LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF COLORADO BLOG

Libertarian Party sees 25% gain in membership

Democrats and Republicans continue to struggle

Washington, D.C. - While Republicans and Democrats struggled with members abandoning the party in pursuit of political alternatives, the Libertarian Party saw an increase in membership of 25 percent for the year.  "The numbers show what everybody has been saying--people are not happy with the two-party system and are ready for a change," says Libertarian Party Executive Director Shane Cory.

"The two-party system has failed the American public," says Cory, "and people are looking for a viable alternative in hopes of returning America to the right path.  Our numbers are a clear indication of the failure of Republicans and Democrats."

From Dec. 2006 to Dec. of this year, the Libertarian Party saw an increase of 25 percent in membership.  Major issues for new Libertarian members include disapproval of the war in Iraq and the use of torture in the so-called "War on Terror," excessive spending by the President and Congress, as well as rampant civil liberties violations.

"We're attracting members from both the Republican and Democratic Parties," says National Media Coordinator Andrew Davis. "People are tired of their old political parties, who care more for power than they do for freedom, and these people see the Libertarian Party as the most viable third party alternative.  The 25 percent membership increase should serve as a example to the two major parties of what happens when you sacrifice your core values for political power."

The Libertarian Party has also attracted a sizable portion of new members who serve in active duty in the United States military. The LP's soldiers, sailors and airmen range in rank from junior enlisted personnel to Vice Admiral Michael Colley, USN, [Ret.], who now serves on the Libertarian National Committee.

"Military service men and women recognize the value in the Libertarian Party's non-interventionist foreign policy position," says Cory, a Marine Corps veteran. "Members of the Armed Forces, just like their civilian counterparts, feel betrayed by Republicans and Democrats, and are searching for an alternative."

There are approximately a quarter-million registered Libertarians in the United States, and the Libertarian Party boasts more than 105,000 members.  To join the Libertarian Party, members simply have to sign a pledge that says the member does not believe in nor advocate "the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals."

The Libertarian Party is America's third largest political party, founded in 1971 as an alternative to the two main political parties.  You can find more information on the Libertarian Party by visiting www.lp.org. The Libertarian Party proudly stands for smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom.

What business is it of the president how Denver teachers get compensated?

Denver teachers' merit-pay plan is getting national attention in the race for the White House, with Illinois Sen. Barack Obama touting it last month as a way to improve schools.

The Democrat highlighted Denver's salary plan in a speech outlining his education platform.

Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton of New York, however, opposes performance-based merit pay. The Democratic front-runner warns it would "open a whole lot of problems."

http://www.politicswest.com/2008_election/16074/obama_backs_denver_teacher_pay_plan

Here is a question, what does the president of the United States have to do with the pay a teacher in Denver gets? Don’t the politicians running for president have enough national issues to worry about without concerning themselves with something that in all rights should be a very local issue? Even under the government school system we have in place the president really should not have any say in the pay scale or the way a teacher in a local school district is compensated.

Casinos gearing up for smoking ban

Casinos have been working for months and pouring millions of dollars into renovations in the hopes that smokers will keep coming back. An estimated 30 percent to 50 percent of casino patrons smoke, said Joanne Lah, executive director of the Black Hawk/Central City Convention & Visitors Bureau.
"We are doing everything we can in the strictest sense to be in compliance with the law," Lah said.
Several casinos, such as The Lodge and Ameristar Casino Black Hawk have installed heaters and windbreaks on existing patios and balconies for smokers. Fortune Valley Hotel and Casino in Central City is repurposing existing heated-patio areas. At The Riviera Black Hawk Casino, crews built a new balcony for smokers.
"It was a pretty penny," Tara Aragon, The Riviera's marketing manager, said of the cost.
http://www.denverpost.com/breakingnews/ci_7824855

If you follow the link, read some of the comments, it will cause any liberty lover to just say wow! The commenter’s talk about whether smokers have rights or not. I think that misses the point. A smoker does not have a right to smoke in a privately owned business, however the business owner should have the right to decide if he wants to allow smoking on his property.

I have been to the casinos in Blackhawk over the last few years on a fairly regular basis. I observed that most of the casinos have a voluntarily created non-smoking section and these sections are normally pretty much empty. This would indicate to me that the demand for smoke free areas is not really present and that the people who mainly go to the casinos are not as concerned about secondhand smoke as the government nannies are.

The article explains how some casinos are trying to continue to give their customers a comfortable smoking area, since they know that is what the customers want. It doesn’t say what the casinos that cannot afford to build patio areas or have no space to build patio areas are planning to do. The problem is exacerbated in Central City where the local government has very strict rules about building modifications in an effort to preserve the image of an old west town. I guess these casinos will close down if they cannot compete under the artificial restrictions forced upon them by the government, putting all employees out of work. Of course the proponents of the smoking ban would probably rather see those people unemployed rather than voluntarily working around smokers.

The government is not looking out for the little guy here, obviously the smaller casinos will be the most hurt by these new restrictions. The larger casinos will probably survive, but at what cost? Lets say they only see casino attendance down by 10%. That is 10% fewer wait staff needed at the restaurants, 10% fewer money changers, 10% fewer parking attendants, 10% fewer cocktail servers, 10% fewer janitors, 10% fewer slot techs, etc, and that does not even include the 10% fewer taxes the government will collect from these casinos that up until now they have treated like the states piggy banks (although the state deserves the loss in future revenues).

