darrenlobo What looked like it would be just another Saturday protesting the war in West Chester, PA turned up something different this time. The alleged American patriots, who are always across the street from our peace vigil, had another country’s flag with them, namely Israel’s:
At least they’re being honest about who benefits from the wars the troops are fighting and dieing in!
The pro war side seems to have forgotten about liberty. Not one of their signs mentions it and certainly Israel is no shining example of it. They’re all about victory and supporting the government, not a view the Founders would have shared:
Of all the enemies to public liberty war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes. And armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few. In war, too, the discretionary power of the Executive is extended. Its influence in dealing out offices, honors, and emoluments is multiplied; and all the means of seducing the minds, are added to those of subduing the force of the people. The same malignant aspect in republicanism may be traced in the inequality of fortunes, and the opportunities of fraud, growing out of a state of war…and in the degeneracy of manners and morals, engendered by both. No nation could preserve its freedom in the midst of continual warfare.–James Madison, April 20, 1795 (Works. Vol. 4, Pp. 491-2)
To the pro war side I can only say, heed the wisdom of the Founders and make freedom your goal. That way peace, liberty, and security will ours.
Below are some pictures from the peaceful side of the street:
darrenlobo 
Many Austrians have tried to get Krugman to debate business cycle theory. He’s too busy and too sophisticated to debate an Austrian, of course. Until now.
Economist Robert Murphy has come up with a clever way to make this happen. Through a website called The Point, people can pledge an amount of money to make the debate happen. Not one cent is charged to them until it does happen. The money will go to a charity for the hungry in New York. So if it hits, say, $100,000, Krugman will have to explain why getting $100,000 to New York’s hungry isn’t worth one hour of his time. Brilliant. I’ve already pledged. Bob is up to around $5,000 already. (UPDATE: up to $10,000!)
Here’s his video promoting it (it looks like the law school one from the other day, but it’s a different video).
darrenlobo Concord Hospital, NH, Wed. Oct. 7th, 2010
Last Night John Irish & Stephanie Janvrin had their new born baby girl taken away by government officials because of their involvement with Oath Keepers, a non violent constitutional organization. According to Irish, The Director of Security and the Head Nurse of the Hospital said “we want the pediatrician to check the baby in the nursery so that you can go home.” The baby was wheeled out in the bassinet under the protest of Irish. Irish followed them out and took note of 3-4 men wearing suits with detective badges as well as 3 police officers.
The Division of Family Child Services proceeded to pat down John and inform the parents they would be taking the daughter. “They Stole our Child” says John Irish. An Affidavit was produced that claimed an affiliation with a militia called Oath Keepers. Irish claims Oath Keepers is a non violent organization. John and Stephanie were able to spend a few minutes with their daughter and were forced to leave. A security officer escorted the two out of the hospital.
Government Agents Seize Oath Keeper\'s New Born From Hospital
darrenlobo 
“…law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”
–Thomas Jefferson
The Supreme Court’s decision in Holder v. Humanitarian Law Project to uphold the “material support” of terrorism statute (18 U. S. C. §2339B(a)(1)) has truly turned the law into the tyrant’s weapon. In their June 21, 2010 decision they wrote, “Congress and the Executive are uniquely positioned to make principled distinctions between activities that will further terrorist conduct and undermine United States foreign policy, and those that will not.” With these words the Supreme Court made a criminal of anyone that has had any contact with an organization on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations. This author is astounded at the court’s naiveté in proclaiming that the government is able to make such “principled distinctions”. They’ve abdicated their role as guardians of our liberties by rubber stamping this repressive law.
Additionally, for an organization to be placed on the State Department’s list of foreign terrorist organizations it need only threaten the “economic interests” of the USA. This criteria is way too vague to have any other meaning than to allow them to designate almost anyone as a terrorist. Had the British had this law on their books they could have labeled Gandhi as one!
Enter the FBI raids on antiwar activists of September 24, 2010. Search warrants were executed in Minneapolis, Chicago, Michigan, and North Carolina against members of left wing groups that had visited with or advocated for either Colombia’s FARC or Israel/Palestine’s Hammas and Lebanon’s Hezbollah. Subpoenas to appear before federal grand juries were served to up to thirteen people. The individuals and organizations involved maintain that these raids are merely a fishing expedition and that they have done nothing wrong. As of this writing the first of the grand jury proceedings had only just started. Given that we live in an age when it has been said that “A good prosecutor could get a grand jury to indict a ham sandwich.” It is sadly very likely that indictments will follow. If this is the case jury nullification may be these activists only salvation.
Jury nullification is a well established legal doctrine that allows a jury to find a defendant not guilty despite the fact that they may have broken the law. (This is not to say that the above mentioned activists have done so.) As stated on the Fully Informed Jury Association’s (FIJA) website:
The primary function of the independent juror is not, as many think, to dispense punishment to fellow citizens accused of breaking various laws, but rather to protect fellow citizens from tyrannical abuses of power by government.
The Constitution guarantees you the right to trial by jury. This means that government must bring its case before a jury of The People if government wants to deprive any person of life, liberty, or property. Jurors can say no to government tyranny by refusing to convict.
Since many judges instruct juries that they are required to follow what he or she says is the law, most jurors are ignorant of the real powers they have. This, of course, negates the real purpose of a jury, which is to protect their fellow citizens from unjust law and prosecution.
While we may disagree about many things with the victims of the FBI raids of September 24 and their colleagues, most libertarians stand with them in opposing this oppression and are with them in opposing the US government’s imperial wars. These raids have only one purpose, to silence dissent. We can’t let them succeed. Now is the time to put our differences aside to speak for liberty with one voice, for as they do to the left now they may one day try to do to all dissidents.
The particular cause is not the issue, the principle is. This libertarian is not in agreement with supporting the FARC, for example. However, if private citizens want to use their own resources to support such causes overseas they are doing exactly what we have advocated for many years. Libertarians have said that we should not be taxed and, therefore, forced to fund foreign groups or governments. If someone wants to support something they should voluntarily give their support or money. This is their right and that is all these antiwar activists have done.
We all need to join forces to spread the word to potential jurors if the antiwar activists are taken to trial. Jury nullification may be their only hope against this government’s tyranny.
