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Aug. 3, 2023

754: Libertarian Solutions for Local Problems - Brittany Kosin's Vision for Warwick Township

@brittanyforpa explores libertarian solutions for local problems in Warwick Township, PA and addresses the importance of individuality and transparency in politics

Join host Brian Nichols in this episode as he sits down with Brittany Kosin, a former ER nurse and volunteer firefighter running for Warwick Township Supervisor in Pennsylvania. With a focus on local issues and libertarian solutions, Brittany aims to provide residents with a different choice in their township, respecting individuality and diverse opinions.

One of the key challenges in Warwick Township is escalating taxation, a major concern for residents. While the supervisors claim not to have raised millage, a significant number of home reassessments result in increased taxes, creating a disparity in property values.

Brittany proposes lowering the millage, given the township's $16 million surplus, enabling it to function effectively while maintaining a strong foundation. Furthermore, she advocates for property rights, empowering owners to make decisions about their properties.

In addition to taxation, Brian and Brittany delve into crucial economic issues. They explore the impact of permits on businesses, the amusement tax, and the proposed acquisition of water supplies by Aqua, emphasizing the importance of maintaining independence and self-reliance. Plus, discover how Brittany plans to empower the Volunteer Fire Company through tax incentives amid the challenges posed by the pandemic and declining volunteerism.

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Transcript

Brian Nichols  
Bringing libertarian solutions to local problems. Let's talk about that. Instead of focusing on winning arguments, we're teaching the basic fundamentals of sales and marketing and how we can use them to win in the world of politics teaching you how to meet people where they're at on the issues they care about. Welcome to The Brian Nichols Show. Well, hey there folks, Bryan Adams here on The Brian Nichols Show. And thank you for joining us on a fourth that are fun filled episode. I am as always your humble host. Joining me live from our B nd Studios here in lovely Eastern Indiana. And now we're going to go back to where my stomping grounds were for almost a decade, seven years out in the greater Philadelphia area joining us running for Warwick township supervisor Brittany Kosan, welcome to The Brian Nichols Show.

Brittany Kosin  
Hi, thanks for having me.

Brian Nichols  
Absolutely. Brittany, thank you for joining us. And yeah, you're joining us right there, north of a city I call home for about seven years or so, just north of Philadelphia and you are running for Warwick township supervisor and asterik as a big L. Libertarian, lots to dig into there. But first do us a favor Brittany, introduce yourself your to The Brian Nichols Show audience and yes, why are you running for office specifically with that big oil next to your name.

Brittany Kosin  
So I am born and raised in this area and Warwick Township, pretty much. I'm an ER nurse, I was volunteer firefighter EMT, so definitely in the first responder area, and big reason why I'm running is just to give my residents in the area a different choice, because our board has been Republican 330 for generations. And so it's been the chair asked for a motion her or their one on one sides goes and makes the motion the other one goes in seconds it it's like it's the same thing every single time. So I'm just kind of coming in and given a different bit of a choice for our residents here.

Brian Nichols  
A different choice and one with obviously that big L next to its name, which will raise some questions from your respective voter and I would love to hear your responses. So one of the the questions I'm sure you're going to be hearing from voters as you go out and speak to them face to face is so what is a libertarian? So Brittany, what is a liberal libertarian to you?

Brittany Kosin  
To me, it's pretty much someone that you let other people have their own opinions. You don't you let them do them. And you don't criticize them for they're having a different opinion than you. You respect their opinion and just having it that everyone has a say and just being so keeping their individuality is something that I love about the libertarian platform.

Brian Nichols  
Now when you're looking at local issues right now in Warwick Township, let's kind of identify some problems you've outlined in your campaign as you're going through and talking to voters about where you would bring some libertarian solutions to those respective problems if you could let's start with number one. What would you say is one of the main issues you've identified in Warwick Township and what does a libertarian solution look like to that problem?

