Unions are a free market institution

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday January 04, 2007 · 1:05 PM PST

2007/01/04 · 13:05

I've mentioned in a previous diary that I consider myself a Libertarian, who has voted for far more Democrats than anything else. It irks me very much when I hear someone discuss ideas like the "free market" or "capitalism" as though the Republican Party advocates for those ideas.

I just may make this a series of diaries, but for now, I'm just going to cover one misconception: unions.

Fredneck

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday December 18, 2006 · 1:49 PM PST

2006/12/18 · 13:49

In 2006, the only major Maryland elections were the gubernatorial and senatorial races. In both cases, the Republican (Robert Ehlrich and Michael Steele) lost. Might both resurge in the next cycle or two? What Maryland House races might be competitive in 2008?

Check out my new blog, Rockin' Catoctin, which aims primarily to cover local news in Frederick County, a rapidly growing area in the outer rim of the DC-Baltimore suburbs. The latest update includes some local political news of note, some of which I also cover below (but there's more in the blog, so check it out).

Giuliani/Ehlrich? Steele running to take Barbara Mikulski's Senate seat in 2010? Shake-ups in both the Republican-held Maryland House seats? Read on for more.

Poll

97 votes Show Results

You probably don't know much about MD-06, so, if Mikulski retires in 2010, who should we run?

97 votes Vote Now!

You probably don't know much about MD-06, so, if Mikulski retires in 2010, who should we run?

Donna Edwards

9 votes

Andrew Duck

0 votes

Ben Cardin

5 votes

Wayne Curry

1 vote

Anthony Brown

15 votes

Dutch Ruppersburger

2 votes

Chris Van Hollen

54 votes

Albert Wynn

0 votes

Somebody else, please note in comments

11 votes

Secessionism: Good for democracy

Fredneck

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday December 05, 2006 · 1:02 PM PST

2006/12/05 · 13:02

A few diarists here on DailyKos have recently pointed to some gains for Scottish separatists, while the Quebecois independence movement remains a constant possibility. The new states of Serbia and Montenegro were recently created, as Yugoslavia continues disintegrating - the convential wisdom is that Kosovo's independence will continue that process next year. Indeed, the number of independent states in the world has continued to go up since the end of the colonial era. Few states have combined permanently -- two Germanys, Yemens and Vietnams being the only examples I can think of.

Why have the number of states been increasing? Is that a Good Thing? Why have they become less common lately? Is that a Bad Thing? Should the progressive community support increased autonomy or even independence in the general sense?

Poll

25 votes Show Results

Which of the following statements do you most agree with?

25 votes Vote Now!

Which of the following statements do you most agree with?

More, smaller states are better

3 votes

Fewer, larger states are better

0 votes

More, smaller states are better provided international cooperation ensures they remain democratic and peaceful

6 votes

Fewer, larger states are better provided international cooperation ensures they remain democratic and peaceful

0 votes

More, smaller states are better but are not achievable without calamitous war

0 votes

Fewer, larger states are better but are not achievable without calamitous war

1 vote

This isn't an issue that should be discussed in the abstract

2 votes

The biggies would be better broken up, including any or all of the following: Russia, China, India, Indonesia, but NOT the United States

0 votes

The biggies would be better broken up, including the United States

10 votes

Other, please specify in comments

3 votes

How to make Lieberman irrelevant!

Fredneck

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Tuesday October 31, 2006 · 6:42 PM PST

2006/10/31 · 18:42

What happens if control of the Senate comes down to Lieberman? Even if Lieberman is not re-elected, what happens if some conservative Dems cross aisles on a crucial vote?

Is there any way to virtually guarantee two additional votes in the Senate for the Dems? (and one in the House?)

Yes, there is. Read More

Lieberman, New Columbia and a 21st century affront to democracy

Fredneck

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday October 26, 2006 · 7:43 PM PDT

2006/10/26 · 19:43

Did Lieberman propose a bill that seems to meet Democratic principles but really helps whitewash Republican crimes against democracy? Does it involve a relationship with Eleanor Holmes Norton? Read on to find out!

The DC Fair and Equal House Voting Rights Act of 2006 is acceptable to American standards of democracy. Read More

Progressive Wikipedia: 10/23/06

Fredneck

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Monday October 23, 2006 · 7:28 PM PDT

2006/10/23 · 19:28

Wikipedia is one of the most popular sites on the Internet, and is one of the major sources of information for Americans online. In a few years, it is likely to be one of the most important sources of information in any form.

I have been a Wikipedian for a very long time, since near the beginning. I'm choosing not to reveal my Wikipedia username at this time.

This diary includes a bit about how Wikipedia works, and about how you can make both Wikipedia and the progressive movement better. I then give a little coverage to the article about the Democratic Party, and invite Kossacks to comment on ways to improve it, or to just plain improve it themselves. Read More

I'm a Libertarian Democrat: Why Republicans are the antithesis of the Libertarian Party

Fredneck

Community (This content is not subject to review by Daily Kos staff prior to publication.)

Thursday October 19, 2006 · 7:07 PM PDT

2006/10/19 · 19:07

I was a registered Libertarian before I became a Dem. I have to say I'm still not enthusiastic about the Democratic party, really, except in as much as they're not the Republican party. The Republican Party is the antithesis of Libertarianism.

Government protection of the environment is a Libertarian position. Pollution denies individual choice and must be regulated to ensure that a majority does not force a minority to endured unwanted environmental damage.

Government protection of minorities is a Libertarian position. Those of us who want a free exchange of ideas require our neighbors to not stifle the free exchange of others. Government regulation is therefore required to ensure that one person's choices do not limit the options available to others. Read More

RSS

Unions are a free market institution

MD-06: 2008 House, plus other Maryland electoral rumors

Secessionism: Good for democracy

How to make Lieberman irrelevant!

Lieberman, New Columbia and a 21st century affront to democracy

Progressive Wikipedia: 10/23/06

I'm a Libertarian Democrat: Why Republicans are the antithesis of the Libertarian Party