Trying to get information about the new Aqueduct Buffet at Resorts World New York City located at 110-00 Rockaway Blvd. in Jamaica, NY was extremely difficult on the opening weekend (October 28-30, 2011) since the website for the casino (http://www.rwnewyork.com/) did not list times or prices and the customer service line (1-888-888-8801) was not operational Saturday or Sunday. As a result, I went to lunch at the Aqueduct Buffet on Sunday, October 30, 2011 to check it out.
I learned the Aqueduct Buffet is open daily from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. (with all food removed by 11:00 p.m.). For lunch, they charge $16.99 plus tax for adults (raised on February 1, 2012 to $19.99 plus tax). For dinner (which starts at 5:00 p.m.), they charge $19.99 plus tax for adults (raised on February 1, 2012 to $24.99 plus tax Sunday through Thursday and $29.99 plus tax on Fridays, Saturdays and Holidays). Additional food choices are added during the dinner hours.
The buffet is divided into a number of stations, which include, but are not limited to, the following: Asian Station (Chinese & Japanese), Spanish/Middle Eastern Station, Comfort Food Station, Italian Station, Upscale Station, Seafood Station, Salad Station, Soup/Bread Station and a Dessert Station.
An example of the food served for lunch at some of the stations follows:
Asian Station: LoMein w/Bean Sprouts & Scallions, Vegetable Fried Rice, Asian Sesame Chicken, Stir-Fried Shrimp w/Vegetable, Pan Fried Dumplings, Dim Sum, BBQ Pork, Soy Chicken Wings, Seaweed Salad & Spring Roll
Spanish/Middle Eastern Station: Lamb Gyro Wrap, Steak Fajitas, Black Lentils & Tandoori Chicken
Comfort Food Station: BBQ Ribs, Meatloaf, Macaroni & Cheese, Fried Chicken & Mashed Potatoes
Italian Station: Chicken Cacciatore, Sweet Italian Sausage w/Tri-Colored Peppers & Onions, Mussels, Penne in Marinara w/Meat Balls, Rosemary Chicken, Polenta, Flounder, Roasted Potatoes & Asparagus
Upscale Station: Salmon, Pork Chops, New York Sirloin Steak, Corn On The Cob & Kiebasa w/Sausage (with the option to purchase the following a la carte items for $9.99 an item: Sirloin, Tenderloin, Chops or Lobster)
Seafood Station: Shrimp w/Cocktail Sauce
Salad Station: Macaroni Salad, Four Bean Salad, Rice Noodle Salad
Soup/Bread Station: Potato Leek Soup, Chicken Noodle Soup & Tomato Basil Soup
Dessert Station: Fresh Fruit, Rice Pudding, Chocolate Pudding, Fruit Parfait, Chocolate & Vanilla Ice Cream, Bread Pudding, Blueberry Cobbler and many cakes.
Drinks such as soda, coffee, tea, cranberry & orange juice were included in the price of the buffet and are brought to you by a member of the wait staff.
Overall, the food was fresh and the staff friendly. Tours of the buffet were available and there were also roving entertainers. The view of the track from some of the seats in the buffet room (300 seats) was exceptional. I liked the fact there was a rest room you could access from the main buffet room. Parking was free but if they start to charge for parking, I recommended that future buffet customers be able to have their parking tickets validated so they won't need to pay both for parking and the buffet if they are just coming to Resorts World New York City to eat.
As for criticisms, I have a few. First, some of the food was not labeled. Second, a number of food items were left in place too long causing them to dry up. Examples included the New York Sirloin Steak, Lamb Gyro, Steak Fajita and the Corn On The Cob. Eventually these items were replaced and were fresh but it took longer than it should have. Third, the Tandoori Chicken had a curry rub on it and was not prepared in the traditional manner (with the fiery red hue you might be used to). Fourth, the Fruit Parfait had a nasty taste to it (but you might find it to your liking). Finally, the orange juice tasted like it was watered down.
Despite these minor negative observations, I would highly recommend you try the Aqueduct Buffet. I will certainly be returning myself.
If you are gambling in the casino and don't have time to sit down for a full buffet, the following restaurants are also available in the Food Court: Wolfgang Puck Express, Stage Deli, Cups n' Cones, Popeyes, Fiesta, Good Friends and Queens Burger.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Wednesday, October 26, 2011
Carl Person, Candidate For The Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination, Unveils "Prosperity Plan" For Small Towns Throughout The United States
On October 24, 2011, Carl Person, candidate for the Libertarian Party’s Presidential Nomination, revealed his "Prosperity Plan" inviting small towns throughout the United States to implement his program, with or without his assistance, to create prosperity for its residents and small businesses.
Carl Person explained his Prosperity Plan in 21 Points, which are the following:
Preliminary Concepts To Help You Understand My Prosperity Plan
1. A town with a population between 7,500 and 12,500 is recommended. The Prosperity Plan for a town (the “Town”) within this population range can be implemented in about 2 months, with a team of 10 and a team manager.
2. My plan is 100% “viral” as to the Town, because we reach everyone in the Town through direct solicitation. Although it’s impossible to obtain anywhere near 100% viral on the Internet, you can obtain 100% viral in a small geographic area, by knocking on every door and bringing your message to each person in the area. This is being done successfully by religious groups (Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses) and by numerous door-to-door salesmen of various products (e.g., vacuum sweepers, cleaning supplies, magazine subscriptions and home improvement products). The Libertarian Party features door-to-door marketing with its Libertarian Door Hangers [http://www.lp.org/take-a-look].
3. The plan results in obtaining a list of the email addresses for all residents and small business owners/managers in the Town, which means that the plan results in ownership of an electronic newspaper with almost everyone in Town (of working age) as a subscriber. The newspaper (actually, a weekly newsletter sent by email at no cost) is able to provide information to the residents and voters about Libertarian values, candidates and projects that the Town’s existing single newspaper fails to publicize.
4. The marketing area for the Town is going to be, approximately, a 75-mile radius from the center of the Town [the reach of the 10,000 Watt local radio station(s)], which is almost 18,000 square miles, with perhaps 100 to 400 other towns within the area, or approximately 15 counties (averaging 1,207 square miles each).
5. A 1-minute commercial run on a local radio station should cost approximately $1, for the advertising of a catalog of all the offered goods and services of perhaps 5,000 residents and small businesses of the Town, at an annual cost of advertising per participant of less than $10.
6. A technical course to qualify residents to work for small businesses and self-employed persons will be the first part of a free college education for each resident; the rest of the college equivalency curriculum will be the more traditional college courses.
7. The education to be provided in the Town’s tuition-free equivalency college for residents only will be 1st class as to the vocational training and economic sustainability components and traditional courses (English, history, etc.) as to the rest of the program.
8. The Town’s Voters have rights under New York’s Municipal Home Rule Law (for example) to overturn actions by the Town’s legislative body through a referendum. The right to a local referendum gives state residents a formidable political power for exercise when needed.
9. The principles involved in my Prosperity Plan are Libertarian, involving self help of the Town’s residents and small businesses.
10. If the Prosperity Plan is successful, the Town Voters can be expected to vote Libertarian, and all of the offices up for election in the area should have Libertarian candidates with an excellent chance of winning.
11. The surrounding Towns will demand the same Libertarian reforms, because the Prosperity Plan is actually a grass roots plan for spreading Libertarian principles by showing they work and creating a demand for the same reforms as the implementation successes become known.
Here Is My Plan for Creating Libertarian-Based Prosperity In Any Town In The United States
12. A Team Of 10 Trained Representatives And A Team Manager Goes Door-To-Door (which is how 100% “viral” is created) to disseminate the Libertarian message and explain how prosperity can be created for the Town and its residents and small businesses through the implementation of four reforms. This would be a good way to put volunteers to use, and to bring in local members of Occupy Wall Street and its 99% to further their objectives.
13. A Town of 10,000 population will have about 3,750 housing units to visit and an estimated 200 retail businesses.
14. The Team will obtain the email addresses of every Town resident and small business owner/manager; and create email addresses for those not having an email address (and set up several retail locations where they can receive email. (This creates a local newspaper with a near 100% subscription rate, at a cost of about $6 per subscriber (or $20 per household). [Note: During the 1980’s, newspapers sold for about $1,000 per subscriber.]
15. The Town’s Mayor Will Be Encouraged To Have The Town’s Lawyer Function As The Town Attorney General to protect the rights of the Town, its residents and small businesses at public expense, and obtain refunds (or “clawbacks”) from entities that have breached their contracts with the Town. These amounts could lower real estate taxes and pay 100% of the costs of the Town’s tuition-free equivalency college for residents only.
16. Set Up A Tuition-Free Equivalency College For Residents Only; courses would be “live” and not internet-based. Students would live at home. The costs of running the college would be $2,000 per year per student (30 students in a class), or $2/hour for instruction. The college would provide a 1st class technical education as the first year of the curriculum, to train students how to earn a living working for local small businesses or to create their own small businesses. The 2nd through 4th years would be a more traditional curriculum, but including courses in manufacturing, business, farming, creating renewable energy and creating a sustainable economy. The students who complete their 1st year of the equivalency college will be in demand by the Town’s local businesses. [Note: the equivalency college will be area-wide, serving more than the Town, but residency in the area required, with students not residing in the Town having to pay the low-cost tuition.] The equivalency college has a low cost of operation because it would have no regulation, no student loans, no dispensary, no parking lots, no Chancellor’s home, no dormitory, no library, no trucks or grass to be cut.
17. Area-Wide Payroll Administrator (“AWPA”) As A Workaround For My Plan “The 1st 3 Are Free”. The AWPA will make it easier for local small businesses and households to hire employees. The AWPA will act similar to an office temporary service and handle the payroll withholding, reporting and insurance requirements. The business or household merely notifies the AWPA each week the number of hours worked by each employee. This does not have to be a cooperative, and it could and perhaps should be privately owned, with competitors. Each Town business and household pays for whatever use it has of the AWPA. The AWPA will make it easier for small businesses to manage payroll and induce small business to put on more employees of the classic type (involving payroll withholding) and enable local businesses to grow and add more employees.
18. Electronic, Searchable Catalog Of All Goods And Services Being Offered By All Of The Town’s Residents And Small Businesses. The Sears Catalog (a thick, printed paperback book) was a successful marketing tool for 100 years, but was discontinued in 1993. The catalog had almost everything anyone wanted to buy and was far less costly to advertise than trying to advertise separately each of the items in the catalog. Ebay is today’s electronic equivalent. My idea is to have a catalog for all goods and services being offered by a Town’s residents and small businesses because of the economies of scale in marketing the catalog. By using local radio advertising, the cost of advertising the offerings of 5,000 residents and small business is only $1 per minute, or less than $10 per year per catalog participant.
19. Keyword Advertising, Zip-Code Based, Making It An Improvement Upon Craigslist. When a member of the Team visits a household, he/she will provide consultation services to the resident(s) to identify the services and/or goods the resident should offer (as a way of increasing their income). For each identified, a keyword ad needs to be created, for inclusion in the “catalog”, which is in reality an online searchable database. Each resident and small business owner will be encouraged to prepare as many ads as needed to advertise each of the services or types of goods that the resident would like to offer and sell (or to buy). Here are 3 samples: “Tutor quantum mechanics, high school level, $25/hour”. “Have car truck with plow, shovel or remove snow from home driveways for $50 flat”. “Have car truck with plow, shovel or remove snow from parking lots for $125/hour, $75 minimum”. “Consultant on creating keyword ads for town database or catalog. $20/hour”. “Create website landing pages. $28/hour”.
20. Group Sessions Or Online Videos To Reduce Cost Of Instruction For Creating Keyword Ads. There are two critical things for every catalog participant: (i) keyword ads that use words and terms that will be used by prospective customers seeking the goods or services being offered by the participant; and (ii) the appearance and content of the landing page that a website user will see when jumping from the participant’s keyword ad to the participant’s landing page for such ad. The landing page needs to include pictures, prices, recommendations, descriptions of services, contact information, and anything else that will help to sell the offered products and services. Participants should learn how to create their own landing pages based on the first landing page created for them by a landing-page consultant. The use of good keywords ads and landing pages for the ads will bring in more income for the participant, and will result sooner or later in the hiring of employees by many of the catalog advertisers. Group sessions and online videos can provide the needed instruction after the team member, during his door-to-door visit, has provided the initial information and sample keyword ads.
21. Surrounding Towns Will Demand The Same Prosperity Reforms And Vote Libertarian. Because of the 1-minute radio advertisements of the Town’s catalog, residents and small businesses in the surrounding 2,000 square miles will be purchasing from the catalog and wondering why they can’t offer their services as well. This should result in demands for the same reforms to create prosperity in these other towns on a grass roots reform basis, similar to the growth of Craigslist. The reforms are Libertarian and most of the beneficiaries will know this and vote Libertarian as a result. It would be no major task to recruit residents of the Town or surrounding area to become candidates to compete for all or most of the elected positions in the counties involved.
Carl Person explained his Prosperity Plan in 21 Points, which are the following:
Preliminary Concepts To Help You Understand My Prosperity Plan
1. A town with a population between 7,500 and 12,500 is recommended. The Prosperity Plan for a town (the “Town”) within this population range can be implemented in about 2 months, with a team of 10 and a team manager.
2. My plan is 100% “viral” as to the Town, because we reach everyone in the Town through direct solicitation. Although it’s impossible to obtain anywhere near 100% viral on the Internet, you can obtain 100% viral in a small geographic area, by knocking on every door and bringing your message to each person in the area. This is being done successfully by religious groups (Mormons and Jehovah’s Witnesses) and by numerous door-to-door salesmen of various products (e.g., vacuum sweepers, cleaning supplies, magazine subscriptions and home improvement products). The Libertarian Party features door-to-door marketing with its Libertarian Door Hangers [http://www.lp.org/take-a-look].
3. The plan results in obtaining a list of the email addresses for all residents and small business owners/managers in the Town, which means that the plan results in ownership of an electronic newspaper with almost everyone in Town (of working age) as a subscriber. The newspaper (actually, a weekly newsletter sent by email at no cost) is able to provide information to the residents and voters about Libertarian values, candidates and projects that the Town’s existing single newspaper fails to publicize.
4. The marketing area for the Town is going to be, approximately, a 75-mile radius from the center of the Town [the reach of the 10,000 Watt local radio station(s)], which is almost 18,000 square miles, with perhaps 100 to 400 other towns within the area, or approximately 15 counties (averaging 1,207 square miles each).
5. A 1-minute commercial run on a local radio station should cost approximately $1, for the advertising of a catalog of all the offered goods and services of perhaps 5,000 residents and small businesses of the Town, at an annual cost of advertising per participant of less than $10.
6. A technical course to qualify residents to work for small businesses and self-employed persons will be the first part of a free college education for each resident; the rest of the college equivalency curriculum will be the more traditional college courses.
7. The education to be provided in the Town’s tuition-free equivalency college for residents only will be 1st class as to the vocational training and economic sustainability components and traditional courses (English, history, etc.) as to the rest of the program.
8. The Town’s Voters have rights under New York’s Municipal Home Rule Law (for example) to overturn actions by the Town’s legislative body through a referendum. The right to a local referendum gives state residents a formidable political power for exercise when needed.
9. The principles involved in my Prosperity Plan are Libertarian, involving self help of the Town’s residents and small businesses.
10. If the Prosperity Plan is successful, the Town Voters can be expected to vote Libertarian, and all of the offices up for election in the area should have Libertarian candidates with an excellent chance of winning.
11. The surrounding Towns will demand the same Libertarian reforms, because the Prosperity Plan is actually a grass roots plan for spreading Libertarian principles by showing they work and creating a demand for the same reforms as the implementation successes become known.
Here Is My Plan for Creating Libertarian-Based Prosperity In Any Town In The United States
12. A Team Of 10 Trained Representatives And A Team Manager Goes Door-To-Door (which is how 100% “viral” is created) to disseminate the Libertarian message and explain how prosperity can be created for the Town and its residents and small businesses through the implementation of four reforms. This would be a good way to put volunteers to use, and to bring in local members of Occupy Wall Street and its 99% to further their objectives.
13. A Town of 10,000 population will have about 3,750 housing units to visit and an estimated 200 retail businesses.
14. The Team will obtain the email addresses of every Town resident and small business owner/manager; and create email addresses for those not having an email address (and set up several retail locations where they can receive email. (This creates a local newspaper with a near 100% subscription rate, at a cost of about $6 per subscriber (or $20 per household). [Note: During the 1980’s, newspapers sold for about $1,000 per subscriber.]
15. The Town’s Mayor Will Be Encouraged To Have The Town’s Lawyer Function As The Town Attorney General to protect the rights of the Town, its residents and small businesses at public expense, and obtain refunds (or “clawbacks”) from entities that have breached their contracts with the Town. These amounts could lower real estate taxes and pay 100% of the costs of the Town’s tuition-free equivalency college for residents only.
16. Set Up A Tuition-Free Equivalency College For Residents Only; courses would be “live” and not internet-based. Students would live at home. The costs of running the college would be $2,000 per year per student (30 students in a class), or $2/hour for instruction. The college would provide a 1st class technical education as the first year of the curriculum, to train students how to earn a living working for local small businesses or to create their own small businesses. The 2nd through 4th years would be a more traditional curriculum, but including courses in manufacturing, business, farming, creating renewable energy and creating a sustainable economy. The students who complete their 1st year of the equivalency college will be in demand by the Town’s local businesses. [Note: the equivalency college will be area-wide, serving more than the Town, but residency in the area required, with students not residing in the Town having to pay the low-cost tuition.] The equivalency college has a low cost of operation because it would have no regulation, no student loans, no dispensary, no parking lots, no Chancellor’s home, no dormitory, no library, no trucks or grass to be cut.
17. Area-Wide Payroll Administrator (“AWPA”) As A Workaround For My Plan “The 1st 3 Are Free”. The AWPA will make it easier for local small businesses and households to hire employees. The AWPA will act similar to an office temporary service and handle the payroll withholding, reporting and insurance requirements. The business or household merely notifies the AWPA each week the number of hours worked by each employee. This does not have to be a cooperative, and it could and perhaps should be privately owned, with competitors. Each Town business and household pays for whatever use it has of the AWPA. The AWPA will make it easier for small businesses to manage payroll and induce small business to put on more employees of the classic type (involving payroll withholding) and enable local businesses to grow and add more employees.
