Washington State Libertarian Party

Washington Libertarian Oct/Nov 2011

2011-10-26T22:13:00.000-07:00

Washington Libertarian Oct/Nov 2011

Clark County Chair Hyrum Jones introduce the speakers at a Clark County Libertarian Party event on education Diana Moore of the Freedom Foundation (left) and Inga Galbraith from Family Learning Experience (center).

LP Clark Co. Education Forum

By John Elkins

On July 14, the Libertarian Party of Clark County held a public lecture focused on Alternatives to Public Education, at the local utility building meeting room.

Diana Cieslak Moore from the Freedom Foundation was first to speak to the crowd about internet schooling options as either a supplement to public schooling or as a home-schooling program in its own right. Armed with literature and a good approach to dealing with a myriad of questions Diana enlightened all about the power of the internet for educating pre-teens and teens as well as adults who want to go back and get their high school diplomas.

Inga Galbraith from Family Learning Experience (FLEX), a local Vancouver (WA) chapter is a support group for home-schooling families. She explained how the local school districts give only basic and rudimentary aid to home-schoolers and how FLEX pulls together to not only give their children a top notch education but also has gatherings to ensure that kids get proper socialization through planned activities.

Presided over by Libertarian Party of Clark County Chairman Hyrum Jones attendees learned a little about Libertarianism and our desire for these programs since privatization of schools (Charter schools) in Washington State is illegal. For more information about the Libertarian Party of Clark County see our website, http://lpclarkwa.org

The Initiatives; what to vote for and why.

At the September 17th meeting of the State Executive Committee held at the Seattle office the committee voted to endorse initiatives I-1125, I-1183, and oppose I-1163. The committee also voted to endorse Senate Joint Resolutions 8205 and 8206.

While the committee was quick to endorse I-1183, the liquor privatization initiative and oppose I-1163, the SEIU sponsored training initiative, the committee spent a significant amount of time discussing the pros and cons of I-1125 the transportation initiative sponsored by Tim Eyman.

Parts of I-1125 make sense from a Libertarian perspective. Other sections of it are questionable but overall the committee felt it was worth our support. One section that requires the legislature to set the tolls received considerable comment. In the end it was felt that even though the initiative lacks some points that we feel are important it is a step in our direction.

Help Wanted! There is a Representative position open on the State Executive Committee. If you are interested please contact State Chair Larry Nicholas at larrynicholas@comcast.net

We also need help with the website. If you have skills in this area we would like to hear from you. Please contact Larry Nicholas at larrynicholas@comcast.net

Washington Libertarian Oct/Nov 2011

Meet the new Chair; Larry Nicholas

I was elected chair at the May convention and many of you know me and we've worked together. For those who don't know me or my background, I’m from Bellingham. My father’s grandfather and family moved to Bellingham from Santa Monica about 1919. My mother’s family came from the Harz mountains region of central Germany to Bellingham about 1925. My wife is Jessica and we have 2 sons, the youngest graduated this last June.

I own a small business that my grandfather and great grandfather started in 1929 here in Bellingham. It is now Accurate Lock & Security, in the same location since 1936. I am active in various locksmith associations and hold certifications from them. I’m the Legislative chair for the NW Locksmith Association.

I'm also a member of the NW Business Club and serve on the Bellingham/Whatcom Chamber of Commerce Government Affairs Committee. In '07 I became a member of the Leadership Council for the NFIB (National Federation of Independent Business) Washington.

Since my oldest son joined Cub Scouts in the late 90’s, I’ve been very active in Boy Scouts. I have been a Den Leader, Webelo leader, Pack Committee Chair and an assistant Scout Master in the Boy Scout troop leading trips to Bowron Lakes twice and summer camps on the Oregon coast, the Olympic Peninsula and locally.

I have served on the board of my neighborhood association (Alabama Hill Association), as Vice Chair, Secretary and now as Chair for the 2nd year.

About '97 when Brett Whilhem came to town and bought me coffee, I became active in the Libertarian Party. The state convention in ’98 was my first and I have attended most since. At the 2006 state convention I was elected to the Judicial Committee, I've been a potential Libertarian Elector twice. When Bruce Gutherie moved to Seattle in '06, I was elected chair of the Whatcom Co. LP and continue to serve in that position. In '07 I was elected to the SEC. This year I took over as convention chair, holding the convention at the Phoenix Inn in Olympia.

My first national convention was in Anaheim in 2000, followed by '04, '06 & '08. I hosted the first Washington State Harvest Room Party in Portland (’06) with the second one in Denver (’08) & intend to host another next year in Vegas for the National LP Convention.

The Whatcom co. auditor formed a committee -CEAC (Citizen's Election Advisory Committee) to help decide which voting system we would change to from the punched card ballots. Bruce encouraged me to serve as the LP rep & I have since about '06.

Whatcom Fair Voting is a non-partisan group to work on election issues for CEAC but also for the state. We have helped write and pass legislation in the past. We usually hold a forum every year. This year it is on Re-districting. I have served on WFV since about '06 as the LP rep.

I'm a very busy person and require help with the party to make things work. Many of you currently serve or have done so in the past and I want to make sure you understand how much your efforts are appreciated. I must ask again, or for the first time, for your help in any way you can. We need volunteers to take on projects, help with getting the Meetup groups going and for next year’s presidential race starting with gathering signatures to get our candidate on the ballot. In addition to volunteers, we need donations whether it’s just the $25 membership dues or a monthly pledge of $5 or $30 through Donor Town Square, it all helps keep the party going.

I never thought I could be the state chair, certainly nothing I aspired to be. However, as you can see by my background, this is not the first time that leadership was entrusted to me. My fear is just that I can't live up to some of the past chairs of the party and that I might fail to do a good job in the position. It is for that reason and my other commitments that I ask patience of you and advice.

Larry Nicholas; Chairman, LPWA

Washington Libertarian Oct/Nov 2011

Forget King County Metro car-tab fees and bus cuts

By JEFF JARED
Kirkland Reporter Contributor
Republished by permission.

I must disagree with my paper’s support of Councilmembers Jane Hague and Kathy Lambert’s about-face to vote in favor of the $20 King County car-tab tax hike to bail out our socialist bus system in King County).

Instead of another tax hike to rescue our government-run monopoly and centrally planned bus system (King County Metro), we should just legalize private jitneys.

And similarly, limits on cab medallions (business licenses to drive a cab) should also end, breaking the taxi semi-monopoly as well.

The county bus monopoly loses money and can’t support itself. Sales taxpayers and car drivers must make up the difference between what the bus passenger pays and what the ride really costs.

As some have said, many buses are empty and most are too big. That’s government monopoly.

If we only had one grocery store to use because of a countywide monopoly, we’d riot. But we take a bus monopoly lying down.

We should break up King County’s bus monopoly by legalizing jitneys and other private, non-fixed-route carriers like motorcycle cabs (Thailand), minivans (Manhattan) and gypsy cabs (Russia).

Gypsy cabs are freelance cab drivers, like you or me, who need some extra money. Gypsy cabs could be fully freelance or in a loose organization. Jitneys are like buses but are more flexible in their routes and usually the size of minivans.

Let others “cherry pick” bus stops. Let a free market operate and transportation routes would flourish as supply meets demand. Government centrally planned monopolies don’t do this and always lose money requiring subsidy. See Amtrak and the US Postal Service.

And the federal Urban Mass Transit Act of 1964 should be repealed. There is no place for the feds in local transportation. Fixed-route monopoly bus systems using downtown cities as their hubs is a 1960’s idea that doesn’t reflect modern population and travel patterns.

Studies show that privatizing buses works. And jitneys and vans won’t be crashing over each other trying to get passengers. That’s a myth.

Is there a safety issue with “unknown” freelance cabbies? Well, a private certification system could help, but there is an element of hitchhiking here. But I used gypsy cabs all over Russia without a problem.

Why not $5 anywhere in King County? Today, this would require three bus transfers and take three hours, or would cost $60 in a cab. After deregulation, this would take 30 minutes and cost $5 in a jitney.

So when I’m driving back to Kirkland from Seattle on 520 on a sunny day with my convertible top down, I could swoop in at Montlake Station and grab a couple passengers for $2 each to help pay for the toll on the way to Kirkland.

Or if I’m a passenger at Montlake trying to get to Kirkland, I’d have two or three minivans, jitneys or gypsy cabs to choose from every five minutes, without having to board an over-engineered government monopoly bus on a 1960’s style fixed route that comes every 45 minutes, and loses money in the process.

Editor’s note: In February 1915, 518 private, unsubsidized jitneys carried 49,000 passengers daily in Seattle.

Washington Libertarian Oct/Nov 2011

Book Review: Now You Know the Rest of The Story The Big Short and Reckless Endangerment

Kelly Haughton

Originally published in theTacoma Political Buzz Examiner; September 22, 2011 - Republished by permission of the author

The late radio personality Paul Harvey used to end his stories with the line "and now you know the rest of the story." In other words, things are frequently not what they at first appear to be. The subprime mortgage crisis is one of those historical events with many twists and turns. It is difficult to tell the full story. And more facts keep coming out.

