Munger for NC Governor--2008!!

New Blog, Same Bloggy Goodness!

2008-06-02T16:24:00.001-07:00

Dear Fans:

This is the last post on this blog.

The Munger4NCGOV Web Wizard has come up with a new, and much improved, blog at http://blog.munger4ncgov.com/

Visit often, please!

Radio Appearance on Vortex of Freedom

2008-06-02T07:47:00.000-07:00

The link for the blogtalkradio show, Vortex of Freedom. I appeared with Susan Hogarth....

A Libertarian Spirit Thrives

2008-06-02T07:46:00.000-07:00

Anonyman sends this interesting link, from the NYTimes.

Excerpt:

...[T]here is the Libertarian Party and then there is the libertarian — small-“L” — state of mind. Those who do not necessarily vote with the party but identify with some of the core libertarian philosophy — a small government with minimal reach into people’s personal lives, and minimal foreign entanglements — may be a potent, if unpredictable, group of voters.

“I think one problem the Republican Party is facing in the Mountain West is that the social, cultural and religious emphasis of Republicans in the last five, six, eight years has run against the libertarian grain,” Mr. Cook said. “When these people signed onto small government, they weren’t just talking about money. They were talking about small government, period. So when government dictates anything, whether social, cultural, religious or anything else, they take a dim view of that.”

Libertarians trace their historical roots back to the Enlightenment and views of the rights of the individual that informed the Constitution, which they say should be strictly interpreted. As might be expected from a group placing a high value on individual freedom, they are a diverse bunch, animated by different issues, whether gun rights or drug legalization or cutting taxes.

When libertarian ideas gained in popularity in the 1970s, it was in part from public discontent with big-government efforts like the Vietnam War. Lately, libertarians have focused on issues like the war in Iraq, which they oppose in common with many Democrats, and school choice, which they favor along with social conservatives.

Many view Mr. McCain, the presumptive Republican nominee, with suspicion if not disdain, despite his opposition to government pork, a maverick image and roots in Arizona, home of the Republican Senator Barry Goldwater (he of “extremism in the defense of liberty is no vice”). They oppose Mr. McCain’s support both of the war and campaign finance restrictions, which they see as a curb on free speech. Meanwhile, liberal Democrat though he may be, Senator Barack Obama, Mr. McCain’s likely foe, may attract libertarians not only because of his antiwar views but because, like Mr. Paul, he has had great success organizing support via the Internet, where a libertarian spirit thrives.

Bob Barr

2008-05-25T15:00:00.001-07:00

It's Bob Barr.

Now is the time for all good people to come to the aid of their party.

NC Libs on Chris Matthews: Yea, Us!

2008-05-25T12:00:00.001-07:00

Air ink from Chris Matthews, on Lib Signature Drive Success in NC.

I think he's a bit premature in giving Barr the nomination, tho. We'll know in five hours, by about 6 pm Denver time.

Register....NOW!

2008-05-22T19:43:00.001-07:00

And I hope this gets something more than the tepid "and they're checking it twice!" ink we got when we turned in the signatures.

Look, North Carolina media, it is NEWS that there is a third choice now for registration. You don't get to decide if it is interesting or not to register Libertarian. The voters will do that.

Let them know, will you?

Press Release:

LIBERTARIANS BACK ON BALLOT

RALEIGH (May 22) -- The Libertarian Party is back on the ballot in
North Carolina. The State Board of Elections formally certified the
party today North Carolina voters who so choose can now register
Libertarian.

"This was our eighth ballot access drive. Without a doubt, it was the
most nerve-racking and exhausting one we've conducted," said Barbara
Howe, state chair. "We are now back on the ballot, but we are out of
funds, so we have no money to support candidates."

Nevertheless, the Libertarians will field a slate of candidates in
November, she said. At their 2008 convention in Burlington held in
April, the party nominated Dr. Michael Munger, chair of the Duke
University political science department, for governor. They also
nominated candidates for the General Assembly, U.S. Congress, and the
Guilford County Commission.

Libertarians have until July 1 to submit a complete list of candidates
to the SBOE, Howe noted. "We expect now that we are officially on the
ballot, we will have more people come forward who want to spread the
message of liberty."

North Carolina ballot laws are the most restrictive in the nation.
"They're designed by the Democrats and Republicans to keep independent
candidates and third parties off the ballot," said Dr. Munger. The
LPNC spent an estimated $134,000 and logged 2,200 volunteer hours to
collect the nearly 70,000 valid signatures needed.

