Speak Up!

I found it very rewarding to stand before the County Council and voice my opposition to the proposed wheel tax. I strongly urge opponents of new taxes, larger government, and more spending to do likewise, especially if you are a Libertarian candidate or official. It's an opportunity to let the councils know that there is real opposition, and that they could face continued opposition at the ballot box. The citizens who agreed with my positions came up to me after the meeting to shake my hand, and I talked about getting them involved with the Libertarian Party. Plus, a quote in the newspaper is always a possibility.

I've done the legwork for you. Here are some meetings coming to a Town Hall near you:

Monday, May 9, 7pm / Indianapolis / Smoking Ban
Monday, May 9, 7pm / Westfield / possibly, 1% Restaurant Tax
Tuesday, May 10, 7pm / Noblesville / possibly, 1% Restaurant Tax
Monday, May 16, 7pm / Carmel / possibly, 1% Restaurant Tax
Monday, May 16, 7pm / Fishers / possibly, 1% Restaurant Tax

If you are a resident of these places, you have standing to speak before the Councils and voice opposition to new taxes. You could be the persuasive voice that makes the difference!

Please Forgive My Cynicism

Actually, I'm a real sucker for motivational stuff- everything from the motivational speakers to their products, like the posters that have a picture of an eagle soaring over a canyon with a message about leadership. Also, I'm generally not a big fan of Dilbert or the kind of guy who takes the 'Same Stuff, Different Day' approach. I like work and believe in what I do, so that stuff is generally oppressive to me.

And yet, a co-worker led me to www.despair.com, and I laughed and laughed. The site' s parody of the motivational stuff I enjoy so much is so brutal, so hopelessly cyncial as to bring serious comic relief. After all, there is the man who loves what he does and has serious goals, and then there's the man who desperately needs for someone to take the piss out of him.

Here's a priceless example of one of their posters. It's an image of a snowball that has rolled down a hill, growing in the process.

Teamwork

A few harmless flakes working together can unleash an avalanche of distruction.

Kind of like the Legislature! Sorry. Was that too cynical?

Meeting Notes

It was interesting to appear at the Hamilton County Council Meeting tonight to speak in opposition to the County's proposed wheel tax. Noblesville Ledger story.

The first thing that struck me was that there were five residents who appeared and spoke. All five spoke in opposition to the new tax. Four elected officials spoke. Three were in favor. Kudos to Commissioner Steve Holt, who spoke in opposition, urging the Council to let this pass for one year to see if the County and State resolve their differences on COIT money that the County claims is owed to it by the State.

Interestingly, the three officials who spoke in favor represent municipalities and serve on city or town councils. This new tax would generate money that is split between the county and the municipalities. In other words, it is a tax that the County Councilor would be responsible for enacting, but the city and town councilors who would not be on record as having voted for a new tax would still see the benefit of that tax in their municipalities. Keep in mind that all of these officials are Republicans.

Now, you might think that the County Councilors would object to this move by the cities, taking all of the money and none of the responsibility. Who would you complain to? The GOP County Chair? Oh, that's right. The Chair is Charlie White, and he spoke in support of the tax on behalf of the Town of Fishers, where he is a Town Councilor. The other Republican councilors who spoke in favor of the new tax: Terry Busby of Noblesville, and Kevin Kirby.

It was interesting to hear the County Councilors speak of cutting budgets. If you closed your eyes and forgot you were in Hamilton County, you would have thought that Democrats were speaking. One councilor commented: "What would you have us cut? Police or other safety forces?" It seems that whenever you suggest any kind of budget cut to a Republican or Democrat, the inevitable response is this. No, don't cut police or other safety. Look at everything else first. If departments get new vehicles every 5 years, make it 7. If new computers are bought every 3 years, make it 4.

There was a dare to inspect the budget and find the fat to cut. That's a challenge I'm willing to accept. I'm betting there is plenty to cut. That the Republicans can't- or, more likely, won't- find anything to cut, it just serves as further proof that they aren't the fiscal conservatives they campaign they are.