18. Electronic, Searchable Catalog Of All Goods And Services Being Offered By All Of The Town’s Residents And Small Businesses. The Sears Catalog (a thick, printed paperback book) was a successful marketing tool for 100 years, but was discontinued in 1993. The catalog had almost everything anyone wanted to buy and was far less costly to advertise than trying to advertise separately each of the items in the catalog. Ebay is today’s electronic equivalent. My idea is to have a catalog for all goods and services being offered by a Town’s residents and small businesses because of the economies of scale in marketing the catalog. By using local radio advertising, the cost of advertising the offerings of 5,000 residents and small business is only $1 per minute, or less than $10 per year per catalog participant.
19. Keyword Advertising, Zip-Code Based, Making It An Improvement Upon Craigslist. When a member of the Team visits a household, he/she will provide consultation services to the resident(s) to identify the services and/or goods the resident should offer (as a way of increasing their income). For each identified, a keyword ad needs to be created, for inclusion in the “catalog”, which is in reality an online searchable database. Each resident and small business owner will be encouraged to prepare as many ads as needed to advertise each of the services or types of goods that the resident would like to offer and sell (or to buy). Here are 3 samples: “Tutor quantum mechanics, high school level, $25/hour”. “Have car truck with plow, shovel or remove snow from home driveways for $50 flat”. “Have car truck with plow, shovel or remove snow from parking lots for $125/hour, $75 minimum”. “Consultant on creating keyword ads for town database or catalog. $20/hour”. “Create website landing pages. $28/hour”.
20. Group Sessions Or Online Videos To Reduce Cost Of Instruction For Creating Keyword Ads. There are two critical things for every catalog participant: (i) keyword ads that use words and terms that will be used by prospective customers seeking the goods or services being offered by the participant; and (ii) the appearance and content of the landing page that a website user will see when jumping from the participant’s keyword ad to the participant’s landing page for such ad. The landing page needs to include pictures, prices, recommendations, descriptions of services, contact information, and anything else that will help to sell the offered products and services. Participants should learn how to create their own landing pages based on the first landing page created for them by a landing-page consultant. The use of good keywords ads and landing pages for the ads will bring in more income for the participant, and will result sooner or later in the hiring of employees by many of the catalog advertisers. Group sessions and online videos can provide the needed instruction after the team member, during his door-to-door visit, has provided the initial information and sample keyword ads.
21. Surrounding Towns Will Demand The Same Prosperity Reforms And Vote Libertarian. Because of the 1-minute radio advertisements of the Town’s catalog, residents and small businesses in the surrounding 2,000 square miles will be purchasing from the catalog and wondering why they can’t offer their services as well. This should result in demands for the same reforms to create prosperity in these other towns on a grass roots reform basis, similar to the growth of Craigslist. The reforms are Libertarian and most of the beneficiaries will know this and vote Libertarian as a result. It would be no major task to recruit residents of the Town or surrounding area to become candidates to compete for all or most of the elected positions in the counties involved.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Ronald S. Ramo, LPQC Treasurer, Rejects Social Contract & Declares Himself An Anarchist
Ronald S. Ramo, Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, had already declared his Political Views on Facebook as being "Anarchist" but in a Note posted to his Facebook Page on October 7, 2011, he explained his anarchist beliefs further by declaring:
I personally fancy myself an anarchist, but I believe anarchism does not mean the non-existence of any authority or hierarchy, but that no authority or hierarchy can govern an individual without their express consent.
When asked for a follow-up explanation of his position, Mr. Ramo sent me the following:
I don't believe there is a social contract because the contemporary political, economic and social institutions have come into existence through violence and fraud. But I believe developments in the last several years have created opportunities to create political, economic and social institutions based on express consent; the only question is whether we are prepared to exploit them.
In addition to serving as LPQC Treasurer, Ronald S. Ramo also serves as Vice-Chair of Long Island Libertarians, a chartered chapter of Empire State Libertarians.
I personally fancy myself an anarchist, but I believe anarchism does not mean the non-existence of any authority or hierarchy, but that no authority or hierarchy can govern an individual without their express consent.
When asked for a follow-up explanation of his position, Mr. Ramo sent me the following:
I don't believe there is a social contract because the contemporary political, economic and social institutions have come into existence through violence and fraud. But I believe developments in the last several years have created opportunities to create political, economic and social institutions based on express consent; the only question is whether we are prepared to exploit them.
In addition to serving as LPQC Treasurer, Ronald S. Ramo also serves as Vice-Chair of Long Island Libertarians, a chartered chapter of Empire State Libertarians.
Wednesday, October 5, 2011
CQ Weekly Vantage Point Article Mentions Objectivist Party & Thomas Robert Stevens, The Party's 2012 Presidential Nominee
A CQ (Congressional Quarterly) Weekly Vantage Point article written by Shawn Zeller and published on October 3, 2011 (Page 2022) mentioned the Objectivist Party and Thomas Robert Stevens, the party's Presidential Nominee. The article, entitled "The Rule of Thirds: Fringe Candidates Settle for Spotlight", contained the following references:
The Prohibitionists and the Socialists aren't the first parties to nominate candidates for next year. That honor belongs to the Objectivist Party, which selected Thomas Robert Stevens as its presidential candidate more than a year ago in St. Louis.
A lawyer on Long Island and follower of writer Ayn Rand, who called her philosophy objectivism, Stevens founded the party in 2008 but remains an active Libertarian. "I have many irons in many fires," he says. "But in my opinion, all of my activities promote liberty."
Stevens says he founded the party to promote a purer devotion to Rand than offered by Libertarians, who have many social conservatives in their ranks.
The Objectivist Party held its National Convention from May 29-30, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The first session was held on Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. at Show-Me's on The Landing located at 724 North First Street. The second session was held on Sunday, May 30, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Kitchen Buffet & Bistro (inside Lumiere Place Casino) located at 999 North Second Street. The delegates unanimously selected Thomas Robert Stevens (New York) as its candidate for President in 2012 and unanimously selected Alden Link (New York & Florida) as its candidate for Vice-President in 2012.
The Prohibitionists and the Socialists aren't the first parties to nominate candidates for next year. That honor belongs to the Objectivist Party, which selected Thomas Robert Stevens as its presidential candidate more than a year ago in St. Louis.
A lawyer on Long Island and follower of writer Ayn Rand, who called her philosophy objectivism, Stevens founded the party in 2008 but remains an active Libertarian. "I have many irons in many fires," he says. "But in my opinion, all of my activities promote liberty."
Stevens says he founded the party to promote a purer devotion to Rand than offered by Libertarians, who have many social conservatives in their ranks.
The Objectivist Party held its National Convention from May 29-30, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The first session was held on Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. at Show-Me's on The Landing located at 724 North First Street. The second session was held on Sunday, May 30, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Kitchen Buffet & Bistro (inside Lumiere Place Casino) located at 999 North Second Street. The delegates unanimously selected Thomas Robert Stevens (New York) as its candidate for President in 2012 and unanimously selected Alden Link (New York & Florida) as its candidate for Vice-President in 2012.
Thursday, September 29, 2011
Libertarian Party Of Northampton County, Pennsylvania Elects Officers
At the Organizational Meeting of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County (LPNC) held on Wednesday, September 21, 2011, the following individuals were elected to serve as officers:
County Chair - Dr. Tom Stevens
First Vice-Chair - Patrick R. Killy
Treasurer - Dylan Duraes
At an Executive Committee Meeting held immediately after the Organizational Meeting, the Executive Committee appointed the following individuals to officerships pursuant to Article 3, Section 6 of the LPNC Bylaws:
Second Vice-Chair - Shane Wolfe
Secretary - Aaron Rosengarten
The current officers will serve a term of office ending at the Annual Meeting of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County that will be held during the first quarter of 2012.
County Chair - Dr. Tom Stevens
First Vice-Chair - Patrick R. Killy
Treasurer - Dylan Duraes
At an Executive Committee Meeting held immediately after the Organizational Meeting, the Executive Committee appointed the following individuals to officerships pursuant to Article 3, Section 6 of the LPNC Bylaws:
Second Vice-Chair - Shane Wolfe
Secretary - Aaron Rosengarten
The current officers will serve a term of office ending at the Annual Meeting of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County that will be held during the first quarter of 2012.
Dylan Duraes, Patrick R. Killy & Thomas Robert Stevens Designated Founding Members Of The Libertarian Party Of Northampton County
The Organizational Meeting of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County was held on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 at 10:00 p.m.
During that meeting, Dylan Duraes, Patrick R. Killy and Thomas Robert Stevens were designated as the Founding Members of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County.
Northampton County is located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County. It has a population of approximately 300,000 and its county seat is Easton. Northampton County is located in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Its northern edge borders The Poconos. The eastern section of the county borders the Delaware River, which divides Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is bordered on the west by Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The county is industrially-oriented, producing anthracite coal, cement, and other industrial products. Bethlehem Steel, once one of the world's largest manufacturers of steel, was located there prior to its closing in 2003.
During that meeting, Dylan Duraes, Patrick R. Killy and Thomas Robert Stevens were designated as the Founding Members of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County.
Northampton County is located in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It was formed in 1752 from parts of Bucks County. It has a population of approximately 300,000 and its county seat is Easton. Northampton County is located in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley. Its northern edge borders The Poconos. The eastern section of the county borders the Delaware River, which divides Pennsylvania and New Jersey. It is bordered on the west by Lehigh County, Pennsylvania. The county is industrially-oriented, producing anthracite coal, cement, and other industrial products. Bethlehem Steel, once one of the world's largest manufacturers of steel, was located there prior to its closing in 2003.
Thursday, September 22, 2011
Libertarian Party Of Northampton County Executive Committee Requests LPPA Board Of Directors Recognize It As A County Committee
The Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County met on Wednesday, September 21, 2011 and passed the following resolution:
MOTION: Pursuant to Article III, Section 1 of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Bylaws, the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County (which has at least four (4) members of the LPPA in good standing residing in Northampton County; i.e.Dylan Duraes, Patrick R. Killy, Aaron Rosengarten & Shane Wolfe) hereby requests the Libertarian Party of Northampton County be recognized by the LPPA Board of Directors as a "County Committee" of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.
The motion was made by Dylan Duraes and seconded by Patrick R, Killy. It passed unanimously.
Article III, Section 1 of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Bylaws reads, in part, as follows:
Any group of two or more members in good standing residing in the same county, shall, upon their request to the Party to be recognized by the Board of Directors as a "County Committee"...The county or regional committee must select an executive board consisting of two or more people and they must choose as their Parliamentary Source any version of Robert's Rules.
Dr. Tom Stevens, County Chair of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County, commented on the Executive Committee's request for recognition as follows:
On or about September 13, 2011, Patrick R. Killy, Dylan Duraes & Shane Wolfe (all LPPA members in good standing residing in Northampton County) asked the Board of Directors of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania for recognition as a "County Committee". Although Mik Robertson made a motion to grant recognition to the Libertarian Party of Northampton County, no further action was taken.
On September 21, 2011, an Organizational Meeting was held and the Libertarian Party of Northampton County was formed. An Executive Committee "consisting of two or more people" was elected and bylaws were adopted designating Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised as the group's Parliamentary Authority.
As noted above, the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County has now unanimously passed a resolution asking the LPPA Board of Directors to grant "County Committee" status to this newly formed organization. Four (4) members of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County (i.e. Dylan Duraes, Patrick R. Killy, Aaron Rosengarten & Shane Wolfe), all who are members in good standing of the LPPA residing in Northampton County, now seek formal recognition of this new organization.
I hope the LPPA Board of Directors acts soon with respect to this request.
The Libertarian Party of Northampton County was formally organized on September 21, 2011.
MOTION: Pursuant to Article III, Section 1 of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Bylaws, the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County (which has at least four (4) members of the LPPA in good standing residing in Northampton County; i.e.Dylan Duraes, Patrick R. Killy, Aaron Rosengarten & Shane Wolfe) hereby requests the Libertarian Party of Northampton County be recognized by the LPPA Board of Directors as a "County Committee" of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.
The motion was made by Dylan Duraes and seconded by Patrick R, Killy. It passed unanimously.
Article III, Section 1 of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Bylaws reads, in part, as follows:
Any group of two or more members in good standing residing in the same county, shall, upon their request to the Party to be recognized by the Board of Directors as a "County Committee"...The county or regional committee must select an executive board consisting of two or more people and they must choose as their Parliamentary Source any version of Robert's Rules.
Dr. Tom Stevens, County Chair of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County, commented on the Executive Committee's request for recognition as follows:
On or about September 13, 2011, Patrick R. Killy, Dylan Duraes & Shane Wolfe (all LPPA members in good standing residing in Northampton County) asked the Board of Directors of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania for recognition as a "County Committee". Although Mik Robertson made a motion to grant recognition to the Libertarian Party of Northampton County, no further action was taken.
On September 21, 2011, an Organizational Meeting was held and the Libertarian Party of Northampton County was formed. An Executive Committee "consisting of two or more people" was elected and bylaws were adopted designating Robert's Rules of Order, Newly Revised as the group's Parliamentary Authority.
As noted above, the Executive Committee of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County has now unanimously passed a resolution asking the LPPA Board of Directors to grant "County Committee" status to this newly formed organization. Four (4) members of the Libertarian Party of Northampton County (i.e. Dylan Duraes, Patrick R. Killy, Aaron Rosengarten & Shane Wolfe), all who are members in good standing of the LPPA residing in Northampton County, now seek formal recognition of this new organization.
I hope the LPPA Board of Directors acts soon with respect to this request.
The Libertarian Party of Northampton County was formally organized on September 21, 2011.
Tuesday, September 20, 2011
Proposed LPUS Bylaw Amendment Takes Away Local Affiliate Authority & Could Significantly Reduce The Number Of State Affiliate Delegates
The Libertarian Party Bylaws Committee has proposed the following bylaw amendment to be voted on by the delegates in attendance at the Libertarian Party's National Convention scheduled to be held from May 3-6, 2012 at the Red Rock Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada:
No individual enrolled as a registered voter affiliated with another political party, if he or she has the option of affiliating with the Libertarian Party, shall be eligible to serve as a Party employee, National Committee member, committee member, or delegate, or hold any other position of trust or responsibility within the Party.
Dr. Tom Stevens, Political Director of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, has objected to the impact this proposed bylaw amendment would have and commented as follows:
My objection to this bylaw amendment is that it trumps state affiliate bylaws and attempts to dictate which of their state affiliate members will be permitted to attend Libertarian Party National Conventions as delegates.
The New York State Libertarian Party bylaws, for example, permit its members and elected state and local officers to be enrolled members of other political parties. This has always been the case in New York but recently, because of a law suit the NYLP joined in on, the New York State Board of Elections must now keep track of who enrolls as "Libertarian". Despite this victory, many County Boards of Elections still list enrolled Libertarians as "Other". This is wholly a symbolic victory since the New York Libertarian Party cannot nominate candidates in Convention in accordance with New York State Election Law and for all purposes, the Libertarian Party is treated as if it does not exist. In each election, every candidate must still file an Independent Nominating Petition, just as an Independent Candidate with no party affiliation is required to do. This is why many New York Libertarian Party members remain enrolled as members of other political parties.
The national Libertarian Party bylaws may soon be amended to require Libertarian Party National Convention Delegates to be either Sustaining Members of the national Libertarian Party or members of the State Affiliate Party from which they have been designated as delegates. If the proposed bylaw amendment regarding "enrollment" passes, a large number of designated New York Libertarian Party Members, who are members of their local State Affiliate will be disqualified as Delegates to the Libertarian Party National Conventions unless they are enrolled as Libertarian even though their State Affiliate does not have such a requirement.
Under the proposed bylaw amendment, not only will the National LP try to dictate who the State Affiliates may designate as delegates but the amendment could also be interpreted to dictate who may be allowed to be State and Local Officers of that State Affiliate. The last part of the proposed bylaw amendment indicates a person not enrolled locally as "Libertarian" will not be eligible to "hold any other position of trust or responsibility within the Party". According to the National Libertarian Party Bylaws, "the Party" refers to the "Libertarian Party" and arguably to all its chartered affiliates. As a result, even officers serving in a County Libertarian Party Organization such as the Libertarian Party of Queens County may now be subject to this proposed national rule. Some might claim the bylaw amendment cannot be used in this manner but if it can be used to dictate who may be delegates from a State Affiliate, I see no reason why it cannot be used to claim that certain State or Local LP officers are ineligible to hold their positions.
Finally, many Libertarian Party members have enrolled as Republicans in order to vote for Ron Paul or Gary Johnson in the upcoming Republican Party primaries. Many consider themselves loyal Libertarian Party members and may be designated by their State Affiliates as delegates to upcoming Libertarian Party National Conventions. These delegates hope that Gary Johnson or Ron Paul seek or accept the Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination in 2012 or 2016. With Libertarian Party membership on the decrease, the last thing we need to do is alienate these Libertarian Party members who may be technically enrolled in their home state as "Republicans".
For these reasons, I urge you to oppose this proposed bylaw amendment and to post your objections on all Libertarian Party message boards, blogs and lists.
Dr. Tom Stevens is the elected State Representative, Political Director and Membership Director of the Libertarian Party of Queens County. He also serves as the Chair of Empire State Libertarians.
No individual enrolled as a registered voter affiliated with another political party, if he or she has the option of affiliating with the Libertarian Party, shall be eligible to serve as a Party employee, National Committee member, committee member, or delegate, or hold any other position of trust or responsibility within the Party.
Dr. Tom Stevens, Political Director of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, has objected to the impact this proposed bylaw amendment would have and commented as follows:
My objection to this bylaw amendment is that it trumps state affiliate bylaws and attempts to dictate which of their state affiliate members will be permitted to attend Libertarian Party National Conventions as delegates.
The New York State Libertarian Party bylaws, for example, permit its members and elected state and local officers to be enrolled members of other political parties. This has always been the case in New York but recently, because of a law suit the NYLP joined in on, the New York State Board of Elections must now keep track of who enrolls as "Libertarian". Despite this victory, many County Boards of Elections still list enrolled Libertarians as "Other". This is wholly a symbolic victory since the New York Libertarian Party cannot nominate candidates in Convention in accordance with New York State Election Law and for all purposes, the Libertarian Party is treated as if it does not exist. In each election, every candidate must still file an Independent Nominating Petition, just as an Independent Candidate with no party affiliation is required to do. This is why many New York Libertarian Party members remain enrolled as members of other political parties.
The national Libertarian Party bylaws may soon be amended to require Libertarian Party National Convention Delegates to be either Sustaining Members of the national Libertarian Party or members of the State Affiliate Party from which they have been designated as delegates. If the proposed bylaw amendment regarding "enrollment" passes, a large number of designated New York Libertarian Party Members, who are members of their local State Affiliate will be disqualified as Delegates to the Libertarian Party National Conventions unless they are enrolled as Libertarian even though their State Affiliate does not have such a requirement.
