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.
Great little video featuring economist Gordon Tullock on why your vote doesn’t matter. As my friend Terrence Watson said, “If you want to make a difference in the world instead of voting, make sandwiches for homeless people.”
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!)
“I am really sorry to see my Countrymen trouble themselves about Politics. If Men were Wise the Most arbitrary Princes could not hurt them. If they are not Wise the Freest Government is compelled to be a Tyranny. Princes appear to me to be Fools. Houses of Commons & Houses of Lords appear to me to be fools, they seem to me to be something Else besides Human Life.” - William Blake
“I do not believe that the solution to our problem is simply to elect the right people. The important thing is to establish a political climate of opinion which will make it politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing. Unless it is politically profitable for the wrong people to do the right thing, the right people will not do the right thing either, or if they try, they will shortly be out of office.” - Milton Friedman
“Under democracy one party always devotes its chief energies to trying to prove that the other party is unfit to rule - and both commonly succeed, and are right.” - H.L. Mencken
“And now that the legislators and do-gooders have so futilely inflicted so many systems upon society, may they finally end where they should have begun: May they reject all systems, and try liberty; for liberty is an acknowledgment of faith in God and His works.” - Frederic Bastiat
“An election is nothing more than the advanced auction of stolen goods” - Ambrose Bierce
“Aristotle said that some people were only fit to be slaves. I do not contradict him. But I reject slavery because I see no men fit to be masters.” - C.S. Lewis
“Free election of masters does not abolish the masters or the slaves.” - Herbert Marcuse
“An election is coming. Universal peace is declared and the foxes have a sincere interest in prolonging the lives of the poultry.” - T.S. Eliot
Great letter to the editor of the Washington Post by Don Boudreaux:
Dear Editor:
We’re supposed to be inspired by your report of high-school kids becoming politically active - working, in one case, for the Obama campaign, and in another for the McCain campaign (”Too Young to Vote, But Electing to Care,” October 28).
I’m not inspired; I’m saddened. Why applaud young people who are attracted to the opportunistic compromises, platitudes, distortions, and exaggerations of party politics? These kids either lack the maturity to understand that party politics is chiefly about winning office (rather than about pursuing truth and justice), or they DO understand this fact. In neither case is this juvenile political involvement admirable.
I agree. I was watching some fluff story (aren’t they all?) on one of the network news morning shows about polling grade school kids on their presidential choices, and all the cute little things kids are doing to support their candidate. It made me feel sick. But not as sick as this video. Why, as a parent, would you ever encourage hero-worship of a politician? Their sole function is to take things from some people and give things to other people, and try to explain themselves in a way that makes the greatest number of people like them. Sick.
The Mackinac Center is celebrating it’s 20th Anniversary this November with a banquet featuring keynote speaker John Stossel!
Ticket prices for this event are normally $100, but a big chunk of tickets have become available for SFE students free of charge! Please RSVP to me at SFE(at)mackinac.org by October 31 and let me know if you will be attending. The spots are limited, so first come, first serve!
Tuesday, November 11, 2008
5:30 to 7:00 pm - Cocktails
7:00 pm - Dinner
Kellogg Hotel and Conference Center
55 South Harrison Road
East Lansing, Michigan
The event is black tie optional. (So if you don’t want to wear a tux, at least wear a suit or Jacket and tie)
I hope to have a good cohort of SFE luminaries to represent the voice of freedom on Michigan campuses!
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.
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.
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 .
