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"The Advocates has made invaluable contributions to the freedom cause. For over twenty years, the Advocates has
worked tirelessly to help libertarians better communicate
the ideas of liberty. I continue to be impressed
by the Advocates' work." — Ron Paul
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WELCOME to the Liberator Online!
In This Issue
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
* Our New Look
INTELLECTUAL AMMUNITION
* Abolish NSA, Exonerate Snowden, Stop Illegal Spying: Libertarian Candidates Pledge
* VIDEOS: The 5 Best — and 5 Worst — Libertarian TV Shows Ever
* Major New Study: U.S. and World Economic Liberty is Fading
THEY SAID IT: Ban the banners, says John Stossel.... Legalize marijuana, says Madison, Wisconsin police chief.... Why is the Department of Agriculture buying submachine guns, asks Salon.com journalist.... Why on earth would anyone trust the government, asks Judge Napolitano....
ASK DR. RUWART
* Should there be restrictions on the supply of antibiotics?
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
* Upcoming: Advocates communication workshops and speeches
* FREE OPH KITS for libertarian student groups!
* Joint the Advocates on Facebook and Twitter
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 President's Corner
by Sharon Harris
Our New Look
Dear friend,
 We have an important anniversary coming up!
In January, we will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the Liberator Online. Hooray! Thank you for being one of our loyal readers. You are deeply appreciated.
You'll notice this issue has some changes. We hope you'll like them.
In recent months, we've noticed that some email providers, including Gmail and Yahoo Mail, have been truncating the newsletter, so you may have been unable to easily see the entire issue.
To solve this problem, we've decided to shorten each issue, starting with this one. This new size should be easily read within your email client.
But don't worry -- you won't be missing any of the Liberator Online writers and columns you enjoy.
We're simply changing from publishing every other week to publishing weekly -- so you will still be able to read your favorite columns every other week, just as before.
Ask Dr. Ruwart will alternate weekly issues with Michael Cloud's Persuasion Power Point and my Liberty Minute column. And you'll still get the same number of items in Intellectual Ammunition and They Said It, just delivered over the course of two weekly issues instead of one larger bi-weekly.
We believe you'll find this new arrangement more readable than ever. As always, we welcome your feedback.
Thank you again for reading the Liberator Online -- as we prepare to go into our third decade of bringing you one of the most popular libertarian newsletters in the world.
PS: Please note at the top of every issue the link reading "View this email in your browser." If you ever have trouble reading the issue in your email, or if you just prefer reading it in your browser, click on that.
Thank you!
Sharon
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The purpose of the Liberator Online is to build a stronger movement for liberty. We do this by providing information about the libertarian movement and how to best communicate the ideas of liberty. Thank you for being a part of this!
Learn more about the Advocates and our work for liberty.
Learn more about libertarianism — the philosophy of liberty.
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Become a SUPER COMMUNICATOR for the ideas of liberty!
 Learn how at an entertaining and enlightening Advocates communication workshop, led by acclaimed libertarian communication expert and Advocates President Sharon Harris.
Find out how you can get Sharon to speak at your organization. Email Sharon now, or call her at 770-386-8372.
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Intellectual Ammunition
by James W. Harris
Abolish NSA, Exonerate Snowden, Stop Illegal Spying: Libertarian Candidates Pledge
Scores of Libertarian Party candidates for federal office have pledged to downsize the bloated federal government — in these big and specific ways:
* Eliminate the federal income tax
* End the War on Drugs
* Abolish the NSA
* Cut military spending by 60%
We're exploring each of these pledges in detail, one per issue, because the Libertarian Party has done a great job of showing that these bold proposals are not only possible, but practical and enormously beneficial. (Of course, you can jump ahead of us and read about all four positions right now.)
Let's look at the pledge to abolish the NSA (National Security Agency).
The candidates pledge: "If elected, I will sponsor legislation to abolish the NSA, grant clemency and full whistleblower protection to Edward Snowden, consolidate our 18 spy agencies into one accountable agency, and cut taxes accordingly."
Here are the benefits of fully restoring the Fourth Amendment, exonerating Edward Snowden and shrinking the American spy apparatus, according to the Libertarian Party:
* Privacy! No more snooping on your private emails, phone calls, text messages, Skype sessions, and other personal communication without your consent. No risk of embarrassment and humiliation due to others' unwelcome knowledge of your personal life. You alone will control your private information.
* Consolidating the 18 U.S. spy agencies will enable substantial cuts in federal taxes. Each American family will get back, on average, $540 every year that they now pay in taxes.
* Assurance of privacy will increase the use of online banking and shopping, creating greater convenience for shoppers and increased sales for online vendors. It also encourages use of email, which cuts costs for businesses, cuts prices for consumers, liberates personal communications, and reduces paper waste.
* Protection from warrantless government search and seizure will greatly reduce the risk of unjust arrests and prosecution of innocent Americans, and will lessen the risk of America devolving into a state of tyranny.
