THE LIBERATOR ONLINE

February 24, 2000
Vol. 5, No. 4
Circulation: 35,983 in 85 countries

Mailing list of the Advocates for Self-Government.
Created and edited by Paul Schmidt, mailto:paul@self-gov.org
Co-edited by James W. Harris, mailto:james@self-gov.org

If you wish to subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your address for
receiving the Liberator OnLine, visit:
http://www.self-gov.org/liberator/maintain.html

The Advocates for Self-Government is a non-profit educational
organization. Our purpose is to present the freedom philosophy
honestly and persuasively to opinion-makers so that they can
encounter, evaluate, and when ready, embrace the ideals of
self-government.

Contributions are tax deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS
code. If you would like to support the Advocates, we *welcome* your
donation. To support the Advocates' work, see
http://www.self-gov.org/donate.html -- or give us a call at
1-800-932-1776.


"The Advocates has provided me with many of the tools I use to be
effective as a presenter of liberty in my area, and I am most
grateful. If people would get the Advocates materials and study
them for a while, they can do it. I am so confident in the
information you provide that I don't have to worry about how I
answer people's questions about libertarianism any more, and to
tell you the truth, I'm having more fun than a litter of kittens in
a yarn factory. The Advocates is a blessing to liberty."

-- Dr. Richard E. Pearl, Sr., Chair, Libertarian Party of
Rutherford County, Tennessee


CONTENTS

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES

GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS

* Dixie Carter A Libertarian?
* US Becomes History's Biggest Jailer
* Meet One of the Two Million

ON THE WEB

* Editor's Choice: FederalSubsidies.com

ASK DR. RUWART

* Government Licensing: Convincing Others It Doesn't Work
* Three Answers to One Question About Pollution
* When Will Americans Stand Up For Their Freedom?

PERSUASION POWER POINT

* When to Take Yourself Out of the Game
by Michael Cloud

PRODUCT REVIEW

* "Conceived in Liberty" Volumes 1-4, by Murray N. Rothbard.

+--------------------PAID ADVERTISEMENT--------------------+
Looking for a site that addresses the needs & concerns of:
Conservatives, libertarians, those concerned about high
taxes, people who regularly attend religious services, or
just plain "Americans"? Then you need to visit Richard A.
Viguerie's new portal site, ConservativeHQ.com - Your
Conservative HeadQuarters on the Web! CLICK HERE:
http://www.ConservativeHQ.com/

<a href="http://www.ConservativeHQ.com/">AOL Users Click Here</a>
+----------------------------------------------------------+

PRESIDENT'S CORNER

Dear friends,

Here's a thought-provoking little piece a reader sent in. Like so many
similar gems, the author is the ever-prolific "anonymous."

Enjoy.

* * *

If Jesus were to do His same ministry on earth today, He would be
wanted by...

* the FDA and the BATF for turning water into wine without a
license;
* the EPA for killing fig trees;
* the AMA for practicing medicine without a license;
* the Health Department for asking people to open graves, for
raising the dead and for feeding 5,000 people in the wilderness;
* the NEA for teaching without a certificate;
* OSHA for walking on water without a life-jacket;
* the FAA for flying without an airplane;
* the National Board of Psychiatrists for giving advice on how to
live a guilt-free life;
* the IRS for not rendering unto Caesar that which isn't Caesar's;
* the EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission) for not
choosing a woman apostle;
* and the Zoning Department for building mansions without a permit.

* * *

Last issue we discussed the impending sentencing of libertarian writer
and medical marijuana freedom fighter Peter McWilliams. And we printed
McWilliams' request that people write a short note or email to his
sentencing judge, asking that McWilliams not be sentenced to prison,
but instead be allowed to serve his sentence under at-home detention,
where he can continue the treatments for his AIDS and cancer that
would be impossible under prison conditions.

Thanks to all of you who answered McWilliams' request by writing
letters.