Under the proposed bylaw amendment, not only will the National LP try to dictate who the State Affiliates may designate as delegates but the amendment could also be interpreted to dictate who may be allowed to be State and Local Officers of that State Affiliate. The last part of the proposed bylaw amendment indicates a person not enrolled locally as "Libertarian" will not be eligible to "hold any other position of trust or responsibility within the Party". According to the National Libertarian Party Bylaws, "the Party" refers to the "Libertarian Party" and arguably to all its chartered affiliates. As a result, even officers serving in a County Libertarian Party Organization such as the Libertarian Party of Queens County may now be subject to this proposed national rule. Some might claim the bylaw amendment cannot be used in this manner but if it can be used to dictate who may be delegates from a State Affiliate, I see no reason why it cannot be used to claim that certain State or Local LP officers are ineligible to hold their positions.
Finally, many Libertarian Party members have enrolled as Republicans in order to vote for Ron Paul or Gary Johnson in the upcoming Republican Party primaries. Many consider themselves loyal Libertarian Party members and may be designated by their State Affiliates as delegates to upcoming Libertarian Party National Conventions. These delegates hope that Gary Johnson or Ron Paul seek or accept the Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination in 2012 or 2016. With Libertarian Party membership on the decrease, the last thing we need to do is alienate these Libertarian Party members who may be technically enrolled in their home state as "Republicans".
For these reasons, I urge you to oppose this proposed bylaw amendment and to post your objections on all Libertarian Party message boards, blogs and lists.
Dr. Tom Stevens is the elected State Representative, Political Director and Membership Director of the Libertarian Party of Queens County. He also serves as the Chair of Empire State Libertarians.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
Libertarian Party Of Northampton County Seeks Charter From Libertarian Party of Pennyslvania
On September 13, 2011, Shane Wolfe, Patrick R. Killy and Dylan Duraes, three members of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania (LPPA) living in Northampton County, wrote an e-mail to Lou Jasikoff, LPPA Chair; Vernon Etzel, LPPA Secretary; and other LPPA Board of Directors members, formally seeking a charter for the newly organizing Libertarian Party of Northampton County. In that e-mail, they wrote the following:
Pursuant to Article III, Section 1 of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Bylaws, Patrick R. Killy, Dylan Duraes and Shane Wolfe, three members of the LPPA in good standing residing in Northampton County, PA, hereby request the Libertarian Party of Northampton County be recognized by the LPPA Board of Directors as a "County Committee" of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Tom Stevens, LPPA Liberty Action Student Network Chair, wrote to Shane Wolfe, Patrick R. Killy and Dylan Duraes to understand their motivations for getting involved in the formation of the new Libertarian Party of Northampton County.
Shane Wolfe responded:
I started getting involved with politics at a young age. I had a huge passion for freedom and liberty. I was a young idealist and believed that communism was the road to freedom. Boy, was I wrong. Now that I'm older and more mature, I've realized that my passion for freedom and liberty fits best with Laissez-faire Capitalism (something which I was a huge opponent of) and a Constitutional government. The Libertarian Party is what I've been looking for all along.
Patrick R. Killy responded:
My name is Patrick Killy and like many, I've witnessed the erosion of what were once staples of American greatness. Becoming heavily immersed in government and the political process at a young age, later being privileged to serve as Vice-President of Northampton Community College's Political Science Club and simultaneously Campaign Manager for State. Rep Candidate Cory Miller in 2010, I canvassed too many houses to count and took various trips to Harrisburg among other duties.
While I still believe we are blessed to live in a great country, much work is still necessary. The most disturbing erosion has taken place in the areas of personal and economic freedoms. From the overt (numerous bailouts, rampant spending under the guise of "Stimulus", The Patriot Act, Eminent Domain, etc.) to the more pernicious subtleties (Executive Branch power grabs, destabilization of our currency, the Fed's questionable actions and very existence, corporate welfare) we are certainly headed toward ruin and serfdom. Many blame "capitalism" or a certain party for these ills but the fact is both parties violate our Inalienable Rights where " the greater good" is used as justification. As for capitalism, truly we do not have a free market economy, but one that favors corporatism and hand picked winners and losers thus curtailing competition, innovation and entrepreneurship.
To briefly cap, we've lost our private property, 1st, 4th, 2nd Amendment and States' Rights. Again this has been mostly pernicious, gradually accustoming Americans to these "new norms". These mindsets are passed on to our children, essentially indoctrinating the next generation. Despite the advent of the instant 24/7 information flow, fewer and fewer Americans are seeing reality for what it truly is.
I have pledged to defend the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights with their personal & economic liberties and justice for all. Countless numbers of people have shed blood & died to secure these liberties; the least I could do is participate in this amazing project in an effort to restore respect and adherence to our founding principles once again. Every year more people are giving these principles and actions more thought and coming to terms with all I previously mentioned, and this gives me immense hope. Let us all reignite the waning flame of true liberty and find commonality uniting under this banner.
Dylan Duraes responded:
I am a resident of Easton, Pennsylvania. I am an undergraduate studying economics at Lycoming College, PA. After reading the book "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt, I began to think critically about, and of, the government for the first time.
I'm convinced that libertarian philosophy is a blueprint for the fiscal solvency of this nation. I look forward to availing myself of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania's resources to make a difference in my community.
An organizational meeting for the Libertarian Party of Northampton County is scheduled to take place soon at which officers will be elected and bylaws will be adopted.
Pursuant to Article III, Section 1 of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania Bylaws, Patrick R. Killy, Dylan Duraes and Shane Wolfe, three members of the LPPA in good standing residing in Northampton County, PA, hereby request the Libertarian Party of Northampton County be recognized by the LPPA Board of Directors as a "County Committee" of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania.
Dr. Tom Stevens, LPPA Liberty Action Student Network Chair, wrote to Shane Wolfe, Patrick R. Killy and Dylan Duraes to understand their motivations for getting involved in the formation of the new Libertarian Party of Northampton County.
Shane Wolfe responded:
I started getting involved with politics at a young age. I had a huge passion for freedom and liberty. I was a young idealist and believed that communism was the road to freedom. Boy, was I wrong. Now that I'm older and more mature, I've realized that my passion for freedom and liberty fits best with Laissez-faire Capitalism (something which I was a huge opponent of) and a Constitutional government. The Libertarian Party is what I've been looking for all along.
Patrick R. Killy responded:
My name is Patrick Killy and like many, I've witnessed the erosion of what were once staples of American greatness. Becoming heavily immersed in government and the political process at a young age, later being privileged to serve as Vice-President of Northampton Community College's Political Science Club and simultaneously Campaign Manager for State. Rep Candidate Cory Miller in 2010, I canvassed too many houses to count and took various trips to Harrisburg among other duties.
While I still believe we are blessed to live in a great country, much work is still necessary. The most disturbing erosion has taken place in the areas of personal and economic freedoms. From the overt (numerous bailouts, rampant spending under the guise of "Stimulus", The Patriot Act, Eminent Domain, etc.) to the more pernicious subtleties (Executive Branch power grabs, destabilization of our currency, the Fed's questionable actions and very existence, corporate welfare) we are certainly headed toward ruin and serfdom. Many blame "capitalism" or a certain party for these ills but the fact is both parties violate our Inalienable Rights where " the greater good" is used as justification. As for capitalism, truly we do not have a free market economy, but one that favors corporatism and hand picked winners and losers thus curtailing competition, innovation and entrepreneurship.
To briefly cap, we've lost our private property, 1st, 4th, 2nd Amendment and States' Rights. Again this has been mostly pernicious, gradually accustoming Americans to these "new norms". These mindsets are passed on to our children, essentially indoctrinating the next generation. Despite the advent of the instant 24/7 information flow, fewer and fewer Americans are seeing reality for what it truly is.
I have pledged to defend the U.S. Constitution and Bill of Rights with their personal & economic liberties and justice for all. Countless numbers of people have shed blood & died to secure these liberties; the least I could do is participate in this amazing project in an effort to restore respect and adherence to our founding principles once again. Every year more people are giving these principles and actions more thought and coming to terms with all I previously mentioned, and this gives me immense hope. Let us all reignite the waning flame of true liberty and find commonality uniting under this banner.
Dylan Duraes responded:
I am a resident of Easton, Pennsylvania. I am an undergraduate studying economics at Lycoming College, PA. After reading the book "Economics in One Lesson" by Henry Hazlitt, I began to think critically about, and of, the government for the first time.
I'm convinced that libertarian philosophy is a blueprint for the fiscal solvency of this nation. I look forward to availing myself of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania's resources to make a difference in my community.
An organizational meeting for the Libertarian Party of Northampton County is scheduled to take place soon at which officers will be elected and bylaws will be adopted.
Sunday, September 11, 2011
Liberty Activists Boycott Overpriced Liberty Fest II While Carl Person, Candidate For The LP Nomination For President, Makes His Case To Attendees
Empire State Libertarians, Downstate Libertarians, Long Island Libertarians, Stonewall Libertarians and the Objectivist Party of New York boycotted Liberty Fest II, which was held on September 10, 2011 from 5:00 p.m. to 11:00 p.m. at Club Amnesia located at 609 West 29th Street in Manhattan. Organizers Gigi Bowman, Ian Cioffi, Danny Panzella and Amanda Trbovich charged each attendee $30.00 if they purchased their tickets at the door for an opportunity to hear 25 speakers talk for 5 minutes each. In addition, they charged $195.00 for people who wished to attend a luncheon with a few of the guest speakers and $500.00 for any organization wishing to have a booth to distribute liberty-oriented literature.
While Gigi Bowman, the Suffolk County Libertarian Party's State Representative, found room for 25 speakers, including convicted criminal Chris Cantwell (who failed to get on the ballot as the Suffolk County LP's candidate for Congress in 2010), she could not find five (5) minutes for Carl Person, a Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate who lives in Manhattan. Because of this slight, the Libertarian Party of Queens County also did not promote or attend Liberty Fest II.
Carl Person, a member of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, also did not attend the event. However, he and an entourage of campaign supporters owned the street in front of Club Amnesia handing a multi-colored campaign flyer to almost all Liberty Fest II attendees, which contained a 22-point critique of President Obama's American Jobs Act Speech before Congress on September 8, 2011. The flyer, entitled "Obama's Jobs Act Can't Create New Permanent Jobs", contained a comprehensive analysis of why President Obama's proposals won't work followed by Carl Person's alternative program for putting Americans back to work in long-term private sector jobs created by the small businesses of our country.
Dr. Tom Stevens, Campaign Manager for Carl Person, said:
This was a great opportunity for Carl to reach over 500 pro-liberty activists with his consistent message of how he will create over 10 million new jobs with his proposals to allow all small businesses to have their first three employees treated as independent contractors, by opening up educational opportunities so that new careers such as Assistant To Small Business Owner can be created, and by allowing small business owners to raise capital. Given that Carl founded the Paralegal Institute, which trained thousands of people to enter a promising new career, there is no doubt he knows what he is taking about when he speaks of the potential for the new job title of Assistant To Small Business Owner.
Carl received extremely favorable feedback from those he spoke to outside Liberty Fest II and I would venture to say they will remember his practical solutions to create jobs without intrusive governmental interference far longer than they will remember what was said by any of the 25 speakers inside Club Amnesia who spoke for 5 minutes each over a loud speaker projected throughout a large and crowded club.
Carl Person described his activities outside Liberty Fest II as follows:
Nazarius (Noz) Cavan (my New York State Coordinator and one of the best petition gatherers in the country), my son Nick and I arrived at Club Amnesia 30 minutes before the doors opened. Already, a single line of about 250 people had showed up waiting to enter the club, with nothing to do until then. We handed out my flyer to all 250 people in line as well as to an additional 250 attendees who came during the next hour or so. I was able to speak with about 200 of them to explain how we can get the economy moving again through the creation of millions of new jobs.
I want to give a big thanks to Gigi Bowman, the co-organizer of Liberty Fest II, who was unable to find 5 minutes for me to speak at the event because as a result of her refusal to find me a speaking slot, I found a more effective way to reach the attendees.
I am taking my Presidential candidacy to the Libertarian Party convention delegates, going from meeting to meeting, city to city, state to state, and explaining how the Libertarian Party knows how to create jobs while the Republicans and Democrats are only good at creating snow jobs.
Carl Person did not speculate regarding why Gigi Bowman denied him a speaking slot. However, her previous moralistic positions on social issues and flirtation with the Constitution Party may have played a factor given Carl Person's open-minded "live and let live" attitude when it comes to other people's lifestyles.
While Gigi Bowman, the Suffolk County Libertarian Party's State Representative, found room for 25 speakers, including convicted criminal Chris Cantwell (who failed to get on the ballot as the Suffolk County LP's candidate for Congress in 2010), she could not find five (5) minutes for Carl Person, a Libertarian Party Presidential Candidate who lives in Manhattan. Because of this slight, the Libertarian Party of Queens County also did not promote or attend Liberty Fest II.
Carl Person, a member of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, also did not attend the event. However, he and an entourage of campaign supporters owned the street in front of Club Amnesia handing a multi-colored campaign flyer to almost all Liberty Fest II attendees, which contained a 22-point critique of President Obama's American Jobs Act Speech before Congress on September 8, 2011. The flyer, entitled "Obama's Jobs Act Can't Create New Permanent Jobs", contained a comprehensive analysis of why President Obama's proposals won't work followed by Carl Person's alternative program for putting Americans back to work in long-term private sector jobs created by the small businesses of our country.
Dr. Tom Stevens, Campaign Manager for Carl Person, said:
This was a great opportunity for Carl to reach over 500 pro-liberty activists with his consistent message of how he will create over 10 million new jobs with his proposals to allow all small businesses to have their first three employees treated as independent contractors, by opening up educational opportunities so that new careers such as Assistant To Small Business Owner can be created, and by allowing small business owners to raise capital. Given that Carl founded the Paralegal Institute, which trained thousands of people to enter a promising new career, there is no doubt he knows what he is taking about when he speaks of the potential for the new job title of Assistant To Small Business Owner.
Carl received extremely favorable feedback from those he spoke to outside Liberty Fest II and I would venture to say they will remember his practical solutions to create jobs without intrusive governmental interference far longer than they will remember what was said by any of the 25 speakers inside Club Amnesia who spoke for 5 minutes each over a loud speaker projected throughout a large and crowded club.
Carl Person described his activities outside Liberty Fest II as follows:
Nazarius (Noz) Cavan (my New York State Coordinator and one of the best petition gatherers in the country), my son Nick and I arrived at Club Amnesia 30 minutes before the doors opened. Already, a single line of about 250 people had showed up waiting to enter the club, with nothing to do until then. We handed out my flyer to all 250 people in line as well as to an additional 250 attendees who came during the next hour or so. I was able to speak with about 200 of them to explain how we can get the economy moving again through the creation of millions of new jobs.
I want to give a big thanks to Gigi Bowman, the co-organizer of Liberty Fest II, who was unable to find 5 minutes for me to speak at the event because as a result of her refusal to find me a speaking slot, I found a more effective way to reach the attendees.
I am taking my Presidential candidacy to the Libertarian Party convention delegates, going from meeting to meeting, city to city, state to state, and explaining how the Libertarian Party knows how to create jobs while the Republicans and Democrats are only good at creating snow jobs.
Carl Person did not speculate regarding why Gigi Bowman denied him a speaking slot. However, her previous moralistic positions on social issues and flirtation with the Constitution Party may have played a factor given Carl Person's open-minded "live and let live" attitude when it comes to other people's lifestyles.
Thursday, September 8, 2011
Carl Person, Candidate For The Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination, Says Republican Presidential Debate Offered No Specifics For Job Creation
Carl Person, who is seeking the Libertarian Party’s nomination for President, viewed the Republican Presidential Debate held on September 7, 2011 at the Ronald Reagan Presidential Library and states that “the candidates offered no new insight or specifics into creating new jobs for the nation’s unemployed.”
Person went on to say that “Three main candidates (Governors Romney, Perry and Huntsman) gave statistics on new job creation during their period as Governor as claimed proof of their ability to create jobs, without explaining what actions they took as Governor which resulted in the alleged new jobs.”
“Many of the 8 candidates,” according to Person, “wanted a reduction in regulation without stating what specific regulations they would terminate. Also, many of the candidates wanted a reduction in taxes. Some of the candidates recognized that small business was over-regulated, without stating in what specific respects.
“As a Presidential Candidate and somebody vitally interested in job creation, I learned nothing at all from the debate and heard no specific things the candidates would do, if elected. One exception could be the specific proposal which came from candidate Herman Cain, who “would do away with the existing tax code and replace it with a nine percent tax on corporate income, a nine percent tax on personal income and a nine percent national sales tax. This proposal is too far reaching to be enacted. Also, Ron Paul urged elimination of the minimum wage laws to promote job growth, which has been debated for years and unlikely to be adopted, even if millions of jobs would be created and become a useful bridge between apprenticeship and full-salaried employment.”
“The deregulation proposals are almost meaningless,” said Person, “because they do not identify which regulations are most destructive in creating jobs. Since the Republican Presidential Candidates do not seek the end to all regulation, they must identify which of the millions of regulations they would terminate.”
“I have identified IRS payroll withholding regulations as one of three types of regulation needing change”, according to Person. “My program “The 1st 3 Are Free” can and should be adopted by the IRS to allow 3 designated employees of any business to be treated as independent contractors, so that the business does not have to withhold taxes or file payroll reports, or maintain workmen’s compensation or disability insurance as to such 3 employees,” according to Person. “This would be the incentive for the nation’s 26,000,000 small businesses to create millions of new jobs.”
Person went on to say that “the Republican candidates’ plans to use tax incentives to encourage businesses to create new jobs are faulty because small business, the only net creator of new jobs, does not take advantage of tax incentives. Tax incentives are for major corporations, which have demonstrated they make more money by sending jobs overseas, in spite of tax considerations. GE, for example, did not pay any income taxes on $14.2 billion in net income last year.”
“What small business needs, and nobody addressed, is the termination of the federal and state laws that prohibit small businesses from raising capital through advertising or public solicitation. This has been illegal since 1933 (Securities Act of 1933). Because compliance with the Act costs more than the money that small business needs, small business does not raise capital from investors and remains small, and does not create as many jobs as they could be creating. Investors need this ‘protection’ far less than unemployed Americans need jobs,” according to Person, “and this restraint should be eliminated, to enable millions of new jobs to be created through the public financing of small businesses.”