The Big Short by Michael Lewis and Reckless Endangerment by Gretchen Morgenson & Joshua Rosner give different perspectives about the leveraging up of American real estate.

Lewis is a fine storyteller and has enough understanding of Wall Street and the private sector participants to weave a fine tale. His depictions of the hedge fund operators who were among the first to realize that subprime mortgage lending machine was leading to financial disaster were wonderful insights into the difficulties associated with going against the prevailing worldview. In addition to having the insight there was a problem, they had to figure out how position their portfolios to benefit from others’ follies. Telling much of the tale from their perspective makes for a good story, but leaves out some of the most significant players in making the mess. The Big Short is an enjoyable read, but don’t stop with this book if you want to understand the big picture of subprime mortgage mess.

Morgenson & Rosner’s take on the situation is a more complete depiction of the causes of the subprime mess are more thorough, though they miss the color of the hedge fund operators betting against the proponents of subprime lending. In particular, Reckless Endangerment covers the roles of DC politicians and regulators as well as the operators of Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the two quasi-governmental organizations at the core of the problem. The book goes back in time to show the role of Jim Johnson, one time CEO of Fannie Mae, Franklin Raines, Barney Frank, Christopher Dodd, and Angelo Mozilo. These people and others pushed banks and mortgage brokers to loan mortgage money to people who did not qualify using standard credit screens. Most people who took out subprime mortgages could not afford the homes they bought. Foreclosures were a foregone conclusion. But the mortgage brokers and investment bankers were bailed out by Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac guaranteeing the mortgages pools containing the subprime mortgages while mortgagees have been left with foreclosure and financial distress. Without Congress, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, the real estate bubble would not have gotten as big and the casualties would not have been as wide spread.

Reckless Endangerment also covers the sins of the mortgage brokers, bankers and rating agencies in the fiasco, but fits these into the overall fabric of the total story. There is plenty of blame to go around in this mess, and this book does a nice job of spreading it around to the appropriate people.

Reckless Endangerment is a serious book about the crisis and deserves to be read by anyone who wants to understand the total picture of the crisis. However, since the book was completed before the implications of the Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac insolvency have become completely known, it does not cover the rest of the story.

In the first quarter of 2010, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac took onto their books almost $4.5 trillion of mortgage pools that they had guaranteed. These are mortgage pools full of subprime and other low quality mortgages. This means the government is on the hook for the principal for these mortgages. While it is unlikely these mortgages will be a total write-offs, it is likely they will be as large of a loss as the rest of the bailout process combined.

This $4.5 trillion will overhang the US capital markets and economy for years to come.

Thank you, Jim Johnson, Barney Frank and Angelo Mozilo.

Washington Libertarian is published by the Libertarian Party of Washington State.

4957 Lakemont Blvd. SE

Ste. C4-229

Bellevue, WA 98006-7801

Chair: Larry Nicholas,Vice Chair; Michael Donahue, Secretary: Miles Holden

Treasurer: Jim Culbertson

At Large Representatives: Tom Spanos,

Stan Lippman, Sarah Rittenhouse,

Michael Wilson; editor michaelhwilson@q.com

Washington Libertarian Oct/Nov 2011

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Thank you, The Libertarian Party of Washington State

Let us know about your group so we can post it on the web site and in the news letter.
Vancouver area Libertarians: meets the 2nd Thursday of each month: For location see lpclarkwa.org for information.

Bellingham area Libertarians: meet 4th Friday, 1pm @ Grand Ave Ale House http://www.meetup.com/NW-Washington-State-Libertarian-Meetup-Group/ Spokane area Libertarians: for dates and times see; http://www.meetup.com/Spokane-Libertarians/

LPWA Chair Larry Nicholas will be in the Tri-Cities are on Oct 22 and in Spokane on Oct 25 for meetings with the local membership.

Locations have yet to be determined. Please check the blog http://lpwablog.blogspot.com/ or the website https://lpwa.org/Home_Page.html for more information. We will post details as soon as we have them.

Well done is better than well said. ~Benjamin Franklin

SEC Meeting

2011-09-06T20:20:00.001-07:00

The LPWA State Executive Committee will meet at LPWA office located at 10522 Lake City Way NE Ste C103 on September 17^th at 1 p.m.

The Benefits of Communications

2011-09-01T11:22:00.000-07:00

One of the unfortunate issues confronting us is the attitude by some elected officials that the public can’t be trusted to make the right decisions, or at least that is the impression I get from their public attitude related towards public participation.

Here in Thurston County we have a political drama being played out regarding property rights and the Critical Areas Ordinance, a law that is up for review. The ordinance itself is designed to protect habitat for certain species, one of which is our local gopher.

One significant problem is the questionable science behind this effort by the government, but what is irksome is that when the public has attempted to point this out they have been shut down. Those in control don’t seem to realize that the simple of act of keeping the lines of communication open is in their best interest as well as the public’s.

One of the best examples of successful communications is a company many are affected by but few of us know. That would be Lincoln Electric, manufactures of welding equipment. Lincoln Electric has set the standards for welding worldwide over the years of its existence. Beginning in the 1930s the company began bringing its employees together regularly to discuss internal issues. If an employee has found a way to do things better, then the company discusses the issue and they give it a try. The impact has been one where most employees feel they are a contributor to the company’s success.

Very seldom does this happen in politics. There are a few places in our nation where this kind of give and take is a practice. Brookline, Massachusetts is one of the largest towns in the nations that uses a form of the town hall meeting to discuss and handle local issues. Twice a year 250 of the town’s representatives come together to vote on the budget. Just imagine what it would be like if you could get 250 people in one place to discuss and vote on issues facing your community’s.

Keeping people involved in the decision making process helps to build confidence in the final decision.

BY the way you can find out more about Lincoln Electric on the web. The nation's business schools have done a number of studies on the company. You can buy the company’s books that outline their methods on the web site https://ssl.lincolnelectric.com/foundation/store.asp?PID=16&cat=8 for $5. May I suggest that interested readers begin with the title A New Approach to Industrial Economics.

And by the way Lincoln Electric pays out some of the best bonuses for working people in the nation. Their methods have worked for both the investors and the employees. Two way communications is beneficial to all.

End; MHW 9/1/2011

Foundation for Economic Education

2011-08-30T08:53:00.000-07:00

A number of informative videos from FEE can be found here

http://www.youtube.com/user/feeseminars

For those who love the Top Two Primary

2011-08-24T20:43:00.000-07:00

Okay here is an explanation of the two party system. Now this might help reporters and editors at your local paper understand how the system works a bit better.

An Evening with Reason in Seattle

2011-07-28T13:10:00.000-07:00

Please note that information related to the event on the 23rd is posted below.

On August 22-23, you are cordially invited to get to know Reason Foundation
at two events in Bellevue :

On Monday, August 22 from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Reason's Nick Gillespie
and Matt Welch will be discussing their new book The Declaration of
Independents: How Libertarian Politics Can Fix What's Wrong With America.
Please join Reason for a no-host dinner at:

Azteca Mexican Restaurant
150 112th Ave. NE
Bellevue, WA 98004
Map: http://bit.ly/ouXT2i

Twenty-first-century American politics are tied to an 18th-century system
dominated by two political parties, whose ever more polarized rhetorical
positions mask a mutual interest in maintaining a stranglehold on power.
The Declaration of Independents is a manifesto on behalf of a system better
suited to a future structured by the libertarian principles of free minds
and free markets. To find out more about The Declaration of Independents,
visit http://reason.com/declaration2011 for reviews, commentary, media
appearances, and other details.

Hey Metro. Wake Up! There is a solution to the transit problem

2011-07-26T17:54:00.000-07:00

This probably needs to be up dated but I don't have time now. It will have to wait.

In February 1915, 518 private jitneys in Seattle carried 49,000 passengers daily. (Jrn Law & Econ)

Opening the inner city transit market to private bus companies, jitneys, and ride sharing taxis regardless of whether they are corporations or mom and pop part-time businesses will provide other alternatives to the private car and help reduce consumption of fossil fuels resulting in cleaner air, a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions, slow the development of farm land, reduce city street congestion, save tax dollars and most importantly improve the lives of low income people while reducing the social problems associated with poverty.

Who Benefits from expanding transit services by opening the marketplace?

“The lack of personal mobility has economic, social and human costs, such as higher unemployment, reduced tax revenue, greater welfare and medical costs, and limited social potential.”

“Almost half of those without an automobile are persons 65 years or older, and of these, 81% are women.”
“...23% of full-time working mothers and almost 60% of part-time working mothers have non-traditional work hours. This reduces women’s ability to join carpools or find appropriately-scheduled transit options.”
“...nearly 40% of central city African-American households were without access to an automobile, compared to fewer than one of out five white central city households.”

Source: Using Public Transportation to Reduce the Economic, Social, and Human Costs of personal Immobility National Academy Press

A Brief History: The transit industry is one of the most heavily regulated in the nation. In many cities it is almost impossible for you to own a transportation business because of the rules.

