BURNET, Texas (Feb. 9) – Ken Schoolland, a long-term board member of the International Society for Individual Liberty and associate professor at Hawaii Pacific University, has endorsed Lee Wrights for President and joined the campaign as economic advisor.
In libertarian circles Schoolland is best known as the author of the animated video “The Philosophy of Liberty” popular on the Internet. He wrote the illustrated libertarian primer “The Adventures of Jonathan Gullible: A Free Market Odyssey,” which has been translated into more than 40 languages.
Schoolland, who was Hawaii LP chair for five years, is also the author of “Shogun’s Ghost,” an expose on education in Japan, where he taught before accepting his current position in Honolulu. He is a member of the Mont Pelerin Society, an international organization of economists, philosophers, historians, intellectuals, business leaders, and others who favor classical liberalism.
ISIL is a non-profit, non-partisan libertarian educational organization encouraging activism in libertarian and individual rights.
Schoolland issued this statement:
“I like Ron Paul. I like Gary Johnson. I’d probably like all the libertarian candidates running for President. But liking someone isn’t a reason to vote for them. When I became a member of the Libertarian Party back in 1976 I signed a non-aggression pledge. I take that pledge very seriously. That has been my guiding principle ever since.”
“I simply don’t vote for anyone who compromises on that principle, as the Libertarian Party has too often been willing to do in recent years to broaden candidate popularity. I applaud Ron Paul and Gary Johnson for promoting the libertarian program, but if people don’t grasp the underlying principle, then gains will turn to losses in an instant of mob passion. No compromise with principle.
“The libertarian message is rooted in an appreciation of individual rights … not state’s rights, not practical moderation. That is why I enthusiastically join the Lee Wrights campaign and endorse him for the 2012 Libertarian Party Presidential nomination. When I listen to Lee Wrights speak, as he did at the Libertarian Party of Hawaii convention last May – traveling on his own dime – I was reminded of that great, successful libertarian abolitionist, William Lloyd Garrison, who said:
I am aware, that many object to the severity of my language; but is there not cause for severity? I will be as harsh as truth, and as uncompromising as justice. On this subject, I do not wish to think, or speak, or write, with moderation. No! No! Tell a man whose house is on fire, to give a moderate alarm; tell him to moderately rescue his wife from the hand of the ravisher; tell the mother to gradually extricate her babe from the fire into which it has fallen; — but urge me not to use moderation in a cause like the present. I am in earnest — I will not equivocate — I will not excuse — I will not retreat a single inch — and I will be heard.”
R. Lee Wrights
R. Lee Wrights, 53, a libertarian writer and political activist, is seeking the presidential nomination because he believes the Libertarian message in 2012 must be a loud, clear and unequivocal call to stop all war. To that end he has pledged that 10 percent of all donations to his campaign will be spent for ballot access so that the stop all war message can be heard in all 50 states. Wrights is a lifetime member of the Libertarian Party and co-founder and editor of the free speech online magazine Liberty For All. Born in Winston-Salem, N.C., he now lives and works in Texas.
37 responses so far ↓
1 Steven Wilson // Feb 9, 2012 at 5:11 pm
I am grateful that Lee Wrights has stayed on campaign, but more over that he stayed on his message of ending all the wars.
Thank you Lee.
2 paulie // Feb 9, 2012 at 5:17 pm
As an uncommitted possible delegate, and a fan of Ken Schoolland’s work, I agree with Steven Wilson @1.
3 Steven Wilson // Feb 9, 2012 at 9:28 pm
It is good to see you back here Paulie. Last time I was here you said you were on your way out. It has been a while. Cheers.
4 Gene Berkman // Feb 9, 2012 at 9:41 pm
Ken Schoolland has made an outstanding contribution to understand free market economics with his book “Jonathan Gullible” which has been published in many languages and countries.
Even better however is his little flash animation on “The Philosophy of Liberty” which you can view (with music) @ http://www.isil.org/resources/philosophy-of-liberty-english.swf
The flash animation is the best introduction to the principle of liberty I have ever seen, in 45 years of libertarian activism. The above link is to the English version. You can access versions in other languages @ http://www.isil.org/resources/philosophy-of-liberty-index.html
I encourage people to look at this animation, and to suggest it to their friends and others who want to know why we are for freedom.
5 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 4:05 am
I didn’t mean permanently, LOL.
