Repeating History?

Karl Marx attributed to G. W. F. Hegel the dictum that "History repeats itself, the second time as farce." Today, we can say that on Broadway "Film and literature repeat themselves, the second time as musicals."

Drew Carey's TV Program On Eminent Domain Abuse

Comedian and Libertarian Party member Drew Carey is hosting a series of Internet TV programs for the Reason Foundation, which publishes Reason magazine. Reason.tv now has its third program "National City: Eminent Domain Gone Wild." http://reason.tv/video/show/56.html)

The short program focuses on eminent domain in National City, California where a Community Youth Center diverting at-risk youth with its boxing program is threatened with removal by eminent domain abuse in order to install a luxury condominium development. To the rescue arrives the Institute for Justice (http://www.ij.org/), the libertarian public-interest law firm.

The show is interesting, informative and fast-paced. It may be my Internet connection but it was jumpy, requiring me to push the show along.

But it is well worth watching and giving careful consideration. As an eminent domain abuse activist and Libertarian, I heartily approve of its message. Today, we face the New York Regional Interconnect, the Atlantic Yards, Willets Point and Columbia's West Harlem eminent domain schemes. As usual, the public officials and developers lie.

Next year, Americans will elect a new president and Congress. New Yorkers will elect a new state legislature. Let all ask every candidate how they stand on eminent domain abuse and what they are going to do to eliminate it.

I will vote for Ron Paul (http://www.ronpaul2008.com/) in February 5th's New York GOP presidential primary, and will support Libertarian Party (http://www.lp.org/ and http://www.ny.lp.org/) candidates where they surmount New York's unfair and Byzantine ballot access election laws.

Responding To Newsday's "Dark Horses Keep Challenging Suffolk Executive"

As usual, Newsday runs its condescending article covering minor party challengers to the old party establishment candidates "Dark Horses Keep Challenging Suffolk Executive." (Newsday, Oct 31, 2007 http://www.newsday.com/ ) Highlighted are Estelle Edwards from the Libertarian Party and Peter Busacca from the Integrity Party. This year, there is even less pretense of choice than usual. Suffolk voters will have a choice between: Steve Levy, Democrat; Steve Levy, Republican; Steve Levy, Independence; Steve Levy, Conservative; Steve Levy, Working Families. Some choice.

Did any readers notice how much space supposedly devoted to Busacca and Edwards was given over to Levy to respond? Maybe when there is an article quoting Levy, their quotes can be run as well. Naturally, as the incumbent Steve Levy is accorded pages of coverage by Newsday. Perhaps in between its coverage of Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton, Estelle Edwards as an exemplary hardworking woman could be given some space to present her views at length or a full fledged interview, if not both.

The slogan "A choice, not an echo" inspired many to engage in politics. A choice, not an echo can encourage participation in the elections.

Richard Cooper, former State Chair, Libertarian Party of New York http://www.ny.lp.org/ 2000-02, 2006-07
former Chair, Libertarian Party of Nassau County

Libertarian School Board Candidates In Partisan Race

The City of Rochester is probably unique in New York State in having partisan elections for school board. They will be voting for four positions. The Libertarian Party is running two candidates, Christopher Edes and Max Kessler. The Republicans are running candidates but have not won a citywide election in Rochester in about 30 years. Two of their candidates didn't bother sending in the surveys to the Democrat and Chronicle daily newspaper.

Edes and Kessler plan to run spots on the main black-oriented radio station in Rochester. The "anytime" spots which run whenever the station decides are $45 each, while the most expensive advertiser-selected spots are about $90. At my suggestion, the State Committee voted to grant $100 each to Edes and Kessler. But they need more money NOW! If you can afford a contribution, please send one now to Edes and Kessler's separate campaign committees. Visit http://www.vote-for-chris.net/ and http://www.maxkessler.org/.

Please help Edes and Kessler now while there is still time. School choice is a message that needs to be heard in New York State.

Richard Cooper, former Chair Libertarian Party of New York www.ny.lp.org

Eminent Domain Activist & Suffolk County Executive Candidate Estelle Edwards

If you live in Suffolk County, New York on beautiful suburban and rural Long Island, you will have the option this November to vote in the County Executive's race for Steve Levy-Democrat, Steve Levy-Republican, Steve Levy-Conservative, Steve Levy-Working Families. Did you want a real choice?

Estelle Edwards, shown in the middle of the three people in the photo above, is the candidate of the Suffolk Libertarian Party, which is the local affiliate of the Libertarian Party of New York http://www.ny.lp.org/ (call 516-767-4688).

She has been very active on eminent domain, travelling to New London in Connecticut and New Cassel in Nassau County for rallies against eminent domain abuse. On a bitter cold day, she came more than 50 miles from Riverhead to New Cassel when Senator Clinton and her fellow Democratic gang members such as North Hempstead Supervisor Jon Kaiman and Congresswoman Carolyn McCarthy gathered to celebrate the successful robbery of the American taxpayers and property-owners such as St. Luke's Pentecostal Church.

She rejects eminent domain abuse and champions property rights, which is why she also opposes the elitist "open space" scheme and real estate transfer taxes, advocated by Levy and the repellent ideologue Richard Amper of the Pine Barrens Society. This scheme, coupled with the already burdensome zoning, rent control and permitting laws, will spell the death-knell for affordable housing in Suffolk County. Estelle Edwards is a low-income Suffolk resident, working as a house monitor in a shelter. Her days on Long Island may well be numbered if Levy and Amper have their way. Perhaps that is what they intended all along.

She says she hopes her campaign will attract people to support both Ron Paul (http://www.ronpaul2008.com/) and the Libertarian Party (http://www.ny.lp.org/ and http://www.lp.org/).

As a Nassau County resident and former Chair of the Libertarian Party of New York, I can only wish her well. If you live in Suffolk, please vote Estelle Edwards for Suffolk County Executive.

Pass The Bricker Amendment To The US Constitution

Senate Joint Resolution 130, the "Bricker Amendment" to the Constitution was introduced in Febuary 1952 by the late US Senator John W. Bricker (Republican-Ohio)

Section 1. A provision of a treaty which conflicts with this Constitution shall not be of any force or effect.
Section 2. A treaty shall become effective as internal law in the United States only through legislation which would be valid in the absence of treaty.
Section 3. Congress shall have power to regulate all executive and other agreements with any foreign power or international organization. All such agreements shall be subject to the limitations imposed on treaties by this article.
Section 4. The congress shall have power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation


Unfortunately, this legislation failed to be enacted due largely to the opposition of President Eisenhower, his Vice-President Nixon and the liberal establishment.

This legislation is still needed as the United Nations continues to endanger not just the liberties of Americans but all individuals in the world. We must defend individual liberty and American independence enshrined in the US Constitution from the parasites on the Potomac and the Hudson Rivers in Washington and New York City.

Vote for Ron Paul in the Republican primaries and join the Libertarian Party thereafter. Better late than never for the Bricker Amendment, but enact it before it is too late.

Replacing Attorney-General Gonzales

My suggestions for replacing Attorney-General Alberto Gonzales, entitled "Bill of Rights Supporter Must Replace Attorney-General Gonzales" are to be found at http://www.groundreport.com/ in the Politics and Opinion sections.