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(11/13/01 4:33am)
Words. As the simplest constituents of every human language, they are the most basic element of our communication. Yet right now, Americans should be having some of the most eventful and important public discussions in our history, with opinion writers and public speakers operating at peak performance -- and we're fumbling all over the words.\nHere's the problem with words: we use the same ones, but we mean different things. We need to talk to each other about our current geopolitical situation, but I wonder how effective any public debate will be until we can agree on a common set of terms, or at least specify our differences in usage of loaded phrases. \nI want to start a new discussion. Free of the moral judgments that divide us, let's establish precise definitions of some words that are breaking down debate, or at least clarify where we differ. To illustrate, I want to re-examine "war" and "terrorism."\n"War"\n"War," in its non-metaphorical sense, is a conflict between political entities. Each of the groups involved are aware of the conflict (they agree that they are at "war"), and they each have very specific goals for its outcome.\nBy this definition, the events of Sept. 11 cannot be considered acts of "war." Those attacked were unaware of any conflict, and the attackers are still not a concretely defined group with a declared political goal.\nLikewise, the phrase "war on terrorism" is a misnomer. Because nations exist in a physical world, they cannot wage figurative "war" (like "war" against ideologies or activities). Rather, nations can only "war" with individuals and social or political institutions.\n"Terrorism"\nThe American Heritage Dictionary calls "terrorism" an "act of violence ... used to coerce or intimidate societies or governments ... for ideological or political reasons." \nBy this definition, the current U.S. "war" could be viewed as "terrorism," but the American public has drawn a clear distinction between the two recently. Namely, the difference is that even though the U.S. military, like the terrorists, knows that civilian injury and death will result from their actions, civilian harm is not an intended goal of the act. But in the case of "terrorism," civilian harm is not just a means; it is an end. Therefore, the U.S. "war" is not "terrorism," because we only kill civilians unintentionally or as "collateral damage." \nSome people probably disagree with these definitions. That's fine, and in fact it illustrates my point precisely -- multiple definitions are inevitable, but I'm asking that public speakers and writers be more specific in their word usage. Abstract public speech that presupposes everyone to be in agreement as to the definitions of relevant words renders opinion leaders ineffective and the public confused.
(11/01/00 5:06am)
Libertarian presidential candidate Harry Browne and other libertarian candidates at local, state and national levels rallied at Indianapolis' Adam's Mark Hotel Monday. Five hundred attended, and roughly one-third acknowledged the rally as their first Libertarian event.\nMaster of ceremonies Mike Cloud said to the crowd that Indiana is a crucial Libertarian state, housing nearly 10 percent of all the party's candidates, and introduced Browne by defining Libertarianism in a point-blank fashion.\n"We want government so small, they start putting its picture on the back of milk cartons," he said.\nBrowne is the author of several financial self-help and political books, including "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World." He spent much of his speaking time on the subject of income taxes, of which Libertarians favor a complete repeal.\n"In a 'free' country, the government doesn't take 47 percent of the national income. I want you to be free to keep every dollar that you earn," Browne said. "Spend it, save it, give it away as you see fit -- not as politicians will allow after they're done spending what they want."\nBrowne also criticized the words of George W. Bush on the topic of income taxes. \n"George Bush made a really revealing statement in the debates. He said that the 'government should never take more than a third of people's income,'" Browne recited as attendees hissed. "Is he going to show up at your office tomorrow and put in two or three hours for you?"\nBrowne also questioned the status of health care and proposed complete privatization. \n"Health care has run up and out of sight. They tell us it's because health care can do so many things now that it couldn't do thirty years ago. Well, computers can do more things than they did 30 years ago -- why aren't they more expensive?"\nBrowne described Social Security, a campaign centerpiece for Democrats and Republicans, as a crime, which would have landed anyone except government behind bars.\n"Fifteen percent of your income is confiscated from you, and when you retire, it turns out they haven't put one dollar away for your retirement," he said. "So all you can hope for is that they will tax your children and grandchildren at ever-increasing rates to make good on their promise to you."\nOn gun control, Browne said his position is one of principle.\n"You should never, ever be prosecuted for what you own. You should only be prosecuted for the harm you do to others."\nThe 30-year "War on Drugs" is another central issue to Libertarian doctrine.\nBrowne said that if drugs are legalized the country would still have drug problems, but those problems would be localized to individuals instead of affecting the total population.\n"There are hundreds of thousands of people who have never done any harm to anyone else, who are overcrowding our prisons," he said. "Those people should go free."\nLibertarian gubernatorial candidate Andy Horning said he will stay optimistic about the party's future despite abysmal media coverage of the Browne campaign.\n"Maybe we haven't gotten the publicity that Ralph Nader or Pat Buchanan, but we're bigger, we're stronger, we're more significant," Horning said. "I'm getting e-mails from Republican and Democratic (candidates) saying that on Nov. 8, they're becoming Libertarian"
