Liberty

Stephen Ware: Debate on masks, freedom
05
Jul
By Bob Weeks

Stephen Ware: Debate on masks, freedom

Can libertarians accept a mask mandate? This op-ed by Kansas University Law Professor and noted libertarian Stephen Ware shows how libertarians can tolerate, if not embrace, a government mandate to wear masks to help slow the spread of COVID-19. It is free to read in the Topeka Capital-Journal here. Here is an excerpt that I believe presents the heart of the reasoning: In that sense, a mask requirement is less like a seatbelt law designed to protect the wearer and more like a law against driving under the influence of alcohol. Many deaths have been caused by drunken drivers who…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Author Lenore Skenazy, “America’s Worst Mom”
03
Oct
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Author Lenore Skenazy, “America’s Worst Mom”

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Author Lenore Skenazy talks about today’s children and the free-range kids movement. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 212, broadcast October 7, 2018. Shownotes Website: Let Grow Articles: Lenore Skenazy at reason.com Book: Free-Range Kids, How to Raise Safe, Self-Reliant Children (Without Going Nuts with Worry)
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Larry Reed, Foundation for Economic Education
05
Apr
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Larry Reed, Foundation for Economic Education

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Lawrence W. Reed, President of Foundation for Economic Education, joins Bob and Karl to discuss the connection between liberty and character, our economic future, and I, Pencil. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 191, broadcast April 7, 2018. Shownotes Website: Foundation for Economic Education FEE on Twitter and Facebook Lawrence Reed Facebook page Lawrence Reed biography Book: Are We Good Enough for Liberty? Includes the essay I, Pencil. I, Pencil: The Movie
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. Wolf von Laer of Students for Liberty
29
Mar
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. Wolf von Laer of Students for Liberty

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Dr. Wolf von Laer of Students for Liberty joins Bob and Karl to talk about young people and the cause of liberty. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 190, broadcast March 31, 2018. Shownotes Students for Liberty Website: Dr. Wolf von Laer Dr. Wolf von Laer on Twitter Article: How Lehman Brothers’ Crash Five Years Ago Made Me Appreciate Markets
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Panhandling in Wichita
17
Dec
By Bob Weeks

Panhandling in Wichita

The City of Wichita cracks down on panhandling. In today's Wichita Eagle Chase Billingham has an excellent column explaining the recent changes to panhandling laws in the City of Wichita (Chase Billingham: New laws will criminalize homeless). An assistant professor of sociology at Wichita State University, he makes important observations and warnings about the effect of these laws. In his column, Billingham notes a problem with the ordinance designed to regulate “aggressive” panhandling: "Importantly, though, the ordinance defines 'contact' in an extremely vague manner." I may have noticed the same problem in this example from Ordinance No. 50-643: Section 2:…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Matt Kibbe of Free the People
03
Nov
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Matt Kibbe of Free the People

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Matt Kibbe of Free the People joins Karl Peterjohn and Bob Weeks to discuss FreeThePeople.org and our relationship with government. Mr. Kibbe's appearance was made possible by the Wichita Chapter of the Bastiat Society. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 171, broadcast November 4, 2017. Shownotes Free the People Matte Kibbe on Twitter Matt Kibbe on Facebook The Bastiat Society, Wichita Chapter
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Judge Melgren defends Constitutional protections
31
Jul
By Guest Author

Judge Melgren defends Constitutional protections

By Karl Peterjohn While it has become increasingly common for members of the U.S. Supreme Court to make news by public comments, particularly during their summer recess, Wichita Pachyderm Club members had the opportunity for Kansas federal district Judge Eric F. Melgren to quote from his judicial colleagues in a way of defending the Constitution's concept of the separation of powers. Judge Melgren cited various appellate court rulings, particularly as they related to the largely little known Chevron decision, that damages that constitutional protection at his July 21 speech in Wichita. Judge Melgren, a former member of this club before…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: David Schneider on Convention of States
16
Jun
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: David Schneider on Convention of States

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: David Schneider of Citizens for Self-Governance joins Bob Weeks and Karl Peterjohn to explain the Convention of States project. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 154, broadcast June 18, 2017 Shownotes Convention of States Convention of States on Facebook (1,084,689 people like this) Citizens for Self-Governance
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Year in Review: 2016
28
Dec
By Bob Weeks

Year in Review: 2016

Here are highlights from Voice for Liberty for 2016. Was it a good year for the principles of individual liberty, limited government, economic freedom, and free markets in Wichita and Kansas? Also be sure to view the programs on WichitaLiberty.TV for guests like journalist, novelist, and blogger Bud Norman; Radio talk show host Joseph Ashby; David Bobb, President of Bill of Rights Institute; Heritage Foundation trade expert Bryan Riley; Radio talk show host Andy Hooser; Keen Umbehr; John Chisholm on entrepreneurship; James Rosebush, author of "True Reagan," Jonathan Williams of American Legislative Exchange Council (ALEC); Gidget Southway, or Danedri Herbert;…
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Beware of government arts spending
29
Nov
By Guest Author

Beware of government arts spending

Art is too important to be dependent on politicians and injecting politics into anything inevitably tarnishes it, writes Lawrence W. Reed of Foundation for Economic Education. Economist Lawrence W. Reed is president of the Foundation for Economic Education in Atlanta, Georgia. He is the author of the forthcoming book, Real Heroes: Inspiring True Stories of Courage, Character and Conviction. Follow on Twitter and Like on Facebook. While in Wichita Reed appeared on WichitaLiberty.TV in this episode. An abridged version of the following appeared in the Wichita Eagle. Beware of Government Arts Spending By Lawrence W. Reed While visiting Wichita in…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Charter schools in Kansas, and a victory for speech and association
03
Jun
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Charter schools in Kansas, and a victory for speech and association

