Via an article posted to The Sun Gazette:
The Libertarian Party may be on the verge of fielding its first candidate for County Board in more than 20 years.
Evan Bernick, a graduate of the University of Chicago Law School who has lived in Arlington since 2011, plans to seek the seat being vacated by Democratic board member Chris Zimmerman.
“I’ve grown to love it here – this is my home,” Bernick said of the county. “It’s a great place to live and work, and it has a bright future ahead of it. The only thing that can hold us back is the poor governance we have seen recently.”
Read the full article here.
Just entering an extraneous comment because I keep forgetting to check the “notify me of follow-up comments via email” box.
“Spence,”
Your name is in quotes because I have no idea whether that’s your real name or not, and because your identity seems to be a point of contention, to Andy at least (I know that Andy’s real name is Andy, and I know who he is; I know that my real name is Tom, and I know who I am; thus no quote marks).
I don’t care if people use pseudonyms and so forth, that’s their prerogative, but if there is a question about whether or not someone is doing so, the quote marks indicate that the name they enclose may or may not be accurate.
Not sure why my name is in quotes. Andy is actually quite disturbed; there is no point in taking anything he says seriously. I’ve already told him I’m not you, not Randy, not a nazi or a government agent, but he keeps insisting that I am based on what only he considers to be “evidence.” To someone with his disorder anything you or I say, or don’t say only confirms what he believes. I think everyone except Andy is clear that I am not you, but several people seem to think that I am this Randy guy that I never heard of. I never even saw his comments, can someone point to what thread(s) they were in? What Andy calls evidence here is so pathetic that it would be laughable, although I feel a bit guilty for laughing at a man’s mental disease. Not that it matters what Andy thinks, but it’s just a defense mechanism because he does not want to confront the facts that I have presented that the LP is worse than useless. Andy – please keep it up – you are making yourself look really silly here, even for those who can’t see for themselves how the LP is a scam. http://www.mentalhealthhelpline.ca/ would help you if only you realized you need the help. So sad that you don’t.
Your “evidence” that I am “Spence” seems to be that we both used a word from the English language and that I recently commented on Claire Wolfe’s blog. If you think that’s “evidence,” you really need a remedial reading course in English.
It’s really quite simple: I am not “Spence.” I don’t post comments under pseudonyms. Not ever anywhere that I can recall, and for damn sure never at IPR. If I have something to say, I say it under my own name.
Just for the record, it’s not like I’m trying to pick on Tom Knapp, it’s just that is where the evidence has lead me. Read the posts from “Spence” and then compare them to posts from Tom Knapp. The style and the comments are very similar, and I doubt that it is a coincidence.
Wow, still no response here. Tom must know that he’s been BUSTED. He’s probably thinking, “Damn that Andy for figuring out that it’s me!” LOL!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o1eHKf-dMwo
Trollin
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=i2v3OCGhj0k
Darn.
Paulie, I guess they don’t really want to know.
Everyone play nice now! LOL
“Spence January 10, 2014 at 10:42 pm
Hardly. I’m sure you know better than to think that you can convince yourself or anyone else that Republicans are the only ones to oppose the LP, especially since I oppose Republicans and all other parties just as much.”
OK, Tom Knapp.
Hardly. I’m sure you know better than to think that you can convince yourself or anyone else that Republicans are the only ones to oppose the LP, especially since I oppose Republicans and all other parties just as much.
spoken like a true republican operative
Andy, but you all have spent plenty of time talking to, at or about me and a few of you have made very weak attempts at justifying the LP, so that doesn’t hold up.
Steve, setting money to fire would be dumb. Donating it to LP or LP candidates is even dumber.
“Spence” said: “That is the one point you can’t and won’t refute no matter how much you try to avoid it by switching topics. Your distraction tactics will not work, and we both know it.”
This assumes that anyone cares what you have to say about anything.
If everyone plays nice I will tell you who the real Tom Knapp is.
burn some cash? don’t let me stop you.
I don’t care who you think I am (other than to find it mildly amusing), only that you are trying to use it as a distraction from the point of the conversation, which is:
Maybe I’ll just set some cash on fire. That won’t be putting it to good use either but at least it is better than giving it to the LP or its candidates.
That is the one point you can’t and won’t refute no matter how much you try to avoid it by switching topics. Your distraction tactics will not work, and we both know it.
I think that there is a possibility that this situation runs a lot deeper than trolling on the internet.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KOjVKLv6tlE
If “Spence” is not Tom Knapp, why would “Spence” care if I thought that he was Tom Knapp? If “Spence” were not Tom Knapp, it would be good cover if people thought that he was Tom Knapp.