My ease of internet access and time for being online vary depending on the circumstances of each job, places I stay, co-workers, work locations, etc. I live on the road and don’t own a computer; I get online in various ways – borrowing computers from friends that I work with, computers in the lobbies of motels, computers at colleges and city libraries when I am petitioning at those locations, computers in coffee shops, etc. Sometimes I spend weeks or months in between petition jobs, usually staying with friends and family and spending most of my time on here. I try to minimize that though.
I also have an internet addiction problem, and sometimes I have to cut myself off even though I have good internet access because it is interfering with work.
So when I say I’m out, I generally don’t know for how long.
6 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 4:13 am
Both highly recommended. I was at the ISIL conference in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico in 2002 when the Philosophy of Liberty video was first shown and have been recommending it ever since.
See also http://www.jonathangullible.com/ and http://www.jonathangullible.com/translations/UK_Comnt040222.pdf
7 ATBAFT // Feb 10, 2012 at 9:54 am
Dr. Schooland is president of ISIL. When you visit their website, consider making a donation for all the good work they do in supporting and spreading libertarian principles internationally.
8 Jose C. // Feb 10, 2012 at 12:05 pm
Question: Is Gary Johnson the Mitt Romney of the Libertarian Party? Lee Wrights the anybody but Johnson candidate of the Libertarian Party?
9 JT // Feb 10, 2012 at 12:30 pm
Jose: “Question: Is Gary Johnson the Mitt Romney of the Libertarian Party? Lee Wrights the anybody but Johnson candidate of the Libertarian Party?”
Interesting questions. If you mean, Is Gary Johnson the presumed front-runner and Lee Wrights the candidate most “No Johnson” Libertarians will rally around, then I’d guess the answer is yes. If you mean, Is Gary Johnson a candidate who’s a serial flip-flopper, which damages his credibility, then the answer is no.
10 Steven Wilson // Feb 10, 2012 at 12:36 pm
Gary Johnson is a reject from the Republican party, but it should be noted that they rejected him as did the entire conservative base. He seems comfortable around the convention videos I have seen and the comments left by others on facebook.
Santorum is the snowball next to the devil. Mittens are for above ground frolic.
Lee Wrights has been a standard for the non-intervention ideal for a long time. If anyone is an alternative to Johnson I would score RJ Harris. Wrights is steady, but Harris has energy and youth.
Johnson’s run is breaking all the protocol. He has state parties doing things they never did and he is bringing Roger Stone back into the Bell. I was told he is just an adviser, but parts of Libertyland don’t think highly of Stone or his methods.
Johnson is not the problem. It might be those around him.
11 Robert Capozzi // Feb 10, 2012 at 12:40 pm
Who is the Jimmy McMillan of the LP field, then?
12 Robert Capozzi // Feb 10, 2012 at 1:01 pm
10 sw: Gary Johnson is a reject from the Republican party,
me: One could perceive him that way. Another way is that GJ is a longtime L who went R because he wanted to be of consequence, and he was.
He’s considered the nation’s direction after leaving office, and felt he could make a difference, using the GOP as his vehicle. The GOP true believers wouldn’t buy his L approach, so now he’s coming home.
That state parties have decided to support GJ pre-convention sez to me that he’s wildly popular with large segments of the LP. That’s a strength, as I see it.
I share your concerns about Stone….
13 Steven Wilson // Feb 10, 2012 at 1:35 pm
I would say that Wrights supporters won’t move until he endorses someone at the convention. If Harris can break through the immense obstacle of Oklahoma access law, he will go beyond getting his JD and straight into the bench. Robe, gavel, and pitcher of vodka.
I think people will expect Johnson to move mountains, right or wrong. The media alone has brought attention that the others couldn’t hope for.
If Johnson falls flat in November, I still don’t believe it will stop. The greens did it in 96 and the libertarians are doing it 2008 and 2012.
14 Steven Wilson // Feb 10, 2012 at 1:36 pm
I would personally love to see Ron Paul/Lee Wrights ticket. I think Ron Paul will stay a R no matter what.
15 Robert Capozzi // Feb 10, 2012 at 1:38 pm
ks: I applaud Ron Paul and Gary Johnson for promoting the libertarian program, but if people don’t grasp the underlying principle, then gains will turn to losses in an instant of mob passion. No compromise with principle.
me: The logic here escapes me. If people don’t grasp the underlying principle, they may well not grasp it because they don’t see how it might work. They may well not grasp it because they never HEAR it, particularly if the “principle” is esoteric and inappropriately put in pedantic ways during a political campaign.
