By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

Every two years, the Cato Institute in Washington, DC ranks the recent changes in state fiscal policies to give readers an understanding of the trends prevailing in each state.  Last week, Cato released its newest Fiscal Report Card, and Nevada fares poorly.

This video is the 5th in a daily series premiering between now and the general election.

Black lives matter to me, but I don't support the protesters calling themselves #BlackLivesMatter. This video explains why.

Reno knows a thing or two about publicly financed stadiums.

TRIGGER WARNING for Trump fans! (This video is the fourth in a daily series premiering now until the general election.)

A vote for Donald Trump is a vote for Hillary. Donald is FINISHED. The GOP has abandoned him. HE CAN'T WIN!

Now, I'll admit he did pretty damn good in that second debate.  As a matter of fact, I give him CREDIT for blasting Bill Clinton’s history of being a sexual predator, and Hillary’s history of silencing sexual assault victims.  I also concede that I’m aware Mr. Trump won’t be dropping out, and his most die-hard supporters have committed to chugging the Kool Aid and following him to the celestial comet.  However...

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

As our readers know, we’re huge sports fans. So the idea of going to a professional sporting event in our home state of Nevada is very exciting.

TRIGGER WARNING for Donald Trump supporters!

This video is the third in a series premiering between now and the general election.

This is the second in a series of daily videos to be released between now and the general election. 

You already know what lewd things were said on the tape. You already know the controversies of his whole presidential campaign. Republicans, I warned you about Donald Trump the FIRST time around in 2011, when I was campaigning for Ron Paul.  After the "Hot Mic" tape was released, one Republican after another is pulling their endorsement of the Trump-Pence ticket. 

This is the first in a series of daily videos to be released between now and the general election.  The video was made in response to Paul Waldman's "5 Reasons to Reconsider Your Third Party Vote" on The Week.

Paul Waldman essentially makes the case for selling out on your principles and swallowing the bitter Hillary Pill for the sake of defeating the Antichrist, Donald Trump. As far as Libertarians are concerned, the Democrats' plight is NOT OUR PROBLEM.  The two parties created this mess on their own, and they can take each other out like spiders in a nest, without our help.

The Libertarian Party was born in 1971 to listen to our community and serve with genuine interest the proposals of citizens to resolve together the problems affecting the entire society of Nevada, as insecurity and lack of opportunities that subject entire families to live in anguish and constant by the false promises of the ruling parties start. It encourages us to start a real movement, real proposals into action, where it is not exclude minority groups. (By economic status, ethnic or immigration status) In the Libertarian party know and understand that these groups are the most vulnerable to the crisis that directly affects their children, who have no chance of aspiring to higher quality education to enrich us as society, education that calls for the rescue of fundamental values ​​that every human being is entitled. (Citizen)

To a young black woman who had just come roaring out of the closet, what could sound more amazing than the idea of a political philosophy of “Don’t mess with me and my stuff?”  The problem, that was all I believed it was, a political philosophy.  In an age where Google is everyone’s dictionary, a quick search will yield from www.philosophybasics.com : “Political philosophy is the study of fundamental questions about the state, government, politics, liberty, justice and the enforcement of a legal code by authority.”  In 2007, I was out, loud and proud, lesbian and libertarian!  These were drastic steps I had taken.  How drastic you ask?

Strange Bedfellows.

Don’t Raid Nevada Coalition was established to bring awareness about the negative aspects of the taxpayer funded stadium and encourage legislators to vote no on the stadium.

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

As Barack Obama’s second Presidential term winds down, what can one say about his signature domestic initiative, the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ObamaCare or ACA)?

We all know what happened.  It's all over the Internet.  The best part for we Libertarians is just sitting back and watching EVERYONE ELSE NOT KNOW WHAT ALEPPO IS EITHER, whilst they troll Gary for his gaffe.  It also makes it better for our cause that this has actually boosted Johnson's presence in the media and online.  

In making fun of him and trying to discredit him as a candidate, the liberal and conservative corporate-controlled media in fact exposed Gary Johnson to people who didn't used to know who he is.  Now millions are looking him up and discovering that, unlike Hillary Clinton and Donald Trump, Governor Gary Johnson is neither psychotic, nor an arrogant power-hungry sociopath.

