Internet Libertarian

Senate Candidate, 2000

Hey now baby, get into my big black car
I wanna just show you what my politics are.
I'm a political man and I practice what I preach,
I'm a political man and I practice what I preach,
So don't deny me baby, not while you're in my reach.

I support the left, tho' I'm leanin' to the right,
But I'm just not there when it's coming to a fight.
Hey now baby, get into my big black car,
Hey now baby, get into my big black car,
I wanna just show you what my politics are. _--Cream

Author

Congratulations Senator Lott!

I may not have won the election, but I certainly feel like a winner today. The Senate Majority Leader is arguably the 3rd most powerful man in the nation. For the past 11 months, I've run a campaign opposing this powerful man and I slept like a baby every night; secure in the knowledge of my freedom and safety.

I am deeply humbled as I watch other nations around the world struggle for democracy. Make no mistake about it, this is a great nation. This country is truly, "the last best hope on Earth." _{--from Napper's campaign website}

How Ya Gonna Keep 'Em Down On the Farm

Finding a biography has been difficult, but from Lewis W. Napper's outdated election webpage and its "about myself," he reveals that his age was 41, so if by adding 14 years, it might make him born in around 1959. Another article by Danny Glover (not the actor) tells us, he grew up in Bernice, Louisiana, a little place north of Ruston; where he learned from his father, who could not provide indoor plumbing, the more important lesson -- that everyone has been given an opportunity. This married Libertarian, who is also an essay writer of sorts, presently lives in Madison, Mississippi, "Where Families Come First," "Strawberry Capital of the World," and is one of Family Circle's "Top Ten Towns for Families in America." Even though he is now an empty nester, he has raised two daughters, and now has that extra joy coming from having a granddaughter.

Byting Off More Than He Can Chew

He claims not to be a professional author, but his site created in 1993, The Binary Bunker can be found linked from his election page to several of his political/social humorous essays. Of this opportunity he said, "For a small cost, I am able to maintain a Web site that is literally seen by thousands and thousands of people all over the world." He also is involved in internet technology, and published his first book, co-authored with David A. Holzgang, Teach Yourself...: Visual C++ 5.0 (Teach Yourself Visually) in August of 1997, and another that year in November, Winsock 2.0. (It is still available on Amazon for about 88 bucks. Maybe buy it used for 13 Washingtons or more, and a collectible copy for $129.)

I believe that the Internet is the most important innovation since the printing press. It has tremendous potential for increasing awareness of political issues and candidates. The Internet is destined to change the public sector as profoundly as it has already changed the private sector.

But, like any technology, the Internet can also be misused. Unfortunately, the Internet also raises many concerns about privacy and new methods of fraud. We desperately need more people in Washington who fully understand this important new technology.

Who's On Base?

Though many enjoy his "Here On The Island" satirically using Gilligan's Island for cultural symbolism, his most famous bit was the "Bill of No Rights." It originally was a vent reacting to a speech by Hillary Clinton pushing her husband, President Clinton's Health Care bill in 1993, and then he e-mailed it to a few friends. It wound up getting the attention of Georgia state Republican, Mitchell Kaye, who gave it turn to friends. It went viral after Ann Landers published it in July of 2000. That is probably where it became more widespread and got erroneously attributed to that Georgia politician.

Years later after many articles in various places, the authorship became properly assigned, (but not always even to this day). Kaye, who tries to re-steer the authorship back to Napper has said it "...reflects a lot of truisms in today’s society, and it’s really struck a chord, I think it’s a riot. … This one is a classic. … I only wish I wrote it." The "Bill of No Rights" is many times cited as by "anonymous." It was featured on the "Republic of Texas" site which proudly calls themselves Texians and quotes John Steinbeck: "Texas is a state of mind. Texas is an obsession. Above all, Texas is a nation, in every sense of the word." Of course it is on Libertarian-leaning ones, like Michael T. Saldivar, and Manny Delacruz's NERD HERD or DeMOCKracy (Politics and Policy Served Fresh) and others like The Thompsons’ (Jeff Thompson, Libertarian Anarchism) home pages, now defunct, I think, and seedship.com. The latter introduces itself:

This site contains a collection of links, articles, references, etc. that I've found interesting. So, why don't you pick out a comfortable chair, sit down and relax. You'll find an ashtray on the table next to each of them so there's no need to ask if you may smoke. Feel free to stay as long as you like; you're welcome any time of the day or night.

From Banking to Bunking

His degree was in Finance from Louisiana Tech University, but after some start of a career in banking, in 1995, he switched to being a computer systems analyst (and perhaps moving to Mississippi) just about the same time he joined the Libertarian Party. His entrance into politics could be similar to that song by Doctor John:

I been in the right place,
But it must have been the wrong time.
I'd of said the right thing,
But I must have used the wrong line.

Run For Our Lives

I hope he gets back into it, these kinds of voices will be needed in the future, just for the debate, mind you. Though before the Senatorial election of 2000 he quipped:

I’m assuming that all seven of the Libertarians in Mississippi will vote for me. I’m not really expecting to win, but I’m going to run at it as if I am.

Beforehand he sadly made this analysis and conditional prediction:

The experts say that I can't win. If they can convince enough people of that, then they'll be right.

Should he use one of the major parties and be on a winning team? Well, he has an answer for you:

To be a Republican, you have to be wrong about civil liberties, big business, and the environment. To be a Democrat, you have to be wrong about virtually everything. To be a Libertarian, you have to be wrong about "nothing" -- which shouldn't be confused with being right.

The Truth Hurts

He has strong opinions, he is more like Ron Paul than Rand Paul, though in some ways similar.

We spent 65 billion dollars last year on direct payments and subsidies to corporations at the same time we taxed people making minimum wage. We took money away from poor people and gave it to rich people.

We have troops in over 100 countries around the world. Politicians hurry to send our children to war. Terrorists are more of a threat to you and your family today because of our government's constant international meddling. _{--from "Liberty and Justice For All"}

He can throw out stinging barbs at Congress as good as any of them, like this one from "Have You Ever Needed A Cop?":

We have police officers in rural areas of Mississippi who qualify for food stamps. Now, that’s a crime. It seems like that would be probable cause for arresting someone in congress.

Essays:

"Public Grocery Stores"
"I Declare (and you should too)"
"A Man Named Jedediah"
"Have You Ever Needed A Cop?"
"Here On The Island"
"Media Giants Fail To Deny Diversity Programs"
"Safer Liquor Stores"
"A Declaration of War"
"What's An Excise?"
"Ding-A-Ling"
"Contract With South America"
"Let's Have A Party"
"The Bill Of No Rights"
"So, Your Analyst Doesn't Think You're Happy"
"Dynamic Ostentatious Phraseological Euphemisms"
"Yes, I Want Fries With That"
"The Other Species"

Sources:

http://www.LewisNapper.org
http://www.snopes.com/language/document/norights.asp
http://web.archive.org/web/20010815162857/http://www.bserver.com/bunker/
http://www.enlightenedredneck.com/2010/03/26/an-internet-legend-the-bill-of-no-rights/
http://www.fightthebias.com/Resources/Humor/island.htm