Libertarian Party of Wake County, North Carolina

Mike Beitler Interviewed by Mitch Kokai

2010-02-01T00:22:00.001-05:00

Mitch Kokai interviews Dr. Mike Beitler about his campaign for US Senate as a Libertarian. In this short interview, the focus is on the financial condition of the nation, and taking the positive action of auditing federal agencies to discover the "black holes" where resources are being wasted. If elected, Mike Beitler's top priority is to push for an audit of the Federal Reserve.

Learn more about Mike on his campaign website: http://www.beitlerforussenate.org/

Beitler for US Senate TV Commercial

2010-02-01T00:14:00.003-05:00

Dr. Mike Beitler is an announced Libertarian candidate for US Senate. Check out his television commercial below.

Source: Dr. Mike Beitler for U.S. Senate, http://www.beitlerforussenate.org/

"Fear the Boom and Bust", a Hayek vs. Keynes Rap Battle

2010-02-01T00:12:00.004-05:00

Hilarious and amazingly information-packed rap video from EconStories: http://www.econstories.tv/

"In Fear the Boom and Bust, John Maynard Keynes and F. A. Hayek, two of the great economists of the 20th century, come back to life to attend an economics conference on the economic crisis. Before the conference begins, and at the insistence of Lord Keynes, they go out for a night on the town and sing about why there's a 'boom and bust' cycle in modern economies and good reason to fear it."

Cameo appearance by Mike Munger as the limo driver at 1:11!

Table of Contents through December 2009

2010-01-10T17:41:00.023-05:00

Contents from December 31, 2009 going back to May 2006

December 2009

Mike Beitler Makes His New Year's Resolutions

October 2009

Appeals Court Rules for State

September 2009

Continue to the full table of contents…July 2009

June 2009

May 2009

Take Back Our State Tea Party

April 2009

March 2009

February 2009

December 2008

Search this Site

November 2008

October 2008

September 2008

August 2008

July 2008

June 2008

May 2008

April 2008

March 2008

Convention 2008

February 2008

January 2008

Our Day in Court & Forced Annexation Hearing

December 2007

October 2007

State Fair

September 2007

June 2007

April 2007

Wake Libertarians Oppose ‘Smoking Ban’

March 2007

County Convention!

January 2007

November 2006

October 2006

ANTIWAR FORUM / Film Screening

September 2006

August 2006

July 2006

June 2006

May 2006

Petitioning can be fun! No, really!

Archives by Month

May 2006 through December 2009 in Reverse Chronological Order

Mike Beitler Makes His New Year's Resolutions

2009-12-31T10:37:00.005-05:00

Mike Beitler didn't have much trouble coming up with his New Year's Resolutions. Ever since he announced he was seeking the Libertarian nomination for U.S. Senate, he knew he'd be spending most of the new year earning the confidence and the vote of his fellow North Carolinians.

"In 2010, I'll be devoting my time and energy convincing the people of North Carolina that it is time for them to reassert their liberty and to send a libertarian to represent them in the U.S. Senate.," Beitler said.

"So these – my New Year's Resolutions – represent my pledge and my promise to the people of North Carolina:

"First, I always vote in favor of the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of North Carolina. Every issue. Every time. Every issue. No exceptions. No excuses.

"Second, I will continue to oppose any and all efforts by the federal government to act beyond its Constitutional authority.

"Third, I will introduce, sponsor, and support legislation to repeal laws and regulations that are outside the scope of the powers delegated by the people to the federal government.

"Fourth, I will only vote in favor of a bill that I have thoroughly read, considered and understood.

"Fifth, I will be accountable to voters. I will make public every vote I cast while in office."

"These may seem like radical concepts," Beitler said. "But the only seem radical because the Democrats and Republicans who've dominated our state's politics for so long have befuddled people into thinking that government was the solution to all their problems."

"It is not."

"The time has come to stop talking in terms of reducing the budgets of various government programs and agencies," Beitler said. "The time has come to abolish entire Federal programs and agencies. That's why I am running for U.S. Senate."