In August, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals, which covers California, Oregon, Washington, Arizona, Nevada, Alaska, Hawaii, Idaho, Montana, Guam, and Northern Marian Islands, published an opinion on a case sent up from Nevada District Court, Wilson v. Lynch. The case was filed by a woman denied a firearms purchase because the firearms dealer knew that she held a medical marijuana card.

Some people are very effective walking billboards for liberty.  They shine a spotlight on libertarian ideas by visibly living libertarian values in the way they talk to people, in their taste as consumers, and in their creative passions.  Lauren Rumpler dances to the tune of her own melody and has taken a lot of people with her toward the libertarian philosophy. 

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

This week we note a recent death and two retirements.

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

Unprofitable companies often eventually go out of business. Tesla Motors is very unprofitable.

It’s been often mentioned during Gary Johnson’s campaign for POTUS that he has climbed the tallest mountain on all seven continents.

Spend any time on the internet or watching the news this weekend, and you’re sure to have come across the story of San Francisco 49ers quarterback (and UNR alumnus) Colin Kaepernick refusing to stand while the national anthem played prior to a pre-season game on Friday. The decision has generated the expected outrage, but what exactly is causing the outrage?

Of all the hot topic issues, abortion is one of very few that has substantial libertarian support on either side. Officially, the Libertarian Party does not hold a stated position beyond saying that it's a personal decision best suited for individuals and not government to make, although Gary Johnson personally espouses a pro-choice position. My goal here is not to debate the merits of either side of the issue; instead, I want to discuss an aspect of the debate that I've heard brought up recently: how can a pro-lifer morally and ethically vote for a pro-choice Gary Johnson?

I was slightly alarmed and disappointed to hear not all of my friends in the Libertarian Party of Nevada made it to the Gary Johnson rally on the Strip last week.  It was an incredible event!  Here's a rundown of what you missed (with photos and video).

Behind every new law or regulation is a group of people trying to justify it, and Obamacare is no different. Every law mandated is a piece of liberty taken away. 

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

Nevada was once a nationwide model of fiscal rectitude. Not now.

That's right, Governor Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party presidential nominee, is coming to Las Vegas this week!  Governor Johnson flies in on the afternoon of this Thursday, August 18.  He'll be appearing at a special rally at SLS Casino's The Foundry at 7 PM.  The doors will be opening at 6, so get there early if you want to avoid security lines.

This election cycle more than any other, I've noticed a distinct theme running through the parties. It's what I call the "hook" that they use to attract new members to the party and their candidates.

Former light heavyweight champion Ron Johnson scored a stunning victory in the boxing ring last night.  The Libertarian Party’s own Ron Johnson faced off against contender Warren Brockie at the Fort Belknap Casino in Harlem, Montana.

Ron Johnson Scored a knockdown in Round 1, two knockdowns in Round 2, and 2 more knockdowns in Round 3.  After Round 3’s second knockdown, the referee had seen enough punishment and called the fight off.

Nevada Assistant State Controller Geoffrey Lawrence publicly announced he's leaving the Republican Party to join the Libertarian Party.  Lawrence made the announcement during a speech delivered at the recent Gary Johnson/Bill Weld rally in Reno.  Geoffrey Lawrence is a big name in Nevada and his decision to switch parties carries a lot of clout.  Apart from his public service position as Assistant State Controller, he is heavily involved with the Nevada Policy Research Institute and contributes to Nevada Business Magazine.

In our last column, we explained that the financial collapse of 2007-08 was due much to collusion between private banks and government.  Congressional mandates required lenders to issue mortgages to people who couldn’t afford them.  Then, government agencies would purchase the faulty loans from the banks, thus relieving the banks of the risks.

Sometimes Hollywood hits a home run.

Every election cycle in recent memory, I've had to endure people trying to pressure me into voting for someone I don't believe in. I've heard several arguments for why I should ignore my own choice to vote for a candidate who didn't win me over by virtue of his/her own platform. Some of the most persistent include the following...

“We learn from history that we learn nothing from history,” said Friedrich Hegel.

We were again reminded this week that ignorance can breed misunderstanding and occasionally violence.

What happened in Dallas 5 days ago is nothing short of a tragedy, an outrage, a black eye for America.  Unfortunately, it's also one outrage following a series of other outrages in which people who did not deserve to die were murdered.  Nothing will bring back those murdered officers, nor will it bring back the black men recently shot by police in Minnesota and Baton Rouge.  The best that we as Libertarians can do is learn from Dallas.  We owe it to the dead, police and civilian alike, to seriously reflect on this wave of violence plaguing our country.

