THE LIBERATOR ONLINE
February 9, 2000
Vol. 5, No. 3
Circulation: 35,078 in 84 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
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honestly and persuasively to opinion-makers so that they can
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than the Advocates, who teach independent thinking coupled with
empathy and tolerance for others."
-- Tonie Nathan, first Libertarian Party vice-presidential
candidate (1972), and first woman in American history to receive an
electoral college vote.
CONTENTS
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
* Bill Clinton's State of the Union Dubbed "Promise-A-Thon"
* Welfare Recipients Receive Tax -Funded Psychic Training
* Minimum Wage Folly
ON THE WEB
* Editor's Choice: GoVote.com
ASK DR. RUWART
* Should Libertarians Force You To Pay Taxes?
* Traditional Values or Alternative Lifestyles?
* When Will Americans Stand Up For Their Freedom?
PERSUASION POWER POINT
* The Danger of The Big Truth
by Michael Cloud
PRODUCT REVIEW
* Ayn Rand by Tibor R. Machan
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PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Dear friends,
You may be able to help Peter McWilliams stay out of prison.
In past issues we've told the story of the persecution, arrest, and
kangaroo-court trial of Peter McWilliams - best-selling author,
libertarian, and medical marijuana freedom fighter.
Good news! Peter's health has improved dramatically. Though still
racked with nausea because he is denied medical marijuana, Peter has
learned to extend the time he can hold down his anti-cancer and
anti-AIDS medications before vomiting. This involves what he has
described as "four hours of agony each day agonizing, exhausting,
debilitating." (Details of his regimen are at his Web site, which I'll
mention below.) *But it is working.* As a result he's absorbing more
of the medications - and his AIDS viral load (the measure of active
AIDS virus in the body), which had soared to terribly dangerous
levels, has now dropped to undetectable levels.
His personal physician, as well as the foremost AIDS physician in
Southern California, are both writing strong letters to the judge
saying that he has medically proven that he can take care of his
illness at home using methods not available in federal prison. This is
an excellent argument for serving whatever term he is sentenced to
under home detention (also known as "electronic monitoring").
***Now here's how you can help Peter stay alive and out of prison:
Peter asks that you write a short note or email to his sentencing
judge, asking that Peter not be sentenced to prison, but instead be
allowed to serve his sentence at home.
Peter 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.
I urge you to consider doing this. Peter has risked his life and
health to make our world a freer place. He has also - in his
best-selling books like "You Can't Afford the Luxury of a Negative
Thought," "Life 101," "Do It!" and others -- brought joy, hope, and
inspiration to millions of people.
If you can take just a few moments to write a brief letter, fax, or
email, you may be able to help him avoid a terrible prison sentence -
and save his life.
The deadline for turning in letters of support is February 20, 2000.
His sentencing will be on March 27, 2000.
If you can take a moment to write even a single sentence, that will
help Peter McWilliams immensely.
http://www.petertrial.com/letters.htm
* * *
Thank you for reading the Liberator Online.
Sharon Harris, President
mailto:sharon@self-gov.org
PS: Like so many others, I was first introduced to the ideas of
liberty through the writings of Ayn Rand. (It's not just a coincidence
that I have a daughter named Dagny!) Rand is truly one of the towering
giants of liberty. Her influence on the libertarian movement is
profound. She is a seminal, remarkable, wide-ranging thinker whose
works offer endless stimulation.
There is a great new guide to Rand's thought, written by one of her
leading disciples, Tibor Machan. "Ayn Rand" is concise yet crammed
full of wonderful insights. It makes great reading both for those new
to Rand and those who are intimately familiar with her work.
We are pleased to be able to offer "Ayn Rand" for *fully 30% off cover
price.* Don't miss this issue's Product Review for details. Thank you!
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
* Advocates on C-SPAN: On Saturday, February 5, C-SPAN twice aired
"Exploding Myths about Open Borders," a wonderful speech by Jacob
Hornberger, President of the Future of Freedom Foundation. C-SPAN
recorded this speech at the Advocates' 15th Anniversary Celebration in
September. (If you missed it, or liked it so much you want a video or
audio copy for yourself, see a few items below this one for details on
how you can get a copy of this and the other great speeches by
libertarian leaders recorded at our 15th Anniversary Celebration.)
* 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
Bill Clinton's State of the Union Dubbed "Promise-A-Thon"
Bill Clinton proposed an average of $139 million *per second* during
his State of the Union address last week, estimates the Libertarian
Party.
