Gatewood Galbraith
Encyclopedia
Louis Gatewood Galbraith (born January 23, 1947) is an American
lawyer
and author
from the U.S. state
of Kentucky
. He has been a perennial candidate for governor of Kentucky
as an outspoken proponent of education as well as privacy rights and other civil liberties
. In his most recent race, he was defeated as the Independent candidate for Governor in the 2011 general election.
, Kentucky
to Henry Clay and Dollie Galbraith, Gatewood is the fourth of seven children. He graduated from the University of Kentucky
in 1974 and from the University of Kentucky College of Law
in 1977. Galbraith's law practice focuses on criminal law and personal injury civil actions. In 2004, he became a columnist for the Louisville
-based alternative weekly
Snitch Newsweekly
, writing on cases he has handled, and debating
with other contributors on civil liberties. He is the divorced father of three daughters.
(four times - as a Democrat
in 1991 and 1995, 2007, and as a Reform Party
candidate in 1999), U.S. representative
(twice), and attorney general
. Galbraith was a vocal advocate of the legalization of cannabis
.
Galbraith announced in May 2006 that he would seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2007. Asked about being a perennial candidate, Galbraith said that Kentucky has "perennial" problems. Galbraith filed and ran his fourth campaign for that office. In a candidate debate on Kentucky Educational Television on May 14, 2007 Galbraith noted that fifteen states have legalized cannabis; all did so after Galbraith first began his advocacy on that issue as a candidate for statewide office.
Galbraith lost the 2007 Democratic Primary Election for governor.
In 2011 Galbraith was a Independent candidate for Governor
receiving 74,860 votes (8.99%).
Galbraith, pitched his campaign to young voters. In particular, he proposed a freeze on college tuition, a $5,000 grant to high school graduates for college or technical school, and legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. He raised $100,000 of his $500,000 budget and was endorsed by the United Mine Workers, the first time the union has backed an independent.
era spearheaded by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
administration. Up until the early 1930s, America and Kentucky relied solely on agriculture to fuel the economy. Galbraith explains that, out of necessity, Roosevelt's shifted America towards a more industrial (synthetic) society fueled by alliances with “Greedy Corporations.”
Galbraith has appeared onstage with many notable public figures, including author/filmmaker Christopher Largen
.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
lawyer
Lawyer
A lawyer, according to Black's Law Dictionary, is "a person learned in the law; as an attorney, counsel or solicitor; a person who is practicing law." Law is the system of rules of conduct established by the sovereign government of a society to correct wrongs, maintain the stability of political...
and author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
from the U.S. state
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
. He has been a perennial candidate for governor of Kentucky
Governor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
as an outspoken proponent of education as well as privacy rights and other civil liberties
Civil liberties
Civil liberties are rights and freedoms that provide an individual specific rights such as the freedom from slavery and forced labour, freedom from torture and death, the right to liberty and security, right to a fair trial, the right to defend one's self, the right to own and bear arms, the right...
. In his most recent race, he was defeated as the Independent candidate for Governor in the 2011 general election.
Biography
Born in CarlisleCarlisle, Kentucky
Carlisle is a city in Nicholas County, Kentucky, United States. The population was 1,917 at the 2000 census. It is the county seat of Nicholas County...
, Kentucky
Kentucky
The Commonwealth of Kentucky is a state located in the East Central United States of America. As classified by the United States Census Bureau, Kentucky is a Southern state, more specifically in the East South Central region. Kentucky is one of four U.S. states constituted as a commonwealth...
to Henry Clay and Dollie Galbraith, Gatewood is the fourth of seven children. He graduated from the University of Kentucky
University of Kentucky
The University of Kentucky, also known as UK, is a public co-educational university and is one of the state's two land-grant universities, located in Lexington, Kentucky...
in 1974 and from the University of Kentucky College of Law
University of Kentucky College of Law
The College of Law is a college of the University of Kentucky. Founded initially from a law program at Transylvania University in 1799, the law program at UK began operations in 1908; it was one of the nation's first public law schools...
in 1977. Galbraith's law practice focuses on criminal law and personal injury civil actions. In 2004, he became a columnist for the Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky
Louisville is the largest city in the U.S. state of Kentucky, and the county seat of Jefferson County. Since 2003, the city's borders have been coterminous with those of the county because of a city-county merger. The city's population at the 2010 census was 741,096...
-based alternative weekly
Alternative weekly
An alternative newspaper is a type of newspaper, that eschews comprehensive coverage of general news in favor of stylized reporting, opinionated reviews and columns, investigations into edgy topics and magazine-style feature stories highlighting local people and culture. Their news coverage is more...