(10/17/00 6:43am)
America's third largest political party is switching into high gear for November's elections. The Libertarian party is supporting 113 candidates in Indiana and more than 1,400 nationwide.\nLibertarian Jim Billingsley, a Monroe County resident, said he wants people to know that a vote for Libertarians is not a vote wasted. \n"What is worse than wasting your vote is lying with your vote," Billingsley said during an organizational meeting last week.\nLibertarian senatorial candidate Paul Hager agreed. \n"In 1992, against what I knew was right, I voted for (Bill) Clinton," he said. "I had never regretted a vote until that one -- I would never wish upon anyone the feeling I had after voting."\nOf all Libertarian races in Indiana this election year, Brad Klopfenstein, executive director of the Libertarian Party of Indiana, said Bloomington resident Steve Dillon's bid for judge is the most promising. Dillon, founder of the Indiana Chapter of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML), is running against incumbent judge Douglas R. Bridges. The Democratic Party has not entered a challenger.\nDeconstruction of the federal government and its role in everyday life is the Libertarians' primary concern, said acting secretary Bob Boyken.\n"It's like when you drive around without a seat belt. I mean, it's just stupid to drive without a seat belt -- but we have a right to be stupid," Boyken said. \nFirst-time attendee Arizeder Urreiztieta agreed.\n"I'm here because I want to keep my firearms," he said. "But it's the same if somebody wants to smoke a joint -- it's their body, you know?"\nLibertarians advocate eventual abolition of all income taxes. \n"Gradually," said Erin Hollinden, Monroe County Libertarian Party chair, "but government needs to be about half the size it is now. To fund the remaining government, we can use excise taxes or sales taxes or tariffs -- it's voluntary that way. If you don't want to pay the tax, you don't buy the product."\nHollinden said government has doubled in size since 1960. \n"People pay more in taxes now, on average, than they do for food, housing and clothing put together," she said.\nLibertarians also favor laissez-faire policies over commerce, including the repeal of minimum wage. \n"It's just like this: if an employer has $20 to spend on paying employees, and the government says he has to pay everybody $5, he can only hire four people," Klopfenstein said. "But if he could find a few people who are willing to work for less, he can give more people jobs. It just cuts down on unemployment," explained Klopfenstein. \nHollinden said she agreed.\n"We just think that all voluntary relationships between consenting adults should be allowed," Hollinden said.\nUrreiztieta, who said he was previously affiliated with both major parties only to become disillusioned by them, said he has some thinking to do about the Libertarian Party. But he illustrated his optimism by quoting Ralph Waldo Emerson: "The invasion of armies can be resisted, but not an idea whose time has come"
(09/28/00 4:42am)
Although election day is November 7, planning and campaigning starts well before, including in Monroe County. \nAll three parties are urging students to pay more attention to local races. \n"What I find disappointing is the lack of attention local government receives," Monroe County resident and Democrat Matt Weber said. "Local officials are the ones making the decisions that affect everyday life for students in Bloomington. This year, we will be electing County Council members and County Commissioners that will be responsible for making decisions that affect everyone in Bloomington." \nMonroe County Republican Chairman Pat Salzman said IU students would benefit from greater attention to local races. \n"The tendency is to gear more toward national elections, but if you live here, it's more important to pay attention to the local elections," she said. "When tax rates go up, rent goes up. Students have a large economic impact here, and if they want a voice, they need to look at these local elections … the candidates' phone numbers and things are all on the Internet; they're just waiting for someone to call them and ask questions and discuss things."