Understanding the Distinction Between Negative and Positive Rights

On February 28, 2023, Kim Monson hosts an in-depth exploration of rights with Dave Walden and fellow Liberty Toastmasters, followed by a conversation with Dave Williams about the Colorado GOP chair race, Matt Dark on vaccine injury remedies, and Greg Walcher on western water policy and federal overreach.

Western Water Policy and Federal Overreach

Start listening at 71:13 – Hour 2

Greg Walcher, author of Smoking Them Out: The Theft of the Environment and How to Take It Back, discusses water rights in the West. California has received 140% of average snowpack in the Sierra Nevada but is tearing down dams rather than building storage, while continuing to use Colorado’s share of the Colorado River.

Walcher explains the unfair interstate compact interpretation where lower basin states get a fixed amount regardless of actual river flow. He discusses the Waters of the United States (WOTUS) rule, where the EPA has repeatedly tried to assert control over all water in America, despite courts ruling this unconstitutional. The conversation also touches on wind turbines being granted waivers to kill golden eagles while other industries face penalties for bird deaths.

“All of the other states on the river use their entire allotment of the river every year. Colorado uses about a million acre feet less than it’s entitled to, and California uses a million acre feet more than it’s entitled to.”

Greg Walcher, Author and Natural Resources Policy Expert

Colorado GOP Chair Race and Party Direction

Start listening at 16:39 – Hour 1

Dave Williams, former Colorado state representative and candidate for state GOP chair, joins to discuss his vision for the party. He argues that Republican losses stem from abandoning core principles rather than not moving left enough, criticizing consultants who claim the party must compromise to win.

Williams emphasizes the need to close Republican primaries, protect the caucus assembly process, and clean up voter rolls. He pushes back against what he calls “treasonous Republicans” who work to undermine grassroots mechanisms. The conversation also addresses Dick Wadhams’ criticism of all GOP chair candidates.

“We lose because we fail to build that bold contrast and articulate our principles, which are winning issues. The swing voters, they’re not driven by ideology. They’re driven by who they can trust.”

Dave Williams, Former Colorado State Representative

Exploring the Nature of Rights with Liberty Toastmasters

Start listening at 1:04 – Hour 1

In this special Table Topics edition, Dave Walden, president of Liberty Toastmasters North, leads a discussion on whether there can be a right to violate rights. The conversation draws on foundational principles from Ayn Rand and the Founding Fathers, examining how individual rights differ from collective claims.

Multiple Toastmasters contribute their perspectives. Bill Federer from Toastmasters Denver offers a definitive answer that there is no right to violate rights, emphasizing that rights come from nature, not government. Rick Rome connects the discussion to modern threats like the Patriot Act and open borders. Greg Morrissey calls for better civic education on rights. Terri Goon raises philosophical questions about how rights are defined. Christie Whaley references the Nuremberg trials to illustrate the consequences when governments violate citizen rights. Marshall Dawson observes that voters often ask politicians to violate others’ rights on their behalf.

Dave Walden concludes with a crucial distinction between negative rights, which protect against interference, and positive rights, which claim entitlement to what others must provide. He argues that positive rights destroy actual negative rights.

“Our country was founded on individual rights. Those are the means to the ends. Actually, they are the ends.”

Dave Walden, President of Liberty Toastmasters North

Vaccine Injury Remedies and Health Freedom

Start listening at 62:07 – Hour 2

Matt Dark from Roots Medical discusses treatments for vaccine injury. He explains that mRNA technology may be embedded in DNA and forces the body to create spike proteins. Natokinase, a natural enzyme from soy, shows promise in laboratory settings for breaking down spike proteins.

Dark emphasizes the need for parents to rethink the entire vaccine schedule, noting that U.S. children are required to take 79 doses of vaccines by age six, up from 11 doses before the 1986 vaccine liability exemption was signed. He connects rising autism and autoimmune disorders to this expanded schedule.

“Nature will have to get us out of this, much like ivermectin is a naturally derived product, hydroxychloroquine. And now you see these natural enzymes going in and being effective and breaking down.”

Matt Dark, Roots Medical