PAST POCONO LIBERTARIAN FORUMS

Past Pocono Libertarian Forums

compiled by Bud Ruehle

Since 1991, the Pocono Libertarians have presented programs featuring a specific topic and guest speaker. Many of these speakers have been prominent people within the libertarian movement, while others have been individuals who agree with libertarian thought on a specific issue. Links have been provided for you to view from the organizations or causes that the speaker represented. Some websites are included that discuss the topic only.

1991:

June - Initiative and Referendum - Andy Barniskis, We the People for Binding Initiative and Referendum
July - Open Forum - Liberal/Conservative vs. Libertarian
August - More Taxes, Less Taxes, How About No Taxes? - Professor Murray Sabrin, author of Tax Free 2000: The Rebirth of American Liberty
September - Jury Nullification - Pat Fallon, area representive of the Fully Informed Jury Association (FIJA)
October - The Hazards of the War on Drugs - Ralph Salerno, NYPD, former member of the New York Police Department, Organized Crime Expert, member of the Board of Advisors of the Drug Policy Foundation
November - Schools: Monopoly or Choice - Don Ernsberger, teacher at the Warminster PA School District, co-founder of the Society for Individual Liberty
December - Bill of Rights Open Forum

1992

January - The Folly of Victimless Crimes - Professor Robert McGee , Seton Hall University, West Orange, New Jersey
February - Term Limits - The Honorable John Kennedy, former member of the House of Representative, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
March - Visit by Dr. Nancy Lord, Libertarian Party Vice presidential Candidate
April - Taxes and the Self-Interest of Politians - Sam Perelli, Founder of United Tax Payers of New Jersey
May - Why Command Societies Fail and Free Markets Flourish - Bettina Greaves, member of the Foundation for Economic Education, Irvington on Hudson, NY
June - Civil Asset Forfeiture Laws - Michael Pierone, founder of Forfeiture Endangers American Rights
July - What Government Has Done to Our Money- Andrew Gause, numismitist, SDL, Hawthorne, New Jersey
August - Open Forum
September - The Superiority Of A Free Market Health Care System - Dr. Brian Kominsky, Bucks County Physician
October - The Conflicting Ideas of Jefferson & Madison - Professor Rick Matthews, Lehigh University
November - The Price We Pay for the FDA Pat Fallon
December - Choice in Education, David Kirkpatrick - Founder of the Pennsylvania REACH Alliance

1993

January - Marijuana Madness - Chuck Thomas, PA Representative of the National Organization to Reform Marijuana Laws
February - Reform of The American Legal System - William Reil - VOCALS (Victims of Corrupted American Legal System)
March - Taxes vs. Prosperity - William F.X. Maughan, Monroe County Controller
April - Open Forum
May - A Visit from the Former Soviet Union by two Russian Libertarians - Dmitry Costygin, George (Yuri)Milanoff (see related article)
June - The Conscience of a Conscientous Objector - Alan Nelson, Central Committee for Conscientious Objectors, Philadelphia, PA
July - The Inequities of Mandatory Minimum Sentencing- Stacey Allan - PA Chapter of Families Against Mandatory Minimums
August - The Immorality of Mandatory High School Community Service - Paul Saunders, Citizens Against Mandatory Service
September - The Insight of Ayn Rand - Douglas Rasmussen, author, editor of the Reason Papers, Professor of Philosophy at Saint John's University, New York
October - The Dangers of Socialized Medicine - Dr. Lois Copeland, President of the American Association for Physicians and Surgeons
November - Exposing Gun Control - Joseph Harriton, certified gun instructor, Paradise Shooting Range, Mt. Airy Lodge, Mount Pocono, PA
December - 1st Annual Christmas Party Champion of Liberty Award presented to Ian Daley, producer of Both Sides Now, WVIA Television, Pittston, PA

1994:

