Merry Christmas and more

December 25, 2005

Merry Christmas to those who actually read this blog. And a double Merry Christmas to those few who may have printed out a Libertarian petition and are working on getting a few signatures to get us on the ballot; and for those who have forwarded my blog on petitioning to friends. For those who have not, there is still time to help; and it would be a great present for those who are working to preserve freedom in Utah.

OK, on to the more serious business. A few weeks ago, many of us were shocked to see a UHP officer apparently becoming hysterical over a motorist who questioned his speeding ticket, and using his Taser when he should have used reason. Naturally, his superiors supported him in his decision. The very day of that decision by the UHP, I sat in a courtroom and listened to a bunch of macho police officers laugh and joke about what they would do with anyone who questioned their authority. I was, to say the least disturbed that they have not been taught decency in the use of police power.

This week, in Minneapolis, we narrowly missed a real tragedy when a bunch of police officers burst into a home without warning or identification, scaring the family inside half to death. The father of 6 children fired a warning shot before engaging the unidentified housebreakers in a firefight. Amazingly, despite three blasts from his shotgun, and 22 bulletes fired in return, nobody was injured. Seems the officers were serving a search warrant and got the wrong house (again). When homeowners have sued for such home invasions, courts have usually called it an honest mistake -- even when people have been killed.

It seems to me that there are just too many such mistakes without anybody being disciplined. And just maybe there are too many "no knock" warrants served under circumstances where somebody may get killed. I realize there are situations where this has to be done. But extreme care must be taken to avoid near tragedies like this. And when a mistake is made, somebody must be disciplined. That likelhoood will make them be more careful. And on this sacred day, let us thank God that there was no tragedy this time. If you want to increase the chances for avoiding it next time. help us get on the ballot and bring restraint to law enforcement. "The stakes are too high to stay at home."

And today the news reports that the recently graduated class at the Idaho Police Academy chose as its motto: "Don't suffer from PTSD [post traumatic stress disorder]. Go out and cause it." Doesn't that just warm your heart? I sure hope the New Year brings us something better; and it will if we fight for it!

Another word about petitions

For those who are tired of this subject, help us get the few hundred signatures we need over the next couple of months, and you will never hear about it again.

Several people have asked about the language of the petitions which seems to commit the signer to become a party member. There is no such commitment. If you sign, we will not contact you further, as a result of the signature; and the state will not consider you a party member. We got the signatures of a number of members of the Young Democrat Club in Salt Lake City; and I assure you they are still Democrats. (Thanks, guys!) If you want to be a Republican so you can vote for Ron Paul in the upcoming Republican Primary, feel free to do so. Some people will register as Republicans simply to vote for him, but do not really want to become Republicans; and some will switch registrations again as soon as the primary is over. The law allows that, as it also allows people to be Libertarians only for so long as it takes to sign the petition. I intend to vote in the Democratic Primary, simply because they will allow me to do so and not register as a Democrat. Will that make me a Democrat? Only for the time it takes to vote in the primary.

Membership in the Libertarian Party is by payment of dues and/or signing of our party pledge. You can find out more at http://www.lputah.org/ But this is not a request to join our party, just to help us get on the ballot, so we will all have a choice. And I will likely run forUtah Attorney General and give voters a very real choice between those who want to put everyone in jail, and those who believe in personal freedom. The effort required to sign this petition is so small; and NO commitment beyond that is required. So, do it now! Scroll down to previous blog entries to see how. And pass it on to your friends.

Thanks a lot.

Freedom's anniversaries

December 15, 2007 -- This week is an interesting one for anniversaries associated with freedom. Today is the anniversary of the Bill of Rights, without which we would helpless in the face of government intursions into our personal liberty. And tomorrow is the anniversary of the Boston Tea Party, when colonists protested the hated British Stamp Act by throwing a cargo of tea into the Borson Harbor. It is less known that the Stamp Act was used as a means of censorship as well. Newspapers could not be sold without a Tax Stamp attached, and that increased the cost of the newspaper so that peole could not afford to buy it. The government is still telling us what we cannot read, and here is your chance to fight back.

Various celebrations of these historical occurences are set. Here in Utah, we Libertarians rather badly need just a minute of your time to help us out with the last phase of our ballot petition. Scroll down this page to the heading "Petition Help" from a recent blog; and please take a minute right now to download a petit0n, and sign it. then get a few others to do the same and send it in to the Party or to me. so easy, and yet so important. You don't have to risk arrest or being shot to protect your freedom, so you have it much better than many others. And please send this blog to your Utah e-mail list and ask their help as well. I went to my PO Box last night and found no petitions. Next week, help fill it up with them, even if they only have a couple of signatures.

W. Andrew McCullough
PO Box 651147
Salt Lake City, UT 84165

Thanks.