"Every time you blinked, you'd miss another $139 million in new
federal spending." said Steve Dasbach, the party's national director.
Here are the Libertarian Party's calculations:
* Length of speech: 89 minutes
* Total proposed new/increased federal spending: $743 billion ($400
billion for Medicare, $343 billion for other programs)
* Proposed new spending per HOUR of speech: $495.3 billion
* Proposed new spending per MINUTE of speech: $8.3 billion
* Proposed new spending per SECOND of speech: $139 million
* Total proposed new/expanded federal programs: 101
* Number of federal programs Clinton promised to reduce or abolish:
0
* Number of positive social/economic trends Clinton took personal
credit for: 10 (job creation, economic growth, lower poverty
rates, federal surpluses, a "revival of the American spirit,"
reduced crime, fewer teen births, reduced welfare, helping
"parents succeed at work and at home," and increased
volunteering.)
* And number of times Clinton told the truth: 1 (His Freudian slip
that Al Gore had a plan to make communities more "liberal.")
"We're grateful that Clinton's State of the Union speech didn't last
longer," Dasbach said. "At $139 million a second, American taxpayers
couldn't afford it."
(Source: Libertarian Party media release)
Welfare Recipients Receive Tax -Funded Psychic Training
New York City officials have cancelled a controversial welfare-to-work
program that recruited unemployed women for jobs as telephone
psychics, after details of the program leaked out and generated
international ridicule.
For nine months, New York City welfare recipients had been hired as
telephone psychics by a company called "Psychic Network." Their job:
to give predictions, advice, and ministering to people calling the
company's psychic telephone hotline.
Calls to the psychic hotline cost $4.99 per minute.
For welfare recipients who weren't psychic, no problem: the Psychic
Network offered job training in Tarot card reading, predicting the
future, and guiding a caller's love life.
It didn't take any mystical abilities for Psychic Network to realize
there was significant money at stake. According to the New York Times,
any business that hires a welfare recipient for at least three months
can qualify for thousands of dollars in wage subsidies and state and
federal tax credits.
Psychic Network was one of 161 businesses participating in the
program, which was set up to connect companies in need of workers with
welfare recipients in need of jobs.
After a report by The New York Times, the city welfare department
cancelled the contract with Psychic Network.
The news service Reuters observed, "They should have seen it coming. "
(Sources: Reuters; New York Times)
Minimum Wage Folly
Congress is contemplating raising the minimum wage yet again, from
$5.15 to $6.15 - a step that even most proponents concede will destroy
numerous entry-level jobs.
Here's some recent commentary on that proposal.
From Doug Bandow, Senior Fellow at the Cato Institute:
"No serious economist doubts that the minimum wage destroys jobs.
The only question is how many. Economists Richard Burkhauser,
Kenneth Couch and David Wittenberg estimate that every 10 percent
increase in the minimum reduces employment by between 2 percent and
6 percent. They figure Congress' 1996 minimum wage hike cost
between 153,000 and 457,000 teens their jobs."
From Robert Rector, Senior Research Fellow at the Heritage Foundation
and a leading authorities on U.S. poverty statistics and the U.S.
welfare system:
"FACT: Increasing the minimum wage is not an effective way to
reduce poverty or change the distribution of income. The popular
belief that minimum wage workers are poor adults working full-time,
year round, and trying to raise a family is simply untrue. An
analysis of March 1999 Census Bureau data shows that:
* Of workers who would be affected by a minimum wage increase from
$5.15 to $6.15 per hour, over half are either teenagers or young
adults under 25; a third are enrolled in school; nearly
three-quarters are single; and only 7.4 percent are poor family
heads.
* The median family income of those who would be affected by a
minimum wage increase from $5.15 to $6.15 per hour is $33,000.
Nearly 60 percent have household incomes two or more times the
poverty level."
From Edward H. Crane, President and Founder of the Cato Institute:
"[T]he average income of minimum-wage workers increases by 30%
within one year of employment on the basis of learned skills. Which
is why any artificial barriers to learning those skills - which is
what the minimum wage is - represents a cruel hoax to the working
poor. Wage increases due to increased skill levels explain the
remarkable fact that only 2.8% of workers over the age of 30 are
receiving the minimum wage."
(Sources: Cato Institute; Heritage Foundation)
The Minimum Wage and Liberty
"If there is supposed to one country on Earth where the individual
enjoys the freedom to direct his own life, it is the United States.
