Owner: Cincinnati Libertarian URL:http://cincinnatilibertarian.blogspot.com Join Date: Tue, 08 Aug 2006 11:03:07 -0500 Rating:1 Site Description: A bog devoted to issues facing the Greater Cincinnati area from a Libertarian perspective. Site statistics:Click here
TEACH Ohio 2006-12-06 03:26:00 TEACH Ohio
2007 is an exciting new program to:1) Defeat over $200 million in new school levies2) Elect 20 new small government School Board members (who sign the pledge!)3) Get a School Choice Initiative on the ballot4) Provide real alternatives to raising taxes to improve our schools.How can we do this in just one year? Come here our complete plan for electoral victory in 2007. We'll be speaking Wednesday, December 6th at:Palacio Azteca,5232 Bardes RdMason, OH 45040513-573-9100Info/Map http://libertarian.meetup.com/47/For more information, please reply to this email. You can contribute directly to our cause by clicking here:https://www.paypal.com/us/cgi-bin/webscr?cmd=_login-done&login_access=1165359049Thank you,Robert Butler Read more:TEACH
Rollback the Marijuana Penalty 2006-11-19 18:35:00 In March of this year, Cincinnati City Council passed an ordinance that raised the penalty for simple possession of marijuana from a $100 fine (a misdemeanor 5, equivalent to a parking ticket) to a $250 fine and up to 30 days in jail (a misdemeanor 4, which must be reported when applying for a job or a student loan.)
At the time the ordinance was being considered, I lobbied members of the Council with data that showed that whenever penalties for marijuana possession were increased, crime rates went up. Since the law went into effect, that is exactly what has happened in Cincinnati. Crime rates in six of the nine Part 1 crime categories (serious offenses such as aggravated assault, rape and murder) have gone up. The murder rate alone is up 14%.
My lobbying did produce one small benefit. I managed to persuade two City Council members to insert a sunset clause in the ordinance. This means that the law will expire on March 29th, 2007 unless the Council votes to renew it.
To prevent th Read more:Marijuana
, Penalty
Who Owns Your Body? 2006-11-19 18:31:00 Who owns my body? Obviously I do. Since I am male, I can never become pregnant.
But females can. Some laws say a fetus has rights. Let's examine what that means.
Imagine a scene in a court room. A lady, pregnant, has been arrested on her way to an abortion doctor. She is defending her case in court.
She says, "Sir, I own my body, you do not. Is that true?" The judge pauses a minute, and says, "Yes"
She says, "If I own my body, and you do not, any order you gives that affects my body is out of order. When you order me not to get an abortion, that order violates the fact that I own my body and you do not. Your order is in contradiction of your own statement that I own my body and you do not. So I declare your order null and void. I will do with my body what I want. The fetus in my womb is within my body, hence is my property. My body, my property. "
Naturally, the judge says she is in contempt of court and will be arrested for violation of his order. Who
Libertarian Election Results 2006-11-08 06:21:00 As another election season is winding down, he are some final election results of interest to Libertarian
s:
Bill Peirce is finishing up 3rd place with about 1.8% (+/- 67,000 votes). Our last Gubernatorial candidate received 39,114 votes.
Tom Brinkman, one of the most Libertarian members of the Ohio state house won re-election by a 9% margin
Michael Jason Vasko received 6.36% of the vote for Fulton County Commissioner.
State issue 2 will pass. This will raise Ohio's minimum wage and essentially open up every worker's employment records to an 'interested party'.
State issue 5 passed, issue 4 failed. Issue 5 bans smoking in almost every place open to the public. Issue 4 would have exempted many bars, resturants, bowling alleys, and smoke shops.