January - Open Forum
February - The Routine Use of Doublethink and Doublespeak - Jacob Kramer, former intern at REASON Magazine, Los Angeles, CA, and intern at Foreign Affairs Magazine, New York
March - Healing our World - Dr. Mary Ruwart - author of Healing Our World: The Other Piece of the Puzzle
April - Adam Smith's Invisible Hand - Dr. Frank Corcione, Professor of Economics, University of Scranton, PA
May - Involving Generation Xers in Government - Kole Klish, New Jersey Representative of Lead Or Leave
June - Consequences of the Welfare State - David Robinson, New Jersey contact for the Federalists Society
July - Social Security Open Forum
August - Self-interest and Greed Make Markets Work - Dr. Walter Williams, Professor of Economics, George Mason University, Fairfax, Virginia, substitute host for the Rush Limbaugh Radio Show
September - Fascism & Disarmament - William Duff, President of the Bucks County Sportmen's Coalition
October - The Agenda Behind Outcome-Based Education
November - A Jesuit Priest Calls For the Re-Legalization of Drugs - Father Joseph Kane S.J., Roman Catholic Chaplain for Riker's Island Correctional Facility, New York
December - 2nd Annual Christmas Party - George Roberts, news anchor of Blue Ridge Cable 13 Evening News, and co-host of Computer Wise Stroudsburg, PA - recipient of the Champion of Liberty Award

1995:

January - A Tax Free America by the Year 2000? - Dr. Murray Sabrin, Professor of Finance, Ramapo College, Mahwah, NJ
February - County Government Study Commission - Gene Dickison, Esq., Member of the Government Study Commission, Monroe County, PA, Financial Planner, radio and televison host of "More than Money"
March - Libertarianism From a Woman's Perspective - Joan Kennedy Taylor, author, Founder of the Association of Libertarian Feminists
April - Liberty & Government Regulations - Bruce Siminoff, Director of the Commerce and Industry Association (NJ) and Chairman of its State Issues Committee, author of the Liberty Crisis and Victim: Caught in the Environmental Web
May - The Privatization Revolution - Emmanuel Savas, Professor at Baruch College, author of Privatization: The Key To Better Government
June - Libertarian Yearly U.S. Supreme Court Ratings - Don Ernsberger, compiler
July - The Aids War: Propaganda & Profiteering - John Lauritsen, author of AZT: Poison by Perscription
August - John Pozgai: A Victim Of Environmental Tyranny - Victoria Khoury, Pennsylvania Landowners Association
September - Open Forum
October - Monroe County Candidates for Sheriff Public Debate
November - What If Mandatory Immunizations Do Harm? - Ted Koren, chiropractor, publisher
December - 3rd Christmas Party - Ben & Diane Hartzell, editors of the Regional Observer and recipients of the Champion of Liberty Award

1996:

January - Crime and Punishment - Wes Niemoczynski, Esq. Monroe County Assistant District Attorney, Stroudsburg, PA
February - Open Forum
March - The Accuracy of Public Opinion Polls - Andrew Winkler
April - The State of Homeschooling in Pennsylvania - Norma Young, spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania Home Education Network
May - Gun Rights and the Second Amendment - Andy Barniskis, Gun Owners of America
June - A Defense of the Exclusionary Rule - William K. Sayer, Monroe County, PA Public Defender
July - Destructiveness Of The Minimum Wage Laws - Felix Livingston, Vice President of the Foundation for Economic Education, Irvington-on-Hudson, New York (note: Pocono Libertarians join the world-wide network of discussion groups sponsored by the Foundation for Economic Education.)
August - Uses and Abuses of the U.S. Constitution - Jim Lewis, author of "Liberty Reclaimed", 1984 Vice-presidental candidate for the Libertarian Party (note: This was one the last public appearances of Mr. Lewis before his unexpected death.)
September - History of Hard Currency - Andrew Gause, numismitist, author of The Secret World of Money
October - Open Forum
November - A Conservative's Look at the Drug War - Karina Rollins, Associate Editor, National Review, New York
December - 4th Christmas Party Ken Sturzenacker, recipient of the Champion of Liberty Award

1997:

January - The Benefits of Medicinal Marijuana - Al Smith, founder of Dee's Dream, Pennsylvania Coalition for Medicinal Marijuana
February - Abuses by Child Protection Agencies - Barbara Lyn & Rachel Lapp, authors of No Law Against Mercy
March - The State of Government Schools - Marshall Fritz, founder and president of the Separation of School and State Alliance, Fresno, California
April - Open Forum
May - Government Challenges to Alternative Health Practioners - Dr. Jan Herman, Herman Chiropractic, Stroudsburg, PA
June - Challenging Pennsylvania Motorcycle Helmet Laws - Charles Umbenhauer, spokeman for Pennsylvania Alliance of Bikers Aimed Toward Education (ABATE)
July - Why Americans Need Liberty Now More than Ever - Dr. Murray Sabrin, Libertarian Candidate for Governor of New Jersey
August - The Future of Affirmative Action - Michael Levin, professor of Philosophy at City College of New York
September - Death Penalty Debate - Jim Swetz, attorney vs.Wes Niemoczynski, attorney, both of Stroudsburg, PA
October - Binding Government with Constitutional Chains - William Reil, Constitutional Activist, Landsdowne, PA
November - Examining Alexis deTocqueville's Democracy In America - Dr. Kenneth Mash, Professor of History and Politics, East Stroudsburg University, PA
December - 5th Annual Christmas Party - Champion of Liberty Award given to Dr. Murray Sabrin, 1997 Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of New Jersey

1998:

January - How to Stay Free - Video presentation from the Milton Friedman series "Free to Choose" and discussion
February - Libertarian View of Government - Tibor Machan , Professor of Philosophy, Chapman University, Irvine, California West Point Military Academy, New York, Auburn University, author, columnist, member of the Ludwig von Mises Institute
March - Victim's Rights and Restitution - Jim Swetz, attorney at the law firm of Cramer, McManus, Swetz and Roach, Stroudsburg, PA
April - Government Censorship of the Internet - Larry Frankel, executive director of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), Philadelphia, PA
May - Why Americans Don't Understand Economics - John McGinnis, Assistant Professor of Finance, Penn State University, Altoona, PA, founder of the Dead Economists Society, Valley Forge, PA
June - Privatization of the Pennsylvania Liquor Business - Henry Olsen, Executive Director of the Commonwealth Foundation, Harrisburg, Pennsylvania
July - Islam and the Discovery of Freedom - Imad-ad-Admad, founder of the Minaret of Freedom Institute Maryland
August - Advancing Liberty at the Ballotbox, Ken Krawchuk, Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and Gail Mastroberte, RN, Libertarian candidate for the Pennsylvania State Representative, 189th Distict, Monroe County
September - Industrial Hemp, Shawn Patrick House, The Lancaster Hemp Company, Lancaster, Pennsylvania
October - The Hidden Tax of Rent Control Adrianne Tiemann, PhD, Founder of POW (Property Owning Women) New York, NY
November - How to Take Responsibility for Your Own Life Janice Presser, Family Therapist, Langhorne, Pennsylvania and Chair of the Libertarian Party of New Jersey

1999:

March - The Politics of the Road Stephen Carrellas, P.E., New Jersey Chapter of the National Motorists Association
April - Should Prostitution be De-Criminalized Dr. Hugh Gene Loebner, noted philanthropist, inventor and author of the Magna Carta for Sex Work
May - Would We Be Safer if Guns Were Banned? Steve Christopoulos, research analyst Easton Hospital, Easton, PA, Survey of Police Officers in Lehigh and Northampton Counties, Pennsylvania, in October 1997
June - Freedom Isn't Free Michele Keegan, Free Burma Foundation, student at American University, Washington, DC, jailed in Burma for distributing pro-democracy literature.
July - The Anti-Federalist Papers Andy Barniskis, 2nd Amendment and libertarian activist
August- Does Drug Abuse Excuse Criminals From Responsibilty Stanton Peele, addictions specialist, author, speaker The Stanton Peele Addiction Web Site
September-The Branch Davidian Massacre Carol Moore, author, feminist, peace activist Consciousness and Community
October - Debate between Candidates for Monroe County District Attorney - Incumbent DA Mark Pazuhanich and challenger Wes T. Niemoczynski
November - American Justice at the Crossroads Ernie Preate Jr., former Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania

2000:

January - The Miranda Decision Revisited Panelists Attorney Michael Wetmore, Monroe County Public Defender Ellen C. Schurdak, Monroe County Assistant District Attorney Brian Gaglione
February - Open Forum
March - Liberty, Servitude and the Income TaxJack Iannantuono, financial planner, author, 1998 Pennsylvania Libertarian Party Candidate for US Senator
April - When Neighbors Fight, Who Are You Going to Call? Steve Roy, Executive Director,Neighborhood Dispute Settlement, Harrisburg, PA
May - Tales of a War Tax Resister Priscilla Adams, Willingboro, New Jersey
June - Exposing the Myths of the Anti-Tobacco Crusaders Attorney Lauren A. Colby. Read his on-line book "Defending the Rights of Smokers"
July - How To Be An Effective Communicator David Parker, Representative of the Pocono Chapter of Toastmasters International
August - Napster: Piracy or Freedom? Panelists: Pat Fallon, The Computer Doctor, L.A. Terrone, Music Columnist, Standard Speaker, Hazleton, Charles Wilkenson, Intellectual Property Rights Attorney, Bethlehem.
September -
October - Memorial Service for author and libertarian activist Peter McWilliams Speakers: Penn State Professor Julian Heicklen, Elvy Musikka, Diane Fornbacher, Ken Krawchuk - Music by organist Gary Raisch, Pianist Ruth Kochera, Pat Fallon on guitar. Held at the Cherry Lane United Methodist Church, Tannersville, PA.
November - Jury Nullification Ed Forchion, grass-roots activist and candidate for U.S. Congress.
December - Electoral College Debate: Abolish, Reform or Retain Professor Ken Mash, East Stroudsburg University and Professor John Kincaid, Robert B. and Helen S. Meyner Professor of Government and Public Service, Director of the Meyner Center for the Study of State and Local Government at Lafayette College, Easton, Pennsylvania, and co-editor of Publius: The Journal of Federalism.

2001:

January - Open Forum
February - Right to Bear Arms Paul Topete, lead vocalist of the PokerFace Band, Allentown, PA.
March - None of the Above Bill White, Citizens for "None of the Above" Highly recommended!
April - Space: The Last Free-Market Frontier Thomas A. Olson, Mars Project of New York
May -
June - 225th Anniversary of Thomas Paine's "Common Sense"Gary Berton, president of the Thomas Paine National Historical Society, New Rochelle, New York
July - Homeschooling: 101 Janice Kochera, local homeschool parent and evaluator
August - Preaching the Death of Conscription Murray Polner, noted author, columnist, anti-war activist, member of the Jewish Peace Fellowship, Nyack, New York
September - How Anti-Pornography Laws Harm Your Freedom Carter Stevens, adult film producer, and editor of S&M News
October - Toward a More Compassionate Drug Policy Diane Fornbacher, Executive Director of the Drug Policy Forum of Pennsylvania and Regional director of the November Coalition
November - The Rise of Terrorism Earl Page, Professor of History and Sociology, Northampton Community College, Bethlehem, PA

2002:

January - Open Forum
February - Let me See Your Papers Open round-table discussion on a National ID Card
March - Libertarian Themes in Sci-Fi Kenneth Newquist, editor of Nuketown and former reporter and internet editor for the Pocono Record, Stroudsburg, PA.
April - Is the Income Tax Constitutional? Clair Kelley, author, columnist, legal researcher
May - Polygraph Machine Demonstration Michael Martin, President of the Association of Professional Investigators & Security Providers and head of the Nationwide Polygraph Network
June - Ken Krawchuk 2002 Libertarian Party candidate for Governor of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
July - Open Discussion
August -
September - Death Penalty Survey Attorney Wes Niemocynski, Monroe County Assistant Public Defender
October - Letter to the Editor Clinic Paula Heeschen, Editorial Page Editor, Pocono Record Stroudsburg, PA
November - Tearing Down America's Berlin Wall" The Federal Income Tax Robert B. Graham Sr., Author of April 15th Fear Factor See related article.
December

2003:

January - Conflict Resolution and Restorative Justice Marty Thomas-Brumme, director of The Rose Center, Scranton, PA
February - Open Forum
March - Political Cartooning 101 Dennis Draughon, Editorial Cartoonist, Scranton Times-Tribune, Scranton, PA
April - 101 Tools for Liberty Ray Masters, Media Representative for the Pocono Libertarians, Stroudsburg, PA
May - A Woman's Right to Self-Defense Penni Bacheler, Pennsylvania Co-coordinator for the Second Amendment Sisters, also a visit by Monroe County candidate for Judge, Art Zulick, and Elizabeth Pagonis, 1st prize winner of the 2003 Law Day Essay Contest sponsored by the Monroe County Bar Association.
June - Choice in Childbirth D'hanna Heller Pocono area midwife.
July - Dare to Keep Kids Off Ritalin Rev. Dan L. Edmunds, President of the Rose Garden Children's Foundation, Behavioral Specialist Consultant/Mobile Therapist.
August - To Pledge or Not to Pledge Jim Reitmulder Co-founder of the Circle School, Harrisburg, PA
September - Generational Politics Julian Sanchez Assistant Editor of Reason Magazine Click here to visit his website.
October - Debate for Monroe County District Attorney Wes "Nemo" Niemoczynski (accepted) David Christine (declined) Best Western Pocono Inn, Stroudsburg, PA
November - Extolling the Virtue of Separation of Church and State Margaret Downey - Founder and President of the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia
December - Annual Holiday Party honoring our 2003 "Champion of Liberty" Stroudsburg Attorney Wes "Nemo" Niemoczynski

2004:

January - The Mutiny of the Pennsylvania Line Presenter, Attorney Wes "Nemo" Niemoczynski, click here for some background on the subject
February - Libertarian Film Night "Mandatory Minimum Sentencing"
March - Open Forum discussion about the pro's and con's of "Electronic Voting Machines"
April - "Total Positive Teaching" Joe Ciaccio, Author, veteran school teacher
May - "Celebrate Literary Freedom" Eastern Monroe County Library, Route 611, Stroudsburg. 15 local self-published authors met to sell and sign their books on a variety of subjects.
June - Jay Russell, Libertarian Party candidate for US Senate
July - Setting Bushfires for Freedom in Pennsylvania Matthew Brouillette, CEO and President, Commonwealth Foundation, Harrisburg, PA
August - Open Forum
September - The Psychology of Terrorism Professor Anthony Drago, Psychology Department at East Stroudsburg University
October -
November - Post Election Forum We will conduct a post-election open forum with those members who ran for office yesterday and who attend our meetings.(L) Betsy Summers, (C) Nikki Hannavig, and (L) Rich Piotrowski
December End of the Year break

2005:

January - Forum cancelled
February - Looking Behind Prison Walls John Pecchio, author of "Hell Behind Prison Walls" 25 years veteran vocational instructor in the Elmira Correctional Facility, New York, an all male maximum security prison.
March - Open Forum
April - How to Prepare a Living Will Attorney Wes "Nemo" Niemoczynski
May - "How to Protect Yourself for Identity Theft" Glenn D. Watt, co-founder of Backbone Security, Stroudsburg, PA
June - Father's Rights Linda Hlasney, Lehigh Valley co-ordinator for Pennsylvania chapter of Fathers� And Children�s Equality
July - Freedom in Education Wayne Arnold, author of "No Child Undiscovered"
August - Eminent Domain Abuse Dick Saha, Coatsville, PA resident who fought local government. Read his story here.
September - Government Education in Crisis Doug Leard, a past outreach co-ordinator for the Separation of School and State Alliance
October - Risk Taking and Personal Responsiblility Marisa Liza Pell, of Knowledge for Living
Pennsylvania Ballot Access Coalition Thomas McLaughlin, Reform Party, David Jahn, Chair of the Libertarian Party of Pennsylvania, Carl Romanelli, Green Party
December End of the Year break

2006:

January - Operation: Clean Sweep Russ Diamond, Founder and Organizer website
February - Open Forum
March - Conspiracy Night An open, raw, and lively forum about conspiracies and their main players.
April - Open Forum: Does Drug Prohibition Work?
May - Inflation and Its Cure: The Case for the 100% Gold Dollar Professor Murray Sabrin, Ramapo College of New Jersey Center for Business and Public Policy
June - Victims Rights Jennifer Wise, Esquire, Scotrun, PA
Are you an author, speaker or representative of a group who wishes to advance the virtues of living in a free society? Contact Ray Masters to book a speaking engagement with the Pocono Libertarians. Add yourself to this list of distinguished guest speakers!

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