What is probably really going on here is that “Spence” doesn’t want everyone to think that he is Tom Knapp, because he IS Tom Knapp.
“Spence” was probably the same person who was posting these “The LP is not relevant” posts several weeks back under the name “Randy,” and if everyone recalls, “Randy” made some “racist lite” comments, which would elude to “Randy” being the troll who has been popping up here for years who posts personal attacks and racist stuff. This would implicate Tom Knapp as being behind this stuff as well.
I know literacy is not your strong point, but I said as you quoted “Maybe I have never been a member … ” and I don’t know why you think I ever was. My last name is none of your business – I realize the LP doesn’t value privacy, but I do – and the only reason you want it is so you can make ad hominem arguments. By continuing your fruitless quest to find out who I am, which is of no importance, all you are doing is showing that you want to run away from a debate of the merits of the LP as an organization. Now, please, see a shrink; you need help.
“Spence” said: “Maybe I have never been a member or maybe I was a member back in the 1970s or 1980s. All I told you about myself was my first name. It is not an uncommon name so why would it be a ‘fact’ that I am someone else?”
There are people who post to this site who were LP members back in the 1970’s and 1980’s. Post your last name and lets see if any of them remember, or let’s see if anyone can look you up on a list of LP donors.
I think there’s a good chance that you’ve already been exposed as being Tom Knapp.
Good question.
The real question is, why are people still feeding this troll?
It’s not about what I think. It’s about whether it does or not. Either it does or it doesn’t. And right now it is quite obvious that it doesn’t, and becoming more and more so with every non-substantive or distracting reply. Trying to dismiss me in various ways are just failed attempts to avoid dealing with the reality that I am making you conscious of. Pretending that you don’t care is not going to work any better than any of your other failed avoidance tactics.
Who cares if you think my argument holds up or not?
Jill, but you all have spent plenty of time talking to, at or about me and a few of you have made very weak attempts at justifying the LP, so that doesn’t hold up.
Spence, the fact that no one has provided evidence to you that the LP is doing viable work does not mean that you’re right. It simply means that no one feels like spending time talking to you about it.
As I said, If any of you actually have a rational argument for why the LP should not die and have its ashes vaporized please set it forth. Or keep proving me right by failing to make the argument and putting up failed attempts at distraction. That being said, it is a minor amusement to chuckle at what Andy considers “evidence.” I feel a little guilty for laughing at the mentally ill but I can’t help it in this case.
” … the fact remains that you are a not who you claim to be.”
I haven’t claimed to be anyone, or to have ever been in the LP. All I said is that I have friends who are wasting their time on the LP not that I have ever done so myself. Maybe I have never been a member or maybe I was a member back in the 1970s or 1980s. All I told you about myself was my first name. It is not an uncommon name so why would it be a “fact” that I am someone else? More importantly why would it even matter if my name is actually Spence or, say, Wilbur or Charlie? By now everyone, even Andy, must realize that this is just an attempt to keep from dealing with the fact that I have conclusively demonstrated that your party is worthless and needs to die so that libertarians stop wasting time and money on it that can be put to better uses. It’s uncomfortable for you all but it is true. The more you squirm and fidget the more obvious it becomes that you realize I’m right.
Tom Knapp likes the word bloviate, as does “Spence.”
http://www.rationalreview.com/rationalreviewold/archive/tlknapp/tlknapp031303.html
“The people I work with inspire me every day and, as publisher, I have the latitude to bloviate about it. Let me explain”
Thomas Knapp mentions Claire Wolfe in this article:
http://www.ncc-1776.org/tle1999/libe47-19990530-03.html
This was posted by Tom Blanton in comment from a link I posted above. Interesting comment.
“How many libertarians will go to jail because they trusted someone merely on the basis of that person claiming to be a libertarian?
I guess lots, if Mr. Knapp’s advice to embrace snitches is followed. If there are too few in the freedom movement now, I can imagine there might be even less if known informers are embraces simply to fill a big tent.”
“Spence” used the world bloviating, and Tom Knapp likes to use this word. See below for one example.
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2013/07/tom-stevens-threatens-ipr/
“As Tom Knapp says ?On the one hand, I think IPR would be much ….. The Republicans believed the slaveholders were bloviating about.”