But most needing a LOT more explanation is this idea that gains will turn to losses without a more thorough understanding of theory. How can he possibly know that? There have been no gains to lose, at least not on the economic and foreign policy fronts that I’ve seen. There HAVE been some gains on the civil liberties front and, so far, there have been no appreciable losses. Reproductive rights remain in place. The march toward marriage equality continues, albeit slowly. Even the War on Drugs has seen some baby steps forward, although here the Empire does seem provoked into striking back.
This narrative needs its premises checked….
16 Robert Capozzi // Feb 10, 2012 at 1:42 pm
13 sw: I think people will expect Johnson to move mountains, right or wrong. The media alone has brought attention that the others couldn’t hope for.
me: Huh?
The only thing I’ve seen is that GJ can be pretty Zen in his approach. No mountain moving in that tradition.
17 24/7 the T-Rex of Talk Radio // Feb 10, 2012 at 1:57 pm
This has to be a bonus to the Wrights Campaign. If he would nominate or second the nomination at the convention even MORE of a bonus!
Again GJ’s name is brought up is another’s thread. Again I won’t mince words NO MONEY no big deal having GJ. His message won’t be heard to any great extinct, to breakout into relevance he (anyone) needs MAJOR moolah ! If GJ has raised between $1 to $2M in this the first quarter, which would be more than he raised as a R, then his presense is a major PLUS for the Party. If not, the LP would actually be better off running a Wrights, Gary or perhaps Harris because of a clearer message much closer to the LP’s platform. A National Sales Tax because of concern for funding the federal govt don’t excite many in the libertarian activist centers IMO. GJ is a more likable guy than Bob Barr but Karl Hess he still AIN’T!
?? Who the heck is Jimmy McMillan ?? no time to google now
18 Robert Capozzi // Feb 10, 2012 at 2:35 pm
Jimmy is seeking the GOP prez nomination. His storied political career revolves around his founding and running on the Rent is Too Damn High Party, running for Mayor of NYC and then Guv of NYS. His performance in the guv debates of 2010 were SO brilliant that SNL did a parody capturing the Essence of Jimmy.
http://www.nbc.com/saturday-night-live/video/weekend-update-jimmy-mcmillan/1255800/
19 George Phillies // Feb 10, 2012 at 2:35 pm
@17 Johnson has already raised more than $100,000. This is the election year. He is on a monthly reporting schedule. You will know about his fundraising rather sooner than mid-April.
20 Steven Wilson // Feb 10, 2012 at 3:44 pm
What I meant by the mountains are the size of expectations placed upon Johnson. Libertarians get starstruck when nomination time comes around and because so many state parties have voiced their choice (which I don’t remember ever happening before) places more pressure on him.
A chief executive of a state for eight years, used veto like it was Italian dressing, and wants to legalize marijuana. His credibility in office comes with that pressure.
People know what he did while in power and what he did not do. He didn’t pardon drug offenders and he supports gitmo.
This time Libertarians are going to put their money where their mouth is and get their feet to pavement for him. To get a candidate with that resume and still behave like standard Libs will impact the next reject from another party.
The possible candidate will see that under no conditions will the LP soldier change their approach to change.
Pressure to perform for all Libs. Gary Johnson is not your standard reject.
21 Robert Capozzi // Feb 10, 2012 at 4:16 pm
20 sw: What I meant by the mountains are the size of expectations placed upon Johnson. Libertarians get starstruck when nomination time comes around ….
me: I guess we’re watching a different movie, then. GJ supporters seem very much within themselves regarding expectations. They seem quite mature about GJ, not ascribing hyperbolic attributes to him. I see more unrealistically high expectations for RP in the GOP.
I’ve heard GJ say he can win, and he’s correct about that. His emphasis, however, is on his message, most of which I applaud and apparently most LPers applaud.
He hasn’t taken a position on legalizing bestiality, to his credit…
22 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 7:40 pm
Has he changed his mind about a lot of issues or made a custom of leaving his dog in a cage on the roof of his car on road trips or what? I am not sure how he’s like Romney.
Not if you ask RJ Harris (among other people).