Brittany Kosin  
One of the big things that we have in this area is just our it's not our it's our taxes. And again, big thing with libertarians, taxation is theft, like no taxes, or just at least minimizing them where we can. But our big our township supervisors current claim to fame is they've never raised the millage but you don't have to raise the millage to raise the taxes so they're getting a lot of the homes reassessed. So that Yeah, your percentage is staying the same, but the value of your home was going up so you're paying more in taxes that way. And they just a little bit beyond ours is school district. Our superintendent just got a I think it's like a 40 or $90,000 Raise like he went to like 333 and a $15,000. Like it's such an astronomical number.

Brian Nichols  
Did he his skills, improved $90,000 Worth overnight.

Brittany Kosin  
He dealt with a lot I put I don't think it was $90,000 Worth, but that's going to increase our taxes there. But that's, that's county level. So that's one step above me. But it with us reset with us having our homes reassessed and everything. My house my parents house was bought for $140,000.15 years ago, 20 years ago or something. And our house right across the street from them is now we bought it for like $470,000 and is appraising at, like 550 600. So that's a big difference with what people are buying homes for and appraising for and, and everything. So it's just people are just paying more and more in taxes in one way or another.

Brian Nichols  
And how does the libertarian solution help remedy this problem?

Brittany Kosin  
My big thing would be, we don't need to appraise homes as much or we can lower our millage, our townships operating at a 16 thing a $16 million surplus. So we definitely have some money in the coffers that we can can lower the millage a little bit and still be in the black solidly.

Brian Nichols  
Talk to me about property rights as an issue. When we're talking about no just north of Philadelphia, obviously, lots of people in a relatively condensed area, geographically speaking, the AI the question and the ideas of property rights, all of a sudden really get put to the test. So talk to me about your approach to property rights, as it would pertain to being again that big L libertarian, there as township supervisor for for Warwick Township,

Brittany Kosin  
big thing with us, it's like, I would love to have it that we can do what we want on our properties, like it's our property. I don't think we should have 50 gazillion permits from the township to want to do what we want as long like it's not bothering our neighbors, like it's not, I don't care about my neighbor's property value. It's my my property is mine, yours is yours, my house isn't going to change the value of yours. And so a big thing. Also, just keeping we've, I will give a little credit to our township supervisors. Currently, we had a business that wanted to come in, and basically go against everything that I would love to keep. They wanted to go into the wooded areas and change and add more parking and not have as much open space. They wanted all these variances that would affect other people's, I just did general just affect properties and around them and wildlife and all that I was like, this really isn't something we should have. And our township supervisors actually shot them down on a lot of it. So it's the one thing like hey, you actually, you actually follow something I believe in. But no, I think we need to get we have way too many permits and stuff. It's like I shouldn't need a permit to put a shed on my property. I shouldn't need a permit to put a walkway in my property like I I'm, yeah, do I want to send a thing to you and say like, Hey, I'm not covering my whole front yard in pavers. But I still want to do what I want to do. Like this is I'm telling you I'm not asking permission.

Brian Nichols  
Yep. Well, from from permitting to zoning, talk to me about how your libertarian solutions would help foster some economic growth for Warren township as it pertains not just to zoning, I guess. But other areas as well.

Brittany Kosin  
Big thing again, goes back to our taxes, we have a lot of business taxes that have been increasing. So with those, we I would go and have it that our businesses wouldn't be taxed as much so by not having the business's taxes much they're more likely to be in the township and thus bringing in just revenue and providing jobs and everything else into the township. But we have like an amusement tax in the township and I think to businesses I think it's for like six you can't have

Brian Nichols  
fun without paying your fair share to the government. How dare you

Brittany Kosin  
well, it's not us mints it's the coin operated like pool tables like they pay tax and people basically bring in like $250 a year in this tax like but it's there it exists so that's not miss like that that can go away I think we're probably spending more money collecting the tax than we are actually from the DAX

Brian Nichols  
I believe it I believe it Um, all right now talk to me about this. I was reading about Aqua talking about Aqua as it pertains to taking over bucks County's water supply what what's that issue? Why why is that a topic of conversation?

Brittany Kosin  
Oh, big thing so Aqua has been kind of sneaking around and buying up Small townships, water supplies and becoming their water supplier.

Brian Nichols  
And who is Aqua? Just for context.