We've just learned that the deadline for accepting emails and letters
has been extended from February 20 to April 1. So if you wanted to
write, but thought the deadline had passed, there's still time. It can
be as short a single sentence.

McWilliams has posted instructions on how your letter, email, or fax
should be written, and where it should be sent. *It is important you
follow these instructions.* You can find them - along with an email
link to make sending it as simple and easy as possible -- at:

http://www.petertrial.com/letters.htm

* * *

Thank you for reading the Liberator Online.

Sharon Harris, President
mailto:sharon@self-gov.org

PS: In the 1970s Murray Rothbard - arguably this century's most
influential libertarian thinker - wrote a wonderful 4-volume history
of America from the Colonial period through the Revolutionary War. The
set was nothing short of a masterpiece - shedding libertarian light on
many overlooked aspects of the early days of America's founding.

At last it is back in print - all 1,668 pages! Rothbard is a brilliant
writer and a delight to read, and this is a treasure. It's our Product
Review special this issue - and we're giving away a copy of Henry
Hazlitt's classic "Economics In One Lesson" FREE with every order. And
FREE shipping, to boot!

Check out the reviews - this is truly a treasure. As Jim Powell of
Laissez Faire Books says, "These volumes will probably give you more
pleasure than anything else written about American history. They are
just delightful. Highly recommended!"


WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES

* Quiz in magazine: We've just learned that an excellent article by
Brian Irving appeared in the September 15-28 issue of Up & Coming, a
North Carolina bi-weekly magazine. The article discussed the World's
Smallest Political Quiz, and included a reprint of the Quiz. A sample
from the article: "Many political scientists and colleges are now
using this multi-dimensional chart because it provides a more accurate
and realistic measure of political belief than the liberal vs.
conservative linear spectrum." We encourage the use of the Quiz in
articles, and we have camera-ready copies newspapers and magazines can
use. Contact us for more information.

* March 18, Atlanta: Advocates President Sharon Harris and Advocates
Board Chair Carole Ann Rand will be speaking at the Libertarian Party
of Georgia's annual convention. Topics they'll be discussing include
persuasive libertarian communication tips, tools, and techniques. Also
speaking: Harry Browne, Michael Cloud, Bill Winter, and others. Where:
Four Point Sheraton, Atlanta. To learn more, email:
lpga@mindspring.com.

* March 4, Cincinnati: "Proven Tools For Libertarian Activists." Dr.
Ken Bisson will speak on this topic at the Southwest Ohio Libertarian
Party's quarterly educational/social gathering. Among other things,
Ken will discuss Advocates tools like the World's Smallest Political
Quiz, Operation Politically Homeless, and the Ransberger Pivot. Ken, a
practicing physician, is a founding member of the Advocates and a
former Advocates Chairman of the Board, and he has a long and
distinguished career in the LP as well -- he's currently LP Region 3
National Committee Representative. Ken has given this presentation at
numerous gatherings across the country, including the recent Advocates
15th Anniversary Conference, and it has drawn a lot of praise. For
more information on this event, email srschult@iac.net. RSVP is
requested. This evening event is open only to LP members and their
families. Memberships at the door will be available. (Don't live near
Ohio? You can order a tape of Ken delivering this excellent speech at
the Advocates 15th Anniversary Convention. Click here for info:
http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/adv15.html.)

ONGOING ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES

* Free "Libertarian Clips": "Libertarian Clips" is a daily (or weekly,
if you prefer) clipping service that brings you news stories from
around the world that use the words "libertarian" or "libertarianism."
See what libertarians are doing, and see how the media is using those
words. It's FREE, and subscribing is a snap. Just click here:
http://www.self-gov.org/clips/

* Communication Bargain of the Century: You can get the great 3-tape
audio course "The Essence of Political Persuasion" from us at the
*give-away* price of only $7.50 - that price includes handling and,
now, First Class mail so you'll get it right away! Libertarian Party
Political Director Ron Crickenberger says this Advocates offer is
"...the greatest gift the libertarian movement has received in years."
Thanks to "Persuasion" creator Michael Cloud for making this offer
possible.