Person went on to say, “the most damaging regulation of all was not mentioned. This regulation is the required state licensing of vocational training programs. Colleges and universities have not kept up with technological advances and are not training students to go to work for small businesses, especially the 20,000,000 persons who are self employed, and need a highly skilled person to become the first employee. The combined federal and state licensing laws, accrediting requirements, and student loan programs, have made it impossible for any training programs to be created by small businesses to train persons to go to work for small businesses as an ‘Assistant to the Owner of a Small Business’,” according to Person. “If these laws regulating vocational training programs are terminated (which the U.S. government could do by preemption under the Interstate Commerce Clause), private enterprise would create schools and training programs and more than 10,000,000 skilled, high-paying jobs would be available to students who receive the small-business training,” according to Person. “And perhaps 40% of these 10,000,000 would wind up owning their own small businesses, opening up another 8,000,000 jobs.”
“The Republican candidates either have no business experience, or have (like Romney) business experience at the level of destroying jobs in America, but not creating jobs through small businesses,” according to Person.
“Because of the foregoing, I can conclude that the Republican Presidential Debate on the most important topic of Job Creation was a snow job and meaningless.”
Person said, “President Obama has nothing important to add to his already failed policy of trying to create jobs through spending hundreds of billions of taxpayer money. Whatever jobs are supposedly created in this fashion are too focused and overly priced, and doomed to fail because government does not excel in creating jobs with other persons’ money. These decisions should be made by businesses and their owners and investors, and not by government.”
“Sadly, Obama is in a position to create millions of jobs prior to the election without spending any money, by adopting my plan ‘The 1st 3 Are Free’, but because his staff is not looking for new ideas, and because the main media also are not looking for new ideas, this no-brainer idea for creating millions of new jobs will not be implemented, and Obama’s second term will be in serious jeopardy,” said Person.
“The Libertarian Party is in a position to adopt my ideas for regulatory reform and job creation, and draw millions of votes away from the Republicans and Democrats, enough to swing the election,” according to Person.
Person went on to say that “Three main candidates (Governors Romney, Perry and Huntsman) gave statistics on new job creation during their period as Governor as claimed proof of their ability to create jobs, without explaining what actions they took as Governor which resulted in the alleged new jobs.”
“Many of the 8 candidates,” according to Person, “wanted a reduction in regulation without stating what specific regulations they would terminate. Also, many of the candidates wanted a reduction in taxes. Some of the candidates recognized that small business was over-regulated, without stating in what specific respects.
“As a Presidential Candidate and somebody vitally interested in job creation, I learned nothing at all from the debate and heard no specific things the candidates would do, if elected. One exception could be the specific proposal which came from candidate Herman Cain, who “would do away with the existing tax code and replace it with a nine percent tax on corporate income, a nine percent tax on personal income and a nine percent national sales tax. This proposal is too far reaching to be enacted. Also, Ron Paul urged elimination of the minimum wage laws to promote job growth, which has been debated for years and unlikely to be adopted, even if millions of jobs would be created and become a useful bridge between apprenticeship and full-salaried employment.”
“The deregulation proposals are almost meaningless,” said Person, “because they do not identify which regulations are most destructive in creating jobs. Since the Republican Presidential Candidates do not seek the end to all regulation, they must identify which of the millions of regulations they would terminate.”
“I have identified IRS payroll withholding regulations as one of three types of regulation needing change”, according to Person. “My program “The 1st 3 Are Free” can and should be adopted by the IRS to allow 3 designated employees of any business to be treated as independent contractors, so that the business does not have to withhold taxes or file payroll reports, or maintain workmen’s compensation or disability insurance as to such 3 employees,” according to Person. “This would be the incentive for the nation’s 26,000,000 small businesses to create millions of new jobs.”
Person went on to say that “the Republican candidates’ plans to use tax incentives to encourage businesses to create new jobs are faulty because small business, the only net creator of new jobs, does not take advantage of tax incentives. Tax incentives are for major corporations, which have demonstrated they make more money by sending jobs overseas, in spite of tax considerations. GE, for example, did not pay any income taxes on $14.2 billion in net income last year.”
“What small business needs, and nobody addressed, is the termination of the federal and state laws that prohibit small businesses from raising capital through advertising or public solicitation. This has been illegal since 1933 (Securities Act of 1933). Because compliance with the Act costs more than the money that small business needs, small business does not raise capital from investors and remains small, and does not create as many jobs as they could be creating. Investors need this ‘protection’ far less than unemployed Americans need jobs,” according to Person, “and this restraint should be eliminated, to enable millions of new jobs to be created through the public financing of small businesses.”
Person went on to say, “the most damaging regulation of all was not mentioned. This regulation is the required state licensing of vocational training programs. Colleges and universities have not kept up with technological advances and are not training students to go to work for small businesses, especially the 20,000,000 persons who are self employed, and need a highly skilled person to become the first employee. The combined federal and state licensing laws, accrediting requirements, and student loan programs, have made it impossible for any training programs to be created by small businesses to train persons to go to work for small businesses as an ‘Assistant to the Owner of a Small Business’,” according to Person. “If these laws regulating vocational training programs are terminated (which the U.S. government could do by preemption under the Interstate Commerce Clause), private enterprise would create schools and training programs and more than 10,000,000 skilled, high-paying jobs would be available to students who receive the small-business training,” according to Person. “And perhaps 40% of these 10,000,000 would wind up owning their own small businesses, opening up another 8,000,000 jobs.”
“The Republican candidates either have no business experience, or have (like Romney) business experience at the level of destroying jobs in America, but not creating jobs through small businesses,” according to Person.
“Because of the foregoing, I can conclude that the Republican Presidential Debate on the most important topic of Job Creation was a snow job and meaningless.”
Person said, “President Obama has nothing important to add to his already failed policy of trying to create jobs through spending hundreds of billions of taxpayer money. Whatever jobs are supposedly created in this fashion are too focused and overly priced, and doomed to fail because government does not excel in creating jobs with other persons’ money. These decisions should be made by businesses and their owners and investors, and not by government.”
“Sadly, Obama is in a position to create millions of jobs prior to the election without spending any money, by adopting my plan ‘The 1st 3 Are Free’, but because his staff is not looking for new ideas, and because the main media also are not looking for new ideas, this no-brainer idea for creating millions of new jobs will not be implemented, and Obama’s second term will be in serious jeopardy,” said Person.
“The Libertarian Party is in a position to adopt my ideas for regulatory reform and job creation, and draw millions of votes away from the Republicans and Democrats, enough to swing the election,” according to Person.
Saturday, August 27, 2011
Is There Anti-Muslim Sentiment In The Libertarian Party of Queens County & The New York Libertarian Party?
It is very hard to know what people think about Muslims and Islam and whether they harbor prejudices. It is even more difficult to know the motivations behind actions taken that could be perceived by some to reflect negative opinions or sentiments about certain groups of people. Nevertheless, facts are facts and you can draw your own conclusions with respect to the information provided.
On August 26, 2011, Dallwyn Merck, Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, announced a "Call Your Dog Mohammad" Campaign. In a notarized statement, he said, in part:
I, Dallwyn Merck, hereby initiate a “Call Your Dog Mohammad” campaign. Every time you see your dog or any dog licking or sniffing its own penis, testes, vagina or anus, or that of another dog, I urge you to say to the dog in a loud voice, “STOP IT MOHAMMAD".
On August 15, 2011, Ronald S. Ramo, Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, wrote a letter to the New York City Parks Department challenging the presence of a "Celebrate Ramadan" sign located in one of the Flower Fields at Columbus Plaza in downtown Brooklyn, New York. In that letter, he wrote, in part:
I was in Columbus Plaza today, and I noticed there was a sign declaring Celebrate Ramadan. I would like to know if this sign was installed with the approval of the NYC Parks Dept. and if so, was any compensation paid to the city for such use. Lastly, could the NYC Parks Dept. please provide me any memo or other opinion papers that determined such a sign does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
On August 8, 2011, John Procida, Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, discussed the issue of Muslims, Sharia Law & Immigration suggesting the possible need for special interrogations and de-brain washing of Muslim immigrants. In an e-mail, he wrote, in part:
I do have reservations about Muslims having the ability to integrate with our culture...sharia law is absolutely anti-American. I believe in a free society, but we do not have to permit the intentional planning and destroying of our government and our constitution. I think that Muslims might have to go through a special interrogation. They should be required to swear to obey the laws of our government and denounce sharia law. Possibly a de-brain washing class would be required. Remember we did outlaw the Communist Party for similar reasons and intent. With all that said, the Koran says that they can lie in order to expand their faith. So how valid would Muslims swearing an oath be anyway?
In the New York Libertarian Party, there has been anti-Muslim sentiment for quite some time. It was most actively evident when Warren Redlich, a devout Conservative Jew, was seeking the gubernatorial nomination of the New York Libertarian Party in 2010 against Sam Sloan (a/k/a Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan), a devout Muslim who speaks Khowar (a language spoken in Chitral, Pakistan) and has been married three times and has eight children by five women. Sam Sloan was denied the opportunity to communicate with the 400-500 prospective delegates in advance of the Nominating Convention and, therefore, was not able to encourage them to attend the convention to support his candidacy. Warren Redlich was then handed the gubernatorial nomination with only 27 delegates voting in his favor. Two subsequent lawsuits filed by Sam Sloan regarding the delegate list issue and actual fraud he claimed took place during the vote (when delegates placed scraps of paper into a passing hat) were both dismissed on technical grounds.
Sam Sloan was strongly backed by Dr. Tom Stevens, Political Director and State Committee Representative of the Libertarian Party of Queens County. Dr. Stevens stated the following with respect to his support of Sam Sloan and his view of different religious faiths:
I did not care what religion Sam Sloan belonged to. There was no doubt in my mind that Sam Sloan was more libertarian than Warren Redlich. Redlich was a registered Republican Party member whose main theme was that government should "stop wasting money". Sloan, on the other hand, had been a Libertarian Party activist for many years and was running on a platform that was fully libertarian.
It sickened me to see the whispering campaign and anti-Muslim comments made about Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan prior to the New York Libertarian Party's Nominating Convention in 2010. It also disturbed me to see NYLP insiders use their power to deny Sam Sloan a fair shot to campaign for the gubernatorial nomination.
The discrimination I observed inspired me to invite Hamdi Rifai, an American-Muslim attorney active in American-Islamic affairs, to address the Libertarian Party of Queens County on September 11, 2010 to speak on the topic of "Who Is The Enemy In America's War On Terror?".
I recognize there are religious zealots and extremists in all cultures and in all religions. We need to combat ignorance and intolerance with reason and logic. I fully support the right of all people to free speech and to live their lives as they see fit so long as they do not initiate force against others. Every person's right to life, liberty and property should be respected.
The New York Libertarian Party moved to suspend the memberships of Sam Sloan and Dr. Tom Stevens before the year was out. Sam Sloan was removed as a member of both the Manhattan Libertarian Party and the New York Libertarian Party. Dr. Tom Stevens resigned his membership in the Manhattan Libertarian Party and resigned his Life Membership in the New York Libertarian Party. Both remain active promoting liberty and tolerance in the Libertarian Party.
On August 26, 2011, Dallwyn Merck, Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, announced a "Call Your Dog Mohammad" Campaign. In a notarized statement, he said, in part:
I, Dallwyn Merck, hereby initiate a “Call Your Dog Mohammad” campaign. Every time you see your dog or any dog licking or sniffing its own penis, testes, vagina or anus, or that of another dog, I urge you to say to the dog in a loud voice, “STOP IT MOHAMMAD".
On August 15, 2011, Ronald S. Ramo, Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, wrote a letter to the New York City Parks Department challenging the presence of a "Celebrate Ramadan" sign located in one of the Flower Fields at Columbus Plaza in downtown Brooklyn, New York. In that letter, he wrote, in part:
I was in Columbus Plaza today, and I noticed there was a sign declaring Celebrate Ramadan. I would like to know if this sign was installed with the approval of the NYC Parks Dept. and if so, was any compensation paid to the city for such use. Lastly, could the NYC Parks Dept. please provide me any memo or other opinion papers that determined such a sign does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
On August 8, 2011, John Procida, Vice-Chair of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, discussed the issue of Muslims, Sharia Law & Immigration suggesting the possible need for special interrogations and de-brain washing of Muslim immigrants. In an e-mail, he wrote, in part:
I do have reservations about Muslims having the ability to integrate with our culture...sharia law is absolutely anti-American. I believe in a free society, but we do not have to permit the intentional planning and destroying of our government and our constitution. I think that Muslims might have to go through a special interrogation. They should be required to swear to obey the laws of our government and denounce sharia law. Possibly a de-brain washing class would be required. Remember we did outlaw the Communist Party for similar reasons and intent. With all that said, the Koran says that they can lie in order to expand their faith. So how valid would Muslims swearing an oath be anyway?
In the New York Libertarian Party, there has been anti-Muslim sentiment for quite some time. It was most actively evident when Warren Redlich, a devout Conservative Jew, was seeking the gubernatorial nomination of the New York Libertarian Party in 2010 against Sam Sloan (a/k/a Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan), a devout Muslim who speaks Khowar (a language spoken in Chitral, Pakistan) and has been married three times and has eight children by five women. Sam Sloan was denied the opportunity to communicate with the 400-500 prospective delegates in advance of the Nominating Convention and, therefore, was not able to encourage them to attend the convention to support his candidacy. Warren Redlich was then handed the gubernatorial nomination with only 27 delegates voting in his favor. Two subsequent lawsuits filed by Sam Sloan regarding the delegate list issue and actual fraud he claimed took place during the vote (when delegates placed scraps of paper into a passing hat) were both dismissed on technical grounds.
Sam Sloan was strongly backed by Dr. Tom Stevens, Political Director and State Committee Representative of the Libertarian Party of Queens County. Dr. Stevens stated the following with respect to his support of Sam Sloan and his view of different religious faiths:
I did not care what religion Sam Sloan belonged to. There was no doubt in my mind that Sam Sloan was more libertarian than Warren Redlich. Redlich was a registered Republican Party member whose main theme was that government should "stop wasting money". Sloan, on the other hand, had been a Libertarian Party activist for many years and was running on a platform that was fully libertarian.
It sickened me to see the whispering campaign and anti-Muslim comments made about Haji Mohammed Ismail Sloan prior to the New York Libertarian Party's Nominating Convention in 2010. It also disturbed me to see NYLP insiders use their power to deny Sam Sloan a fair shot to campaign for the gubernatorial nomination.
The discrimination I observed inspired me to invite Hamdi Rifai, an American-Muslim attorney active in American-Islamic affairs, to address the Libertarian Party of Queens County on September 11, 2010 to speak on the topic of "Who Is The Enemy In America's War On Terror?".
I recognize there are religious zealots and extremists in all cultures and in all religions. We need to combat ignorance and intolerance with reason and logic. I fully support the right of all people to free speech and to live their lives as they see fit so long as they do not initiate force against others. Every person's right to life, liberty and property should be respected.
The New York Libertarian Party moved to suspend the memberships of Sam Sloan and Dr. Tom Stevens before the year was out. Sam Sloan was removed as a member of both the Manhattan Libertarian Party and the New York Libertarian Party. Dr. Tom Stevens resigned his membership in the Manhattan Libertarian Party and resigned his Life Membership in the New York Libertarian Party. Both remain active promoting liberty and tolerance in the Libertarian Party.
Friday, August 26, 2011
Dallwyn Merck, Libertarian Party Officer, Announces "Call Your Dog Mohammad" Campaign
Dallwyn Merck, Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County (a chartered chapter of the New York Libertarian Party), has announced the creation of a "Call Your Dog Mohammad" Campaign, which he claims he has started to defend the right of all people to free speech without the threat of violence.
In a notarized statement, Dallwyn Merck said:
I defend the right of all people to exercise their individual right to free speech without having to face threats of violence when they say something perceived to be offensive to others.
Only a robust debate regarding the political issues of the day - and regarding the existence or non-existence of gods, devils, angels, demons, heaven, hell, sin and salvation upon which many political opinions are based - can reveal the truth of those fundamental and foundational beliefs.
Toward that end, I, Dallwyn Merck, hereby initiate a “Call Your Dog Mohammad” campaign. Every time you see your dog or any dog licking or sniffing its own penis, testes, vagina or anus, or that of another dog, I urge you to say to the dog in a loud voice, “STOP IT MOHAMMAD” and every time you do so, you should be proud of the contribution you are making to a world free of violence where free speech is respected and treasured as essential to the marketplace of competing ideas.
Besides serving as the elected Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, Dallwyn Merck also serves as Vice-Chair of Downstate Libertarians, a chartered chapter of Empire State Libertarians.
In a notarized statement, Dallwyn Merck said:
I defend the right of all people to exercise their individual right to free speech without having to face threats of violence when they say something perceived to be offensive to others.
Only a robust debate regarding the political issues of the day - and regarding the existence or non-existence of gods, devils, angels, demons, heaven, hell, sin and salvation upon which many political opinions are based - can reveal the truth of those fundamental and foundational beliefs.
Toward that end, I, Dallwyn Merck, hereby initiate a “Call Your Dog Mohammad” campaign. Every time you see your dog or any dog licking or sniffing its own penis, testes, vagina or anus, or that of another dog, I urge you to say to the dog in a loud voice, “STOP IT MOHAMMAD” and every time you do so, you should be proud of the contribution you are making to a world free of violence where free speech is respected and treasured as essential to the marketplace of competing ideas.
Besides serving as the elected Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, Dallwyn Merck also serves as Vice-Chair of Downstate Libertarians, a chartered chapter of Empire State Libertarians.
Thursday, August 25, 2011
Warren Redlich, NYLP's 2010 Gubernatorial Candidate, Files 30 Million Dollar Defamation Lawsuit Against Political Opponents For "Sexual Predator" Allegations
Warren Redlich, the New York Libertarian Party's Gubernatorial Candidate in 2010, has filed a defamation lawsuit in the Supreme Court of the State of New York, County of New York seeking 10 million dollars in compensatory damages and 20 million dollars in punitive damages for a flyer mailed in October, 2010 that claimed he was "a sick twisted pervert" and a "sexual predator".
Redlich named Republican candidate Carl Paladino and Anti-Prohibition Party candidate Kristin Davis as defendants accusing them of conspiring to send out the campaign mailer said to have come from a group called People For A Safer New York, which claimed to be a "First Amendment" organization that does "not advocate the election or defeat of any candidate for public office" and only wishes "to shine the spotlight on those who would exploit children or advocate or defend sex with underage children".
