Posted by Ron Knecht · December 06, 2017 8:25 AM
Posted by Jason Smith · December 03, 2017 12:23 PM
As construction of the Las Vegas Raiders stadium is ramping up, the nation’s appetite for NFL football seems to be slowing down. Even before the recent dust-up between President Trump and a number of NFL players, NFL viewership has been gradually declining. These days, the descent (and dissent) is picking up with each passing week.
Posted by Sam Toll · November 29, 2017 8:53 AM
Posted by · November 28, 2017 9:13 AM
At long last, with the end of “net neutrality,” competition could soon come to the industry that delivers Internet services to you. You might be able to pick among a range of packages, some minimalist and some maximalist, depending on how you use the service. Or you could choose a package that charges based only on what you consume, rather than sharing fees with everyone else.
Posted by Ron Knecht · November 08, 2017 9:57 AM
Posted by Sam Toll · October 29, 2017 11:08 AM
Posted by Sam Toll · October 27, 2017 9:59 AM
By Robert Fellner, NPRI director of transparency research.
Nevada‘s onerous and burdensome occupational licensing laws are suppressing jobs for low and moderate income professions at a near national-high rate, according to a just-released study.
Posted by Sam Toll · October 19, 2017 3:36 PM
Pension debt is going to take an even bigger chunk out of Nevada’s government budgets in the coming years, forcing cuts in spending that would otherwise go to schools, parks, road repair and public safety.
Posted by Ron Knecht · October 18, 2017 10:21 AM
Posted by Daniel Honchariw · October 11, 2017 6:28 AM
By Daniel Honchariw
When companies get too big to operate efficiently or competently, they go out of business — but in government, such failure actually protects the ever-growing bureaucracy.
Posted by Ron Knecht · October 07, 2017 9:24 AM
Posted by Sam Toll · October 04, 2017 1:32 PM
As we reflect on the tragedy in Las Vegas over the weekend, we at the Libertarian Party of Nevada (LPN) are warmed and heartened by what we witnessed in the aftermath of this horrific event. In the face of terror and tragedy Nevadans and Americans come together to help those in times of despair and need.
Posted by Ron Knecht · September 08, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and James Smack
Recently, James went to Portland, Oregon for a concert and to celebrate his 17th wedding anniversary with his lovely wife, Vicki.
Posted by Ron Knecht · September 06, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and James Smack
Lately, when we tune in or read national political news, it’s virtually the same stuff every day. If you’re watching a left-leaning outlet like CNN or MSNBC, or reading the New York Times, Washington Post, USA Today or HuffPost, it’s almost all about either Russia or some leak from the White House.
If you’re watching Fox, it’s almost always about how the deep state is undermining the Trump Administration or the corruption of the Obama Administration.
Posted by Ron Knecht · September 04, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and James Smack
Sometimes Nevada can be, well, uniquely Nevada.
Perhaps this’s why, in this major fire season and after great amounts of snow and flooding from the melt, a state of emergency was declared. A state of emergency because recreational cannabis dispensaries are running out of weed!
Posted by Ron Knecht · September 01, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and James Smack
Many of our readers have probably not heard of Warrick Dunn, former running back for Florida State University and the National Football League’s Tampa Bay Buccaneers and Atlanta Falcons.
Posted by Ron Knecht · August 30, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and James Smack
On June 30 Nevada ended its 2017 fiscal year, and we observed yet again one of the more annoying problems in state government: the annual last-minute spending frenzy.
Posted by Ron Knecht · August 28, 2017 9:00 AM
This post was originally submitted on June 27. We apologize for the delay.
For now, this is the last regular column that will carry the Ron and Geoff byline. Geoff is leaving the Assistant Controller’s job July 1 for a new one.
James Smack, the Deputy Controller, will join Ron in the weekly column beginning next week. Geoff will make guest appearances now and then, we anticipate.
Posted by Ron Knecht · August 25, 2017 10:16 AM
As economists and public interest advocates, we’re very interested in the federal tax code and the various ways in which it creates, destroys or distorts economic incentives.
Posted by David Colborne · August 21, 2017 7:25 AM
Roughly a week ago, several white supremacists and members of the Alt-Right organized and attended the “Unite the Right” protest in Charlottesville. Three people were killed and several were injured by these protesters, who felt that a participation trophy erected by the grand-descendants of the losers of a war to defend the institution of slavery was worth assaulting and murdering for. During this event, the protestors started a “Blood and Soil” chant, which certain so-called “Libertarians” swear is not, in fact, a Nazi slogan and it’s “emotional hypochondria” to think it is.
Posted by Seth Martin · July 24, 2017 12:48 PM
There is a great deal of recent controversy about the direction of the American energy industry. The sides of the debate are fossil fuels and renewable fuels. In the fossil fuels’ corner of the ring, you have round-the-clock reliability, high rates of production, and the support of thousands of American jobs. In the renewable fuels’ side of the ring, you have energy that doesn’t harm our atmosphere, is inexhaustible, and is readily available without having to use our military power to secure access to or from countries who dislike or despise us.
