Liberty Maven

I’m a believer in freedom because of Harry Browne. Well, perhaps it was just convenience and timing, but I became a lover of liberty in the mid 90’s as a college student. Harry Browne was the Libertarian Party nominee for President in 1996 and 2000. He was a tall glass of freedom-loving ice water in the hot and dry politics-as-usual desert. He quenched my libertarian soul.

While everyone else is celebrating the “4th of July” I’m celebrating Independence Day. On this Independence Day I’m celebrating by remembering the man that spoke with my voice before I knew what my voice was. Browne wrote an article on July 4th, 2003 (3 years before he died) called, “Uncelebrating the 4th of July“.

The article sums up perfectly how I feel about Independence Day right now. As was so often the case, Harry Browne was years ahead of his time.

I remember around that same year (2003) I was one of those libertarians that supported the Iraq war. I was a libertarian-in-progress or maybe some today would have called me a “Wayne Allyn Root” libertarian. I wrote an email to Harry Browne giving him my opinion about the war and asking him what he thought of my reasoning. He didn’t think much of it.

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In 1776, the Declaration of Independence was read in three spots in Pennsylvania following the Fourth of July. One spot was Easton’s historic Center Square. 233 years later, a small band of patriots show up once more.

by Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution
Originally published July 2, 2009 at http://www.nolanchart.com/article6584.html

On Friday, July 3rd at 7 PM, the Lehigh Valley Tea Party organization is holding a rally in Easton’s historic Center Square.  See this LINK for details.  The Declaration of Indepedence will be read followed by a series of speeches by invited speakers.  I am delighted to be speaking at such an historic event, and I urge you to stop by if you are in the area.

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Yesterday Ron Paul appeared again on “Freedom Watch” with Judge Andrew Napolitano. The Judge delivered another stellar opening monologue that was extremely critical of the hate crime legislation making its way through Congress.

Following the monologue Ron Paul was brought in to discuss the topic further. I enjoy these types of discussions because they steadfastly refute all of the completely inane and idiotic charges that Ron Paul is a “racist”. Anyone who refuses to allow emotional “arguments” cloud their reasoned judgment should understand that Ron Paul is completely opposed to any kind of racism or collectivism.

Unfortunately, most people don’t do their homework. They drool through life digesting all the news they can about the latest Michael Jackson-type death of the day. Ignorance is not bliss, ignorance is willful neglect. It should be our responsibility to know that our country of birth is fundamentally moving away from the principles of its founding. With that responsibility should come individual action.

I find it humorous that they call themselves “progressives”, as if advocating a return to the principles found in the Constitution makes one a “regressive”. No, it appears to me that so called “progressives” want to return to a time before the American Revolution, a time of empire and tyranny. If we want to have “progress” in this country it should mean restoring the rule of law found in our Constitution not continuing the practice of ignoring it.

Check out the latest episode of Freedom Watch below. Other than Ron Paul, the Judge welcomed Mary Ruwart, John McManus, David Bruckner, and Jim Babka to the show.

Sometimes, out of curiosity (or perhaps some masochistic tendency), I’ll listen to neoconservative talk radio (Limbaugh, Hannity, or a local personality) to see what they have to say about the day’s events.  Usually I am quickly sickened with complaints about how suddenly everything is going to hell in a handbasket now that Obama is president.  They conveniently ignore the fact that President Bush was much like Herbert Hoover (only worse).  He increased the federal budget enormously (much of it on domestic spending) and worked to give unprecedented (and unconstitutional) powers to the executive branch, among other things.

Yes, Bush was a terrible president.  Some argue that his abuses should be considered traitorous and he should be convicted for treason.  Then today I ran across an interesting article by Bush-hater Ted Rall in which he pines for the “good old days” of George Bush:

I haven’t forgiven George W. Bush for stealing two elections, starting two wars, bankrupting the treasury and doing his damnedest to turn the U.S. into a fascist state. He deserves one of hell’s hottest picnic spots for refusing to lift a finger to bring the 9/11 murderers to justice. Bush was stupid. He was vicious. He should be in prison.

He was the worst president the U.S. had ever had. Until this one.

On major issues and a lot of minor ones, Obama is the same as or worse than Bush. But Bush had an opposition to contend with. Obama has a compliant Democratic Congress. Lulled to somnolent apathy by Obama’s charming manners, mastery of English (and yes, the color of his skin), leftist activists and journalists have been reduced to quiet disappointment, mild grumbling and unaccountable patience.

I don’t care about window dressing. Sure, it’s nice that Obama is intelligent. But policies matter–not charm. And Obama’s policies are at least as bad as Bush’s. [Continue Article]

An excellent op-ed in the Washington Times today authored by Congressman Ron Paul hammers home the Old Right ideas of non-interventionism in foreign policy arguably better than he ever did during his Presidential campaign.