Dr. Mike Beitler (pronounced Bite-ler) is a keynote speaker and workshop leader sought after for his expertise in business, politics, and economics. His internet radio talk show "Free Markets"gives listeners insights from leading thinkers into today's business, economic and political issues. In a world of unrelenting free-market bashing by the media and outrageous government interventions, "Free Markets" offers a refreshing libertarian, free-market perspective. Beitler has been recognized as a leading business executive, business consultant, business professor and business author for 30 years. His book "Strategic Organizational Change" is required reading in MBA programs worldwide. "Rational Individualism: A Moral Argument for Limited Government and Capitalism" is widely acclaimed by libertarians and free-market advocates as the leading guide for today's political and economic issues.

Appeals Court Rules for State

2009-10-21T09:10:00.001-04:00

RALEIGH (Oct. 20) – The N.C. Appeals Court decision upholding the state's restrictive ballot access laws is “a shameful day for our state,” said Dr. Mike Munger, 2008 Libertarian Party candidate for governor.

“I am sympathetic to the position the judges find themselves in,” Dr. Munger said. “While we wish that the other two members of the panel had voted with Judge (Ann Maria) Calabria, the core problem here is in the General Assembly.”

Dr. Munger, chair of Duke University political science department agreed that judges properly show substantial deference to the legislature in these sorts of 'time, place, and manner' of elections.

“But at some point our justice system is going to have to take up the cause of the citizens, because right now the General Assembly is letting us down,” he said.

“The North Carolina Constitution guarantees a citizen's right to vote for the party or candidate of their choice. Right now, that right is being denied. The courts are bending over backwards to give the legislature a chance to make this right. So, for now, the ball is once more in the court of the General Assembly.”

“The problem is that neither the Democrat nor Republican power-brokers want to let anyone else in on their duopoly,” said Barbara Howe, Libertarian Party state chair.

Howe said that in the next election cycle, North Carolina will probably have the largest signature requirement of any state, an estimated 90,000 signatures just to be able to put a name on the ballot.

“Our question to the General Assembly is: Are you going to continue to shame North Carolina with some of the most restrictive laws in the nation,” said Howe.

“Or are you going to bring laws in North Carolina into balance with those of the rest of the states? States like South Carolina, which require only 10,000 signatures to get on the ballot? Or Tennessee, which requires only 25 signatures.”

Since this was a 2-1 decision the full court will automatically hear the case if one of the parties requests it. Howe said the Libertarians will almost certainly make such a request.

Howe said Libertarians were heartened by Judge Calabria's dissenting opinion, in which she said, “North Carolina’s two percent statewide requirements for both ballot access and ballot retention place too onerous a burden on the fundamental rights of members of third parties under the State Constitution.”

Judge Calabria noted that the state permits ballot access under far less burdensome requirements for unaffiliated candidates, and thus has proven that it can accomplish its “compelling interest” in ballot regulation in a less restrictive fashion.

The “... compelling interests of the people of North Carolina … are thwarted by the ballot access statutes,” the judge said.

While it is ultimately the role of the legislature, rather than the court, to determine a precise method of ballot access and retention, she said. “However, ballot access statutes must, at the very least, allow both political parties and unaffiliated candidates equal access to the ballot,”she said.

The law is especially unfair because it forces a new or previously unqualified party to either qualify statewide, or not at all, Judge Calabria said.

The majority decision included a comment that Texas’ ballot access law had been upheld by the U.S. Supreme Court, and that Texas law also requires a party to qualify statewide or not at all. This is an error, according to Ballot Access News.

“In fact, Texas has always had procedures for a party that is not qualified statewide to get on the ballot in a single county,” reported Richard Winger, a nationally-recognized ballot access expert. Winger testified on behalf of the Libertarian Party at the trial.

“This decision, like the original decision by the Superior Court, completely fails to mention any of the other issues we raised, including the issue of whether the state should let voters register with parties that aren't ballot-qualified,” said Howe.

The case was filed in 2005.

LibertyTube TV: Gun Controlled

2009-09-26T20:40:00.011-04:00

This episode of LibertyTUBE TV explores the Second Amendment and the current legislative environment surrounding gun ownership. Paul Valone of Grass Roosts North Carolina speaks about relevant legislation in NC.