Posted by Zachary Foster · July 16, 2017 10:49 PM
Ron 'The American Dream' Johnson made a spectacular comeback in Las Vegas last Friday. Johnson won a well-earned victory after an 8-round match at the Westgate International Theater, sharing the ticket with another fight featuring Hector Camacho Jr. The light-heavyweight world champion boxer Ron 'American Dream' Johnson is a Las Vegas local favorite and also a proud Libertarian!
Posted by Alexander DiBenedetto · July 11, 2017 9:14 AM
I attended a meeting last night at the Clark County Government Building regarding the switch to voting centers on election day. These voting centers, similar to the way early voting works, will allow voters to go anywhere in Las Vegas on election day - not just their historic polling center. These will be used starting with the primary elections in 2018 county-wide and have already been successfully utilized for municipal elections this year.
Posted by Dawson Phipps · July 10, 2017 11:17 AM
In the United States, a person becomes a legal adult at 18 years old. This is the age the government requires you to be before you can buy tobacco products, serve in the military, or vote in elections. 18 is meant to be the beginning of the challenges, responsibilities, and freedom of choice that is adulthood.
Posted by Jake Howatt · July 10, 2017 10:25 AM
While undergoing the process of interviewing for an internship at the Libertarian Party of Nevada, my thoughts on this subject became razor sharp, and I felt I should share why I believe the things I do.
Posted by William Swezey · July 06, 2017 1:26 PM
'Member that guy Austin Petersen? 'Member how he was so excited to take the Libertarian Party to the next level? Dr. Marc Allan Feldman even called him the "freedom ninja in your face libertarian" during his closing remarks at the 2016 Libertarian Party National Presidential Nominating Convention held at the Rosen Centre Hotel and Resort in Orlando, Florida.
Guess what? He is running for...
Posted by William Swezey · June 29, 2017 11:21 AM
If you have spent more than five minutes around the Libertarian Party you have certainly heard the expression "taxation is theft." There are many articles out there about why taxation is theft and to quickly go over it they will all basically tell you that theft is the taking of something by force or coercion without the owner's permission. These articles will then go on to tell you that the government forces you to pay taxes whether you agree to or not and will threaten you with jail or wage garnishment or both and therefore taxation is theft.
Many people in the Libertarian Party have started to do something called The Libertarian Tip. Basically here's how it works:
Posted by Zachary Foster · June 26, 2017 3:30 PM
FOR IMMEDIATE DISTRIBUTION
Las Vegas, Nevada (6/26/2017) - The Libertarian Party of Nevada condemns the prolonged brutality of the Maduro (Chavista) regime against the people of Venezuela, persisting to this day even as the Venezuelan state crumbles against the massive civil revolt.
Simon Bolívar, the founding father of Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia, and Peru said “Damned be the soldier who points his weapon at the people.” The Maduro regime's crimes in the year 2017 include: 1) Kidnapping and disappearance of dissidents by police and the Ministry of the Interior; 2) Imposing martial law and summary execution of civilians, including journalists and unarmed minors; 3) Deployment of mobile paramilitary forces against unarmed civilians, such paramilitary forces having carried out kidnappings and extrajudicial killings.
Posted by Zachary Foster · June 26, 2017 3:16 PM
PARA PUBLICACIÓN INMEDIATA
Las Vegas, Nevada (26/6/2017) - El Partido Libertario de Nevada condena la prolongada brutalidad del régimen de Maduro (Chavista) contra el pueblo venezolano, persistiendo hasta el día en que el Estado venezolano se desmorona ante la masiva revuelta civil.
Simón Bolívar, el padre fundador de Venezuela, Colombia, Bolivia y Perú, dijo: "Maldito sea el soldado que apunta su arma contra su pueblo". Los crímenes del régimen de Maduro en el año 2017 incluyen: 1) Secuestro y desaparición de disidentes por parte de la policía y del Ministerio del Interior; 2) Imposición de la ley marcial y ejecución sumaria de civiles, incluidos periodistas y menores desarmados; 3) Despliegue de fuerzas paramilitares móviles contra civiles desarmados, tales paramilitares han realizado secuestros y ejecuciones extrajudiciales.
Posted by Ron Knecht · June 19, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
Some people seem to have it all.
During our lives, we’ve noticed that many successful people we know in business also find time to stay physically fit, eat healthy diets, read broadly, soak up culture and stay well informed. And make a great home life for their children. The success of many high achieving people often isn’t confined to just one area of life but extends to a number of dimensions.
Posted by Ron Knecht · June 15, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
Recently, Ron spoke to the Good Government Group in Douglas County. Among other things, he said that automation creates more jobs than it destroys. One thoughtful chap challenged that claim.
Is it true? Are robots and other devices and methods ultimately going to leave everyone unemployed?
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · June 13, 2017 9:00 AM
The 79th Session of the Nevada Legislature has finally ended! Armistice Day was Monday, June 5th, and I’ve been waiting to hear whether Governor Sandoval has chosen to sign or veto some of the most important bills we worked on. Overall, I’d say the 79th Session was a resounding victory for the Libertarian Party of Nevada. In Elliot Malin’s words, “we made out like bandits” - though not without some scattered defeats.