The two best days of my life will always be the day I married Kathy and the day our daughter Karyn was born.

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence – 28 June 2016

Recently, the Annie E. Casey Foundation’s annual “Kids Count Data Book” ranked Nevada 49th among the states in K-12 education.

Recently, we reviewed the records of the last eight presidents on income growth and inequality. Reagan, Clinton and Nixon/Ford had the best overall records and Obama the worst. Income inequality increased most under Obama and least for George W. Bush.

But what does income inequality really mean?

Politicon is an exciting annual event where politics enthusiasts get together to network, exchange ideas, and meet political celebrities.  The event will be on June 25 and 26 at the Pasadena Convention Center.  You can get 25% off tickets by using the discount code LIBERTARIAN at http://politicon.eventbrite.com

Libertarians are excited to announce that one pair of political celebrities this year are Governors Gary Johnson and Bill Weld, the Libertarian presidential ticket!  Gary Johnson will be delivering the keynote speech to kick off Politicon, which is a big leap from the past obscurity of the LP.

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

Recently, the beautiful Mrs. Lawrence and Geoff saw a show they'd eagerly anticipated in which two talented cover bands squared off and the crowd got to decide which of their namesake bands reigned supreme. It was Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers versus The Eagles.

I’ve been a political activist for eleven years.  I volunteered for my Congressman and saw him on a regular basis as a teen.  I worked within the Ron Paul 2012 campaign and canvassed for the Iowa Caucuses.  I’ve been to multiple state conventions since I joined the Libertarian Party in 2014.  None of those experiences was as eye-opening and educational as the 2016 Libertarian National Convention.

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

In our last column, we explained that the defeat of efforts to repeal the commerce tax shows that Nevada’s political establishment – controlled by Big Gaming and Big Unions – owns not only many officeholders of both political parties, but much of state and local government.

We said that Nevada’s supreme court justices, as loyal members of the establishment, manufactured a bogus excuse to upset the referendum effort. Today we explain why the court’s decision was political.

This was my first time attending a Libertarian Party National Convention. I didn’t really know what to expect when I arrived, but I was excited for the opportunity. This was a brand new experience; it was also a good excuse to wear my suit! Here’s what happened on Day 1.

Under the leadership of Brett H. Pojunis, LP Nevada is leading the way for the Libertarian Party’s radical transformation.  “This is the best opportunity we’ve ever had to grow the Party,” says Pojunis, “and we have to do it right.  In Nevada, we’re doing it right and we have the results to prove it.” Those results speak for themselves.

I had the opportunity to talk with my old friend Judd Weiss.  Known for his exquisite photography of the liberty movement, his latest claim to fame is serving as John McAfee's running mate for the Libertarian Party's presidential nomination.  Here's what Judd had to say about pop culture, the future of the Libertarian Party, and how a Libertarian VP would use his Senate vote.

The Libertarian Party of Nevada hosted a stellar presidential debate Monday featuring Governor Gary Johnson, John McAfee, and Austin Petersen.  The debate was hosted and moderated by celebrity magician and TV personality Penn Jillette.  Detailed coverage and behind-the-scenes photos can be found here.  This article focuses on the media spotlight that's been shining on the Libertarian Party since the Las Vegas debate.

Three popular presidential candidates, a list of international celebrities, major media outlets, and parties on the Las Vegas Strip...  These are just some of the scenes surrounding yesterday's presidential debate, brought to you by the Libertarian Party of Nevada.  The debate was hosted and moderated by magician and TV star Penn Jillette. The event was also a charity fundraiser with ALL ticket sales revenue going to Opportunity Village, which works to educate, train and empower Americans with intellectual disabilities.

MEDIA ADVISORY

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
MAY 12, 2016

THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY OF NEVADA AND OUT FOR LIBERTY NEVADA ANNOUNCE THE LIBERTARIAN PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE MODERATED BY SUPERSTAR ENTERTAINER PENN JILLETTE

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence – 10 May 2016

Gov. Brian Sandoval and his allies don’t think voters should have a say on the commerce tax they snuck through in the closing hours of last year’s legislature.

They're entitled to their views. However, they’ve been wildly misrepresenting key facts about the matter and about the actions and words of Ron, who is leading the effort to repeal the tax. Below, we set them and the record straight.

