Yes Marcy,
St. Anthony's Dinning menu reads; we do not except gov. funding. Cheers to them are do!
Dear Eric,
I did not know that! My Mom, although not by any means rich, gives
regularly to St. Anthony's Dinning Room and other religious
charities. It is amazing how much private citizens already do
efficiently. Imagine how much more private individuals would do if
so much of their income and energies were not sucked up by government.
But, we are not alone in trying to get our message out. Part of my
job is keeping up with the young people's TV shows etc, so I have
something to talk about with my daughter and her friends :- ) The
last episode of "Ugly Betty" showed Betty furious about all the
withholdings from her meager paycheck...followed by her trying to
figure out a way to pay for her Dad's medicine. Government
interference: Zero sum game!
Marcy
--- In lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com, "eric dupree"
<dupreeconsults@...> wrote:
Yes Marcy,
St. Anthony's Dinning menu reads; we do not except gov. funding.
Cheers to them are do!
> From: "Marcy Berry" <amarcyb@...>
> To: "lpsf Discuss List" <lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com>
> Subject: [lpsf-discuss] Fw: Promoting Freedom Close to Home
> Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2007 09:05:54 -0800
>
>
> Hi All,
>
> I really enjoyed the article below posted by Richard Newell.
> Setting aside our friendly differences at the LPSF whether
liberty
> does or does not include the Constitution, I felt the advice in
the
> article was a good one. Just a thought: How about adopting a
> "theme of action" for 2007, whereby we offer through articles,
> website, press releases, and other communication with the general
> public a series of ideas how to "de-couple" services from
> government. We could start with the silly idea of municipal Wi-
Fi.
That is very cool, Eric. I wonder why they don't accept government funding. Any idea? Maybe we should have another LPSF volunteer day with them like we did with that group Rafael House.
Love & liberty,
<<< starchild >>>
Marcy,
Interesting you mention "Ugly Betty"... my ex Chikako who some of you may remember, is now the art director for that show. I haven't watched it myself, but she says it's pretty good. Based on a Columbian tele-novella, she says. I doubt she was responsible for that bit libertarian content or anything but I know she still supports us politically and is finally going to be getting her citizenship soon.
Love & liberty,
<<< starchild >>>
Dear Starchild,
I *do* remember Chikako! This is the unvarnished truth, Starchild: I
had admired the overall visual effects of the show; especially the
contrast achieved between the cool colors and streamlined design of
the fashion magazine setting, and the warm, textured look of Betty's
home. Chikako does a fantastic job! You might want to take a look at
the show.
Marcy
Marcy,
Interesting you mention "Ugly Betty"... my ex Chikako who
some of you
may remember, is now the art director for that show. I haven't
watched
it myself, but she says it's pretty good. Based on a Columbian
tele-novella, she says. I doubt she was responsible for that bit
libertarian content or anything but I know she still supports us
politically and is finally going to be getting her citizenship soon.Love & liberty,
<<< starchild >>>> Dear Eric,
>
> I did not know that! My Mom, although not by any means rich, gives
> regularly to St. Anthony's Dinning Room and other religious
> charities. It is amazing how much private citizens already do
> efficiently. Imagine how much more private individuals would do if
> so much of their income and energies were not sucked up by
government.
>
> But, we are not alone in trying to get our message out. Part of my
> job is keeping up with the young people's TV shows etc, so I have
> something to talk about with my daughter and her friends :- ) The
> last episode of "Ugly Betty" showed Betty furious about all the
> withholdings from her meager paycheck...followed by her trying to
> figure out a way to pay for her Dad's medicine. Government
> interference: Zero sum game!
>
> Marcy
>
> --- In lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com, "eric dupree"
> <dupreeconsults@> wrote:
> >
> > Yes Marcy,
> > St. Anthony's Dinning menu reads; we do not except gov. funding.
> Cheers to them are do!
> > > From: "Marcy Berry" <amarcyb@>
> > > To: "lpsf Discuss List" <lpsf-discuss@yahoogroups.com>
> > > Subject: [lpsf-discuss] Fw: Promoting Freedom Close to Home
> > > Date: Sun, 7 Jan 2007 09:05:54 -0800
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi All,
> > >
> > > I really enjoyed the article below posted by Richard Newell.
> > > Setting aside our friendly differences at the LPSF whether
> liberty
> > > does or does not include the Constitution, I felt the advice
in
> the
> > > article was a good one. Just a thought: How about adopting a
> > > "theme of action" for 2007, whereby we offer through articles,
> > > website, press releases, and other communication with the
general
> > > public a series of ideas how to "de-couple" services from
> > > government. We could start with the silly idea of municipal
Wi-
> Fi.
> > >
> > > Regards,
> > >
> > > Marcy
> > > From: Richard Newell<mailto:grnewell@>
> > > To: countyofficers@<mailto:countyofficers@>
> > > Sent: Saturday, January 06, 2007 9:11 PM
> > > Subject: [LPC County Officers] Promoting Freedom Close to Home
> > >
> > >
> > > Hi all,
> > >
> > > Here's some good advice from one of our regular "The
Libertarian
> > > Perspective" authors that I thought I would pass along to this
> > > group.
> > >
> > > Rich Newell
> > >
> > >
> > > ----------------------------------------------------------
> --------------
> > >
> > >
> > > Promoting Freedom Close to Home
> > >
> > > Tibor R. Machan
> > >
> > > Over the several decades that I have championed the fully free
> society,
> > > one that basically conforms to the principles of the
Declaration
> of
> > > Independence, I have had the good fortune to be able to
address
> many
> > > people about this topic. Much of this consists of writing
books,
> articles,
> > > letters to editors, scholarly papers and columns, of course.
