The Passion of Politics
By Lee Robinson ©2004

The startling success of Mel Gibson’s ‘The Passion of The Christ’ is an inspiration in more ways than one. If an independent movie can so thoroughly discredit all the conventional wisdom about Hollywood then maybe an independent presidential candidate can do the same thing for American politics. This election could very well be the last time it will be at all possible.

Using his own money Mel Gibson made a movie that no major studio would even consider. He did it according to his own conscience, in his own way, and look what happened. The people supported his vision; Mel Gibson was right, the establishment was wrong, wrong, wrong and when the public was given something profound for a change, they embraced it. The people know the difference between quality and business as usual and I believe they know the difference when it comes to politics too. But The American Political Machine, whose only goal is to perpetuate and strengthen itself, will never allow a candidate to compete who is not absolutely and irredeemably under their control. (Read the rest here)

Martha Stewart Case: Where’s the Victim?
by Sheldon Richman
The Future of Freedom Foundation

We live in a topsy-turvy world. People may ask politicians to give them some of the loot taken from the taxpayers — and no one is even suspected of wrongdoing. Yet if someone’s stock sale piques the curiosity of government investigators armed with vague legal concepts such as insider trading and obstruction of justice — watch out.

As the whole world knows by now, Martha Stewart was found guilty of conspiracy, obstruction of justice, and making false statements to the government in connection with the sale of her ImClone Systems stock. She says she sold the stock because the price went below $60, as previously arranged with her then-Merrill Lynch stockbroker and co-defendant Peter Bacanovic. The government says she sold it because she was illegitimately tipped off that ImClone CEO and friend Samuel Waksal was unloading his stock. (He was selling because he had learned before the public did that the Food and Drug Administration would reject his application for the cancer drug Erbitux. The government never alleged that Stewart knew about the FDA decision. Most ironically, the FDA has now approved Erbitux.) (Read the rest here)

Tips for Making Liberty
© by Richard Rieben

One Odd Fellow’s Insights Into Making Liberty

Item 1:
Liberty cannot be achieved by fighting for it; that is, by means of force.

Item 2:
Liberty cannot be achieved by running away or escape, although a semblance of liberty may be achieved if one goes to a place where people will respect your difference (as long as you, as the intruder, respect how they live their lives).

Item 3:
Liberty is defined as respect for the sovereignty of the individual. (Read the rest here)

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