Lawrence W. Reed, president of the Foundation for Economic Education gave the keynote during the Midwest Students for Freedom Conference at the University of Michigan.  Here’s part one of the speech, entitled, “My favorite president”:

SFE blog Consectatio posts on whether it’s hypocritical or inconsistent for those advocating small government to want to be a part of government.  That’s a topic we discussed at our conference on Saturday as well, and some differing and interesting ideas were shared.

As I’ve shared before, I don’t think politicians are the most important element, or even very important at all, in bringing about change.  That said, everyone has different talents and abilities, and as former state lawmaker and current county commissioner Leon Drolet said at the conference , “some of us don’t have any skills at all, so we have to be politicians”.

I’d rather have politicians who love liberty than those who don’t, but I don’t put much hope in politicians, even “good” ones, to change the world for freedom or to get very far in politics.  Public Choice Economics predicts that being good at politics will nearly always mean favoring more government and less liberty.  And as F.A. Hayek noted in The Road to Serfdom, the system is stacked in such a way that the worst get to the top more often than not.

So, if you want to advance liberty, should you avoid government, or engage in it?

Last year, SFE took a convoy of students from Michigan to the Students for Liberty International conference in New York City. This year the conference will be hosted in Wahsington, D.C.

Below you will find the email invite from our friends at SFL about the upcoming conference.

We’re looking into the possibility of doing another Michigan carpool to head down to the conference, so I encourage you to apply, and contact SFE if you’re accepted so we can figure out how many Michigan students are going.

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Second Annual International SFL Conference

SFL is proud to announce that the Second Annual International SFL Conference will be held from February 20th-22nd, 2009, at George Washington University in Washington, D.C. The invitation is now available online, as well as a generic schedule (subject to change), FAQ, a conference flier that you can distribute to other students on your campus, and the online application. The 2008 Students for Liberty Conference conference drew 100 students from 42 schools and 2 countries to Columbia University and hear from speakers of such caliber as Keynotes David Boaz (Cato Institute), Randy Barnett (Georgetown Law), and Dr. Alan Charles Kors (University of Pennsylvania). It was from this inaugural conference that SFL was formed as a full-fledged organization, and this year’s conference will be even bigger and better than before!

While we are in the process of inviting/confirming speakers, we are extremely excited to announce the first Keynote Speaker of the 2009 International SFL Conference will be Yon Goicoechea, the recipient of the Cato Institute’s 2008 Milton Friedman Prize for Advancing Liberty. Cato’s description of Mr. Goicoechea includes: “A 23-year-old law student, Mr. Goicoechea plays a pivotal role in organizing and voicing opposition to the erosion of human and civil rights in his country. In his commitment to a modern Venezuela, Goicoechea emphasizes tolerance and the human right to seek prosperity. Venezuela’s student movement emerged in May of 2007 in response to a government-ordered shutdown of the nation’s oldest private television station, RCTV. In the face of ongoing death threats and continual intimidation due to his prominent and vocal leadership, Mr. Goicoechea has been indispensible in organizing massive, peaceful student protest marches that have captured the world’s attention. By December of 2007, the student movement was credited with defeating a proposed constitutional reform that would have concentrated unprecedented political and economic power in the hands of the government.”

It’s important to note that there is an application process for students who wish to attend this conference. Due to space and financial restrictions, not all students will be accepted. Last year, we received 140 applications for 100 slots. It is important that you apply early to receive priority. As well, students who apply in 2008 will only pay a $25 registration fee, while students who apply in 2009 will have to pay a $50 registration fee, providing a fniancial incentive for you to apply early.

What: Second Annual Internationl SFL Conference
Where: George Washington University, Washington, D.C.
When: February 22nd-24th, 2008
Who: You
Applying: Apply now!

SFE and Students for Liberty co-hosted the first Midwest Students for Freedom conference at the University of Michigan on Saturday.

50 of the best and brightest students in the region came to hear from 13 different presenters on how to communicate, market and spread freedom in the academic, political, cultural and “new media” (that’s you bloggers and YouTubers) realm.  The day was jam-packed with great info and presentations, and I know I gained a lot of knowledge on how to improve in our efforts to spread the wonderful ideas of liberty.

A few pictures:

2008 Students for Freedom Conference

Saturday, November 8 at the University of Michigan.  13 speakers will present on how to best spread freedom in every sphere.  Lots of great info and material, three great meals, plenty of time to mingle with other freedom-loving students from across the Midwest.  There are a few spots left! - Register here

Mackinac Center Banquet Featuring John Stossel

Tuesday, November 11 at Michigan State Universities Kellogg Center The Mackinac Center for Public Policy will be celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary with a banquet featuring keynote speaker John Stossel of ABC’s 20/20.

Ticket prices for this event are normally $100, but since I know students don’t have that kind of cash lying around, SFE has been able to secure a chunk of tickets free of charge. Please RSVP and let me know if you will be attending.  The spots are limited, so first come, first serve! (PS - this is a formal event, so dress nice!)

The 2008 Students for Freedom Conference just keeps getting better!

