Freedom Home Page of the Week Archive Fall 1999

It's time to send a message: Model rockets don't kill people, people with model rockets... wait a minute. I'm not aware of model rockets posing a significant threat to anybody except, perhaps, careless model rocket enthusiasts. So why on earth is the BATF cracking down on model rockets?

The same question is being asked by the National Association of Rocketry, "the oldest and largest sport rocketry organization in the world." It's a question that will likely be bringing them to court soon. They are preparing to sue the BATF.

The history of this case is well-documented at the NAR site, but here's a quick summary: In August, 1998, BATF announced that more restrictive regulation of model rocketry was forthcoming. NAR quickly assembled a legal team which prepared three solid arguments (see their Sept. 7 letter) demonstrating that said restrictions are arbitrary and unnecessary. Two of the three arguments were dismissed by the BATF, and the third is still being reviewed.

When the third is rejected, the hobbyists will challenge the BATF's positions in court.

Cases like these, where a small, unnoticed minority is harrassed by a large, unchecked federal agency, effectively demonstrate the way socialism "creeps". Before the Internet, this case wouldn't have registered as a blip on the national media screen. Today, everyone can hear about it and creepers can be exposed to the light that they fear.

There has been a lot of talk lately about taxing the Internet and, fortunately, much of the talk has been against it. One of the groups making the most noise about the newest form of taxation without representation has been The e-Freedom Coalition, a group of think-tanks and other organizations helmed by the free-market Institute for Policy Innovation.

The most important item to read at e-freedom.org is their Proposal to the Advisory Commission on Electronic Commerce. This proposal, which would eliminate existing taxes on Internet access as well as ban all taxes imposed on electronic commerce, is a model of clear thinking about an issue which has traditional tax-and-spend politicians in a tizzy. If you don't have time to read the whole thing, there is a short FAQ which will give you the essentials. From the home page, you can also add your name to the list of Endorsers of the proposal. (You will be in good company. I just added my name.)

As regular Free-Market.Net visitors know very well, dynamism and daily innovations on the Internet are perhaps the most important aspects of its contribution to the future of human freedom. And we all know what taxation does to dynamism and innovation. Show your support for the mission of the e-Freedom Coalition now, while you still can.

In celebration of the 200th Freedom Page of the Week Award, this week's award goes to the most important, new, libertarian site on the Web: ifeminists.com.

Yes, ifeminists.com was created and is maintained by the same people who bring you Free-Market.Net. Yes, it might be considered a little egotistical and self-serving to give this award to ourselves. You got a problem with that, Mr. Atlas Shrugged?

In all seriousness, though, ifeminists.com is a great site. I can say this because I had almost nothing to do with its creation. ifeminists is the work of Webmaster Andy Dehnart and Editor Wendy McElroy, and it should soon be the online hub of the individualist feminist movement. (What is individualist feminism? See the answer here.)

The site is divided into three sections: introduction, interaction, and information. In addition to the above-referenced FAQ, the introduction section contains two interesting essays by McElroy which are not to be missed. In interaction, one can participate in the already very active and controversial discussion forum, or meet other individualist feminists in our very first live chat room. The information section is based on Free-Market.Net's wide-ranging directory, and will point you to all the best feminist resources elsewhere on the Web.

The feminist movement can be reclaimed from the repressive totalitarians with whom it is most often associated. ifeminists.com is a powerful step in that direction.

Peter McWilliams is slowly being murdered by the federal government. An AIDS and cancer patient, McWilliams is being prevented from taking the legal medical marijuana, prescribed to him by his physician, which would help him keep down the nausea-inducing drugs he needs to stay alive.

If you don't already know of Peter McWilliams, you should. (His book, "Ain't Nobody's Business If You Do", is more responsible than any other for converting me from a confused socialist (redundant, I know) to the clear-thinking libertarian that I am today.) In addition to being a fine author and an entertaining speaker, (see his speech before the 1998 Libertarian National Convention here), he has long been a thorn in the DEA's side.

On July 23rd, they finally caught him. Peter has been charged with conspiring to grow, possess, and distribute the demon weed, and his trial begins on Nov. 16th. His new Web site has been created to help his case in the court of public opinion by attracting journalists to the cause. Anyone interested in the insane War on Drugs should read this site, but journalists especially. If you know anyone in the media, point them towards Peter's site now. If you need further convincing, read the story of Peter's escapades here. It is a harrowing story of a powerful agency run amok.