Laughable Letter

What happens when you drink the GOP's Kool-Aid by the 55 gallon drum? You write letters like this one, which appeared in today's Star:

The end of do-less, spend-more politicians

Gov. Mitch Daniels had a great start, but citizens are the real winners in the legislative session. Better conditions for business, lower cost of running the state and balanced budgets do not just happen; leaders must lead the needed change. For too long the state was run by spend-more, do-less politicians who cared little for how tax dollars were spent as long as they remained in power.

Those days are over, and we as citizens should remain alert to see they do not return.

Carl Hoffman
Danville

Let's see... The GOP dominated legislature saw to it that the budget grew and was not cut. The Republicans Governor added new layers of bureaucracy, and did not eliminate. Tax increases were put on the table. Some passed, some failed. No tax cuts were even put on the table. No spending cuts were put on the table, but some increases in spending that were lower than last year's increases were adopted.

With fiscal conservatives like the Hoosier GOP, who needs liberal Democrats? You don't want the days of the tax-and-spenders to return? They never left.

The GOP has no commitment to lower taxes and smaller government. The only way you'll get that is by voting Libertarian.

So, Where's The Surprise?

I was chuckling in amusement when I saw this morning's Indy Star's headline for the Colts stadium deal:

Surprise! Check the bill
Stadium deal lets cities raise dining tax but doesn't guarantee low-priced Colts tickets.

Surprise? Where?! This is precisely what I expected and predicted. This is exactly what has happened in virtually every other city that has provided subsidized sports. All taxpayers end up paying a portion of the bill, but the tickets in the new luxury palace are placed out of reach for the average or poorer taxpayer.

Why would you expect any different? The crux of team owner Jim Irsay's "problem" was that the team only made middling profits when compared to the rest of the NFL. He felt he needed to be up higher.

Well, if you do nothing to improve the product- which is very good, by the way- or fail to offer more of it, all you can do to rake in more profit is charge higher prices.

In the vernacular of the average 12-year-old: DUH.

Do read the entire article in order to find out how you will be further screwed. Several cities and counties were given the ability to raise taxes in their locales, with little direction on how to spend the money. You can bet that these locales will impose these taxes.

In Hamilton County, the next County Council meeting is scheduled for tomorrow, Wednesday, May 4, at 7pm in the Commissioners Chambers, in the newer Judicial Center. I will be there along with other Libertarians in order to speak out against the raising of any new taxes, on behalf of the citizens of the county and the businesses that would be affected by them. Be there to speak out, no matter where you live!

Quick Convention Observations

The Libertarian Party of Indiana hosted its' annual convention this past weekend in Clarksville, which is on the Ohio River, just across from Louisville, KY. Top 5 observations:

1. This convention was very well attended, which is a great thing when considering that there were no high profile candidates to select for the ballot, there is no ballot in 2005, and the location was at one extreme end of the state. The delegate total was one greater than in the 2004 convention, which selected the high-profile gubernatorial candidate, and was staged centrally, in Indianapolis. This points to significant growth, and a commitment on the part of those from the northern part of the state.

2. The speakers were relevant. Too often, LP conventions feature little besides libertarian speakers. Don't get me wrong- I enjoy hearing top libertarian speakers. However, I got more insights from Jason Shelley of the National Federation of Independent Business than I would from, say, a James Bovard. Shelley represents small business owners, and that is a core constituency we aim to capture. Best to know what his group wants, and more importantly, what specific policies they suffer under.

3. The events flowed. Convention co-ordinator Cindy Kirkpatrick did a masterful job of making sure everything started and ended on time, so that there was a minimum of down time. Some down time is great, because it allows you to mingle. Too much is just boredom.