To order, see: http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/persuasion.html

This is a secure site, so you can order via credit card with
confidence. You can also call us or mail $7.50 to the Advocates. Our
phone number and address are at the end of this issue.

* Year 2000 Lights of Liberty Awards: You can win certificates, public
recognition, prizes and more for your vital activism for liberty.
Awards are given for: 3 libertarian letters to the editor; 3 sessions
working at an OPH booth; OR 3 libertarian-oriented public speeches.
Click here http://www.self-gov.org/lights/ to learn more.

* Now Available: Audio and video tapes of the entire Advocates 15th
Anniversary Celebration. You can buy individual tapes, or get the
whole set at a special low price. This event, held September 24-26,
featured top libertarian leaders and some of the very finest
libertarian speakers at their very best. In alphabetical order: David
Bergland, Ken Bisson, Walter Block, Harry Browne, Doug Casey, Michael
Cloud, Marshall Fritz, Sharon Harris, Karl Hess Jr., Jacob Hornberger,
Vince Miller, Charles Murray, David Nolan, Congressman Ron Paul,
Carole Ann Rand, and Mary Ruwart. Click here
http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/adv15.html for a complete list of
speakers, topics, and prices.


GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS

by James W. Harris

Dixie Carter A Libertarian?

Dixie Carter, star of television hit comedies "Designing Woman" and
"Family Law," identified herself as a libertarian (and a militia
member?!?) on the TV show "Politically Incorrect," February 8, 2000.

Carter's declaration was, admittedly, a rather cryptic one, and it
wasn't pursued further. It came during a discussion with host Bill
Maher about a disease prevention program in Philadelphia that
distributes informational pamphlets to prostitutes. Here's a
transcript, edited for space:

Dixie Carter: "this will make all my friends in Tennessee mad at me if
they hear this. ButWe should be talking about, should we legalize
prostitution and legalize drugs. I mean, we've lost the drug war. And
probably we've lost the war against prostitution because it continues
to go on.

Bill Maher: But why shouldn't prostitution be legal?... My answer is
yes. I'm a libertarian.

Dixie Carter: I'm a libertarian, too, but --

Bill Maher: No, you're not. Oh, you are not a libertarian.

Dixie Carter: I'm also a militiaman, so watch out.

Bill Maher: A militia-MAN?

(Source: transcript of "Politically Incorrect" for February 8, 2000)

US Becomes History's Biggest Jailer

The US reached a ghastly milestone on February 15, according to the
Justice Policy Institute, a nonprofit research group that advocates
alternatives to incarceration..

On that date, the US prison and jail population reached a record 2
million persons.

More than half of those imprisoned are nonviolent offenders. And the
largest single category of prisoners are drug law violators.

The US comprises 5% of the world's population, yet has fully 25% of
the world's prisoners. According to the November Coalition, a drug law
reform group, the US has a higher proportion of its citizens in jail
than any other country -- in all of history.

The Libertarian Party, in a media release, pointed out the following:
* In 1970, fewer than 200,000 Americans were behind bars. By
contrast, in the 1990s alone, 840,000 Americans were sent to
prison.
* Over the past two decades, one new jail or prison has been built
in America every week.
* Violent crime has dropped by 21% since 1993 -- but the number of
Americans being incarcerated has grown by 5%-6% each year since
then.
* Less than a third of the people sentenced to jail each year have
been convicted of a violent crime, and at least 400,000 inmates
are serving time for non-violent drug offenses alone.
* By one estimate, as many as 750,000 people are in jail for
victimless crimes -- like gambling, violating censorship laws, not
wearing a seatbelt, or consensual sex.
* The cost of keeping 2 million prisoners behind bars is $40 billion
a year -- or about $20,000 for every man, woman, and teenager
serving time.
* 30% of all African-American males will be sent to prison at some
point during their lives. A major reason for this: While only 15%
of all drug users are black, 74% of the people in prison for drug
crimes are black, according to government statistics.