Thomas Knapp on Claire Wolfe’s blog again:
http://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/ClaireWolfe/2012/05/12/stacy-litz-on-stacy-litz/
“Spence” brought up Claire Wolfe, and Tom Knapp recently posted on Claire Wolfe’s blog. Coincidence?
http://www.backwoodshome.com/blogs/ClaireWolfe/2013/08/21/a-week-of-suckage-and-now-google-but-i-repeat-myself/
“paulie January 10, 2014 at 12:54 am
I don’t know if Spence is a real name or not. I don’t know if Spence has posted here under other names or is the troll. But he is certainly a troll and I bet he loves all this attention. Those are the only facts I see. Everything else is speculation.”
Sure, but this is good speculation and bad speculation. I see this as being like a detective trying to find out “Who done it.” You come up with a list of suspects and motives. I believe that there is sufficient evidence to put Tom Knapp high up on the list of suspects.
I don’t know if Spence is a real name or not. I don’t know if Spence has posted here under other names or is the troll. But he is certainly a troll and I bet he loves all this attention. Those are the only facts I see. Everything else is speculation.
“Spence January 9, 2014 at 10:08 pm
Andy is mentally disturbed. I’m not Knapp and I’m not a racist or your troll.”
I did not say that you were Tom Knapp, I said that you sound like Tom Knapp, and I therefore speculated that you were Tom Knapp, and I’m still leaning toward you being Tom Knapp. I see a lot of similarities in the writing style and comments, plus Tom Knapp has mysteriously disappeared. Now I’m sure Tom Knapp will pop up and say that he is not “Spence,” whether he is or not.
“Your obsession with my identity is only because you don’t want to deal with the fact that I am saying the truth.”
I don’t really give a shit what you have to say. We’ve all heard people say that the Libertarian Party is worthless. People have been saying this for years. I, along with others, have given the other side of the story. If you think that the LP is worthless, then don’t be involved. Some of us still think that it has value and still has the potential to be more effective.
This site has had one or more troll, which is certainly not uncommon for websites what messages can be posted. One particular troll on this site has posted a lot of personal attacks against myself, Paul, and some others, and has posted a lot of racist stuff. I think that there is a good chance that you are the one behind it. If you are not that particular troll, the fact remains that you are a not who you claim to be.
Andy is mentally disturbed. I’m not Knapp and I’m not a racist or your troll. Your obsession with my identity is only because you don’t want to deal with the fact that I am saying the truth. Anything to deflect from that. Why does it matter who I am or what I personally do? Does it make anything I am telling you any more or less true? No. So why keep harping on that? Just to try to divert focus from the issues I am discussing. I am not a Republican and I am not trying to push Claire’s books. .The question was asked what are some other things you can do for freedom other than the worthless and counterproductive LP. I mentioned Claire’s books as one example of many different things some of which you could be doing, not as an exhaustive list or a checklist all of which you have to do all the time. Keep in mind all it was just an example.
For the third time, I also said this: ….And that one by Browne before he became a wannabe politician for pay that I mentioned earlier. But really there are thousands of things you can do. Hundreds, maybe thousands of libertarian organizations you can support or become involved in …in all kinds of different ways. Many ways you can be subversive as a solo practitioner outside of any groups. If you get a chance go to Freedom Fest, go to all the different tables and ask them about different ways to work for liberty. Or Porcfest. Or Libertopia. Or just look up all the different non-partisan libertarian organizations online and write to them about different things you can do. To claim that the LP is the only way you can work for freedom – IE that criticisms of the LP fail because there is no alternative – is not a serious argument.
See the common thread in all of this is that there are a lot of things you can do for liberty other than the LP. The LP is not your only option. In fact it is not an option at all since it does not accomplish jack squat. And the proof lies in the fact that I have asked for anyone to step up and tell me what it does that is any good and I have answered everything that has been put forth as being LP accomplishments or supposed reasons why it is useful. I keep asking for more evidence, but you have none, only insults and ridiculous, wrong and irrelevant speculation about my identity and motives. What have I said to lead anyone to rationally conclude that I am a racist, Republican, troll, or any of the other things you keep accusing me of? Nothing. All I did was conclusively prove that the LP is worse than useless with arguments that none of you can refute. And the way you all keep trying to change the subject just proves that you know I am right. If any of you actually have a rational argument for why the LP should not die and have its ashes vaporized please set it forth. Or keep proving me right by failing to make the argument and putting up failed attempts at distraction.
Please re- post your info, Andy.
A lot of times I am online, I catch them in spam and approve them. It may have been that any one of the many other people who can clean out the spam box did so and did not bother to check if anything was in there by mistake first.
