WBOB Original Reads

A Libertarian Roundup

2/19/2014

Mike Liberty

This week I've decided to spare you my usual philosophical indignation on a story du jour... In favor of spreading out my rant over three recent headlines that deal directly with matters of individual liberty. Enjoy!

Americans not Marching to Executive Orders
In the introduction to my coverage of President Obama's recent State of the Union Address, I mentioned how pivotal a speech it was not only for the balance of his own Presidency and the legacy that will follow it, but for the short term fate of the Democratic party as well. With lame duck status and crucially important mid-term elections looming, neither the President nor his party could afford the take away of his address to spin negative in the weeks that followed.

Uh oh!

Recent polls show that I wasn't the only one who heard little from President Obama aside from his plans to use executive orders to side step Congress and unilaterally reshape this country to whatever extent he could get away with. I'm also, apparently, not the only one chilled by his regal aspirations.

According to a Fox News poll 66% of Independents, and 90% of Republicans said they disapprove of “Barack Obama going around Congress and using executive orders.”
While only 15% of Independents, and 7% of Republicans, think Obama’s efforts to bypass Congress are “the way our government is supposed to work.”

Making matters worse for the President is the Gallup Daily Poll for February 12-14 that shows his approval rating has dipped to 40%. That's down from the mid 40's at the time of the State of the Union.

Connecticut Gun Owners Adopt Outlaw Status
As the old saying goes, "When all the guns are outlawed only the outlaws will have guns." And so it has become in the so-called Constitution State.

In the immediate aftermath of the Sandy Hook shooting, bloody shirt waving politicians in Connecticut stumbled over one another to pass gun control laws that would give the appearance of dealing with the terrible tragedy. As is often with the case of such black swan laws, little to no forethought was given to the potential efficacy nor indirect consequences of the laws once on the books. Now those black swans have come home to roost.

Specifically, the new laws called for the suspension of sales of "assault weapons" and "high capacity magazines" as well as the registration of any of the same already legally owned within the state. As of the deadline to begin this year, some 50,000 citizens had complied with the laws, many despite their personal objections and misgivings.

Now for the bad news. Some 20,000-100,000 Connecticut citizens have instead opted to practice non-violent protest of the unjust laws by refusing to register their private property with the state. In the process, these otherwise, and quite demonstrably, law abiding citizens have become newly minted felons... All without having to do a single thing!

Said State Senator Tony Guglielmo (R-Stafford),

"I honestly thought from my own standpoint that the vast majority would register. If you pass laws that people have no respect for and they don't follow them, then you have a real problem."

You think?!

Ron Paul Lobbies for Snowden Clemency
Former Texas Congressman and Libertarian darling, Ron Paul launched a campaign this week to grant NSA whistle blower Edward Snowden the clemency needed to return home.

Seeking sanctuary, Snowden fled the country for Russia in the Spring of 2013, just ahead of the revelations of mass domestic spying by the U.S. government. That asylum is set to expire in July of this year, leaving Snowden with no safe haven at this time. What's more, he wishes to return home to the United States.

On the page where the summary and petition can be found, Paul summarizes his thoughts with the following:

"Edward Snowden sacrificed his livelihood, citizenship, and freedom by exposing the disturbing scope of the NSA’s worldwide spying program. Thanks to one man’s courageous actions, Americans know about the truly egregious ways their government is spying on them."

If you agree that our government violated our rights as outlined in the First, Fourth and Fourteenth Amendments (among others) and that Snowden is a hero for courageously risking everything to bring the violations into the light of day, then do what I did and sign the petition.

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