As a result of the Drug War, prison has become one of America's
biggest businesses. The multi-billion dollar prison industry employs
more than 523,000 people, making it the US's single biggest employer
after General Motors. Some 5% of the population growth in rural areas
between 1980 and 1990 was due to prisoners being moved into new rural
jails.

(Sources: The Guardian [UK newspaper]; November Coalition; Justice
Policy Institute; Libertarian Party media release)

Meet One of the Two Million

In the story above we pointed out that the U.S. jail and prison
population has reached a record 2 million. Now meet one of the new
breed of prisoner.

On Thursday February 17, Louis E. Covar of Richmond County, Georgia
began a seven-year prison sentence. His crime: smoking marijuana.

Covar, age 51, is a quadriplegic. He broke his neck July 4, 1967. He
has been in a wheelchair since. He is unable to do more than raise his
shoulders.

He suffers from severe and painful muscle spasms. Doctors have
prescribed many different drugs to help him control the spasms and
ease the pain, but Covar says prescription narcotics cloud his mind
and disorient him.

Like many other paraplegics and quadriplegics, he discovered that
marijuana effectively relieved the pain and spasms and left his mind
clear.

In March 1999, Covar was given seven years of probation for a felony
offense of marijuana possession. At that time his judge, after hearing
Covar's plea for the use of marijuana as medicine, told Covar: "I'm
not telling you to violate the law, but keep it to yourself. Don't get
others involved."

"I was keeping it to myself," Covar insisted after his latest arrest.

That arrest came on January 25, 2000 when six armed Richmond County
officers entered Covar's home and found 36 grams of marijuana. The
police obtained their search warrant based on "anonymous tips" on a
telephone drug hotline. Police claim that, prior to the raid, they
stopped and searched people leaving Covar's home and found marijuana.
However, in court they couldn't answer questions about how many had
been stopped or what their names were. Nor was anyone charged with
drug offenses after the alleged stops.

The same judge who had urged Covar to "keep it to yourself" revoked
Covar's probation, and Covar was ordered to jail to begin serving a
seven-year sentence.

Does everyone feel safer knowing that this dangerous criminal is at
last behind bars?

(Source: The Augusta [Georgia] Chronicle)

"The More Prohibitions..."

"The more prohibitions there are, the poorer the people will be.
The more laws are promulgated, the more thieves and bandits there
will be."

-- Lao-tzu, "The Tao Te Ching" (believed written in China, 6th
century BC).


ON THE WEB

Editor's Choice: FederalSubsidies.com

This site, http://www.FederalSubsidies.com, gives a brief look at how
Federal Subsidies have grown. The authors of this site have
personified this "monster" in a creative way:

This rather ominous looking creature is the federal subsidy beast.
It emerged in the early 1930s from a highly respected Washington,
DC institution that had been conducting controlled experiments with
subsidies for many years. Over the next few decades, it remained
quite small, well-behaved and became a pet at the institution.

But beginning in the1960s, it was put on a strict high-fat diet,
and in the 1970s, steroids as well. The beast grew enormous and its
appetite become insatiable. By the 1980s, the keepers of the
institution realized that they had lost control of the beast. The
keepers were now the kept, and the institution was now the temple
of the imperial beast. Still growing larger and more powerful each
year, by its hundredth birthday it will have consumed the remains
of a once great democracy. These pages tell a little of its story.

Contents of this site are excerpted from the book "The Federal Subsidy
Beast".


ASK DR. RUWART

How can you answer difficult questions about libertarianism -- in
short, positive, persuasive soundbite-sized responses? It's a
challenge every libertarian communicator faces.

Dr. Mary Ruwart is a leading expert in libertarian communication and
author of the international bestseller "Healing Our World." Her new
book is "Short Answers to the Tough Questions." In this column she
provides Liberator Online readers with "Short Answers to the Tough
Questions" that libertarians are frequently asked.

