A big argument I hear against the libertarian cause pertains to the previously unfathomable growth of private corporations. People fear the Wal-Marts, Comcasts, and GEs of the world growing and influencing 'too much.' But, the same people that fear omnipotent private corporations don't have corresponding worries of the Central government, which makes combating the perception of 'corporate evil' doubly difficult. But that isn't going to stop me from giving you the facts. Libertarians feel it makes more sense to fear the people with the most guns, not the ones with the most money.

The fact is, the Federal government creates these seemingly insurmountable entities. Mainly through military contracts and government subsidized industries (including healthcare, education, charities, and housing) . But the majority of the 'gigantism' happens because of the taxing and regulatory stifling of the market. Higher taxes (punitive and otherwise) actually encourage the domination of a market by a select few companies who are able to absorb short term losses and willing and able to accept more taxpayer monies and regulation to 'bail them out' in the future, further stifling their competition. All at the expense of you and your family's budget. Keep in mind, even with these draconian measures, it is extremely rare for a company to remain in the biggest 500 companies for more than twenty years. Which is why libertarians largely don't understand the beef against free-market answers from the political left.

Libertarians would make it impossible for corporations to grow fat on those 'sweetheart deals' paid for by you and me by lowering the cost of capital by dramatically cutting taxes and government-regulation. We understand the need to encourage entrepreneurship and market fluidity by letting the market and consumers determine the size of a company, not the 'czar' in Washington. In short, if your company isn't sound, don't come to taxpayers saying you're 'too big to fail'. Libertarians understand there is an American out there that has the idea and the will to implement it. More red-tape for him to cut through isn't going to get his innovation to the consumer any sooner, it'll only make it a less cost effective alternative before he even starts.

Enforcing regulation, licensure, and punitive taxes against that individual isn't going to encourage his free-market answer for the consumer and his risk of opportunity. It will only keep in place the original failing and irresponsible company, thereby creating that omnipotent force the environmentalists, politicians, communists, and socialists so often point to as evil; and frankly, sometimes are.

But understand, the most irresponsible and downright dangerous companies to the well-being of Americans and our environment are always subsidized, at least partly, by government. Large corporations are eager to take your rights away and roll in the sheets with the Feds because it ensures their immunity from mistakes. If they truly had to pay for errors out of their own pockets instead of ours, their only answer is accountability to the consumer, therefore making a safer, more effective product as well as having to protect their resources from degradation.

The examples are endless; Microsoft spent millions and failed at the Microsoft Network, Coca~Cola spent $250 million to convince us 'New Coke' was better than 'Coke Classic', Ford spent over $1.5 billion on the Edsel. Harry Browne gave us these examples in The Great Libertarian Offer to illustrate the ultimate corporate regulation; the will of the consumer to buy it. Knowing the greatest changes in Washington have come from the boycotting of companies, the consumer still has the ultimate control in our country; unfortunately we see it constantly being leveraged by both Democrats and Republicans for political gain.

Consider the government-run failures the Post Office, War on Drugs, foreign aid, healthcare, welfare, Fannie and Freddie; the list goes on and on. These were created mostly by well-meaning, though ideologically erroneous politicians. Keep in mind that they take you and your neighbor's money; you have no choice whether to pay for their service. If you don't pay, you will be imprisoned, regardless of whether you use it or agree with its function or not. Why would we expect anything better out of an entity run by those rules, than of a private enterprise?

That is not the America libertarians understand to have made us the most powerful economic engine the world has ever known and providing much more than mere subsistence, but quite literally luxuries even for the poorest among us (ie. A/C, cars, cooked and served food, etc.)

But, the true measure of government intrusion's effects aren't easily quantifiable. One would have to measure their current situation against what it could be had half of your family's earnings not been confiscated by government for at least the last 3 generations. And how many innovations and improvements have they destroyed by propping up failing industries?

Imagine if the Fed made 8-track cartridges the "industry standard" in the 60's, or announced MS-DOS as the operating system for all computers to be built around in the 80's. Luckily they didn't, look how far we've come in such a short time without the heavy hand of regulation in these technologies, yet.

Libertarians have more faith in our neighbors than that. We know individual freedoms, rights to personal property and profits, and decreased government intrusion into business is how to attain that 'greater good' referenced so much by misguided nincompoops singing the praises of the nanny state.

We truly want you to have the freedom to work, earn, and buy without checking with the Fed first.

For more info: http://www.harrybrowne.org/GLO/FreeTrade.htm

Election season is right around the corner so it must be time for another tax increase in the City of Aurora.

This year is no exception.

The city is pursuing a $12.5 million property tax increase on most Aurora property owners. The tax is couched under the guise of a "Library General Improvement District (4A)".

The city council and city manager have decided to arbitrarily propose a 2010 budget that slashes the existing library budget. This new proposed property tax increase would be solely dedicated to libraries, thus freeing up the existing library budget to fund other city operations.