Libertarians to State Lawmakers: Preserve personal and economic freedoms

Colorado Confidential has published a guest commentary from Richard Randall, Libertarian Party of Colorado Legislative Director, describing what Libertarians hope to see in the upcoming 2008 Colorado Legislative session. Read the commentary (and post a comment) at:
http://www.coloradoconfidential.com/showDiary.do?diaryId=3262

Governor goes green, despite red tape

There was an interesting article in the Rocky about the governor and his wife’s efforts to make the governor’s mansion more energy efficient. I applaud the governor for these efforts, the taxpayers pay for his massive energy bills and so anything that can reduce this burden is a good thing. However I came across this line:

They have 60 light bulbs upstairs, and have replaced 30 with energy-miser compact fluorescent bulbs. Thirty more are on back order.

I don’t want to have to be the one to tell the governor this, but many places in the metro area sell CFL’s in packs of 8 or 10 for a reasonable price (I bought a package at Sam’s club for under $20). It seems typical of government to have to wait for things that the rest of us just get immediately because we operate in the free market and the government must have to go through bureaucratic red tape just to buy replacement light bulbs.

Remember this: Oppressive government is more terrible than tigers

Tigers are in the news right now and Denver Zoo officials said they never had a problem with the Denver-born Siberian tiger that on Tuesday attacked three visitors in the San Francisco Zoo, killing one man. I guess the tiger was nicer when he lived here. There really isn't a libertarian position on zoo's and tigers, except that they should be privately owned/ran. But I needed an excuse to post this little story.

One day Confucius and his students were walking through the forest and came upon a woman weeping bitterly by an open grave. One student asked why she was crying, and she said, "First, my husband's father was killed here by a tiger. Then the tigers ate my husband. Now they have eaten my son." Confucius then asked the woman why she did not leave the forest, and she said, "Because there is no oppressive government here." Confucius then turned to his students and said, "Remember this: Oppressive government is more terrible than tigers."

originally found here

Minimum Wage increases January 1st

With the new year, the state's minimum wage will rise from $6.85 to $7.02 per hour. The minimum wage due employees who regularly receive tips, primarily restaurant workers, will rise from $3.83 per hour to $4.

http://www.politicswest.com/local_western_politics/15846/new_year_rings_new_colo_state_laws

There really should not be a minimum wage. If you are not earning enough, find a job with better pay. If you are not qualified for a job with better pay, improve your job skills. Some people think the minimum wage helps the poor, the reality is that for most minimum wage earners the choice is not between a minimum wage job and an excellent wage job, but a minimum wage job or no job at all. I have two family members in their teens and both have struggled to find employment. One is currently unemployed and the other found a job at a struggling movie theater. The increase in the minimum wage will not improve my unemployed cousins chances of getting a part time job. The increase in minimum wage will not help ensure that the theater can keep my younger sister employed, especially since they are already struggling to make the payroll. They are going to be faced with the dilemma of laying people off or closing down entirely. 

Paper Ballots Please

All paper ballots recommended for Colorado

Colorado Secretary of State Mike Coffman said today that he favors using paper ballots at polling places for the 2008 election, as a way to steer the state out of its voting machine morass.

http://www.politicswest.com/2008_election/15874/paper_ballots_recommended_colorado

This is a good idea.

Make all of Denver a "free speech zone"!

It sounds like a simple request, but we'll make it anyway: No cages.

When protesters convene in Denver late next summer for the Democratic National Convention, they can't be caged behind razor wire like they were at the Boston convention in 2004.

With the Denver City Council considering a plan that allows government — any government agency — to have first dibs on reserving city parks, we're beginning to wonder what's going to happen to those who want to dissent. Where will they gather?

http://www.denverpost.com/opinion/ci_7806924

I would like to believe that Denver will be a shining beacon of light when it comes to free speech at the convention. With that said, I am not holding my breath. I expect we will see even more draconian restrictions than the 2004 conventions had. That 50,000,000 tax payers are expected to fork over for “security” has to pay for something, it will most likely fund a bunch of thugs restricting movement and free speech at every turn.

Couple in Boulder land theft try and justify themselves in letter

The letter covers five points about the case:

The Kirlins never intended to build a dream home there, as they've told reporters, McLean and Stevens wrote.

The land in question is only 11 percent of the Kirlins' combined lots, but is typically referred to as one-third of their property. "The Kirlins still have the full right and ability to build their 'dream home' on the remaining property as they had always intended," the letter continues.

http://www.denverpost.com/news/ci_7796392

http://dailycamera.com/news/2007/dec/23/adverse-possession-mclean-stevens-claim-hope-for/

for older article:

http://www.denverpost.com/search/ci_7494276

I guess stealing 11% of another persons land instead of a third of their land makes everything all better. And what business is it of the neighbors when and if the land owner ever really was planning to build a house on that property or not? McLean is a former judge and the Boulder Mayor, and Stevens is an attorney. I guess they think that because they know how to game the system they are entitled to land that is not theirs. If they had an ounce of decency, they would have just bought the neighboring land, I am sure if they had offered enough money for it the Kirlins would have sold. But of course stealing the land is easier and cheaper for them and is the typical mentality of government types.