Also named in the lawsuit are Michael Caputo, who was Paladino's campaign manager; Andrew Miller, who worked for Paladino and Davis in 2010; and political operative Roger Stone, who consulted for Kristin Davis. They are all accused of having conspired to send out the mailing purported to be a "Sexual Predator Alert" that claimed Redlich was a "public danger".
On August 25, 2011, Roger Stone responded to having been served as a defendant in the lawsuit by posting the following story entitled "Warren Redlich Sexual Predator" to his StoneZone blog:
In the 40 years I have been in American politics, I have never met a more obnoxious or distasteful individual then Albany lawyer Warren Redlich.
Last year, Redlich was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of New York who attacked his competitor Independent candidate Kristin Davis as a “whore” in an Albany Times Union article. Although Davis once ran the most successful escort agency in US History, there is no evidence she ever worked as a prostitute. A former Hedge Fund Vice President, Davis’s interest in the sex industry was strictly business.
Redlich profited from a website he owned that promised access to nude photos of Delaware Republican US Senate Nominee Christine O’Donnell but tried to re-position himself as a family values candidate who could dish it by calling Davis a “ whore” but couldn’t take it when attacked for his own words.
In every public encounter with Redlich Davis, despite her attempts to be cordial, was viciously attacked in verbal assaults by this rude, know-it-all jerk. His unhinged, erratic manner, bullying and shouting make it clear he could be a danger to people. I’d keep him away from pets and small farm animals too.
During last year’s campaign, Internet writings by Redlich were revealed where he defended sex with underage girls. As a father with one daughter and four granddaughters, I find these assertions disgusting. Redlich was attempting to be erudite and cosmopolitan but his meaning is clear-and disgusting. When a neighborhood watch organization published a mailer exposing Redlich as a pervert, he played the victim.
In my opinion, Warren Redlich is a sexual predator, a sick twisted pervert and a general danger to the public. These are not just reasonable conclusions based on his writings and actions; these assertions are also Constitutionally protected speech.
Last week, Redlich filed a meritless lawsuit claiming he had been smeared by the use of his own words and charged that a conspiracy of individuals - including Davis and Republican Carl Paladino - had worked in concert to libel him. Unfortunately, you cannot have a conspiracy to commit a legal act.
Libel per se? Bullshit.
If Redlich had been called a “Sex Offender” - that is, someone convicted of a sex crime - he might have a case. Designating him as a sexual predator is a fair observation based on his lewd and repugnant internet ravings. Anyone who has met Redlich could conclude by his loud, obnoxious and offensive behavior that he is a danger to the public. Jimmy McMillan- the Rent is too Damn High Party nominee for Governor told me Redlich was “such a prick I wanted to punch him out”
The folks at the People for A Safer New York assure me their attorney reviewed the language in their ads and mailings and issued a written opinion that they were constitutionally protected free speech and not libelous.
Redlich burst into temporary prominence only because Republican nominee for Governor Carl Paladino insisted on the inclusion of minor party candidates in his only debate with Democrat Andrew Cuomo. With Redlich as their candidate, the Libertarian Party fell short of the 50,000 votes required to win a ballot position. Pity.
Mr. Redlich is a lawyer who makes a living getting drunk drivers off the hook. A slimeball drowning in ego mania. Posing as a family man while making money off a porno linked website. A guy who lusts after teens on-line.
Sanctions will be sought against the attorney who filed Redlich’s lawsuit and, with Redlich’s recent move to West Palm Beach, his new Florida neighbors will soon learn a pervert has moved into their midst.
Since Warren Redlich was a "public figure" during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign period, he will need to prove People For A Safer New York made the statements about him with "actual malice" (i.e. knowing the statements were false or acting with reckless disregard of whether the statements were false or not). If he can establish the statements were defamatory, he will then have to prove by a "preponderance of the evidence" that the named defendants were involved in writing or sending out the mailing.
Redlich named Republican candidate Carl Paladino and Anti-Prohibition Party candidate Kristin Davis as defendants accusing them of conspiring to send out the campaign mailer said to have come from a group called People For A Safer New York, which claimed to be a "First Amendment" organization that does "not advocate the election or defeat of any candidate for public office" and only wishes "to shine the spotlight on those who would exploit children or advocate or defend sex with underage children".
Also named in the lawsuit are Michael Caputo, who was Paladino's campaign manager; Andrew Miller, who worked for Paladino and Davis in 2010; and political operative Roger Stone, who consulted for Kristin Davis. They are all accused of having conspired to send out the mailing purported to be a "Sexual Predator Alert" that claimed Redlich was a "public danger".
On August 25, 2011, Roger Stone responded to having been served as a defendant in the lawsuit by posting the following story entitled "Warren Redlich Sexual Predator" to his StoneZone blog:
In the 40 years I have been in American politics, I have never met a more obnoxious or distasteful individual then Albany lawyer Warren Redlich.
Last year, Redlich was the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of New York who attacked his competitor Independent candidate Kristin Davis as a “whore” in an Albany Times Union article. Although Davis once ran the most successful escort agency in US History, there is no evidence she ever worked as a prostitute. A former Hedge Fund Vice President, Davis’s interest in the sex industry was strictly business.
Redlich profited from a website he owned that promised access to nude photos of Delaware Republican US Senate Nominee Christine O’Donnell but tried to re-position himself as a family values candidate who could dish it by calling Davis a “ whore” but couldn’t take it when attacked for his own words.
In every public encounter with Redlich Davis, despite her attempts to be cordial, was viciously attacked in verbal assaults by this rude, know-it-all jerk. His unhinged, erratic manner, bullying and shouting make it clear he could be a danger to people. I’d keep him away from pets and small farm animals too.
During last year’s campaign, Internet writings by Redlich were revealed where he defended sex with underage girls. As a father with one daughter and four granddaughters, I find these assertions disgusting. Redlich was attempting to be erudite and cosmopolitan but his meaning is clear-and disgusting. When a neighborhood watch organization published a mailer exposing Redlich as a pervert, he played the victim.
In my opinion, Warren Redlich is a sexual predator, a sick twisted pervert and a general danger to the public. These are not just reasonable conclusions based on his writings and actions; these assertions are also Constitutionally protected speech.
Last week, Redlich filed a meritless lawsuit claiming he had been smeared by the use of his own words and charged that a conspiracy of individuals - including Davis and Republican Carl Paladino - had worked in concert to libel him. Unfortunately, you cannot have a conspiracy to commit a legal act.
Libel per se? Bullshit.
If Redlich had been called a “Sex Offender” - that is, someone convicted of a sex crime - he might have a case. Designating him as a sexual predator is a fair observation based on his lewd and repugnant internet ravings. Anyone who has met Redlich could conclude by his loud, obnoxious and offensive behavior that he is a danger to the public. Jimmy McMillan- the Rent is too Damn High Party nominee for Governor told me Redlich was “such a prick I wanted to punch him out”
The folks at the People for A Safer New York assure me their attorney reviewed the language in their ads and mailings and issued a written opinion that they were constitutionally protected free speech and not libelous.
Redlich burst into temporary prominence only because Republican nominee for Governor Carl Paladino insisted on the inclusion of minor party candidates in his only debate with Democrat Andrew Cuomo. With Redlich as their candidate, the Libertarian Party fell short of the 50,000 votes required to win a ballot position. Pity.
Mr. Redlich is a lawyer who makes a living getting drunk drivers off the hook. A slimeball drowning in ego mania. Posing as a family man while making money off a porno linked website. A guy who lusts after teens on-line.
Sanctions will be sought against the attorney who filed Redlich’s lawsuit and, with Redlich’s recent move to West Palm Beach, his new Florida neighbors will soon learn a pervert has moved into their midst.
Since Warren Redlich was a "public figure" during the 2010 gubernatorial campaign period, he will need to prove People For A Safer New York made the statements about him with "actual malice" (i.e. knowing the statements were false or acting with reckless disregard of whether the statements were false or not). If he can establish the statements were defamatory, he will then have to prove by a "preponderance of the evidence" that the named defendants were involved in writing or sending out the mailing.
Tuesday, August 23, 2011
LNC Selects Hyatt Regency In Columbus, Ohio As Site Of 2014 Libertarian Party National Convention
On Sunday, August 21, 2011, the Libertarian National Committee voted to select Columbus, Ohio as the site of the 2014 Libertarian Party National Convention. The convention will take place June 27-29, 2014 at the Hyatt Regency Columbus located at 350 North High Street, Columbus, Ohio 43215.
Chuck Moulton, Libertarian National Committee Vice-Chair 2006-2008, wrote the following regarding the selection of the Hyatt Regency Columbus as the site of the 2014 LPUS National Convention:
In my opinion this hotel was not appropriate for a national convention. Transportation from the airport to the hotel and vice-versa was expensive ($25 cab the only reasonable option…no Super Shuttle; no hotel courtesy shuttle; $2 bus is infrequent, difficult to navigate, and requires several transfers). There were not enough elevators for the hotel rooms. I’m skeptical a high traffic vendors area will be implementable given the meeting room layout. The meeting space is so large that there will probably be other events running concurrently.
Dr. Tom Stevens, Chair of Empire State Libertarians, said he is "particularly concerned with the growing bed bug problem present in Franklin County, Ohio, where the Hyatt Regency Columbus is located".
BadBedBugs.com has reported the following regarding the bed bug problem in Franklin County:
According to 10 TV News in Columbus, Ohio there has been a growing bed bug problem in Franklin County. There have been two major infestations of bed bugs within the county but the Franklin County Board of Health unveiled a task force in hopes that it will decrease the amount of bed bug infestations.
According to an exterminator who lives and works in Ohio, Andrew Christman, business has been extremely busy due to cases of bed bugs. Within a month the company he works for sees around 30 to 40 bed bug cases. Christman expects the cases to double within the next year. 10 TV News reporter Andy Hirsch also mentioned that the Ohio Exterminating Company had nine service calls for Thursday alone.
The Franklin County Board of Health...wants to avoid what is happening in Cincinnati, which is a huge bed bug epidemic. Bed bugs are found everywhere from homes, schools and even fire and police stations...Luckily bed bugs don't cause any diseases but their bites are noted as extremely itchy and in some cases painful. Scratching may also cause and infection.
Though exterminators on the east side of Franklin County have reported to gain control over bed bugs experts still agree the overall problem is going to get progressively worse unless something else is done.
Full story found here: 10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/10/30/story_bed_bugs.html?sid=102
On August 22, 2011, Atlguy096 from Atlanta, Georgia left the following comment about his recent stay at the Hyatt Regency Columbus:
Stayed at the hotel for three nights this past week...After the first night, I woke up and my legs were itching. Same thing after the 2nd night. After the third night I woke up in the morning and my arms had red bite marks and they itched like crazy. From doing research and finding out in the news that Columbus hotels has been infested with bed bugs, I believe the bites and itching on my arms and legs were from bed bugs.
I called the hotel the evening I got home to tell them that I thought my room was infested with bed bugs. I asked to talk to a manager or the GM, but the woman who answered my call said she would let housekeeping know and I could call back in an hour. I did call back and spoke to the same woman (Mahogany) and was told housekeeping said there wasn't a problem and they hadn't received any other complaints. She was very non-chalant and didn't really seem to care about the situation. At that point, I figured it wasn't worth trying to get a manager to talk to since her attitude spoke volumes.
I am leaving this review as a warning for potential travelers to Columbus, OH to be very careful and let the hotel know immediately at any sign of bed bugs in your room.
The following report was posted on November 3, 2010 on BedBugRegistry.com about the Hyatt Regency Columbus:
September 20-21; 18th floor. I experienced strange bites which I misidentified as mosquito bites. I returned to Toledo and later learned that I had acquired bed bugs. Luckily, I caught the problem early. My landlord is currently working with exterminators and I have a follow-up treatment scheduled in two weeks. The Hyatt Regency..is the likely culprit...This is the only place I have slept other than my apartment.
Dallwyn Merck, Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, said he "is concerned about safety and cleanliness issues at the Hyatt Regency Columbus as well as some of the other issues raised in the comments posted at TripAdvisor.com by former guests of the hotel". Excerpts of some of those comments are:
When there is a big convention, the elevators become unusable (10-15 minute waits), forcing you into the dingy, loud, dark stairs. The staff is obviously too thin to handle a big convention (especially bell boys and valets), and the bars and restaurant get overwhelmed by conventioneers.
This is an older, renovated hotel. There are over 600 guest rooms, but only 4 elevators, enough said. If there is a conference, etc., going on, you're going to wait, and wait, and wait! I'd advise asking for a lower floor so you can take the stairs.
Our only problem was the elevator service. This hotel is not set up for a "full" status with multiple people in each room, as there was this weekend...waits for one of the four elevators could approach 10 minutes. The stairs were an option, but being as I was on the 17th floor, not much of one for trying to get up to the room. People figured out on the lower floors that it was quicker to hop on an elevator going up and then they were guaranteed a spot going down. So even on the 17th floor the elevators wouldn't stop going down because they were already full...the waits usually started around 10 or 11 in the morning and continued until late at night.
We were going down to the lobby, and a group of my friends got on an elevator. I wasn't ready and I told them that I'd meet them down there. Then I get a call saying that they were stuck in the elevator, but that they had been pressing the button and I shouldn't worry. 25 minutes later I get another call from them saying that they called the operator at the hotel, and that the hotel responded with, "stop playing around kids...there is no broken elevator." I went to the front desk at this time and told them that my friends were stuck in an elevator, and they said, "there is no broken elevator." My other friend went to get an adult to tell the hotel, and then they believed them. An hour later someone from maintenance finally arrives. An hour and a half later, they get out. This was unacceptable. The event that I was at this hotel for is held here every year, and letters have already been written to the event's director asking to have the event held at a different location next year, because the treatment from the staff was just wrong. I hope the manager of this hotel thinks long and hard about the way his/her staff is trained.
If you have any opportunity to stay elsewhere, do. If you can get your company NOT to use this hotel as their convention hotel, do. I came for a conference recently and although the location is close to the Arena District and Short North for entertainment and dining, this hotel allowed panhandlers to roam everywhere assaulting guests asking for money. Everyone in my group was approached 5-10X over two days --- in the elevators, at the bar, in the lobby, in the hallways. It was annoying and at night, scary. The staff either seemed unaware or didn't care. One night a man at the Sky Bar on the second floor sat down, ordered water, was brought a bowl of free bar snacks, and proceeded to ask everyone around him to buy him dinner and drinks. The waitress told him they didn't allow that kind of thing there, but it was obvious he was homeless, so I don't know why he was allowed to sit in the first place. It's too bad because the hotel is fine, but the security stinks and I would never recommend this hotel to anyone unless they enjoy being stalked and harassed.
I was in Columbus a week ago for work and stayed at the Hyatt Regency Columbus for five nights. First of all, I would recommend avoiding Columbus if you can. I had never been to there before, and was extremely disappointed with the "city". Columbus has been hit really hard with the recession and the city is bare, besides very angry homeless people (one walked up to us saying "I'm not going to rob you" while another yelled expletives at us). Walking around at 9:30 p.m. you will find nobody else is out except you.
When leaving the hotel and walking out the front of the hotel to go into the downtown area to go to a restaurant, we had three pan-handlers ask for money, within one block, and were a little aggressive...Even using the skywalks from the hotel to the parking garage, there are homeless/pan-handlers sitting in the corners and asking for handouts. Just be aware.
The parking situation at this hotel is ridiculous. If you don't opt for valet parking, you must trudge ten minutes ONE WAY to the public parking lot (Chestnut Parking Garage) across the street that the hotel uses. The skywalk connectors are creepy. I had my car broken into and vandalized. The Columbus police officer who responded to the call said that this lot has at least one break in a day. He felt that the lot was not safe.I wish I had known this prior to choosing to park there.
I stayed nine nights for a group and I literally had to re-make my bed each night - sloppy work. I called three times to get my room vacuumed and the bathroom floor cleaned without success. Twice I returned to my room around 4 pm and it hadn't been cleaned yet. There was water on the tile elevator floors 80% of the time.
Two foot long hairs in the shower found on my arrival. A sock from the last occupant left in a dresser drawer.
My bed was not made up properly (loose sheets), the first night and I had the soiled pillow cases from the previous guest that was not changed (believe me, I work with homeless and this does not bother me, but for what I paid I thought this is really bad). Our room was not "refreshed" the next day (garbage not dumped, towels not changed, nothing wiped). There were no signs in room indicating that they change sheets only every 3 days - which is good environmentally, but at least tell me!!! I had to phone room service to get new towels and have them at least wipe the place!
Complaints got no explanations - just that it shouldn't have happened. There is NO free internet access, that will cost you $9.95 per day. PLEASE - it's 2011, I can get free internet access at McDonald's but not the Hyatt Regency - connected to the Convention Center? The elevators are inadequate for accommodating guests at certain times throughout the day. You are not allowed to take a cart to your room to make it easier to pack your things - they will only let you use a cart if you let a bellboy bring it, ensuring you of having to spend money on tips. I wanted a cart to make things easier when they were going to move my room to a lower floor...and was not allowed to touch it. And when we checked out, they totally messed up at least one of our bills - not even having the right company name on the receipt and could NOT get it corrected. The breakfast buffet in the restaurant is almost $20 per person (prices for everything in that restaurant is absurd), and the food was cold and horrible - the guys who ate there refused to pay for it. And, in one case, instead of taking it off their bill, they put it on our company credit card - which the hotel was not given permission to use for food (only authority was given for hotel and parking). When I called them about it, they told me it was my problem and I would have to get the guest to call and have it transferred to his credit card (this is before I knew the meal was supposed to be credited) - I don't know how it is my problem when they don't even have authority to put those charges on the company credit card? And how about this - when I wrote a complaint letter to the manager, he called on a Saturday evening to respond (it's a business - why would you not call during business hours)? He left a message and sent an email saying he would contact me that week. He waited until Thursday morning and emailed me asking if I could talk that day, I said to call after 11 am and he responded he would. A week later he had not even called! And a carbon copy sent to the regional manager received no response. I now know why the customer service down the line is so poor. Customer service is horrible, hotel accommodations inadequate, and staff obviously can't do their job. I already have reservations for next year's convention at the Drury Hotel right next door - which I have heard nothing but good things about (and get this, FREE internet access, food buffets, and a hot tub too). I will never stay at the Hyatt Regency again!
To be fair, some of the comments left at TripAdvisor.com at the Hyatt Regency Columbus were positive ones but the negative experiences of so many guests cannot be disregarded.
