Libertarian Longhorns» News http://libertarianlonghorns.com Freedom lives at UT Austin Mon, 23 Jan 2012 03:47:46 +0000 en hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1 Today is Internet Blackout Day http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2012/01/18/today-is-internet-blackout-day/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2012/01/18/today-is-internet-blackout-day/#comments Thu, 19 Jan 2012 03:19:06 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2012/01/18/today-is-internet-blackout-day/ If you tried to visit Wikipedia today, you probably were quite disappointed since you saw a page much like this:

image

Wikipedia, along with thousands of other sites, are protesting the Stop Online Piracy Act (SOPA) and the Protect IP Act (PIPA) because these two bills pose some of the most egregious violations of property rights one could imagine. In essence, the federal government would gain the power to censor almost anything at a whim. People were offended when the Feds talked about an internet “kill switch” – Egypt-style – but this is like putting an individual kill switch on every web site hosted on a server in the United States. It is bone-chillingly draconian and utterly barbaric.

If you are unaware of this legislation, please take a few moments to learn more. Wikipedia has a special page dedicated to the protest.

Here is a useful video by one of my favorite YouTube channels that deals with online culture, KnowYourMeme.com.

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2012/01/18/today-is-internet-blackout-day/feed/ 0 Spring 2012 Semester Updates http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2012/01/06/spring-2012-semester-updates/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2012/01/06/spring-2012-semester-updates/#comments Fri, 06 Jan 2012 21:24:43 +0000 Michael http://libertarianlonghorns.com/?p=991 An incredible semester is about to begin this month. Between Libertarian Longhorns, Young Americans for Liberty, and two new groups, Youth for Ron Paul and UT Mises Circle, you will never have to worry about getting your next fix of liberty.

The weekly meetings for Libertarian Longhorns will be held on Thursday evenings from 7 – 8:30 PM in Garrison Hall (GAR) 2.112. They will start on January 26th. But, if you want more liberty, I encourage you to come at 6 PM in the same place for Youth for Ron Paul meetings and stay late for after meeting socials (most likely at Austin’s Pizza).

Upcoming topics for lecture and discussion at Libertarian Longhorns:
1/26 – “Libertarianism is Beautiful”
2/2 – Social Cooperation
2/9 – Corporatism vs. Capitalism
2/16 – For-Profit Charity

If economics is your game and praxeology is your method of choice because you know we can know a priori, come join the UT Mises Circle! We will focus on more in-depth economics topics and analysis with that Austrian perspective. I will update you as soon as possible when more information about meetings for the UT Mises Circle has been determined.

Get ready to Paul out, everyone!

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2012/01/06/spring-2012-semester-updates/feed/ 0 Libertarian Longhorn member published in the Washington Post http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/12/27/lcc-is-in-the-washington-post/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/12/27/lcc-is-in-the-washington-post/#comments Tue, 27 Dec 2011 23:11:02 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/12/27/lcc-is-in-the-washington-post/ A few weeks ago, the Washington Post’s highly-trafficked blog “On Faith” asked me to write an article about Christianity, libertarianism, and Ron Paul. The article was published today and is currently featured on the site in the “Guest Voices” section. Check it out!

A quick excerpt:

“Through libertarianism, many Christians have found a way to move past their previous beliefs about politics and embrace a more consistent, more biblical political philosophy. The message of abolishing government power is powerful on its own. In Ron Paul, many Christian libertarians see a leader who points to principles that conservatives and liberals have long forgotten… Libertarianism is not going away, and it surely will take an increasingly prominent place in the political discussion of Christians for years to come.”

Many thanks to the Washington Post for this great opportunity.

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/12/27/lcc-is-in-the-washington-post/feed/ 0 Rand Paul may have prevented conflict with Russia, but what does it mean? http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/12/06/rand-paul-may-have-prevented-conflict-with-russia-but-what-does-it-mean/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/12/06/rand-paul-may-have-prevented-conflict-with-russia-but-what-does-it-mean/#comments Wed, 07 Dec 2011 03:03:33 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/12/06/rand-paul-may-have-prevented-conflict-with-russia-but-what-does-it-mean/ I do not want to overstate the event, but there has been some very interesting stuff going on in the Senate these past few days.

Jack Hunter reports in the Daily Caller that Rand Paul blocked an unanimous consent vote that could have had big effects:

Last week, while most senators were focused on the important national issues of war funding and Americans’ constitutional liberties, Senator Marco Rubio (R-FL) seemed more concerned with the fate of a foreign country. Behind the scenes, Rubio moved to have a unanimous consent vote that would have hastened Georgia’s entry into NATO. The unanimous consent vote never happened because Senator Rand Paul single-handedly prevented it.