Paul said: “Multiple links in a comment get it put in spam. Did you have more than one link?”
Yes, the comment had multiple links, but I’ve posted comments here before that had multiple links and they got posted. Funny how this one disappeared.
Anything is possible. Also possible someone cleaned the spam filter without looking through it. Multiple links in a comment get it put in spam. Did you have more than one link?
“paulie January 9, 2014 at 7:00 pm
Over 30 people have access to the dashboard, plus possibly some others, IE if someone gave them one of the authors passwords or if they hacked in. We also don’t know for a fact that the troll has access to the dashboard. Someone may just be cleaning out the trash file and not even reading the comments about that, for all I know.”
Yeah, but it is also possible that Tom Knapp deleted the post because he did not like being exposed as “Spence” the troll. I will have to repost the evidence.
Over 30 people have access to the dashboard, plus possibly some others, IE if someone gave them one of the authors passwords or if they hacked in. We also don’t know for a fact that the troll has access to the dashboard. Someone may just be cleaning out the trash file and not even reading the comments about that, for all I know.
Doesn’t Tom Knapp has access to the dashboard? He may have deleted the post I made that had more evidence that he was the troll posting under the name “Spence.”
No posts from you or anyone else in the spam filter.
I posted some more evidence that I found that “Spence” is Tom Knapp. I see for some reason that the post is still not up.
Yep!
What a shame Spence has chosen to spend much of the day only bringing negativity.
Steve M – LOL about helicopter, so true…
Tom generally comes across as someone who has a very good point to make.
Spence, really seems to me to be a Republican operative (and ineffective at that) or someone who is promoting Claire Wolfe books…. which I note is conveniently not banned by her list.
“Spence” said: “Again…regardless of whether it was true in 2000 (and it wasn’t), I see much more radical stuff at C4SS, Lew Rockwell and often times even Reason(!) than what I see from the LP these days. The specific libertarian solutions we hear from today’s LP are likely as not to be Gary Johnson bloviating about the ‘fair’ tax, Bob Barr praising Jesse Helms or Wayne Root praising Reagan and that is just a few of many examples.”
“Spence” is starting to sound like Tom Knapp.
Spence, you are repeating yourself. And still have no proposal for positive action for increasing freedom. All you do is tell other people that what they are doing is wrong. So your input has exactly the value that I am paying for it. Nothing. No value….
In order to lead a horse to water you have to know where some water is… see that would be a positive. But you don’t know… what you are saying is horse there is water out there…. and the way you are looking for it is wrong, so you are going to die of thirst.
There is a story about a helicopter….flying around the state of Washington that lost all its navigation and communication capabilities….
But looking out the window…. they could see this one tall building…..
so they flew over to it and they held up a sign asking…
Where are we?
The folks in the building rushed to respond by hanging up their own sign which read…..
You are in a helicopter.
The pilot said…. ah hah and turned the copter left flew about 20 minutes and landed at the air port.
The passenger asked how did you know where to take us?
The pilot responded… that building was Microsoft Technical Support and I know where that is relevant to the airport.
The passenger asked how did you know?
The pilot responded because their reply was technically correct but totally worthless.
As are the comments that you are giving us Spence.
Steve
You just violated basic reading comprehension 101. Seriously…quit embarrassing yourself and re-read this until you understand what I just said…and before you opine on how many list items I am not up to speed on any further:
Steve you are getting way too hung up on the list. They are 101 different things you can be doing not 101 things all of which you must do. And that’s just a start. She has several other books you should read too. And that one by Browne before he became a wannabe politician for pa that I mentioned earlier. But really there are thousands of things you can do. Hundreds, maybe thousands of libertarian organizations you can support or become involved in …in all kinds of different ways. Many ways you can be subversive as a solo practitioner outside of any groups. If you get a chance go to Freedom Fest, go to all the different tables and ask them about different ways to work for liberty. Or Porcfest. Or Libertopia. Or just look up all the different non-partisan libertarian organizations online and write to them about different things you can do. To claim that the LP is the only way you can work for freedom – IE that criticisms of the LP fail because there is no alternative – is not a serious argument.
