|
THE VILLAGE CHOICE - Volume 4, Issue 42
|
Manhattan Libertarian Party
|
Nov 04, 2005 14:04 PST
|
THE VILLAGE CHOICE
A Weekly Rundown of News, Views and Events Affecting Freedom in NYC
Volume 4, Issue 42 * November 4, 2005
THE VILLAGE CHOICE is brought to you by the Manhattan Libertarian Party.
http://www.manhattanlp.org
In this issue:
* Bloomberg bleats, Ferrer weeps, while Audrey sleeps!
* Markowitz loses weight and marbles!
* Matching funds on the defensive!
* Your calendar of pro-freedom events!
* Much more!
==============
* News Bites *
A Good Use of Time
New Yorkers got their first glimpse of Mayor Bloomberg and Democrat
Fernando Ferrer on the same stage at yesterday's debate, but the six
other mayoral candidates on next Tuesday's ballot were nowhere to be
seen. They weren't invited. Audrey Silk, a retired cop who's running as
a Libertarian, admitted she slept through the candidates' one-hour
debate.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/politics/story/360885p-307503c.html
The Incredible Shrinking Beep
Incumbent Democrat Marty Markowitz of Brooklyn is the best-financed
borough president, raking in $1.6 million in campaign contributions as
of last Friday. In addition to Atlantic Yards, Markowitz has pushed
health care issues by urging Brooklyn women to take their husbands for a
medical check-up, and went on a public diet to encourage other
Brooklynites to lose weight. That has led to jokes and criticism from
several quarters, including his Libertarian-Reform opponent, Gary
Popkin. "The borough president should fight for the economic health of
Brooklyn, not use his position of public trust for cheerleading and
weight loss," Popkin says in his campaign literature.
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/nyc-beep1031,0,1430401.story
Eye-Catching Platforms
Some of the most obscure candidates for public office this year have the
most eye-catching platforms, the Campaign Finance Board's new voter
guide shows. Mayoral candidate Audrey Silk, founder of a smokers' rights
group, would reverse the smoking ban. Public advocate candidate Bernhard
Goetz, famous for opening fire on the subway, wants power naps for city
workers and vegetarian meals in public schools. Jim Lesczynski, also a
public advocate candidate, would end matching public funds for
politicians. And Flushing City Council candidate Raquel Walker will keep
the morning-after pill off pharmacy shelves.
http://www.nynewsday.com/news/local/manhattan/nyc-camp1104,0,3265415.story
Speaking of Matching Funds
A City Council member and former staffer for the Service Employees
International Union Local 1199, Annabel Palma, has brought a lawsuit
challenging the constitutionality of the city’s campaign finance laws. A
New York Supreme Court Justice, Paul Feinman, issued a temporary
restraining order against the Campaign Finance Board on October 20.
http://tinyurl.com/9j6fx
====================
* Rant of the Week *
Don’t (Just) Vote
by Jim Lesczynski
Among members of the anarchist wing of the libertarian movement, it is
popular to disavow the very act of voting – even for Libertarian
candidates – as counterproductive. Voting only encourages the bad guys,
they argue, and Libertarians shouldn’t give credibility to an inherently
immoral system of democracy (i.e., tyranny of the majority) by
participating in it. Most Libertarians are quick to point out that
democracy is just two wolves and a sheep deciding on what’s for dinner,
so why give the wolves the comfort of pretending that there is anything
fair or just about the whole ugly charade?
It’s an argument with which I am increasingly sympathetic. It is not for
nothing that the lackeys of the statist quo in the mainstream media are
so shrill in imploring that “vote for whoever you want, but for god’s
sake, whatever you do, you must vote!” They need the sanction of your
vote to give the process any semblance of moral authority.
Yet here I am, not only planning to vote again on Tuesday, but I’m even
on the ballot. Am I what Stalin referred to as a useful idiot? (No email
about “nobody said you’re useful,” smartasses.)
Actually, I think being on the ballot is much more defensible from an
anarchist-libertarian position than voting. I see the ballot as just a
soapbox for rabble-rousing. Elections are the one time of year when
people actually pay attention to political ideas. By standing for office
– even for offices where we have no desire to serve – we are able to
inject our important ideas about freedom into the public debate, where
they would otherwise assuredly be absent.