In response to these concerns, Stewart Flood, LNC Region 1 Representative, said:
I voted against the hotel for reasons similar to those you listed: horrible elevator service and too large a convention facility. The rooms were clean and well kept, but Internet service was spotty. Cell coverage for AT&T was poor to unacceptable in the meeting rooms, with 3G service for an iPad unavailable most of the time (including in my room on the 19th floor). The hotel provided computer that was in my room was broken, so there was no way to get online. (It had an attached Verizon "Hot Spot" for the room, which was out of service because of the dead computer).
Unfortunately, we selected the hotel.
Perhaps the Libertarian National Committee should re-consider their decision to hold its 2014 Libertarian National Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio.
Chuck Moulton, Libertarian National Committee Vice-Chair 2006-2008, wrote the following regarding the selection of the Hyatt Regency Columbus as the site of the 2014 LPUS National Convention:
In my opinion this hotel was not appropriate for a national convention. Transportation from the airport to the hotel and vice-versa was expensive ($25 cab the only reasonable option…no Super Shuttle; no hotel courtesy shuttle; $2 bus is infrequent, difficult to navigate, and requires several transfers). There were not enough elevators for the hotel rooms. I’m skeptical a high traffic vendors area will be implementable given the meeting room layout. The meeting space is so large that there will probably be other events running concurrently.
Dr. Tom Stevens, Chair of Empire State Libertarians, said he is "particularly concerned with the growing bed bug problem present in Franklin County, Ohio, where the Hyatt Regency Columbus is located".
BadBedBugs.com has reported the following regarding the bed bug problem in Franklin County:
According to 10 TV News in Columbus, Ohio there has been a growing bed bug problem in Franklin County. There have been two major infestations of bed bugs within the county but the Franklin County Board of Health unveiled a task force in hopes that it will decrease the amount of bed bug infestations.
According to an exterminator who lives and works in Ohio, Andrew Christman, business has been extremely busy due to cases of bed bugs. Within a month the company he works for sees around 30 to 40 bed bug cases. Christman expects the cases to double within the next year. 10 TV News reporter Andy Hirsch also mentioned that the Ohio Exterminating Company had nine service calls for Thursday alone.
The Franklin County Board of Health...wants to avoid what is happening in Cincinnati, which is a huge bed bug epidemic. Bed bugs are found everywhere from homes, schools and even fire and police stations...Luckily bed bugs don't cause any diseases but their bites are noted as extremely itchy and in some cases painful. Scratching may also cause and infection.
Though exterminators on the east side of Franklin County have reported to gain control over bed bugs experts still agree the overall problem is going to get progressively worse unless something else is done.
Full story found here: 10tv.com/live/content/local/stories/2008/10/30/story_bed_bugs.html?sid=102
On August 22, 2011, Atlguy096 from Atlanta, Georgia left the following comment about his recent stay at the Hyatt Regency Columbus:
Stayed at the hotel for three nights this past week...After the first night, I woke up and my legs were itching. Same thing after the 2nd night. After the third night I woke up in the morning and my arms had red bite marks and they itched like crazy. From doing research and finding out in the news that Columbus hotels has been infested with bed bugs, I believe the bites and itching on my arms and legs were from bed bugs.
I called the hotel the evening I got home to tell them that I thought my room was infested with bed bugs. I asked to talk to a manager or the GM, but the woman who answered my call said she would let housekeeping know and I could call back in an hour. I did call back and spoke to the same woman (Mahogany) and was told housekeeping said there wasn't a problem and they hadn't received any other complaints. She was very non-chalant and didn't really seem to care about the situation. At that point, I figured it wasn't worth trying to get a manager to talk to since her attitude spoke volumes.
I am leaving this review as a warning for potential travelers to Columbus, OH to be very careful and let the hotel know immediately at any sign of bed bugs in your room.
The following report was posted on November 3, 2010 on BedBugRegistry.com about the Hyatt Regency Columbus:
September 20-21; 18th floor. I experienced strange bites which I misidentified as mosquito bites. I returned to Toledo and later learned that I had acquired bed bugs. Luckily, I caught the problem early. My landlord is currently working with exterminators and I have a follow-up treatment scheduled in two weeks. The Hyatt Regency..is the likely culprit...This is the only place I have slept other than my apartment.
Dallwyn Merck, Secretary of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, said he "is concerned about safety and cleanliness issues at the Hyatt Regency Columbus as well as some of the other issues raised in the comments posted at TripAdvisor.com by former guests of the hotel". Excerpts of some of those comments are:
When there is a big convention, the elevators become unusable (10-15 minute waits), forcing you into the dingy, loud, dark stairs. The staff is obviously too thin to handle a big convention (especially bell boys and valets), and the bars and restaurant get overwhelmed by conventioneers.
This is an older, renovated hotel. There are over 600 guest rooms, but only 4 elevators, enough said. If there is a conference, etc., going on, you're going to wait, and wait, and wait! I'd advise asking for a lower floor so you can take the stairs.
Our only problem was the elevator service. This hotel is not set up for a "full" status with multiple people in each room, as there was this weekend...waits for one of the four elevators could approach 10 minutes. The stairs were an option, but being as I was on the 17th floor, not much of one for trying to get up to the room. People figured out on the lower floors that it was quicker to hop on an elevator going up and then they were guaranteed a spot going down. So even on the 17th floor the elevators wouldn't stop going down because they were already full...the waits usually started around 10 or 11 in the morning and continued until late at night.
We were going down to the lobby, and a group of my friends got on an elevator. I wasn't ready and I told them that I'd meet them down there. Then I get a call saying that they were stuck in the elevator, but that they had been pressing the button and I shouldn't worry. 25 minutes later I get another call from them saying that they called the operator at the hotel, and that the hotel responded with, "stop playing around kids...there is no broken elevator." I went to the front desk at this time and told them that my friends were stuck in an elevator, and they said, "there is no broken elevator." My other friend went to get an adult to tell the hotel, and then they believed them. An hour later someone from maintenance finally arrives. An hour and a half later, they get out. This was unacceptable. The event that I was at this hotel for is held here every year, and letters have already been written to the event's director asking to have the event held at a different location next year, because the treatment from the staff was just wrong. I hope the manager of this hotel thinks long and hard about the way his/her staff is trained.
If you have any opportunity to stay elsewhere, do. If you can get your company NOT to use this hotel as their convention hotel, do. I came for a conference recently and although the location is close to the Arena District and Short North for entertainment and dining, this hotel allowed panhandlers to roam everywhere assaulting guests asking for money. Everyone in my group was approached 5-10X over two days --- in the elevators, at the bar, in the lobby, in the hallways. It was annoying and at night, scary. The staff either seemed unaware or didn't care. One night a man at the Sky Bar on the second floor sat down, ordered water, was brought a bowl of free bar snacks, and proceeded to ask everyone around him to buy him dinner and drinks. The waitress told him they didn't allow that kind of thing there, but it was obvious he was homeless, so I don't know why he was allowed to sit in the first place. It's too bad because the hotel is fine, but the security stinks and I would never recommend this hotel to anyone unless they enjoy being stalked and harassed.
I was in Columbus a week ago for work and stayed at the Hyatt Regency Columbus for five nights. First of all, I would recommend avoiding Columbus if you can. I had never been to there before, and was extremely disappointed with the "city". Columbus has been hit really hard with the recession and the city is bare, besides very angry homeless people (one walked up to us saying "I'm not going to rob you" while another yelled expletives at us). Walking around at 9:30 p.m. you will find nobody else is out except you.
When leaving the hotel and walking out the front of the hotel to go into the downtown area to go to a restaurant, we had three pan-handlers ask for money, within one block, and were a little aggressive...Even using the skywalks from the hotel to the parking garage, there are homeless/pan-handlers sitting in the corners and asking for handouts. Just be aware.
The parking situation at this hotel is ridiculous. If you don't opt for valet parking, you must trudge ten minutes ONE WAY to the public parking lot (Chestnut Parking Garage) across the street that the hotel uses. The skywalk connectors are creepy. I had my car broken into and vandalized. The Columbus police officer who responded to the call said that this lot has at least one break in a day. He felt that the lot was not safe.I wish I had known this prior to choosing to park there.
I stayed nine nights for a group and I literally had to re-make my bed each night - sloppy work. I called three times to get my room vacuumed and the bathroom floor cleaned without success. Twice I returned to my room around 4 pm and it hadn't been cleaned yet. There was water on the tile elevator floors 80% of the time.
Two foot long hairs in the shower found on my arrival. A sock from the last occupant left in a dresser drawer.
My bed was not made up properly (loose sheets), the first night and I had the soiled pillow cases from the previous guest that was not changed (believe me, I work with homeless and this does not bother me, but for what I paid I thought this is really bad). Our room was not "refreshed" the next day (garbage not dumped, towels not changed, nothing wiped). There were no signs in room indicating that they change sheets only every 3 days - which is good environmentally, but at least tell me!!! I had to phone room service to get new towels and have them at least wipe the place!
Complaints got no explanations - just that it shouldn't have happened. There is NO free internet access, that will cost you $9.95 per day. PLEASE - it's 2011, I can get free internet access at McDonald's but not the Hyatt Regency - connected to the Convention Center? The elevators are inadequate for accommodating guests at certain times throughout the day. You are not allowed to take a cart to your room to make it easier to pack your things - they will only let you use a cart if you let a bellboy bring it, ensuring you of having to spend money on tips. I wanted a cart to make things easier when they were going to move my room to a lower floor...and was not allowed to touch it. And when we checked out, they totally messed up at least one of our bills - not even having the right company name on the receipt and could NOT get it corrected. The breakfast buffet in the restaurant is almost $20 per person (prices for everything in that restaurant is absurd), and the food was cold and horrible - the guys who ate there refused to pay for it. And, in one case, instead of taking it off their bill, they put it on our company credit card - which the hotel was not given permission to use for food (only authority was given for hotel and parking). When I called them about it, they told me it was my problem and I would have to get the guest to call and have it transferred to his credit card (this is before I knew the meal was supposed to be credited) - I don't know how it is my problem when they don't even have authority to put those charges on the company credit card? And how about this - when I wrote a complaint letter to the manager, he called on a Saturday evening to respond (it's a business - why would you not call during business hours)? He left a message and sent an email saying he would contact me that week. He waited until Thursday morning and emailed me asking if I could talk that day, I said to call after 11 am and he responded he would. A week later he had not even called! And a carbon copy sent to the regional manager received no response. I now know why the customer service down the line is so poor. Customer service is horrible, hotel accommodations inadequate, and staff obviously can't do their job. I already have reservations for next year's convention at the Drury Hotel right next door - which I have heard nothing but good things about (and get this, FREE internet access, food buffets, and a hot tub too). I will never stay at the Hyatt Regency again!
To be fair, some of the comments left at TripAdvisor.com at the Hyatt Regency Columbus were positive ones but the negative experiences of so many guests cannot be disregarded.
In response to these concerns, Stewart Flood, LNC Region 1 Representative, said:
I voted against the hotel for reasons similar to those you listed: horrible elevator service and too large a convention facility. The rooms were clean and well kept, but Internet service was spotty. Cell coverage for AT&T was poor to unacceptable in the meeting rooms, with 3G service for an iPad unavailable most of the time (including in my room on the 19th floor). The hotel provided computer that was in my room was broken, so there was no way to get online. (It had an attached Verizon "Hot Spot" for the room, which was out of service because of the dead computer).
Unfortunately, we selected the hotel.
Perhaps the Libertarian National Committee should re-consider their decision to hold its 2014 Libertarian National Convention at the Hyatt Regency in Columbus, Ohio.
Monday, August 15, 2011
Ron Ramo, LPQC Treasurer, Challenges Presence Of "Celebrate Ramadan" Sign In A Flower Field At Columbus Plaza In Brooklyn, New York
Ron Ramo, Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, has challenged the presence of a "Celebrate Ramadan" sign located in one of the Flower Fields at Columbus Plaza in downtown Brooklyn, New York.
In a letter to the New York City Parks Department dated August 15, 2011, Mr. Ramo wrote:
I was in Columbus Plaza today, and I noticed there was a sign declaring Celebrate Ramadan. I would like to know if this sign was installed with the approval of the NYC Parks Dept. and if so, was any compensation paid to the city for such use. Lastly, could the NYC Parks Dept. please provide me any memo or other opinion papers that determined such a sign does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (as interpreted in the case of County of Allegheny v. ACLU, 492 U.S. 573 (1989)) or Article 1, Section 3 and 11 of the NYS Constitution.
John Clifton, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, commented on Mr. Ramo's inquiry to the NYC Parks Dept. as follows:
Ron has been sharp enough to point this case out, though there are complications. First, are we complaining about a constitutional violation, or the selective non-enforcement of it (no enforcement for Muslim or Jewish signs, yes for Christian displays)? Second, is there a constitutional violation? Not a lawyer here, but I have heard that there have been different federal court cases (on different circuits) that have ruled in both directions on this matter, and that the Supreme Court has failed to rule on their appeals, to reconcile the decisions.
The 1st Amendment as written forbids Congress/federal government from establishing a church, not a state or municipality from incidentally acknowledging a holiday display of religious origin. The decisions (like Allegheny) that say it is a violation seem to draw from the 14th Amendment incorporation doctrine to add the states to the prohibition, while other cases do not feel the application of that doctrine is relevant, and lean towards the "free exercise" of religion clause in permitting such signs or displays. Maybe our goal here should be to simply get clarity or consistency from the city on the matter, instead of appearing to inhibit the free exercise of a major faith based on one school of constitutional interpretation.
Ronald S. Ramo is an attorney residing in South Ozone Park, New York. He serves as Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Queens County and as Vice-Chair of Long Island Libertarians (covering Kings County, Queens County, Nassau County & Suffolk County).
In a letter to the New York City Parks Department dated August 15, 2011, Mr. Ramo wrote:
I was in Columbus Plaza today, and I noticed there was a sign declaring Celebrate Ramadan. I would like to know if this sign was installed with the approval of the NYC Parks Dept. and if so, was any compensation paid to the city for such use. Lastly, could the NYC Parks Dept. please provide me any memo or other opinion papers that determined such a sign does not violate the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution (as interpreted in the case of County of Allegheny v. ACLU, 492 U.S. 573 (1989)) or Article 1, Section 3 and 11 of the NYS Constitution.
John Clifton, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Queens County, commented on Mr. Ramo's inquiry to the NYC Parks Dept. as follows:
Ron has been sharp enough to point this case out, though there are complications. First, are we complaining about a constitutional violation, or the selective non-enforcement of it (no enforcement for Muslim or Jewish signs, yes for Christian displays)? Second, is there a constitutional violation? Not a lawyer here, but I have heard that there have been different federal court cases (on different circuits) that have ruled in both directions on this matter, and that the Supreme Court has failed to rule on their appeals, to reconcile the decisions.
The 1st Amendment as written forbids Congress/federal government from establishing a church, not a state or municipality from incidentally acknowledging a holiday display of religious origin. The decisions (like Allegheny) that say it is a violation seem to draw from the 14th Amendment incorporation doctrine to add the states to the prohibition, while other cases do not feel the application of that doctrine is relevant, and lean towards the "free exercise" of religion clause in permitting such signs or displays. Maybe our goal here should be to simply get clarity or consistency from the city on the matter, instead of appearing to inhibit the free exercise of a major faith based on one school of constitutional interpretation.
Ronald S. Ramo is an attorney residing in South Ozone Park, New York. He serves as Treasurer of the Libertarian Party of Queens County and as Vice-Chair of Long Island Libertarians (covering Kings County, Queens County, Nassau County & Suffolk County).
Thursday, July 28, 2011
Dr. Tom Stevens, Long Island Libertarians Chair, Urges Nassau County To Build A Casino With An Aviation Theme To Pay For A New Nassau Coliseum, Minor League Baseball Stadium & Convention Center
It now looks like Nassau County residents will go to the polls on August 1, 2011 and reject the referendum authorizing Nassau County to borrow 400 million dollars through the issuance of bonds over the next 30 years to build a new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Minor League Baseball Stadium near the site of the current home of the New York Islanders in Uniondale, New York. The anticipated "No" vote is being influenced by the current national debate over whether to and under what circumstances to raise the debt limit, a growing general objection to big government and the lack of a concrete plan and revenue sharing agreement to make certain Nassau County taxpayers don't end up having to pay for shortfalls in anticipated revenue.
Dr. Tom Stevens, Long Island Libertarians Chair, stated:
There is no question the 39 year old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is in a state of disrepair and I would not blame the New York Islanders if they left Nassau County to find a new home when their lease expires in 2015. While it is true that approval of this 400 million dollar bond issue will keep the New York Islanders in Nassau County and build a new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Minor League Baseball Stadium, it comes with considerable risks to the taxpayers of Nassau County.
Nassau County residents need to see a viable redevelopment plan and revenue sharing agreement providing a high degree of confidence that revenue generated by the county will be able to repay these bonds with interest without leaving Nassau County taxpayers holding the bag. Ed Mangano, Nassau County Executive, and Charles Wang, Islanders' owner, need to sit down and work out an agreement that is acceptable to the Islanders while raising enough revenue to not only cover the bonds but also to bring a profit to Nassau County residents that will ultimately bring down property taxes and solve the fiscal crisis the county currently faces.
Mangano & Wang could write a new agreement increasing the percentage of revenue the county is expected to get or it could add new sources of revenue such as letting the county run the parking lot. However, I favor a grand redevelopment plan that would not only include the building of a new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Minor League Baseball Stadium but also the building of a Convention Center and a Casino with restaurants, buffets, high-end shopping and on-site entertainment venues such as a Comedy Club and a Cabaret. Such a Casino (with an aviation theme) would create new jobs and a guaranteed revenue stream to finance the building of the Coliseum, Stadium and Convention Center. Other revenue-generating world-class entertainment and sports complexes could also be build over a period of years.
The most important point is that if Nassau County intends to redevelop this site, it must do so with Nassau County taxpayers' best interests in mind.
Long Island Libertarians is a chartered chapter of Empire State Libertarians and is active in Kings County, Queens County, Nassau County and Suffolk County.
Dr. Tom Stevens, Long Island Libertarians Chair, stated:
There is no question the 39 year old Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum is in a state of disrepair and I would not blame the New York Islanders if they left Nassau County to find a new home when their lease expires in 2015. While it is true that approval of this 400 million dollar bond issue will keep the New York Islanders in Nassau County and build a new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Minor League Baseball Stadium, it comes with considerable risks to the taxpayers of Nassau County.