• The current mill levy property tax component of the City of Aurora is 10.664
• The proposed mill levy increase amounts to 4.29 mills
• This would provide for more than a 40% tax increase on the city component of your property tax
• The initial amount of money raised would be $12,514,000
• This amount is permanently guaranteed
• If your assessed property value is lowered, your mill levy will be increased to maintain this base funding
• In addition, there is wording in the ballot measure that provides yearly increases in funding to adjust for the rise in the consumer price index (CPI). Again, this is permanent. You will not be allowed to vote on additional tax increases

Many Aurora voters have had to adjust their budgets downward with the loss of income during this current economic downturn. Seniors have seen their 50% state property tax exemption removed this year and the media is reporting that they anticipate there will be no Social Security increases for the next two years.

The City of Aurora apparently thinks that citizens should ante up even more of their hard earned money so they can continue with the concept of more brick and mortar libraries in this age of the internet.

Given the condition of the local, state and national economies, it defies logic that our local government is again pressing us for more taxes. Amazingly, with private citizens seeing their income erode, the City of Aurora has never considered reducing city salaries or benefits.

With automatic guaranteed funding, forever, the libraries have no incentive to be more creative and do things more efficiently.

A vote "yes" for the separate Aurora Library "Taxing" District will result in your Aurora property taxes increasing a minimum of 40% (4.29 mills based on 2008 valuations) in monies paid to the city for city services. Look at your present property tax bill: Depending on location, we citizens presently pay the City of Aurora 10.664 mills for various city services, INCLUDING THE LIBRARY. A "yes" vote for a separate Library District simply removes library funding from the General Fund, and replaces it with ADDITIONAL TAXATION. The Library will be freed from having to share the diminished General Fund with other city agencies, and will be successful protecting their turf, unlike other agencies that will be asked to economize and operate with maximum efficiencies within available funding. The combined mill level (City of Aurora services/Library) with passage of the proposed Library District will increase the combined City/Library District mill levy from 10.664 to 14.954 mills. Other non-Aurora General Fund items, including schools, are added to this total annual property mill levy.

To add insult to injury, the tax billing, could, in fact be much worse. The assessed valuations by the Arapahoe and Adams County Assessors recently resulted in substantially reduced property values for tax assessment purposes. Since the Library District is seeking $12.5 million dollars the FIRST year, I suggest to you, that an increased mill level will need to be substantially higher to produce their desired funding. The ballot initiative allows them to get $12.5 million ONE WAY OR ANOTHER! They have also cleverly worded the initiative eliminating the necessity to seek your approval for annual increases in salary/ benefits/expenses based on inflation. In other words, the Library really isn't answerable to you the taxpayer-they are an entity onto themselves.

The Library states that the Library District will not be a NEW or additional layer of government, and yet the same Aurora City Library Board will continue to oversee. Who's guarding the hen house and demanding cost efficiencies? With approximately $7 million in new-found tax money, this becomes a legitimate question every taxpayer should heed. Give it to the Library and I guarantee they'll find a way of spending it. They are already planning to add 32 full time staff to the present 86 FTE. That's a lot of librarians to hand out books!

Yes, some library personnel will lose their jobs. Yes, the library will be forced, if they wish to remain a relevant city service, to do more with less. Certainly, with all their books, they should be able to access some reference materials on cost and work efficiency.

Vote "No" for additional taxes for a new library district. While a Library is a desirable service, it must function and simply adjust and learn to live within the city's budgetary means and share tax existing revenue with other Aurora city departments and services.



The tax also applies to commercial property, which could cause Aurora to lose retail businesses and further compound the General Fund's loss of sales tax revenue. Apartment house complex owners faced with the new tax will no doubt have to raise rents, ditto codo monthly fees. There's no free lunch in this even for non-property owners and lessees. If inflation increases to 10-15% as predicted within three years, the Library, by having cleverly de-bruced the necessity to request further funds, will enjoy the percentage increases without returning to the taxpayers for a vote of approval.

You may wish to checkout: www.saveaurorahomes.com

Libertarians in office can increase your personal and financial freedom. Thanks to your help in the past Doug Anderson has been restraining the growth of taxes in Lakewood. His term as City Councilman ends in November.

The Travis campaign for Littleton City Council is off to an outstanding start. Whole neighborhoods are sprouting Vote Nicks signs. Frank Atwood has organized flier drops for nearly half the district. And Travis has pressed more doorbells than he can remember. This is one of two City Council campaigns we can win this year. Email Frank Atwood at frank_atwood80120@yahoo.com to pick the day you will help drop off fliers.

The Jeffco Libertarians will be planning this fall's campaigns on Wednesday, October 7th.
Join us with your ideas and enthusiasm at the Golden Library (1019 10th Street) at 7pm.
Refreshments will be served.