In Kentucky, Brian Houillion received about 5% of the vote in a 3 way race for the US House
In Indiana, Mike Cole won 4% of the vote for his bid for Secretary of State. A modest vote total, but that allows the LPIN to retain ballot acce Read more:Election
Election Day Surprise in Indiana 2006-11-07 22:33:00 Election Day Surprise
Libertarian candidates magically reappear on ballot after targeted law kicked them offIndiana
polis, IN - Nov 07, 2006 LPIN Supporters:
This is an urgent message that we need your help on! After knocking 11 of our candidates off the ballot months ago on a technicality in new law targeted at Libertarians, some are magically reappearing on the ballot today! You may say "That's great!" but without an opportunity to campaign this ploy is aimed at diminishing our presence in the public eye.
Do not let the R's and D's play this game - please report any inconsistencies on your ballots immediately. Pass this along to friends and talk to every media outlet you can. We are only 5 hours into election day and the problems are rampant. Electronic machines are failing, the ballots are not correct, even former Executive Director Brad Klopfenstein was disenfranchised at the polls this morning.
People are listening, it has already been picked up by the Muncie Free Press: http:// Read more:Election
, Election Day
Help Out Libertarians in Final Stretch 2006-10-18 04:02:00 2 LPO Endorsed Candidates on the Ballot
1. Executive Committee Endorses M. Jason Vasko for Fulton County Commission Jason Vasko has a new radio ad set to play during the final days of this campaign. (See and Hear Attached)
For every $9, yes nine dollars, that you contribute, Jason's radio ad will be played one more time at Fulton County's only radio station.
Is spreading Liberty and Freedom throughout Ohio worth $9? How about electing Ohio's first Libertarian County Commissioner? Worth $9? Please visit Jason Vasko's website now, and buy radio advertising for our candidate! http://www.vasko2006.com/help/
2. Peirce Debate Available Online
We are excited to announce that the historic October 4th, 2006 debate between Bob Fitrakis and Bill Peirce is available for viewing online at:http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-2034685932569123845
In the second part of the debate, independent candidate Dr. James Lundeen joins the conversation:http://video.google.com/videoplay?docid=-6612490897 Read more:Final
, Libertarians
, Stretch
Rally for Peirce Oct 4, Wednesday 2006-10-03 22:51:00 Debate Rally
in Cincinnati Tomorrow
Ted Strickland and Ken Blackwell will participate in their third of four debates on Wednesday
, October 4, at the Patricia Corbett Theater at the University of Cincinnati. Yet again, I was not invited to participate in the debate. The continued exclusion of independent and minor-party candidates significantly undermines the democratic process, which fails to serve its function when voters are kept in the dark about their options at the polls. Unless they are able to hear from all candidates, voters are denied their right to make informed decisions about the leadership of their own state and communities. As one columnist has noted, the inclusion of independent and minor party candidates in debates has a markedly beneficial effect on the elections process: http://www.boston.com/news/local/articles/2006/10/01/debate_rich_on_issues/?rss_id=Boston+Globe+--+Eileen+McNamara+columns
Peirce supporters and volunteers are invited to rally together before t
Happy Birthday 2006-12-12 03:28:00 Happy Birthday
!
35 years ago today, the Libertarian Party was officially formed and the first big "L" Libertarians came to be.
Throughout our three and a half decades, we've had our ups and downs but have accomplished a great deal for our nation. To highlight our accomplishments and to provide background on our origins, we've put together a ten minute video that was first shown at our national convention this past summer.
In between your holiday shopping, please take a few minutes and watch the video. Also be sure to share it with many of your friends and family.
After watching the video, take a minute to reflect about what it means to be a member of the Libertarian Party. What are our responsibilities as a party and what are your responsibilities as a member?