4. The focus on the floor was on business. Even with one contentious item on the floor for debate, no lines were drawn, and no blood spilled. Good direction of traffic and remarks by Chair Mark Rutherford made it so.

5. There seemed to be a growing readiness to accept my campaign. I like that for the obvious reasons, but more importantly, I had sensed a resistance to get involved with any campaign up to this point, mainly because the November 2006 ballot seems so far away. I think the majority of the members get the dual reality that there is serious business ahead as well as huge political opportunities to be siezed now.

All of this gives me hope for a spectacular 2006 convention. If trends continue, we will have more delegates and attendees than ever before, and business on the floor that points us towards more growth and to electoral success.

Congratulations, Stacey!

I was delighted to learn that my friend Stacey McGuire was promoted to Principal of Westfield High School, by a vote of the School Board. Noblesville Daily Times story.

Stacey really loves her work, so it's a fine reward for her. I can't think of anything more grinding than being the assisant Principal. Congrats!

Latest From Libertarian Writers Bureau

I'm not big on lording over the corriculum at the public schools. However, if I had to, I would insist that Economics would be taught beginning at sixth grade. So much awful public policy would fail to gain momentum and become law if only the average person had a rudimentary grasp of economics.

Here, Eric Schansberg reminds the reader that cause and effect, and supply and demand, lie at the root of all human interaction; and that public policy more often causes monopoly than anything else.


Keeping out new hospitals won't cure health-care ills

More competition, not less, would be best remedy for consumers, employees

In recent months, there has been considerable discussion about moratoriums on building hospitals in Southern Indiana. In Clark, Floyd, and Harrison counties, local government officials have been listening to the competing interests of existing county-run hospitals and those who would like to enter the market for hospital services.

On the surface, it's difficult to imagine why one would want to prevent a hospital from opening. A hospital is not a porn shop or a toxic-waste dump. Building and operating a hospital is not much of a zoning issue; one could seemingly find a suitable place to allow a hospital to operate somewhere within a county.

The best explanation is a common one in the intersection between economics and politics: no supplier enjoys competition for the goods or services they sell -- and they may find government a cooperative ally in restricting their competition.Unfortunately, restricting competition is only in the interest of the provider who wishes to maintain or extend monopoly power. Consumers and society will not benefit from having fewer options and less competition in a market.

Because the general public is intuitively aware that restricting competition is not a good thing, the producers and their politicians must tell "good stories" -- rationales to explain why less of a good thing is supposedly better.

In Harrison County, they're worried about "sky-rocketing health-care costs." But how would a lower supply and less competition keep costs down?

They've also expressed concern that another facility will "undermine the health, welfare and economic well-being of county residents." But how would more health-care options be a detriment to county residents?

Even health-care employees would benefit with more employment alternatives. The best of the good stories is that a moratorium would "prevent unfair competition."

Private-sector hospitals are accused of "cherry-picking" and "skimming profits" by avoiding less-profitable patients, in particular the indigent and those in prison.

Doubtless, this is true to an extent and some cause for concern. But a more direct way to deal with this issue is to directly subsidize the care of those who cannot pay -- wherever they receive their care -- rather than setting up an arbitrary monopoly.

Moreover, proponents of the moratoriums fail to mention that county-run facilities have lower tax burdens. A truly level playing field would also eliminate such subsidies. In a sense, it is comforting to see politicians be so consistent. Most of them work to foster the monopoly power of government-run schools and the post office. Many of them vote for tariffs and quotas to restrict competitors in product markets. So why should the market for hospital care be any different?

Likewise, the business community proclaims its love for the free market. But its love is often fickle, wanting competitive markets for the inputs they purchase and open access to foreign markets, but clamoring for restrictions on competitors in the particular domestic markets where they sell product. Perhaps the most ironic thing in the discussion about hospitals: County hospitals are fighting to maintain their local turf while seeming to ignore the far larger market.