Nassau County residents need to see a viable redevelopment plan and revenue sharing agreement providing a high degree of confidence that revenue generated by the county will be able to repay these bonds with interest without leaving Nassau County taxpayers holding the bag. Ed Mangano, Nassau County Executive, and Charles Wang, Islanders' owner, need to sit down and work out an agreement that is acceptable to the Islanders while raising enough revenue to not only cover the bonds but also to bring a profit to Nassau County residents that will ultimately bring down property taxes and solve the fiscal crisis the county currently faces.
Mangano & Wang could write a new agreement increasing the percentage of revenue the county is expected to get or it could add new sources of revenue such as letting the county run the parking lot. However, I favor a grand redevelopment plan that would not only include the building of a new Nassau Veterans Memorial Coliseum and Minor League Baseball Stadium but also the building of a Convention Center and a Casino with restaurants, buffets, high-end shopping and on-site entertainment venues such as a Comedy Club and a Cabaret. Such a Casino (with an aviation theme) would create new jobs and a guaranteed revenue stream to finance the building of the Coliseum, Stadium and Convention Center. Other revenue-generating world-class entertainment and sports complexes could also be build over a period of years.
The most important point is that if Nassau County intends to redevelop this site, it must do so with Nassau County taxpayers' best interests in mind.
Long Island Libertarians is a chartered chapter of Empire State Libertarians and is active in Kings County, Queens County, Nassau County and Suffolk County.
Tuesday, June 28, 2011
The Future Of The Libertarian Political Movement Conference In Manchester, New Hampshire Draws Few Attendees & Offers No Solutions To Revitalize The Libertarian Party
A one-day conference entitled The Future Of The Libertarian Political Movement was recently held on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at the Highlander Inn in Manchester, New Hampshire. George Phillies organized the conference, co-sponsored by the Libertarian Party of New Hampshire and the Libertarian Party of Massachusetts, and promised to cover any losses. He had support from his State Committee, Angela Keaton and Rich Tomasso.
The conference keynote speaker was Judge John Buttrick of Arizona who spoke at the luncheon. Other featured speakers included Angela Keaton of AntiWar.com and Outright Libertarians; Joe Kennedy, Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate; Ernest Hancock, publisher of Freedom’s Phoenix; Mary Ruwart, author of “Healing our World” and member of the Libertarian National Committee, and Don Gorman, past LNC at-large representative, former Libertarian N.H. state representative and the most-elected libertarian in the country.
The conference featured the following panels and sessions, which were divided into two tracks:
■ Electronic Security and Activism in the Age of Anonymous
■ Campaigns for Congress and running large-scale campaigns
■ Future Outreach to Youth and Students
■ Future Outreach to the GLBTQ Community
■ Libertarians and the anti-war movement
■ Recruiting Candidates
■ New Hampshire Politics and the Free State Project
■ The State of the States and reviving state parties
The conference also featured the first debate of candidates seeking the Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination in 2012. To qualify for participation in the debate, candidates needed to prove they had an extended continuous record of Libertarian Party activism, completed their FEC filings and had a substantial campaign team in place. Three candidates qualified for participation: R. Lee Wrights of Texas, Carl Person of New York and Roger V. Gary of Texas. George Phillies moderated the debate.
The Massachusetts delegation promised to award one LPUS 2012 National Convention Delegate to the candidate who won the Straw Poll of attendees after the debate. Twenty-two people voted in the Straw Poll: 12 voted for R. Lee Wrights, 7 voted for Carl Person and 3 voted for Roger V. Gary. Wrights won the Massachusetts Delegate. The New Hampshire delegation caucused separately eventually committing one delegate to N.O.T.A. and one delegate to Albert Max Abramson, who declared his candidacy for the LP Presidential Nomination at the convention. Mr. Abramson was not permitted to participate in the debate and failed to mention to the convention attendees that he is currently a candidate running for State Representative in the Republican Primary in an upcoming Special Election.
Mary Ruwart, a member of the Libertarian National Committee, reported to conference attendees that membership in the Libertarian Party has recently been flat and only went up slightly during the past few months because Wes Benedict, Executive Director of the Libertarian National Committee, has been personally calling former members to ask them to renew. She stated most of the LNC is in denial about membership. George Phillies personally told me "a highly reliable source" told him Mark Hinkle. LP Chair, "is aware of the (membership) decline and blames it on Wayne's (Wayne Allyn Root) bizarre and very public political stances".
Despite the low attendance and the failure of conference attendees to offer possible solutions to address the decline in Libertarian Party membership, George Phillies was very positive about what the conference was able to accomplish. He said:
The convention was a fantastic success. We had better speeches, and more choices of panel, than you will see at any other libertarian convention this year.
Carl Person, one of the Presidential Debate Participants, had this reflection about the conference:
George Phillies was a gracious host. He treated early-arriving participants to dinner on Saturday night and did an excellent job moderating the debate. The main point I walked away with is that the Libertarian Party must start to capture members from the ever-increasing number of voters who agree with libertarian principles and who are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Republican and Democratic parties.
The Future Of The Libertarian Political Movement conference was held on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at the Highlander Inn located near the airport in Manchester, New Hampshire. Registration for the conference, which included meals, cost $100.00, although a half-day fee of $50.00 was also available.
The conference keynote speaker was Judge John Buttrick of Arizona who spoke at the luncheon. Other featured speakers included Angela Keaton of AntiWar.com and Outright Libertarians; Joe Kennedy, Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senate; Ernest Hancock, publisher of Freedom’s Phoenix; Mary Ruwart, author of “Healing our World” and member of the Libertarian National Committee, and Don Gorman, past LNC at-large representative, former Libertarian N.H. state representative and the most-elected libertarian in the country.
The conference featured the following panels and sessions, which were divided into two tracks:
■ Electronic Security and Activism in the Age of Anonymous
■ Campaigns for Congress and running large-scale campaigns
■ Future Outreach to Youth and Students
■ Future Outreach to the GLBTQ Community
■ Libertarians and the anti-war movement
■ Recruiting Candidates
■ New Hampshire Politics and the Free State Project
■ The State of the States and reviving state parties
The conference also featured the first debate of candidates seeking the Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination in 2012. To qualify for participation in the debate, candidates needed to prove they had an extended continuous record of Libertarian Party activism, completed their FEC filings and had a substantial campaign team in place. Three candidates qualified for participation: R. Lee Wrights of Texas, Carl Person of New York and Roger V. Gary of Texas. George Phillies moderated the debate.
The Massachusetts delegation promised to award one LPUS 2012 National Convention Delegate to the candidate who won the Straw Poll of attendees after the debate. Twenty-two people voted in the Straw Poll: 12 voted for R. Lee Wrights, 7 voted for Carl Person and 3 voted for Roger V. Gary. Wrights won the Massachusetts Delegate. The New Hampshire delegation caucused separately eventually committing one delegate to N.O.T.A. and one delegate to Albert Max Abramson, who declared his candidacy for the LP Presidential Nomination at the convention. Mr. Abramson was not permitted to participate in the debate and failed to mention to the convention attendees that he is currently a candidate running for State Representative in the Republican Primary in an upcoming Special Election.
Mary Ruwart, a member of the Libertarian National Committee, reported to conference attendees that membership in the Libertarian Party has recently been flat and only went up slightly during the past few months because Wes Benedict, Executive Director of the Libertarian National Committee, has been personally calling former members to ask them to renew. She stated most of the LNC is in denial about membership. George Phillies personally told me "a highly reliable source" told him Mark Hinkle. LP Chair, "is aware of the (membership) decline and blames it on Wayne's (Wayne Allyn Root) bizarre and very public political stances".
Despite the low attendance and the failure of conference attendees to offer possible solutions to address the decline in Libertarian Party membership, George Phillies was very positive about what the conference was able to accomplish. He said:
The convention was a fantastic success. We had better speeches, and more choices of panel, than you will see at any other libertarian convention this year.
Carl Person, one of the Presidential Debate Participants, had this reflection about the conference:
George Phillies was a gracious host. He treated early-arriving participants to dinner on Saturday night and did an excellent job moderating the debate. The main point I walked away with is that the Libertarian Party must start to capture members from the ever-increasing number of voters who agree with libertarian principles and who are becoming increasingly dissatisfied with the Republican and Democratic parties.
The Future Of The Libertarian Political Movement conference was held on Sunday, June 19, 2011 at the Highlander Inn located near the airport in Manchester, New Hampshire. Registration for the conference, which included meals, cost $100.00, although a half-day fee of $50.00 was also available.
Monday, June 27, 2011
Republican Warren Redlich Will Not Consider Supporting A Libertarian Presidential Candidate Until Ron Paul Fails To Obtain The Republican Nomination For President In 2012
Warren Redlich, the New York Libertarian Party's nominee for Governor in 2010, has stated in an e-mail to Carl Person, who is seeking the Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination in 2012, that he's "a Ron Paul guy" and will only consider focusing on the LP candidate "if Ron Paul does not get the GOP nomination".
On June 17, 2011, Carl Person sent an e-mail to Warren Redlich and, in part, wrote:
Anyway, the purpose of this e-mail is to request your personal endorsement for my candidacy for the LP nomination for President.
A few e-mails regarding strategy were exchanged and on June 18, 2011, Warren Redlich responded to Carl Person's request as follows:
I certainly encourage you to pursue this further.
As for an endorsement, I'm a Ron Paul guy. I think he's the best shot to promote libertarian ideas and I'm focused on him for now. While he's not the favorite to get the GOP nomination, I don't agree that it's "very unlikely". More important, he's building a libertarian faction within the GOP. His son got elected and also Justin Amash.
If Ron Paul does not get the GOP nomination, I will very likely focus on the LP candidate at that time, and I hope that's you.
Sam Sloan, who ran against Warren Redlich for the NYLP's gubernatorial nomination in 2010, often criticized Warren Redlich for being a Republican whose "Stop Wasting Money" campaign theme failed to address any substantive libertarian issues.
As recently as June 25, 2011, Sam Sloan wrote:
I remain disappointed that you chose to have a non-Libertarian as the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of New York State when you could have had a Libertarian instead.
and on June 27, 2011, Sam Sloan wrote:
Recall that I would have been the Legitimate Libertarian Party candidate for New York Governor, had not a ruthless gang of anti-Libertarians hijacked the State Convention in Albany last year.
Sam Sloan is referring to the fact that he and Kristin Davis, who were seeking the New York Libertarian Party's gubernatorial nomination in 2010 were not permitted to contact the 400-500 eligible voting delegates in advance of the convention to encourage them to show up to support them resulting in Warren Redlich being handed the gubernatorial nomination with less than 30 votes. In addition, Sam Sloan argued in his two lawsuits, which were dismissed on technical grounds, that the voting process for the gubernatorial nomination was itself rigged in that attendees, whether eligible to vote or not, were permitted to collect other people's votes and to drop their votes, written on scrap paper, into passing hats. Mr. Sloan had collected evidence of actual fraud having taken place and had two witnesses willing to testify had the case been tried on its merits.
On June 17, 2011, Carl Person sent an e-mail to Warren Redlich and, in part, wrote:
Anyway, the purpose of this e-mail is to request your personal endorsement for my candidacy for the LP nomination for President.
A few e-mails regarding strategy were exchanged and on June 18, 2011, Warren Redlich responded to Carl Person's request as follows:
I certainly encourage you to pursue this further.
As for an endorsement, I'm a Ron Paul guy. I think he's the best shot to promote libertarian ideas and I'm focused on him for now. While he's not the favorite to get the GOP nomination, I don't agree that it's "very unlikely". More important, he's building a libertarian faction within the GOP. His son got elected and also Justin Amash.
If Ron Paul does not get the GOP nomination, I will very likely focus on the LP candidate at that time, and I hope that's you.
Sam Sloan, who ran against Warren Redlich for the NYLP's gubernatorial nomination in 2010, often criticized Warren Redlich for being a Republican whose "Stop Wasting Money" campaign theme failed to address any substantive libertarian issues.
As recently as June 25, 2011, Sam Sloan wrote:
I remain disappointed that you chose to have a non-Libertarian as the Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of New York State when you could have had a Libertarian instead.
and on June 27, 2011, Sam Sloan wrote:
Recall that I would have been the Legitimate Libertarian Party candidate for New York Governor, had not a ruthless gang of anti-Libertarians hijacked the State Convention in Albany last year.
Sam Sloan is referring to the fact that he and Kristin Davis, who were seeking the New York Libertarian Party's gubernatorial nomination in 2010 were not permitted to contact the 400-500 eligible voting delegates in advance of the convention to encourage them to show up to support them resulting in Warren Redlich being handed the gubernatorial nomination with less than 30 votes. In addition, Sam Sloan argued in his two lawsuits, which were dismissed on technical grounds, that the voting process for the gubernatorial nomination was itself rigged in that attendees, whether eligible to vote or not, were permitted to collect other people's votes and to drop their votes, written on scrap paper, into passing hats. Mr. Sloan had collected evidence of actual fraud having taken place and had two witnesses willing to testify had the case been tried on its merits.
Carl Person, Candidate For The Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination In 2012, Publishes Introductory Biography
Carl Person, a Harvard Law Graduate who founded the Paralegal Institute and who is seeking the Libertarian Party's Presidential Nomination in 2012, has published the following biography to provide some insight regarding his background and experiences:
Let me introduce myself.
My name is Carl Person and I am a candidate for the Libertarian Party nomination for President in 2012.
High school did not stimulate me, and I found ways to avoid going to class, such as by volunteering to run the school’s projector, and sometimes by not showing up for school.
I already knew about work, having had one job or another since the age of 9, when I had a newspaper delivery route (by bicycle) in North Platte, Nebraska.
When I moved back east, to East Northport, Long Island, New York, I worked while in school in the local bowling alley setting up pins (before pin-setting machines were installed), delivering milk for a local dairy (and learning how to hold 7-8 quart bottles of milk in my hands at one time); and as a potato peeler, dishwasher and later a substitute short order cook in our town’s all night diner.
Being experienced in making enough money to get by, I really saw little need to learn any French. And my French teacher in the 10th grade made an offer to me – “Promise not to take French again and I’ll give you a passing mark.” I told her to give me whatever I deserved, and she gave me an F. I didn’t care because I did not plan to go any further in high school. I wanted to be free and have a good time.
I had learned how to make money starting at age 9 and when dropping out of high school (at age 16) I knew that I could always make money. My father wasn’t happy about what I did, but there was little he could do about it. He went to work each day in NYC and I did what I wanted to do while he was gone.
I landed a job with Firestone driving a pickup truck to help start cars which their owners couldn’t start or to fix or change flat tires. Also, I drove a small Ford tractor for a home construction company. I made ammunition boxes for the Korean war effort as a drill press operator, and will never forget when the union shop steward came up to me and said, “Look, I know that you’re new here, but you’re working way too fast, and are making the rest of us look bad. You’d better slow down or else.” I understood immediately, and complied, and reduced my effort about 50% and got along fine.
Instead of the good time I was seeking, I wound up doing various menial tasks to earn the few dollars I needed (while living rent free with my father).
Within one year from freedom from high school, it became clear to me that I was heading nowhere, and decided with my best friend to join the Army, for a 3-year hitch. My father wasn’t happy, but went with me to a Post Office to sign the necessary forms allowing me to join, as a high school dropout – not a very promising introduction into the armed services.
My friend and I were taken by bus to Fort Dix, New Jersey for introductory processing, including the taking of various tests. My friend went to a Signal Corps school to learn how to string telephone lines on telephone poles and I was sent to become a high speed radio operator, learning how to read, send and transcribe Morse Code at 25 words per minute.
After my training was over, at which I learned how to type and shoot a rifle and pistol (the only useful skills I took with me from the Army), I was assigned to Okinawa, and was transported there by a huge military ship with thousands of other soldiers thrown closely together for a 17-day journey, as I now recall. Talking, sleeping, gambling and looking for moments of privacy took up most of our time.
Finally, we landed at Okinawa, and were taken by “deuce-and-a-half” or 2-1/2 ton truck to Machiminato, a base near the capital city of Naha, for orientation and assignment, and later I moved to the Headquarters Company in Sukiran, and started my stint as a ship-to-shore radio operator, working the midnight shift in an Okinawan town known as Shimabuku. My call sign was ADD2 (di dah, dah di dit, dah di dit, di di dah dah dah) and for almost two years I was listening for any ships sending out an S-O-S for any reason, to pass on the S-O-S to those who might be of help to the ship in distress.
Life in a foreign country (actually, an island 70 miles long and 7 miles wide) for a 17-19 year old with little spending money was not very exciting, and most of us could only wait until we became “short timers”, meaning that we had fewer than 100 days left on “The Rock”. I learned that the Army had an early release program for those who wished to attend college, and I asked my father to find a college willing to accept me.
This proved to be quite difficult, and my father found only one college, Long Island University. I obtained my early release, enabling me to start summer school at LIU. The Director of Admissions who admitted me in spite of my drop out status and lack of a GED diploma hired me as his assistant within several weeks after my admission, and 1-1/2 years later I became President of the Student Body, and a leading student academically.
I remember the first day in college, when entering the elevator for the first time, I asked the elevator operator “Who is the brightest student at LIU”. He and others told me it was “Hollister Brewster”, who in a few weeks became one of my best friends at LIU. He came in 1st and I came in 3rd. He obtained entrance to Cornell Medical College on a full scholarship (one of a class of about 65 students) and I was admitted to all law schools to which I applied, and chose to go to Harvard Law School, from which my father had graduated 36 years earlier.
I worked harder than anyone at law school but wasn’t able with all that effort to take any honors. It seemed that they went to students who for some reason didn’t have to study very hard, such as Richard Posner (7th Circuit Court of Appeals) who came in first.
Nevertheless, I was appointed to become law clerk to the Chief Judge of the United States Tax Court in Washington D.C., which I declined because of the low compensation and high cost of living in Washington, and instead accepted a position with a NYC law firm to which Richard Nixon and John Mitchell were going to become partners.
I worked for several years as a Wall Street lawyer doing securities work, trusts and estates, taxation, and corporate law, and went out on my own to become an individual practitioner and small business owner in 1968.
Because of my self employment, I was able to commence lawsuits that would have had me fired if I had been working for a major law firm. I used my legal skills to try to limit government regulation and government spending. For example, I sued to legalize lawyer advertising; to legalize all gambling in NYS; to stop government financing of NYC ball parks; and to stop payments to major media for not moving their offices out of NYC.
I created the paralegal field, and owned and ran the Paralegal Institute for 18 years. I know first hand about the crippling effect of government regulation on education and small business, and tried to do something about it, by two lawsuits seeking to reduce the regulation of for-profit vocational schools in NYS, so that their regulation would be no more stringent than the regulation of competing vocational programs offered by NYU and other degree-granting universities.