Snitch Newsweekly
Snitch Newsweekly
Snitch was a free, alternative weekly newspaper published in parts of the United States covering crime and police news. Perhaps the most notable feature was the ZIP Code Crime Watch, which gave brief, usually "smart aleck" commentary on literally hundreds of items in the weekly police blotter,...
, writing on cases he has handled, and debating
Debate
Debate or debating is a method of interactive and representational argument. Debate is a broader form of argument than logical argument, which only examines consistency from axiom, and factual argument, which only examines what is or isn't the case or rhetoric which is a technique of persuasion...
with other contributors on civil liberties. He is the divorced father of three daughters.
Political career
Galbraith has run for various offices in Kentucky including commissioner of agriculture, governorGovernor of Kentucky
The Governor of the Commonwealth of Kentucky is the head of the executive branch of government in the U.S. state of Kentucky. Fifty-six men and one woman have served as Governor of Kentucky. The governor's term is four years in length; since 1992, incumbents have been able to seek re-election once...
(four times - as a Democrat
Democratic Party (United States)
The Democratic Party is one of two major contemporary political parties in the United States, along with the Republican Party. The party's socially liberal and progressive platform is largely considered center-left in the U.S. political spectrum. The party has the lengthiest record of continuous...
in 1991 and 1995, 2007, and as a Reform Party
Reform Party of the United States of America
The Reform Party of the United States of America is a political party in the United States, founded in 1995 by Ross Perot...
candidate in 1999), U.S. representative
United States House of Representatives
The United States House of Representatives is one of the two Houses of the United States Congress, the bicameral legislature which also includes the Senate.The composition and powers of the House are established in Article One of the Constitution...
(twice), and attorney general
Attorney General of Kentucky
The Attorney General of Kentucky is an office created by the Kentucky Constitution. . Under Kentucky law, he serves several roles, including the state's chief prosecutor , the state's chief law enforcement officer , and the state's chief law officer...
. Galbraith was a vocal advocate of the legalization of cannabis
Legal issues of cannabis
The legality of cannabis has been the subject of debate and controversy for decades. Cannabis is illegal to consume, use, possess, cultivate, transfer or trade in most countries...
.
Galbraith announced in May 2006 that he would seek the Democratic nomination for governor in 2007. Asked about being a perennial candidate, Galbraith said that Kentucky has "perennial" problems. Galbraith filed and ran his fourth campaign for that office. In a candidate debate on Kentucky Educational Television on May 14, 2007 Galbraith noted that fifteen states have legalized cannabis; all did so after Galbraith first began his advocacy on that issue as a candidate for statewide office.
Galbraith lost the 2007 Democratic Primary Election for governor.
In 2011 Galbraith was a Independent candidate for Governor
Kentucky gubernatorial election, 2011
The 2011 Kentucky gubernatorial election took place to elect the governor of Kentucky on November 8, 2011. Incumbent Democrat Steve Beshear won re-election, defeating Republican challenger David L...
receiving 74,860 votes (8.99%).
Galbraith, pitched his campaign to young voters. In particular, he proposed a freeze on college tuition, a $5,000 grant to high school graduates for college or technical school, and legalization of marijuana for medical purposes. He raised $100,000 of his $500,000 budget and was endorsed by the United Mine Workers, the first time the union has backed an independent.
Synthetic Subversion
In his writings and speeches Galbraith goes into detail on what he calls “Synthetic Subversion”. This theory seeks to explain when, how and why America, specifically Kentucky, moved from an agricultural agrarian society into an industrial synthetic society. Galbraith claims that the beginning of this shift can be traced back to the New DealNew Deal
The New Deal was a series of economic programs implemented in the United States between 1933 and 1936. They were passed by the U.S. Congress during the first term of President Franklin D. Roosevelt. The programs were Roosevelt's responses to the Great Depression, and focused on what historians call...
era spearheaded by Franklin D. Roosevelt’s
Franklin D. Roosevelt
Franklin Delano Roosevelt , also known by his initials, FDR, was the 32nd President of the United States and a central figure in world events during the mid-20th century, leading the United States during a time of worldwide economic crisis and world war...
administration. Up until the early 1930s, America and Kentucky relied solely on agriculture to fuel the economy. Galbraith explains that, out of necessity, Roosevelt's shifted America towards a more industrial (synthetic) society fueled by alliances with “Greedy Corporations.”
Galbraith has appeared onstage with many notable public figures, including author/filmmaker Christopher Largen
Christopher Largen
Christopher Largen is a U.S. award-winning journalist, novelist, social satirist, actor, public speaker and filmmaker, known for his iconoclastic writings on health and public policy, and his efforts to reduce child abuse...
.
Published work
- Galbraith, Gatewood (2004). The Last Free Man In America: Meets The Synthetic Subversion. Outskirts Press. ISBN 1-932672-35-4.