P.S. Don't forget to tune in next week for a milestone in Free-Market.Net history: the 200th Freedom Home Page of the Week award!

Since 1990, The Future of Freedom Foundation's monthly journal, Freedom Daily, has been one of the most consistently thought-provoking and uncompromising libertarian magazines available. The editorials by FFF's always-engaging President, Jacob Hornberger, would be enough to make it worth reading. Regular contributions by Sheldon Richman, James Bovard, and others make reading a necessity. Now, at FFF's newly (and very nicely) re-designed Web site, you can read every article from every issue of Freedom Daily.

The site is easy to navigate and full of interesting content, but it also has a sense of humor, as evidenced by the Restricted Viewing pages. Accessing the "For Conservatives Only" page elicits a "NO LIBERTARIANS PERMITTED INTO THIS SITE" sign, and the following notice: "This site examines and treats the dread disease that afflicts conservatives � hypocrisitus. While it will cause extreme discomfort � and even pain � to conservatives, this site provides hope for the victims of hypocrisitus."

Whether or not you are suffering from hypocrisitus, the example of FFF's new Web site provides hope for the future of the Internet as an easy-to-use tool for gathering and dispersing important information and, consequently, for the future of freedom as well.

Advertising professional Jim Houck is, in his own words, "going to war" against the anti-gun lobbyists and politicians. He's formed the non-profit organization, Citizens of America, for one purpose only: to create and run aggressive, intelligent, and often amusing print and radio ads exposing the hypocrisy of gun control advocates.

The Web site is sparse because every minute and every dollar of CoA is going to be spent on the advertising campaign, but a visit to the site will be memorable. Mr. Houck is a genuine pro, having done work for clients like Procter & Gamble, Sony, and Coca-Cola, and the ads he's produced really pack a punch. (For example, check out the "Niggertown Saturday Night Specials" ad here.)

To listen to the radio ads, you'll need to download a RealPlayer if you haven't already. Full instructions for downloading are available at the site.

Since its inception in 1993, the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs has grown to be one of the best public policy research organizations in the country. Most of their research and commentary is specific to Oklahoma, but the issues concern all of us. Their attractive (and recently re-designed) Web site makes navigation through scores of articles, studies, and speeches very easy.

One interesting feature is OCPA's Calendar which doesn't just confine itself to OCPA events. For example, what pivotal event in American history took place on Oct. 19, 1781? Check the calendar to find out.

I've only begun to scratch the surface. OCPA has plenty of good research here, much of it on the need for education reform but with other sections on economics and governance, which makes this site worth bookmarking for many return visits.

Walter K. Olson has proved to be an astute critic of the American judicial system with his books, "The Litigation Explosion" and "The Excuse Factory." Now, his new Web site, Overlawyered.com, can keep you up to date on the newest travesties of justice being inflicted not only on the plaintiffs themselves, but on all Americans, in the forms of higher prices and curtailed liberties.

This site is thorough, well-organized, and, if you are capable of enjoying an occasional laugh at the ridiculousness of some lawsuits, very entertaining. All of the latest news "chronicling the high cost of our legal system" can be found on the home page, updated daily. In addition, the extensive archives can be found organized into topics ranging from Personal Responsibility, to Bad Medicine, to Fear of Flirting (Sexual Harassment Law).

Discussion forums and a full-text search engine top off this site, making it truly invaluable to anyone interested in the absurdities of our legal system.

Republican Governor Gary Johnson of New Mexico has been stirring up trouble lately by stating that he favors decriminalization of some drugs, specifically marijuana and heroin. This has some libertarians excited about the possibility of another alternative in the race for a Libertarian presidential candidate. (The governor has stated that he won't seek any elected office ever again. Naturally, at least in the eyes of this libertarian, his reluctance makes him an even better candidate for president!)