Private cars called jitneys whose owners offered to carry passengers for a fee in the 1900s were the first victims of laws that were passed to protect the streetcars when jitneys began to appear on the streets about 1915. By the mid 1920s most cities had outlawed jitneys to protect the streetcar businesses which were owned by the electric utility companies.

Streetcars had been in decline for a number of years then in 1935 Congress passed the Public Utilities Holding Act that required the streetcar companies to be sold off from the electric companies that owned them. This led to the collapse of the streetcar business. The Supreme Court upheld the 1935 Public Utilities Holding Act in a 1946 decision known as North American Company v Security Exchange Commission.

In 1964 Congress passed laws that spurred the development of government operated local transit agencies.

Transportation Alternatives:

In the 1980s most of the public transit in England was turned over to private companies.

Helsinki, Finland: Fourteen private companies now operate much of the region’s bus service through competitive bidding. A 30% reduction in operating costs and a saving in subsidies has been achieved. Fares have been reduced by 12% and services expanded.

Stockholm, Sweden: In 1993 Stockholm began using private contractors to run their bus and rail system. Savings of nearly $150 million annually and reduced subsidies have been two improvements along with increased farebox revenue and more riders. Approximately 70% of the region’s bus service has been contracted out.

Copenhagen, Denmark: Similar results have been seen in Copenhagen where contracting out has been mandated by the Danish parliament.

Curitiba, Brazil: This transit system has been called one of the world’s best systems. With neighborhood circulators, intermediate services and express buses, all color coded, run by 16 private companies and overseen by a government agency this unsubsidized system is being copied by cities in other countries. With approximately 75% of the region’s 2.3 million daily commuters using the system, Curitiba sets an example of what can be done to build a modern effective service for a fraction of the cost when there is a willingness to innovate. Curitiba uses 25-30% less fuel then comparable cities which reduces air pollution giving Curitiba some of the cleanest air of any Brazilian city.

Reason and Drug Policy Forum

2011-07-26T10:12:00.001-07:00

Drug Policy Reform in the States

Reason is hosting a half day event featuring drug policy experts debating the merits of drug policy reform and discussing the state-level impact of the war on drugs. This event will take place immediately before the State Policy Network Annual Meeting in Seattle, August 23 - 26, 2011.

August 23, 2011

1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.

Hyatt Regency Bellevue

Seattle, WA

The event is free, and registration is required. Seats are limited, so register today by emailing Mary Toledo at mary.toledo@reason.org, or call Reason at 310-391-2245.

Featured speakers:

Roger Goodman, State Representative, 45th District, Washington State Legislature
Alison Holcomb, Campaign Director, New Approach Washington
Dale Gieringer, Director, California NORML
Jacob Sullum, Senior Editor, Reason magazine
Nick Gillespie, Editor in chief, Reason.com and Reason.tv
Matt Welch, Editor in chief, Reason magazine
Ethan Nadelmann, Executive Director, Drug Policy Alliance (Invited)

Topics covered will include:

What has the impact of drug prohibition been on the states?
Who is working for drug reform at the state level and why?
What is the status of drug reform initiatives in Washington state?
How has the war on drugs impacted cities across the U.S.?
How will the conflicts between state and federal drug laws be resolved?
What impact would relaxing drug laws have on crime and society?
What role can state think tanks play in the reform of drug laws?

To learn more about the SPN Annual Meeting, visit http://www.spn.org/events/2011-spn-19th-annual-meeting

The Libertarian Party of Clark County presents:

2011-07-10T20:00:00.000-07:00

Alternatives to Public Education

July 14, 2011

7:00PM to 9:00PM

Clark Public Utilities Community room; 1200 East Mill Plain Blvd, The Clark PUD Building !! Just east of I-5 at the Mill Plain exit (Across Ft. Vancouver Way from the old (now closed) public library, just north of Officers Row).
1200 Fort Vancouver Way

Please join us for an evening of discussion on alternatives and enhancements to public education. Listen to representatives from the Freedom Foundation, the Washington Homeschool Organization and Flex Homeschooling. After the prepared speakers there will be time for open discussion and questions.

LPWA june/july 2011 News & Views

2011-07-07T15:09:00.000-07:00

Libertarian Party of Washington

News & Views June/July 2011

Well we had a photo in this location but it won't copy to this blog, so we'll have to do without it.

MHW

This year Washington Libertarians gathered at the Phoenix Inn in downtown Olympia for their annual convention on May 21^st. The event kicked off in the morning with opening remarks from Larry Nicholas, Chair of the Convention Committee and David Wordinger, the party’s Vice-Chair.

Brandon Houskeeper, Policy Analyst & Director of WashingtonVotes.org, from the Washington Policy Center discussed this year’s legislative session and how we could expect things to turn out.

Following Mr. Houskeeper Diana Moore from Olympia’s Freedom Foundation addressed issues related to online education and election integrity and problems with the proposed National Popular Vote Amendment that is being promoted nationally.

Closing out the morning’s speaker was Dr. Jonathan Wright, of the Tahoma Clinic who spoke about a number of issues related to how medical problems are handled today and some of the lower cost, healthier alternatives that are readily available to us in today’s marketplace. Of particular interest to Libertarians should be HR 1364 the Free Speech about Science Act that would address the Food and Drug Administration’s censorship of information.

Larry Nicholas was elected as Chair and Michael Donahue as Vice Chair. Jim Culbertson was elected Treasurer, Miles Holden as Secretary. Elected as At large Representatives were Tom Spanos, Stan Lippman, Gene Hawkridge, Sarah Rittenhouse and Michael Wilson.

LPWA New & Views June/July 2011

Thank you Rachel and David

As we begin a new election cycle the LPWA has a number of issues to deal with, but before we forget we wish to extend a BIG THANK YOU! to Rachel Hawkridge who has stepped aside as Chair. Being Chair of the LPWA and working with the national committee takes a lot of time and effort and not to mention it can be very frustrating at times. As a long time activist Rachel has proved to be a benefit to the party. Whether it was collecting signatures for a campaign or attending a legislative session in Olympia she was in the front of the effort and she was a voice for staying true to the mission in her post on the Libertarian National Committee. Rachel is not going away and will continue to help with preparing the news letter for mailing.

To say that David Wordinger has been a big champion of our efforts would be an understatement. He has spoken at public events and been a voice for the movement in the Spokane area, most recently at a Tea Party event a few weeks ago. Anyone who has driven from Spokane to the western side of the state as often as Dave has in all kinds of weather and paying for it out of his own pocket to attend conventions and state committee meetings deserves some special praise from the rest of us.

Below is a speech Dave gave recently at the Tax Day Tea Party Rally in Spokane.

In a free market no person or company can force you to buy their products. If their product is unwanted or too expensive, it doesn’t get bought. In contrast, Government can force us to purchase high priced unwanted products; permits to work on your own house, licenses for jobs or to operate a business, bridges to nowhere, and Amtrak are a few examples. Unfortunately we do not live in a free market economy. If a company finds nobody is buying its products, it can buy a few legislators and have them pass laws mandating the use of their products, or legislating against competition. Some pollution controls, mandated use of biofuels, import quotas, and subsidies are examples. Politics is often described as a zero sum game since a gain by any individual or group necessitates a loss by another individual or group.

Whoever has the upper hand in government can impose their choices on others. Since government has granted itself a monopoly on the use of force, those in power can use the threat of imprisonment or even death to force others to act in the “correct” manner.

What if you developed a millimeter wave porno scanner you called a security device and nobody wanted it because it is expensive and ineffective at detecting threats? Well if you can get the director of Homeland Security to impose a requirement for them at airports you can make a lot of money. And so can the former director of Homeland Security if his company, Chernoff Group is paid to shill for Rapiscan, the manufacturer of the otherwise worthless product. Israel and other countries with an active terrorist threat don’t want it. It isn’t used in embassies around the world. Our military doesn’t use them to secure their bases. But Rapiscan and Chernoff were able to use the coercive power of government to force taxpayers to buy their product.

Gun control laws are another example of people misusing government force to control others. These laws are obviously unconstitutional both federally and here in the state of Washington. These constitutions do not grant rights, but affirm preexisting rights. Even without the Second Amendment, Article 1 Section 8 does not grant the federal government power to restrict ownership or use of firearms or any other weapon. This lack of authority is emphasized by the Ninth and Tenth Amendments.

In 2003, while the Clinton gun ban was still in effect, a federal review of the nation’s gun control laws by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found no evidence the laws reduce firearm crime. A year later the National Academy of Sciences issued a report showing no link between gun control laws and

LPWA News & Views June/July 2011

gun violence, crime or accidents. You may not have heard about these studies. Since they reached the wrong conclusion they didn’t get much dissemination. I chose to mention these two because they were made by gun control advocates and were unable to justify restrictions on our constitutional rights. Other studies have actually shown increased crime with more gun control laws.

You might think the lack of any legal foundation or statistical evidence of any benefit might deter those wanting to restrict other peoples’ freedom. Exercising their property rights, they can prohibit firearms in their house or on their property, but that is not enough for them. Since they personally can’t impose their wishes on you, they go to government and try to have laws passed forcing you to comply with their wishes.