This is not a triviality. Make no mistake: Bringing Georgia into NATO could lead to a new military conflict for the United States, which is why any move that would facilitate Georgia’s entry into the alliance should be publicly debated. Rubio’s attempt to push this through by unanimous consent — that is to say, without any formal debate or vote — is highly suspect and calls into question the senator’s better judgment.

You may remember that the small country of Georgia, which is on the border of Russia, nearly got the United States into a smoking conflict just three years ago. There is more information in the Daily Caller article and I recommend reading it. The American people are, for the most part, incredibly ignorant of foreign policy these days. I highly doubt that most could even find Georgia on a map, or even know that Georgia is a country at all. Nonetheless, this rogue government continues its imperialist ventures behind the people’s backs, ignoring the costs and building its hegemony day by day.

However, just reporting the facts in this blog post is only part of the point…

Rand Paul made a good move here, no doubt. But, we need to remember such events do not prove that politics is the be-all-and-end-all of the liberty movement as well. Rand, I am sure, knows that if the government wants a war, they can get one. The importance of Rand’s block is that it brings attention to the inner workings of the State. If the consent vote had gone through, hardly anyone would have noticed until another conflict was underway. Then, of course, boobus Americanus will fall in line, trusting that their deified overlords got it right just like they did Iraq, and Afghanistan, and Libya, and etc.

It is our job to expose the evils of the State, not “reform” them. Libertarian politicians like Rand and Ron Paul can only do so much to “fix” anything at all. Ultimately, the willingness of the people to turn a blind eye is what allows the State to thrive. We should take events like Rand’s vote as opportunities to talk to people, to teach them about liberty. Without changing the culture, any good a libertarian politician might accomplish has every possibility of being washed away the moment he leaves office.

I support Ron Paul, but it is up to us to carry things forward in the long run. I’m not Ron Paul, you are. Think about it.

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/12/06/rand-paul-may-have-prevented-conflict-with-russia-but-what-does-it-mean/feed/ 0 The “Extensive Failure” of Full Body Scanners and the Politics Behind It http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/10/12/the-extensive-failure-of-full-body-scanners-revisited/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/10/12/the-extensive-failure-of-full-body-scanners-revisited/#comments Wed, 12 Oct 2011 23:17:24 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/10/12/the-extensive-failure-of-full-body-scanners-revisited/ I posted this article at another website that I help manage, StopAustinScanners.org. I should note that LL member Taylor Metting and I both spoke at the AAAC meeting mentioned below as well.

The recent meeting of the Austin Airport Advisory Commission to discuss the upcoming installation of “Advanced Imaging Technology” (AIT) at Austin-Bergstrom International Airport has prompted me to revisit some of our earlier reporting about these devices. Reviewing our previously posted article, I found that, at least for the time being, the Minneapolis-St. Paul Star Tribune’s news report was unavailable. It was time for some hunting…

TSA officials were scheduled for an early morning panel hearing of the House Oversight committee on March 16th – and they didn’t show up. They rescheduled for early afternoon and then testified before the committee.

The Hill reported on the subcommittee hearing that Rep. John Mica (R-FL) called the TSA’s scanners “thoroughly useless.”

"The equipment is flawed and can be subverted," House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee Chairman John Mica (R-Fla.) said. "Our staff has subverted it. (TSA Administrator) Pistole said ‘GAO is very clever.’ Well what the hell does he think a terrorist is?"

The Hill covered the hearing very well, but much more was said that they did not mention about the scanners. John Mica in particular had biting criticism for the TSA’s scanning technology. You can watch the entire hearing on Youtube (more links here).

During the 29th minute of the linked Youtube video, you can hear Rep. Mica say that the Government Accountability Office report he had commissioned described the “extensive failure rate” of the AIT systems. I tried to track down any reference to this report at the GAO’s website to no avail; apparently it is still classified.

Mica also lambasted the deployment plan for the AIT systems saying, “The initial deployment of portals [security checkpoints with AIT] was a joke,” and “Even a seventh grader could come up with a better plan.” 

Even though Mica was one of the original House members to help establish the TSA, this is not his first time to take a shot at the TSA’s monstrous activities. He has repeatedly called upon the GAO to examine their policies and has routinely called attention in the media to their incompetence. In a press release issued in June of 2010, Mica said, “TSA’s failure to complete these critical risk assessments further demonstrates this bloated bureaucracy’s inability to respond effectively to the nation’s transportation security demands.  Even with more than 7,000 supervisors and administrative staff across the country and over 1,000 more in Washington, GAO confirms they can’t seem to get it right.” A month before Mica called for a complete reorganization of the TSA once again (even though they went through five administrations in the previous five years).