Paul writes:

Neoconservatives who have come to power in both the Democratic and Republican parties argue that the U.S. must ether confront every evil in every corner of the globe or risk danger at home. We need to “fight them over there” they say, so we don’t have to “fight them over here.” This argument presents a false choice. We do not have to pick between interventionism and vulnerability. The complexity of our world is exactly why the lessons of our past should ring true and demand a return to a traditional, pro-American foreign policy: one of nonintervention.

In this piece Ron Paul seems to be taking some lessons from his son Rand. Paul the elder is framing his non-interventionist foreign policy beliefs in a way that should be less off-putting to die hard neo-conservatives.

This is truly Ron Paul at his best. Read the entire article here.

Caveat emptor. Buyer beware.

Originally published Tuesday, June 30, 2009 at http://www.nolanchart.com/article6577.html

“Honey, whaddya do for money?
Yeah, whaddya do for money honey, how you get your kicks?
Whaddya do for money honey, how you get your licks?”

- ACDC, “What Do You Do For Money Honey?“

A May 2009 Wall Street Journal article details that many employees and newly unemployed are having issues with withdrawals and redemptions from their company-sponsored, government-tax-deferred 401k retirement plans. The only employer named in the article is the energy giant BP, but 401k providers listed include State Street Corporation, a major bank, Northern Trust, and Principal Financial Group.

Some investors have found their money either frozen and unable to be withdrawn, or redemption rates much slower than expected. One man was laid off from an undisclosed manufacturing job and was unable to access $40,000 in funds held by Principal Financial Group. “I hate to be whiny, but it is my money,” he said.

Typically in a 401k plan, one must be laid off or resign before having full access to withdrawal funds, but there are, of course, loopholes and rules that vary from plan to plan, and from fund to fund. Typically when funds are withdrawn, especially prior to age 59, they are taxed as income AND taxed a 10% additional penalty.

Even as Madoff is sentenced to 150 years, many have forgotten that there are likely many other Ponzi schemes still out there, whether it’s the FED, Social Security or other Madoff investment schemes. And no, the government itself has certainly not yet blocked withdrawals from 401k’s – any move by lawmakers to inhibit redemptions would likely cause a panic and populist uproar.

I am not a financial advisor, but I would suggest that it is merely a matter of prudence for any reader with an active 401k or IRA plan to educate themselves on withdrawal methods and confirm that withdrawal lines are still solvent, if you choose to invest in these vehicles and are not already 100% aware. Caveat emptor.

D o w n s i z e r – D i s p a t c h

Quote of the Day: “Nobody can acquire honor by doing what is wrong” – Thomas Jefferson

Directly inspired by DownsizeDC.org, California businessman Jerrol LeBaron has the idea that his state legislators should also be required to read the bills. One advantage in California is he doesn’t have to pressure the State Assembly and Senate — he can go directly to the people. Through California’s initiative-and-referendum process, LeBaron intends to put California’s own version of a Read the Bills Act on the ballot for voters to pass. LeBaron has created Honor in Office to accomplish this.

It is gratifying to see DC Downsizer ideas spread through the country. Success in California will inspire movements in other states and hasten success at the federal level. As the name of the California group suggests, reading the bills really is a matter of honor. An elected legislator really has no other job but to understand what he or she is doing to the people. Otherwise, why have elected representatives at all?

Yet, over the past three weeks, the House and Senate combined to pass 50 bills totaling 2,904 pages. These bills were not read on the floor. They weren’t read by members in their personal time. Most weren’t even read in committee.

(To see the list of bills passed, check out the blog version of this Dispatch.)

Let’s tell Congress that the RTBA movement isn’t going away. Tell them it is actually spreading to the states. Tell them if they don’t introduce and pass RTBA, their very honor is open to question. You can send your message using our easy-to-use Educate the Powerful System.    Read More »

…. debasing the dollar to prop up the housing boom that the FED created.

by Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution
Originally published Monday, June 29, 2009 at http://www.nolanchart.com/article6575.html

“A government that robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.”

- George Bernard Shaw (photo)

In the June 24, 2009, the Federal Open Market Committee (FOMC) led by FED Chairman Ben Bernanke announced that the FED will monetize another $1.75 Trillion in 2009.  The announcement reads “the Federal Reserve will purchase a total of up to $1.25 trillion of agency mortgage-backed securities and up to $200 billion of agency debt by the end of the year. In addition, the Federal Reserve will buy up to $300 billion of Treasury securities by autumn.”

This is a last-ditch attempt to continue to prop the housing market from a further collapse due to option, Alt-A, ARM mortgages.  As with most of the current interventions, instead of “softening the blow” this action will merely drag out this depression, and likely will make the end resolution that much more catastrophic. Monetization of debt increase the money supply of dollars, which inevitably causes debasement of the dollar by inflation.

