A congressman was seated next to a little girl on an airplane so he turned to her and said, “Do you want to talk? Flights go quicker if you strike up a conversation with your fellow passenger.”

The little girl, who had just started to read her book, (P.E.Eyes- A Ben & Vern Detective Novel) replied to the total stranger, “What would you like to talk about?”

“Oh, I don’t know,” said the congressman. “How about global warming, universal health care, or stimulus packages?” as he smiled smugly.

“OK,” she said. “Those could be interesting topics, but let me ask you a question first. A horse, a cow, and a deer all eat the same stuff – grass. Yet a deer excretes little pellets, while a cow turns out a flat patty, but a horse produces clumps. Why do you suppose that is?”

The legislator, visibly surprised by the little girl’s intelligence, thinks about it and says, “Hmmm, I have no idea.”

To which the little girl replies, “Do you really feel qualified to discuss global warming, universal health care, or the economy, when you don’t know shit?”

And then she went back to reading her book

Traffic Cam / Daniel Chang

Representative Rick Glazier (Dem.) is sponsoring H145, Phoebe’s Law, to create a pilot program to authorize speed camera in school and highway work zones.

The background on this may need some explaining. First, is the Civil Penalties and Forfeiture Fund. The details are in the linked PDF, but suffice to say the money in the CPFF $748 million, didn’t go to the schools as it should have. The money was spent and it was now up to the General Assembly to find a creative way to backpay this obligation.

Facing an incredibly unpopular tax, legislators brainstormed and realized that this speed camera could be a solution for their problem. They could fine the ‘evil speed violators’ $150-$250 apiece to generate the millions they owed. If anyone dare oppose this measure, they’d be labeled as reckless and indifferent to child safety.

Glazier proposes that traffic cameras be installed in 15 school zones and 15 highway work zones for 15 year. Conveniently, this legislation also prohibits any local government from operating an “electronic speed measuring system,” limiting state government facing competition from their local counterparts.

I’m skeptical that the speedcams will improve safety outcomes. Also, the pervasiveness of ‘Big Brother’ in the form of traffic surveillance cameras is particularly alarming and brings privacy concerns. Electronic and mechanical equipment do malfunction and there is no simple means of challenging the citation. There is no ‘presumption of innocence’ nor is there an opportunity to ‘confront one’s accuser.’

Automated traffic cameras have been used the state, including Wake County municipalities of Cary and Raleigh where they’ve faced open criticism. In fact, it’s interesting that NC Senator Don East (Rep.) is sponsoring a bill to outlaw those red light cameras altogether. He argues that the stoplight cameras should be eliminated because drivers who are issued a ticket should be able to question the officer about the violation.

Outlaw Red Light Camera Systems S187 has already passed the Senate and is currently in the House Judiciary Committee.

I ask you to contact your state legislators and urge they oppose Phoebe’s Law H145 and support Outlaw Red Light Camera Systems S187.

‎”You cannot legislate the poor into freedom by legislating the wealthy out of freedom. What one person receives without working for, another person must work for without receiving. The government cannot give to anybody anything that the government does not first take from somebody else. When half of the people get the idea that they do not have to work because the other half is going to take care of them, and when the other half gets the idea that it does no good to work because somebody else is going to get what they work for, that my dear friend, is about the end of any nation. You cannot multiply wealth by dividing it.”

Adrian Rogers

Bernie Goldberg

Getting Things Done: The Art of Stress-Free Productivity by David Allen

I’ve ordered the book on GTD.  Let’s see if I actually get things done.

These same “liberty loving people” take a anti-liberty stance on immigration.  They claim that offering amnesty punishes those who ‘fairly’ enter America and wish to ‘punish’ employers who hire ‘illegals.’  I understand the rationale–fear.  An emotional response to the feeling that somehow, someone unfairly ‘takes’ a slot that belongs to a ‘legal.’