The Libertarian Party of Nevada is pleased to announce that celebrity Penn Jillette will be hosting the upcoming Libertarian presidential debate in Las Vegas.  The debate will be held next Monday, May 16, from 12 to 2 p.m. at the Opportunity Village Englestad Campus.  Tickets can be acquired here.

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence – 3 May 2016

When we’ve had enough of politics and politicians, we need a good fun exhilarating movie like The Right Stuff. After a long hard week, take Saturday evening to watch this rollicking 1983 classic with great casting, script, directing, settings, performances, action, music, editing and themes. Plus hot planes and some explosions.

This goes out to the frustrated supporters of Bernie Sanders and Ted Cruz. This also goes out to the undecided who sure as hell aren't picking between Hillary and Trump. Since yesterday night, recruitment has doubled for the Libertarian Party. You might consider giving us a look.

So you’re a Republican who has had enough of the party and its support for the Donald, eh? Whether you are dissatisfied with his politics, his personality, or his hair, we want to let you know that there is an alternative this year! And it’s not Hillary...

Months ago, ten women selected for a fitness reality show were whisked off to a studio property. For ten weeks they were paired off with ten of the top fitness instructors in the world. The two-person teams trained arduously, the women lost weight, and the teams competed in elimination games. Welcome to NBC’s Strong. One of the ten women featured on the reality show is Chicago’s Sarah Miller, Pennsylvania born and bred and “a fan of all things libertarian!”

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

Recently Ron spoke to an industry group about the petition to give voters the final say this fall on the onerous Commerce Tax passed by the Legislature and Governor last year.

The Libertarian Party of Nevada is proud to support State Chairman Brett H. Pojunis for Chairman of the National Libertarian Party.

Libertarians are concerned about the viability of the Party on the National level. Mr. Pojunis promises to reform the National Party along the same lines as the Libertarian Party of Nevada.

Is our country broken? I’m not asking if it has some problems that need to be worked on. I’m asking if it is truly “broken”. Like it needs a complete overhaul to get it right again.

We have one candidate saying he can make our nation great again. I’m sorry, but I believe it’s already great. Name me a country that’s better. If you’re able to answer that with a straight face then I ask…why don’t you live there? Probably because as much as you like something about that country, this one is working for you. If it wasn’t, you’d move your baggage.

There seems to be a lot of confusion within the party, and the broader Liberty Movement, about the Non-Aggression Principle (NAP), the Statement Of Principles (SOP), the LP Pledge, “pragmatism,” “purity,” and even libertarianism. Lets try to clear it up, shall we? First of all, it is unreservedly false that the NAP is the “core principle,” of Libertarianism, or even that it’s a defining feature. Libertarianism is a political philosophy, defined by an easily identifiable set of policies. One is a libertarian, or not, on the basis of the policies that you support or oppose, not on the basis of your justification for those policies. The NAP is an ethical philosophy, defined by holding the categorical opposition to the initiation of force as the highest good (or, in many cases, the only good).

The Pennsylvania-born writer Sarah Miller has a lot to say about physical fitness, self-confidence, and the importance of personal responsibility.  Her story involves riches, the wilderness, and Ayn Rand.

There has been much in-fighting in the Libertarian Party as of late. And for us to continue to grow, it needs to stop. We need to come together in a way that we haven't for many years. In fact, I believe the Party is on the cusp on something huge. Something good, or something bad, is what we make of it, and how we handle the next 190 days. To start the conversation, I'd like to share a story my church's pastor told us many years ago: The Allegory of Bathroom-Jesus. It has similar themes to Dr. Seuss's "The Butter Battle Book."

I had the pleasure of interviewing former New Mexico Governor and 2016 presidential candidate Gary Johnson at the Libertarian Party of California 2016 Convention, held at the LAX Hilton.  LP Nevada sent a volunteer delegation led by state chair Brett Pojunis to help the LPC with audio/video and communications.  I solicited Libertarian Party members and liberty activists for thought-provoking questions to ask our Party’s candidates. 

I had the pleasure of interviewing presidential candidate John McAfee at the Libertarian Party of California 2016 Convention, held at the LAX Hilton.  LP Nevada sent a volunteer delegation led by state chair Brett Pojunis to help the LPC with audio/video and communications.  I solicited Libertarian Party members and liberty activists for thought-provoking questions to ask our Party’s candidates.