What business is it of state or federal governments to dictate to a
worker the wage at which he will be allowed to work? If one
individual is willing to work at a wage of $4.00 per hour and
another individual is willing to hire this person at $4.00 per
hour, that is entirely and solely their business.
"It takes an appalling level of arrogance for a third party to come
in and threaten them at gunpoint (which is what minimum wage laws
ultimately boil down to) to prevent this mutually satisfactory and
voluntary arrangement."
-- economist Jim Cox, from "Minimum Wage, Maximum Damage: How the
Minimum Wage Law Destroys Jobs, Perpetuates Poverty, and Erodes
Freedom," forthcoming from the Advocates.
ON THE WEB
Editor's Choice: GoVote.com
GoVote.com has been featured in articles in the New York Times, U.S.
News and World Report and local media outlets nationwide. The company
also appears regularly in the sidebar of on-line articles addressing
political resources on the Net. Look for them in publications such as
the Christian Science Monitor, CBS TV Station WWMT 3, FoxNews and The
Guardian (London).
Located at http://www.govote.com, they provide an easy way for voters
to access non-partisan, accurate, timely political news and
information online. They offer "VoteMatch Presidential Selector," a
20-question quiz that returns a ranking of the presidential candidates
based on a voter's views.
GoVote.com provides:
* Voter registration
* Snapshots of daily political news coverage drawn from the top 30
U.S. sources
* Discussion forums on issues such as gun control and abortion
* A spotlight on the presidential candidates' background and policy
positions
And much more.
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
* * *
Should Libertarians Force You To Pay Taxes?
Question:
"I do not believe the libertarian state is minimal. I believe that
kids who grow up without an education are more likely to turn to a
life of crime, and I believe that public schools are cheaper than
public prisons. So, I do not support a libertarian state because I
believe it would waste my hard-earned tax money.
"You may disagree with my conclusion and I respect your right to
disagree. But, unless you can prove that your state is minimal, I do
not see how you could justify forcing me to pay taxes for your
government, as a libertarian state would do."
My short answer:
"A libertarian state wouldn't have any taxes at all. Like you, we see
taxation as forcing someone to give up their earnings for someone
else's programs. We believe taxation to be immoral and impractical;
the Libertarian Party's platform thoroughly denounces it. Without
taxes, how could a government be anything but minimal?"
Follow-up question:
"I think that when you take someone's tax money by force, you need to
listen to how that person wants their money to be spent. Why not let
individuals decide how their individual tax dollars are spent, instead
of coercing them into supporting a libertarian system they may
disagree with?"
My short answer:
"We have no disagreement with you! Libertarians believe that each
individual should spend their earnings as they see fit, which is why
libertarians don't support taxes of any kind."
* * *
Traditional Values or Alternative Lifestyles?
Question:
"Like most people, I want to live my life as I see fit, with
consideration of others' right to do so. My question is, do
libertarians esteem the traditional family and its supposed values
over alternative lifestyles? Will single people continue to be
discriminated against? Thank you for your time."
My short answer:
"Libertarians honor all lifestyles. People of one way of life should
not be sacrificed to others or ask that others be sacrificed to them.
One way that single people are discriminated against is through the
tax code. Since libertarians believe that taxation is immoral, this
form of discrimination would surely end!"
* * *
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 #85
The Danger of The Big Truth
by Michael Cloud
In MEIN KAMPF, Adolph Hitler wrote,
"...in the size of the lie there is a certain factor of credibility,
since the broad mass of the people will be more easily corrupted in
the depths of their hearts than they will be consciously and
intentionally evil. Consequently, with the primitive simplicity of
their feeling they fall victim more easily to a big lie than to a
small one, since they themselves occasionally lie in small matters but
they would be ashamed to tell great lies. Such a falsehood will not
enter their minds, and they will also not be able to imagine others
asserting the great boldness of the most infamous misrepresentation.
And even with the explanation of the matter, they long hesitate and
vacillate and accept at least some ground as true; consequently, from
the most bold lie something will remain..."
The Big Lie relied on the fundamental decency of its victims.
It also relied on the difficulty of checking and verifying and
communicating the truth.
Before the 1990's, this was pretty easy.
Government-sponsored Big Lies were common in closed societies. It's
easy with government-controlled printing, newspapers, radio stations,
and television stations.