If you'd like Dr. Ruwart to provide effective answers for YOUR "tough
questions" on libertarian issues, just email the questions to her at:
mailto:ruwart@self-gov.org. *Due to volume, Dr. Ruwart can't
personally answer or acknowledge all email queries.* But we'll run the
best questions -- and Dr. Ruwart's answers -- in upcoming issues.

Extra Tip: Dr. Ruwart suggests that answers are often best preceded by
a "Ransberger Pivot" statement, to establish common ground with the
questioner. (Example: "Like you, I too want to live in a world where
the environment is clean... Like you, I too want to see greater
abundance for all people...") For more on the Ransberger Pivot
communication technique, see previous issues, or contact the
Advocates.

Dr. Ruwart's past answers are archived in searchable form at the
http://www.self-gov.org/ruwart/

Short Answers to the Tough Questions:

by Dr. Mary Ruwart

* * *

Government Licensing: Convincing Others It Doesn't Work

Question:

"How do I convince my fellow health care professionals (who are often
social democrats) and other citizens that government-mandated
licensure will prove ineffective and costly?"

My short answer:

"Licensing enthrones today's practices and drives cost upward, while
creating barriers for tomorrow's breakthroughs. When we or our loved
ones need cutting-edge professional help, licensing regulations may
force us to go underground, go overseas, or do without. Studies show
that we can improve the quality of care while keeping costs down by
turning to a system of certification instead of licensure.
Certification gives the patient the ultimate choice of a health care
provider; licensure lets bureaucrats decide. Who do you want in charge
of YOUR health?"

In Chapter 5, "Harming Our Health" in my book, "Healing Our World," I
detail how licensing harms both the public and the professionals
(specifically MDs). If you're going to get into a lengthy debate, you
might want to check this out.

* * *

Three Answers to One Question About Pollution

Question:

"As a libertarian I am often asked a question along the following
lines:

'If business is not regulated, won't the environment will be
destroyed?'

"How can I answer that question quickly and effectively?"

My short answer(s):

Since there are several ways to address your question, I'll give you
more than one answer. These answers are best preceded by a "Ransberger
Pivot" statement such as "I too want to live in a world where the
environment is clean" if the questioner is hostile.

Answer #1: "Our greatest polluter is the US Military, not corporate
America. Putting government in charge of protecting the environment is
like asking the fox to guard the hen house. The most polluted
countries in the world are those where government has total control of
the environment, such as Eastern Europe. Government is just as
dangerous to our environment as it is to the wealth of our nation --
it is the proverbial wolf in sheep's clothing."

Answer #2: "If your neighbor dumps garbage on your lawn, he or she
should clean it up and compensate you for any damages. Similarly, if a
business or government agency causes harm, they should make it right
again. Today, restitution rarely happens. Businesses pay fines to the
government, not to the victim; government polluters simply claim
sovereign immunity and walk away. Regulation isn't working -- we need
to replace it with restitution."

Answer #3: "Government's duty is to protect our persons and our
property from those who would harm us. Regulation is an attempt to
prevent harm, but it's extremely costly. Although most businesses must
obey the regulations, government agencies do not, making regulation
inefficient. If government focused on making ALL polluters right their
wrongs, businesses, individuals, and public officials would make
cost-effective behavioral changes. We'd get more environmental
protection for less!"

Final note: One of the things that confuses some libertarians is that
one of the functions of a limited government is to protect property
rights via restitution. Regulation does more harm than good by
shifting resources away from victims and towards policing. Arguing
that restitution, as both a preventive and curative, should be
substituted for regulation is generally more reassuring to people than
just saying that government has no role - and it is accurate from a
libertarian standpoint of government limited to protection of people
and property. Hope this helps!

* * *

When Will Americans Stand Up For Their Freedom?