Dean Garris produces LibertyTube TV, a program broadcast on The People's Channel in Chapel Hill, currently Mondays at 11:30am and 6:30pm. You can find an archive of past episodes of LibertyTube TV on blip.tv.

2009-09-21T15:11:00.002-04:00

This Weeks Meeting at Napper Tandy's

This weeks meeting 9/24/09 will be at Napper Tandy's Irish Pub on 126 N. West street.

Stop the madness

2009-09-18T08:45:00.002-04:00

Dr. Michael Beitler has announced he's seeking the Libertarian Party's nomination for U.S. Senate in 2010.

“I want you to know, I am committed to abolishing Federal programs and agencies, not to creating new ones,” Beitler told about 100 supporters gathered for the announcement at the PTI Airport Marriott Hotel Thursday.

“Big government is causing more problems than it is claiming to fix,” he said. “Federal Government’s spending is out of control. Total reported – and unreported – Federal Government debt has taken us to the point of no-return.”

“It's time to stop the madness,” Beitler said. He said the time has come to stop talking in terms of reducing the budgets of various government programs and agencies.

“The time has come to abolish entire Federal programs and agencies,” Beitler said. Noting that Rep. Ron Paul (R-Tex.) has become know as “Dr. No” in the U.S. House of Representatives, Beitler said he wants to be known as “Dr. Abolish” in the U.S. Senate.

Beitler is business practice professor in The Bryan School of Business and Economics at the University of North Carolina-Greensboro. He's authored three business books used in MBA programs and hosts the Internet radio show “Free Markets With Dr. Mike Beitler” on the VoiceAmerica Business Network.

Beitler also wrote a book about his libertarian philosophy, “Rational Individualism: A Moral Argument for Limited Government & Capitalism.”

2009-08-09T12:24:00.002-04:00

This Weeks Meeting

This weeks meeting will be held at the Peking Garden at 126 E. Millbrook road in Raleigh.
A very nice place with great food and should be an excellent environment for our social meeting.
Please come and check out this location and tell us what you think of it. Since we are in the process of checking out different locations to hold our meetings please look at the Meetup calendar for meeting details and location each week. (link at top right of this home page).

Monthly programs

2009-07-27T14:23:00.004-04:00

Next week, we will begin monthly programs. The new venue at Napper Tandy's Irish Pub seems to be working out. We actually have a room where we can block out most of the sound from bar.

The first series of programs will focus on "doing" politics. We will cover things like writing letters-to-the-editor and op eds, lobbying, drafting and promoting legislation, working with groups with which we share a common goal and, of course, organizing and running political campaigns.

Fernie Williams, Phil Jacobson and Brian Irving on working on this series.

Next WakeLP meet

2009-07-12T18:10:00.000-04:00

Just our regular weekly meeting of Libertarians from around the Triangle. Come out for a friendly dinner with Libertarian friends. This weeks meeting will be held at Napper Tandy's Irish Pub.

Napper Tandy's Irish Pub
126 N. West St.
Glenwood South
Raleigh, NC 27603
www.nappertandysirishpub.com/raleigh/raleigh.html

New meeting location

2009-07-06T09:04:00.001-04:00

101 Cafe & Lounge

Corner of Blount & Davie Streets

We're trying out a new venue. We'll meet in the upstairs lounge. It's quiet and there is no band.

Independence Day Tea Party

2009-06-12T08:51:00.006-04:00

The grassroots group that started the "Tea Party" phenomena is sponsoring the Independence Day Tea Party, July 4 from 1 to 5 p.m. on Halifax Mall.

We the People, owe to the founding fathers at the very minimum our reaffirmation of the independence they declared, fought and died for.

This will be a family-oriented event with guest speakers, food vendors, games and activities for the kids, with a little history lesson or two.

The LPNC will be there and will have a speaker. Contact Brian Irving if you can help.

North Carolina Tea Party Revolution

The Socialists and the Statists will not rest.

Neither can we.