"This also costs the taxpayer, stifles democracy, and, worst of all,
kills trees," Dr. Munger quipped. "County BOE clerks spend 4,000 hours
verifying the more than 108,000 signatures we submitted." That's based
on an estimate of two minutes to verify each signature. In some cases,
it takes 5 to 10 minutes, Dr. Munger said.

"And we used more than 20 reams of paper, 400 pounds," Dr. Munger
said. "And after all this time, effort and expense, we essentially
arrive at the starting line breathless."

"Since the process keeps most parties out completely, the real cost to
taxpayers is democracy." Dr. Munger said. "No choices, no new ideas,
and no competition in a system that could surely use it.

"Nearly half of the seats in the General Assembly will be unopposed
again this year because we have had to spend all our resources on this
bizarre exercise instead of recruiting candidates and campaigning."

Meanwhile, Libertarian delegates have departed/will depart for the
2008 Libertarian National Convention in Denver May 22 to 26. The
Convention will nominate a candidate for president, who will be on the
ballot in 48 states. A debate featuring the Libertarian candidates
seeking the presidential nomination will be aired live on CSPAN
Saturday, May 24 from 7 to 9 p.m. (MST).

"Unlike the Democratic and Republican national conventions, ours is
not subsidized by taxpayer money," Howe noted.

Alvarez Galloso Interview

2008-05-21T10:22:00.001-07:00

An on-line "interview," with my main man Senor Alvarez Galloso.

Keynote Speaker at LP National Convention!

2008-05-19T17:10:00.000-07:00

Dear Friends:

This is a big night for me.

Because I can announce that, really really, for sure....I am the Libertarian Keynote Speaker for the Libertarian National Convention.

I am splitting the keynote hour with Richard Viguerie, a noted conservative speaker who nearly single-handedly invented direct mail as a political tool. And we are lucky to have Richard there. It will be interesting, and I look forward to hearing him speak.

But....I get to go first!

The title of my speech, which starts at about 2 pm on Friday, is taken from one of my main concerns about Libertarian progress: "What are we for?"

Too often, outsiders perceive us as only being AGAINST things. Well, what are we FOR?

My shot at answering that question. Should be available as a podcast, at least, next week.

Also, a new campaign website. It is still being built. But it looks great, thanks to new campaign webmaster John S.

If I could meet em, I could get em!

2008-05-12T17:58:00.001-07:00

Rasmussen puts the NC Gov race as follows:
McCrory 45%
Perdue 39%
Munger 4%

The "favorables", according to the report:

McCrory is viewed favorably by 56% and unfavorably by 29%. Perdue’s ratings are 50% favorable, 41% unfavorable. Munger is less known, earning favorable ratings from 24%, unfavorable ratings from 35% and 41% who are not sure.

As Buck Owens and Dwight Yoakum put it, "They don't know me, but they don't like me..." I'll have to work to change that.

Which puts in mind the Sam Cooke song, covered by many: If I can meet I can get, but yet I haven't met 'em. That's why I'm in the state I'm in.

Wow! The BIg O plays it straight!

2008-05-11T14:47:00.000-07:00

The Charlotte Observer notes that the candidates for Governor in NC in 2008 include....a Libertarian!

That's all we ask. In an article about the race, just a standard article about the race, nothing special about the ballot...just MENTION that there is a Libertarian candidate.

Thanks for normal, fair treatment, Big O! Seriously, that's a help.

Winston-Salem Journal

2008-05-11T13:42:00.000-07:00

Props, and more than props, to the Winston-Salem Journal.

First, this story.

Then, this one, which was slightly misleading, as I pointed out in comments.

Then....wow. Nicely done. Most newspapers would not take that stance. They
are too concerned about power to worry about choices.

Wow, A Long Distance Fan....

2008-05-11T13:39:00.000-07:00

A plug for my candidacy....in India?

Thanks, Roberto!

Forget Obama Girls! Here are the Munger Girls!

2008-03-27T10:01:00.000-07:00

Obama is a punk. You have to appeal to REAL women, not some tiny little skinny child with silicone work. (Note she actually promises him "in your oval office, you'll get your head of state." Wow. And, "you can Barack me tonight.")

At the Munger campaign, we have real supporters. Real women such as....these. You go, ladies. Note the Munger bumper stickers. (Thanks to PD, at UT-K)

Video of Candidate Debate

2008-03-27T08:46:00.001-07:00

Video of the candidate forum.