At Governor Johnson's Home Page, you can find out more about this controversial politician. On the Governor's Real Results page, you'll witness another rarity: a politican bragging about the amount of people he's put out of work. ("Approximately 1,228 fewer state employees.") Another interesting Johnson policy is his Open Door After Four program. On the third Thursday of every month, after 4 p.m., Gov. Johnson opens his door to talk one-on-one with anyone at all. It doesn't even matter what you want to talk about. From the site: "Want to talk about that community development project? This is your chance. Want someone to do pushups with for five minutes? That works, too."

If you can't drop in the Open Door After Four, you could take a moment to contact the Gov and offer some words of support for his stance on drugs. I'm sure he could use it.

This week marks the 18th annual Banned Books Week, sponsored by the American Booksellers Association, the American Booksellers Foundation of Free Expression, the American Library Association (ALA), the Association of American Publishers, the American Society of Journalists and Authors, and the National Association of College Stores.

Although the definition of censorship used by the sponsors of Banned Books Week is occasionally confused � Is it censorship if one protests one's minor child being required to read an objectionable book in a state school? � there is still an important message being conveyed here. To quote the motto of this week-long celebration, "free people read freely."

At this Web site, you can see for yourself what the most frequently challenged Books and Authors of 1998 were, and read a short list of good quotes regarding freedom of speech. Perhaps the most interesting (and well-researched) feature of this site is a chronological list of Notable First Amendment Court Cases, complete with summaries explaining their importance. In what case did Oliver Wendell Holmes set the famous precedent about "falsely shouting fire in a crowded theatre"? Find out here. (Sadly, it seems that refusing to purchase a book can also sometimes be considered illegal censorship. Again, it's those darn public schools that make the issue so confusing. See Loewen v. Turnipseed, (1980))

Why not do yourself a favor and read a banned book this week? If you don't have time for "The Grapes of Wrath" or "The Diary of Anne Frank", I hear that any one of R.L. Stine's "Goosebumps" series ought to be short and thrilling.

If it's been awhile since you've visited Reason Online, the Web site of Reason magazine, now is a good time to return. The site has recently been redesigned and it is easier than ever to access the wealth of information and commentary that Reason has to offer.

If you've never been to Reason Online, where have you been? Not only will you find the full text of every issue of this great libertarian magazine since 1994, you'll also find fun and interesting Web-only features like the Reason Bookstore; transcripts of speeches by Reason editors and contributors; and Reason Express, Reason's weekly e-mail newsletter.

Reason Online, the home of "free minds and free markets", remains one of the best sources for lively, timely, and diverse libertarian content. It can't be recommended enough.

In May of this year, California radio personality Geoff Metcalf wrote in a column titled "Veto the Governor" that he was "beyond frustrated, p.o.-ed, and ashamed" about upcoming restrictions on gun ownership and that it was time for organized gun owners to "LEAD... FOLLOW... OR GET THE HELL OUT THE WAY."

In July, Metcalf backed up his words with action. He established Veto the Governor, an organization devoted to collecting the necessary 480,000 signatures required to put the SB-23 Assault Weapons Ban on hold from going into effect on January 1. Then, according to California law, SB-23 would be put on the ballot, to be voted on by the entire state in the next General Election.

Obviously, if you don't live in California, you can't sign the petition. But, Veto the Governor should be of interest to anyone, regardless of location, as an example of Internet activism at its finest. This site has everything a Californian activist could need to get immediately and directly involved in stopping this ban from going into effect.

A public discussion forum, the full text of SB-23, and links to articles detailing the reasons why gun control doesn't work fill out the rest of this informative, meticulously organized, and (hopefully) effective project. Whether or not you live in California, this Web site will prove inspiring.

Fourteen members of Congress, apparently organized by (who else?) Ron Paul, have formed a caucus called the Liberty Study Group to fight back against the constant intrusions on our constitutionally guaranteed rights to which we have become so accustomed.

For non-congresspeople, The Liberty Study Committee is the nationwide, grassroots organization which supports the work of the Liberty Study Group.

The organization is still young and the site does not contain very much content yet, but what's there is worth seeing. There is a page of Liberty Updates, "keeping you informed about events that effect your liberty," which includes Ron Paul's moving personal message inaugurating the LSC. You can also sign up to Be an Activist and receive important e-mail updates from LSC.

Freedom Home Page of the Week
Directory by Topic | Recommend a Home Page

edited by Eric C. Johnson

Archived Winners