Brittany Kosin  
It's just a business a basically a big corporation that it's the same idea as like Pico, going around and getting all these little sub companies for energy suppliers, but this is for water. But when Aqua they're going and like saying yeah, yeah, we're not going to increase your water rate your and stuff like that for the first year or whatever. And then they go and like triple and quadruple your rate a year later, and the townships are stuck with them for like a 15 year contract, 20 year contracts. And a big thing with me with with running for libertarians off, I will stand firm and will not let Aqua come into Warwick Township. We have our own water supplies, we have our own wells, we have a lot of Springs and wells in the township. And I am not linking us with Aqua at all. Because with that, too, you have the connection now you're connected with other townships and other things that if something happens with them, and they need finances for infrastructure damages, a water main break, whatever. It's going to trickle down and affect other people that don't even live near there. And are directly affected by it.

Brian Nichols  
Sorry, I'm laughing at trickle down because puddles of water Yes. I'm five. No, I'm gonna ask you to put on your devil's advocate had Bernie um, what's the argument then? In favor of aqua? Why? Why would somebody want awkward a common take over the town's Watership water for the township? Is it that the town's water has not been that great, or or is it expensive to treat? What's the issue there?

Brittany Kosin  
Honestly, I think it would just be laziness. It's one thing they don't have to handle. It's, it's kind of just push it off to someone else's problem.

Brian Nichols  
Is that a bad thing, though, necessarily, like, hey, these guys are experts in water treatment. Like, let's go to these guys versus having some 1000s of dollars towards a water treatment plant and stuff like, you know, does that not make sense?

Brittany Kosin  
It does at the same time. But the other point is, like, do you want to stay independent and not relying on someone else?

Brian Nichols  
Yeah. And you spoke to like, well, water, right? Like, that's, that's huge. I'm from upstate New York originally, I didn't even know that. Like, there was a difference until my grandma moved to the city. And I was like, Oh, your water tastes different. Why is it taste different? She's like, Oh, it's city water. I was like, There's a thing called city water like, you know, your own water. And I was like, four and I was blown away. Same thing, right? Like same thing for for what you guys are talking about right there. There's a vast difference between the well water and the city water. And you I guess, to your point, right, like, not only is there that issue about the tripling of costs, but you do mention kind of the long term implications of what if there's an issue down the road with another municipality or township or whatever it may be? Definitely big red flags there. Talk to me also about empowering works Volunteer Fire Company. Why is that an issue? And how would you as a libertarian, help empower the fire company.

Brittany Kosin  
So big thing that's, that's a big thing close to my heart. Because I volunteered with Warwick for 10 plus years. It's where I got to start. So where my dad's a life member. With that, it this is a nationwide pandemic with losing volunteers. So I would love to see and again goes back into our taxes a tax break, or an incentive, some type of incentive for people to volunteer for the Fire Company. And just bring in more volunteers so that we don't have to go paid because going paid is a whole new can of worms you don't want to enter if our township I don't know where the size brakes are. But I know there's depending on the size of our township and everything, we might have to develop a Civil Service Commission and everything else to bring in paid staff because we'd have to do civil service tests and, and bring in the CPAP the agility tests and everything and have annual testing and and windows where people can apply versus just saying, Hey, we have a vacancy apply, okay, here's your interview, and get a job. So it kind of opens that whole new can of worms. Another big thing with a fire company is the township supervisors reallocated a big chunk of the fire tax. And that's like one one of the few taxes that I feel like we should keep because you're paying to maintain your safety because not everybody knows how to put out the fire in their house. And I don't think everyone can afford a multimillion dollar fire truck. So I think we really need to bring and get that fire tax going to where it belongs on And if we're going to we have, every year we give about $50,000 of relief aid to one of our mutual aid companies, but we have like six others that surround us. So it's kind of like a all or nothing, in my opinion, like, why are we giving this one? municipality $50,000? And we're not giving anybody else anything else. Right? And so it's like we need to, I would get rid of that just be like, hey, either we share the wealth or just, I don't think they need it.

Brian Nichols  
Gotcha. All right. Now, Brittany, we talked about the problems that you've identified in Warwick Township, and specifically the libertarian solution. But let's talk about the actual role of township supervisor, why is that important? Why should you not only be running for office as a libertarian for this role, but why is it important for the voters to pay attention to that role as well.