23 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 7:49 pm
Sadly, no one. It’s always possible one of the “fringe of the fringe” candidates might be a refreshing surprise if they collect enough tokens, signatures, pinkie fingers, or whatever it takes to get into the CSPAN debate this time, but odds are heavy that they will either fail to make the cut or just be embarrassing, not entertaining, if they do.
24 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 7:56 pm
…or even then. Just because I end up supporting candidate X – whoever that may be – does not mean that candidate’s endorsement after he or she is eliminated determines, or even necessarily has any effect on my vote. The same is true of many other people, if you look at past results.
I did vote for Ruwart after Kubby was eliminated, but not because he endorsed her. Had he endorsed Barr or Root I would have still voted for Ruwart at that point.
I’m sorry, I don’t understand that.
It’s true that RJ Harris has collected signatures in OK, but so have a lot of other people.
There are lots of LP candidates in states that already have ballot access who have JDs and run for judgeships. Few of them make it. What makes you think Harris would go “straight to the bench” regardless of what party label if any he runs with, much less one that doesn’t have much history of winning, when he gets out of law school?
25 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 7:57 pm
I doubt Lee Wrights would be the VP candidate if Ron Paul runs Libertarian, which I agree that he probably (but not certainly) won’t.
26 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 8:01 pm
There have been gains and losses on all fronts. That’s a longer comment than I want to leave at this time, but I’ll start with the war on terror as a loss of civil liberties. The end of the cold war is a gain in foreign policy, although new cold and hot wars have emerged since. And so on.
Simple logic. If we make any kind of gains that are not based on a systematic libertarian approach but rather on a hodgepodge of issue positions and/or personal popularity, the next crisis or fad could sweep things in an entirely different direction.
27 Robert Capozzi // Feb 10, 2012 at 8:02 pm
23 p, yes, can’t get enough of Jimmy. I’d like to think that I could program a Max Headroom for Ls who might come across like Vermin Supreme. Carl Person was on that track, when he was touting the virtues of legalized bestiality. A L Supreme rap might include that, a nuke in every garage, warring bands of private security forces employed by warlord insurance companies, heroin vending machines in elementary school cafeterias, 8 month three week abortion specialists…
28 Robert Capozzi // Feb 10, 2012 at 8:11 pm
26 p, you either miss or evade my point. I called out specific civil liberties that are moving in the “right” direction. The end of the Cold War was a temporary benefit, yes, but it ended because the other side collapsed. But, yes, there was a brief interlude of somewhat of a peace dividend which has been reversed, big time.
As for hodgepodgery, welcome to the Real World, Neo. Wouldn’t it be great if the feed grain clerk and the waitress and the longshoreman could explain the virtues of an evenly rotating economy?
Waiting for the Philosopher Kings and Queens of Advanced NAPsterism to be driving this train sounds like a VERY long wait, indeed.
29 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 8:49 pm
In what time frame?
30 paulie // Feb 10, 2012 at 9:15 pm
No. Just being harried and irresponsible with my time. I’d love to leave a longer response but I’m spending way too much time already.
31 George Phillies // Feb 10, 2012 at 11:08 pm
@29 Since he launched his campaign last spring.
32 Ad Hoc // Feb 10, 2012 at 11:50 pm
I think the original comment @17 that you were responding to was referring only to what Johnson has or will raise as an LP candidate, not including anything he raised while running as a Republican.
33 24/7 the T-Rex of Talk Radio // Feb 10, 2012 at 11:58 pm
Not nice to trample on Mr.Wrights’ positive (IMO) thread, however it might interest some to check Dr. Phillies newsletter for Jan.’12. It goes into where Johnson’s money has gone. Hopefully the guy has fired all the (IMO) high priced pollsters and gurus. If the man didn’t know what he believed when he started, these pros sure didn’t lead him to the promised land. They got their money and all he got was DEBT!
Someone MUST explain to the man it has to be guirella warfare as a TP nominee. You read the polls someone else paid for NOT pay someone to poll. You get advice at each meet and greet NOT pay someone to tell you your stink smells like roses! You stretch every dollar and tighten every belt. Hope, just hope enough comes in to have some extra for paid ads in the fall so you can actually make a difference somewhere, someway, somehow for all your efforts and your supporters efforts!!!
With that said, to borrow the swamp creatures phrase (Carville’s parents had to be LA swamp creatures) from 20 years ago “IT’S THE ECONOMY STUPID!!!!!!!!!!”