BTW I do plenty, none of which is your business. But suppose I did nothing, would what I just said be any less true? And I believe everything I am saying. But if I didn’t how would that make it any more or less valid? It is either true or it isn’t. If it is not explain why not. When you respond with ad hominem non-substantive arguments about how I am a “troll” or about what I personally do or don’t do or what my name is etc etc you are in effect conceding that you have no rational arguments to rebut what I said. Those are just deflection tactics to distract yourself and try to distract others from the truth of what I am telling you. Well, you are not fooling yourself OR anyone else so you may as well face it. Sooner or later you will have to admit that I am saying the truth and the sooner the better for you. It will be sad if you waste more time and money on the LP in the meantime but you can lead a horse to water…
So again, i ask to you have a serious proposal of actions that one can take to advance freedom or are you just into telling others that what ever they are doing they are doing it wrong?
Spence, you are the one proposing that others follow a contradictory list and some how see this as a set of actions that one can take as a means of increasing freedom.
Spence you just violated #34
I am just trying to help you folks here. Consider this an intervention. You are not in reality working for the cause you profess when you participate in the walking undead zombie LP.
Steve…re-read what I just wrote…slowly..sound it out if that helps. You are just repeating points I already answered. Would anyone with better reading comprehension than Steve like to step up to the plate and take a swing or two or three to try to justify your party’s wretched refusal to die way past the point where it has become a grotesque caricature of itself?
#34 Don’t debate
Spence, You put the list up. I was just checking to see how your behavior matches what you demand other do. So far what you expect others to do is a poor correlation to what you do. Just more evidence that you are really a republican operative.
“for pa” should read for pay.
Steve you are getting way too hung up on the list. They are 101 different things you can be doing not 101 things all of which you must do. And that’s just a start. She has several other books you should read too. And that one by Browne before he became a wannabe politician for pa that I mentioned earlier. But really there are thousands of things you can do. Hundreds, maybe thousands of libertarian organizations you can support or become involved in …in all kinds of different ways. Many ways you can be subversive as a solo practitioner outside of any groups. If you get a chance go to Freedom Fest, go to all the different tables and ask them about different ways to work for liberty. Or Porcfest. Or Libertopia. Or just look up all the different non-partisan libertarian organizations online and write to them about different things you can do. To claim that the LP is the only way you can work for freedom – IE that criticisms of the LP fail because there is no alternative – is not a serious argument.
BTW I do plenty, none of which is your business. But suppose I did nothing, would what I just said be any less true? And I believe everything I am saying. But if I didn’t how would that make it any more or less valid? It is either true or it isn’t. If it is not explain why not. When you respond with ad hominem non-substantive arguments about how I am a “troll” or about what I personally do or don’t do or what my name is etc etc you are in effect conceding that you have no rational arguments to rebut what I said. Those are just deflection tactics to distract yourself and try to distract others from the truth of what I am telling you. Well, you are not fooling yourself OR anyone else so you may as well face it. Sooner or later you will have to admit that I am saying the truth and the sooner the better for you. It will be sad if you waste more time and money on the LP in the meantime but you can lead a horse to water….
ok Paulie…. I am going to go practice playing my guitar just in case someone is foolish enough to make me a rock star….
I suspect (similar to my thinking) that playing guitar is better then reading medical journals because no one will hand me some scalpels and say hey why don’t you try brain surgery.
Wink wink…nudge nudge… ya know what I mean?
#23 from 101 things to do til the revolution…
Don’t talk to strangers
But you are here talking to Paulie, Andy and Me no one knows all three of us and so you are talking to strangers…
Oh, Paulie, sorry I get it, you were telling Spence that I am a troll. Well I do have my moments at the bridge.
Let “Spence” stew in his own juices – he does not deserve the attention he is seeking.
Feeding trolls is similar to feeding stray cats…. you know they are hungry when they start doing back flips.
I saw your 101 list…. such as not pay taxes… well ok stop making a living. fire all the people working for me. take my kids out of college.
How about you? are you living off the grid? well you are on the internet so no…
Why do do I think you are a hypocrite and a republican?
Because you aren’t doing what you want others to do?
Yet you advocate to libertarians to do what the republicans want libertarians to do.
Spence…. nobody can do a negative action… it is like going back in time. Have you any positive actions to propose?
Steve – Both of your lines of argument are flawed. First you say I have suggested no positive action. I told you that there are numerous things you can do and I recommended Browne’s pre-political book How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World and Claire Wolfe’s books such as 101 Things To Do Til The Revolution as good places to find out what many of those are. Second you accuse me of being a Republican when I say a pox on all politicians and wannabe politicians. Now…do you or anyone else have a better reply to the things I have told you?
Steve
“And an individual who rants against 3rd parties for the benefit of the Republican side of the ruling duopoly is advancing freedom?”