Interesting contrasts.

And, major props to Bill Holman for playing this straight. I appreciate it.

TV Coverage....

2008-03-24T15:29:00.000-07:00

A tv story, uncut, unfiltered, ripped from the headlines.

Well: a tv story, anyway.

Starting to see bumper stickers....

2008-03-03T08:54:00.001-08:00

A Munger for Governor bumper sticker, seen in its native habitat: Chapel Hill! At the corner of Rosemary and Columbia.

(Photo Credit to DS)

Background on School Choice

2008-02-28T07:41:00.000-08:00

My key issue is educational choice for citizens. Any change that puts money, power, and responsibility back in the hands of private citizens is a change for the better.

Here are interesting recent papers and resources on school choice.

The effect of charter schools on traditional public school students in
Texas: Are children who stay behind left behind?

Kevin Booker, Scott Gilpatric, Timothy Gronberg & Dennis Jansen
Journal of Urban Economics, forthcoming

Abstract:
Texas has been an important player in the emergence of the charter school industry. We test for a competitive effect of charters by looking for changes in student achievement in traditional public schools following charter market penetration. We use an eight-year panel of data on individual student test scores for public schools students in Texas in order to evaluate the achievement impact of charter schools. We estimate a model that includes student/campus spell fixed effects to control for campus demographic and peer group characteristics, and to control directly for student and student family background characteristics. We find a positive and significant effect of charter school penetration on traditional public school student outcomes.

-------------------------

Does school choice increase the rate of youth entrepreneurship?

Russell Sobel & Kerry King
Economics of Education Review, forthcoming

Abstract:
Because entrepreneurial activity is a key source of economic growth, promoting youth entrepreneurship has become a priority for policymakers. School choice programs force administrators and teachers to be more entrepreneurial in their jobs by encouraging innovation and by creating competition and a more business-like environment in K-12 education. Does going to school in this climate make students more likely to become
entrepreneurs? In this paper we test whether youth entrepreneurship rates are higher in counties with school choice programs. We find that voucher programs create higher rates of youth entrepreneurship, while charter schools do not, relative to traditional public schools.

-------------------------

The political economy of school choice: Support for charter schools across states and school districts

Christiana Stoddard & Sean Corcoran
Journal of Urban Economics, July 2007, Pages 27-54

Abstract:
Public charter schools are one of the fastest growing education reforms in the US, currently serving more than a million students. Though the movement for greater school choice is widespread, its implementation has been uneven. State laws differ greatly in the degree of latitude granted charter schools, and-holding constant state support-states and localities vary widely in the availability of and enrollment in these schools. In this paper, we use a panel of demographic, financial, and school performance data to examine the support for charters at the state and local levels. Results suggest that growing population heterogeneity and income inequality-in addition to persistently low student outcomes-are associated with greater support for
charter schools. Teachers unions have been particularly effective in slowing or preventing liberal state charter legislation; however, conditional on law passage and strength, local participation in charter schools rises with the share of unionized teachers.

--------------------------

Tiebout choice and universal school vouchers

Eric Brunner & Jennifer Imazeki
Journal of Urban Economics, January 2008, Pages 253-279

Abstract:
This paper examines who is likely to gain and who is likely to lose under a universal voucher program. Following Epple and Romano [D. Epple, R.E. Romano, Competition between private and public schools, vouchers, and peer group effects, American Economic Review 88 (1998) 33-62; D. Epple, R.E. Romano, Neighborhood schools, choice, and the distribution of educational benefits, in: C.M. Hoxby (Ed.), The Economics of School Choice, The Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2003, pp. 227-286], and Nechyba [T.J. Nechyba, Mobility, targeting, and private school vouchers, American Economic Review 90 (2000) 130-146; T.J. Nechyba, Introducing school choice into multidistrict public school systems, in: C.M. Hoxby (Ed.), The Economics of School Choice, The Univ. of Chicago Press, Chicago, 2003, pp. 145-194], we focus on the idea that gains and losses under a universal voucher depend on two effects: changes in peer group composition and changes in housing values. We show that the direction and magnitude of each of these effects hinge critically on market structure, i.e., the amount of school choice that already exists in the public sector. In markets with little or no Tiebout choice, potential changes in peer group composition create an incentive for
high-socioeconomic (SES) households to vote for the voucher and for low-SES households to vote against voucher. In contrast, in markets with significant Tiebout choice, potential changes in housing values create an incentive for high-SES households to vote against the voucher and for low-SES households to vote for the voucher. Using data on vote outcomes from California's 2000 voucher initiative, we find evidence consistent with those predictions.

