http://arstechnica.com/…

The fact that there aren’t hard numbers to base these arguments on suggests that many towns are leaping into the use of cameras without ever bothering to look into their safety implications. Denver, for example, had a contract that mandated the reporting of statistics from the cameras, but the city never bothered to ask for them.

As a result, a number of states have now banned their use. To be fair, based on legislative arguments over speed cameras, the bans may have been as much the product of the fact that state legislators don’t want to be caught by them, but the questionable ethics of the red light cameras undoubtedly helped them justify their decision.

But cities aren’t content to see a source of revenue slip from their grasp, especially in the current fiscal environment. A site called theNewspaper.com, which tracks the politics of traffic laws, is reporting that some cities in Texas, which banned the installation of new cameras but grandfathered them in existing contracts, are attempting to evade the intent of the legislature. When faced with the prospect of having their existing contracts with a camera supplier gracefully expire when they run out, Arlington and Southlake are locking themselves into long-term contract extensions. Southlake has extended it for 20 years, by which point technology may have made the whole issue irrelevant.

Apparently, a similar thing happened when Montana passed a bill with exemptions for existing contracts, and the Montana legislature responded by passing a bill that stripped out that exception.

Rather than taking on the legislature, the cities might want to consider doing what they should have done in the first place: perform an analysis that shows that a specific combination of yellow light times and red light cameras actually improves public safety. Given hard data, it might be possible to convince the state that the cameras make sense in ways other than filling out the municipal budget.

Cameras have always been about money and money alone. If it was about safety they would be wholey owned by the municipality, run at cost, and all these stories about shorter yellows and such would never had occurred. The data I’ve looked at shows no conclusive evidence to support the claim that they even protect anyone. Speeding cameras esspecially. The whole idea of speeding is bogus as are most stop signs. If you drive in such a way that puts others at risk or is causing damage to the roadway only then is there a legitimate case for intervention. Artifically attempting to control the flow of traffic is what leads to these ‘requirements’ of speed limits, cameras and whatnot. Unsurprising when you give drivers more responsibility for their action by removing signage they generally become more careful and aware.

http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0246.htm

Section 2. Legislative declarations of authority. The legislature declares that the authority for [sections 1 through 6] is the following:

(1) The 10th amendment to the United States constitution guarantees to the states and their people all powers not granted to the federal government elsewhere in the constitution and reserves to the state and people of Montana certain powers as they were understood at the time that Montana was admitted to statehood in 1889. The guaranty of those powers is a matter of contract between the state and people of Montana and the United States as of the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889.

(2) The ninth amendment to the United States constitution guarantees to the people rights not granted in the constitution and reserves to the people of Montana certain rights as they were understood at the time that Montana was admitted to statehood in 1889. The guaranty of those rights is a matter of contract between the state and people of Montana and the United States as of the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889.

(3) The regulation of intrastate commerce is vested in the states under the 9th and 10th amendments to the United States constitution, particularly if not expressly preempted by federal law. Congress has not expressly preempted state regulation of intrastate commerce pertaining to the manufacture on an intrastate basis of firearms, firearms accessories, and ammunition.

(4) The second amendment to the United States constitution reserves to the people the right to keep and bear arms as that right was understood at the time that Montana was admitted to statehood in 1889, and the guaranty of the right is a matter of contract between the state and people of Montana and the United States as of the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889.

(5) Article II, section 12, of the Montana constitution clearly secures to Montana citizens, and prohibits government interference with, the right of individual Montana citizens to keep and bear arms. This constitutional protection is unchanged from the 1889 Montana constitution, which was approved by congress and the people of Montana, and the right exists as it was understood at the time that the compact with the United States was agreed upon and adopted by Montana and the United States in 1889.

Your move federal government.

http://www.taxtruth4u.com/…

Several states have recently appealed to the 10th and/or the 9th Amendments to assert their state rights over federal government. These amendments state:

Amendment 9 – Construction of Constitution. Ratified 12/15/1791.

The enumeration in the Constitution, of certain rights, shall not be construed to deny or disparage others retained by the people.

Amendment 10 – Powers of the States and People. Ratified 12/15/1791. Note

The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people.

1. Washington
   http://apps.leg.wa.gov/billinfo/summary.aspx?year=2009&bill=4009
2. New Hampshire
   http://www.gencourt.state.nh.us/legislation/2009/HCR0006.html
3. Arizona
   http://www.azleg.gov/FormatDocument.asp?inDoc=/legtext/49leg/1r/bills/hcr2024p.htm
4. Montana
   http://data.opi.mt.gov/bills/2009/billhtml/HB0246.htm
5. Michigan
   http://www.legislature.mi.gov/(S(sjgu5xbql1n5xf45imuuysrm))/documents/2009-2010/Journal/House/htm/2009-HJ-01-22-002.htm
6. Missouri
   http://www.house.mo.gov/content.aspx?info=/bills091/bills/HR212.HTM
7. Oklahoma
   http://axiomamuse.wordpress.com/2009/01/07/state-legislator-charles-key-wants-to-limit-federal-power/
8. Hawaii
   http://www.hawaii-nation.org/

I hadn’t reported on this earlier because they hadn’t actually been passed or whatever but now with 8 states floating resolutions reaffirming the concept of states rights as defined in the 2nd US Constitution and reinforced by the 9th and 10th Amendments it seems more worthy of posting.