Question:

"Like most Americans, I do not believe our government has any right to
invade 100% of our digital communications, but through the
digital/computer telephony laws and new bills they are trying to pass
they are doing just that. Why not just have them open every piece of
mail we receive - it would be exactly the same intrusion into our
private lives. In fact if they are so darn curious why not have
government monitoring in every home, office and business? I see that
as the future if we, as a supposed free society, keep letting
government agencies get away with what they are getting away. My
question is: When are we as Americans going to start fighting the
fascist government that we are letting be created around us without
the majority of the population even knowing it? What is your advise to
our people?"

My short answer:

"Your question contains the answer: we are creating 'the fascist
government' because we know not what we do. The solution, therefore,
is to educate those around us who don't understand that in trying to
control others (through government), we find ourselves controlled.

"The truth will literally set us free. When we discover that our
actions and attitudes empower aggressive government, we'll simply
change our behavior, thereby disempowering the aggressors.

"Many people look up to government as sort of a super-parent and
resist the truth, just as abused children have difficulty admitting
that their parents are harmful to their health. Such children are
healed by caring others who gently lead them to the truth. For best
results, our attitude should likewise be supportive, not judgmental or
abrasive.

"Sometimes our task seems overwhelming. When it does, remember the
words of American anthropologist Margaret Mead: 'Never doubt that a
small group of committed, thoughtful citizens can change the world.
Indeed, it's the only thing that ever has.'"

* * *

Dr. Ruwart's book "Healing Our World" features persuasive arguments
for liberty, backed with *over 500 references* showing how liberty
works. You can browse the entire book online at:
http://www.netbooks.com/catalog/ruwart/index.html

You can order it at a special reduced price of only $12.95 (plus
shipping) from the Advocates. Check out our online catalog at:
http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/opp.html

Dr. Ruwart's newest book is "Short Answers to the Tough Questions,"
also available from the Advocates for $12.00 (plus shipping).


PERSUASION POWER POINT #86

When to Take Yourself Out of the Game

by Michael Cloud

Three weeks in a pressure cooker.

I wrote, re-wrote, and repeatedly rehearsed a new speech for the
Libertarian Party of California State Convention: "VICE, SIN,
DEPRAVITY, and CORRUPTION...and how our Libertarian Approach will
Dramatically Reduce Them."

I produced a national mailer for the Carla Howell, "small government
is beautiful", Libertarian US Senate Campaign against Massachusetts
Senator Ted Kennedy. Then I created a full-page advertisement and 3
teaser ads for Libertarian Party News.

I did research and made notes for a fund-raising mailer for a national
gun rights group.

I beat a snowstorm out of Boston's Logan airport to fly to San
Francisco, then San Diego, where I was a featured speaker at the
Libertarian State Convention in California.

I spent the next 10 hours in the air and in airports...to get to San
Diego.

After arriving, I worked a day and a half with a Hollywood movie
producer and 3 Harry Browne for President campaign workers to set up
the National Libertarian Premiere of the Harry Browne for President 30
Minute Campaign Video.

I delivered my speech to an enthusiastic crowd.

Then I began meeting with over 100 different libertarian activists.

I was stressed. Strained. Fatigued and frustrated.

I met a number of libertarians who subscribe to the Liberator On-Line.
Libertarians who bought my "Essence of Political Persuasion" tapes
from Advocates.

The libertarians I met were terrific.

But I wasn't. I was worn out.

I was short-tempered. Hair-triggered.

After 15 minutes of trying to find energy I didn't have -- and
patience that was missing in action -- I came clean with myself. I
admitted that I needed a time out.

I went to my room and slept for a few hours. Then I worked out.

I was re-born. And able to be the best "Michael Cloud" I could be with
250 California libertarians.

Have you ever come up empty? Run out of gas?

Alcoholics Anonymous has an acronym for it: HALT. Hungry. Angry.
Lonely. Tired.

When you're HALTed, you can't move forward.