Hospitals in Southern Indiana already face their most significant competition from hospitals across the river in Louisville. What difference would it make to have a few more facilities in Floyd, Clark, and Harrison counties? Despite all of the competition in Jefferson County, Louisville has a robust market for hospital services.

Moratoriums on hospitals are not exactly what the doctor ordered.

D. Eric Schansberg
Professor of Economics, Indiana University Southeast
Adjunct Fellow, Indiana Policy Review

Convention Draws Near!

I'm very excited for the upcoming state convention of the Libertarian Party of Indiana. Stepping aside from the role of State Secretary, while not especially daunting, is a bit of a relief in that I need to fully concentrate on the campaign for Secretary of State.

That's what really has me excited. The most committed party members always attend the off-year conventions, and there is a great deal of effort involved for many, as the off-year conventions are held in either the northern- or southern-most parts of the state. This year, it's Clarksville. Members coming from Allen County, or LaPorte, or Lake will be driving some five or six hours each way, which is an eternity in Indiana travel terms. People at this convention are the ones I really want to talk and strategize with, and to impress.

If you haven't registered yet, by all means hop to it! The festivities begin Friday night, and the business meeting will be conducted on Saturday. Go to www.lpin.org for details. I will host a hospitality suite, complete with a Texas Hold 'Em tournament Friday and Saturday nights.

Bobby Orr For Commissioner!

It's still incredible to me that the NHL lost an entire season over a labor dispute. Any other year, I would be getting my fill of NHL Playoff hockey- easily the most intense, compelling playoffs of any sport- with two games a night throughout April and early May. Alas.

I have no sympathy for either side. The owners are full of complaints that players salaries are too high. Well? Who agrees to the contracts? The players were unwilling to play for a million or so each in the NHL, but were happy enough to play in Europe or in the minor leagues for a fraction of the pay. Well? Is it about the salaries or isn't it?

Worse, the representatives for both sides are engaged in a pointless standoff. ESPN ran a poll, and the majority of respondents said they didn't miss the NHL a bit. That should have scared both sides straight to the table to regain their relevance in the sporting world.

Bobby Orr has it right. His comments were carried by ESPN:

Bobby Orr wants NHL commissioner Gary Bettman and players' association executive director Bob Goodenow to "get out of the way" if they can't solve the impasse that led to the cancellation of the NHL's season.

"Our sport is in danger of becoming irrelevant unless both sides immediately put an end to this nonsense," the Boston Bruins great wrote in a column for the Sunday Eagle-Tribune.

Orr, 57, said he initially resisted the urge to comment on the labor dispute because he believed the two sides would resolve their differences for the good of the game. But he said he no longer believes either side is interested in getting a fair deal done.

Thanks, Bobby Orr, for giving both sides the kick in the rear they deserve and need. I'd love it if more NHL legends spoke out in this way.

Hamilton County's Liberal Republicans At It Again

The Republican Governor can't figure out how to get private business to build a stadium, so he goes for a tax package that would include taxing restaurants in Hamilton County and other counties, even though the new stadium would be in Marion County.

Are the Republican leaders in Hamilton County principled tax fighters, or are they the Governor's lap dogs? Quoth the Sunday Star:

John Hiatt, president of the Hamilton County Council, said he was encouraged by Peterson's decision to relinquish control. Hiatt believes the council will raise the tax.

"When we met with the governor, we pretty much told him we'd raise the tax," Hiatt said. "We may have some objections, but most of us on the council feel like this may be the right thing to do."

Enough is enough. He will have his objections. Mark your calendars. The next meeting of the Hamilton County Council is schedule for 7pm on Wednesday, May 4, in the newer Judicial Center's Commissioners Court Room.

Be ready to ask the all-Republican Council why it is so eager to raise taxes. Ask them why they would burden one group of citizens (restaurant owners) so that they can reward another group of citizens (football players and team owners).

Definitions

Several times in the past year, I made the observation that Republicans have made a clever shift. Whereas they used to describe themselves as 'fiscal conservatives', they now tend to describe themselves as 'fiscally responsible'.