Gary Johnson 2012: The Athlete’s Guide to Good Government – http://www.youtube.com/user/govgaryjohnson?feature=BF#p/u/15/FmDLD4h7Ydg
Gary Johnson’s success and the LP’s success in 2012 boils down to getting the economic recovery message to 150M+ Americans. I (on 2-10-12) will tell you now GJ will be nominated on the first ballot (with one exception, if Paul decides he wants the LP nom.). GJ will break ALL LP P nom records and it won’t be close ! I care little of who AE nominates. GJ is more qualified at this moment to be POTUS and solve this economic mess than Romney, Obama or whoever AE’s puppet will be! I will be bold enough to say if GJ and the LP had Romney type campaign money, GJ would be elected this Nov.
Imagine President Gary Johnson – http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NUEa7V3TgGQ&feature=related
Nitpick if you must but the LP may never have a Highly Successful former 2-term Gov. come calling again. Not in our lifetimes anyway! You who dislike him need to concentrate on working with all the new people coming into your state and local areas and not be negative. This will be interesting. If the money flows, or Dr. Paul shows, it WILL be BIG !!!
34 George Phillies // Feb 11, 2012 at 6:00 am
@32. Excellent point.
Ah. I was referring to the reference to raising money in the first quarter, not the amount he has raised since changing parties, namely because he has raised more than $100,000 since he started turning for President for 2012, he is now on a monthly reporting schedule.
And, therefore, because Johnson’s next required report is the “February” report covering January spending, @17 finds out next week not at the end of first quarter how Johnson’s fundraising is doing.
I look forward to interest to seeing how much he actually has raised, and how much he is actually in debt.
@33 I have heard these promises about results by running carpetbaggers before, thank you.
35 Steven Wilson // Feb 11, 2012 at 8:20 am
@24 Paulie
It was an attempt at humor with the fever of ballot access hero syndrome. Harris has a little past and therefore I just joke about him being a perfect Judge. Getting rid of truth is as important as getting rid of sobriety. Morning.
36 24/7 the T-Rex of Talk Radio // Feb 12, 2012 at 1:05 am
I can understand sour grapes in regard to ’08. With ’12 breaking similarly it must bring back bad memories !!! For you who don’t do much research Dr.Phillies and Mr. Jingo (can’t spell his name by memory) both sunk a “nice” amount of their own money in the ’08 campaign. Then to have Barr and Associates to swoop in near the end and “steal” the nomination had to be exceedingly gutwrenching !!!
Highly Successful Gov.Gary Johnson SWEEPS FL LP Straw Poll (2-11-12) with 70% of the Delegate Votes! -http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/breakingnews/os-libertarian-presidential-debate-orlando-20120211,0,7126831.story
This year WON’T be in question! GJ is OVERWHELMING everywhere he shows up ! Afterall this isn’t a CIA man, he is a former highly successful Gov. who could go into the white House on Jan.20 and BE POTUS and if he governed like he did in NM he would be one of the better POTUS of our lives. The man is MUCH MORE qualified to be POTUS than Obama, Romney, Gingrich, Santorum and yes ol’ Dr. Paul ! The problem lies in getting the me$$age to the ma$$e$ so GJ can OVERWHELM ‘em ALL in Nov.!
37 Jose C // Feb 12, 2012 at 12:34 pm
Nitpick if you must but the LP may never have a Highly Successful former 2-term Gov. come calling again. Not in our lifetimes anyway! You who dislike him need to concentrate on working with all the new people coming into your state and local areas and not be negative. This will be interesting. If the money flows, or Dr. Paul shows, it WILL be BIG !!!
Yes we have bad memories. We have been given this pitch before. Paul, Browne (twice), and Barr and their vote totals were not good enough. Yet when those candidates sought the nomination we were told, “This is the best candidate ever! We will get vote totals that will go through the roof! We will get the best media coverage ever! This candidate will surpass Ed Clark’s vote totals! Don’t waste your vote by voting for. . . Means, Hess, Hornberger, Phillies, . . !” And currently we are being told, “Not in our lifetimes!”
Don’t bet on it. There is nothing to suggest Gary Johnson will do any better than did Paul, Browne, and Barr did. The script is the same and the results will be the same.
And by the way Gary Johnson is not the nominee for president of the Libertarian Party. That will be decided at the national party convention in May. And I suspect Harris, Wrights, Burns, . . . and their supporters agree.
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