New Meeting Location for Thursday's Meeting

2009-06-07T22:57:00.003-04:00

We're switching meeting locations this week to explore a possible new location. Tir na nOg has been great, but it can get loud at times, and we have increasingly been 'bumped' from the private room into the bar area, making it difficult to schedule speakers or even to hold reasonable conversations around the table.

The new location is the Garner Mayflower Seafood at 4205 Fayetteville Rd, Raleigh, NC 27603. You can find more information and RSVP at our Meetup site.

Also, we have our monthly business meeting this Tuesday, the 9th, at Loco Lu's Coffeehouse. All are welcome and encouraged to attend!

Take Back Our State Tea Party

2009-05-20T12:00:00.000-04:00

Americans for Prosperity and the Take Back Our State Coalition encourages you to make your voice heard at the Take Back Our State Tea Party, a protest against the billion dollar state tax increase.

The rally is Wednesday, June 3 from 4:30 to 7:30 pm on the Halifax Mall in Raleigh, Halifax Mall is the large lawn behind the General Assembly Building and beside the Legislative Office Building. Halifax Mall is on Lane Street between North Salisbury and North Wilmington Streets.

The LPNC will participate. Contact Brian Irving (brian@libertypoint.org) if you can help at our table.

On June 3, let’s tell our legislators we are Taxed Enough Already!

In these difficult economic times, our State Representatives are considering over a billion dollars in new taxes. North Carolina taxpayers are losing their jobs and their homes. Come to Raleigh to tell them: "Not another dime!"

Register here.

Another great Raleigh Tea Party video with Fernie in a tricorne hat

2009-04-25T23:45:00.001-04:00

One of the interviewees in the video below is Wake LP Chair Fernie Williams, pictured below in his tricorne hat. This video includes several mini-interviews that show a wide variety of perspectives from a few of the thousands of people that showed up for this Raleigh Tea Party.

This video was created by Dean Garris, producer of LibertyTube TV, a local TV program currently broadcast in Raleigh on RTN-10 on Tuesdays at 9 pm and Thursdays at 6:30 pm. This program also airs on The People's Channel in Chapel Hill, currently Mondays at 11:30am and 6:30pm. You can find an archive of past episodes of LibertyTube TV on blip.tv.

About the Libertarian Party of Wake County (2009)

2009-04-25T14:59:00.012-04:00

The Libertarian Party of Wake County (Wake LP) is a county affiliate of the Libertarian Party of North Carolina. Wake LP members participate in a variety of activities, such as supporting Libertarian candidates for elected offices, working with local advocacy groups on state and local issues, and doing the studio work to broadcast the The Libertarian Alternative on RTN-10. Most recently, some of our members are forming a team to produce a local TV show.

Wake LP Organization
At the 2008 Wake LP Convention, members adopted a Statement of Organization (pdf) for the county party. At the annual convention in March 2009, members elected the following officers for the year:

Chair – Fernie Williams
Vice Chair – Joy Elliott
Secretary – Susan Hogarth
Treasurer – Stephanie Watson

In addition to an annual convention, Wake LP holds monthly business meetings. See Wake LP Meetings and Events for more about these business meetings and weekly social meetings for Triangle Libertarians.

Triangle Libertarian Meetup and Email Lists
For news from the Libertarian Party of North Carolina, sign up for LPNC Announcements. For online discussion relevant only to Libertarians in Wake County, we have a Wake LP email discussion list. Libertarians all around the Triangle are encouraged to join the Triangle Libertarian Meetup.

LPNC Executive Committee Members in Wake County
LPNC Executive Committee members from the Wake LP include: Stephanie Watson (Recording Secretary), Phil Jacobson (Member At Large), Susan Hogarth (Outreach Co-director).

Videos from North Carolina Tax Day Tea Parties

2009-04-19T20:55:00.012-04:00

YouTube users uploaded some of the most informative and interesting videos from the recent tea parties in North Carolina:

Dr. Michael Munger: "Deficits are future taxes." (The introduction is cut off, but as seen elsewhere, Bill LuMaye mentioned that Dr. Munger was the Libertarian candidate for NC governor in 2008.)