The whole political system is bogus, 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, 5th and 529th parties alike. It really is that simple. It is an illegitimate system and a crooked rigged game. Withdraw your consent. If the LP threatened the establishment it would have been made illegal a long time ago. Or discredited…wait, come to think of it, it has been discredited. So maybe it really did threaten the power structure once. Or maybe they were just being overly cautious. Or maybe the LP discredited itself before anyone else had to. Either way results were the same.
why yes…. to mess with republican operatives such as yourself Spence. Please play again.
HB “And unlike libertarian speakers and writers who easily fall prey to assorted stopgap measures, libertarian candidates are bound by the LP pledge against the initiation of force.”
This is silly. LP members don’t even agree on what the pledge means, much less feel bound by it.
“But the truth is that the Libertarian Party is the leader in presenting pure libertarian ideas to non-libertarian Americans.”
This is a laughable statement, especially 14 years later.
“If, for example, our candidates promote a simpler, fairer, more efficient tax system, how does that spread the libertarian idea that you should be able to keep everything you earn?”
Excellent question. Too bad Harry Browne did not live long enough to ask Bob Barr and Gary Johnson.
I think that covers the bases with this ‘essay’. Got any other reasons to justify the LP’s continuing existence?
negatives negatives negatives…. only anti-mater can do negatives…
what do you propose to be an action people can do instead of actions people shouldn’t be doing?
HB: “In addition, I believe the ideas spread by LP candidates are more principled, more pointed, and more specific than those spread by many other libertarian speakers. Instead of talking vaguely about freedom and government, libertarian candidates present specific libertarian solutions that show people there are better alternatives than what they’re used to hearing.”
Again…regardless of whether it was true in 2000 (and it wasn’t), I see much more radical stuff at C4SS, Lew Rockwell and often times even Reason(!) than what I see from the LP these days. The specific libertarian solutions we hear from today’s LP are likely as not to be Gary Johnson bloviating about the “fair” tax, Bob Barr praising Jesse Helms or Wayne Root praising Reagan and that is just a few of many examples.
I am just a commentator on here…. I state my opinions…. I make my arguments… I make my claims about what I have done….
But you Spence? all negatives against action…
This sounds like some of the discussions I have had with my wife…
Her “I am hungry”
Me “Ok shall we make mexican food?”
Her “No I don’t want Mexican food”
Me “Ok what do you want?”
Her “I don’t know”
Me “I don’t know how to cook I don’t know”
So Spence what do you propose to do if you don’t propose to engage in electoral politics?
Harry Browne writes…
“Harry Browne
The campaign’s media appearances in the year 2000 demonstrate two very important points:
The Libertarian Party’s Presidential nominee can reach more people through the media than anyone else in the entire libertarian movement. The media opportunities available to the LP’s Presidential nominee are simply not available to lower-level LP candidates or to representatives of other libertarian organizations.
The Libertarian Party must always, always, always run and support a candidate for President.
To understand this, we need only compare the number of non-libertarians who encountered our ideas as a result of just one of my appearances on Fox TV News, C-SPAN, or the other national TV networks — with those who have learned of libertarian ideas through books, magazines, pamphlets, or policy studies.
There’s no way to prove it statistically, but it seems obvious that just one of my national TV appearances brought libertarian ideas to more people than all the libertarian books, magazines, pamphlets, and policy studies combined. My hard disk contains hundreds of emails from people who had no idea there was even a libertarian movement until they saw me on television or heard me on the radio.
And the power of TV and radio was made plain to me in many other ways. For example, on October 11, I was walking through the parking lot at Wake Forest University before a campaign event. A car containing a black family moving toward me stopped when it reached me. The man driving the car said to me, “I sure hope you win.” I asked, “How do you know who I am?” He said, “How could I help but know you? I see you so much on TV.” He introduced me to his wife and daughter who also wished me well.
Ten minutes later I encountered another family. The mother said they listened to me every night on the Internet, and asked if I would pose for a picture with the family.
Even the smallest of the national TV shows I appeared on had an audience of a few hundred thousand people. But the combined print runs of all the written materials produced by the entire libertarian movement in one year probably don’t reach an audience nearly that large.
And how much of the printed material produced last year was actually distributed? And how much was actually read? Just look around your own home. How much libertarian material is sitting in stacks, unread? Probably a lot.
More important, how much of our material actually reaches non-libertarians — the people we’re trying to convert? And again, how much of it is read? I would be surprised if, in any year, more than a hundred thousand people in our target audience encounter our ideas through the printed word.