Here are some of the links to GAO reports that ought to disturb you to no end. All were either commissioned by Mica or recommended by Mica in the March 16th, 2011 hearing.

  • Homeland Security: Better Use of Terrorist Watchlist Information and Improvements in Deployment of Passenger Screening Checkpoint Technologies Could Further Strengthen Security (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-401T)
  • Aviation Security: TSA Is Increasing Procurement and Deployment of the Advanced Imaging Technology, but Challenges to This Effort and Other Areas of Aviation Security Remain (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-484T)
  • Aviation Security: DHS Has Taken Steps to Enhance International Aviation Security and Facilitate Compliance with International Standards, but Challenges Remain (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-11-238T)
  • Transportation Security: Additional Actions Could Strengthen the Security of Intermodal Transportation Facilities (http://www.gao.gov/products/GAO-10-435R)

Again, the most important report that shows the TSA’s blatant disregard for safety standards and human rights has been hidden from us. We know it exists, watch the video of Mica.

Time and time again, we see that the TSA is a joke and a fraud, and the joke is on us for accepting their word for anything of value at all. Further, they clearly make the Federal Government’s claims about the major threats of terrorism look more and more like a joke every passing day, even while they force us to be exposed to radiation or get groped if we refuse. Why trust these phonies?

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/10/12/the-extensive-failure-of-full-body-scanners-revisited/feed/ 1 Texas House passes legislation banning Security-Theatre Patdowns http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/05/13/texas-house-passes-legislation-banning-security-theatre-patdowns/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/05/13/texas-house-passes-legislation-banning-security-theatre-patdowns/#comments Fri, 13 May 2011 21:33:00 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/05/13/texas-house-passes-legislation-banning-security-theatre-patdowns/ A few days I ago I posted on my main website, LibertarianChristians.com, about David Simpson, the heroic Texas representative who is taking a serious lead in fighting back against the TSA and more in the Texas House. As I said, I think he is the Ron Paul of the Texas legislature. I have been working with him for some time now promoting legislation that would ban the TSA (or any government entity in Texas, for that matter) from molesting people as a precondition to entering an airport or a public space.

Yesterday at about 11:00 pm CST, the Texas House passed – by unanimous voice vote – our bill HB 1937, which bans these patdowns. Now, although this has yet to be heard and passed in the Texas Senate or signed by the governor, this is a major victory and it is cause for rejoicing. This is the first serious TSA interposition legislation that I know of (readers correct me if I have missed legislation passed in other states), and I am so very proud to have been involved with its formulation and promotion. But it also could not have been done without the hard work of StopAustinScanners.org, TSA Tyranny, Texans for Accountable Government, the Texas Republican Liberty Caucus (and the various county parties who passed resolutions in favor of the legislation), the Libertarian Party of Texas, the many student organizations around Texas, and of course people just like you who have made it a point to get the word out there to people.

Nevertheless, this battle is not yet over. The bills need to move through the Senate and be signed by the governor first. So let’s be diligent to keep doing what we have already been doing and finish this work. If you haven’t already done so, write the Texas Legislature via our awesome tools at StopAustinScanners.org and let them know what you think.

Down with tyranny!

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/05/13/texas-house-passes-legislation-banning-security-theatre-patdowns/feed/ 1 Action Alert: Support measures to criminalize TSA abuses TODAY http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/05/02/action-alert-support-measures-to-criminalize-tsa-abuses-today/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/05/02/action-alert-support-measures-to-criminalize-tsa-abuses-today/#comments Mon, 02 May 2011 15:37:40 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/05/02/action-alert-support-measures-to-criminalize-tsa-abuses-today/ Libertarian Longhorns calls to action all Texans who support civil liberties today!

There are two bills in the Texas House of Representatives right now that need our help. First, the bill proposing to ban body scanners (HB 1938) has the votes in committee to be moved to the floor, and likely has a supermajority to pass the house on its first reading, but it appears that it is being bottled up in committee under pressure from the speaker.

The "pat-down" bill (HB 1937) is currently tied up in the calendar committee for similar reasons.

We need YOU to do two things TODAY:

(1) Call and email the Calendars Committee and tell them to place HB 1937 (the “pat-down” bill) on the Calendar for a House vote.

(2) Call and email the Transportation Committee and demand for a committee vote on HB 1938 (the “scanner” bill) immediately!

Below, we have provided for you the names, phone numbers, and email addresses for the committees. It is ABSOLUTELY CRITICAL to do something TODAY. If you had time to read this email, you have time to email everyone on this list. You can even cut-and-paste the emails in the comma-separated list below so that you can email them all at once.