Most of these are too controversal and broad unfortunately to have the likelihood of passing but the fact they have been floated and are getting attention is a good signal. Hopefully the concept of secession will come up more often and in a positive light.

http://www.sfgate.com/…

The writings, books and other possessions of Theodore Kaczynski, the serial killer known as the Unabomber, can be sold in an Internet auction to pay restitution to several of his victims, a federal appeals court ruled Friday.

The Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco rejected Kaczynski’s arguments, filed from federal prison, that the government’s sale of his writings violates his freedom of expression.

The court said the University of Michigan, a recipient designated by Kaczynski, would get copies of each item for its collection of materials on radical social and political movements.

Kaczynski was a math professor who became a backwoods recluse and author of an anti-technology manifesto that was published in newspapers while he was a fugitive.

He was arrested at his Montana cabin in 1996 and admitted two years later that he was the bomber who had killed three people and wounded 23 in explosions from 1978 to 1995.

Restitution. Good. There needs to be more of that.

Rather funny they are to be auctioned off online. I can’t imagine there is much to sell though.

• Ralph Nader, the Libertarian Party, the Constitution Party, and the Green Party will all substantially increase their raw vote totals over 2004.
• Ron Paul received 2.2% in Montanna and 0.5% in Louisiana. Third place in both.
• Ron Paul kept his districts House seat.
• Few of the Ron Paul candidates won. Lamborn of Colorado 5th District and McClintock of California 4th District. It’s been questioned however whether Lamborn is an actual RP backed candidate.
• Maine rejects sales taxes and medical claim fees to fund state health program.
• South Dakota voted not to ban abortion.
• Massachusetts decrims marijuana.
• Michigan voted to allow medical marijuana.
• Washington voted to allow for allowing some terminally ill adults to obtain lethal prescriptions.
• Arizona shot down requiring revocation of business licenses of any employer who knowingly hires illegal aliens.
• Colorado fails to define human life as beginning at fertilization.
• Nebraska bans discrimination and preferential treatment by the State.

Let me include the bad:

• Few of the Ron Paul candidates won. Lamborn of Colorado 5th District and McClintock of California 4th District. It’s been questioned however whether Lamborn is an actual RP backed candidate.
• Colorado fails to ban discrimination and preferential treatment by the state.
• Colorado fails to prohibit mandatory union membership and mandatory union dues.
• Arizona bans same sex marriage.
• Arizona shot down requiring that a majority of all registered voters approve any initiative with spending or tax increases.
• Arkansas bans unmarried cohabitating couples from adopting or being foster parents.
• California establishes the nation’s first comprehensive farm animal rights law.
• California shot down expanding treatment programs for nonviolent drug offenders. (better then prison IMO)
• California banned same sex marriage.
• Florida bans same sex marriage.
• Massachusetts overwhelmingly rejects getting rid of state income tax.
• Massachusetts bans dog racing.
• Montana provides government funded health insurance coverage for as many as 30,000 uninsured children.
• North Dakota votes against reducing or eliminating income tax.
• Oregon votes against requiring that teacher pay and job security be linked directly to classroom performance.

First:

FreeMindsTV, a libertarian cable access show in New Hampshire which recently moved to doing podcasts too, has gone terrestrial. Starting September 28, 2008 the show will air each Sunday from 3-5pm EST broadcasting through GCN. Stations currently signed up to pickup the show are:

• WCER 900-AM Canton, Ohio
• WBCR 1470-AM Maryville, Tennessee
• KLID 1340-AM, Poplar Bluff, Missouri
• KGEZ 600-AM, Great Falls, Montana

Congratulations everyone who’s part of FreeMinds{TV,Radio}. Keep up the good work. One recommendation though… redo the website. It’s a mess.

Second:

As was reported the other night Gardner Goldsmith was fired from the radio station he was at and as a result planning on accelerating Liberty Conspiracy’s online presents.

His first podcast is now available here [Monetary Manipulation by Government Part 1]and you can subscribe the the podcast through http://libertyconspiracy.podomatic.com [RSS].

One last thing, if you enjoy these programs, feel guilty for not being a big enough participant in the liberty movement or just appreciate what they are doing please consider donating a few dollars a month to the cause. How can you pass up the opportunity to become an All Seeing Eye in the liberty conspiracy? Contribute to Liberty Conspiracy here and FreeMindsTV here.