Sarah Miller thinks outside the box.  She has a unique brand of humor and frankly doesn’t care who gets offended.  “Since when did free speech become conditional?” she asks rhetorically.  When this freelance writer and fan of all things libertarian isn’t stirring up controversy, she’s tackling new challenges.  Miller recently competed in NBC’s latest fitness reality show, Strong.

Earlier this month, American Dream Presents and the Libertarian Party of Nevada hosted LP Nevada’s 2016 convention after-party for a special double announcement.  LPN state chair Brett H. Pojunis announced his candidacy for the Libertarian Party national chairmanship.  Shortly before that, LPN’s own light-heavyweight champion Ron Johnson announced his return to the ring!

A double main event is happening on May 27, 2016 at the Orange County Convention Center in Orlando, Florida to coincide with the 2016 Libertarian National Convention.

By Ron Knecht and Geoffrey Lawrence

We frequently hear claims from the Left that Republican economic policies increase income inequality by benefiting the wealthy and leaving the poor and middle class in the dust.

Last year, President Obama dissed Republican leaders' empathy for income inequality, saying, "They're just trying to bamboozle folks. We've got an agenda and we know it works."

As economists, we know that history and experience around the world show that economic freedom and strong property rights, plus the rule of law, limited government with separation of powers, and personal liberty and individual rights produce the best results for the public interest in human wellbeing and fairness. As public officials, we take these matters seriously. So, the first question we ask on issues is whether a particular policy, law, regulation, decision, etc. promotes economic growth and thus gives people greater opportunities and aggregate wellbeing.

“Who is Sarah Miller?” I asked myself when an attractive brunette crossed my social media feed.  And why does she look like someone on TV?  The answer’s simple: because Sarah Miller is someone on TV! 

The 29 year old Chicago resident is a contestant on NBC’s Strong, premiering this spring.  I had the opportunity to pick her brain and find out more about this up and coming reality star and what makes her tick.

Siri, what is a Libertarian?
    A person who believes in the doctrine of free will.

It was 1980. Jimmy Carter was soon to leave office and Ronald Reagan would take his place at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave. The economy was stagnant, except for one interesting niche: Bartering. Bartering had grown beyond an old-fashioned way of country folk trading eggs for chopping firewood or a wagon load of hay for stud services from the neighbor's bull. Nearly every Fortune 500 company had a Barter Division. It was an effective method of making sales that otherwise wouldn’t have been made.

To be the best, you have to surround yourself with the best. —Muhammad Ali

The Libertarian Party of Nevada hosted celebrities and dozens of Party members at its 2016 state convention. The convention happened simultaneously in Carson City and Las Vegas and was simulcast so members in both the northern and southern regions could participate without having to travel far.

Attendees included Libertarian Assemblyman John Moore, TV star and Libertarian candidate Dennis Hof, championship boxer Ron "the American Dream" Johnson, and several members of the Libertarian National Committee.

After the convention, Party members and supporters flocked to Satay Thai Bistro for the official after party. The after party was attended by dozens of activists and a variety of special guests, including athletes and billionaires. Best of all, Libertarian Party members everywhere had access to the after party and some HUGE announcements (see video here)!

Young Americans for Liberty hosted a state convention at UNLV this past weekend, which was attended by LP Nevada's leadership team. One of the keynote speakers was Assemblyman John Moore, introduced by YAL State Chair (and LPN Youth Caucus leader) Andrew Lea. Assemblyman John Moore is an Iraq War veteran, a businessman, and currently the only capital-L Libertarian serving in a state legislature.

“End the drug war. The deteriorating economic conditions and the mess with immigration invite the violence of the drug lords and corrupt officials on both sides. It’s time to break up the coalition of the religious drug warriors and the drug dealers who fight any effort to decriminalize drugs. It’s time to treat all drugs the way we treat alcohol and cigarettes, substances that kill millions more than hard drugs do."

This article was originally published in the December 2015 newsletter.

It's the end of the year. The sun rises later and sets earlier, the ground is either barren or covered in snow, the temperatures consistently dive below freezing when they can be bothered to stay above freezing at all. Ice covers our windshields, pipes occasionally freeze and crack, the passes out of town occasionally close. Though it all sounds depressing and bleak - and, sometimes, it is - it's also a necessary step toward renewal and new life. Winter brings us fresh snow, without which we don't have water for summer. Winter also kills the bugs, which is welcome once they the few stragglers from autumn stop wandering into our homes. 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Libertarian Millennial Caucus Announces Official Launch and New Website

Influential leaders throughout the Libertarian Party team up and launch caucus to build a credible and viable national party to attract new members, donors and be an alternative for voters.