Posted by Ron Knecht · June 12, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
We were amused recently to read latest propaganda from the nation’s largest trade union organization, the AFL-CIO, in its annual “Executive Paywatch” report.
Posted by Ron Knecht · May 29, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
Ron’s high school freshman daughter Karyn is taking a 20th Century history and culture class that she enjoys, and she’s also decided she wants to be a film-maker. So, recently his family began a weekly movie series to chronicle the century, with an emphasis on how major events and developments affected people of each era.
Posted by Ron Knecht · May 26, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
Among the great social changes that drove economic growth in the latter half of the 20th Century was the large-scale entry of women into the labor force. With more Americans working, family lifestyles changed rapidly.
Posted by Ron Knecht · May 24, 2017 9:00 AM
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · May 22, 2017 9:00 AM
Greetings once again from the front lines of the 79th Session of the Nevada Legislature! Today marks the 100th day of the session - only twenty days remain. This week was packed with activity - not only did I testify for or against many bills in their second hearings, I also actively lobbied many Assemblypeople on SJR4 and a potential ballot access bill for next session.
Posted by Ron Knecht · May 22, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
It’s baseball season again, so we offer some thoughts on the great 1984 movie The Natural.
Posted by Ron Knecht · May 20, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
For six years, most Republicans campaigning for federal office pledged to repeal ObamaCare. According to national polls, a majority of Americans have consistently opposed ObamaCare even when they otherwise approved of Barack Obama as president.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · May 19, 2017 10:01 PM
As the 2017 Legislative Session winds up, we are reprinting some of the statements made by Wendy Stolyarov, Legislative Director for the Libertarian Party of Nevada, to the legislature regarding pending legislation. This statement is a reprint of her statement on Assembly Bill 383, which requires peace officers to be trained in the constitutional and lawful use of force.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · May 09, 2017 10:35 PM
It’s been a little while since you’ve heard from me - the Legislative committees had a quiet period while legislation moved (or failed to) across the floors of both houses. This week, however, bills began to enter their opposite houses again - and I was able to continue our advocacy for or against a large number of bills. I was also interviewed on Talking Truth to Power with Jennifer Terhune and Brendan Trainor on Friday, April 28th - we had a great discussion about the Libertarian Party of Nevada’s work this Legislative Session, Donald Trump, North Korea, and a slew of other subjects. They’re interested in having me back on after the Session ends to get a final report from the LP, and I’ll be thrilled to join them.
Posted by Zachary Foster · May 07, 2017 4:07 AM
Para distribución inmediata
LAS VEGAS (7 mayo 2017) - El Partido Libertario de Nevada se enorgullece en anunciar hoy el histórico lanzamiento del Partido Libertario Cubano - José Martí en La Habana. Tras la reciente persecución de los libertarios cubanos por parte del régimen Castrista, un grupo de activistas determinados en La Habana se unió en un partido político libertario llamado así por el padre fundador de Cuba, que murió en la guerra de independencia de España.
Posted by Zachary Foster · May 07, 2017 12:15 AM
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
UPDATE (May 23, 3017) - Cuban Libertarian Party and Nevada Libertarian Party protest the night-time disappearance of Cuban LP spokesman Nelson Rodriguez Chartrand. Read more.
LAS VEGAS (May 7, 2017) - The Libertarian Party of Nevada is proud to announce today’s historic launch of the Cuban Libertarian Party - José Martí in Havana. Following the Castro regime’s recent persecution of Cuban libertarians, a determined group of activists in Havana banded together in a libertarian political party named after Cuba’s founding father, who died in Cuba’s war of independence from Spain.
Posted by Zachary Foster · April 27, 2017 3:05 AM
On behalf of the Mises Institute Cuba, the Libertarian Party of Nevada is pleased to announce the release of Eduardo Ramos Balaguer after a one-day detention. Eduardo Ramos is a proud libertarian, a member of Mises Cuba, and a co-founder of the Benjamin Franklin Libertarian Library in Havana. Ramos was arrested by officers of the National Revolutionary Police and State Security agents (the secret police) early in the morning. The international libertarian community began protested against this arrest awithinh an hour, with many libertarians directly contacting various human rights watch groups and protesting to Cuba's Ministry of Foreign Relations. Ramos and a 5th arrested libertarian [name not yet publicly disclosed] were released after a one-day detention.
Posted by Zachary Foster · April 26, 2017 3:12 AM
Following the U.S. Libertarian National Committee's denunciation of recent arrests, the Cuban regime has arrested another libertarian activist. Eduardo Ramos is the fourth peaceful activist the Raul Castro regime has specifically targeted as a libertarian. A photograph and a short, hasty press release from Mises Cuba says:
"We regret to report that one of the founders of the Benjamin Franklin Libertarian Library was arrested this morning by agents of the National Revolutionary Police and State Security agents [the Cuban secret police]. The libertarian they arrested was Eduardo Ramos Balaguer. He was seen by his companions last night when they visited the mother of Ubaldo Herrera, another libertarian detained [and still imprisoned] by the regime."