You'll notice throughout this mini-documentary that there is a clear and underlying theme goes hand-in-hand with our mission statement:
"To move public policy in a libertarian direction by building a political party that el Read more:Happy
, Happy Birthday
Upcoming Arts Tax?!? 2006-12-13 04:51:00 With the election barely over, it seems that there is more wasteful spending on the horizon. I am reminded of a disclaimer that one reads as they enter the Shadowbox Caberet in Newport, KY, it states that they are a 'grant-free zone'. They refuse to accept gonverment handouts simply because if people don't care enough for your art to pay to appreciate it, then it is not good art. By giving hand outs to art that people wouldn't pay to see, you are in fact, supporting a poor product. Just as is the case with any business, if an artist cannot support their work, then they need to strive to do better, or work in a genre that can bring out their talent better. But with government handouts, they can continue to create mediocre work. If you don't belive me, just look Cincinnati's side of the Purple People Bridge (an artist was given $200,000 for that).
http://www.gocoast.org/pressrelease/media121106.html
"These folks never, ever go away," according to COAST Board member and St Read more:Upcoming
Ohio's Red Light District 2007-01-10 20:22:00 Governor Taft is out of office[1]. One of the last things that Bob Taft did before he left office was to veto a bill that would have eliminated all Red Light
Cameras in Ohio
. Since the Ohio House and Senate were not in session, his veto could not be over-ridden.
Many cities have red light cameras. These take pictures of cars as they run a red light, judging by the license plate number, a ticket is mailed to the party who name is on the registration. The city of Cincinnati proposed putting up these cameras in the summer of 2005. Anne Arundel County, Maryland (population 510,878) put them up 5 years ago and has made almost $3 million a years, with only 5 cameras in place. Cities claim it is to help prevent accidents. Motorists will be more likely to stop for a red light if they know they will be caught. But just how many lives are saved by this?
I could not find a study to back up this claim.
I did find one study about this. In 2003, Virginia's Department of Transportation put up red l Read more:District
Zoning Laws Gone Wild 2007-01-12 18:41:00 In today's Cincinnati Enquirer, is a story about a small business owner who by putting up picnic tables was found to be breaking zoning laws.
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070112/NEWS01/301120008
Chris Torbeck, the owner of the Zip Dip ice cream emporium in Green Township is being told by the zoning board that he is not allowed to put up picnic tables in the back of his business.
Is the reason because it puts his customers in harms way? No.Is it a fire hazard? No.Is it even an eye soar? No.The reason is that the plot of land behind his business is zoned residential. If he puts up picnic tables, then it is being used for business purposes (oh the humanity!).
So Mr Torbeck requested a zoning variance.
That was denied because his business pre-dates local zoning laws, so it is not required to be compliant with zoning laws. Unfortunately, the only way he can legally allow his customers to enjoy ice cream on his premises, is to move his business onto the land behin
Monday is Milton Friedman Day 2007-01-26 00:36:00 At 2 p.m. a memorial service will be held at the University of Chicago, where Friedman
taught for so many years.U.S. President George W. Bush talks to Rose Friedman (R) as her husband Milton
Friedman (L) addresses dignitaries gathered at an event held in his honor at the Eisenhower Executive Building in Washington in this May 9, 2002 file photo. Friedman, the free market economist and winner of a 1976 Nobel Prize, died on November 16, 2006 of heart failure, a spokeswoman for his family said. He was 94.In New York City I'll join a Manhattan Institute seminar to celebrate the man The Economist called "the most influential economist of the second half of the 20th Century ... possibly of all of it." That magazine will host a web discussion on Friedman's contributions to economics beginning tomorrow and going through Monday
. A "Day of National Debate" about Friedman's work will be held at universities, and free-market think tanks throughout America will hold events.There will even be a Read more:Milton Friedman