These points seem obvious to me. So it’s worth repeating: in the year 2000, libertarian ideas reached more people through a single one of my appearances on national TV than were reached by all the libertarian writers (myself included) in the entire country.
Let that sink in: just one national TV appearance.
And then consider this . . .
I appeared on 143 national TV and radio shows in the year 2000. This almost certainly represents many times the national appearances made by representatives of all the other libertarian organizations combined. And each one of those appearances, all by itself, probably represented more outreach than was achieved by all the printed material produced by the entire libertarian movement during that year.”
For our purposes here it is not important whether this was true in 2000. Is it true in 2014? Obviously not. Consider all of the blogs, youtubes, social media accounts, podcasts and every other considerable outlet of the movement. They reach a lot more people than the LP does. Students for Liberty, Campaign for Liberty, Young Americans for Liberty, Stossel, Napolitano, and many others. The LP reaches a lot more people? I don’t think so.
And an individual who rants against 3rd parties for the benefit of the Republican side of the ruling duopoly is advancing freedom?
Wow, kindergarten insults and baseless accusations. Very impressive. Still no actual reasons why you think my name is fake or why it would matter if it was. But enough with the overgrown children and untreated mental patients – Off to Browne’s weak and cynical defense of the LP. One other thing first, as for Andy’s contention that my points have been answered please show me when and where. The closest I have seen you answering anything I said, rather than speculation and name calling was what amounted to a “love it or leave it argument” – “this is a third party page.” That is not even a justification, it’s a self-justifying/self-referencing argument. In other words you have done nothing to show why a third party does anything to make us more free. Just pounded your chest and said this is your sandbox. Yeah, I get it, you are a big gorilla, real tough guy and can throw around curses, insults and accusations. Unfortunately for you this is not a rassling streetfight and you get no points for being a macho macho macho man. Only for intellect and sound arguments. If you have any, post them. If you say you already did tell me where.
relax Andy…. take a deep breath and go watch the you tube video I just posted
“Spence” the lying cowardly fucktard said: “It doesn’t matter what you or Andy believe my motives are or who you think I am. Can you answer my arguments or not?”
Hey fucktard, your stupid comments have already been answered, or are you too much of a moron to understand?
Spence, your not here for an argument you are here for insults.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kQFKtI6gn9Y
“Spence January 8, 2014 at 12:35 am
Andy
You are a paranoid nut, please seek mental help. I say this with all due respect, which is none.”
So sayeth the coward hiding behind a fake name, and I say this with ZERO respect.
“Steve M January 8, 2014 at 12:34 am
Spence, I don’t believe you.”
Yeah, it’s just another moronic coward hiding behind a fake name. Who gives a rat’s ass about this self-important fucktard?
Andy
You are a paranoid nut, please seek mental help. I say this with all due respect, which is none. But I do sincerely hope you get the medical professional help you obviously need.
Steve
It doesn’t matter what you or Andy believe my motives are or who you think I am. Can you answer my arguments or not? That is all that matters.
“More in a few minutes.”
Just do the world a favor and go kill yourself.
Spence, I don’t believe you.
Jill
“I would take your negative comments more seriously, however, if you were making suggestions as to what does work.”
I did already but maybe you missed it. For starters see Claire Wolfe’s books such as 101 things to do til the Revolution. Lots of good ideas in there.
Paulei
“I see no reason to take Spence seriously. He says he wants to avoid ad hominem arguments, and the only argument he can muster against Harry Browne’s essay at http://harrybrowne.org/2000/media.htm is an ad hominemm argument (that Browne allegedly did not believe what he wrote). ”
Well he didn’t. But I can answer that “essay” easily. I’ll write a short response in a little while. Browne was on much more solid footing when he wrote How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World. Another book Jill and those looking for positive advice should read. Then near the end of his years he “discovered” the political candidate shtick as a gimmick to sell books and
speech fees going against the solid anti-voting advice he preached and followed his whole life. Of course he never bought into the nonsense he was peddling to suckers himself, he knew better.
Steve
I am not a Republican, they are an evil party. The LP is sort of on the right path ideologically (albeit weak) but is a total drain and an absolute road to nowhere.
More in a few minutes.
“paulie January 7, 2014 at 11:58 pm
There’s a chance he and there’s a chance he isn’t.”
Yes, but when I say chance, I mean good chance. There is a chance that “Spence” good be one of those Nigerian internet scammers, but I doubt it. I think that it is far more likely that “Spence” has been trolling here for year, and that “Spence” has posted here and his real name, or at least a name that we all known him as, and that “Spence” is probably a person who is or has been a member of the Libertarian Party, and there is a good chance that this person is signed up as an IPR writer.
