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Satellite Restrictions Unfair to Consumers - March 28, 2003
Elkhart’s Plan Commission doesn’t want you to get the picture.
At least not if you want to use a satellite dish to do it.
The Plan Commission has proposed an ordinance that would ban satellite dishes in the front yards of Elkhart homes. If you’re lucky and the signal comes in best from your back yard, the ordinance may not affect you. But if the front yard received the strongest signal, you’d have to get a variance.
“It’s ridiculous that we need permission to put up something on our own property,” said Rick Bowen, chairman of the Libertarian Party of Elkhart County. “It’s not the government’s job to tell us where to install a satellite dish.”
What’s worse, Bowen added, is that the variance procedure could be prone to abuse. Variances could easily be granted to political supporters as favors and denied to those who rock the boat.
Also, it could easily take weeks to apply for a variance, particularly if applicants must present their case for a reading before the BZA. The process may take too long for a subscriber to take advantage of a particular deal (potential subscribers may not want to make a purchase until they’re sure they have a variance). Or to lock in a rate, subscribers may pay for a service that they cannot legally access for the weeks that the board takes to agree to the variance. Plus there’s the matter of the fee involved for the variance.
Forcing satellite customers to jump through needless hoops will give advantages to cable companies over those who sell satellite service or equipment. Clearly there will be cumbersome paperwork, which will make satellite service unattractive.
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Indiana Libertarians spearhead new plan - March 11, 2003
The national Libertarian Party is beginning a new outreach initiative, and Indiana will lead it, said Elkhart County resident and Libertarian Party Chair Rick Bowen.
“The party has identified a significant segment of the population that shares its core beliefs, and is not well represented by the two major parties. That constituency is small business,” Bowen said. After attending a Libertarian Party of Indiana Central Committee meeting last Saturday, Bowen described how the new effort was discussed:
“Up until now, the party has tended to pursue growth by promoting our consistent way of dealing with single issues. Whether we are talking about self-ownership, economic freedom, or a non-interventionist foreign policy, people are often attracted by how our issue positions all champion individual rights.”
But Bowen said that lately there has been recognition of something basic the party lacks. “Democrats and Republicans maintain their status by serving the interests of core constituencies.”
Bowen pointed out how the Republican Party is traditionally associated with big business and religious conservatism, while Democrats side with unions and minorities. “One large constituency that is getting lost in the shuffle is the small business owner. The government’s tendency to over regulate and overtax undermines the little guy’s attempt to make a go of it. He also currently lacks a consistent political champion,” Bowen said.
According to Bowen, the new Libertarian focus on small business people will not be at the expense of others. “Anyone who believes they know better than government how to live their own life has to be outraged at the burden government places on small business.
The only people against us will be those having an interest in government exercising its power over others,” he said.
Indiana is the new initiative’s lead state because Libertarians in the state have distinguished themselves in the eyes of national leadership, said Bowen.
The first phase of the plan will be getting together with small business people willing to share their specific concerns and grievances.
Once sufficient contacts have been made in Elkhart County, Bowen plans to have the Libertarian Party’s national marketing director meet with local business people.
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