Welcome and Questions

[Christopher]

Hi everyone. Long-time reader here, short-term writer. I gravitate more toward the classics, as a lot of the more modern stuff just depresses the heck out of me with all the typical themes of nihilism and leftism. I'm looking forward to getting some good recommendations here!

I work for my family's farming company in California, which is probably a big reason why I'm over in the libertarian/conservative camp. Farmers are an embattled minority in the Golden State, constantly under attack from government and environmentalists. Previous to returning to the farm, however, I worked in the entertainment biz (TV in the UK and children's shows here in the States).

Anyway, happy to have found this group...

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Family farmers are an embattled minority everywhere Christopher.

Welcome.

[Christopher]

Thanks, Mike. Hopefully they don't stamp us out. Though, if they want to import all their food...shrug.

[Marina]

Welcome Christopher! Please browse our bookshelf for reading suggestions (it's not too late to join our group read!) If you want specific recommendations in a genre, just ask in Book Suggestions or PM me.

Most people arrive to this group unaware of the quantity of conservative/libertarian literature available to them, and I find it exciting to be able to help.

[Christopher]

Thanks, Masha. Much appreciated.

[Steve]

I just realized that although I've been here a while, I haven't properly introduced myself. I am probably not your typical small government guy. Yes, I'm a white, forty-something, voted for Reagan and run a small business. I'm also an artist and that small business is a not for profit organization. While I barely consider myself middle class, it pains me to see anyone separated from his money against his will. Since the '08 election I've discovered that I'm not the Republican I thought I was. Apparently, I'm a Libertarian. I love to read . Especially science fiction. When I was younger, it was an escape and kind of a preview of my possible future. Later I began to realize that many of the themes reflected my own ideas about the role of government in society. I'm glad I discovered this group as like-minded people are hard to come by in my community. If you don't mind occasional outbursts about the political climate or the success or failure of the local hockey team, please follow me on Twitter @StevsWorld, I'll follow you back!

[Marina]

Welcome (to this thread) Steve! What kind of art do you make? Feel free to share in Self-Promo. Pro-freedom art of any kind should be supported to the best of our ability.

Re: Republican/Libertarian- that's not much of a choice there as the modern Republican Party as a whole does not represent much of anything in particular. Now if you want to talk Conservative vs Libertarian, that's a discussion worth having in the News/Politics thread.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Steve. I'm not (now anyway) a typical "conservative" in the eyes of many either. I'm disabled ans living on my Social Security (the medical costs for my wife and I wiped out my savings and my IRA). So...

My wife was an artist, though she would never charge what her paintings were worth, LOL.

Welcome it's nice to hear from you.

Oh, by the way. I see to be more Libertarian than Republican also, I vote Republican as there is supposed to be a shot at getting a candidate in. Of course there isn't and won't be till they they actually run a conservative.

[Carol]

Hello from Carol, who probably forgot to introduce herself way back when. I review sci fi novels for Perihelion, http://www.perihelionsf.com/ and have R.K. Delka's "Attack of the 50-Foot Democrats" on my to-read, to-review list. Most sci fi writers seem to be very liberal Democrats who believe in global warming but not in any kind of Creator. I'm agnostic in most things, including notions of a loving Father-God who's in charge. Deist God is more plausible but the mystic in me is ever at war with the scoffer. SETI and Hubble telescope images intrigue me. I love science but gave it up as a career goal when I couldn't pass high school physics. Please keep posting titles of novels that celebrate human goodness instead of the same old sighing over man's inhumanity to man. Evil is ubiquitous, but good exists, and too much of today's literature fails to remind me of that.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi, welcome.

[Marina]

Welcome (again) Carol! I'm sure you'll find a lot of stuff here to your liking. I too prefer my reads to be uplifting. Most people confiuse darkenss with depth, but in reality it's much harder to create a plausible happy ending and interesting heroes than the other way around.