Brittany Kosin  
So pretty much township supervisor, it's, we have it is a mayor split into three people. So we have three township supervisors that have a meeting every month and vote on different things and like help with basically deciding like, right now, we're going to be deciding on a new police chief soon. So during my term, if I get in, it's going to be a decision of nominating and voting on who's going to be our next police chief for the township. Also, there's a couple other positions that they appoint or vote on, to help run the township. They also determine what we affiliate with. So it different things, if someone like the school district comes in and wants to do stuff with the buses, and needs our police assistance and doing things, we would vote on that. It's just a big, we have a township manager as well. So that's kind of what someone who runs a little bit more of our day to day stuff. They get determined who they are by the township supervisors. So we're like the big power OB powers that decide who runs the day to day who runs the police department and everything.

Brian Nichols  
Gotcha. See, that's why we asked that question. That's important. People want to know why this actually matters, right? How the rules actually work. And I think that's one thing to just like kind of explaining how the political process works to maybe your average person who doesn't pay attention, and they're not aware. So with that being said, we are going to head towards final thoughts. But before we get there, want to go ahead and give a shout out to today's sponsor, and that is cardio miracle. Now, folks, I've been using cardio miracle now for about month and a half, going on two months, and I absolutely love it. Now, here's one reality that I use harder, I use a cardio miracle more for just regular physical fitness. I like the pump, I get extra at the gym. Plus, I noticed I feel just better across the board and it knows my blood pressure went down as well. But here's the other thing if you're like one of the millions of Americans who is suffering from heart disease, or heart disease is the number one leading cause of death in America according to the American Heart Association. And hey, it's no secret that your heart needs special attention. And that's why cardio miracle is one of your best natural ways to care for your heart as cardio miracle supports better blood flow, oxygen levels, and blood pressure. So if you want better heart health, better sleep, better recovery, better energy, hey, even a better you will go ahead and get your cardio miracle today and be sure to use code TBNS at checkout for 15% off your order or if you're gonna go ahead and order your your your cardio miracle through the link here in The Brian Nichols Show show notes that will should automatically apply that 15% Discount there but just in case have co T B and S in your back pocket for 15% off 53 Whole Food bioavailable nutrients delivered in one serving and as a reminder if you are not satisfied 100% money back guarantee on your order. So head the Brian Nichols show.com Order your cardio miracle today and use code TB and as at checkout for 15% off your order. All right, Brittany, let's go towards final thoughts. What would you like to leave our audience with today as they're kind of going not just towards the tail end of the episode but as they are approaching the ballot box here in November.

Brittany Kosin  
Big thing I would be is research every candidate. Do your research, look them up, check their websites out and just really educate yourself and see how much you align with them and What's gonna benefit what you want from a candidate? Like I know from my area, I'm big on transparency and being a different voice in the room. So it's just something that we're not going to have this rubber stamping in my township anymore.

Brian Nichols  
Brightening, I appreciate you coming on the show and obviously, sharing why you're running for local office. And we talked about this on the show many a time. Here's my final thoughts for today. This is how big L libertarians will win, right? You win by by building trust, you build trust by running for local office, you don't build trust by just coming out of nowhere and running for President of the United States and being like, you're not gonna vote for me what, why I don't understand faith we haven't built trust up yet. Right. So let's do more of what Brittany is doing. Let's build more relationships by running for local office and also bring our solutions to the problems we've identified, address those problems. And once we've addressed those problems, then leverage that to and leverage the trust we've accumulated along the way to running for higher up office, and hopefully, leaving more people alone, right to Britney's point earlier, don't hurt people don't take their stuff. That is the world we want to live in. And we get there by actually having some some libertarians elected to office and impacting policy. So this is the way to do it. Brittany, thank you for joining us. Thank you for leading the charge and leading by example, frankly, so folks, if you got value from today's episode, you know the drill. Go ahead. Give it a share. When you do please tag Yours truly, on Twitter, Twitter, x.com. I don't know. And you can do that at be Nichols liberty or Facebook at be Nichols. Liberty, Brittany, where can folks go ahead and follow you if they want to go ahead and get into the conversation? But also, where can folks go ahead and donate to your campaign if they wanna support you going forward?