Posted by Ron Knecht · April 24, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
The Nevada Controller is the state’s Chief Fiscal Officer, and we take very seriously the duties of the office.
Among them are the responsibilities to ensure that all public funds are spent appropriately and within the bounds of existing legislation, bond covenants, grant restrictions, federal rules and other guidelines. We also design and monitor internal controls to prevent people from stealing or misusing taxpayer assets.
Posted by Ron Knecht · April 22, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
We’ve striven all our lives to embrace positive change.
But we each do so in our own ways. Young Geoff has always been an early adopter of new technologies. Boomer Ron says he’s “a real Twentieth Century guy,” and prefers to see that new technologies are viable and enjoy widespread adoption before jumping on board.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · April 21, 2017 10:44 PM
This is one of the statements submitted by Wendy Stolyarov, Legislative Director for the Libertarian Party of Nevada, to the Assembly. This statement expresses support for Assembly Bill 303.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · April 21, 2017 10:28 PM
As you may remember from my last letter, things changed at the Legislature last week.The 79th Legislative Session has completed Round 1: April 14th was the bill deadline, and anything that didn’t get passed is now dead in the water. While some of our favorite bills died - like SB358, the ban on civil forfeiture, or AB237, the ban on capital punishment - our testimony and your support helped keep some other excellent pieces of legislation alive.
Posted by William Swezey · April 21, 2017 8:48 AM
It happens every paycheck I get. A big chunk of money is missing. Where does it go? To taxes. It is a common battle cry around the Libertarian party, "Taxation is theft!" especially around tax time in April. But is it? Is taxation theft? Are taxes necessary? Let's examine this idea for a second...
Posted by David Colborne · April 14, 2017 9:01 AM
"There's three ways to do things: The right way, the wrong way, and the Max Power way."
"Isn't that the wrong way?"
"Yeah, but faster!"
- Homer J. Simpson and Bart Simpson in Homer to the Max (see clip)
So your state or county affiliate is overrun with people you don't like very much. Perhaps there's someone showing up to your events that periodically threatens to hospitalize people, openly supports eugenics (but not using the state, so that's, like, totally okay, right?), hides behind pregnant women, serves as a guest on openly anti-Semitic podcasts not once but twice, calls everyone that disagrees with him "communists", and "declares hostility against the Libertarian Party" - among other things. Maybe this person brings friends. Maybe you don't like these friends very much and openly say as much. Maybe they don't like that so much and persist in showing up to your events.
What do you do?
Posted by Libertarian Party of Nevada · April 14, 2017 8:18 AM
LP Nevada Executive Committee resolves fascists aren't welcome to run for office, show up to LP Nevada events.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · April 11, 2017 11:11 PM
Though my time at the Legislature was cut short last week due to a family bereavement, the Libertarian Party of Nevada still managed to testify or otherwise comment on many important bills.
Before I tell you what we were busy with this week, though, you should know what’s coming up! To share your opinion on any of these bills with the legislators and committees reviewing them, go here and type in the relevant bill number. It’ll send your message directly to the sponsors and co-sponsors. As some bills have more than ten sponsors, this is a great time-saver.
Posted by David Colborne · April 08, 2017 12:05 PM
This was originally posted on Vice-Chairman David Colborne's Facebook wall.
It has come to my attention that there is a bit of confusion regarding my feelings surrounding the deservedly failed senatorial candidate that calls himself "Augustus Sol Invictus" and surrounding what I think the appropriate measures are to deal with him and his allies. Given my sense of humor, that is not surprising, so I'd like to take a moment to speak frankly about him, the danger he is to the Libertarian Party and the State of Florida, and what responses should be taken to eliminate that danger.
Posted by Zachary Foster · April 06, 2017 7:20 PM
Instituto Mises Cuba
Biblioteca Libertaria "Benjamín Franklin"
Para distribución inmediata:
En el día de ayer, 5 de abril, aproximadamente a las 12:30 pm, dos agentes de la Seguridad del Estado se personaron en la vivienda de los activistas y esposos libertarios, Heriberto Pons Ruiz y Caridad Ramírez Utria, la cual se constituye en la Sede de la Biblioteca Libertaria "Benjamín Franklin", en busca de Heriberto Pons.
Posted by Zachary Foster · April 06, 2017 2:18 PM
Mises Institute Cuba
Benjamin Franklin Libertarian Library
For immediate distribution:
Yesterday, April 5, at approximately 12:30pm, two State Security agents were came to the home of libertarian activists and spouses, Heriberto Pons Ruiz and Caridad Ramírez Utria, looking for Heriberto. The home doubles as Headquarters for the Benjamin Franklin Libertarian Library.
Posted by David Colborne · April 06, 2017 1:44 PM
On March 13, the Storey County Clerk announced that a Special Recall Election will be held on Tuesday, April 11, 2017, for the purpose of a Recall Election of Gerald Antinoro, Storey County Sheriff. Given the strong support enjoyed by the Libertarian Party and its message of limited government in Storey County, as expressed both through higher than average voter registration numbers and higher than average support for Libertarian Party presidential candidates, we feel it is appropriate to make a public statement regarding this special recall election.
