Freedom Archives - Page 11 of 12 Voice For Liberty

Oct

Kansas protects its gambling interests

At one time Kansas prohibited its citizens from gambling because it was thought to be immoral. That attitude started to change when Kansas allowed a lottery. Now that the state owns casinos -- that's right, in Kansas the state owns the casinos that aren't Indian casinos -- thoughts of morality have been swept aside. Or, at least, we've decided that the potential revenue inflows to state coffers is more important than the moral health of Kansans. Now that Kansas is in the business of gambling, it's working to protect the monopoly it granted itself. In Wichita, entrepreneurs sought to get…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

AFP Defending the American Dream summit draws thousands to Washington

Last Friday and Saturday over two thousand defenders of free markets and capitalism traveled to the Washington area to meet at the Americans for Prosperity Foundation's Defending the American Dream summit. It was an action-packed two days, so I'll report on just a few personal highlights. One of the speakers in the general session was Stephen Moore of the Wall Street Journal. He said that global warming is the "greatest hoax of the last century." The cap-and-trade bill, besides not having an effect on global temperatures, should really be named the "China and India Full Employment Act." Jobs will flee…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Star Parker delivers message in Wichita

In an energetic message delivered to an audience at Wichita State University this Monday, author and columnist Star Parker spoke about breaking the cycle of poverty and other issues facing our country. Early in her talk, Parker noted the irony of the welfare office in Washington (the Department of Health and Human Services) being located on Independence Avenue. The approaches that have been tried over the last 45 years to conquer poverty haven't worked and have led to two generations of government dependence with disastrous consequences, she said. Speaking of her own experience being on welfare, the rules of welfare…

Oct

By Bob Weeks

Star Parker to deliver message of freedom in Wichita

Tonight in Wichita, author and columnist Star Parker will deliver a lecture titled "Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: From Entitlement to Empowerment." I spoke by telephone with Parker and asked her to give Wichitans a preview of the topics she'll address tonight. One topic she will address is the notion that people do not have the ability to control their own lives. There are some that believe that other forces keep people from being able to live free, she said. Also, Parker will look at political freedom and its role in enabling people to live free. Then, she'll examine the…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Author and columnist Star Parker to speak in Wichita

An evening with Star Parker Sponsored by Johnny and Marjorie Stevens Lecture: "Breaking the Cycle of Poverty: From Entitlement to Empowerment" Monday, October 5th at 7:00 p.m., with a book signing following lecture. The location is the CAC Theatre at Wichita State University (click for a Google map of the location) This event is free and open to the public. It is presented by The African American Student Association, The Young Democratic Socialists, WSU College Republicans, and The Center for Student Leadership. This event is part of WSU's Civic Engagement Lecture Series. Star Parker From Welfare to Warrior The story…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

Milton Friedman on ‘How to Stay Free’ presented in Wichita

The local chapter of Americans for Prosperity has been screening the PBS television series "Free to Choose." This series from 1980 features Milton Friedman teaching about the close relationship between human freedom and economic freedom. This week, the series finishes with program ten: "How to Stay Free?" “Democracies have only recently been considered desirable. Historically, it was feared that democracies always self-destruct when citizens, forgetting that you cannot remove want and misery through legislation, insist on government actions that physically and morally bankrupt their nation. Friedman explains why the United States has so far avoided this outcome and how we…

Sep

By Bob Weeks

American Liberty Tour stop added in Salina

It's coming to Kansas City, and now a stop has been added in Salina. It's the American Liberty Tour, which "seeks to bring together and support a new and dynamic breed of citizen activists borne of the desire to preserve personal and economic freedom." It's a collaborative effort of some great freedom-loving organizations: American Liberty Alliance, American Majority, Americans for Limited Government and the Sam Adams Alliance. The stop in Kansas City next Wednesday has always been in the plan, and now on Tuesday evening, the tour will stop in Salina. The web page for this event is American Liberty…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

American Liberty Tour to be in Kansas

To be precise, it will be Kansas City, Missouri, but that's close enough. This event -- American Liberty Tour -- is an opportunity to hear some great speakers, get some training, and make new friends. The Kansas City stop is on Wednesday, September 16th, 2009. According to the organization's website: "The American Liberty Tour is aimed at generating mass awareness and promotion of liberty, and the effort required as a country to retain it." This tour is a project of some great freedom-loving organizations: American Liberty Alliance, American Majority, Americans for Limited Government and the Sam Adams Alliance. And I'm…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Free speech shouldn’t be victim of health care reform

At a forum on health care in Wichita held last Sunday, Dr. Douglas Bradham, DrPH, professor and chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health at the KU Medical School-Wichita, said this: "Direct-to-patient advertising for procedures and for pharmaceuticals, in my mind, should be eliminated." The audience -- a left-leaning group -- applauded. Bradham then gave a few reasons why this advertising is harmful. He's probably correct in his diagnosis. But the suppression of free speech that would be necessary to implement his recommendation is intolerable. I'm surprised that the audience agreed with Bradham's proposed restrictions on such…

Aug

By Bob Weeks

Remembering Rose Friedman

Today we learn that Rose Friedman has died. The Friedman Foundation for Educational Choice has a notice at Remembering Rose Friedman. Also Reason has Rose Friedman, R.I.P. From the Reason notice: "Because she was collaborator on his major works of popular political and economic philosophy and advocacy, most importantly Capitalism and Freedom and Free to Choose, she deserves her fair share of the glory and regard her husband Milton got. Consult my March 2007 article in Reason magazine for the ideas and accomplishments of the Friedmans in helping make America a place that is in some respects actually freer, and…