It is either a really bored person that has mental problems, or somebody who is a paid saboteur/provocateur/disinfo agent.
There’s a chance he and there’s a chance he isn’t.
“paulie January 7, 2014 at 11:40 pm
He has said he is not a Republican and could never be one. Of course we have no idea what he really is.”
I think that there is a good chance that “Spence” is a regular commenter on IPR under different names, perhaps even his/her real name, and that “Spence” is also the same person who has been trolling here for years, and that “Spence” is signed up as a writer at IPR.
Yes, that’s right, I’m accusing everyone who is signed up as a writer at IPR of being “Spence” and being the IPR troll.
The troll obviously follows the site, and has been following the site for a long time, and the troll has access to the IPR dash board.
The biggest question beyond the true identity of the troll or trolls (although I’m suspecting one, or at least one main one), remains as follows: is this the work of a lone nut or is this person being paid to do this?
What does his actions say?
He says he is not republican but then puts his effort into supporting the republican party effort to keep Libertarians from running for office.
He has said he is not a Republican and could never be one. Of course we have no idea what he really is.
based upon the republican parties efforts to kick candidates off the ballot and voters out of the voting booth he could be anti-voting republican anarchist. I am sure two of three points are correct.
For example
https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2014/01/carla-howell-an-open-letter-to-2013-libertarian-candidates-and-their-supporters/#comment-869100
I believe he said he is an anti voting anarchist on one of the threads.
I would just suggest that so far Spence’s words have been rather futile. He reminds of one of those individuals standing on a corner wearing a placard that states “the end is near” and shouting at the people passing by.
So my guess is that he is a Republican and is upset that we Libertarians dare challenge his anointed candidates. But that is just a guess.
“Spence January 5, 2014 at 9:23 pm
It would just come off as bragging, and I’d rather stay anonymous. If I ever want to tell you anything about myself I won’t need to be prodded to do so.”
I would not be surprised if “Spence’s” handlers back at the CIA or FBI or NSA headquarters don’t want his/her cover blown.
“Spence,” you are a disgusting and pathetic coward.
I see no reason to take Spence seriously. He says he wants to avoid ad hominem arguments, and the only argument he can muster against Harry Browne’s essay at http://harrybrowne.org/2000/media.htm is an ad hominemm argument (that Browne allegedly did not believe what he wrote). See discussion at https://independentpoliticalreport.com/2014/01/carla-howell-an-open-letter-to-2013-libertarian-candidates-and-their-supporters/
Spence says “It would just come off as bragging, and I’d rather stay anonymous.”
You’re welcome to stay anonymous. I would take your negative comments more seriously, however, if you were making suggestions as to what does work.
It would just come off as bragging, and I’d rather stay anonymous. If I ever want to tell you anything about myself I won’t need to be prodded to do so.
Would you like to tell us what you’re doing to further the cause of liberty, Spence?
Maybe I’ll just set some cash on fire. That won’t be putting it to good use either but at least it is better than giving it to the LP or its candidates.
PS if anyone would like to donate: http://donate.evanbernick.com
Looks like there is an independent:
http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/virginia-politics/john-vihstadt-announces-as-independent-candidate-for-arlington-county-board-seat/2013/12/12/487f4eda-634e-11e3-a373-0f9f2d1c2b61_story.html
@Chuck: thanks! The logo was created by a local libertarian that works at IHS.
@Sandy: they’ve still got more time, but it’s looking more and more likely that the GOP will not be running anyone in this race.
Virginia LP is getting pretty well organized. Sarvis sounds like he may run for US Senate this year, and Anthony Tellez has a new PAC to help legislative candidates. When you add in the newly surging LP presence in DC, this is great news, since many national political reprters live there and are more apt to take the LP seriously when they see it be more active where they live. The same holds true for national policy organizations.
I like how professional this thing is. In a special election where few vote, anything can happen. Especially if the GOP decides to sit this one out.
Nice logo / sign!
Sounds like a common sense campaign with a good slogan. Voters want to see candidates, with good issues that will affect them. Eliminating the IRS may sound good but it won’t happen. Improving the essential services is a good idea. Here’s a good tool from the Heartland Institute, that candidates should be reading: http://heartland.org/policy-documents/patriots-toolbox-0
Once we define what the essential services are, we can fund them to make those services more efficient.