Now we have the Internet. Websites. E-mail. Over 5,000 TV channels
available by satellite anywhere on the globe. Handcam videos. Cell
phones. Faxes. Photocopiers. Instant checking and verifying and
responding and communicating.
The Big Lie has a short life today.
Big Lies can be investigated and exposed and discredited and
demolished. Hyper-fast.
We are wary about Big Lies. We are resistant.
But that creates a New Problem for advocates of reason and liberty.
The Problem? The Big Truth.
A truth so big, so extensive, so mind-boggling that many people reject
and deny it:
Big Government doesn't work. Big Government programs don't work. Big
Government programs often make things worse for those they intend to
help. Big Government programs create new problems. Big Government
programs are wasteful and costly. Big Government programs divert money
and energy from productive and positive uses.
When we tell The Big Truth about Big Government, the average person
hears this: "Everything you believe about government is wrong."
How would most people react if we told them The Big Truth? Denial,
rejection, ridicule.
The Big Truth is too much to swallow.
It is too much to swallow at one sitting.
And that's the key.
We must only offer as much as the person can handle.
Pick one major Big Government program.
For example, show how and why the No-Win, Insane War on Drugs has
dismally failed. How Drug Prohibition has made things worse. How and
where it's created new problems -- like the early release of
murderers, rapists, and child molesters.
Or show how and why our Big Government's War on Guns gravely endangers
innocent Americans, gives aid and comfort to violent criminals, and
shreds the Constitution. Show how and why the 22,000 anti-gun laws on
the books have made things worse. Give examples from MORE GUNS, LESS
CRIME by John Lott, or the writings of David Kopel, Gary Kleck, Aaron
Zelman, and J. Neil Schulman.
Show how and why Big Government means "gun prohibition." And why only
libertarian small government respects our right of self-defense and
keeps its hands off guns.
Roast and serve one major Big Government Program at a time.
Some people need smaller portions. Others want larger helpings.
Some people like appetizers. Others want a 7-course meal.
But no one wants to be force-fed.
Few people can digest The Big Truth at one sitting.
Persuasion often takes time.
But after they've digested The Big Truth, we may want to offer them a
really healthy cuisine:
Small government is beautiful. Small government is simple and cheap
and good. Small government is accountable. There's no place to hide
waste and corruption in a very small government budget. Small
government respects individual liberty and personal responsibility and
private property.
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:
Ayn Rand by Tibor R. Machan. 1999, quality paperback, 163 pages.
The best book on Rand's philosophy since Chris Sciabarra's Ayn Rand:
The Russian Radical! Philosopher Tibor R. Machan has ably championed
the cause of reason and freedom for decades. An early editor of Reason
magazine, he also is the editor of Reason Papers and author of
hundreds of cutting-edge articles and books.
Nobody is better qualified than neo-Objectivist Machan to author this
concise yet comprehensive primer on the ideas of Ayn Rand. His lucid
new primer is fully accessible to the beginning student. Yet it also
grapples with some of the most technical objections to her thinking,
making it an invaluable resource for more advanced readers as well.
Here's some of what this brief yet jam-packed volume offers:
* An overview of Rand's work and development.
* The paradox of Rand's iconoclasm: deeply at odds with many modern
intellectual trends, her thought is also deeply in accord with
"common sense."
* A is A, defended! In a riveting chapter, Machan explains Rand's
often-derided concern with axioms, delving into her Aristotelian
heritage. He shows how her approach to philosophy is potently
shaped by allegiance to the "primacy of existence." Superb.
* How it all fits together. How any particular principle in Rand's
thought is supported by its hierarchical relationship to other
aspects of her thought.
* The ethics of rational self-interest. Why Rand's egoism is
different from, and more defensible than, other egoisms with which
it has often been confused.
* Rand's social philosophy and her unswerving defense of capitalism.
"The right way to live is the grounds on which the right
principles of social organization and law must be based."
* Rand versus Marx. Rand versus Kant. An overview of (and response
to) Rand's critics. Areas where further work is needed.
No ifs, ands, or buts: if you admire Ayn Rand and her work--or just
want to understand better what she achieved--this book is a mandatory
addition to your library. Bravissimo! -- review by David M. Brown.
Brown is a former managing editor of Laissez Faire Books, and
currently is editor of The Daily Objectivist, a webzine.
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"May it be to the world... to assume the blessings and security of
self-government." -- Thomas Jefferson