(Nod to KL)

Ballot Access Editorial in N&O

2008-02-20T04:50:00.001-08:00

Very nice, sensible editorial in the N&O.

On the ballot
In North Carolina, it's good to run for office as a Republican or a Democrat. Because then you can run.

If your party label is of another stripe -- say, Libertarian, or Green -- chances are you won't be on the ballot, because minor parties' ballot access is severely restricted here. Our state was one of only three where Ralph Nader's presidential campaign didn't make the ballot in both 2000 and 2004. The Libertarian Party has managed to gain ballot spots on occasion, but this year is still thousands of petition signatures short as it tries to get a candidate for governor on the ballot in November.

All this makes little sense. The two-party system won't be unhinged by competitors on the ballot, and if a Ralph Nader were to siphon votes from an Al Gore, as in Florida 2000, well, don't voters have the right to be "wrong"?

After an effort to liberalize the rules failed in the legislature in 2005, Libertarians and Greens sued the state, claiming that it's illegal, under the state constitution, to restrict political parties so much. A Superior Court judge recently declined to grant summary judgment to the parties or to the state. That makes a trial more likely.

But there's no need for the judicial system to reach the constitutional question. It's obvious that North Carolina is way out of the mainstream. It has, according to the plaintiffs, the third most restrictive signature requirements for political parties in the nation.

So in the interest of fairness the legislature should simply loosen the rules. Find a spot comfortably in the middle of the states, and position our law there.

Such a move looked like the solution three years ago, but after a bill that would have reduced the signature requirement by three-fourths showed strength in committee, the then co-speakers of the House, Republican Richard Morgan and Democrat Jim Black, refused to bring it to a vote. Morgan said the barriers keep "illegitimate" political parties "at bay."

With all we've learned since the days of the corruptly fashioned co-speakership, isn't that ample reason to change the rules now?

(Nod to Linda)

2008-01-01T11:22:00.000-08:00

TV Segment, on WLOS out in Asheville.

My thanks to News 13 for playing this straight, and leaving the choices
to the voters.

The Haircut, Part I

2007-12-28T12:02:00.000-08:00

My wife had cancer in 2004. Five operations of varying severity. (Up to and including "severe"). She is fine now, thanks. Or, as fine as any cancer survivor can be.

In the wake of this horror, I resolved to embark on a path that might create some small humor, but also be a symbolic homage to Donna's struggle. We saw a lot of women with no hair, as they went through chemo and radiation.

I resolved to grow my hair out, and donate it to "Locks of Love." That organization creates
hairpieces for children whose hair follicles are severely damaged by chemical
treatments for disease, or by some disease itself.

So, to all of you who have wondered about, or openly mocked, my hair....that's why I grew it out.

Anyway, it was finally long enough to harvest. I am going to post, over the next three days, installments that show the process of harvesting. Several of the photos are, I am sad to say, hilarious. But while you are laughing at me, laugh with me a little also. And let's try to find a cure for cancer in our own lifetimes, before those lifetimes are cut short. Breast cancer, in particular (and that is what my wife had) is an epidemic.

Now, let's have some fun....Installment I: The Horror

My hair had at this point been washed, and is being dried. You can get an idea of how long and curly it is.

After the drier...well, pictures are worth 1,000 words. Also worth hiding from the children.

Then I had to wait for a while. Racquel was busy. Sitting there, I made the day of several dozen women who walked by. They tried not to burst out laughing. Very few were successful. The reactions ranged from titters (most) to one rather large woman who had to lean over with her hands on her knees and whoop with laughter for several seconds. "Meat Loaf!" she wheezed. "You look just like Meat Loaf!" Thank you, ma'am, thank you.

Then, into the chair. Racquel began the ironing and straightening process. Flock of Seagulls, you got nothing on me.

UPDATE:

Installment II

Installment III

Early Polls: I'm at 2 to 4 %

2007-12-28T11:58:00.000-08:00

Check this:

The Republican field for governor might get more crowded. Charlotte Mayor Pat McCrory is pondering a run and released a study to show he is a viable candidate.

McCrory circulated an e-mail to supporters recently. He touted three reasons he might run -- problems with state leadership, the current candidates being part of the status quo and his successful skills and leadership.

"Now I plan to go through a serious decision-making process and self-assessment to help me determine if I should run for governor," McCrory said in the e-mail.