Posted by Zachary Foster · April 05, 2017 3:35 AM
Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velazquez Visea have lit some huge brush fires of liberty in the short time since their arrest by State Security and incarceration in the Cuban Gulag. After 10 Libertarian state parties in the United States, as well as the Libertarian parties of Spain and Russia, condemned the action and called for the release of Herrera and Velazquez, the U.S. (national) Libertarian Party published the following:
Posted by Zachary Foster · April 05, 2017 2:49 AM
International support keeps growing for the now-famous Cuban libertarian prisoners, Ubaldo Herrera and Manuel Velazquez. In recent demonstrations of support for the prisoners and opposition to the regime that sent them to Melena del Sur, the Cuban Gulag, libertarians in Colorado, Guatemala, and Chile took a public stand against the Castro regime's oppression of libertarians associated with Mises Cuba and the Benjamin Franklin Libertarian Library in Havana. The parties involved are the Libertarian Party of Colorado, a libertarian talk radio celebrity in Guatemala City, and independent libertarians in Santiago, Chile.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · April 03, 2017 11:14 PM
At the end of this week, we’ll be halfway through the 2017 Legislative Session! We’re also coming up on April 14th, the deadline for new bills. And good thing, too - these politicians are churning out legislation like their lives depend on it! We testified or sent in statements on sixteen different pieces of legislation this week. That’s a new high score!
Posted by Jason Smith · March 30, 2017 10:18 PM
In 2015, at the Libertarian Party of Nevada Convention, I submitted a resolution to the floor stating, basically, that the LPNevada would work with ANY group that aligned with our philosophy of individual liberty and less government, while also stating that we would oppose ANY group that was working against our philosophy of individual liberty and less government, regardless of whether it was the same group on two different issues.
Posted by Ron Knecht · March 30, 2017 10:00 PM
We teach our children key lessons to prepare them for life. So, recently, Ron explained to daughter Karyn another episode of: How the World Works.
Posted by Seth Martin · March 29, 2017 5:10 PM
You’re reading this because you wanted to know how to encrypt your traffic for one reason or another. This guide is most useful for persons looking to hide their activity from an ISP in response to the recently passed legislation allowing your ISP to monitor, record, and sell your user data without permission. It also may be useful for people who are working actively to oppose persons in power, or people trying to protect their data from snooping cyber-criminals or governments.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · March 27, 2017 10:44 PM
Things are heating up at the Nevada Legislature, and the Libertarian Party of Nevada is bringing you a front-row seat to the political pyre. We testified or sent in statements on ten different pieces of legislation this week - talk about busy!
Before I tell you what we were busy with this week, though, you should know what’s coming up! To share your opinion on any of these bills with the legislators and committees reviewing them, go here and type in the relevant bill number. It’ll send your message directly to the sponsors and co-sponsors. As some bills have more than ten sponsors, this is a great time-saver.
The biggest bills hitting the Legislature this week are…
Posted by Ron Knecht · March 26, 2017 9:45 PM
Each year as spring arrives, we watch life renew itself and are reminded of the path of history, the evolution of mankind and our role in the universe.
Posted by Zachary Foster · March 25, 2017 11:05 AM
Lawyer Nelson Rodriguez Chartrand (center) supervises some updates for the Benjamin Franklin Libertarian Library
BREAKING NEWS! A third Cuban libertarian activist was arrested by State Security, the political police in Cuba. Yesterday the Benjamin Franklin Libertarian Library, a functional library run by libertarian volunteers, held its first conference yesterday in Havana. Three days before the conference, last Tuesday, State Security threatened every member of the Benjamin Franklin Libertarian Library, and also threatened every member of Mises Cuba and known libertarians, not to attend this conference. Discussion of free markets and limited governments are a direct threat to the Castro's neo-Stalinist regime.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · March 19, 2017 5:58 PM
I was out of town this week, but the Session didn’t stop - so neither did I. The Libertarian Party of Nevada still sent in statements on six pieces of legislation, many of which I mentioned to you in my last letter.
Before I tell you what we were busy with this week, though, you should know what’s coming up! To share your opinion on any of these bills with the legislators and committees reviewing them, go here and type in the relevant bill number. It’ll send your message directly to the sponsors and co-sponsors. As some bills have more than ten sponsors, this is a great time-saver.
Posted by Zachary Foster · March 18, 2017 6:25 PM
Libertarian activists Manuel Velazquez (left) and Ubaldo Herrera (right) before their arrest
The campaign to raise awareness of two Cuban libertarian activists thrown in the Gulag just took a turn for the better. The world is hearing the cries of the victims' families! Mises Cuba and the incarcerated Cuban libertarian activists were mentioned recently in a Forbes article. The issue was also explored in greater detail by celebrity talk show host and libertarian activist Gloria Alvarez. This follows multiple U.S. Libertarian state parties being joined by the Libertarian Party of Spain and the Libertarian Party of Russia in condemning the incarceration of Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velazquez Visea, and calling for their immediate release.
