John Stossel Speaker Event

The UM College Libertarians, and YAF are working with SFE to bring in John Stossel, live and in person! (mustache included)...

Date: Wednesday, March 19, 2008
Time: 12:30pm - 2:00pm
Location: University of Michigan - Palmer Commons - Forum Hall
What: WHY SOCIALIZED MEDICINE STINKS

John Stossel joined the ABC news magazine, "20/20," in 1981. He began doing one-hour primetime specials in 1994.

Stossel's first special, "Are We Scaring Ourselves To Death?," examined exaggerated fears over risks such as crime and pollution. It was followed by "The Blame Game," which looked at Americans' growing tendency to blame their misfortunes on others.

He looked at gender differences in "Boys and Girls Are Different," the mechanics of mating in "Love, Lust, and Marriage," and the science behind happiness for "The Mystery of Happiness." He examined bogus lawsuits in "The Trouble With Lawyers" and bogus scientific claims in "Junk Science: What You Know That May Not Be So." "Freeloaders" focused on how getting "something for nothing" appeals to all of us, including rich people who use the power of government to help themselves. "Greed" offered a positive perspective on enlightened self-interest, challenging conventional wisdom on how we view businessmen, philanthropy and the social impact of such individuals as Michael Milken and Mother Teresa. Stossel openly questioned why Americans are routinely jailed for voluntarily participating in the so-called "consensual crimes" in "Sex, Drugs and Consenting Adults."

The specials, which have consistently rated among the top news programs when broadcast, have earned Stossel uncommon praise: "the most consistently thought-provoking TV reporter of our time" (Dallas Morning News), "has the gift for entertaining while saying something profound" (Orlando Sentinel).

Recently for "20/20," Stossel has reported on a case of alleged sexual misconduct at Brown University, on teens who suffer from Tourette's syndrome, on women -- some in apparently happy marriages -- who discover later in life that they are lesbians; and on why many Americans younger than 35 believe that the Social Security system will not exist when they face retirement. In a new segment for "20/20," "Give Me a Break," Stossel has taken skeptical looks at people who want to censor cartoons, regulate flagpoles, and have Congress rule on what prices are "fair."

Stossel has received 19 Emmy Awards. He has been honored five times for excellence in consumer reporting by the National Press Club. Among his other awards are the George Polk Award for Outstanding Local Reporting and the George Foster Peabody Award.

In his early years at ABC, Stossel served as consumer editor at "Good Morning America." Prior to that, he was consumer editor for WCBS-TV in New York City. He began as a researcher for KGW-TV in Portland, Oregon. He is a 1969 graduate of Princeton University with a B.A. in psychology.

Message from Leon Drolet and the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance

Dear Fellow Ron Paul Supporter,

My name is Leon Drolet, a former Michigan State Representative and a veteran Ron Paul volunteer dating back to his 1996 run for Congress, who is thrilled with the momentum generated by Ron's presidential run. It stands as a sign that the American spirit has not been crushed by our dysfunctional political system.

If you are like me, then you are also wondering "what now"? How do we keep this momentum moving forward? What can we do to re-assert control over our wayward government?

I don't have all the answers. I don’t know how to get us out of the war or how to fix federal immigration policy. But I do know how we can fight for liberty locally, here in Michigan.

Politicians are primarily concerned about one thing - staying in office. They will not listen to us one bit until we can threaten their hold on power. That is why I founded the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance to fight the Lansing status quo. We knew that Granholm and her cronies would try to raise taxes, and we needed a way to fight back.

Despite our best efforts and all the logic in the world, Lansing imposed an 12% income tax hike and 22% business tax increase at a time when Michigan's average household income fell again last year and our home values continue to plummet.

We need to show the politicians that we will NOT take this abuse of our liberty and livelihood any longer. That is why citizens have risen up to recall Granholm's primary henchman in the State House, Speaker Andy Dillon (D-Redford). Granholm may be the bigger target, but recalling her would require gathering 1.4 million signatures in three months. Recalling Speaker Dillon only takes 8,720 signatures from his district in three months.

Recalling Speaker Dillon for his tax-hiking ways would send a clear message to Lansing: stealing more of our money is not acceptable, and politicians will be held accountable. In 1983, the last time Lansing tried an income tax hike, two state senators were recalled. Immediately after those recalls, the legislature rushed to undo the tax hike. That is how much they fear a motivated citizenry.

The people of Redford and Dearborn Heights are fighting for recall petition signatures every day, but they need our help. The establishment will use any means to preserve their power. Dillon's friends in the Redford Twp. government send police to harass our petition circulators, and have hired professional "blockers" to scare citizens away from signing.

There are things that everyone can do, including you. Will you help recall Michigan House Speaker Andy Dillon? The citizens working on Dillon's recall need your help to make Andy Dillon the first Speaker ever recalled from office in U.S. history. It would send shockwaves and a powerful message through the Lansing establishment.

I am asking that you make a financial contribution to the recall campaign. But first, check us out on the web at www.michiganrecalls.com and www.mitaxpayers.org. Also, go ahead and 'Google' the Michigan Taxpayers Alliance. You will see that we are pretty universally despised by big government apologists of any political party.

You can donate securely online at www.michiganrecalls.com, or send a check to Michigan Recalls, 46116 Lookout Drive, Macomb, MI 48044.

The restoration of liberty can only happen when politicians are humble again. I very much hope that you are willing to help.

I am hopeful for a response and thank you for your support, time and support of Ron Paul.

Leon Drolet
Treasurer - Michigan Recalls
www.michiganrecalls.com

Refuse to Be A Campus Victim Event

We owe a lot to the American founding founders; they instituted a Constitution that has kept America the brightest beacon of freedom in the world.

But why was the right to bear arms so important to them? They understood that the 2nd Amendment was necessary to keeping America a free country ran by the people and it is the only physical means to which the people can keep a check on the government.

Can you even imagine the reaction of the fathers if 20 years before the Revolution, the British began declaring “gun free zones” or throwing in jail law-abiding Americans for just walking with a gun? But that is what is happening today.

It would have been a lot easier for the British to keep their dictator-like rule if they had implemented gun restrictions over the Americans. It would have made the Revolution physically impossible.

Today, who’s to say our next president will not restrict all gun rights to citizens and then declare a dictatorship once in power? We would have no way of fighting back.

Unfortunately we can already see the impact of gun free zones in our classrooms; undefended people are regrettably easy targets. However, would a gunman enter a classroom filled with armed citizens?

The Young Americans for Freedom and College Libertarians present:

REFUSE TO BE A CAMPUS VICTIM
Do not only be aware of the violence, but defend yourself against it.

How can we prevent college classroom shootings?

Are GUN FREE ZONES Working?

Rapes? Abuse? Violence against Women?

The National Rifle Association NRA will facilitate a discussion on the common forms of violence that occurs on college campuses and the techniques we can use to prevent it.

Know how you can use your 2nd Amendment Right and other defense strategies to protect yourself.

When: Thursday, March 6, 6:30 PM
Where: 1401 Mason Hall, U of M Campus