Friday, March 03, 2006

Harry Browne, R.I.P.

Former Libertarian Presidential candidate, Harry Browne, died Wednesday at his home in Tennessee. He was 72.

Browne wrote a dozen books and was a well-known motivational speaker. His books included "How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World" and "Why Government Doesn't Work". He founded a number of Washington lobbying groups including DownsizeDC.org.

I received two tributes to Harry Browne from both DownSizeDC.org and the Center for Small Government, the outfit formed by Carla Howell and Michael Cloud. Howell was Libertarian candidate for governor of Massachussetts in 2000 and Cloud the Libertarian candidate for U.S. Senator the same year.

From DownSizeDC:
The world has lost a wonderful human being. Harry Browne passed away last night after a long illness. Harry was a joy and inspiration to all who knew him. We offer our condolences to his family, and especially to his wife Pamela.

Words cannot express what Harry meant to us. But words are all we have. And so we will muster what meager inadequate words we can find to remember Harry Browne over the days ahead. You are invited to participate. This message will be posted at the top of the DownsizeDC.org blog. You can leave your thoughts and comments there. The blog can be reached by clicking here.

Rather than cards or flowers, Pamela Browne requests that donations be made in Harry's memory to this organization, or to a family foundation. Pamela Browne will be informed of all donations made in Harry's name. The details are below. But for now we merely want to remember and celebrate the life of a great man. Harry Browne was a co-founder of this organization. But he was so much more. So very much more.

Jim Babka & Perry Willis
DownsizeDC.org, Inc.

Contrbutions to DownsizeDC.org in Harry's memory can be made by clicking here.

Contributions can also be made in Harry's memory to Korner's Folly Foundation, 413 South Main Street, Kernersville, NC 27284.

I campaigned for Harry Browne in 2000 and met him at one of his campaign stops in Milwaukee. It's hard not to like a political candidate who likes P. J. O'Rourke.

Rest in peace, Harry.

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