Posted by Ron Knecht · March 15, 2017 11:27 PM
This is the final column in a series presenting findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), posted at controller.nv.gov. Here, we present policy recommendations based on our analysis of issues in the PAFR.
Posted by Zachary Foster · March 13, 2017 11:51 AM
The Mexican Revolution is likely the most important chain of events in the history of Mexico, perhaps more so than Mexico’s war of independence. Its crowning achievement is the 1917 Constitution, still in effect today. One of the leading attributes of the Mexican Revolution is the rise of citizen armies, what U.S. legal tradition recognizes as the ‘unorganized militia’ of able-bodied armed men organizing into military units. Though the grievances, politics, motives, and goals of the different revolutionary factions and leaders differed, there’s much about the Revolution to be seen from a libertarian point of view.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · March 12, 2017 7:57 PM
The 79th Session is starting to warm up. This week, the Libertarian Party worked on a whopping eight bills.
Before I tell you what we were busy with this week, though, you should know what’s coming up! To share your opinion on any of these bills with the legislators and committees reviewing them, go here and type in the relevant bill number. It’ll send your message directly to the sponsors and co-sponsors. As some bills have more than ten sponsors, this is a great time-saver.
Posted by Ron Knecht · March 10, 2017 3:38 PM
Our Founders and the classical liberal intellectuals they followed got the basics of government right and thus launched two centuries of freedom and opportunity leading to hope, unprecedented economic growth and astounding human flourishing and wellbeing.
Posted by Ron Knecht · March 10, 2017 3:25 PM
This is the eighth column in a series presenting findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), posted at controller.nv.gov. Here, we address critical problems facing economic growth in Nevada.
Posted by Zachary Foster · March 08, 2017 3:05 PM
Two Cuban libertarian activists, Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velazquez Visea were arrested on February 2, 2017 by Cuba's political police. The two activists were convicted of attempted assault and facing new charges for distribution of "enemy propaganda." This "enemy propaganda" was in fact the writings of Ludwig von Mises, Friedrich Hayek, and other laissez-faire economists and philosophers--all of which threatens the Castro regime and Communist Party's grip on the island nation. Herrera and Velazquez are both imprisoned in the Melena II labor prison, Cuba's equivalent of the Soviet Union's Gulag.
The Libertarian Party of Nevada issued a press release on February 9 condemning the Cuban government and the Communist Party of Cuba, and demanding the immediate release of Herrera and Velazquez. Shortly after, this became a movement. The Libertarian state parties of New Hampshire and Oklahoma jumped on board, also calling for the release of Herrera and Velazquez. We were then joined by LP Indiana, LP New Mexico, and the Libertarian Party of Spain. In the last week LP Florida and LP North Carolina have joined the international movement to free these libertarian political prisoners.
Posted by Zachary Foster · March 08, 2017 2:31 PM
The Libertarian Party of Russia has joined the international movement of dedicated libertarians calling for the freedom of jailed activists. Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velazquez Visea were arrested February 2, 2017 by State Security. The Cuban libertarians are interned at the prison Melena II, part of Cuba's Gulag-style labor prison system. The Libertarian Party of Russia published the following statement:
Posted by Michael Goldeen · March 02, 2017 9:00 AM
It would be grossly unfair for PPACA to impose new benefits and limits on Americans without also attempting to cope with what has become an excessive cost for Medicare.
Over the years, Medicare’s share of our population has grown, as has the number of years each beneficiary is expected to live. Of the original 1900 cohort, 45% had survived to age 65. Those that did enjoyed a life expectancy of about 12 years for men, and 15 for women. 65% of 1950’s cohort, the current one, is expected to reach age 65 this year with life expectancies of about 18 years for men, and 20 years for women. New and improved expensive medical treatments contribute their share of expense. Even with deep discounts of provider bills by the original fee-for-service Medicare, costs wildly exceed premiums collected—1.45% of income to $200,000, then 2.35% on any excess.
Posted by Ron Knecht · March 01, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
This is the seventh column in a series presenting findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), posted at controller.nv.gov. Here, we address the Nevada Public Employee Retirement System (PERS).
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · February 28, 2017 9:20 PM
This afternoon, the Libertarian Party of Nevada stood with the ACLU and TAGNevada in support of SB110, a bill that will exempt trans individuals from the legal requirement to publish notice of a name change in a newspaper for three weeks. This requirement poses not only a handout to crony capitalist newspapers, but also a violation of the privacy of trans people who may be outed by the requirement - or targeted with harassment or violence if listed publicly. SB110 removes a privacy-destroying bureaucratic requirement for trans people, and the LP looks forward to supporting it as it moves through the legislature.
Below is the statement I read at this afternoon's hearing:
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 28, 2017 5:55 PM
After days of anxious waiting, Libertarians around the world finally have updated news on two imprisoned Cuban libertarian activists. Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velazquez Visea were arrested by State Security (Cuba's secret police) on February 2 and detained in a jail in Mayabeque province. They were being charged with attempted assault, but Mises Institute Cuba's libertarians are unanimous in asserting that both men were targeted for "dissident activism." As of today, our sources on the ground in Cuba confirm that both men were indeed convicted on falsified charges, are in a labor prison, and now face additional criminal charges.