State Sen. Fred Smith, former Supreme Court Justice Bob Orr and attorney Bill Graham are the three other Republican candidates for governor.

McCrory commissioned a study by Voter Consumer Research in Washington, D.C. The survey showed that "we are in the lead over the three already announced (Republican) candidates with 39 percent still undecided." The e-mail did not give a breakdown of percentages.

Potential voters were also asked if they supported McCrory against potential candidates in the general election. One question asked voters if they leaned toward McCrory, Lt. Gov. Bev Purdue, a Democrat, Michael Munger, a Libertarian, or Dennis Neilson, an independent candidate. Respondents favored McCrory 39 percent, Purdue 36 percent, Munger 2 percent and Neilson 4 percent. The poll had 18 percent undecided. With Richard Moore as the Democratic candidate, the results were Moore 37 percent, McCrory 36 percent, Munger 4 percent, Neilson 3 percent, don't know 18 percent and refused 1 percent.

"These results are outstanding since we have not initiated a state-wide campaign and it shows we can win both the primary and general election," McCrory said in the e-mail. "They also show a large number of undecideds, which means the race is wide open."...

Help the President with Law Enforcement

2007-11-29T05:31:00.000-08:00

I have a metal sign on my wall. It hung on a wall inside a barn in eastern NC for more than 80 years (it's from the 1920s, in other words). I bought it at an auction, and had it framed, because it captures the libertarian solution to a whole lot of problems, including the very real one raised in the post above.

The little metal sign says,
Help the President with Law Enforcement. Repeal the 18th Amendment. For Prosperity .

The coalition that kept Prohibition in place is referred to, in Poli Sci circles, as the "Baptists and Bootleggers" coalition. The Baptists for moral reasons, and Bootleggers for economic reasons, wanted the state to crack down on legal liquor sales. Baptists got their morality, and the bootleggers got a protected monopoly.

We have a lot of problems with "illegal aliens." We have a lot of problems with enforcing laws that make things illegal. The answer is not to get more law enforcement. The answer, just like my little signs says, is to REPEAL THE STUPID LAW!

Help the President with Law Enforcement. Make Immigration Legal, for Law-Abiding Hard-Working Foreigners. For Prosperity.

Because here's the thing: The Baptist and Bootlegger coalition has come back. Lou Dobbs and xenophobic nativist elements of our population want to pull the ladder up. "I've got mine! Screw you!" So they play the moralistic public loudmouth role.

And the Bootleggers? Well, those are the giant ag corporations, and the meatpackers, and all the other companies that depend on KEEPING immigration illegal so they can underpay, abuse, and nearly enslave immigrants. That's the economic part.

Repeal the law, and "enforcement" is a breeze.

Pat McCrory for Gov?

2007-11-28T07:56:00.000-08:00

Pat McCrory, Charlotte mayor, might throw his headgear into the octagon for NC Governor.

The BIG O says so.

State Government Radio Interview

2007-11-26T06:18:00.000-08:00

Interview on State Government Radio.

Don Curtis does a very softball-question interview with me,
on the campaign and other matters.

Republican Jacobins?

2007-10-29T07:24:00.000-07:00

From the NYTimes:

Among the Jacobins’ greatest triumphs was their ability to appropriate the rhetoric of patriotism — Le Patriote Français was the title of Brissot’s newspaper — and to promote their political program through a tightly coordinated network of newspapers, political hacks, pamphleteers and political clubs.

Even the Jacobins’ dress distinguished “true patriots”: those who wore badges of patriotism like the liberty cap on their heads, or the cocarde tricolore (a red, white and blue rosette) on their hats or even on their lapels.

Insisting that their partisan views were identical to the national will, believing that only they could save France from apocalyptic destruction, Jacobins could not conceive of legitimate dissent. Political opponents were treasonous, stabbing France and the Revolution in the back.

To defend the nation from its enemies, Jacobins expanded the government’s police powers at the expense of civil liberties, endowing the state with the power to detain, interrogate and imprison suspects without due process. Policies like the mass warrantless searches undertaken in 1792 — “domicilary visits,” they were called — were justified, according to Georges Danton, the Jacobin leader, “when the homeland is in danger.”

I actually think they have this right. But the mistake is restricting this criticism to the Republicans. This Jacobin repression is in the fact the essence of government action, not a perversion of it. Any truly activist government is going to fall into this trap.

Once again, I am not so much worshipful of markets as distrustful of expanding government powers.

(Nod to KL)