Glenn Nielsen Weblog

Shane and Jonathan at the Libertarian Dime Podcast interviewed me after I returned from the 2008 National Libertarian Party Convention in Denver. We discussed the NLP Convention, the nomination of Congressman Bob Barr for President by the Libertarian Party and we got off topic a bit talking about the environment and carbon credits.

Listen to the podcast.

I was interviewed a second time by the Libertarian Dime podcast. The topic of this interview was recent U.S. Supreme Court decisions regarding the fourth amendment to the U.S. Constitution which upheld broadening when police can search you without a search warrant, and another recent U.S. Supreme Court decision upholding state requirements to require a photo ID to vote.

You can find out more information about the video I mention in the interview that educates you on practical ways to stand up for your rights at Flex Your Rights

Listen to the podcast here.

I was interviewed January 29th, 2008 for an hour by Steve Spellman on KOPN 89.5FM, a community radio station in Columbia, MO.

We discussed the upcoming Presidential Primary in Missouri, third party politics, libertarianism, the environment and Congressman Ron Paul's run for the Republican Party Presidential nomination.

KOPN had technical difficulties partway through the interview so you will hear me suddenly change topics during the broadcast.

Here is a link to the podcast of the interview.

My first ten days as Missouri Libertarian Party Chair have been very busy. The picture to the left is a new portrait I had made which was needed by the Missouri Secretary of State for publishing the Blue Book which contains information about political parties. I won't bore you with all the other administrative things I have been doing. Here are some of the highlights from the first ten days.

May 13th - Mike Ferguson Online Interview
May 14th - Political Round Table Radio Show on The Eagle 93.9FM in Columbia (follow link to listen to the podcast)
May 14th - Press Release: Missouri Libertarian Party Elects New Officers At May 5th State Convention
May 15th - Springfield News Leader Editor Tony Messenger Blog Post - A strong Libertarian voice

Recently it was reported in the news that Warrensburg Missouri, home of the University of Central Missouri, is considering a restaurant and bar smoking ban. Fortunately, libertarians in Johnson County are following the lead of the Boone Liberty Coalition and have formed the Johnson Liberty Coalition to organize opposition to the smoking ban. Thanks to Randy Langkraehr, Ben Casebolt and Bill Wayne in Johnson County for getting this started.

On January 16th, 2007 the U.S. Supreme Court declined to hear an Eminent Domain case which involved a city approved developer trying to extort money from a property owner. When the property owner refused he was served with condemnation papers by the city the very next day.

We now know that even with the appointment by President Bush of two new "conservative" Supreme Court Justices since the Kelo vs New London Development decision, the Kelo decision will not be overturned.

Not only can your property be taken by eminent domain and given to a private developer, that private develper is now sanctioned to try and extort money from you if you want to keep your own property.

Here is a link to the story on the Institute For Justice website:

U.S. Supreme Court Declines to Hear Eminent Domain Extortion Case

The Institute For Justice is the public interest law firm which brought both this case and the Kelo case before the Supreme Court. They have been referred to as a "Merry band of libertarian litigators".

In Missouri there is an ongoing Eminent Domain Abuse case in St. Louis:

St. Louis Salvage Yard a Precious Gem - A true fighter is forced to move from her own property

The Missouri Legislature passed Eminent Domain Reform in 2006 which was signed by Governor Matt Blunt. The legislation did help limit eminent domain abuse for farmers but did very little for home owners, business owners and churches who can still have thier "blighted" property condemned by eminent domain and given over to private developers. Here is a link to the Institute For Justice's evaluation of the Missouri Eminent Domain Reform:

Missouri Eminent Domain Reform Small Step in Right Direction - Legislature Still Needs to Close “Blight” Loophole

The Missouri Libertarian Party has a strong position on Property Rights and Eminent Domain. From our platform:

• End the practice of using eminent domain powers to seize property for the benefit of private developers.
• Repeal the ability of local governments to turn over condemnation authority to independent parties.
• Eliminate the use of "blight" as a rationale for using eminent domain to seize private property.

Darla Maloney, Chair of The Missouri Libertarian Party has been working with state legislators on resolutions which will be submitted to the state legislature within the next few weeks. These resolutions would put Amendments to the Missouri Constitution on the Nov 2008 ballot which would end Eminent Domain Abuse in Missouri.

The state board sought a permanent injunction against Gegner, seeking to stop him from selling caskets, directing funerals or helping individuals plan private burials. But in May, Circuit Judge John Sims ruled that the state can't prohibit Gegner from either selling caskets or telling people how to conduct private burials.

Read the News Leader Article.

The Institute For Justice", a public interest law firm which I support helped defend Mr. Gegner from the injuction sought by the State of Missouri on behalf of the State Board of Embalmers and Funeral Directors.

A victory for less regulation in Missouri!

(December 13th, 2006) A Columbia, MO Rock Bridge High School student was arrested on suspicion of unlawful use of a weapon and is free on $4,500 bond.

The student had an unloaded "AR-15" semi-automatic rifle in the covered bed of his pickup truck because he was going to target practice after school.

It will be interesting to see what disciplinary action the school district takes.

What is much more important is whether this student will be prosecuted under State gun laws or the 1990 Federal Gun Free School Zones Act (18 US Code sect. 922(q)(1)(A)).

Will this be another example where Gun Control Laws are used to prosecute a law abiding citizen who had no criminal intent.

This story is starting to show up on other sites:

• Free Republic
• Liberty Post

TBS broadcast the special "Earth to America", A Global Warming Comedy Special November 20th, 2005.

Here is a quote "I read the earth used to have 19% oxygen in its atmosphere but now it has 9%", Bill Maher.

A Hollywood celebrity said it so it must be true, NOT!

The normal level of oxygen in the atmosphere is 21%. Levels below 19.5% are considered Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health (IDLH).

Either Bill Maher is an idiot or the person who scripted this line for him is an idiot. It wasn't delivered as a laugh line but as a statement of fact. Either way it is an example of why I have very little respect for Hollywood celebrities who speak out on issues.

I didn't watch the show so I don't know how many other "facts and figures" used during the show are bogus.

Here is the "Earth to America" Bill Maher video clip.

Blogging also known as Weblogs has become a popular way for individuals to comment on their daily life, politics, sports, any topic at all.

Major media has noticed blogs. Journalists and reporters are maintaining their own blogs and using blogs as sources of information.

Recently blogs were the source of information which discredited the National Guard documents used by CBS 60 Minutes in a story about President George Bush's National Guard service.

This blog site is being setup so that libertarians can more easily comment on issues in Columbia, Boone County, and the State of Missouri.