But
> aside
> > > from writing, I have also been privileged to be invited to
talk
> to a great
> > > many and highly varied groups of people, with such
organizations
> as the
> > > Rotary Club, Kiwanis, and the like all over America and indeed
> the globe.
> > > Quite recently, for example, I gave a series of lectures in
the
> Republic
> > > of Georgia as well as in Santiago, Chile.
> > >
> > > One persistent question I have faced all these years is what
an
> > > individual person can do to promote advances toward a free
> society. And,
> > > naturally, there are nearly as many answers to this as there
are
> > > individuals asking the question. So, quite often I have to
remind
> people
> > > that while I can give some general ideas, based on my work and
> experience,
> > > they are the ones who are in the best position to answer the
> question
> > > about what to do to advance liberty. Yet, there are a few
> specific ideas
> > > that will help nearly anyone concerned with promoting liberty
in
> their own
> > > communities. One, in particular, is very worthwhile to keep in
> mind. It
> > > can guide one to do things that may really bear fruit.
> > >
> > > I have in mind advocating the decoupling of government from
the
> > > innumerable projects that it's now involved with everywhere.
> Governments
> > > are now supporting, through public funds acquired by way of
> taxation,
> > > innumerable projects in every community across the world and
if
> one is
> > > dedicated to advancing liberty an important step in that
> direction is to
> > > promote removing government from all these "community"
endeavors.
> > >
> > > If some convention center is widely desired, or a baseball
park or
> > > football stadium, or some other recreation or athletic
facility,
> it is
> > > imperative that these be supported voluntarily and those who
want
> these
> > > facilities go about soliciting the support instead of relying
on
> the
> > > extortionist approach of taxation. Champions of liberty should
> vigorously
> > > advocate that!
> > >
> > > After all, it is not difficult for most people to appreciate
that
> those
> > > uninterested in football should be free to devote their own
> resources to
> > > some purpose of their own choosing instead of having these
> resources taken
> > > from them against their will and put to use for what they do
not
> want, a
> > > football stadium. This is very simple to convey in letters,
> conversations,
> > > on talk programs, etc. One can always make mention of the fact
> that this
> > > is supposed to be a free country where people have the right
to
> pursue
> > > their own happiness and not to be conscripted to help in the
> pursuit of
> > > others'.
> > >
> > > Also, this is a country with a reasonably strong individualist
> tradition,
> > > which can also be deployed in defense of having those who want
> something
> > > go about securing support for their projects, leaving others
to
> do so in
> > > support of what they want. We all have ideals, goals, dreams,
> purposes of
> > > our own, often not unlike those of some others but rarely
those
> of all
> > > others.
> > >
> > > And that's an excellent reason why the various community
projects
> people
> > > now tend habitually to expect governments to support should
> actually be
> > > supported privately, voluntarily. Sure, there are some
projects
> where this
> > > idea would be too radical to promote-airports, roads, and
schools
> should
> > > be funded voluntarily but the governmental habit is too
powerful
> here and
> > > it will take a while before advances toward privatization can
be
> made
> > > about those. But swimming pools? Ice skating rinks? Volley
ball
> and tennis
> > > courts? Even football stadiums, while quite large projects,
have
> no
> > > business being built with funds extorted from people who care
not
> a whit
> > > about football.
> > >
> > > I believe that this particular idea, so closely related to
what a
> free
> > > society is about-namely, people being free to pursue their own
> objectives
> > > so long as they do not violated anyone's rights-holds out
> considerable
> > > promise of gaining ascent from one's neighbors. Even if it
will
> not fly
> > > immediately, it can become a focus of discussion, of
> editorializing, of
> > > local talk programs and so forth.
> > >
> > > So what can you do to promote liberty? One thing among others
is
> to
> > > advocate getting government-the governing right in your own
back
> yard,
> > > your city or county-out of the task of supporting special
interest
> > > projects pretending to serve everyone's interest. Let those
who
Marcy:
One of the speakers I was trying to book for the April LPC convention was
Chris Gardner, whose life story is told so movingly in the new motion
picture "The Pursuit of Happyness" based on Mr. Gardner's book
(http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Christopher_Gardner). If you've read the book
or seen the film starring Will Smith and his son, you will know that Mr.
Gardner, even when down on his luck and sleeping in BART restrooms and the
homeless shelter of Glide Memorial Church in San Francisco, never once
lowered himself to accept government charity or welfare support. He relied
on private charities, such as Glide, to sustain his family until he was able
to support himself and his child on his own. One of the most heartbreaking
scenes in the film is when the IRS empties his bank account for failure to
pay back taxes, and he can no longer afford to rent a residential hotel
room. I'm sure every Libertarian can understand the power of this scene.
In fact, it is so powerful, that even non-Libertarians seem to be persuaded
by this argument that the IRS is evil and heartless.
Now that Mr. Gardner is a multimillionaire, I thought his inspiring story
would make him a dynamic and powerful speaker to the advocates of freedom,
but he is very, very smart, and his speaking fee is now $50,000 per
appearance, so he is way beyond our budget.
Terry Floyd
Whoa! What a small world!
Michael McCarthy, former editor of the East Bay Libertarian Lifeline, has a
daughter who recently graduated from the UCLA film school, and her first job
out of college was working for a sub-contractor that manages the prop
department of the "Ugly Betty" production company.
The hit TV show seems to have several co-incidental connections to Bay Area
Libertarians!
Terry Floyd