[News] Oklahoma Libertarian website updated

Wed Mar 28 14:44:04 CDT 2007

Latest postings at www.OKLP.org

Oklahoma Defense of Freedom Project meets in Norman tonight (Wed) at 7:00
OU Libertarians meet tonight at 9:30
Tulsa Libertarians meet Wed., April 4th
OKC Libertarians meet Tues., April 13th.

"The court has just sentenced me to death," Angela Raich said after the ruling. "My doctors agree that medical cannabis is essential to my very survival, and the government did not even contest the medical evidence ... If we don't have a right to live, what do we have left?"

JD Miller writes in the Claremore Progress: "The time has come to make medical marijuana a reality. It was medicine before 1937. It is medicine now. 11 states representing populations of over 75 million have voted to allow marijuana as medicine."

EVENTS
TODAY: ODFP Informational Meeting in Norman on March 28th, at 7:00 PM in room 304 Adams Hall on the campus of the University of Oklahoma. The ODFP, sponsored by the Jeffersonian Society, will introduce its mission and the major issues of National ID cards, eminent domain, and the future of liberty in Oklahoma. OU campus map is available at: here.

This Saturday: Bill of Rights Celebration will be held from 7:00-9:00 PM and ACLU annual meeting (11:00) at the Clarion Meridian Convention Center, 737 South Meridian Avenue in Oklahoma City. 

 Oklahoma County Republican Party 2007 Platform recognizes need for Freedom of Political Choice: "Recognizing that real competition leads to improvement in the quality and quantity of products and services, and recognizing that Oklahoma has both the most restrictive ballot access laws in the nation and low levels of political participation; therefore, we support lowering state ballot access requirements to at least that of the 10th least restrictive state in the union." The 10th least restrictive states (Utah and Washington) both require 1,000 signatures. 

Modern Patriot, Craig Dawkins, congratulates the OK County GOP for recognizing the need to reform our state's restrictive ballot access laws: "I have long argued that Oklahoma would do better with more political competition. By political competition, I mean giving other political parties equal opportunity by removing unreasonable barriers to compete with the two major political parties. When it comes to allowing political competition, Oklahoma is...more restrictive than Afghanistan...[and] just barely better than the old Soviet Union." 

 OK Libertarian, Thomas Bell, starts as a guest columnist at the Midwest City Sun. In his first article, he writes: "A free society is the most practical, moral, humanitarian, and ethical." Also, read his blog, A Free Society. 

The Oklahoman writes in an editorial today: "Libertarian party leaders in Oklahoma...take a back seat to no one when it comes to fighting for their cause. Libertarians want to see the names of their state and federal nominees on the ballot in our state, and have worked years to try to make that happen. What they're asking the state to do is provide a framework of rules that make achieving that goal a reality...We applaud them for their perseverance and wish them well in their pursuit." Thanks Oklahoman! 

OKLP Press Release: Libertarians want to give Oklahomans more voter choice despite recent ruling. 

Responsible Saving with the Rainy Day Fund: An idea OKLP has expressed support of passed the House 96-5 and moves to the Senate. House Joint Resolution 1019 would increase the Rainy Day Fund to 15% of the certification for the General Revenue Fund.

 Real ID Act, State's Rights & Privacy: The Senate passed a bill to allow the governor to delay implementation of the federal Real ID Act. Reacting to a groundswell of criticism last month, "the federal Department of Homeland Security in February said states now will have until the end of 2009 to implement the act if they request an extension. Passed two years ago, the Real ID Act would require Americans to obtain a new, nationally mandated identification card. Senate Bill 464 is authored by Sen. Constance Johnson, D-Oklahoma City. It passed 45-0 and now goes to the House of Representatives." 
More information about Real ID at RealNightmare.org. The Oklahoma Defense of Freedom Project is also working on this important issue.

Libertarian Party of Oklahoma to appeal 2004 ballot access case to State Supreme Court. Senator Brogdon (author of the reform bill, SB 28) said he believes competition fosters excellence: "No one else can get their turn," he said. "I'm not sure that's the best system available." Michael Clingman, secretary of the State Election Board, said "I think it's a pretty high standard, looking at other states...They do have a high burden." 

Richard Prawdzienski, former OKLP chair, asks: "Why is voter turnout low? Could it be because the people don't want to vote for an authority, any authority, to make decisions for them?" in a letter to the Oklahoman.

Muskogee drug task force members seized property with bogus search warrants for drugs. Bill to the taxpayers: $587,500. A victim of drug task force theft said they retaliated for comments he made about finding parts from car seized by the task force installed on other cars. 

Since property seizures were expanded to local agencies, drug charges have multiplied, as government agencies have the monetary incentive to separate citizens from their property. "Unfortunately, the more forfeiture laws legislatures enacted, the less attention police seem to pay to major criminals." writes James Bovard. 

Norman officials want to charge $560 for electronic copies of public documents. The Oklahoman reports, "Rep. Mike Reynolds, an Oklahoma City Republican who has authored bills on the state's Open Records Act and frequently seeks public documents electronically, said such a charge is "outrageous," and would have a chilling effect on anyone who wanted to keep tabs on their government by requesting public records." 

 Congressman Ron Paul, 1988 Libertarian nominee for president, announces bid for the presidency. "The Republican Party has floundered in its effort to shrink the size of government and restore our constitutional republic," he said. "Instead, in recent years our deficits have exploded, entitlements are out of control and our personal liberties are threatened. We have embarked on a dangerous and expensive foreign policy, acting as the world's policeman and nation builder." 

"Liberty once again must become more important to us than the desire for security and material comfort. Personal safety and economic prosperity can only come as the consequence of liberty. They cannot be provided by an authoritarian government. To expect the government to take care of us from cradle to grave undermines the principles of liberty," he said. See an interview here.
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Latest Events posted at www.oklp.org/events

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