What's the difference? A fiscal conservative wants to limit or cut spending. One who is fiscally responsible merely wishes to balance the budget. If tax increases are necessary, so be it. This is the difference between a Libertarian (the fiscal conservative) and a Republican (the fiscally responsible).

This comes to light thanks to the Editorial in this morning's Indy Star, which calls for balancing the budget on an increase in cigarette taxes.

Jeff Espich is nobody's idea of a tax-and-spend politician. But the fiscal conservative, who is chairman of the Indiana House Ways and Mean Committee, recently noted that the state is "going to have to have new revenue."

Legislators must find money to give a small -- many would argue insufficient -- funding increase to schools over the next two years. Money to keep pace, even minimally, with rising costs in Medicaid. Money to complete a truly balanced two-year budget, one that bridges the deficit and doesn't resort to gimmicks.

The best proposal for raising more revenue, or at least the one with the best chance of legislative approval, is a 19-cent per-pack increase in the cigarette tax. The state tax on cigarettes would increase to 74.5 cents a pack.

Actually, Jeff Espich is my idea of a tax-and-spend politician. Name for me one spending cut or tax cut he has proposed this session. It can't be done. But I can name for you two tax increases he has proposed: this on cigarettes, and another on food and beverages for a new Colts stadium- something that should never be done by government, only by the private sector.

The Star, like Espich, fail to consider that one primary way to balance any budget is to spend less. This is what you and I do with our personal budgets at home when money gets tight. We stop spending until we catch up with debt and begin to build a little cushion. The Legislature has one advantage we don't- they can will themselves more money any time they want to raise the money. To quote Bill Clinton: "Stroke of the pen, law of the land. Kinda cool."

Not much in the way of incentive there for Espich and his ilk to be anything but tax-and-spend legislators. It's a situation made worse by comments like these, in the Star's Editorial:

But they can't leave the Statehouse a week from today without recognizing a potentially unpopular but necessary truth: Indiana can neither cut nor grow its way out of the budget deficit in the next two years. The state in the recent past has slashed spending on some services, raided reserve funds and waited patiently for economic growth to alleviate the fiscal crunch. But the problems remain.

Can't cut? I've yet to see an actual cut. The only "cuts" proposed this year have been reduced increases in spending. Those aren't cuts. A 1% cut across the board is not too much to ask, especially if you are seeking, as the Star claims to be, a balanced budget that doesn't resort to gimmicks. A real fiscal conservative would propose this kind of modest cut. A Libertarian sure would.

Voting With Their Feet

It seems that Indiana, while growing in real numbers of population, is watching other states grow even faster. From today's Star:

From 2000 to 2004, he said, 19,000 more people have moved out of the state than have moved in from elsewhere in the country. But, in the same period, 47,000 more people migrated here from other countries than left.

"The domestic loss is more than made up for by the international in-migration," Thompson said. "Some of them are college students. I would imagine most of those new people are Hispanic."

In other words, were more attractive than the Third World, but less attractive than other American states.

That is the result of policy. Sure, we always hear about the weather, but frankly, the weather is better here than in New York or Boston. While we lack the attractions of those older cities, we would attract population and thus create the attractions, if only Indiana became a tax haven. Lower the taxes and spending such that Indiana has the lowest tax rates in the country on personal income and on corporations, and you would see massive migration of entrepreneurs and established businesses.

I guess there is a greater commitment here to taxes and government than there is to prosperity. Sad. Oh well- we're still more attractive than Mexico. There's a slogan for our Gov. Mitch!

Convention Center Deemed Good Enough

Celebration III is the only George Lucas sanctioned event surrounding Star Wars for 2005. It is being held in the Indianapolis Convention Center- the one that is alleged to be too small, too outdated, too something that 'demands' replacement, at least according to some people who won't be paying for the replacement with their own money. Per the Star:

Celebration III came to Indianapolis for several reasons, says Steve Sansweet, director of content management and head of fan relations for Lucasfilm.