Image by John-Morgan/Flickr

On Saturday, August 21, Dr. Mike Beitler, Libertarian candidate for US Senate, will be at the NC State Fairgrounds to participate in the NC IRS Tax Shredding Party hosted by NC FairTax. The event is between 12:30-3:30 at the North Carolina State Fair Grounds – Jim Martin Building. 4th District Republican candidate BJ Lawson will ceremonially shred a copy of the tax code. Congressional candidates that are in favor of the FairTax have also been invited to speak.

Benjamin Franklin is often quoted with the phrase, “”In this world nothing can be said to be certain, except death and taxes.” Indeed over 200 million taxpayers file their returns before April 15 of each year. But are income taxes necessary?
According to the Libertarian Party’s issue statement on taxes,

Before 1913, federal income taxes were rare and short-lived. America became the most prosperous nation on earth. The U.S. Government did not try to police the world or play “nanny” to everyone from cradle to grave. People took responsibility for themselves, their families, and their communities. That is how the founders of America thought it should be. And it worked. It can again!

The FairTax is a proposal laid out in The FairTax Act (HR 25, S 1025) that would replace all federal income taxes with a single national retail sales tax. The tax would be levied on all new goods and services for personal consumption at the point of sale. The rate would be set at 23%.
Taxes eliminated include all federal personal and corporate income taxes, gift, estate, capital gains, alternative minimum, Social Security, Medicare, and self-employment taxes and replaces them with one simple, visible, federal retail sales tax administered primarily by existing state sales tax authorities.

Dr. Beitler explains his position against the income tax. “No government should punish hard work and savings. If we want truly want to stimulate the economy, we must stop discouraging hard work and savings in America. More than 20% of the cost of everything we buy is the embedded cost of the current tax system. The current tax system has countless loopholes for special-interest groups and is hopelessly complicated. The 16th Amendment should be repealed. The IRS should be abolished.”

Dr. Mike Beitler addresses the NC Latino Coalition in Durham, NC., 8/16.

As a libertarian, I believe you have the right to do whatever you want to do as long as you do not infringe on the rights of others. The role of government is to protect us from criminals not peaceful immigrants. Immigrants, whether classified as legal or undocumented, are a benefit to North Carolina. they provide a much needed workforce, they are consumers that are spending their incomes in North Carolina and a great example to the rest of us of hard workers.

A healthy economy naturally attracts immigrants, many of us were lucky enough to be born in this country. Many other people around the world want nothing more than this same opportunity. Hardworking immigrants are an important part of America’s future success. That is why I support amnesty and a pathway to citizenship.

I am going to now challenge my opponents, Richard Burr and Elaine Marshall, to take the same stand.

Nobody can be considered illegal … or should be considered illegal, simply because of where they are from

As a libertarian, I believe you have the right to go where the jobs are without being categorized by the government, persecuted by racists, or imprisoned simply for trying to make an honest living for yourself and your family.

I’m Dr. Mike Beitler, the Libertarian candidate for US Senate this year and on November 2, I respectfully ask for your vote.

Image by Mike Beitler for US Senate

The Lake Gaston Association opened a forum for US Senate hopefuls on Wednesday August 4, 2010. Invitations were extended to Senator Richard Burr (R-incumbent), Elaine Marshall (D-challenger) and Dr. Mike Beitler (Libertarian-challenger). Dr. Beitler was the only candidate to show up, and had the opportunity to speak to a room of concerned citizens. The forum was held at Lake Gaston Baptist Church in Littleton, NC.

Beitler polled the audience, “How many people believe this country is going in the correct direction?” Only one person in the room raised his hand.

Beitler continued, citing examples of government excess–the national debt in excess of $13 trillion and United States military engagements overseas with no real exit plans. “The United States government now has bases installed and operating in over 140 countries—Insanity! Doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results,” Beitler exclaimed, quoting Albert Einstein.

The latter part of the meeting evolved into a question and answer session, with those in attendance taking turns to ask Dr. Beitler his stance on issues such as healthcare, immigration, taxes and government subsidies.