On the Shoulders of Giants We Stand

Happy Thanksgiving

Reflecting on the many things I am thankful for, family, friends, good health and a good education, I am reminded that the later was instilled in me by my parents who encouraged me to be inquisitive and have a quest for knowledge that is everlasting.

I recently had lunch with someone and we discussed many things including politics and economics. As we spoke, I asked, "Have you ever read...?" As my friend wrote down my suggestions it occured to me that others would also benefit from discovering for themselves as I did, these books, articles and web sites I would like to recommend. For me these writtings have expanded my view of the world and lead me to ask more questions. Here are just some of the more interesting things I have read in the past few years. I hope you enjoy the journey as I have. Ideas and written words are some of the greatest gifts I am thankful for. On the shoulders of giants we stand!

Recommended Reading

The Declaration of Independence - http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/declaration.html

The United States Constitution - http://www.archives.gov/exhibits/charters/constitution.html

The Wealth of Nations - Adams Smith http://www.bibliomania.com/2/1/65/112/frameset.html

Fredric Bastiat - The Law http://www.constitution.org/law/bastiat.htm

- A Petition http://www.econlib.org/library/Bastiat/basSoph3.html

The Road to Serfdom - F.A. Hayek http://www.roadtoserfdom.info/

Atlas Shrugged - Ayn Rand http://atlasshrugged.com/

Free to Choose - Milton Friedman http://miltonfriedman.blogspot.com/

Economics in One Lesson - Henry Hazlitt http://fee.org/library/books/economics-in-one-lesson/

Capitalism Unbound - Andrew Bernstein http://www.andrewbernstein.net/

The Forgotten Man - Amity Shlaes http://www.amityshlaes.com/

Common Sense Economics (Revised) - James Gwartney http://www.commonsenseeconomics.com/

The Housing Boom or Bust -Thomas Sowell - http://www.tsowell.com/

Moral Health Care vs. "Universal Health Care"- Lin Zinser and Paul Hsieh http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2007-winter/moral-vs-universal-health-care.asp

What Has Government Done to Our Money - Murray Rothbard - http://mises.org/books/whathasgovernmentdone.pdf

Antitrust The Case for Repeal – Dominick Armentano http://mises.org/books/antitrust.pdf

Vindicating Capitalism The Real History of the Standard Oil Company - Alex Epstein http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/issues/2008-summer/standard-oil-company.asp

I Pencil – Leonard L. Read http://www.fee.org/pdf/books/I,%20Pencil%202006.pdf

A Message to Garcia – Elbert Hubbard http://www.thefreemanonline.org/featured/a-message-to-garcia/

Recommended Web Sites

The Cato Institute http://www.cato.org/

The Foundation for Economic Education http://www.fee.org/

The Independence Institute http://www.i2i.org/

The Ludwig Von Mises Institute http://mises.org/

The Heritage Foundation http://www.heritage.org/?ask

Liberty on the Rocks http://www.libertyontherocks.com/

Liberty in the Books http://freecolorado.com/libertybooks/libertybooks.html

Reason http://reason.com/

The Objective Standard http://www.theobjectivestandard.com/

The Leadership Program of the Rockies http://leadershipprogram.org/

Toastmasters Made Me A Better Campaign Volunteer

We won! We won! The election results were close and were not official for a few days, however we had elected my friend to the Colorado Legislature. With the help of some very committed folks we were able to beat the odds and celebrate the goal of getting our first time candidate elected to office against a two time incumbent. How did we do it? Lot’s of organizational meetings, knocking on doors, attending community functions and events, waving signs and listening and talking to voters. I am convinced we had the right combination of a great candidate, with the right message, at the right time.

I also had many years of Toastmasters experience which helped me to have the confidence to knock on thousands of doors and be engaging enough to not get too many slammed in my face. I contribute my personal success on the campaign trail to my Toastmasters experience. I had given dozens of prepared speeches. I had participated in table topics at weekly meetings. I was prepared to speak off the cuff. I was ready. Here are some funny things that happened along the way.

One day I walked up a driveway to a house where the garage door was open. As I approached a women came out of her house and asked, “Can I help you?” Thinking on my feet I responded, “You sure can!” I explained who I was and why I was there and asked her some engaging questions. We had a nice conversation for about five minutes, an eternity when you’re door knocking. This women was very responsive towards our campaign. I asked for her vote and she was even agreeable to take a yard sign, the jackpot of our conversation. As I was turning to leave the women stopped me and said, “Young man, I have just one more question?” “Yes,” I said. “Can you tell me why I came out into the garage in the first place. “ That was the laugh of the day.

Another time as I was knocking on doors in a different neighborhood I came across a man who asked me a question before I could ask him one. Was he a Toastmaster? I thought. “Where does your candidate get his funding from? Who supports him financially?” Without missing a beat I responded with, “From small donors like you and me” and I handed him a contribution envelope. We both had a good laugh. My table topics training to think on my feet had helped me come up with a quick come back and be able to get the gentleman to even give a contribution.

Several times our campaign had overlapping invitations for our candidate to speak. Often I was asked to do so on his behalf. This is tuff to do, yet knowing my candidates policy positions and hearing him talk numerous times, I was prepared to speak and relay our message to the audience. One time my candidate was stuck in traffic and could not make it in time to an event. I was asked to say a few words on the campaigns behalf. The butterflies only lasted from the walk to the front room until I approached the lectern. I told myself, “it’s just like table topics,” and once my mouth was in motion, the mind went into gear and I was able to share with the audience our campaigns message. I even received a nice applause. Thankfully I had been in similar situations at my Toastmasters Club meetings many times therefore it was not a stretch to get up an share a few words about our campaign. And I did it all under three minutes. Another benefit of Toastmasters is you know how to “get to the point” something many politicians never learn, tell a little story with a beginning, middle and end using smooth transitions and be off the stage before the time keeper cuts you off.

If you know anyone who wishes to work on a campaign or run for public office, the Toastmasters program can help make them or you a better communicator and leader.