* Exonerating Edward Snowden will grant him the respect and freedom he deserves, and will make it safe for whistleblowers to speak up when the government violates the rights of citizens.
* Ending the TSA will make air travel dignified, lower-cost, safer, faster, and more convenient.
VIDEOS: The 5 Best — and 5 Worst — Libertarian TV Shows Ever
Reason's Nick Gillespie recently went out on a limb and picked the 5 best libertarian-themed TV shows ever.
And then, while arguments were still raging — how could you leave off Yes Minister, Firefly, and Green Acres, you @#%%^^^!!! — Gillespie crept further out on that same limb and picked the five most anti-libertarian TV shows ever.
Check these two videos out and see his choices. Sure, you're going to disagree with him on some things (indeed, we predict riots may break out in some cities over his choice for worst-ever anti-libertarian show) but that's part of the fun.
And if you discover a new show or two to watch, it's well worth the few minutes it takes to watch these short (3 and 4 minutes) and fun videos.
Major Study: U.S. and World Economic Liberty is Fading
 Economic liberty — essential for human progress and well-being — has dropped significantly worldwide. And the United States — once the very symbol of economic freedom — has fallen behind many other countries in this crucial area.
That's the disturbing finding of the 18th annual Economic Freedom of the World Annual Report, a highly-regarded measuring of economic freedom around the world.
The annual study is prepared by the Economic Freedom Network, a group of independent research and educational institutes in nearly 90 nations and territories worldwide. The group describes their report as "the world's premier measurement of economic freedom."
The report defines the cornerstones of economic freedom as: personal choice, voluntary exchange, freedom to compete, and security of private property.
The report measures economic freedom in five different areas: (1) size of government, (2) legal structure and security of property rights, (3) access to sound money, (4) freedom to trade internationally, and (5) regulation of credit, labor, and business.
Each year's report ranks the nation of the world in relation to one another, and assigns a score from zero to ten on the amount of liberty in each nation.
This year's study covers the year 2012, the most recent year for which the data is available.
It reports that the United States, "long considered the standard bearer for economic freedom among large industrial nations, has experienced a substantial decline in economic freedom during the past decade."
The fall has been fast. From 1980 to 2000, the U.S. was generally rated the third-freest economy in the world, ranking behind only Hong Kong and Singapore.
However, in this year's study the United States now ranks 12th in the world, tied with the United Kingdom and behind countries including Canada, Jordan and the United Arab Emirates.
More disturbing than the rankings is the U.S. score of 7.81, which shows a continuing pattern of losing economic freedom. After generally rising from 1980 to reach second place and a score of 8.55 in 2000, the U.S. has now fallen considerably lower.
The reasons? According to the study: "Due to a weakening rule of law, increasing regulation, and the ramifications of wars on terrorism and drugs, the United States has seen its economic freedom score plummet in recent years, compared to 2000 when it ranked second globally."
Worldwide economic freedom dropped slightly in this year's report, and it remains well below its peak level of 6.92 in 2007. The average score fell to 6.84.
Hong Kong retained the highest rating for economic freedom, 8.98 out of 10. The rest of this year's top scores are Singapore, 8.54; New Zealand, 8.25; Switzerland, 8.19; Mauritius, 8.09; United Arab Emirates, 8.05; Canada, 8.00; Australia, 7.87; Jordan, 7.86; and, tied for 10th at 7.84, Chile and Finland.
These scores are extraordinarily important, because, as the report shows, economic liberty is literally a matter of life and death. Extensive research shows that people living in countries with high levels of economic freedom enjoy greater prosperity, more political and civil liberties, and longer life spans.
As the report notes: "Nations in the top quartile of economic freedom had an average per capita GDP of $39,899 in 2012, compared to $6,253 for bottom quartile nations. Moreover, life expectancy is 79.9 years in the top quartile compared to 63.2 years in the bottom quartile, and political and civil liberties are considerably higher in economically free nations than in unfree nations."
Further, the poorest 10 per cent of people in the freest nations are nearly twice as prosperous as the average population of the countries with the least economic freedom.
The 10 lowest-rated countries for economic freedom are: Myanmar, Democratic Republic of Congo, Burundi, Chad, Iran, Algeria, Argentina, Zimbabwe, Republic of Congo, and, lastly, Venezuela. (North Korea and Cuba could not be included because data was unavailable.)
“The link between economic freedom and prosperity is undeniable," said Fred McMahon of the Fraser Institute, one of the institutes involved in producing the report. "The most economically free countries offer the highest quality of life and personal freedoms, while the lowest-ranked countries are usually burdened by oppressive regimes that limit the freedom and opportunity of their citizens.â€
The report is available free online.
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Intellectual Ammunition is written by Liberator Online editor James W. Harris. His articles have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, and he has been a Finalist for the Mencken Awards, given by the Free Press Association for "Outstanding Journalism in Support of Liberty."