Saturday, November 8 at the University of Michigan we’re hosting the first Midwest regional conference to equip freedom loving students with the tools and expertise they need to successfully advance freedom on campus and beyond.  Panels of awesome speakers will cover tips for effective writing, speaking, blogging, video, political action, academic work, and much much more.  The conference is only $20, which includes lots of free stuff and three square meals.

The following speakers are confirmed for the event:

Keynote speaker:

Larry Reed, President, The Foundation for Economic Education.

Marketing and Communications panel:

John Tillman, The Illinois Policy Institute.

Gerry Nicholls, The Institute for Liberal Studies and The Democracy Institute, Canada

Michael Jahr, The Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Activistm and Strategy Panel:

Joe Lehman, The Mackinac Center for Public Policy.

Leon Drolet, Michigan Taxpayers Alliance.

Professor Harry C. Veryser, Jr.,University of Detroit Mercy.

Nigel Ashford, The Institute for Humane Studies.

New Media Panel:

Jason Talley, Atlas Economic Research Center.

Leslie Graves, Lucy Burns Institute.

E.M. Zanotti, The Sam Adams Alliance.

Nick De Leeuw, RightMichigan.com.

Writing a good op-ed:

Tom Shull, The Mackinac Center for Public Policy

Register now while there’s still space!

The 2008 Students for Freedom Conference is less than a month away.  This event, a one-day deal with all meals provided as well as some great materials, will be a one-of-a-kind experience featuring some truly great minds in the battle for liberty.  The 12 speakers will be presenting on how to effectively spread the ideas of liberty through writing, blogging, video, events in the political, academic and cultural spheres and more.

For me, trying to discover how to fight against the overwhelming tendency to let “liberty yield” is a consuming passion.  Every time I see news stories, movies, books, advertisements, etc. that elevate the government and, often unknowingly, denigrate liberty I wonder how we can fight it.  How can liberty overcome the forces of big government, special interests, apathy, and the desires of silver-tongued and power-hungry politicians?  There is a way.

In fact, if you look back on the history of the world you can see a general movement toward liberty.  Even something as reprehensible as slavery was around in this country not 200 years ago.  But the movement towards liberty did not happen overnight, or inevitably.  It took relentless effort by intellectual and cultural movers and shakers to awaken people from the slumber of servitude to the pure air of freedom.  From thinkers like John Locke to pamphleteers like Thomas Paine to novelists like Ayn Rand to economists like Milton Friedman to reporters like John Stossel; the defense and advance of liberty is forged by the efforts of those who have not only dedication, but insight into the most effective means of reaching their fellow man.  The beauty is, there isn’t just one way.  The individuals listed found their unique talent and passion and applied it in a way that only they could.

I want to be one of those voices for freedom.  So do you.  The Students for Freedom Conference is a phenomenal way to start honing your ability to advance the precious idea of liberty in whatever sphere you are most capable.  The speakers are wholeheartedly advancing liberty, each in their own sphere, and they are taking an entire day to share with us what they’ve learned.  I do not want to miss it, and neither do you.

Register online here.

SFE is joining with Students for Liberty to host a conference for liberty-minded students in the Midwest.  A dozen of the best speakers and activists in the movement will be sharing best practices for promoting liberty on campus.  Panels will covers how to effectively market the ideas of liberty through writing, blogging, video, events in the political, academic and cultural spheres and more.  With Keynote Speaker Larry Reed, former President of the Mackinac Center and current President of the Foundation for Economic Education, and a slew of other speakers from the Midwest, this will be a rallying event for the cause of liberty in the region.

Space is limited, so register online today!

Here’s a list of speakers:

Larry Reed, Foundation for Economic Education

Nigel Ahsford, Institute for Humane Studies

Jason Talley, Atlas Economic Research Center

John Tillman, Illinois Policy Institute

Gerry Nicholls, Political Strategist

Joe Lehman, Mackinac Center

Leon Drolet, Michigan Taxpayers Alliance

Professor Harry C. Veryser, Jr., University of Detroit Mercy

Nick De Leeuw, RightMichigan.com

Leslie Graves, Lucy Burns Institute

Michael Jahr, Mackinac Center

Tom Shull, Mackinac Center

It is with great pleasure that we invite you to participate in the first Midwest Students For Freedom Conference at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, on Saturday, November 8th. This conference is a collaborative project of Students For Liberty (SFL) and SFE, hosted by the University of Michigan College Libertarians. SFL is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide a student-driven forum of support for students and student organizations dedicated to liberty.

In February, 2008, SFL hosted an international conference with significant SFE participation and collaboration that spurred student interest in the cause of liberty. Following in the footsteps of this international conference, the Midwest Students For Freedom Conference will bring the most dedicated students and leaders of liberty in the area together to discuss liberty and best practices for promoting liberty on campus. With Keynote Speaker Larry Reed, former President of the Mackinac Center and current President of the Foundation for Economic Education, and a slew of other speakers from the Midwest, we are certain that this will be a rallying event for the cause of liberty in the region.

Visit the conference webpage to register and to find more information here .

There is no application process for this conference. The first 50 students to register for the Conference will be accepted to participate. Changes to acceptances will not occur barring extreme circumstances. To register for the Conference, please visit the conference webpage .

Facebook event here .