After every tragedy involving a firearm, politicians and bureaucrats propose more gun laws supposedly to deter people who do not obey laws.

We Libertarians have a better idea. If you don’t like guns, don’t buy one. Sigmund Freud said, "A fear of weapons is a sign of retarded sexual and emotional maturity." Guidance for these immature individuals is provided by the NRA’s Eddie Eagle, who says, “If you see a gun: STOP! Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.

Another issue is the war on drugs. The individuals in support of the drug war can’t directly control others, but they can get laws passed to use the power of government to try controlling them. I say try, because, like gun control laws, they don’t work. Like the criminals who use firearms to commit crimes, people who want to abuse drugs are doing so.

Marijuana or Cannabis is a natural herb with proven medicinal benefits. Yes, like many other things, it can be abused, but many people who have used cannabis recreationally have not become addicted and have voluntarily quit using it for one reason or another. Perhaps for some, the reason for quitting was being elected president of the United States.

Last month the National Institute of Cancer published information about the cancer fighting powers of cannabis. It’s been well known cannabis has the benefits of appetite stimulation, pain relief, and improved sleep, but now the government has finally admitted there is evidence cannabis kills tumor cells and protects nontransformed cells.

The anti-tumor properties of cannabinoids were documented at least as early as 1975. Our government is just now recognizing this while still proclaiming cannabis has “no accepted medical use.”

Why is a substance with the beneficial properties of cannabis illegal?

William Randolph Hearst owned millions of acres of forest which he used to make paper for his newspapers. The hemp industry was becoming a threat to the wood pulp industry and threatened to cost Hearst a lot of money. At this same time DuPont was developing new plastics that had to compete with hemp. Unable to compete in the free market, Hearst and DuPont went to the government and worked to get hemp outlawed. Like early gun control laws, there were also racial reasons for making cannabis illegal. Cannabis was being used by poor immigrants to relax after a hard day’s work in the fields. Xenophobes and bigots didn’t like seeing minorities using cannabis, so they used the coercive power of government to control other peoples’ lives.

In the last legislative session there were a couple laws to make life easier for users of medicinal cannabis. Some of our state congresscritters claimed to support medicinal use of marijuana but were concerned these bills would might allow others to use cannabis. Let me translate that from politician speak to common citizen talk. They don’t care if your mother is suffering terribly while wasting away from terminal cancer, it’s more important to keep you from smoking. Some people must lie awake at night worrying that someone somewhere may be enjoying something. I have a suggestion for those people. If you don’t like cannabis, don’t use it. If you see any cannabis:

LPWA News & Views June/July 2011

STOP! Don’t touch. Leave the area. Tell an adult.

I recognize drugs, including cannabis are not entirely benign, but if you are honest you must recognize drugs don’t cause as much harm as the government’s failed war on drugs. This is recognized by doctors like Dr. Ron Paul, by law enforcement like Sheriff Richard Mack and the members Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, and true conservatives wanting smaller less intrusive government like William F. Buckley. Some people say we must enforce laws against drug use because that is the law. Yet they have a different opinion on gun control laws. How many of these people were calling for the prosecution of Bernhard Goetz when Mr. Goetz used an illegal handgun to defend his life on a New York subway?

In 1949, Ludwig von Mises wrote, “Opium and morphine are certainly dangerous, habit-forming drugs. But once the principle is admitted that it is the duty of government to protect the individual against his own foolishness, no serious objections can be advanced against further encroachments. A good case could be made out in favor of the prohibition of alcohol and nicotine. And why limit the government's benevolent providence to the protection of the individual's body only? Is not the harm a man can inflict on his mind and soul even more disastrous than any bodily evils? Why not prevent him from reading bad books and seeing bad plays, from looking at bad paintings and statues and from hearing bad music? The mischief done by bad ideologies, surely, is much more pernicious, both for the individual and for the whole society, than that done by narcotic drugs.”

Some of you may have noticed I support my Second Amendment rights and after this talk may suspect I use some form of illegal drugs. No, I have never used cannabis, opium, LSD, or any other illegal drug. But the shirt I’m wearing is made of hemp. The shirt is imported since this is another industry our government has chased offshore.

I am not advocating anyone engage in any self destructive activity. I’m only asking that you do not use the coercive power of government to force others to abide by your standards. Tolerance of actions that hurt no one else does not mean you accept or condone those actions. But recognize people cannot make the right choice if they are not allowed to make a choice. If you are not willing to grant choice and freedom to others, don’t be surprised when your actions are turned against you to limit your freedom.

I would like to close with a quote by Chief Joseph. “Let me be a free man, free to travel, free to stop, free to work, free to trade where I choose, free to choose my own teachers, free to follow the religion of my fathers, free to talk, think, and act for myself--and I will obey every law or submit to the penalty.”

Authored by David Wordinger 2011

LPWA News & Views is published by the Libertarian Party of Washington State. LPWA

10522 Lake City Way NE

Suite C-103

Seattle, WA 98125

Chair: Larry Nicholas

Vice Chair; Michael Donahue

Secretary: Miles Holden

Treasurer: Jim Culbertson

At Large Representatives:

Tom Spanos, Stan Lippman,

Sarah Rittenhouse,Gene Hawkridge

Michael Wilson; editor michaelhwilson@q.com

Do you have a business or service you would like to advertise to other Libertarians? A business card size ad in each issue of the news letter cost $25. Quarter of a page $45, half a page $ 80 and an entire page $150.

Send your ad copy along with payment to Libertarian Party of Washington State

10522 Lake City Way NE, Ste C 103

Seattle, WA 98125

Or email michaelhwilson@q.com with any questions.

I made a mistake and I need your help!

2009-07-28T13:42:00.000-07:00

When I set up the Convention this year and did the fundraising pitch, I made a mistake. I asked for credit card numbers.

Since Ruth Bennett (our Treasurer) and I took office, we have discovered that we have no way to process those cards. We have investigated several services and plans that would allow us to do so.

What we have found is that they are too expensive, and we just don't run enough credit cards to make it cost-effective.

So, if you made a monthly pledge at Convention, or if you read LPNews & Views, and want to make a pledge, here is how to do it.

Scroll down until you find the amount of a PayPal button that you like, and click it. If you don't like PayPal, go on down to the Donor Town Square button. Donor Town will allow you to make any size pledge, or one-time donations.

If this is a pledge you made at convention, then I would take it as a personal favor if you start your pledge and also make a one-time donation to cover the months of April 'til now. I know, it's a lot to ask of you, but you already knew I was a pushy ol' broad.

I want to thank you all - for all you do, for your donations, for your support, for your activism.

Now, go have a gentle day . . . :o)

$5 Monthly Pledge Button for PayPal
$10 Monthly Pledge Button for PayPal

$25 Monthly Pledge Button for PayPal
$50 Monthly Pledge Button for PayPal
$100 Monthly Pledge Button for PayPal

If you want to use PayPal for a monthly pledge and want a different amount than you see here, please eMail me - Chair@LPWA.org, and I'll make it happen.

To catch up your pledge, or to make a one-time donation -
Click this box to use Donor Town Square to make your pledge.

Donor Town costs us a little more, but not everyone likes PayPal. It's your gift, you decide how to deliver it.

Thanks again for investing in Liberty and the Libertarian party of Washington!

Outreach Opportunities! Fun! FREE!

2009-07-22T10:12:00.000-07:00

If you have not already, please go to LPWACommunity.org, and make sure that you have an account. This is our database, and it's how we'll contact you, or find you.

There are several outreach opportunities coming up. The first is . . .

Hempfest! August 15-16

Seattle Hempfest 2006 - Main Stage. Photo by Owl Jester.

The event spans three Seattle waterfront parks: Elliott Bay Park (North Entrance), Myrtle Edwards Park, and Olympic Sculpture Park (South Entrance).

Event hours are 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on both Saturday and Sunday. Admission to Seattle Hempfest is Free.

If you're not sure what Hempfest is about, there is more info here.

LPWA will have a booth and we need volunteers. We'll need a few to help set up at 8am Saturday, crews to work thru both days, and a few to help take down on Sun night at 8pm.

Vans Warped Tour! August 15

This is a fabulous day long music festival! Lots of fun, all day long, with the opportunity to work an outreach booth. We need 3-5 young, high energy, committed volunteers for this gig. At least one needs to be a driver, with a station wagon or small truck to carry the gear.

We need to put this team together this week, or we won't be able to do it.

The Olympia Hemp Love and Freedom Rally 2009 August 22-23

Free and open to the public. Originally founded in 2003 as the Olympia Hempfest but quickly grew into one of the cities major event in just a few years. Each year the Olympia Hemp, love, and freedom rally strives to break down the barriers and remind people about our heritage and our responsibility to come together and be active citizens.

DATE/TIME

SAT AUG 22nd 11AM-8PM
SUN AUG 23rd 11AM-6PM

More information here.