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THEY SAID IT...
BAN THE BANNERS: “I wonder just how many things social conservatives would outlaw if  they thought the public would accept the bans. [Tony Perkins, president of the conservative Family Research Council] doesn't approve of gambling, gay marriage, plural marriage, sex work or making a political statement by burning a flag. … Meanwhile, liberals keep adding new things to their own list of items to control: wages, hate speech, high-interest loans, plastic shopping bags, large cars, health care, e-cigarettes, Uber, AirBnB and more. One choice America needs urgently is an alternative to politicians who constantly want to ban more things.†— John Stossel, “Two Anti-Choice Parties,†syndicated column, Sept. 24, 2014.
 MADISON WI POLICE CHIEF SAYS LEGALIZE MARIJUANA: "We've done such an abysmal job using marijuana as a centerpiece of drug enforcement, that it's time to reorder and triage the necessities of what's more important now. …The crusade on marijuana has been a palpable failure — an abject failure. …So let's acknowledge the failure for what it is, and rededicate ourselves to…a better way to deal with people who have addictions." — Madison, Wisconsin Police Chief Mike Koval, interviewed in Wisconsin State Journal, Sept. 14, 2014.
THE MILITARIZED USDA: "In May of this year, the USDA  [U.S. Department of Agriculture] Office of the Inspector General filed a request for 'submachine guns, .40 Cal. S&W, ambidextrous safety, semi-automatic or 2 shot burst trigger group, Tritium night sights for front and rear, rails for attachment of flashlight (front under fore grip) and scope (top rear), stock-collapsible or folding, magazine — 30 rd. capacity, sling, light weight, and oversized trigger guard for gloved operation.'" — Joanna Rothkopf, "Why is the Department of Agriculture asking for submachine guns?" Salon.com
 LIBERTY VERSUS PHONY SECURITY: "The government can't deliver the mail, pave potholes, balance the budget, fairly collect taxes, protect us from Ebola, even tell the truth. Who would trust it with personal freedoms?" — Judge Andrew P. Napolitano, "A Euphemism for Tyranny," Washington Times, Oct. 14, 2014.
Read more:
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"They Said It..." is compiled by Liberator Online editor James W. Harris.
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 Ask Dr. Ruwart
Dr. Mary Ruwart is a leading expert in libertarian communication. In this column she offers short answers to real questions about libertarianism. To submit questions to Dr. Ruwart, see end of column.
Should there be restrictions on the supply of antibiotics?
Question: Should there be any restrictions on the supply of antibiotics? Do you believe that overuse and misuse of antibiotics accelerates the development of resistance to antibiotics in pathogens?
My short answer: If by "restrictions," you mean voluntary ones by medical professionals, I would say "yes." When antibiotics first came out, they were used — like most new things — more frequently than was optimal. Germ resistance developed, making new antibiotics that worked in different ways necessary.
We are now running out of such options. Physicians and hospitals generally withhold the latest and greatest antibiotics unless the older ones fail. We've learned from our mistakes, for the most part.
If by "restrictions," you mean federal regulations, my answer would be "no." Regulations in this arena take life and deaths decisions out of the hands of doctors and into the hands of bureaucrats, who are more likely to show poor judgment since their knowledge of both the problems and the individual circumstances are limited.
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 Got questions? Dr. Ruwart has answers! If you'd like answers to YOUR tough questions on libertarian issues, email Dr. Ruwart
Due to volume, Dr. Ruwart can't personally acknowledge all emails. But we'll run the best questions and answers in upcoming issues.
Dr. Ruwart's previous Liberator Online answers are archived in searchable form.
Dr. Ruwart's latest book Short Answers to the Tough Questions, Expanded Edition is available from the Advocates, as is her acclaimed classic Healing Our World.
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What's Happening with the Advocates
Upcoming workshops, speeches, and conferences
Oct. 25: Advocates President Sharon Harris will be speaking at the Students For Liberty regional conference, Calgary University, Calgary, Canada.
Oct. 25: Advocates Chairman of the Board Jim Lark will deliver the keynote address, European Students For Liberty conference, Madrid, Spain.
Oct. 25: The Advocates will have a table at the Student's For Liberty conference at University of California, Berkeley.
Nov. 1: Advocates Chairman of the Board Jim Lark will speak at the Students For Liberty regional conference, Salem College, Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
Nov. 15: Advocates Chairman of the Board Jim Lark will speak at the European Students For Liberty conference, Reykjavik, Iceland.
October and November, Students for Liberty regional conferences: The Advocates will be at numerous Students For Liberty (SFL) regional conferences throughout the U.S. and Canada. We will announce which ones as soon as they are confirmed.
Email us now if you'd like us to send you further information on these events.
Email Sharon to find out how you can have a communication event near you.
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