Because of my exposure to extreme regulation of education for 18 years, I am in a position to know what needs to be done to reduce or eliminate such regulation and the benefits to be obtained. Regulation slows down if not stops the ability and willingness of schools to create and maintain a cutting-edge curriculum. For example, when I ran the Paralegal Institute, it took me several years and various compromises to be able to obtain state approval for a program I designed to create a new field of employment I called a "Personal Assistant" or "Business Assistant" to the owner of a small business. If, earlier, I had not started the Paralegal Institute before licensing was required, I would never have started the school. Regulated schools find it too difficult to create new types of programs and let their existing programs deteriorate into obsolescence and irrelevance with the predictable inability of graduates to get meaningful jobs while at the same time being stuck with massive student loans they are unable to pay off, with hundreds of billions of dollars in loan losses paid by taxpayers. Get rid of regulation of education and you’ll reduce the costs of government in a variety of ways and get a better, competitive educational system, and create more jobs for Americans.
After the time the Paralegal Institute closed its doors, I became a political activist. I’ve learned that meaningful, permanent jobs can’t be created by government programs. For job creation the government needs to end as much regulation of small business as possible, and let small business create and improve their educational offerings and let the free market select which ones are the best, and which should fail or be improved.
I am anti-war (which would save trillions of dollars in so many different ways and help to create a sound, sustainable economy through ending all unnecessary wars and bringing our troops back home); I want to end the war on drugs and legalize victimless crimes. If we end the stifling regulation of small business, healthcare issues can be solved in a free market without federal intervention. Social Security can be phased out and replaced with a more workable model. Also, we need to end the Federal Reserve, without further weakening our currency.
I have been active in the Libertarian Party of Queens County for nearly a decade and in 2010, I ran for New York State Attorney General and came in third, with the highest number of votes for that office ever received by a Libertarian Party candidate.
I intend to use my candidacy to spread the message of libertarianism to those open to the message of liberty, both on the right and left, and in so doing, strengthen the Libertarian Party at the state and national level. I intend to raise and spend a considerable sum to accomplish these goals. I ask for your support.
You may contact Carl Person (pronounced pier-son) by phone at 1-212-307-4444 or by e-mail at CarlForPresident2012@yahoo.com
Let me introduce myself.
My name is Carl Person and I am a candidate for the Libertarian Party nomination for President in 2012.
High school did not stimulate me, and I found ways to avoid going to class, such as by volunteering to run the school’s projector, and sometimes by not showing up for school.
I already knew about work, having had one job or another since the age of 9, when I had a newspaper delivery route (by bicycle) in North Platte, Nebraska.
When I moved back east, to East Northport, Long Island, New York, I worked while in school in the local bowling alley setting up pins (before pin-setting machines were installed), delivering milk for a local dairy (and learning how to hold 7-8 quart bottles of milk in my hands at one time); and as a potato peeler, dishwasher and later a substitute short order cook in our town’s all night diner.
Being experienced in making enough money to get by, I really saw little need to learn any French. And my French teacher in the 10th grade made an offer to me – “Promise not to take French again and I’ll give you a passing mark.” I told her to give me whatever I deserved, and she gave me an F. I didn’t care because I did not plan to go any further in high school. I wanted to be free and have a good time.
I had learned how to make money starting at age 9 and when dropping out of high school (at age 16) I knew that I could always make money. My father wasn’t happy about what I did, but there was little he could do about it. He went to work each day in NYC and I did what I wanted to do while he was gone.
I landed a job with Firestone driving a pickup truck to help start cars which their owners couldn’t start or to fix or change flat tires. Also, I drove a small Ford tractor for a home construction company. I made ammunition boxes for the Korean war effort as a drill press operator, and will never forget when the union shop steward came up to me and said, “Look, I know that you’re new here, but you’re working way too fast, and are making the rest of us look bad. You’d better slow down or else.” I understood immediately, and complied, and reduced my effort about 50% and got along fine.
Instead of the good time I was seeking, I wound up doing various menial tasks to earn the few dollars I needed (while living rent free with my father).
Within one year from freedom from high school, it became clear to me that I was heading nowhere, and decided with my best friend to join the Army, for a 3-year hitch. My father wasn’t happy, but went with me to a Post Office to sign the necessary forms allowing me to join, as a high school dropout – not a very promising introduction into the armed services.
My friend and I were taken by bus to Fort Dix, New Jersey for introductory processing, including the taking of various tests. My friend went to a Signal Corps school to learn how to string telephone lines on telephone poles and I was sent to become a high speed radio operator, learning how to read, send and transcribe Morse Code at 25 words per minute.
After my training was over, at which I learned how to type and shoot a rifle and pistol (the only useful skills I took with me from the Army), I was assigned to Okinawa, and was transported there by a huge military ship with thousands of other soldiers thrown closely together for a 17-day journey, as I now recall. Talking, sleeping, gambling and looking for moments of privacy took up most of our time.
Finally, we landed at Okinawa, and were taken by “deuce-and-a-half” or 2-1/2 ton truck to Machiminato, a base near the capital city of Naha, for orientation and assignment, and later I moved to the Headquarters Company in Sukiran, and started my stint as a ship-to-shore radio operator, working the midnight shift in an Okinawan town known as Shimabuku. My call sign was ADD2 (di dah, dah di dit, dah di dit, di di dah dah dah) and for almost two years I was listening for any ships sending out an S-O-S for any reason, to pass on the S-O-S to those who might be of help to the ship in distress.
Life in a foreign country (actually, an island 70 miles long and 7 miles wide) for a 17-19 year old with little spending money was not very exciting, and most of us could only wait until we became “short timers”, meaning that we had fewer than 100 days left on “The Rock”. I learned that the Army had an early release program for those who wished to attend college, and I asked my father to find a college willing to accept me.
This proved to be quite difficult, and my father found only one college, Long Island University. I obtained my early release, enabling me to start summer school at LIU. The Director of Admissions who admitted me in spite of my drop out status and lack of a GED diploma hired me as his assistant within several weeks after my admission, and 1-1/2 years later I became President of the Student Body, and a leading student academically.
I remember the first day in college, when entering the elevator for the first time, I asked the elevator operator “Who is the brightest student at LIU”. He and others told me it was “Hollister Brewster”, who in a few weeks became one of my best friends at LIU. He came in 1st and I came in 3rd. He obtained entrance to Cornell Medical College on a full scholarship (one of a class of about 65 students) and I was admitted to all law schools to which I applied, and chose to go to Harvard Law School, from which my father had graduated 36 years earlier.
I worked harder than anyone at law school but wasn’t able with all that effort to take any honors. It seemed that they went to students who for some reason didn’t have to study very hard, such as Richard Posner (7th Circuit Court of Appeals) who came in first.
Nevertheless, I was appointed to become law clerk to the Chief Judge of the United States Tax Court in Washington D.C., which I declined because of the low compensation and high cost of living in Washington, and instead accepted a position with a NYC law firm to which Richard Nixon and John Mitchell were going to become partners.
I worked for several years as a Wall Street lawyer doing securities work, trusts and estates, taxation, and corporate law, and went out on my own to become an individual practitioner and small business owner in 1968.
Because of my self employment, I was able to commence lawsuits that would have had me fired if I had been working for a major law firm. I used my legal skills to try to limit government regulation and government spending. For example, I sued to legalize lawyer advertising; to legalize all gambling in NYS; to stop government financing of NYC ball parks; and to stop payments to major media for not moving their offices out of NYC.
I created the paralegal field, and owned and ran the Paralegal Institute for 18 years. I know first hand about the crippling effect of government regulation on education and small business, and tried to do something about it, by two lawsuits seeking to reduce the regulation of for-profit vocational schools in NYS, so that their regulation would be no more stringent than the regulation of competing vocational programs offered by NYU and other degree-granting universities.
Because of my exposure to extreme regulation of education for 18 years, I am in a position to know what needs to be done to reduce or eliminate such regulation and the benefits to be obtained. Regulation slows down if not stops the ability and willingness of schools to create and maintain a cutting-edge curriculum. For example, when I ran the Paralegal Institute, it took me several years and various compromises to be able to obtain state approval for a program I designed to create a new field of employment I called a "Personal Assistant" or "Business Assistant" to the owner of a small business. If, earlier, I had not started the Paralegal Institute before licensing was required, I would never have started the school. Regulated schools find it too difficult to create new types of programs and let their existing programs deteriorate into obsolescence and irrelevance with the predictable inability of graduates to get meaningful jobs while at the same time being stuck with massive student loans they are unable to pay off, with hundreds of billions of dollars in loan losses paid by taxpayers. Get rid of regulation of education and you’ll reduce the costs of government in a variety of ways and get a better, competitive educational system, and create more jobs for Americans.
After the time the Paralegal Institute closed its doors, I became a political activist. I’ve learned that meaningful, permanent jobs can’t be created by government programs. For job creation the government needs to end as much regulation of small business as possible, and let small business create and improve their educational offerings and let the free market select which ones are the best, and which should fail or be improved.
I am anti-war (which would save trillions of dollars in so many different ways and help to create a sound, sustainable economy through ending all unnecessary wars and bringing our troops back home); I want to end the war on drugs and legalize victimless crimes. If we end the stifling regulation of small business, healthcare issues can be solved in a free market without federal intervention. Social Security can be phased out and replaced with a more workable model. Also, we need to end the Federal Reserve, without further weakening our currency.
I have been active in the Libertarian Party of Queens County for nearly a decade and in 2010, I ran for New York State Attorney General and came in third, with the highest number of votes for that office ever received by a Libertarian Party candidate.
I intend to use my candidacy to spread the message of libertarianism to those open to the message of liberty, both on the right and left, and in so doing, strengthen the Libertarian Party at the state and national level. I intend to raise and spend a considerable sum to accomplish these goals. I ask for your support.
You may contact Carl Person (pronounced pier-son) by phone at 1-212-307-4444 or by e-mail at CarlForPresident2012@yahoo.com
Thursday, June 23, 2011
Thomas Robert Stevens, Objectivist Party Candidate For President, Files Statement Of Candidacy With Federal Election Commission
Thomas Robert Stevens has formally declared his candidacy for President of the United States in 2012, by filing a Statement of Candidacy (FEC Form 2) with the Federal Election Commission on June 13, 2011. He was assigned Candidate ID #P80005655.
The Objectivist Party held its National Convention from May 29-30, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The first session was held on Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. at Show-Me's on The Landing located at 724 North First Street. The second session was held on Sunday, May 30, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Kitchen Buffet & Bistro (inside Lumiere Place Casino) located at 999 North Second Street. The delegates unanimously selected Thomas Robert Stevens (New York) as its candidate for President in 2012 and unanimously selected Alden Link (New York & Florida) as its candidate for Vice-President in 2012.
The candidate bio for Thomas Robert Stevens on the Objectivist Party website lists the following information:
Dr. Tom Stevens is an educator, attorney & political activist. He has appeared as an expert or to discuss current events and/or topics on over 200 national talk shows and for two and a half years, he produced and hosted “In Focus”, his own cable television show. Dr. Stevens is a graduate of New York University (where he served as Freshman Representative, Sophomore Representative & as President of the Student Council) and Hofstra University School of Law (for which he twice served as President of the Hofstra University School of Law Alumni Association).
During the past few years, he has taught the following courses on a college level: American History I, American History II, American Legal Systems, Business Ethics, Business Law I, Business Law II, Civil Law, Criminal Justice System, Criminal Law, Criminology, Critical Thinking, Developmental Reading Skills, Drugs In The Community, Elder Law, Environmental Science, Ethics, Gender Crime & Justice, Industrial Organizational Psychology, Interpersonal Communication, Introduction to Corrections, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Management, Introduction to Philosophy, Introductory Psychology, Jurisprudence, Juvenile Justice, Law & Evidence, Law Enforcement, Math Skills Workshop, Medical Law & Ethics, Microeconomics, Principles of Business, Private Security, Professional Development, Small Business Management, Sociology, and The Sociology of Crime & Deviance. He has introduced the philosophy of Ayn Rand to many students who have gone on to read her books and to appreciate the philosophy of Objectivism.
Dr. Stevens is the Founder & Chair of the Objectivist Party. He started the following holidays: Free Trade Day (May 8th), Space Exploration Day (July 20th), Skyscraper Appreciation Day (August 10th) and Individual Rights Day (August 29th). He has led the Beaux Arts Society, Knights of the Republic, Spartan Brotherhood, and Knights of Scorpius, the International Leadership Honor Society. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board & Vice-President of Concerned Citizens Speak. He created Applause! Applause!, a publication that reviewed cabaret shows and off-Broadway plays for which he served as a Critic and Editor-In-Chief. He conceptualized the Leonardo daVinci Award, which recognized James Franco early in his acting career.
Dr. Stevens was elected to the Judicial Committee of the Libertarian Party in 2006 and re-elected in 2008. He served as a New York State Delegate to the Libertarian Party’s National Convention in Atlanta in 2004, Portland in 2006, Denver in 2008, and St. Louis in 2010. He currently serves as Political Director, Membership Director and State Committee Representative for the Libertarian Party of Queens County. In the 2007-2008 Republican Presidential Primary Season, he was a supporter of Ron Paul and served as Political Consultant and New York State Coordinator for the independent Paul For President Coalition.
Dr. Stevens is a true adventurer. He has visited 49 of the 50 states (all but Alaska) and has travelled to Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, The Kingdom of the Netherlands and Vatican City. During those trips, he has jet skied, gone para sailing, white water rafting, speed boating and deep sea fishing. He has visited countless Native Nation reservations, taken Eco-Tourism Excursions in Oregon, been on a number of Photo Safaris in Sabi Sabi, South Africa, visited the natural wonders of 5 Hawaiian Islands (which included a small plane fly-by of the leper colony on Molokai), hiked through the Black Hills of South Dakota (in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt), skied in the Swiss Alps, spotted elk in Banff, saw the fallout of the eruption of Mount St. Helens first hand, and risked arrest meeting anti-government political leaders in secret locations in the rural areas of the Republic of South Africa while on a diplomatic trip to that country.
Dr. Tom Stevens lives his life in accordance with the philosophy of Ayn Rand. In her words, “the question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me!”
The Objectivist Party website is located at: http://www.objectivistparty.us/
The Objectivist Party held its National Convention from May 29-30, 2010 in St. Louis, Missouri. The first session was held on Saturday, May 29, 2010 from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. at Show-Me's on The Landing located at 724 North First Street. The second session was held on Sunday, May 30, 2010 from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. at The Kitchen Buffet & Bistro (inside Lumiere Place Casino) located at 999 North Second Street. The delegates unanimously selected Thomas Robert Stevens (New York) as its candidate for President in 2012 and unanimously selected Alden Link (New York & Florida) as its candidate for Vice-President in 2012.
The candidate bio for Thomas Robert Stevens on the Objectivist Party website lists the following information:
Dr. Tom Stevens is an educator, attorney & political activist. He has appeared as an expert or to discuss current events and/or topics on over 200 national talk shows and for two and a half years, he produced and hosted “In Focus”, his own cable television show. Dr. Stevens is a graduate of New York University (where he served as Freshman Representative, Sophomore Representative & as President of the Student Council) and Hofstra University School of Law (for which he twice served as President of the Hofstra University School of Law Alumni Association).
During the past few years, he has taught the following courses on a college level: American History I, American History II, American Legal Systems, Business Ethics, Business Law I, Business Law II, Civil Law, Criminal Justice System, Criminal Law, Criminology, Critical Thinking, Developmental Reading Skills, Drugs In The Community, Elder Law, Environmental Science, Ethics, Gender Crime & Justice, Industrial Organizational Psychology, Interpersonal Communication, Introduction to Corrections, Introduction to Criminal Justice, Introduction to Management, Introduction to Philosophy, Introductory Psychology, Jurisprudence, Juvenile Justice, Law & Evidence, Law Enforcement, Math Skills Workshop, Medical Law & Ethics, Microeconomics, Principles of Business, Private Security, Professional Development, Small Business Management, Sociology, and The Sociology of Crime & Deviance. He has introduced the philosophy of Ayn Rand to many students who have gone on to read her books and to appreciate the philosophy of Objectivism.
Dr. Stevens is the Founder & Chair of the Objectivist Party. He started the following holidays: Free Trade Day (May 8th), Space Exploration Day (July 20th), Skyscraper Appreciation Day (August 10th) and Individual Rights Day (August 29th). He has led the Beaux Arts Society, Knights of the Republic, Spartan Brotherhood, and Knights of Scorpius, the International Leadership Honor Society. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board & Vice-President of Concerned Citizens Speak. He created Applause! Applause!, a publication that reviewed cabaret shows and off-Broadway plays for which he served as a Critic and Editor-In-Chief. He conceptualized the Leonardo daVinci Award, which recognized James Franco early in his acting career.
Dr. Stevens was elected to the Judicial Committee of the Libertarian Party in 2006 and re-elected in 2008. He served as a New York State Delegate to the Libertarian Party’s National Convention in Atlanta in 2004, Portland in 2006, Denver in 2008, and St. Louis in 2010. He currently serves as Political Director, Membership Director and State Committee Representative for the Libertarian Party of Queens County. In the 2007-2008 Republican Presidential Primary Season, he was a supporter of Ron Paul and served as Political Consultant and New York State Coordinator for the independent Paul For President Coalition.
Dr. Stevens is a true adventurer. He has visited 49 of the 50 states (all but Alaska) and has travelled to Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Canada, Denmark, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg, Mexico, Monaco, Norway, South Africa, Sweden, The Kingdom of the Netherlands and Vatican City. During those trips, he has jet skied, gone para sailing, white water rafting, speed boating and deep sea fishing. He has visited countless Native Nation reservations, taken Eco-Tourism Excursions in Oregon, been on a number of Photo Safaris in Sabi Sabi, South Africa, visited the natural wonders of 5 Hawaiian Islands (which included a small plane fly-by of the leper colony on Molokai), hiked through the Black Hills of South Dakota (in the footsteps of Teddy Roosevelt), skied in the Swiss Alps, spotted elk in Banff, saw the fallout of the eruption of Mount St. Helens first hand, and risked arrest meeting anti-government political leaders in secret locations in the rural areas of the Republic of South Africa while on a diplomatic trip to that country.
Dr. Tom Stevens lives his life in accordance with the philosophy of Ayn Rand. In her words, “the question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me!”
The Objectivist Party website is located at: http://www.objectivistparty.us/
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