BJ Lawson talking about transcending party lines, taking control of the local economy with the Piedmont Plenty, and the difference between the profits that corporations pay taxes on and the income that individuals pay taxes on. (Salaries are exchanges of time for money, not profits.)

Dr. John Lewis speaking for the Ayn Rand Institute at the Charlotte Tea Party. He talks about the inalienable rights of man and the ruling elite.

Thousands at Tea Party

2009-04-17T11:49:00.006-04:00

There were thousands of people at the Raleigh Tax Day Tea Party at the Capitol April 15, and not all of them were "rednecks" or white, despite what you may have read in the News & Observer.

As noted here, the original organizer of the Tea Party is a simple housewife, Melody Aben. who's fed up with out-of-control government. It's a sad fact of political life that whenever a grass roots movement picks up steam, the old, established advocacy groups will inevitably co-opt it. That does not diminish the fact that many, if not most, of the folks who turned out were people like Melody.

Inevitably, there were also some "partisan" and anti-Obama slogans, some over the top in my view. But they were vastly outnumbered by the Gadsden Flag and signs that indicated the bearer "got it," who recognized the problem was not caused by the Democrats, but by both of the duopoly parties.

Another sign that the majority of the protesters got it was that we gave away all the literature from the Libertarian Party table, and 10 people offered donations for a copy of the Declaration of Independence/U.S. Constitution pocket edition published by the Cato Institute. Some were even wearing GOP stickers.

Mike Munger and B.J. Lawson gave rousing speeches. Check out the video shot by Jeff Paul here.

Tax Day Tea Party

2009-04-06T20:31:00.002-04:00

Come party like it's 1773 at the State Capitol Building (East Side) from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Look for the LPNC table under the Liberty Penguin Flag.

Election law challenge

2009-03-26T08:50:00.000-04:00

LPNC Press Release

Oral argument for the Libertarian Party's appeal of its challenge to North Carolina's election laws has been set for April 20 at 1 p.m. The appeals panel judges are Chief Judge John C. Martin and Judges Ann Maria Calabria and Sanford Steelman

The Court of Appeals is temporarily located at 227 Fayetteville St, (the Old Wachovia building). The entrance is on Wilmington St.. The case is the second on the docket, so it probably won't be heard until about 2 p.m.

Tea Party

2009-03-22T16:34:00.008-04:00

Several Libertarians joined the more than 200 people gathered on the Capitol lawn Saturday in a new American Tea Party demonstration. Fernie Williams carried this sign, and Brian Irving debuted the Liberty Penguin Flag and was interviewed by WTVD TV-11.

The grassroots group NC New American Tea Party will hold another Tea Party April 15. There will be two demonsrations that day, from 4:30-6:00 p.m. at the Federal Courthouse on New Bern Ave. and from 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at State Capitol (east side).

Here's a sampling of the slogans from the many hand-made signs:

Socialism
Trickle Up Poverty

Give Me Liberty
Not Debt"

Free People
for
Free Enterprise"

Yes
Free Markets
No
Free Loading

Honk if I'm Paying Your Mortgage

Party like it's 1773 ...

2009-03-20T16:52:00.002-04:00

... tomorrow from noon to 2 p.m. at the State Capitol. east side entrance. This demonstration is organized by the NC New American Tea Party, with support from Americans for Prosperity NC and other tax reform groups.
More info here.

Wake LP Convention Tonight

2009-03-19T14:42:00.006-04:00

Location: Tir Na Nog, 218 S Blount St., downtown Raleigh

Time: 6:30 pm

Sign-up (not required):
http://libertarian.meetup.com/18/calendar/9784596/

Agenda

Introductions and Socializing

Welcome by the Wake LP Chair, Fernie Williams

RTN Production Group Report

Wake LP Issues Committee Report, Stephanie Watson

* Speaker on Upcoming Tea Parties in Raleigh

* Speaker Mike Munger

Revision of Accounting Practices, Stephanie Watson

Election of Officers - Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary

Elect Delegate Chair for LPNC Convention

Motions from the floor