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TERRY’S TIDBITS – Tobacco, Cops and Clubs, Libertarians

September 27, 2004

Terry Gray

KILLING THE CASH COW

There is now a suit in Federal Court that takes on the tobacco companies.  This action is punitive, again.  But more importantly, it may put tobacco out of business.  The justice department is seeking $280,000,000,000 from the tobacco companies that they say was earned through fraud.  I’m unclear on the fine letter of the law, but it seems to me that tobacco companies have already been punished for their “fraud”, fraud which was committed in cooperation with the federal government, and that the defense of double jeopardy should be appropriate.  How many times does the tobacco industry have to pay? 

BY THE WAY

          Senator Mitch McConnell voted to raise the tax on cigarettes.  His justification for this was to get some money to tobacco farmers.  He is essentially telling me that I must pay more for cigarettes in order to give the tobacco farmers money not to grow tobacco, thereby creating a shortage of tobacco, which will raise the price again.  I voted for this howdy dowdy blood sucking leech, but I won’t do it again.  McConnell is taxing me to give money to someone else.  This is liberal by nature and borders on socialism.  I let McConnell know that not only would I not vote for him again, but I would actively seek to remove his socialist buttocks from office.

COPS AND CLUBS

          They are harassing the clubs; they know it, and we know it.  The Mayor of Shively denies it, but he knows it too.  The Mayor of Shively kind of reminds me of ex-governor Patton.  He must go to strip clubs outside of Shively. 

          Why would a cop take it upon himself to harass an adult entertainment club?  It seems pretty simple to me when I think about how things are done in this country.  The cops are harassing on orders; or they are harassing against orders; or there are no orders, and they are doing this on their own.  Given those three scenarios, there would have to be a logical conclusion.  Either the administration is guilty of violating our bill of rights, or the cops are out of control renegades, guilty of violating our civil rights.

          There is now a court order directing them to stop the harassment.  They’ve been ordered to keep doing their jobs, however, whatever that means. 

          So the courts are ineffective, law enforcement and administration is out of control from head to toe, and the only thing we can really count on from Shively is being harassed with no relief.

          WELCOME.

LIBERTARIANS

          Without a doubt the best political party in America is being held back by the “Big 2”.  While the “Big 2” effectively keep other parties out of the quest for public office, we have to consider the actions of the third parties before making that conclusion complete.

          Why would a party, especially a party that represents the constitution and freedom as it was meant by our founders, hobble itself in races that can only result in losses?  They know that they won’t get positive media coverage and likely no coverage at all.  They know the bias against third parties that has been nurtured by the media in cooperation with the “Big 2”.  They know they won’t raise the kind of money needed to win a major campaign.

          I’ve been a supporter of the Libertarian Party for about 3 years.  I ran for office as a Libertarian.  I have been adamant about the Libertarians establishing local identities before entering a race that can only produce a loser, thereby leading the voting public to associate Libertarians with losers.  Most Libertarians I’ve spoken with are in agreement with me.  Then they get all worked up about Libertarian candidate Michael Badnarik for president.

          Badnarik is a good man and would make a good president.  He is more representative of the people than any “Big 2” candidate that I can recall.  He believes in and will support smaller government, fewer taxes, and more personal freedoms.  He would be my choice if his race were viable.

          George Dick is running for the 3^rd Congressional Kentucky seat.  He has more of a chance than Badnarik.  But once again, the media have excluded him from coverage.  He is not invited to debate with Tony Miller and Anne Northup.  I can understand Northup and Miller not wanting Dick in the debate, but why the media?  Because they do not want to align themselves in any fashion with a probable loser and alienate themselves from potential winners.  This is human nature and a great survival mechanism.

          On the street, most people do not know who the Libertarians are, let alone the Libertarian candidates.  Even if their minds are not made up when they go to the polls, they will still look past the Libertarian candidate unless they are a Libertarian or die hard third party voter.  Voters don’t want to align themselves with potential losers, either.  Everyone wants to be on the winning side.

          If the Libertarian Party of Kentucky got behind one or a couple of good local candidates and poured support into those campaigns, it could place some Libertarians in local offices.  The election following the seating of some Libertarians would likely reflect recognition of the party.  The following elections could produce some Libertarians in higher office.  And the beat goes on…

          It is very possible to put a Libertarian or two on the Louisville Metro Council in 2006.  We are supposed to be governed locally, so let’s affect the local governing body.  After that, we can progress naturally as viable candidates, not losers.

Strider1@insightbb.com

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