The Libertarian Party of Nevada is arguably the most active state chapter of the Libertarian Party in America.  I was incredibly proud to take part in this weekend’s activist training at the Libertarian Party of Nevada headquarters in Las Vegas. When I originally joined this band of freedom activists in the desert, I never imagined I’d get a front row seat at a third party’s historic growth.  

If anything characterizes American politics in the days before and immediately after the Iowa Caucuses, it’s this: all emotions, no logic or reason, plenty of name calling and demagoguery.  How are we different?

Supporters of the Pepsi candidate verbally abuse folks voting for the Coca-Cola candidate. Republicans accuse other Republicans of being socialists and Democrats accuse other democrats of being fascist corporate sellouts. American voters seem genuinely down in the dumps with the results from Iowa.

Frankly, this is the best news anyone could give to the Libertarian Party.

The Libertarian Party of Nevada has been making headlines! (Yes, there are links below.)

Why did we hold an event in Goldfield?

Earlier this month, the Libertarian Party of Nevada hosted an event in Goldfield, the capital of Esmeralda County. Most people in Nevada, if they know of Goldfield at all, know of it as a speed trap with old, seemingly decrepit buildings between Reno and Las Vegas, where the road suddenly makes a sharp 90-degree turn and the speed limit drops to 25. Then you make the turn, go a little further, the speed limit goes back up to 70, and you continue on your way. 

So, why did the Libertarian Party of Nevada host an event in Goldfield, anyway? There are no gas stations there, though, if you ask the Esmeralda County Sheriff's Office nicely for a couple gallons, they'll help you out for a modest fee. There's only one restaurant - the Dinky Diner - though it's actually pretty good, believe it or not (try the Texas Benedict). There's only one hotel that's still open - the Santa Fe Motel & Saloon, all eight rooms of it - and a rather notorious hotel that's not. According to the US Census, less than 300 people live in Goldfield. What gives?

The Libertarian Party of Nevada supports a market based solution to energy production, diversification and innovation. The Libertarian Party of Nevada is part of Team Solar and we join the fight with other groups such as Sunrun, Go Solar, Nevada Solar Owners Association, REPOWER by Solar Universe, Radiant Solar, Scott Lafata for Nevada, Conservatives for Energy Freedom and The Alliance for Solar Choice.

It’s still fashionable in America to celebrate the birthday of the Reverend, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  It’s a wonderful thing that the Civil Rights Movement is still taught in schools, but quite terrible how the statist agenda behind the curriculum has re-written the history books to portray the federal government as the ultimate savior and champion of civil rights.

In celebration of the historic event of welcoming Assemblyman John Moore to the Libertarian Party of Nevada and the addition of fantastic celebrity candidates coming on board, the Party held a Celebrity Candidate Meet and Greet at the Foundation Room. The event took place on Friday, January 8, 2016 at 8:00pm.

The Libertarian Party of Nevada made history last Friday with several major announcements.  At a press conference hosted in the Libertarian Party’s Las Vegas office, Nevada Chairman Brett Pojunis announced a new Libertarian in the state legislature: Assemblyman John Moore, representing District 8, officially changed his party affiliation to the Libertarian Party.  Moore is the first Libertarian in state office since New Hampshire in the 1990s.

The Nevada Utilities Commission is not only a corrupt organization serving interests, but it is also robbing regular Nevada citizens of both their liberties to choose clean energy as well as the jobs of workers presenting alternative options outside of the monopoly.

The Libertarian Party of Nevada made history last Friday with several major announcements.  At a press conference hosted in the Libertarian Party’s Las Vegas office, Nevada Chairman Brett Pojunis announced a new Libertarian in the state legislature: Assemblyman John Moore, representing District 8, officially changed his party affiliation to the Libertarian Party.  Moore is the first Libertarian in state office since New Hampshire in the 1990s.

Whose rights are the protesters representing, exactly?