For more information, or to volunteer -- eMail Rachel at LPWA.com1@gmail.com or call 206.769.2492 -- if there is no answer, leave a page, not voice mail. Thanks! :o)

Seattle Independence - Waterfront Park

2009-06-29T12:04:00.000-07:00

Please join us for Seattle Independence Day Tea Party! I believe that this movement is at the forefront of the Second American Revolution. This revolution is going to be one of words and ideas; or hearts and minds, not violence.

Remember "Tank Man"? His story and his courage was incredible. This young man changed the world.

"He changed the Soviet Union." "What this young man did was in effect changed the world." (about 7:55 in the video)

The story continues . . .

The "Virus of Freedom spread" . . . and the protesters fed the army that they held hostage, gave them a seminar on freedom, and had their children work on the soldiers.

There are 8 videos in this series.

The message for me?

Never underestimate the power of one individual to change the world.

And also, that groups of people who agree on some things, working together, can effect long-term, worldwide change.

Communism has not been the same since, and has does not exist in some places where it was formerly predominant.

Are these Tea Parties the start of an American Revolution? Can we change our country?

Come join us - hear speakers discuss the erosion of civil liberties - the loss of our Liberty. Spend time with people of like mind. Bring flags, signs, literature.

We'll be at Waterfront Park (right next to the Aquarium) in Seattle from 1-3pm. Come down, join us, help clean up afterwards, and then head to Gas Works for Chase Family 4th at Lake Union.

There's also a cruise you could enjoy, lots of great stuff downtown, or shop at Westlake. The Aquarium is open regular hours (9:30 - 5), and Waterfront Park has some nice picnic tables right on the water.

If you would like to speak about loss of civil liberties, ballot access, smaller parties, TSA, the endless war, the endless war on drugs or have any questions regarding the event, feel free to contact Rachel at the following email:

Email: LPWA.com1@gmail.com

2009-06-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

I watched this on the anniversary of Tianamen Square - and I wept.

It hammers home the point - that one man, acting in courage, can change the world. In it, this man and the result of his actions, is credited with beginning the end of the Berlin Wall.

"He changed the Soviet Union." "What this young man did was in effect changed the world." (about 7:55 in the video)

And the next video (2/8) was no less inspiring.

The "Virus of Freedom spread" . . . and the protesters fed the army that they held hostage, gave them a seminar on freedom, and had their children work on the soldiers.

There are 8 videos in this series.

The message for me?

Never underestimate the power of one individual to change the world.

And also, that groups of people who agree on some things, working together, can effect long-term, worldwide change.

Communism has not been the same since, and has does not exist in some places where it was formerly predominant.

2009-05-11T16:30:00.000-07:00

Campaign season is almost here! If you’ve ever thought about running for office, it’s time to start planning.

Libertarian candidates have some choices to make. There are two ways to go.

The first is to run for a small, non-partisan office. This could be anything from a water or cemetery board to a school board. These are very winnable races. Where you don’t necessarily talk about your political beliefs, but you practice them. You influence policy. Make decisions, and actually govern. School boards are a great race for this. Do not expect that people will know that you are Libertarian, do not attempt to change the world overnight. Especially on a school board – this one should be handled carefully, but can be a launching point for a politician to actually get elected to higher office. Someone who has served on a school board for 4-8 years, putting in the time, the hard work, will have some reputation and network that may help to win a legislative, or city council race.

The second is to run an educational campaign. There might be a race in your district that has no opponent, or where you just have a particular passion, but not any real hope of winning. In this type of campaign, you would run a legitimate campaign, maximizing your exposure, taking every opportunity to speak to voters and to get out the Libertarian message. All the while knowing that there is not much chance of winning. These campaigns are generally run for education and information – a way to expose people to Libertarian ideas, and talk about better government.

No matter which strategy you decide on, never enter into a race for a job that you wouldn’t take, unless it is a strategy. For instance, one time Ruth Bennett ran for Lt. Governor on the platform that, if elected, she would abolish the office of Lt. Governor. Jack Tanner, and a couple of our Florida Libertarians, got elected to a board that accomplished nothing, and cost taxpayers a lot of money, and then they shut it down. All brilliant Libertarian strategists. Thank you, gentlepeople.

What do you plan to do? Need help deciding? Go to your county auditor, or secretary of State’s website, and see what offices are up for election this fall.

What sounds attractive or interesting to you? What fits with your interests, skills?

Once you have an office in mind, start doing the research.

What are the issues?

Is this office something that has been in the news recently? Corrupt? Incompetent?

Spending too much money?

Look up Voter Guide Statements for the race in past years.

Pay particular attention to the statement of the winner.

Start to write a statement that incorporates Libertarian values. Be careful that you don’t include any information that, no matter how true or Libertarian, has no connection to the office. (In other words, in a City Council race, you do not mention federal or state issues. This is not where you talk about your 911 Truth beliefs, or your Birther convictions, or your desire to build ZeroG space stations.)

Then start to prepare –

Get a photo taken – preferably a professional shot. Dress for a professional job interview (it is!), and be cautious about any emblems, symbols, or backgrounds. You want a photo that makes you look relaxed, confident, and approachable. Susan Hogarth reviewed a lot of candidate photos last season – I found it helpful.

Have you been in touch with your local LP affiliate to ask for endorsement, campaign help, volunteers? Do it now. This is also a good place to start to get help from Libertarians with your Voter Guide Statement and talking points.

Put together a list of friends, family, business contacts and organizations that you can ask for donations and help. Even people who don’t have money usually have something that they can help you with. Putting up signs. Sending out an eMail on your behalf. Phone numbers of people who do have money. Ideas.

Get online, and find a domain name. JoeSmithForCongress.org. Do not use JoeSmithForCongress.freewebs.com, or something like that. It should be simple, understandable, easy.

Now is the time to get online, if you haven’t already. Set up eMail accounts through Google which also gives you

Google Calendar (Great for scheduling candidate events! The entire team can access the calendar.),

Google Docs (for leaving Voter Guide Statement, photos and position papers, literature for events, etc.)

Get a Facebook account for the campaign. Be sure that it is used for only campaign things. No pictures of you doing beer bongs at a frat party. Which means be careful who you friend. Maybe the campaign account is named Willis Campaign, or Willis for Congress. Or rather than a whole account, set up a Fan page and group for the campaign.

Start a blog. I prefer Wordpress.com. You can download and host Wordpress on your own domain (best), but if not, or to start, get WillisForCongress.wordpress.com. You can move the blog later, or even just link from your website. On the blog, comment on news stories or developments that are current and germane to your race. Always offer a Libertarian solution.

Here’s an example of a blog entry . . .

"Pleasantville’s City Council plans to raise taxes by 30% to pay for the new park and rec center (make part of that sentence a link to the news story).

Since Libertarians prefer to spend within our means, and not burden your children for recreational facilities, I would first solicit private donations (in exchange for naming), then set up a system where users of the rec center would pay fees for classes, groups would pay rental fees to use the facilities, and businesses and individuals could either provide ongoing financial support or maintenance.

In this way, I estimate that we would only have to raise taxes 10%. Of course, my preference would be to wait until we could raise the complete cost of the facility from private sources and community fundraising before we broke ground and then support it through user fees. "

This example, while some would attack it as un-Libertarian, offers both the proposed Libertarian solution and a compromise. (Often, Libertarians in office find that they can reduce government by offering something less than the original “full meal deal”. Being the lone “No” vote may make you feel good, it really doesn’t accomplish anything. Making an amendment to a motion can begin some discussion in a meeting that just “No” doesn’t achieve. Offering people smaller government solutions helps to wean them off the habit of taxes extracted at the point of a gun. Who knows, maybe by the time a voter has read your blog and smaller government ideas for several months, they may actually be ready to face the idea of life without the all-encompassing government control!)

Start to tweet. Sign up at twitter.com. Use one of the link shrinkers to make the link to your blog entry tiny, and tweet it each time you blog. For example – Willis offers small government solution to 30% tax increase – http://is.gd/cBni. #tlot #liberty Don’t forget the appropriate hashtags – those #tlot and #liberty words at the end. They’re a “filing” system for twitter. More info on hashtags.

Now that you’re blogging, and tweeting, use the tweets as your Facebook status. This is a great way to stimulate discussion among your Facebook friends, and teach more about Libertarian philosophy. Add as many Facebook friends as you can within your voting district. Search for likely suspects, and add them.

Write letters to the editor that are basically your blog articles. You may have make some minor adjustments for format or clarity. Post them to local newspaper’s forums.

Take a few minutes to go to DonorTownSquare.com, PayPal.com and then ChipIn.com. Set up accounts at all of them. Add the widgets to all of your sites.

Since all of this can be a lot of work, and you haven’t even started the “real life” work of the campaign yet, consider having a truted volunteer of family member function as your “online campaign manager”. All of this can be done by a ghost-writer, even remotely. Your cousin George could be sitting in Berthoud, CO, writing your blog and conducting your online campaign for City Council in Portland, OR.

Now, starts the physical part. Doorbelling. One great candidate that I know started in early spring, walking his neighborhood, knocking on doors, introducing himself.