Take a nap. Briskly exercise...and sweat out the tension. Eat light
and natural. Cuddle with your sweetie. Connect with your trusted
friends.

Vince Lombardi said, "Fatigue makes cowards of us all."

True.

But when we're hungry, angry, lonely, and tired...we act like fools.

Especially with those we love most.

Sometimes our problem isn't Persuasion Skills. It's frustration and
fatigue.

When you're hungry, angry, lonely, and tired...when you're NOT at your
best physically, emotionally, or mentally...take yourself out of the
game.

Recharge and refresh.

You'll win more often. And so will those you encounter.



Michael Cloud is the author of "The Art of Libertarian Persuasion."
It's being published by LiamWorks this year. Libertarian State Chairs
voted him "the best speaker in the Libertarian Party." They call his
speeches "electrifying" and "unforgettable." Michael Cloud is the
creator of "The Essence of Political Persuasion."

"The Essence of Political Persuasion," a widely-acclaimed 3-tape
communication course, is available from the Advocates at the give-away
price of only $7.50 postpaid; see "What's Happening" in this issue.


PRODUCT REVIEW:

"These volumes will probably give you more pleasure than anything
else written about American history. They are just delightful.
Highly recommended!" - Jim Powell.

Murray Rothbard's History Masterpiece Back In Print At Last!!!

Plus: FREE copy of Henry Hazlitt's classic "Economics In One Lesson"
with every order!

"Conceived in Liberty" Volumes 1-4, by Murray N. Rothbard. New edition,
hardback, 1668 pages.

*** Review from the Mises Institute:

For anyone who thinks of Murray Rothbard as only an economic theorist
or political thinker, these four spectacular volumes are nothing short
of shocking. They offer a complete history of the Colonial period of
American history through the Revolutionary War, a period lost to
students today, who are led to believe American history begins with
the US Constitution.

Rothbard's ambition was to shed new light on Colonial history and show
that the struggle for human liberty was the heart and soul of this
land from its discovery through the culminating event of the American
Revolution.

These volumes are a tour de force, enough to establish Rothbard as one
of the great American historians.

Although a detailed narrative history of the struggle between liberty
and power, Rothbard offers a third alternative to the conventional
interpretive devices. Against those on the right who see the American
Revolution as a "conservative" event, and those on the left who want
to invoke it as some sort of proto-socialist uprising, Rothbard views
this period as a time of accelerating libertarian radicalism. Through
this prism, Rothbard illuminates events as never before.

The volumes were brought out in the 1970s, but the odd timing and
uneven distribution prevented any kind of large audience. They were
beloved only by a few specialists, and sought after by many thanks to
their outstanding reputation. At last the Mises Institute has made
them available again.

* Volume One covers the discovery of the Americas and the colonies
in the 17th century (531 pages, including index).
* Volume Two covers the period of "salutary neglect" in the first
half of the 18th century (294 pages, including index).
* Volume Three covers the advance to revolution, from 1760-1775 (373
pages, including index).
* Volume Four covers the political, military, and ideological
history of the revolution and after (470 pages, including index).

This is a total of 1668 pages, at a very low price for hardbound
volumes of outstanding quality.

*** From a review from Laissez-Faire Books:

Although thousands of books have been written about early America,
nobody else has provided as lively an account about the development of
American liberty. These volumes, originally published in the 1970s,
have been long out of print and hard to find. We owe the Mises
Institute much gratitude for making them available again.

Many hardships experienced in colonial America, Rothbard shows, were
due to common property and government interference. He explains the
failure of price controls and the failure of government efforts to
subsidize fishing. He tells how taxes and restrictions crippled
business enterprise. He exposes government officials who seized the
property of peaceful people and tried to conquer other colonies.