Who Hurt From Emminent Domain Abuse? Who Benefits? 2007-02-15 03:09:00 I found this study to be very interesting. Many communities, such as Norwood, talk about how emminent domain can be a great thing for a community. I have always felt that so called urban renewals seem to just displace the poorest in a community so that richer, better connected investors can move in. The Institute for Justice just sent out this press release that actually studies who is hurt most by emminent domain abuse.FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 14, 2007 New Study Details Devastating Effects ofEminent Domain Abuse on African AmericansArlington, Va. - "Eminent domain has become what the founding fathers sought to prevent: a tool that takes from the poor and the politically weak to give to the rich and politically powerful," concludes Dr. Mindy Fullilove in her new report released today titled, "Eminent Domain & African Americans: What is the Price of the Commons?" The report is available at http://w Read more:Benefits
Libertarians Win Lawsuit with Secretary of State 1970-01-01 00:59:59 News ReleaseFor Immediate DistributionAugust 6, 2006 Contact: Robert Butler :(740) 204-3036 c:(614) 805-8292hq@lpo.orgwww.lpo.orgLibertarians
Win Lawsuit
with Secretary
of State
, Ohio Election Law Ruled UnconstitutionalThe US 6th Circuit Court of Appeals has ruled today that Ohio's election laws are unconstitional, restricting the rights of voters, candidates, and political parties of reasonable access to the ballot." The evidence in the record shows that in Ohio, elections have indeed been monopolized by two parties...The LPO has put forth evidence that Ohio is among the most restrictive, if not the most restrictive, state in granting minor parties access to the ballot," wrote the Honorable Julia Smith Gibbons, US 6th Circuit Court Judge. "Put simply, the restrictions at issue in this case serve to prevent a minor political party from engaging in the most fundamental of political activities - recruiting supporters, selecting a candidate, placing that candidate on the general electio
Cincinnati's Uptown Consortium Exposed 1970-01-01 00:59:59 This post is republished from the Castle Coalition newsletter "Castle Watch". For those of you wondering why the Clifton Heights development has not moved in over a year, this explains it all. Visit www.CastleCoalition.org to see more examples of emmient domain abuse.Cincinnati
's UptownConsortium
ExposedCincinnati has witnessed some of the most outrageous examples of eminent domain abuse seen anywhere in the nation. It took an Ohio Supreme Court decision to finally stop this abuse in the Cincinnati suburb of Norwood, but unfortunately, that's not the only example in the area. Cincinnati developers sought to take the homes and businesses of Clifton Heights area residents who refused to give in to the City's repeated threats to take over private property in order to benefit big business.The redevelopment project known as "The Uptown Consortium," led by a network of CEOs and chummy board members of the University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati Medical Center, Cincinnati Children'
LPO Memberships 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Is you membership to the LPO about to lapse? Remember that with the new dues structure, you would send in your dues to the LPO, and not to the national LP. Even though you may be a member of national, you may not be a member of your state LPO. You can renew your membership to the LPO athttp://www.lpo.org/Membership/MembershipMain.php Read more:Memberships
Stand by Schiff and Flake 1970-01-01 00:59:59 From the Downsize DC DispatchIt's more fun to cheer than jeer. We constantly criticize politicians and bang on them for doing the wrong thing. But it's just as important to support those few who do good things. Representatives Schiff
and Flake
are doing good things. They're fighting to prevent Presidents, present and future, from gaining the power to spy on Americans without a warrant.Schiff and Flake need your support and encouragement. Part of the inspiration for DownsizeDC.org's lobbying system was the Medicare Prescription Drug bill. This boondoggle was the largest entitlement created in a generation. It is estimated that it will cost more than $700 billion over ten years. And it was passed because just two freshman Republicans, who had previously committed to opposing the bill, gave in to overwhelming pressure from the leaders of their party, including the President.We asked ourselves, "What if they knew lots of people were backing their play and paying attention?" Would they Read more:Stand
Porker of the Month, August 06 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Porker of the Month