"Hi, I’m Willis, and I’m running for City Council this fall. I have this piece to let you know what I’m about, and I’d appreciate you taking a few minutes to take a look at it. It has contact information for me on it, and you can call or eMail me with any questions you might have. Have a great evening, and if you think my ideas sound good, I’d appreciate your vote."

He knocked on his neighbor’s doors several evenings a week and some weekends, and won the election in the fall.

Always attend neighborhood events, town celebrations, etc. They are great opportunities for networking and campaigning. And do I need to say it? Always have your pocket sized campaign piece in your pocket, and a slim jim or something when appropriate.

More later – the fun stuff, like public forums, interviews, candidate ratings . . .

End the Fed Protest - 4/25/09

2009-04-20T15:49:00.000-07:00

Come join us for the End the Fed protest on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at Victor Steinbrueck Park!

We have secured Victor Steinbrueck Park right at Pike Place Market. This is the park with the grassy knolls, at the north end of the market, right by the restaurant Turkish Delight (yum!) and Tully's.

Time: 10:00 am to 5:00 pm. Come for as much of it as you can.

Other info: Please bring your own signs and unleash your innate creative powers in doing this, they should be large enough to be seen from the street, dress is business casual so we don't look like anarchists, bring petitions for HR 833 and HR 1207, cameras, video cameras, and whatever else you think would be good!

This is *vital*. This is when we take our planning, emailing, social networking, meetups and then put it into action in the physical realm. We must hit the streets.

Thank you for all your efforts and your enthusiasm.

Let's join this peaceful protest and show the FED that we detest their private banking cartel!

Let's send a clear message that we support sound money and the abolishment of the Unconstitutional Federal Reserve.

Building on the success of the November 22nd Rally, Revolutionaries nationwide are meeting again to protest the Fed's establishment and support HR 1207 and HR 833. "Audit the Fed! Repeal the Fed!"

Will you join us?

Draft Minutes - Convention 2009

2009-04-20T15:43:00.000-07:00

DRAFT MINUTES

Libertarian Party of Washington State (LPWA)
State Annual Convention Business Meeting
Saturday, March 28, 2009; Hilton Garden Inn, Issaquah

BUSINESS MEETING CALLED TO ORDER by Scott Lindsley, Chair, at 10:03 AM.

Quorum report: 29 persons present, including 27 LPWA members, of whom 18 are credentialed.

Rules: Accepted as presented.

Agenda: On suggestion of the chair, Treasurer's report was added to the agenda and the agenda was accepted as modified.

"State of the Party" Chair's Report: We have experienced great connections and advancements, and great setbacks. Work continues on the top-two suit; we now have Orrin Grover representing us, since Richard Shepard has been unable to continue. Our website was hacked, and shut down by the provider; it's proving difficult to re-establish. We do have an on-line database accessible by members to update their own information: see lpwacommunity.org. The LPWA needs to put more energy and resources in supporting candidates for office.

M/S/P: Bruce Guthrie moves to accept all LPWA members present as voting delegates. Seconded and passed without dissent. (M/S/P will be used to indicate a motion was made, seconded, and passed.) We now have 29 voting delegates, as two more members have signed in since the quorum report.

Treasurer's report: Per the Treasurer, we're not in the red. We have a bank balance of $4272.38, compared to last years $4309.27. An itemized list of expenses can be made available. Note that fixed monthly expenses run about $700.

Next year's convention chair, and sub-committee chairs, will be named by the SEC at their next meeting, in late April or early May.

Election of SEC officers: Each office has a term of two years, starting in 30 days.

Chair: Rachel Hawkridge nominated, unopposed, and elected.

Vice-Chair: Dave Wordinger nominated, unopposed, and elected.

Treasurer: Ruth Bennett nominated, unopposed, and elected.

Secretary: Tamela Supchak nominated, unopposed, and elected.

Election of at-large SEC members: the following were nominated and elected:

Michael Donahue
Larry Nicholas
Gene Hawkridge
Michael Wilson
Richard Bonesteel
(Travis Wright was also nominated, but declined.)

Elect Judicial Committee Members: Need three for new three year terms, and one for a two year term to replace Ruth, who is now Treasurer.

Nominations for three year terms:

Tom Spanos
Robert Scott
Travis Wright
All elected on voice vote.

Nomination for two year term:

Jason Constantino
Elected on voice vote.

(The Judicial Committee is now:

One year remaining: Janet Anderson, Ed Pole, Brett Wilhelm.

Two years remaining: J. Mills, Richard Shepard, Jason Constantino.

Three years remaining: Tom Spanos, Robert Scott, Travis Wright)

Resolutions: Several resolutions were in hand, purportedly submitted by one 'Anton Grambihler'. No person of that name appears on our membership rolls, nor was anyone of that name present at the convention. Hence, it was M/S/P that all Anton's resolutions be referred to the SEC for appropriate action.

Candidates for Public Office: None presented themselves.

Platform revisions: Jason Constantino reports on behalf of the Platform Committee, suggesting several revisions. First, Jason moves that “Governments should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent” be added to the third paragraph of the preamble. This fails.

Jason moves that we add “making all medical expenses fully tax deductible” to the second bullet in the plank on healthcare. This fails.

Jason moves that we add a third plank, “Government Finance”, renumbering “Elections” as plank

4. Ruth moves to amend by combining first two bullets with a comma: “ . . responsibility, so governments should not . .”. After discussion, this motion fails.

(M/S/P) Pavel moves to divide the question into each bullet point (five sections).

(M/S/P) First bullet, “Fiscal responsibility”, carries.

Second bullet, “Governments should not . . .”, attracts much discussion.

(M/S/P) Bruce moves to substitute “Deep tax cuts and even deeper spending cuts to reduce the size of government and government debt.”

(M/S/P) to remove the first “Deep”.

(M/S/P) to remove “even deeper”.

Passed the substitute motion, which had become “Second bullet: Tax cuts and spending cuts to reduce the size of government and government debt.”

Third bullet: (M/S/P) to suspend the rules to consider last three bullets together.

Third, fourth, and fifth bullets Fail on voice vote.

(M/S/P) Bruce moves to add new third bullet, “Balanced budgets.”, to new third plank.

Constitution and Bylaws Committee: Jason presents the report of the committee, and (M/S/P) moves to accept Proposal B (adding “Paid current dues . . .” to the Delegate eligibility requirements). A motion to amend, addling life members and past officers to the eligible list, failed.

Good of the Order: Nothing presented.

At 12:29PM, a motion to adjourn was passed.

Submitted by Peter Wilkie, Secretary, LPWA.

April 2009

Seeking Candidates for 2009

2009-04-19T09:48:00.001-07:00

The Washington State Libertarian Party is seeking candidates for the 2009 elections.

Serving on a local level is one of the best ways to gather experience while actually promoting libertarian ideas in your community.

Here are some links to find out what races may be happening near you,

http://www.co.pierce.wa.us/pc/abtus/ourorg/aud/elections/main/cand.htm

http://wei.secstate.wa.gov/osos/en/candidatefiling/Pages/OfficesOpenforElectioncustom.aspx

http://www.secstate.wa.gov/elections/auditors.aspx

Let us know how we can help you in this endeavor.

Thanks!

The Tax Man Cometh!

2009-04-04T12:52:00.000-07:00

Tax Day Protests . . .

Please read this first!

Seattle Sons and Daughters of Liberty has listings for Everett, Mt. Vernon, Olympia, Seattle Spokane

More listings - includes Anacortes, Bellingham, Everett, Redmond, Tri-Cities, Yakima

Tax Party Links You'll Enjoy! Includes Google map.

Sign up to report - Pajamas TV, or HuffPo or just twitter, twitpic, etc. If you do reports, send details (copies, or twitter name) to LPWA.com1@gmail.com. I'll post them here.

Don't forget . . .
LPWA Tshirts
Cameras
Signs
Literature with Contact info - eMail LPWA.com1@gmail.com or call Rachel 206.769.2492 if you need some!

LPWA Convention Details! Lark, Novoselic, StandupEconomist

2009-02-17T14:47:00.000-08:00

On March 28, 2009

Convention begins 9:00 a.m.

Business Mtg. 10:00 a.m.

Plan on spending all day and evening with us! Dinner, speaker and entertainment included.

Hilton Garden Inn

1800 NW Gilman Blvd, Issaquah, WA



Highlights . . .

Business Meeting

-Time to elect a new Executive Committee!

South of the Border Buffet Lunch

Fajita style Chicken Breast with peppers & onions

Taco seasoned Ground Beef

Spanish Rice, Refried Beans

Pico de gallo, shredded cheese, lettuce, guacamole,

jalapenos, black olive &sour cream

With warm tortillas, crisp taco shells, tortilla chips & Black bean salad

With fresh Brewed Coffee, Herbal Teas, Assorted Bottles of Sodas and Fresh Baked Cookies

Great workshops!

            - Grassroots organizing

            - Social Media

            - Communicating Libertarian solutions to controversy

Enlightening speakers!