We also encourage you to use our fantastic Write Your Representatives Tool (http://stopaustinscanners.org/write/state-legislature/) at StopAustinScanners.org to email-blast every single representative and senator in the state of Texas all at once. Please take five minutes and use this amazing resource.

Calendars Committee:

Comma-separated email list for Calendars Committee: todd.hunter@house.state.tx.us, dennis.bonnen@house.state.tx.us, dan.branch@house.state.tx.us, garnet.coleman@house.state.tx.us, byron.cook@house.state.tx.us, charlie.geren@house.state.tx.us, jim.keffer@house.state.tx.us, tracy.king@house.state.tx.us, lois.kolkorst@house.state.tx.us, eddie.lucio@house.state.tx.us, allan.ritter@house.state.tx.us, eddie.rodriguez@house.state.tx.us, burt.solomons@house.state.tx.us, vicki.truitt@house.state.tx.us, john.zerwas@house.state.tx.us

Transportation Committee:

Comma-separated email list for Transportation Committee: larry.phillips@house.state.tx.us, drew.darby@house.state.tx.us, dennis.bonnen@house.state.tx.us, yvonne.davis@house.state.tx.us, allen.fletcher@house.state.tx.us, linda.harper_brown@house.state.tx.us, george.lavender@house.state.tx.us, armando.martinez@house.state.tx.us, ruth.mcclendon@house.state.tx.us, joe.pickett@house.state.tx.us, eddie.rodriguez@house.state.tx.us,

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/05/02/action-alert-support-measures-to-criminalize-tsa-abuses-today/feed/ 2 Legislation introduced in Texas to ban full-body scanners and pat-downs http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/03/03/tsa-legislation/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/03/03/tsa-legislation/#comments Fri, 04 Mar 2011 03:40:09 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/03/03/tsa-legislation/ This past week, Representative David Simpson (R-Longview) introduced legislation in the Texas House to ban full-body scanners and pat-downs in Texas airports and public places. He also submitted a concurrent resolution for the House and Senate that affirms the Texas Legislature’s opposition to egregious searches conducted by the TSA.

The full texts of the bills can be found here:

HCR 80 :: Concurrent Resolution
HB 1937 :: Banning Pat-Downs
HB 1938 :: Banning Full-Body Scanners

You can also learn more about the bills by going to the Support Dignity website.

We encourage you to write your House and Senate representatives to support these bills and keep Texas on the path to freedom!

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/03/03/tsa-legislation/feed/ 0 Introducing StopAustinScanners.org http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/02/25/introducing-stopaustinscanners-org/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/02/25/introducing-stopaustinscanners-org/#comments Fri, 25 Feb 2011 06:10:52 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/02/25/introducing-stopaustinscanners-org/ One of the projects I’ve had going for the past few weeks is designing a new website informing people about the dangers of full-body scanners in airports, and in particular to organize Texans to oppose them to their representatives. It’s called StopAustinScanners.org. Check it out, I bet you’ll learn something!

We are working on a series of forms that you can use to email representatives directly and express your concerns. The way we are doing it is pretty cool, I cannot say that I have seen it done this way before.

I’ll probably post more about the scanner/pat-down issue in the next few weeks. There is a ton of activist effort going on here in Austin, and I’ve been involved in a lot of it. It is, quite seriously, a watershed moment for the liberty movement, because it represents people from all sides coming to grips with “enough is enough.” And that, my friends, is when liberty provides the answer for how to get rid of the “enough.”

I’ll keep in touch, and in the meantime check out StopAustinScanners.org and my friend Wes’s site TSA Tyranny.

]]> http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/02/25/introducing-stopaustinscanners-org/feed/ 0 Who Owns You? I sure don’t http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/02/18/who-owns-you-i-sure-dont/ http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/02/18/who-owns-you-i-sure-dont/#comments Fri, 18 Feb 2011 22:55:36 +0000 Norman http://libertarianlonghorns.com/2011/02/18/who-owns-you-i-sure-dont/ I am on the board of the Austin-based Foundation for a Free Society, and one of our objectives is to put out professional, artistic, catchy videos that communicate the philosophy of liberty in a succinct and fun manner. This video is one of our latest projects and was recently featured on LewRockwell.com. If you think this is a cool idea, why not become a donor to F4FS? Trust me, it’s a GREAT cause. F4FS has been a great supporter of the Libertarian Longhorns and I can heartily commend them to you.

Isn’t that fantastic? Share it with your friends, maybe you’ll be able to teach them about liberty soon…

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