is a dubious honor given to lawmakers, government officials, and political candidates who have shown a blatant disregard for the interests of taxpayers.Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.)339 Cannon House Office BuildingWashington, DC 20515Tel: (202) 225-6401Fax: (202) 226-6422Email:http://charlestaylor.house.gov/WriteMe/write.htmCAGW Names Rep. Charles Taylor Porker of the MonthWashington, D.C. - Citizens Against Government Waste (CAGW) today named Rep. Charles Taylor (R-N.C.) Porker of the Month for burnishing his credentials as an unabashed champion of pork-barrel spending.As House Interior Appropriations Subcommittee Chairman, Rep. Taylor shows no shame when it comes to flaunting pork. He was even invited to attend an exclusive reception in Asheville, N.C., for the infamous Sparta Teapot Museum. CAGW gave the museum the "Tempest in a Teapot" Oinker Award in its 2006 Congressional Pig Book for the $500,000 earmark it received in the fiscal 2006 Transportation/Trea Read more:August
Emminent Domain Victory for Norwood Property Owners 1970-01-01 00:59:59 News ReleaseFor Immediate DistributionJuly 26, 2006 Contact: Robert Butler w:(740) 204-3036 c:(614) 805-8292 hq@lpo.org www.lpo.orgOH Supreme Court Rules to Protect Property from Eminent Domain AbuseKelo Decison Rejected, Libertarians Celebrate Victory
Columbus - Today, in an historic ruling, the Ohio Supreme Court unanimously held that the City of Norwood
could not use eminent domain to take Carl and Joy Gamble's home of 35 years, as well as the rental home of Joe Horney and tutoring center owned by Matthew Burton and Sanae Ichikawa Burton, for private development—specifically, a complex of chain stores, condominiums and office space planned by millionaire developer Jeffrey Anderson and his Rookwood Partners.Joe Horney, a Norwood home owner and small businessman who had fought the taking of his property, said, "It was long road to get to this point, but it was worth it. What really sits well with me is that this is good thing for every homeowner and small business owner in O Read more:Owners
Rally to Stop Emminent Domain Abuse 1970-01-01 00:59:59 For years, eminent domain abuse has plagued Americans from coast to coast. From 1998 to 2002, the Institute for Justice documented more than 10,000 condemnations for private gain—and that's just the tip of the iceberg.This Friday, June 23, at 7:30pm at the corner of Clifton and Ludlow Ave (at the fountain across the street from the Skyline) there will be a rally to commerorate the anniversary of Kelo vs New London decision, and to honor those that have forced from their property as a result of Emminent Domain abuse. Could your house be next?Currnetly, Carl and Joy Gamble of Norwood are fighting to keep their home of over 30 years. It seems that a developer with over $500 million in assets wants to build a shopping plaza and condos on their property. The city of Norwood thinks that this is groupnds to take ones property and to give it to a millionare.Emma Dimasi is being forced from her home of almost 50 years. The city of Cincinnati wants to re-route Dixmyth Rd so that Good Sam Read more:Rally
Libertarian Bill Peirce Officially Placed on BallotOhio 1970-01-01 00:59:59 News ReleaseFor Immediate DistributionJune 29, 2006Contact: Robert Butler:(740) 204-3036c:(614) 805-8292hq@lpo.orgwww.lpo.orgLibertarian
Bill Peirce Officially Placed
on Ballot, Ohio Economist Running for Governor(Columbus, Ohio)The Secretary of State's office reports that Ohio Economist Bill Peirce and his running mate Mark Noble have delivered 9389 valid signatures, almost doubling the official requirement to be placed on the ballot for Governor this fall."Ohio will grow and create jobs only when the crafty, connected, and ambitious in this state can no longer get rich by grubbing for favors in the Statehouse. I believe that smart, talented, hard-working, Ohioans; set free from bureaucracy, waste, and fraud; will bring prosperity to Ohio by using their energy to build real businesses throughout this state," said Bill Peirce."Burdened by scandals and a divisive primary, Ohio Republicans are looking for alternatives," notes Powell Libertarian, Robert Butler. "We are ready to becom
Libertarian Look on Immigration 1970-01-01 00:59:59 Last week, the NPR program "Market Place" had a segment on the Presidential elections in Mexico. This report detailed how the South was for one candidate, while the North was for the other candidate. According to the report, this is because the there are today two economies in Mexico. The more industrialized North, specifically Monterrey and the Maquiadora areas along the border have been the beneficiaries of NAFTA, while the agricultural South has been hurt by NAFTA. Why has Mexican agriculture been damaged by free trade? Because as the report stated, "heavily subsidized" American agriculture (such as beef and corn) has been selling products cheaper than their Mexican counterparts. What immediately struck me about this report was its relationship to the immigration issue. Where do the Mexican immigrants come from? Most come from rural communities in the agricultural southern states of Mexico. As a Libertarian