Celebration II was held here in 2002 because the city is within easy driving distance from many densely populated areas and has a good airport. Hotels are plentiful, and the Convention Center was large enough. About 25,000 fans attended.

The city got a good review, and the Convention Center was available, so a return visit was planned.

So, why is it that we need a new Convention Center at nearly $1 billion? We don't- unless some private developer/investor is willing to put up the money. Anything else is simply a scam.

LPIN Convention Coming QUICKLY

Faithful members of the Libertarian Party of Indiana have important business in front of them, along with learning opportunities, networking, fellowship, and entertainment at the State Party's convention, Friday April 29 through Sunday, May 1. The event is in Clarksville IN, near Louisville KY & I-65. If you haven't registered yet, please hurry as space is limited, especially in the area hotels. Event details.

Featured guests include columnist and author Vin Suprynowicz, Jason Shelley of the National Federation of Independent Business, Mayor Willy Marshall (L- Big Water, Utah), Abdul Hakim-Shabazz of Indy's WXNT 1430-am, and Trevor Southerland of the National Libertarian Party's Youth Caucus.

As one of the delegates from Hamilton County, I will be able to vote in the election of the four officers to the LPIN. For the record, I am not running for a second term as State Secretary, so that I may concentrate on my campaign for Secretary of State. The offices being elected are Chair, Vice Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary.

My campaign will be hosting a hospitality suite at the Holiday Inn Lakeview, Friday night through Saturday night. There will be a nightly Texas Hold 'Em Tournament, which should be very entertaining. Please stop by and say hello!

Get It Done!

It's time to at long last pass the Daylight Savings Time bill. While in my laziest moments I like the fact that the time doesn't change here in Indiana, the reality is that this fact, coupled with the fact that 48 other states do change their clocks, make a compelling case for change. The first order of business is to just get on DST.

The second is to get on Eastern DST. While many will argue in favor of our proximity to Chicago, our past life in the 1950s and '60s on Central Time, and the geography, there is again a compelling argument for going Eastern. It is the list of cities in the Eastern Zone:

New York City, Washington DC, Boston, Philadelphia, Atlanta, Detroit, Toronto, Baltimore, Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Columbus, Cincinnati, Miami, Jacksonville, Memphis, Buffalo, and even Montreal.

Compare this with the list of Central cities:

Chicago, Houston, Dallas, San Antonio, St. Louis, New Orleans, Kansas City, Milwaukee, Tulsa, and ok, Winnipeg.

These are some fine cities, but their populations numbers and significance pale compare drastically with the Eastern cities. NYC & DC alone overshadow all of the Central cities.

Case closed. The vote should come today.

LaPorte Campaign Stop

Saturday night, I attended the County Convention of the Libertarian Party of LaPorte County. I was out of downtown Indy and up I-65 to LaPorte, 180 miles away. I was making good time on my drive, so I got off I-65 and took US 421 instead to enjoy this rural stretch that runs parallel to the old Monon Railroad. Lots of grain elevators and big, blue skies.

Once in LaPorte, I was very aware that I was in the hometown of Jeff Ake, the Indiana businessman who was recently kidnapped in Iraq. Every store that had a sign with movable lettering had messages asking for prayers for Mr. Ake and his family. It was overwhelming and very moving to see all the signs. No kidding- every video rental place, every Arby's, every convenience store or gas station had a message. Mr. Ake is very obviously beloved in his hometown. Indeed, the Convention began with a prolonged moment of silence for him. Story from local LaPorte paper.

