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 THE LIBERTARIAN ENTERPRISE Number 549, December 20, 2009 "The United Nations must be destroyed."
Send Letters to editor@ncc-1776.org
Another Letter from Curt Howland Concerning Dr. Julius No Readers and friends, Artist Scott Bieser is preparing sort of a "memorial cameo appearance" in our new webcomic Phoebus Krumm in honor of our late friend Robert Jackman, possibly better known as Dr. Julius No. He'll be an officer aboard the good ship Resplendent Quetzal. www.bigheadpress.com/pk?page=1 We would greatly appreciate scans of any photographs anyone may have of Robert. Please send them to scottbieser@bigheadpress.com. Mr. Holder, would you please run this request in the next The Libertarian Enterprise? Thank you, L.Neil Smith
[Aye, aye, Cap'n—Editor] In the December 13th, 2009, TLE, A.X.Perez's letter "If somebody takes offense", he suggests a woman (in Texas specifically) is not actually breaking any laws by not wearing anything from the waste up. Not that the polypramatoi would see it that way. Mr. Perez is obviously unaware that this particular bit of civil protest has already been done, and documented by those pesky FreeStaters in New Hampshire: or www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISHXdGKKDZw "Keene, New Hampshire woman arrested for refusing to wear shirt. The pistol strapped to her waist, however, is not an issue in this New England gun mecca. Some trivia: Cassidy is a recent defector from the Obama camp to the Liberty camp." Curt Howland
[When I was working at the University of Texas, Austin back in the middle-to-late '70s the Daily Texas student newspaper ran an article in which they persuaded a young lady to take a stroll down the "drag" topless (the law forbidding this had just expired or been repealed or something). After a while she went into a clothing shop and picked out a new top. There was also a young lady who took her daily run on the track topless, but she was one of those lean, athletic, and flat-chested ladies so nobody hardly noticed. Unfortunately Texans better not have a visable pistol/revolver under any circumstances.—Editor]
Ulrich Biele
Quiel Surprise Last week there was a message from the Editor of TLE regarding the mistreatment of Dr. Peter Watts by Border Patrol agents as he returned to Canada. While I felt consternation, I was not shocked. I mentioned about three years ago that there was a problem with "border checkpoints" as deep as 50 miles into the US that the Border Patrol worked, detaining people and subjecting them to inspection without warrants. For years they claimed the power to do so on the grounds that one was not protected by the US Constitution until one had passed inspection by ICE. They have even tried to use this defense to get spurious suits for violation of rights dismissed ( I know agents involved in at least one such.). Think about this. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) is so dedicated to having itself set above the Constitution that even when they could win a case on its merits they would rather seek to have it dismissed on the grounds they are not bound by the Constitution, even if this means losing the case. There are of course practical reason why a group having milllions of vehicles and persons coming under its purview everyday as they cross the border should not have to get an individual warrant to search each and every one. Given the porousness of the American border "inland" checking points may be a necessity to catching persons entering illegally, not all of whom are simply seeking freedom and honest work. However, even if you concede these points (which I'm sure the vast majority of the persons reading this don't and I'm only playing the Devil's advocate so don't bust my chops, dammit!), you create an agency which has no legal restraint on how it uses its power. Unrestrained power will eventually be abused, and even its most morally conscientious users will become arrogant and careless in its use. The violation of Dr. Watts rights as he left the US is just one more example of this problem of unfettered power. Whether it is applied to a mojado, an American who looks foreign, or an internationally renowned author, this type of power is too easily and too frequently abused. Many members of our liberal Congress were elected on promises of immigration reform, which I presume means correcting this abuse among other things. It's time for them to deliver. However, between pressure fromemployers who want a pool of easily oppressed workers who can't turn to the authorities if they even realize they are being oppressed and pressure from labor unions who see immigrants as competitors for jobs who will lower the price of labor (not realizing that the inability of illegal aliens to vigorously defend their rights does exactly this) I expect little progress on this front.* * After the first draft of this article was written an immigration reform bill was proposed, don't be surprised if it is loaded with riders or amended to the point of impotence or otherwise shot down. A.X. Perez
Dear TLE, I think the readers of TLE would appreciate this particular article on Mises.org (but then I think that anyone with two brain cells to rub together would appreciate most articles on Mises.org) that does an excellent job of not only explaining the present economic crisis and especially WHY it is actually a crisis, but also why there will and MUST be some pain to get over the damage that has already been done. "For Civilization, It Is Mises or Bust", by J. Grayson Lilburne What's interesting to me is to compare the mechanisms that Mr. Lilburne describes with the optimistic worlds of L. Neil and other "liberty" oriented writers. Ever accelerating positive effects? Yes, if left alone. Personally, I'm getting gloomy about "our" prospects. I made the mistake of dropping in on a YouTube video by some unabashed progressive podcasters, The Young Turks, and the comments are atrocious. Lemmings who will gladly jump off a cliff if their Glorious Leaders tell them to do so. No different than the Time magazine cover that was in my chiropractors office yesterday, with a picture of Hillary and the caption, "Can she keep the world peace?" Two shooting wars and they dare to use the word PEACE? Newspeak at its finest. Civilizations fall. Look out below, here comes the USA! Curt Howland
Mr. Howland later added this PS: Dear TLE, In reference to my earlier letter and the Mises.org article pointing out how the malinvestment boom-bust cycle actually causes economic back-sliding as well as simple impoverishment, I read this article today while sitting in a MacDonald's and the people around me wondered why I was laughing: hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/U/US_BACK_TO_GRAVEL "Roll up the pavement: Gravel is making a comeback"
PORTLAND, Maine (AP)—Ever since the invention of the automobile, paved roads have meant progress. Now some cash-strapped towns and counties are finding progress too expensive, and they are tearing up battered roads and putting down gravel. Just over two weeks ago the Colorado State Board of Agriculture voted to ban the carrying of firearms on campus. even by holders of valid concealed carry licenses. This board is made of appointed, not elected, members. A few days later tne head of the Environment Protection Agency, an appointed, not elected, official, announced plans by the EPA to make rules restricting certaim greenhouse gasses In both cases we had legislation by appointed, not elected, officials. In the latter case, the EPA made it clear they were making regulations because the Congress failed to pass laws to the same end. The Constitution makes it clear that we expected all laws to be made and passed by Congress, not agencies headed by executive appointees. Yet more and more at both the Federal and State levels we see executive decrees, either by the chief executive in question or his designee, replacing laws passed by the legislative branch. This goes back to Legislative fecklessness. On the one hand Congress lacks the will to pass even the very few laws needed to help people protect their liberty. On the other they fail to pass the necessary laws to prevent the executive from acting improperly. Back in the late '70;s early '80's the BATF tried to overstep its bounds leading to it nearly being dissolved. Even supporters of victim disarmament were ready to break up the ATF. Perhaps we do need a state or Federal agency to be legislated out of existence to end this arrogation of legislative power by the executive. Or perhaps we need a Congress willing to do its job so that executive agencies won't feel pressured to arrogate its powers. As much as I hate the idea of trusting anyone with too much power, I have no choice but to admit that when one branch of government ducks its responsibilities they invite the tyrannical misuse of power by the others. A.X. Perez
With Christmas and the New Year coming up I wish for us all that many fascisti learn a love of liberty or become ghosts. A.X. Perez
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