In contrast, Spencer is a tribalist and collectivist whose personal commitment to identity politics vastly exceeds the left's.

Spencer is entitled to broadcast his vile opinions, and to make equal use of public resources. He should not be attacked on the street, or anywhere else. But no private actor is required to give him a platformotherwise, property rights would cease to matter.

ISFLC, an organization that works tirelessly to support the cause of liberty all over the worldnot just for white American college studentshandled the matter correctly, in my view.

Disclaimer: I am a friend of Students for Liberty, and won the organization's 2016 Alumni of the Year Award.

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Alt-Right Leader Richard Spencer Crashed a Student Libertarian Conference and Was Shunned - Reason (blog)

Libertarian author Steven Greenhut will talk public employee pensions at Maui County Club – MauiTime Weekly

And now for something fun: Steven Greenhut, a very intelligent and conscientious writerand one of my former editors from my time in Californiawill be on Maui this weekend to do a talk for the Grassroot Institute of Hawaiiabout public employee unions and pensions.

County public employees in the state of Hawaii make among the highest wages in the nation, even after adjusted for Hawaiis high cost of living, states the lecture notice. Steven Greenhut is the author of Plunder! How public employee unions are raiding treasuries, controlling our lives and bankrupting the nation. He will open the books on police and fire departments across the country, and show that the problems of pension spiking, overtime, and Cadillac benefits are also happening in Hawaii.

Greenhut is the Western Region Director for the R Street Institute, a columnist for the Orange County Register and a true libertarian. He opposes public employee unions, big public pensions, eminent domain (which he also wrote a book about), civil asset forfeiture, the drug war, militarized law enforcement and interventionist wars of all types, shapes and sizes.

Seriously, this will be a good talk. Greenhut will speak at 11:30am on Friday, Feb. 24 at the Maui Country Club (48 Nonohe Pl., Paia). The cost is $20, and it includes lunch. Click here for more information.

Photo courtesy Steven Greenhut

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Libertarian author Steven Greenhut will talk public employee pensions at Maui County Club - MauiTime Weekly

The Intolerance of Thought – Being Libertarian

On August 1, 2016, Ben Shapiro, a conservative American political commentator, was notified that DePaul Universitys administration had banned him from speaking at the university due to security concerns. The Washington Times reported that Shapiro called the ban an assault on free speech.

Shapiro further stated:

Its both pathetic and predictable that the university is happy to grant a veto on speakers to snowflake leftists so long as the leftists threaten violence. He told The Daily Wire. This is how free speech dies: when people in power cave to the bullies rather than standing up for basic rights.

This drama continued November 16, 2016, when DePaul University, again banned Ben Shapiro from speaking at a public event sponsored by the DePaul chapter of Young Americans for Freedom; the talk was on campus intolerance. Not only was Shapiro refused entry to participate as a speaker at this event, he was also refused admittance as an audience member.

The Claremont Independent reported that, Pulitzer Prize winning author, George Will, was dis-invited to speak at, Scripps College ninth annual Elizabeth Hubert Malott Public Affairs Program. The mission of this program is to bring speakers to campus whose political views differ from the majority of students at the all-womens college.

It appeared the dis-invitation was due to a recent column Will wrote on sexual harassment on college campuses.

Neither Shapiro or Will were allowed to exercise their freedom of speech and academic expression in the very halls that are supposed to teach students about wide ranging perspectives, culture, and viewpoints.

Instead, there is a trend that demonstrates that higher education is being drowned out by liberal cries for greater tolerance.

However, what is tolerance if the very actions that defend tolerance instead demonstrate intolerance?

What does it mean, if you only hear what you prefer to hear, and not truly hear what other people are saying? What does it say, if you resort to violence to force others to stop a free exchange of ideas and thoughts?

Is that truly being tolerant? Or are violent acts an acceptable means to actively engage in intolerance under the false guise of being accepting?

This backlash against liberal intolerance is even starting to reverberate even with other self-professed liberals.

Just two years ago, President Obama gave a speech about this same issue and stated, Ive heard of some college campuses where they dont want to have a guest speaker who is too conservative. Or they dont want to read a book if it has language that is offensive to African-Americans, or somehow sends a demeaning signal towards women. I dont agree that you, when you become students at colleges, have to be coddled and protected from different points of view.

Is it really acceptable to cast out a speaker or initiate violence just because someone else says things that you disagree with?

Such discriminatory actions undercut the very freedoms that are defined within the U.S. Constitution; the ones that afford all Americans the right to speak freely.

This kind of dangerous thinking certainly hints at fascism and undermines core American values.

The purpose of going to a college or university is not just to get a degree, its also to be exposed to a variety of views and ideologies. When ideas go unrepresented in key discussions it turns classrooms into echo chambers rather than sounding boards.

According to a study conducted by the Association for Psychological Science, over a third of social psychologists admitted to discriminating against conservatives, even if they are qualified for a position. If liberals are so interested in having more acceptance and more tolerance in America then they should focus not only on others, but on themselves.

You can blame everyone else all you want, but true change wont occur until you change yourself.

You must accept peoples right to have a differing opinion than your own, and you must understand and realize that not everyone will agree with you. This doesnt make them a racist, a misogynist, or a homophobe it simply means that they have a different point of view.

During the 2016 presidential election both major parties provided further evidence that labeling people who have differing viewpoints does not always work. If you want to create change, insults are less useful than discourse. Americans should, and need to, debate ideas and differing perspectives, but such a debate cannot occur if only one perspective is allowed to speak.

Being close-minded towards other avenues of thought doesnt demonstrate tolerance, it demonstrates rudeness. It demonstrates a lack of flexibility and openness. It demonstrates intolerance.

A commonly used quote that applies to both family and friendships is, If you want to stay friends, dont talk about politics. Why should that be? Why shouldnt people be able to freely discuss varying political thought without jeopardizing both familial relationships and friendships? If people truly want to unite this country then they must realize that you cant always blame the other side for your problems, you have to take responsibility; not just on common issues, but on the acceptance that all perspectives should be allowed the same freedoms and tolerances you yourself are asking be given to you. Ask for greater tolerance of all thought, not just your own.

* Ryan Kuo is a student attending Oregon State University for his BS in political science.

The main BeingLibertarian.com account, used for editorials and guest author submissions. The views expressed here belong to the author and do not necessarily reflect our views and opinions. Contact the Editor at editor@beinglibertarian.email

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