I was the keynote speaker at this Convention, and it was my first experience with a rush of photographers in front of the podium. It gave me energy and an inward chuckle. I knew my speech well. It was the second time in the day to deliver it, and with a three-hour drive for rehearsal, I was not thrown off. The main thrust of the speech was the importance for taking action that might be uncomfortable. It's a comfortable thing to criticize policy from the safety of your PC, but if it's uncomfortable to show up at a council meeting to assert your position, it is 100% more effective. It's a comfortable thing to be a paper candidate running for Township Trustee, but if it's uncomfortable to run a real campaign for County Commissioner, it's eminently more valuable. Etc.

The speech was well-received, as I could see the group energized by it. People began talking about what offices they would be running for. The local media was on hand for Q & A afterwards.

I am delighted with The LaPorte Herald Argus' article covering my speech at the Convention. It does, however, include the strangest expression on my face in a picture where I am not playing hockey. Plus, I was a bit embarrassed at the coverage in that the other business of the Convention- the election of the officers of the LaPorte County party- was not even discussed. There's no telling what the media will include, or exclude, from a story. For the record, Doug Barnes was elected Chair after having been the District 2 representative to the Central Committee of the state party. He trades places with Greg Kelver. Both are outstanding leaders and great people who I personally enjoy working with.

Fort Wayne Report

The Libertarian Party of Allen County turned up in good numbers at the main downtown Post Office to hold signs that read "Honk if your taxes are too high", to hand out literature showing the national debt in invoice form, and to generally show that there is one party who supports the frustrated taxpayer. The horns were blaring and many people gave us the thumbs up.

I was fortunate enough to be interviewed by a TV news reporter. I'll wait for word on what was aired.

Tax Day Arrives

I will be at the downtown Fort Wayne Post Office from 4-8pm tonight in support of the Libertarian Party of Allen County. Wherever you are, if you see people rallying in support of you keeping more of your income, for lower taxes and smaller government, you will be seeing Libertarians- not Republicans, and certainly not Democrats. My campaign schedule.

April 15 is a day of fear and loathing across America for so many. It would be easy enough to go on a lengthy discourse about taxes, but you've probably been through it a hundred times. The sad fact is, most Americans are not enormously dissatisfied with the tax system. The amount of money taken from American citizens and spent by governments is rationalized away as for the common good, or at least less than the burden borne by the Europeans.

That's all true to some degree. However, if you are the person who believes that government budgets should be smaller than what they are, that the government should be less involved in daily life than it is, that your taxes should be less than they are, this is your symbolic day of lament.

Your symbolic day of relief is Tax Freedom Day, which arrives this year on April 17, according to the Tax Foundation. This is the day that you are finally through paying taxes to the Federal, state, and local governments. It means that every penny the average American earned from January 1 until April 17 went to pay for just one thing- the tax bill.

If you support the current level of taxation, enjoy that thought. Savor it. The rest of us need to work to change it, and it isn't getting done by electing Republicans or Democrats. Do the math.

Pub Crawl Wednesday

I drink very little and I've never smoked, so why I am I going on a pub crawl? Because I support the owners of bars and restaurants in Central Indiana. They have been doubly targeted by government at the state and local levels this Spring, and I want them to know that while Republicans and Democrats think targeting them is a great idea, I think it's rotten.

The pub crawl is organized by the Libertarian Party of Indiana and the Marion County affiliate. It starts at 7pm at Claude & Annie's at Pike Plaza, on Indy's NW side. From there, the pub crawlers will visit 5 or 6 other establishments. A bus will be provided.

There is already a 1% tax on bars and restaurants to support the stadium the Colts play in. Without eliminating that tax, the state legislature wants to impose a new, additional 1% on bars and restaurants.

The City-County Council in Indianapolis is pushing a smoking ban that would extend to private property- bars and restaurants. As I said, I don't smoke. Never have. But, to invoke Voltaire, I'll defend the rights of those who want to smoke, or to business owners who want to permit smoking in their private establishments.

Some may say that a vote for a Libertarian is a wasted vote. Owners of bars and restaurants now understand that for them, the only wasted vote is the one not cast on a Libertarian.