Brittany Kosin  
So my website is Brittany Kosan for PA at f o rpa.com. That's my, my big site. All of my links for my socials are all in there. I don't know off the top of my head, I have too many. So I know I'm on Twitter. I know when whatever it is now on tick tock and Facebook and Instagram. I'm everywhere. So the big thing is actually, my other site, I have to because I ran for county or for State Rep. It's actually voted Brittany cousine talk. I have to So vote Brittany kosan.com.

Brian Nichols  
Perfect. And we will include those links there in the show notes, folks. And again, if you did not know, by the way, so there's two ways you can catch the show. One video to podcast audio number one for the video version of the show. We are on YouTube. We are on rumble and we are on Ben swans, sovereign SOV. r e n we are big fans of independent media here at The Brian Nichols Show and Ben swans sovereign is one of the best sites I found to date. So I am proud not just to give the audience over at Sovereign a sovereign exclusive, which is, by the way, seeing today's episode before everybody else, but also, I am proud to just support and tell you guys that go support Ben Swann sovereign because it is an awesome, awesome organization, awesome site with some awesome people over there, frankly. So I head over there s o v r e n. But hey, if you are watching us on the more traditional media media like YouTube, for example, well, hey, thanks for stopping by. I appreciate you joining us. Do me a favor, hit that subscribe button, hit that like button and hit that little notification bell so you don't miss a single time we go live. And by the way, if you are in fact joining us here on YouTube stick around because our conversation yesterday, where we sat down with Angie Huang, great conversation, we dug into all things from how the government is brainwashing your kids in the government schooling system to the elderly caucus, which you'll have to go ahead and obviously check out that conversation. So that's popping up right about here. But yes, we are on podcasts. So whether it's Apple podcasts, YouTube music, or Spotify, wherever it is, you get your podcasts. Just do me a favor, hit that subscribe button again, but also hit download all unplayed episodes, we have 750 plus episodes here on The Brian Nichols Show where we've had local candidates like Brittany, we've had elected officials, we've had a economist, we've had CEOs we've had anybody you can really think we've had here on the program, really fun conversations. But regardless, I promise they will leave you educated, enlightened and informed. But that's all we have for you today. So we're going to go ahead and put a pin in today's conversation and if you are in Warwick Township, please go give Brittany some some support. Go Good. Go ahead and support her campaign not just by if you would want to vocally support her campaign, but also monetarily support her campaign. I know she would appreciate it as well. So folks, thank you for joining us. That being said, Brian, you're signing off you're out On The Brian Nichols Show for Brittany Kosan we'll see you next time

Transcribed by https://otter.ai

Brittany KosinProfile Photo

Brittany Kosin

Libertarian Candidate for Warwick Township Suppervisor

I am proud to be a Warwick native. My father, Jim Forsstrom, served his community as a Volunteer Fire Fighter for over 30 years between Trevose Fire Company and Warwick Township Volunteer Fire Company where he is a Life Member, while my mom, Debra, works in the healthcare insurance sector.

I have deep roots in the Warwick community, having grown up in Jamison and witnessed firsthand its transformation from my parent’s home behind our yard where it went from a corn farm to a golf course. I attended Central Bucks High School West where I excelled academically, played lacrosse, and took Fire Science classes at Bucks County Community College. In 2009, I graduated with honors and continued to give back to my community by obtaining several certifications, including Vehicle Rescue, Firefighter 1, and EMT-Basic. For 15 years, I volunteered at Warwick Township Volunteer Fire Company and was honored with the Junior Fire Fighter of the Year award in 2009.

Following my passion, I attended Millersville University where I majored in Meteorology and minored in Emergency Management and Environmental Hazards. While there, I also served as a live-in Firefighter for Southern Manheim Township Fire Company. However, I discovered a new calling in nursing and withdrew from Millersville University to enroll in Dixon School of Nursing. In 2015, I graduated and became a Registered Nurse. I am a proud mother of three amazing children, Antonio (14, Sophia (9), and Liam (3), and am happily married to my husband TJ since 2013.

With a diverse background in nursing, I have gain… Read More