[Stephen]

Hi, I'm new to this site and this is my first post. I joined this group because it seems like a great place to interact with people of similar views. Though having only a science background, I spend much of my free time reading history, politics and medicine along with fictional thrillers. I'm a self taught writer and edit articles for the local newspaper. I enjoy writing on political blogs and plotting new themes for my next science fiction novel. I'm glad to be here.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Welcome.

[Marina]

Great to have you here, Steve! Looking forward to hearing about your favorite books and hopefully seeing some of your writing as well.

[Stephen]

Thanks!

[James]

Greetings all fellow fans of small government! I look forward to learning from all of you and participating.
~James Gormley

[Marina]

Welcome James!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Welcome.

[James]

Thanks Masha and Mike the Paladin!

[Diane]

Hey, James; welcome aborard the good ship Free Friends!

[James]

Thanks Diane!

[D.k.]

well, hey fellow small govt advocates. I'm a recently published author. My first techno/thriller- actually, co-authored with my husband. We appreciate strong heroes and meaningful plots- and that's what we try to deliver.Pendulum of Justice
This is the first in a series about a tech savvy entrepreneur who will mete out some big justice to big Washington.
When we're not writing on wild beaches of the Baja, we are working with inventors. My husband has his own patent practice and he's the science tech part of our team-engineer/physicist. I have a literature and business background. We are pro free markets and write often on topics related to patents, economics, and occasionally Objectivism. Always happy when we read those kinds of books. Looking forward to meeting you!

[Richard]

Hello everyone! I have to admit, I wasn't expecting much when I searched for libertarian book groups. What a pleasure to find this one.

Some of my favorite authors are Heinlein (surprise!), Kurt Vonnegut and Ralph Peters.

What keeps me reading is that every time I’m just about convinced I’ve heard it all and there “ain’t nothing new under the sun,” along comes some new author that creates something truly original and throws me back on my heels.

That creativity is something you sure don’t see on TV or coming out of Hollywood anymore!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

So true.

[Marina]

Welcome Richard, and thanks for the kind words. We try to make this place as diverse and exciting as the freedom movement itself. I'm looking forward to your contributions.

[Gina]

I'm new here but not new to the subject. I've been a Libertarian for 25+ years & read their recommended books way back when, several collections were futuristic imaginings of Libertarian ideals in society, which I greatly enjoyed & can't remember the titles :-(

I'm still working through Lysander Spooner Reader & the Libertarian Reader (between fiction novels). I've read Lost Rights but never finished it (could only read so much before it triggered the inner well of rage & I'd put it down for awhile).

I just started Heinlein's Stranger, have read about a third of his books but this one was highly recommended. I enjoy books that expose gov't corruption, how our rights are disappearing,more quickly than ever now, sci-fi, thriller, but dislike books about war in general.

I'm hoping for a revolution & a Libertarian form of gov't to replace the status quo-it's our turn to show how it's done. I support Anonymous & wiki leaks, but the more society seems to learn the less they do about it :-/

I'm going to check the group's reading shelf for new authors to explore & thank you for having this group available.
Gina

[Marina]

Hi Gina and welcome! I am sure you will find many good books and discussions here. Please check out the book shelf, but also don't forget the Self-Promo thread. Unfortunately, I haven't been keeping up with adding every possible book to the group shelf- there are just too many, but it's a good problem to have:)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Gina, glad to see you. One thing is sure...we'll all be glad to load you down with book suggestions. :)

[Gina]

Thanks for the welcome' I have what appears to be a dumb question: where is the group bookshelf? Also it's very helpful when links to the books on GR are added, is it simply HTML? Didn't realize that was allowed in comments & such. Already found a new author I've been adding books to-read shelf, whew, this is going to be a heavy shelf :-D

[Mike (the Paladin)]

At the top right of the page under the group heading there's a tab for the bookshelf. To link a book in your comment the "add book/author" tab is just above the comment box. Just click on it and you can type in the title or even the author and search his/her works...or type in both. Then you can click add and a link will be added to your comment.