Posted by Michael Goldeen · February 28, 2017 9:00 AM
Obamacare’s notion of equal entitlement, and its mandate to purchase coverage follow from its misinterpretation of basic premises of our Declaration of Independence. The first of these is that all men are created equal. That is the wording in The Declaration, but surely its writers knew differences exist among men and between men and women and among women. They assumed, I have a feeling, that given the document was political in nature, its remark about all men being created equal should be understood as “created equal in the eyes of the law.”
Posted by Ron Knecht · February 27, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
This is the sixth column in a series presenting findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), posted at controller.nv.gov. Here, we address the economic outlook.
Posted by Wendy Stolyarov · February 26, 2017 10:00 AM
Nevada, like many states, is blessed with a part-time citizen legislature. Because it only meets for 120 days every two years, however, the legislature has to pack a lot of work into very little time, which means they need people like you and me to let them know what bills are worth passing and which bills need to die quickly.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 22, 2017 2:28 PM
The civil rights and human rights case regarding the two jailed Cuban libertarian activists just took a dark turn. As of this afternoon, Mises Cuba reports that Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velazquez Visea are incarcerated in Cuba's infamous Melena II prison. Various human rights groups have documented conditions at Melena II, and it's Cuba's equivalent of the Gulag in Soviet Russia and the labor camps in North Korea.
Five Libertarian state parties (Nevada, New Hampshire, Oklahoma, Indiana, and New Mexico) and the Libertarian Party of Spain (P-LIB) have already published denunciations of the Cuban government and the Communist Party of Cuba, and these parties are calling for the immediate and safe release of the political prisoners.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 20, 2017 2:36 AM
The Libertarian Party of Indiana has joined the international movement to free the jailed Cuban libertarian activists, Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velazquez Visea. According to Mises Cuba founder Joisy Garcia, both men were targeted by State Security for their "dissident activities" of meeting to discuss limited government, free markets, and libertarian theory, all of which are a threat to Raul Castro's authoritarian regime. They've been detained since February 2 on false charges of attempted assault. LP Indiana joins LP Nevada, LP New Hampshire, LP Oklahoma, and the Libertarian Party of Spain (P-LIB) in the movement to call out the Cuban government and demand the immediate release of the jailed libertarian activists.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 16, 2017 10:30 AM
The Libertarian Party of Oklahoma (LPOK) joined the Libertarian Parties of Nevada (LPN), New Hampshire (LPNH), and Spain (P-LIB) in speaking out on behalf of jailed Cuban libertarian activists. LP Oklahoma, Nevada, New Hampshire, and Spain have condemned the Cuban government and Communist Party of Cuba for the arrest and detention of Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velazquez Visea. LPN, LPNH, LPOK, and P-LIB demand the immediate and safe release of Herrera and Velazquez.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 15, 2017 12:03 PM
The Libertarian Party of Spain has joined the Libertarian Parties of Nevada and New Hampshire in condemning the Cuban government for the arrest and unlawful detention of two libertarian activists. In a Spanish-language news release, the Spanish Libertarians announced:
The Libertarian Party of Spain (P-LIB) strongly condemns the arbitrary imprisonment of two Cuban libertarian activists, Ubaldo Herrera Hernández and Manuel Velasquez Visea, perpetrated several days ago by the island's brutal communist regime, and demands its immediate release.
Posted by Michael Goldeen · February 14, 2017 9:00 AM
Obamacare asserts that each and everyone of us is entitled to equal and comprehensive healthcare. Delivering on this promise is another matter. Although PPACA is demanding about what treatment is to be a covered charge—annual exams, routine maternity, mental health, and so on, it is less so about how and where benefits are to be paid. Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield offers a good example of what this means for individuals and families.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 13, 2017 11:09 AM
This weekend, the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire issued the following statement on their website:
The Libertarian Party of New Hampshire answers the call from the Libertarian Party of Nevada in the condemnation of the Cuban government for arresting libertarian activists. LPNH Chair Darryl W. Perry stated “I’d like to thank LP Nevada for taking the lead on this issue, and encouraging other state LP affiliates to join in on the condemnation of the Cuban government’s arrest of two libertarian activists and in calling for their immediate release.”
Posted by Ron Knecht · February 13, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
This is the fifth column in a series presenting findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), posted at controller.nv.gov. Last time, we discussed state spending and revenue trends in K-12 education. Here, we address key policy issues.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 10, 2017 10:29 AM
Vea la copia oficial aquí.
Para distribución inmediata
Las Vegas, Nevada (10/2/2017) - El Partido Libertario de Nevada condena el arresto y detención de dos activistas libertarios por parte del gobierno cubano, y exige su liberación inmediata. Ubaldo Herrera Hernández y Manuel Velasquez fueron arrestados el 2 de febrero por policías secretos, agentes encubiertos de la Seguridad del Estado vestidos de civiles. Ambos activistas siguen detenidos bajo acusaciones falsas de "ataque".