James W. Lark, III, PhD is a former chairman of the Libertarian National Committee and presently serves as a regional representative on the LNC for region 5-South. He is a founding director of the Libertarian National Congressional Committee.

Dr. Lark is the Local Affiliate Parties' Committee chairman and is heavily involved with campus outreach, both for Virginia and the national party. He has conducted organizing tours and workshops on this. He currently teaches a campus organizing course for the Libertarian Leadership School.

Professionally, he is an adjunct professor of systems engineering at the University of Virginia.

Dr. Lark will present an afternoon workshop on basic principles of community/campus organizing; and will be the luncheon speaker with his presentation entitled "Knee-Jerk Libertarianism: A Cure for a Common Disease."




Krist Novoselic, former bassist of Nirvana, Sweet 75, Eyes Adrift and Flipper; political activist and Seattle Weekly columnist, Chair of FairVote.org and author of "Of Grunge & Government: Let's Fix This Broken Democracy!" In the book, Novoselic discusses how Nirvana emerged as the world's biggest band of the early 1990s, how he got involved in politics and why we need electoral reform -- in particular full representation and instant runoff voting.

Krist will be our dinner speaker.

A wonderful dinner, with your choice of . . .

     - Roast Chicken glazed with Chipotle Barbecue Sauce     or

     - Spinach and Portabella Mushroom Vegetarian Lasagne

Both entrees include . . .

Garden Inn Signature Salad with House Dressing, Rolls and Butter,

Chef’s selection of starch, fresh vegetable & plated dessert

Freshly Brewed Coffee & Assorted Herbal Teas

ENTERTAINMENT!



Yoram Bauman, Ph.D.
The world's first and only
stand-up economist*
As seen on Comedy Central the PBS NewsHour with Jim Lehrer

* Among those who may take issue with this claim are "socialist magician" Ian Saville; Robert Mundell, Columbia, who won the Nobel Prize and appears regularly on Dave Letterman; Victor Fuchs, Stanford (pic); William Breit, Trinity; Peter Orazem, Iowa State; Ben Stein ("cited by Akerlof"); Tim Harford, "Dear Economist" author for the FT; Steven Tomlinson, UT Austin; Ariel Rubinstein, Tel Aviv University; David Powell, Boston Comedy Festival finalist and MIT grad student; Paul Solman, PBS's NewsHour with Jim Lehrer; Shaun Eli, a comic who graduated from the Wharton School; Steve Zanetti of Freeman H.S. (Richmond VA); and James Kurre of Penn State Erie. Apologies to all, and email me if you belong on this list. PS. As long as I'm apologizing, my video "Principles of Economics, Translated" contains two unattributed quotes ("9 out of 5" is adapted from a line attributed to Paul Samuelson---although apparently he said it about Wall Street indices, not macroeconomists---and "wrong about things" is paraphrased from P.J. O'Rourke's Eat the Rich) and, of course, the Einstein "simple" quote is an intentional misquote.

Other highlights of the day . . .

A Free Market – vendors and information tables

The SoapBox – where you can have a moment with the microphone and a captive audience

Social Gathering – have an adult beverage or lots of hydrogen hydroxide with Libertarian friends

The opportunity to join the LPWA Coffee Club, meet National LP leaders, elected Libertarians and famous comics!

All at the Hilton Gardens Inn in blossoming Issaquah – a jewel on the Eastside of Lake Washington, just a short drive from Seattle.

Get tools to take away and use!

Act now - EARLY registration . . . until February 20, 2009

                    only $109!

The full day, including three meals, an evening of entertainment, workshops, tools, social opportunities and LOTS of FUN is only $119 after Feb. 20th

Special student rate $85

Work/study program for students who will work for 4 hrs $50 – limited number of students at this rate

Or special dinner deal – Dinner, speaker Krist Novoselic, and comic Yoram Bauman only $55!

To register -

Go here and make a donation for the correct amount - $109 until Feb 20, $119 after Feb 20, Student $85, Work/Study $50

Then send eMail to LPWAConvention@gmail.com with . . .

1. your name,

2. contact information (address, phone, eMail), and

3. dinner choice - chicken or veggie.

If you want to do a work/study deal ($50 student rate) - I'll need to talk to you about when you wish to work during the convention.

It's going to be a great time! See you then.

We are looking for . . .

1. Vendors - do you have a book, DVD, or other product? Want to promote your business?

2. Advertisers - promote your business or sell your stuff.

3. Sponsors - In-kind donations or scholarship for students.

4. Volunteers also cheerfully accepted.     :o)   eMail LPWAConvention@gmail.com

Top Two Forward!

2009-01-08T20:17:00.000-08:00

Top Two Forward!

The Washington State Libertarian Party is at the forefront of a critical legal battle to preserve the fundamental right of free association.

We’ve been in court against the State of Washington and the Grange sponsored I-872 - Top-Two primary.

With this new election system, any candidate can say they prefer the Libertarian Party on the public ballot.

This is a problem because privacy - for the individual and whomever they choose to associate - should be protected in the United States. With the Top-Two election, the State of Washington has, in effect, put our party’s name in the public domain.

As a private association, Libertarian Party members have gone through the process of drafting and ratifying our platform - which is a statement to voters about our values and policy goals.

Good and freedom loving people volunteer time and resources to our organization.

If Washington’s new Top-Two election is allowed to continue, there will likely not be a Libertarian Party anymore. Why have a private political association when any candidate - regardless of what they really believe - can claim our party’s name as a preference on the ballot? We have no say at all preventing any interloper or opportunist from usurping our good name for the public ballot.

We have been waging a battle for some time to protect our associational right to privacy. We’ve already gone all the way to the US Supreme Court. Now the case has been remanded to lower courts and that’s why we’re contacting you.

We are standing in the courtroom next to two unusual partners - the Washington State Democratic Party and the Washington State Republican Party. We have issues in the case exclusive to our party regarding the legal trademark of the name Libertarian. We must fund our own legal team. We need to stay in this fight or our side of this case may never be heard!

And for this we need every ounce of support you can give.

We must act immediately to present our case in the strongest possible way.

Please help us get the resources we need to protect private association. If we don’t fight this intrusion from The State, there very well may not be a Libertarian Party - or any other grassroots political organization - anymore.

Please give now to paypal at lpwa.org (add the @ to get an actual account)

Scott~

For more details please visit: http://www.rankedchoice.blogspot.com/

Ranked Choice and Top Two Articles

2008-12-01T21:59:00.000-08:00

Tune in to Kelly Haughton's Blog (now with RSS feed) for update about RCV in Pierce County and also about the Top Two Primary in Washington State. His recent post is an update on the 2008 Pierce County Elections.

Here's the link: http://www.rankedchoice.blogspot.com/

Please help fight the 'Top Two Forward' primary by donating to the LPWA at:

http://lpwa.org/contribute/

Then goto the action item page at:

http://tinyurl.com/LPWA08ActionItem

The Bane of the LPWA, The "Wasted Vote Myth"

2008-09-25T00:20:00.000-07:00

Person on the street A, "Yeah, I like your candidate, but I really hate Mccain, so I am voting for Obama this year. We can't have another four years of the bush doctrine!"

Person on the street B, "Obama is a socialist and if he gets in there will be welfare for the illegal immigrants and handouts for everyone. I like your candidate, but I have to vote for Mccain."

To the people on the street, and for anyone pondering about how you can ever justify voting for a Libertarian in the presidential race when so much is at stake, let me offer a few simple observations.

We use the electoral college in America for this particular race. On top of that washington has been, typically, one of the most blue states in the union.

True, we have many who are fond of the Bush agenda and defend it to absurd lengths, but again, we use the electoral college to elect our president.

Even if this were not the case I would still argue for voting for the person you believe is best suited for the job, not the lessor of evils.

But let's get more specific than that.

The 2008 Washington State Electoral Race- The Obama/Mccain race 08`

Washington state (and likely the country) will go to O'bama. I would really be amazed if Mccain could even come close to him in this state.

Since we use the electoral college, you are free to vote for who you truly believe in AND it is beneficial if want to send a message to the top two parties that you will not take their waste and abuse.

I have felt good about every vote I have ever cast.

Also, I often tell people who are thinking of voting for the republican or democrat for whatever reason, that this is their choice, but come down and volunteer for the libertarians. Give them money. Do something to help grow the voice of dissent against the abuses of our system.

The Democrats and the Republicans have traded off being in charge, and they have neither reduced spending nor the constant growth of the number of laws used to violate the rights of we the people.

Best wishes and always know that we will ALWAYS be fighting for your rights, no matter who you vote for,

Scott Lindsley~
Chair, Libertarian Party of Washington State

www.LPWA.org

A Call to Action for Washington Libertarians!!!

2008-09-23T00:59:00.000-07:00

Dear friend of the Libertarian Party of Washington,

America needs your help urgently! The gravest threat to our individual liberty since passage of The Patriot Act is upon us. Unless We The People make our dissent heard, the US Congress is about to impose an economic dictatorship that will nationalize the American banking industry.

I choose my words carefully. Section 8 of Treasury Secretary Paulson’s proposal* states “Decisions by the Secretary pursuant to the authority of this Act are non-reviewable and committed to agency discretion, and may not be reviewed by any court of law or any administrative agency.”