Hope that was what you were asking about...

[Gina]

I'm using an iPhone & don't see those tabs for bookshelf or adding links, all I have available is cancel to left & done to right, keyboard below. GR just did an update this week for iOS7 but the only change I've seen is the Recommendation addition. Thanks! Maybe I should try accessing from my laptop & see what's available there.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Okay, I don't use an iphone. I think others have mentioned that. Don't know if there's a way to access the tabs with one. Sorry.

[Gina]

Thanks, hoping for an Android after holidays.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Drop that often in conversations about Christmas presents.

[Gina]

I don't get them, I give them (presents) but one never knows :)

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Well, me to but my daughter always gets me something...my son to but I have to go to his in-laws to celebrate Christmas.

[Gina]

Good to have family over the holidays; I don't but I pick a few people & do secret Santa for fun :-)

[Don]

Hello, I'm Don. I was having a little trouble finding a suitable group, but this one looks about right. I'm here to find a few friends and I must confess, to promote my book. I'll let you know more about me as time goes on. Thanks.

[Marina]

Welcome Don! Please feel free to explore the site and post your book in the Self-Promo thread.

[Gina]

Welcome Don :) This is a very helpful & friendly group so don't be afraid to ask questions.

[Jack]

Hello, I am Jack July. I've been here a while but have never introduced myself. I'm a 49 year old father of two who decided to write a novel because I was unemployed and bored. It's has no genre and I hear it's kind of unique. It's called Amy Lynn.

My politics are a mish mash of ideals and theories, most ending with, I should never have to interact with a government official if I obey a sparse set of laws and do not wish to interact.

I will vote for any politician regardless of party unless he says, "I would make a law..." The politican should say, "I will remove these laws.."

I believe in Jesus Christ, Children, Guns, Dogs and manifest destiny.

I'll read anything once, if I like it I will read the author until they no longer write.

My favorite book is Mig Pilot by John Barron.

My favorite blog is Ace of Spades.

That's pretty much it. HOWDY!!

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi, welcome.

[D.J.]

Hi,
I'm new to Goodreads, but not new to good reads. My preference is political and legal fiction, wrapped around reality. I read non-fiction political as well-Ex: Ron Paul. I am a Medical Professional, novelist (political fiction, of course), and artist. All of Ayn Rand's books are on my shelf and are re-read every so often for pleasure, inspiration, and message. I'm just not a chick-lit, self-help, feel-good-story kind of gal.

I despise force, fraud, or coercion in any situation be it personal, work, or government. I'm looking forward to communicating with like-minded people.

Diane (D. J.) Knedgen

[Jack]

Hi DJ, I am Jack July author of Amy Lynn. That is my pen name BTW. Anyway, welcome and I'm sure you will enjoy these people. I would also like to invite you to the Facebook Page of the Conservative Libertarian fiction alliance. Several like minded authors that have been both a social joy and helpful in my quests to be a better writer.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi, welcome.

[Marina]

By the way guys, since we got so many new writer members lately, I don't want to miss/exclude anyone. So if you want me to add your book to our Group Shelf, PM me.

Also, please remember to stop off in the Polls section and tell me how you found this group.

Thanks!

[Gonzo]

Hello everyone! I joined this group because I've been involved in the liberty movement and politics for over thirty years. I'm a raging Libertarian. I write for several papers and am currently writing a book with two more behind it. I've hosted a national radio show and am going to again, when done writing.

[Mike (the Paladin)]

Hi Gonzo, welcome.

[Marina]

Hi there Gonzo! Glad to have you. Feel free to check out our satellite group on Facebook as well. Oh and do tell us about your WIP! Always exciting to hear new ideas from our side.

https://www.facebook.com/groups/CLFAg...

[Jack]

Hi Gonzo, my favorite muppet Character, next to beaker.