Mises Cuba, la rama independiente cubana del Instituto Ludwig von Mises, confirmó que siguen detenidos. El PL de Nevada afirma que Herrera y Velasquez fueron elegidos específicamente por su activismo pacífico, promoviendo un gobierno limitado y mercados libres. Son presos políticos cuyas acciones no han dañado a nadie ni han dañado ninguna propiedad, y deben ser liberados inmediatamente.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 10, 2017 10:03 AM
See official copy here.
For immediate release...
Las Vegas, Nevada (10 February 2017) – The Libertarian Party of Nevada condemns the Cuban government’s arrest of two libertarian activists and calls for their immediate release. Ubaldo Herrera Hernandez and Manuel Velasquez Visea were arrested 2 February 2017 by plainclothes secret policemen. Both activists are still detained on trumped up charges.
Mises Cuba, the independent Cuban think tank based on Auburn, Alabama’s Ludwig von Mises Institute, confirmed their ongoing detention. Both men were specifically targeted for their peaceful activism promoting limited government and free markets. They are political prisoners whose actions have harmed no one and damaged no property.
Posted by Michael Goldeen · February 09, 2017 9:00 AM
Obamacare, the 2,409 page Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010 was written and passed with the claim that it would correct an inefficient and unfair market for health care, one for which government itself shares the blame. The Act would force insurers to issue full and comprehensive coverage to all applicants at an affordable price regardless of their state of health, and deny them the right to impose any limits on pre-existing conditions. It would also fix problems with Medicare where even with drastically reduced doctor and hospital payments, Medicare costs continue to run beyond bounds.
Posted by Ron Knecht · February 07, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
This is the fourth column in a series presenting the findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), posted at controller.nv.gov. Here, we address K-12 education.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 06, 2017 12:08 PM
Milo Yiannopoulos is surrounded by controversy. The dramatic episode of Milo Yiannopoulos's canceled speech and leftist riots on campus and in the streets of Berkeley has been a drama of confusion. The most widespread images include the black-clad anarcho-communists, waving their black flags as windows are broken, bonfires ignite, and they face off against the police. Here are the facts about what Milo Yiannopoulos has said, done, and planned to do.
Posted by Ron Knecht · February 02, 2017 9:46 PM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
This is the third column in a series presenting the findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report (PAFR), posted at controller.nv.gov. Here, we address health and social services.
Posted by Zachary Foster · February 01, 2017 11:09 AM
Opposing open borders in favor of strict border control, especially by means of the state, is antithetical to liberty. War is the health of the state, but the same can be said about strict border control, which requires the militarization of borders. If war is the health of the state, then militarized borders are also the health of the state. It takes a large, strong state to significantly and effectively shut down an international border.
Confused Trump-supporting libertarians are increasingly abandoning their laissez-faire and anarchist principles to rally around their standard-bearer and his red ball cap, ever ready to be cheerleaders for border security and militarization becoming the health of the state. Many of them love making the claim that open borders are a communist concept (referring to humanistic Marxism, rather than Marxist-Leninism). However, a simple study of history (read: reality, not political theory) will reveal that strict border controls is a virtue taken directly from the playbook of Marxist-Leninist and outright Stalinist regimes.
Posted by Ron Knecht · January 24, 2017 7:48 PM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
Recently, we’ve discussed overall state spending and revenues, and in coming weeks we’ll review the spending and performance in major areas such as education and health and social services. So, it’s timely and appropriate to answer the question: How has the controller’s office done at managing its own spending and delivering services to Nevadans?
Posted by Ron Knecht · January 19, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
This is the second column in a series presenting the findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report. Here, we address state revenues.
Posted by Zachary Foster · January 17, 2017 11:13 PM
This was originally published in a heavily edited, toned down version by Liberty Hangout. LP Nevada gives you this uncensored editorial in all its Libertarian glory.
One of the top reasons some libertarians support Donald Trump is because his very existence and daily life is an attack on political correctness and the PC culture that seems to dictate policy these days. In other words… the liberals were mean and they need Donny to make the environment safer for them. That’s nice, but as John Wayne the Duke said, “Courage is being scared to death… and saddling up anyway.”
To be fair, I really like Trump’s twitter page—it’s beyond entertaining. However, it’s just not complete without Mark Hamill doing those Joker voices. I understand how PC culture bothers people on a deep level, but no one should need a rude demagogue to protect them from the PC atmosphere. They ought to hop on their computer right now and start writing criticisms of the PC culture! Saddle up already, cowboys! Quit asking for permission! (Just don’t use popular alt-right lingo like ‘beta’, ‘cuck’, and other words that sound like they were plagiarized from a school shooter’s manifesto.)
Posted by Ron Knecht · January 17, 2017 9:00 AM
By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence
This column is the first in a series presenting the findings and conclusions of Nevada’s 2016 Popular Annual Financial Report, which we wrote and issued as part of the Controller’s office normal activities and duties. Here, we address state spending.