Stop and re-read that sentence. It gives the Treasury Secretary unlimited power to do whatever he wants, without fear of a court looking over his shoulder. Because it violates the Rule Of Law by prohibiting judicial review, it gives the Treasury Secretary permission to ignore the US Constitution. The limitation implied by “pursuant to the authority of this Act” is a sham, because no court will be permitted to dispute the Secretary’s idea of what that phrase means. At the least, the US Government will be able to seize private property without just compensation. At the worst it permits suspension of all civil rights, including the ability to speak out against the act once it is enacted. There is no limit to the authority given the Treasury Secretary in this proposal.

Another part of Secretary Paulson’s proposal nationalizes the American financial sector. This is not hyperbole. Section 2(b)(3) authorizes the Treasury Secretary to be “designating financial institutions as financial agents of the Government, and they shall perform all such reasonable duties related to this Act as financial agents of the Government as may be required of them.” The word “reasonable” is designed to calm people’s fears, but it will not limit government action in the least. The word will mean anything the Secretary says it does, because courts will not be permitted to question his definition. This section gives the Treasury Secretary dictatorial power over all financial institutions.

Section 9 is a sunset provision. I expect it will be as effective as those in the Patriot Act were.

When Secretary Paulson tried to justify these proposals on This Week With George Stephanopoulos, the host said “Conservatives are saying this smacks of Socialism.” Paulson responded by saying how he was opposed to intervention, but finished with “I would just tell you it’s necessary right now.”

The Libertarian candidate for President, Bob Barr, disagrees. “Capitalism involves losses as well as profits. When government tries to insulate businesses and investors from paying for their mistakes, we all lose. In a Barr administration, there would be no more corporate bailouts or takeovers. The days of loss-free capitalism would be over."

I will give you more details in a moment, but I think you are getting the idea of what a pernicious idea this bailout proposal is. These three sections alone make this proposal every bit as dangerous as The Patriot Act. It must be stopped before our entire financial system is nationalized into another government agency as efficient as FEMA.

Here are three things you can do to protect our financial freedom and civil liberties:

FIRST: call both your US Senators. Say “I want my Senator to vote AGAINST the bailout proposal when it comes up for a vote this week.”

SECOND: call your US Congressman. If you aren’t sure who that is, go to http://www.congressmerge.com/onlinedb/ and plug your address into the form on the left. The website will tell you who your Congressman is, and will give their DC phone number. USE THAT NUMBER to tell your Representative that you want them to vote NO when the bailout comes up for a vote this week.

THIRD: Write letters to the editors of your newspapers. Email them if possible so they have the chance of getting printed quickly. Keep them to less than 250 words. If you concentrate on only one part of the bailout proposal in your letter, it is more likely to be printed. Make sure you include your name and your cell phone number, because most papers call letter writers to confirm that they are the ones who wrote it.

I told you I would give you more details about other dangers posed by the bailout proposal. It ain’t pretty.

The act authorizes the Secretary to buy up mortgage related assets from any American financial institution. When the Chinese and the Saudis sell their bad mortgage paper to Goldman Sachs, this act requires the government to buy it -- essentially forcing America to bail out foreign investors.

The proposal lets the Secretary enter into contracts without regard to current legal restrictions. So much for competitive bids. It will be a return to $400 toilet seats.

Libertarians aren’t angry about the cost of this proposal. No, we’re angry that even one penny of taxpayer money is being used. The figure you are hearing in the news, $700-Billion-with-a-B, demonstrates the carelessness of the media. Under the proposal, the Secretary’s authority “shall be limited to $700-Billion at any one time.” No limit on how many transactions in a day, just at one time. The potential price tag on this proposal is every single dollar in America.

This proposal will undermine the stability of the American financial system. Why?

Ø Because it guts our capitalist system. Why should anyone start a business when the government has given itself the power to take over entire industries?

Ø Because it destroys the Constitutional guarantee of the sanctity of private contracts. Why sign any contract when the government has given itself the power to override them?

Ø Because it puts every financial transaction in America under the dictatorial and arbitrary control of an unelected bureaucrat, the Secretary of the Treasury. So much for personal responsibility. So much for freedom.

Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr says “President Bush should fire Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson. We need a Treasury Secretary who can be trusted with the keys t o the taxpayer vault. It is imperative for Congress to explicitly limit the authority of the Federal Reserve. The Fed was not created to take over parts of the U.S. economy. Its authority must be limited and its officials must be held accountable for their actions,” says Barr.

The Libertarian Party of Washington thanks you for acting on this alert. Our economic freedom, our personal liberty, and our libertarian way of life are at stake!

Other things you can do:

VOTE LIBERTARIAN on November 4th, and contribute to our candidates’ campaigns.

Thanks for everything you do for Liberty!

* Copy of the proposal in the WSJ:
http://blogs.wsj.com/economics/2008/09/20/treasurys-financial-bailout-proposal-to-congress/

Washington State needs . . .

2008-08-31T18:31:00.000-07:00

. . . Ruth Bennett! Ruth is a Libertarian candidate for Legislative Dist No. 37 - Position 2. Her campaign is in need of a web designer, and anyone who can help with campaign activities. If you have any experience as campaign staff, or web designer, and would like to help an awesome Libertarian candidate to get elected, please eMail BennettRuth@comcast.net.

. . . LP News & Views! We are in the process of putting out a state LP newsletter. If you would like to help, or if you have some piece of news that we can use, eMail LPWA.com1@gmail.com, with Newsletter in the subject line.

. . . you! If you want more Liberty, less Government, then you need the Libertarian Party. Join us.

A Successful Convention

2008-05-03T14:32:00.000-07:00

From the business meeting to the Presidential Panel, this was a great event!

To watch more of the video from the event please visit: LPWA 2008 Convention

2008 Washington State Libertarian Party Convention Agenda

2008-03-15T15:36:00.000-07:00

April 19th at the Titlow Lodge the Washington State Libertarian Party will host its 2008 Convention!!!

Note CHANGED Schedule-

10:00 Registration

10:10 Opening - followed by Business Meeting

12:00 Lunch - Fajita Buffet

12:10 Dr. James Peet – Law Enforcement Against Prohibition

1:30 Initiative 1000 "Death with Dignity"

1:45 Presidential Candidate Forum - Just in - Senator Gravel confirmed!

We'll have Senator Mike Gravel, Mike Jingozian of Angel Vision and RESET America, Dr. Mary Ruwart, author and ethicist; Wayne Allyn Root, Las Vegas sports handicapper and TV personality; and Dr. George Phillies, Professor of Physics and researcher. These people have put their time, treasure and personal reputations on the line in the cause of Liberty, and we're excited to hear their ideas for how to begin to solve some of our country's current problems.

3:45 Adjourn

You can register here-
http://www.lpwa.org/convention2008/register/

*Time subject to change.

**According to the bylaws of the Libertarian Party of Washington State only credentialed party members can vote in the business meeting. To be credentialed you must have donated at least $120 or 12 hours of volunteer time to the LPWA in the prior year.

2008 Washington State Libertarian Party Convention ~ Extra!!!

2008-03-09T15:23:00.000-07:00

We offer (on availability):

1 Wi-Fi for the bloggers and
2 Carpool (e-mail lpwaconvention at gmail.com with 'carpool need' or 'carpool offer' in the subject line.)
3 Vendor displays for your business/organizations (contact lpwaconvention at gmail.com for more details)
4 A drawing for any new monthly donor or any current monthly donor that increases their pledge by $10 or more. Goto http://lpwa.org/contribute/

If you would like to support the Washington State Libertarian Party, please do so by going to our online donation page and start a monthly pledge. It makes each step of progress that we take possible. Here is the Link:

___________________

Press Release:

What do a Doctor of Physics, a millionaire sports handicapper and TV personality, a Doctor of Biophysics who authored "Healing Our World In An Age of Agression", the former senator who read 4100 pages of the Pentagon Papers into the Congressional Record, and an internet movie entrepreneur all have in common?

According to Rachel Hawkridge, Convention Chair for this year's Libertarian Party Convention, "They're all Presidential Candidates, all Libertarian, and they'll all be here on Saturday, the 19^th of April."

"Libertarian Party candidates are always interesting," says Hawkridge, "they're intelligent, insightful, and usually a lot of fun. We'll have Senator Mike Gravel, Mike Jingozian of Angel Vision and RESET America, Dr. Mary Ruwart, author and ethicist; Wayne Allyn Root, Las Vegas sports handicapper and TV personality; and Dr. George Phillies, Professor of Physics and researcher. These people have put their time, treasure and personal reputations on the line in the cause of Liberty. We're excited to hear their ideas for how to begin to solve some of our country's current problems."

The audience will have the opportunity to submit questions during lunch, and questions will be chosen from the audience pool. Join us in this intimate and informative environment.

The LP Convention will be held at Titlow Lodge in Tacoma, from 10am – 4pm. The cost is only $55, and you can register at www.lpwa.org/convention2008.