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I make a point to my Congressman that he should seek solutions, not just complain and promote hypocrisy.

by Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution

Originally published Sunday, June 28, 2009 at http://www.nolanchart.com/article6574.html

This open letter is to summarize a point made during a phone call to my Congressman’s office on Friday, June 26. The letter has also been emailed to his office, and during the call I identified myself as a citizen and also a candidate in the 2010 election.

Dear Congressman Dent,

In regards to HR 2346, the Supplemental Appropriations Act, you were quoted on your website this month as saying: “I am disappointed Speaker Pelosi chose not to pass a clean bill to fund our service men and women to fight the radicals and extremists that pose a threat to our national security.”

While I disagree with your reasoning outlined in the announcement, I would have voted against this bill as well. However, this brings up a question – how  does one define a “clean bill.” I ask to you to read a note I sent you earlier this year where I referenced a DownsizeDC.org’s bill reform act to allow only one subject at a time to be listed.

Many people in our district are well aware of your approval of HR 1424, the $700+ Billion “Banker Bailout” in October of last year. Although you voted against the first time, you voted FOR it several days later after the Senate added 332 pages of pork to the original 110-page banker bailout text. Here are some of the added sections which you voted for.

Sec. 317. Seven-year cost recovery period for motorsports racing track facility.
Sec. 318. Expensing of environmental remediation costs.
Sec. 319. Extension of work opportunity tax credit for Hurricane Katrina employees.
Sec. 320. Extension of increased rehabilitation credit for structures in the Gulf Opportunity Zone.
Sec. 321. Enhanced deduction for qualified computer contributions.
Sec. 323. Enhanced charitable deductions for contributions of food inventory.
Sec. 324. Extension of enhanced charitable deduction for contributions of book inventory.
Sec. 325. Extension and modification of duty suspension on wool products; wool research fund; wool duty refunds.
Sec. 401. Permanent authority for undercover operations. (as related to tax provisions)
Sec. 501. $8,500 income threshold used to calculate refundable portion of child tax credit.
Sec. 502. Provisions related to film and television productions.
Sec. 503. Exemption from excise tax for certain wooden arrows designed for use by children.
Sec. 504. Income averaging for amounts received in connection with the Exxon Valdez litigation.

I hope you now see the hypocrisy of your own past actions and decide to sponsor a bill that would lead to “clean bills” that are limited to one subject at a time. Not just for Speaker Pelosi and her Democrats, not just for yourself and all Republicans, BUT FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE.

As your constituent, I do not wish to hear complaints from you without either solutions on how to fix them or requests for help.

So, could you please sponsor a bill to promote ‘One Subject at a Time’?  Feel free to contact me with questions.

Let me also voice my disappointment with you, Congressman. If you read HR 2346 closely, you would have also noted that there are many other side topics besides the War of Terror that you support. One of the most important is that the bill gives permission to the IMF to sell major portions of its gold holdings, much of which is on loan from our country. The President and Congress is committing a robbery in awarding our country’s gold to others without public discourse of any sort.  You are remiss in your duty to alert your constituents of this.

On June 4^th, I sent you a note concerning the constitutionality of using of taxpayer funds on the nation’s health care and asked a simple question in regards to HR 2516, the Medical Rights Act, a bill you co-signed. Could you please reply to this question?

On May 7^th, I sent you a note requesting your thoughts on the Federal Reserve (specifically whether you would support abolishing it, and if not, why) and our nation’s monetary policy. Could you please reply and inform me of your stance on the FED and monetary policy?

Jake Towne is running for U.S. Congress in Pennsylvania’s 15th District in the 2010 election as a citizen unaffiliated with any political parties.  Jake also writes at www.LibertyMaven.com and www.CampaignForLiberty.com.  A master campaign presentation for internet viewing is available. [Reach the Author Here!]

P.S. You can listen to my most recent interview with “Patriot Pastor” Kinley from last week on BlogTalk Radio here.   On July 1, 4 PM EST, I will be on live with Ken Van Doren of the Voice of Liberty on www.RevolutionBroadcasting.com.

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Summary of Articles and Bibliography for Jake Towne, the Champion of the Constitution (6/8/2009)

In a video message published by the Campaign For Liberty Ron Paul discussed some behind the scenes discussions he had with some fellow lawmakers.

What he reveals will make anyone who is opposed to this bill seethe with anger, but it seems it is just typical of DC lawmakers.

Paul also points out a bit of the hypocrisy on both sides of the aisle. It’s almost like Ron Paul is the whistle blower for reality on Capitol Hill.

Watch the clip below.