\nWeber said the ferventness of his party's efforts is the same now as it was months ago. Libertarian gubernatorial candidate Andrew Horning agreed, but said he thinks more politics are sometimes involved in campaigning than in working once a candidate is elected. \n"For some people, there are more politics to the elections these days than in the actual elected terms in office," he said. \nFestivals, farmers' markets and doorsteps have been the primary venues for county and state candidates in need of Bloomington's electorate. In late September and October, the Monroe County Library, 303 E. Kirkwood Ave., will host a series of public forums that will operate as question-and-answer sessions between candidates and members of the community. \nAttendance at such events are generally between 20 and 50 people, depending on the race, according to Salzman. "Because some of them will be broadcast, many people just watch them at home." \nTelevised debates between gubernatorial candidates from the Democratic, Republican and Libertarian parties are also scheduled for September and October, although Horning campaign chair Sam Goldstein said he has issues with the debate schedule set up by incumbent Frank O'Bannon's staff. \n"Sept. 22 is the first one -- that's also a day they're broadcasting the Formula One Race in Indy and the Olympics are also in the same time slot," he said. "Oct.10 -- that's the first game of the World Series. And Oct. 12 -- the second game of the World Series. And they're not allowed to be broadcast once seven days after the debate have passed. They're counting on no one watching." \nThe issues in local and state elections this year range in topic from the commercial to the ideological. \nSteve Dillon, Libertarian candidate for judge, is running against Republican Randy Bridges. He said he is running on a platform that consists mostly on a focus of "reformation (of criminals), not just vindictive punishment."\nIn the Republican camp, the real issue this time around is property rights and commerce. \nFranklin Andrew, Republican candidate for county commissioner, spoke about the state of commerce in Monroe County. \n"The previous holders of these positions have allowed an atmosphere which has led to loss of business, and now even has lead to the burning of a house and the suspected arson of the Republican Headquarters," he said. "This atmosphere is scaring businesses off. There's this 'I've got mine' attitude among some people once they get elected -- we've got to reverse that philosophy ... we've got to convince business to come back."\nCounty Democrats said healthcare reform is of highest priority, both to candidates and to the majority of the voting populace.\nThis year's elections are Nov. 7, and further information on candidates can be found at the Monroe County Democrats', Republicans' and Libertarians' Web sites at www.monroedems.org, www.monroe-gop.com and www.lpin.org, as well as information on campaign fund-raising which can be found at Indiana's Secretary of State's Web site, www.state.in.us/sos/elections.
(09/20/00 4:46am)
"Big Red Reg 2000," a comprehensive campus-wide voter registration program, is looking for new registrants and volunteers alike. The program, in its third year, was instituted by the Indiana Public Interest Research Group, in cooperation with the Muslim Student Union, IU Student Association, Student Environmental Action Committee and Hoosiers for Higher Education.\nSophomore Hope Marasco, campaign coordinator, explained why voters should register in Bloomington.\n"There are basically three reasons why a person would need to register in Monroe County: If you have never registered in Indiana or have never registered at all, if you need to change your registration address in Indiana or if you changed your name," she said. "And really, the only reasons to vote absentee are if you want to vote for a friend or relative or if you want to vote for a third-party candidate like Ralph Nader who isn't on the ballot in Indiana. With those exceptions, you really need to register here."\nThe goal for "Big Red Reg" this year was initially set at 500 new registrants, but Marasco said she hopes to see that number rise above 1,000 new registrants. After only eight days of registering, Marasco said more than 250 were collected.\nNew voters are not only desirable but also needed, said INPIRG board chairman Jonathan Weidert, a junior.\n"In my opinion, this is the most important presidential race of our lifetime, so anyone who cares about their school, their future or their country should vote," he said. "And (local elections) are equally important, though not as publicized." \nAndy Revelle, a graduate student who distributed voter registration cards to his discussion sections for "Big Red Reg," said he is pleased with the classroom approach to voter registration that the program is taking this year. \n"This way they don't really have to do anything; they don't have to stop if they're already in class," he said. "They can just hand it in to me and this way they also don't have to buy a stamp."\nVoter registration forms are available in Maxwell Hall and at the Justice Building downtown to students who do not encounter "Big Red Reg." Voting registration deadline to vote in the Nov. 7 election is midnight, Oct. 1.\nMarasco said voter registration is not only a perk, but also a necessity.\n"We've got to make students understand that they have a voice by increasing the availability of registration and showing them how easy it is to take ownership of their right to the political process," she said. "Our age demographic has a really poor turnout, and it's such a shame."\nCoordinators are looking for students willing to run tables and to give presentations in classes. Interested persons can visit the INPIRG office in room 470A of the Indiana Memorial Union or by calling at 856-4128.