Over the weekend, the Bundy family and up to 100 supporters occupied the headquarters of the Malheur Wildlife Refuge. This followed the resentencing of Steven and Dwight Hammond, who were found guilty of violating the Antiterrorism and Effective Death Penalty Act of 1996. How the resentencing happened and why, from a legal standpoint, is explained quite well in this Popehat Lawsplainer - long story short, they were convicted of violating 18 U.S.C. § 844(f)(1), which has a mandatory minimum sentence of five years:

Whoever maliciously damages or destroys, or attempts to damage or destroy, by means of fire or an explosive, any building, vehicle, or other personal or real property in whole or in part owned or possessed by, or leased to, the United States, or any department or agency thereof, or any institution or organization receiving Federal financial assistance, shall be imprisoned for not less than 5 years and not more than 20 years, fined under this title, or both.

Whether arson actually occurred, meanwhile, is also an open question. A rather detailed, if one-sided, description of the events sympathetic to the Hammonds from TheConservativeTreeHouse.com has been making the rounds and paints a picture of an oft-persecuted family performing a series of routine controlled burns that performed according to expectations but were used to manufacture insurmountable legal pressure on the Hammond family - pressure which the family ultimately succumbed to out of expediency in exchange for a plea bargain. The prosecution's side, meanwhile - as summed up by this Burns Times-Herald article - is that Steven and Dwight Hammond set a fire to cover up poaching activities and also started a controlled burn in violation of a BLM-issued Do Not Burn order that inadvertently burned public land, both of which were found by a jury to be acts of arson. A roundup of both accounts, along with a copy of the original sentencing court's opinions, can be found here.

Every political movement is a coalition of coalitions - even ours.

With the announcement at the beginning of the year of the birth of the Libertarian Skeptics Network, the number of caucuses organized around influencing the Libertarian Party continues to grow. This is good - the more groups of people choosing to work together to grow the Libertarian Party, the better, and the Libertarian Party of Nevada is proud to have two of its members - Andrew Lea, the Youth Director of the Libertarian Party of Nevada, and Jason Weinman, our Outreach Director - serving on its board. 

7 Dates you NEED to know for 2016

Check out our exciting new newsletter, hot off the presses!

Libertarians have seen this sort of thing before.

I was at a gas station a couple days ago when I overheard the clerk talking with a customer about the last GOP debate. What caught my attention was that he was the first person I met that openly expressed support for Trump - most conservatives I've talked to can't stand the guy (he's not conservative enough for them), and most Libertarians are doing their level-best to contrast themselves from his xenophobia - so I naturally wanted to know more. Why, of all the candidates on that stage, did the gas station clerk favor Trump?

"He's genuine. He speaks his mind."

Money by Pictures of Money is licensed CC BY 2.0.

The Libertarian Party has been an outspoken opponent of the minimum wage since its inception. However, in much the same way Republicans were telling us in 2012 that we need to focus less on marriage equality and drug decriminalization, Democrats are telling us that a higher minimum wage is politically popular and we need to just go along with it. After examining the evidence, I agree. In fact, I think current Democrat-sponsored plans to raise the minimum wage to $15/hour don't go far enough, and here's why:

Gun Club by Peretz Partensky is licensed CC BY 2.0.

Not anymore - and why that's okay.

Ever since the San Bernardino massacre, the never ending national conversation surrounding gun rights has reasserted itself once more. The usual cast and characters have adopted their usual positions - either everybody needs to be armed or nobody should be armed - and, past that, the only people profiting from all of this are monomaniacal journalists focused exclusively on the scoop and the new media outlets that cover them. It's a tired, old conversation, one that will never get anywhere since neither side trusts the other and the courts have already decided anyway, so let's talk about something much more interesting:

Please click on the image to view the newsletter or visit this link. 

Cicero, one of the most influential philosophers during the age of Rome, famously stated that the more laws that are passed, the less one should expect to see justice manifest. Today's tragedy in California does nothing than solidify Cicero's warning to the modern Rome of the world centuries later. 

In every major generation, it's common for phrases to manifest that sum up he feelings of those who live through the events of their time. During the time of America's revolutionary period, Patrick Henry summed up the thoughts of a population who wanted liberation from tyranny with the well-known phrase, "Give me liberty of give me death!". During the 60s, when the counter-culture movement started to manifest against the unfettered conformity of our society and the bloodshed of Vietnam, "Make love, not war!" became a staple philosophy of the youth of that decade. Fast-forward now, to 2015, and a new phrase has emerged that perfectly sums up one of the biggest, most telling signs of the generation that currently inhabits this country: "I've been triggered!".