Free market movie night is tomorrow night! Join us to see Flunked the Movie, a story of hope within public education proving that with courageous leadership, motivated teachers, and high standards, students, regardless of demographics, can succeed. Steven Maggi, Vice President of Communications at the Evergreen Freedom Foundation and the film’s producer will be available for Q&A after the film.

If you still want to go and have not RSVP’d, there are some spots left so give Kay a ring at 303-279-6536, or email rsvp@i2i.org.

It’s a tribute to the enormous effects local focus and action can have: Lakewood recently lifted its grocery sales tax. Average taxpayers organized and executed this effort. Hopefully it will serve as inspiration for similar efforts in other cities and counties. So congratulations Lakewood, you rock.

H/T: Ari Armstrong @ freecolorado.com.

As someone who has fallen into the ”arguing from efficiency and economics” trap, it is rather important to be reminded that those types of arguments can be lost on many people.  Morality is a much more powerful position.   The debate on health care is one that is in desperate need of moral arguments. Economic and efficiency arguments concerning the health and well-being of other people are logical, yes, but extremely callous sounding.  Ayn Rand made moral health care arguments in her letters, and Stefan Molyneux does so here.  Another good resource is Dr. Paul Hsieh’s free market health insurance FAQ. Dr. Hsieh contributes to the Freedom and Individual Rights in Medicine, FIRM, another good resource for free market solutions to health care issues.  So the next time you find yourself engaged in an heated health care debate, put away logic and rely soley on your moral compass.

H/T: Brian Schwartz @ Patient Power

© 2008, Benjamin Hummel. To see more cartoons like this go to www.politixcartoons.com.

Want your state legislative candidates to be intellectually well-armed for battle on the campaign trail?  Then make sure he or she attends our candidates’ briefing on Wednesday, June 11 from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Independence Institute offices.  We gather the state’s leading free market experts on everything from TABOR, to transportation, to education, to property rights, to energy policy and more.  Candidates will leave well-prepared to debate issues and field questions from friends and foes alike.   This event is free of change and open to all state legislative and county commissioner candidates.  Seating is limited.  For questions contact Amy Oliver at amy@i2i.org.  For reservations contact Eileen Mahony at EMMahony@gmail.com.

There’s nothing I like more than a good debunking of a widely held fallacy. (Well, maybe treats. Yeah, I like treats a bit more). There happened to be a good debunking in Tuesday’s Rocky Mountain News Speakout about transit-oriented development, aka TOD. The author, Allan Ferguson, takes four sacred TOD tenets and exposes them for the bologna they are.

H/T: Property Rights Project blog.

More fees. Increased regulations. Severance taxes. Unresolved issues with health care and transportation. Can Coloradans breathe a collective sigh of relief or will they have to hide their wallets and civil liberties? For answers to these and more questions regarding the 2008 General Assembly, tune in to Independent Thinking when guests Lynn Bartels of the Rocky Mountain News and Patty Calhoun of the Westword join me to discuss the winners and losers of the legislative session. That’s tonight at 8:30 p.m. on KBDI Channel 12; repeated the following Tuesday evening at 5 p.m.

The Independence Institute’s Education Policy Center has a new blog, Ed is Watching. Ed’s job is to keep an eye on, “… legislators, state officials, school boards, administrators, principals, teachers, and other people and groups that have an influence on public education in this great state.” So to get your daily education fix, check in with Ed and see what he has to say.

Our policy brethren from the Evergreen Freedom Foundation will be in town when we host the Colorado debut of EFF’s documentary Flunked  next Wednesday, the 21st.  Flunked is a story of hope within public education proving that with courageous leadership, motivated teachers and high standards students, regardless of demographics, can succeed.  In honor of this event, policy analyst Ben DeGrow discussed the enlightening 47 minute education documentary with Steven Maggi, Vice President of Communications at the Evergreen Freedom Foundation and the film’s producer. In addition, Steven will be available for Q&A after the film next Wednesday. 

One of the coolest things about the documentary is that they got Criminal Minds star Joe Mantegna to narrate it. Sweet!  Bill Cosby and Bill Gates also make an appearance starring as themselves.

This event is free of charge and open to the public.  If you are interested in seeing the film next Wednesday, call Kay at 303-279-6536 or rsvp to rsvp@i2i.org.

Our resident brutal regime expert, Mike Krause, recently sat down with Ethiopian journalist, Habtamu Dugo, to discuss China’s growing sphere of influence in Africa, and in Ethiopia in particular.  China’s growing trade relationship with Africa places the nation in a position to exert its influence for good.  However, Habtamu makes it clear that from the African perspective, China is seen as complicit, if not active, in many of Africa’s bloody internal conflicts. Tune in to ivoices.org to learn more about China’s tragic influence and what Habtamu would like to see the U.S. do in response.