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Kansas has essentially no charter schools. Here’s why we need them. AFP Foundation scores a victory for free speech and association. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 120, broadcast June 5, 2016. Shownotes Kansas continues to snub school choice reform that helps the most vulnerable schoolchildren After years of low standards, Kansas schools adopt truthful standards Kansas NAEP scores for 2015 Kansas school test scores, two interactive visualizations
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Keen Umbehr
28
Apr
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Keen Umbehr

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Keen Umbehr is an attorney from Alma. Besides setting a precedent protecting free speech in the United States Supreme Court, he's an advocate for criminal justice reform and a former candidate for governor. View below, or click here to view at YouTube. Episode 118, broadcast May 1, 2016. Shownotes Keen Umbehr on Facebook The U.S. Supreme Court case: Board of County Commissioners, Wabaunsee County, Kansas v. Umbehr. Small Town Showdown, the true story of Keen A. Umbehr, a trashman who dared to challenge the powers that be in his hometown of Alma, Kansas, population 850.…
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AFP Foundation wins a battle for free speech for everyone
24
Apr
By Bob Weeks

AFP Foundation wins a battle for free speech for everyone

Americans for Prosperity Foundation achieves a victory for free speech and free association. Must donors to non-profit organizations live in “fear of exercising their First Amendment right to support” any organization, which effect is to “diminish the amount of expressive and associational activity?” Should these people be denied the right to their speech? The constitution says, no. Non-profit organizations file a form known as IRS Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. [1. Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. (2016). Irs.gov. Available at www.irs.gov/uac/About-Form-990.] The first part of this form is public information and may…
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In Wichita, revealing discussion of property rights
13
Apr
By Bob Weeks

In Wichita, revealing discussion of property rights

Reaction to the veto of a bill in Kansas reveals the instincts of many government officials, which is to grab more power whenever possible. When plunder becomes a way of life for a group of men living together in society, they create for themselves in the course of time a legal system that authorizes it and a moral code that justifies it. -- Frederic Bastiat Kansas Governor Sam Brownback's veto of a bill that gives cities additional means to take blighted property has produced reaction from local officials in Wichita. The bill is Senate Bill 338. As has been noted…
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In Depth with Walter Williams
04
Nov
By Bob Weeks

In Depth with Walter Williams

This Sunday Dr. Walter E. Williams appeared on the C-SPAN program In Depth. It's three hours with the great economist, and every moment is worthwhile. Click here to view the program. It was Dr. Williams that first got me to think about libertarian ideas and principles. For that I shall forever be grateful. In 2011 Williams visited Wichita and I had the privilege of interviewing him for a moment. Coverage of the visit, including my interview, is at Walter Williams: Government must stick to its limited and legitimate role.
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Video: Jeffrey Tucker, ‘Bit by Bit: How P2P Is Freeing the World’
06
Oct
By Bob Weeks

Video: Jeffrey Tucker, ‘Bit by Bit: How P2P Is Freeing the World’

Jeffrey A. Tucker, Director of Digital Development at the Foundation for Economic Education, talks about his new book, “Bit by Bit: How P2P Is Freeing the World.” The book is an explanation of how Bitcoin type cryptocurrencies work as a “peer to peer” innovative payment network and an alternative exchange system. Tucker gave the presentation October 2, 2015, at the Wichita Pachyderm Club. View below, or click here to view in high definition at YouTube. Videography by Paul Soutar. Tucker's website is www.jeffreytucker.me. The book's page at Amazon is Bit by Bit: How P2P Is Freeing the World. Liberty.me is…
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WichitaLiberty.TV: Jeffrey Tucker and ‘Bit by Bit: How P2P Is Freeing the World’
05
Oct
By Bob Weeks

WichitaLiberty.TV: Jeffrey Tucker and ‘Bit by Bit: How P2P Is Freeing the World’

In this episode of WichitaLiberty.TV: Jeffrey Tucker talks about his most recent book “Bit by Bit: How P2P Is Freeing the World” and how Bitcoin and other distributed technologies are affecting the world. View below, or click here to watch in high definition at YouTube. Episode 97, broadcast October 4, 2015. Tucker's website is www.jeffreytucker.me. The book's page at Amazon is Bit by Bit: How P2P Is Freeing the World. Liberty.me is here.
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Government creates obstacles to progress
24
Jul
By Bob Weeks

Government creates obstacles to progress

"Overcoming obstacles can be a difficult challenge even on a level playing field. We need to change the rigged system that favors the politically connected over the hardworking, honest citizen," writes Charles Koch in a recent edition of Perspectives. Overcoming Obstacles By Charles Koch July 13, 2015 America’s founding fathers had a unique vision for the United States. As the Declaration of Independence famously put it, this country was conceived as a place where people could enjoy “unalienable Rights,” including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” These concepts are much more than just words to me. I believe the…
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23
Apr
By Bob Weeks

Rebuilding liberty without permission

A forthcoming book by Charles Murray holds an intriguing idea as to how Americans can reassert liberty: Civil disobedience. Make the federal government an "insurable hazard." I think it's a great idea. For an easy introduction to this concept, listen to the Cato Institute's seven-minute podcast of Murray speaking about these ideas. From the publisher: American freedom is being gutted. Whether we are trying to run a business, practice a vocation, raise our families, cooperate with our neighbors, or follow our religious beliefs, we run afoul of the government—not because we are doing anything wrong but because the government has…
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