Growing Libertarian Movement

I believe we are seeing a turning tide in America right now.  Here are some interesting poll results.

The growing libertarian impulse
By Andrew Rugg

December 6, 2011, 10:29 am
In this weekend’s Des Moines Register poll, Ron Paul placed second among likely Iowa Republican voters, right behind Newt Gingrich. For many Paul supporters, the poll provides confirmation that libertarianism is on the rise. It’s been a long-standing belief among libertarians that many Americans are fiscally conservative and socially liberal, even if they don’t call themselves libertarians. Recent polling shows that the growing libertarian impulse extends beyond the Paul campaign and even the Republican Party.

Nationally, there doesn’t appear to be much evidence that the number of libertarians is growing. Two separate studies done by David Kirby and David Boaz at the CATO Institute put the number of libertarians at around 14 percent. Their definition was based off questions on big picture ideological issues such as the role of government, broad traditional values, and the free market. But those questions obscure significant movement on a whole series of issues that is pulling America in a libertarian direction. In fact, I would go so far as to say there is now a libertarian consensus in the United States.

Views on government regulation have grown extremely critical. Fifty percent think it’s probably a good idea to repeal or reduce existing regulations on U.S. businesses (October 2011 CBS/NYT poll). Trust in government has also collapsed. Only 10 percent think they can trust the government to do what is right always or most of the time (October 2011 CBS/NYT poll).

On social issues, the libertarian preference against government interference is growing. Gallup reports that record low numbers support banning the possession of handguns. When the question was first asked in 1959, 60 percent favored such a ban. In the latest asking, only 26 percent of Americans favored a ban and 73 percent did not. On marijuana, for the first time since Gallup began polling on the issue, more Americans favor rather than oppose making the use of marijuana legal. Not just medical marijuana, but all marijuana. And in May, also for the first time, Gallup reported that a majority of Americans believe marriages between same-sex couples should be recognized by the law as valid, with the same rights as traditional marriages.

If polls only showed a growth in support for gay marriage and marijuana, it might be tempting to conclude that liberalism is gaining strength. But the combination of guns, pot, gay marriage, and anti-government attitudes is one that can only suggest libertarianism is on the rise.

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Obama is continuing his class warfare and it's disgusting.

President Barack Obama gave a HUGE speech on income inequality today, traveling to the same small Kansas town where President Theodore Roosevelt first laid out his vision for "New Nationalism."
The ostensible purpose of the event was to urge Congress to extend payroll tax cuts. But the address was also one of the the first major campaign speeches of the President's reelection campaign, and laid out how Obama plans to redefine the national conversation about the economy and the future of the middle class going into 2012.
Here are the four most important paragraphs
For many years, credit cards and home equity loans papered over the harsh realities of this new economy.  But in 2008, the house of cards collapsed.  We all know the story by now:  Mortgages sold to people who couldn’t afford them, or sometimes even understand them.  Banks and investors allowed to keep packaging the risk and selling it off.  Huge bets – and huge bonuses – made with other people’s money on the line.  Regulators who were supposed to warn us about the dangers of all this, but looked the other way or didn’t have the authority to look at all.
It was wrong.  It combined the breathtaking greed of a few with irresponsibility across the system.  And it plunged our economy and the world into a crisis from which we are still fighting to recover.  It claimed the jobs, homes, and the basic security of millions – innocent, hard-working Americans who had met their responsibilities, but were still left holding the bag.
Ever since, there has been a raging debate over the best way to restore growth and prosperity; balance and fairness.  Throughout the country, it has sparked protests and political movements – from the Tea Party to the people who have been occupying the streets of New York and other cities.  It’s left Washington in a near-constant state of gridlock.  And it’s been the topic of heated and sometimes colorful discussion among the men and women who are running for president
But this isn’t just another political debate.  This is the defining issue of our time.  This is a make or break moment for the middle class, and all those who are fighting to get into the middle class.  At stake is whether this will be a country where working people can earn enough to raise a family, build a modest savings, own a home, and secure their retirement.
Like Roosevelt's 1910 speech, Obama's 5,446-word address emphasized income inequality and middle class opportunity — identifying the major themes that will shape the upcoming election. The speech was an attempt to both recognize and own the populist undercurrents in the country today, while staking out a position for Obama outside of Beltway gridlock and reactionary grassroots politics.


Read more: http://www.businessinsider.com/barack-obama-class-warfare-speech-kansas-teddy-roosevelt-2011-12?nr_email_referer=1&utm_source=Triggermail&utm_medium=email&utm_term=Business%20Insider%20Select&utm_campaign=BI%20Select%20Recurring%202011-12-06#ixzz1frEkaNyz

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If you don't think our current government is creating a police state, think again.  From Mike Krieger:

The best part about this is what about all of the cameras going up all across America to record citizens as they go about their daily business?  What about the GPS devices police are putting on people’s cars without them knowing it without a warrant all across the country and getting away with it?  But no…if a slave dares to record the brutality of a storm trooper protecting their bankster and Congressional masters you can go to jail for life.  POLICE STATE BOYS AND GIRLS.  Something is going to give.  Must watch.

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I'm sure some of you saw this on Sunday while Tiger was trying to win his first tournament in a couple years.  It's the new "Get in the hole!"

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For all you Hog fans out there, vote for Bobby Petrino for Coach of the Year.