, the irony is never lost on a government "solution" that ends up being a
New Governor Shows Spending Problems 1970-01-01 00:59:59 One of the first pieces of business that the Ohio Assembly is taking on is to draft the next biennial budget. Many Republican lawmakers are talking about rolling back, or ending the state's Estate Tax. Governor
Strickland says it is a bad idea because the state is facing yet another budget crisis. The Republicans are talking about doing while trying to look like the fiscal heroes. From how little revenue the Ohio Estate tax raises, this is almost a non-issue. Yet, this could be a big fight.According to the Cincinnati Post, the Estate tax raises $54 million dollars a year for the state government. According to the Department of Budget and Management, in fiscal year 2006, $25.8 billion was spent. That means that the Estate tax contributes 0.2% to Ohio's annual spending. The question I must ask is Governor Strickland is, can't you find a way to cut back two tenths of one percent of your budget? I am sure that the state could do a .2% across the board spending cut to every department Read more:Spending
Sunset Cincinnati's Marijuana Ordinance 2007-03-24 16:25:00 It has been almost a year since Cincinnati
City Council passed a law increasing the penalty for possession of marijuana. Under the old law, possession of up to 100 grams carried a penalty of a $100 fine and no criminal record. Under the new law, possession of 200 grams or less now carries a penalty of a $250 fine and up to 30 days in jail, plus a criminal record that must be reported when applying for a job or student loan. A second offense results in up to $1,000 fine and up to 180 days in jail.When this law was before the Council's Law and Public Safety Committee in March of last year, I sent every committee member a copy of a 2005 study by Edward M. Shepard and Paul Blackley of the Economics Department of LeMoyne College. They studied what effect increased marijuana penalties had on crime. Using data gathered from 1,300 counties and spanning a seven-year period, the authors concluded: "The results suggest that marijuana arrests are associated with increases innon-drug crime, inc Read more:Marijuana
, Sunset
Increased marijuana penalty made permanent; Council ignores will of the people 2007-04-03 16:10:00 Despite over 300 emails protesting the increased penalty for possession of marijuana, despite the fact that not one person who was present at either the Law and Public Safety Committee hearing, nor the full Council
session, spoke in favor of the ordinance, and, most alarmingly, despite clear evidence that Cincinnati is less safe under the new law, Cincinnati City Council voted 7-2 to make the Read more:people
, permanent
Knock me over with a feather 2007-04-05 15:58:00 I know this is only tangentially related to the recent increase in the marijuana penalty in Cincinnati, but it's so mind-boggling that I had to post it.
According to Salon.com and confirmed on the Marijuana Policy Project (MPP) web site, former US Representative from Georgia Bob Barr, once one of the most ardent drug-warriors, has signed up as a lobbyist for the MPP. The MPP focuses on removing Read more:Knock
Democrats showing Republican-like Ethics 2007-04-12 18:33:00 Today, the Whistleblower is reporting that the state of Ohio just approved a Department of Transportation budget request to waive competitive selection and issue contracts to 18 consulting firms whose PACs or principals (individual donors) made $2,000 or more in contributions last year to the Strickland campaign. Barr & Prevost - $25,000 to inaugural and other contributions from principals Read more:Democrats
, Ethics
, Republican
Stop This Train, I Want to Get Off 2007-04-19 16:35:00 The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (NURFC), initially hailed as an important addition to Cincinnati’s riverfront and economy, has become another government-subsidized boondoggle. The facts:
Construction costs:
1996 estimate: $70 million
Actual cost: $110 million (on taxpayer-donated prime riverfront real estate)
Endowment:
1996 estimate: $10 million (to be raised from private Read more:Train
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