The truth is, nobody in human history ever voted themselves free. To
quote another old Libertarian trope, if voting could change anything, it
would be illegal. As far as I’m concerned, all the benefit of our
campaigns will be realized by the time the polls open on Tuesday
morning. Whether our fine Libertarian candidates (and let there be no
mistake, each and every one of them is head-and-shoulders above his or
her opponents in intellect, principle and class) get 0.1% or 0.5% of the
vote makes no real difference.
So why do it? Why bother stepping into that booth on Tuesday morning,
when I know deep in my heart the levers I pull are as meaningless as
farts in the wind?
First, there is the unpleasant fact of social conditioning. I admit it,
voting is a bad habit for me. I’m a helpless political junkie, and I
just can’t go cold turkey. Maybe if they at least made it inconvenient
for me to vote. But no, they put a frigging voting booth smack in the
middle of my co-op lobby. I literally cannot leave my apartment on
Tuesday and walk out from the elevator bank to the front doors of my
building without brushing up against the evil booth. Before I know it,
I’m behind the curtain pulling levers in Column F (for Freedom).
Second, no matter however futile, voting for the good guys is a small
act of resistance. Many of the actions we take as freedom-fighters may
be futile, but we have to take them. We simply have no choice but to
fight back, no matter how badly we’re outnumbered and outgunned. If
they’re going to load me onto the cattlecars, I’m going to take a swing
at the stormtrooper shoving me inside. What’s the alternative – to go
willingly like herded sheep? That ain’t for me.
Finally, resistance is a lifestyle for me. I want to take each and every
opportunity I can – large or small – to say, “Hell no!” Small acts of
resistance lead to large acts of resistance. It’s important to develop
the habit of fighting back, whenever and wherever you can. That’s why I
say don’t _just_ vote. If you vote and then spend the rest of the year
being a cog in the machine, then I think there is a good chance that
your vote is just giving sanction to the system. But if you vote for
freedom in that stupid little booth and then continue to “vote for
freedom” in your words and actions throughout the day and throughout the
year, maybe – just maybe – you’ll make a difference.
===================
* Upcoming Events *
Monday, November 7, 10:30 p.m.
"The Libertarian Alternative"
A Libertarian political talk show
Time Warner Cable Ch. 34, RCN Cable Ch. 110, MNN Ch. 1
http://www.libertarianalternative.org
Tuesday, November 8, 8:30 p.m.
"Hardfire"
A Libertarian political talk show focusing on NYC
Time Warner Cable Ch. 56
http://hardfire.net
Tuesday, November 8, 9:00 p.m.
Libertarian election night get-together
Join us in congratulating all our candidates as we watch the election
returns come in. In honor of our mayoral candidate Audrey Silk, we are
gathering at Circa Tabac, one of only five places in NYC where grown-ups
can still enjoy a cigarette with their adult beverage.
Circa Tabac, 32 Watts Street
http://www.circatabac.com
November 12-13
Grassroots Campaign School
Get a jump on next year’s campaigns.
Empire State Building
http://www.leadershipinstitute.org
================================
* Manhattan Libertarian Party Honor Roll *
Benefactors (have given at least $1,000 to the MLP in 2005)
Ron Moore
Victor Niederhoffer
Founders (have given at least $500 to the MLP in 2005)
Your Name Here?
================================
* News tips, rants and events wanted! *
Help us improve THE VILLAGE CHOICE. Send news bites, rants and event
announcements to village-@manhattanlp.org. Please include a web
link whenever possible. We will occasionally consider broader topics,
but our strong preference is for items pertaining to freedom (or the
lack thereof) in New York City.
THE VILLAGE CHOICE is edited by Jim Lesczynski.
To subscribe to THE VILLAGE CHOICE, simply send a BLANK email to:
villagechoic-@topica.com
Read the current issue or back issues of THE VILLAGE CHOICE on the web
at:
http://www.topica.com/lists/villagechoice/read
If you like THE VILLAGE CHOICE, please FORWARD it to your friends and
encourage them to subscribe.
If you're offended by anything in this newsletter, you're obviously a
humorless socialist of either the right-wing or left-wing variety.
See you next week!
|
|
 |
|