Rothbard exults in chronicling the exploits of libertarian heroes and
heroines like Roger William (in his early years), Anne Hutchinson,
Samuel Adams, and Thomas Paine. Rothbard hails courageous slaves who
revolted and escaped from their masters. He tells how commerce
promoted tolerance. He gleefully reports how independent-minded
colonists educated themselves without government schools and he notes,
'The colonists were evidently content in their anarchism.'"

Rothbard shares vital insights, often served with a memorable phrase.
Talking about how private companies promoted settlement in America, he
writes that 'the cleansing acid of profits was to dissolve incipient
feudalism and land monopoly.'"

These volumes will probably give you more pleasure than anything else
written about American history. They are just delightful. Highly
recommended!

* * *

ORDER NOW AND GET FREE SHIPPING AND TWO FREE GIFTS!

This set of four outstanding quality hardback books is a total of 1668
pages of wonderful reading. You can get the entire set for only $100 -
and NO SHIPPING CHARGE!

PLUS...

We'll also send you a quality paperback 50th Anniversary Edition of
Henry Hazlitt's classic book "Economics in One Lesson." Hailed as the
best single introduction to free market economics ever written. A
delight to read (H.L. Mencken called Hazlitt "one of the few
economists in human history who could really write"), and perfect for
beginning or seasoned libertarians. Nobel Prize-winning libertarian
economist F. A. Hayek said: "Brilliant I know of no other modern book
from which the intelligent layman can learn so much about the basic
truths of economics in so short a time." This handsome $9.95 book is
yours FREE with your order of "Conceived in Liberty."

AND ANOTHER FREE BONUS GIFT: Bridge To Freedom: The Newsletter of
Volitional Science. Edited by Peter N. Sisco. Andrew J. Galambos is
associated with the idea of "primary property." The Professor (as he
was known) taught hundreds of students in the 1960s and 1970s at his
private seminars on what he called Volitional Science. His work had
quite an impact on libertarian ideas as a result of these seminars.
This newsletter is dedicated to keeping the ideas of Galambos alive. A
copy is yours FREE with your order. (If we run out of copies of this
newsletter, we'll substitute a gift of equivalent value.)

HOW TO ORDER

To get "Conceived In Liberty" AND "Economics in One Lesson" AND your
free newsletter, choose one of the following:

To order on the Web, via credit card, simply click here:

http://www.lfb.org/mr8124.cfm?AssociateID=SG

This will take you to a site at the Laissez Faire Books online
catalog. Laissez Faire Books is the world's largest seller of books on
liberty, and we are pleased to be able to offer this book in
partnership with them.

(NOTE: We will ship your copy of "Economics In One Lesson" separately,
so it will not show on the order form at Laissez Faire Books. But you
will get it if you order "Conceived In Liberty" during this special
offer.)

Fast shipping - most orders sent within 24 hours of receipt. And FREE
shipping on orders of $100 or more.

While placing your order for "Conceived In Liberty," be sure to browse
Laissez-Faire's wonderful selection of other essential libertarian
books.

The site is credit-card secure -- you can order with the same
confidence you'd feel at your local department store.

You can also, of course, place your order to the Advocates by phone,
mail or fax. Call us at 1-800-932-1776, or see below for further
contact information.

This offer is good through March 8, 2000.


See you in two weeks! You can contact the Advocates at:
Snail Mail:
Advocates for Self Government
1202 N. Tennessee St. Suite 202
Cartersville, GA 30120

Phone: 770-386-8372; for orders, 800-932-1776
Fax: 770-386-8373
Email: mailto:advocates@self-gov.org
WWW: http://www.self-gov.org/

If you wish to subscribe, unsubscribe, or change your address for
receiving the Liberator OnLine, visit:
http://www.self-gov.org/liberator/maintain.html

You can see back issues of the Liberator OnLine on the Advocates' web
site: http://www.self-gov.org/liberator/

"May it be to the world... to assume the blessings and security of
self-government." -- Thomas Jefferson

• Crazy Atheist Libertarian
• Government Snitch?????
• David Dorn
• Fat Blond Guy
• Crazy Atheist