Greeting
From the Chair
From the Political Director
Special Candidate Pitches
Getting Michigan to Work Again
Hemp Bills Introduced in Michigan
Hot off the Liberty Line
A Special Letter to Michigan Business Owners
Collage from March on the Mack and More

Quote of the Month
Photo/Cartoon of the Month

Book/Movie
Past Blast
Letters
Contacts
Calendar

NO TIME TO LET UP!

Making it short and sweet: Yesterday, I put the finishing touches on a campaign mailer, had an endorsement interview with the local media, participated in the League of Women Voters debate, started cleaning the list to mail to the absentee voters in my district, and answered a survey from the Ann Arbor Arts Alliance. And I’m not even an active candidate! 

October will be crunch time for all Libertarian candidates, their families and campaign teams.  Let’s push through these final 33 days with our best efforts.  You’ve already sent a message—that Michigan is ready for real change to fair, open and honest government—and you’re going to make a difference on November 2nd.

IN MANY RACES THE ONLY LIMITED-GOVERNMENT
CANDIDATE IS LIBERTARIAN
by Bill Hall (politics@mi.lp.org)

The August primary election results created some great opportunities for the Libertarian Party. For Governor, Republican Rick Snyder is universally recognized as being a Milliken “moderate” Republican. Anxious to impose a new corporate income tax. Unwilling to do anything that might offend unionized labor. Just slightly more fiscally responsible than the Democratic candidate, Virg Bernero. And Snyder is so far ahead in the polls, that it’s easy for Libertarian Governor candidate Ken Proctor to argue that a vote for a limited government Libertarian is unlikely to sway the election result to the Democrat. A Libertarian vote is the only way to cast a vote for limited government.

Tea Party supporters pushed the Republican primary election turnout to historic highs. Yet very few Tea Party-supported candidates won Republican nominations. And to add insult to injury, the Republican leadership effectively neutralized the Tea Party majority attending the Republican state convention. They conveniently fumbled the delegate credentialing process, and refused to hold a counted vote for the Lieutenant Governor nomination. The Tea Party coalition did the hard work of playing by the rules, and was robbed. The Republicans nominated the same career politicians they’ve been nominating for years. And many angry Tea Party partisans are looking to the Libertarian Party as their obvious alternative in November.

Many more legislative seats are “in play” this year than the past. Term limits have left a majority of seats without an incumbent candidate. And an angry electorate has created the possibility that even some of the most gerrymandered seats are no longer “safe”. In this environment, our slate of 58 federal and state legislative candidates does matter. They will vitally impact the outcome of their races. They will draw votes and gain media attention.

We are in the home stretch. Absentee ballots are arriving in mailboxes. Yard signs are sprouting in yards across Michigan. Don’t let this opportunity slip away. Now is the time to campaign with a principled Libertarian message of fair, open and honest limited government.

Visit the Campaigns Page at www.mi.lp.org

To learn more about our Libertarian Party candidates on the Michigan ballot in November, visit the Libertarian Party of Michigan website at www.mi.lp.org and click on the "Candidates" tab. There you will find a complete list of the LPM's 83 candidates for office, and links to those candidates with their own web pages. With the help of the LPM, 73 candidates have a website where you can learn more about their campaign, and contact them to contribute or help out. Do it today!

This column arises from two campaigns who are making "particular arguments" for the relative importance of the race they're in, and certainly not to diminish other important Libertarian candidacies in the state. Please review our list of fine candidates—most of them with Websites—at this page from the LPM Website (http://michiganlp.org/Shared%20Documents/candidates.aspx).
— bw

JIM ROGERS FOR US CONGRESS
by Bill Gelineau

The Libertarian Party of West Michigan is running a record number of candidates for public office this fall, but one campaign stands out as the most active – Jim Rogers for US Congress in Michigan’s 3rd District. Here’s a bit about Jim’s campaign – I hope you’ll agree that it deserves your support.

Jim is one of the most active and motivated Libertarian candidates in Michigan. While stepping into his first race for the Party, he has demonstrated a commitment to principles, put some skin in the game, and led the way in helping organize and motivate the West Michigan core activists to reach for their best showing ever. Jim has pledged to run a professional and active campaign to ensure that the Libertarian Party stays on the radar in West Michigan.

Jim’s main opponent, Republican Justin Amash, has talked extensively about liberty and personal freedom. Jim’s presence in the race will make sure that the rhetoric and pledges don’t drift into traditional West Michigan conservatism. Jim will go toe to toe in debates and other venues to ensure our message is heard. In a short time,

Jim has become an outstanding and articulate spokespeople for changing the expectations of voters about the purpose of government. He understands, as you do, that as long as government sells itself as the solution to all our problems, politicians will ask even more of taxpayers. This campaign is committed to an alternative vision. Let’s give Jim the support he needs to keep both his campaign and the Libertarian Party as serious contenders in West Michigan.

In addition to Op-ed pieces, appearances on the radio, and a planned radio blitz in October, we are at the beginning of a wider effort to bring the Libertarian Party fully into the discussion this year. We’ve already distributed over 1000 – “New Vision for America” Libertarian Party brochures. Please help us ensure that Libertarian ideas are part of November’s campaign. We need your help to make it happen.

Yard signs, direct mail, brochures, and advertisements are expensive. We hope to raise at least $10,000 to implement our plan – and we’re 50% of the way there. Your donation of $20, $50, $100 or $500 will go a long way to make sure that the voters in Michigan have an effective Libertarian choice. No matter what you can send, it will make a difference – we hope you might consider sending something. We want to have just as many contributors as the other guys.

FLASH UPDATE! At the Libertarian Party of West Michigan meeting Tuesday night, contributions pushed us over the FEC limit! In summary – Jim’s the right Libertarian candidate at the right time. He deserves our support. He’s doing his part – help him have the resources to give them a fight. Please help if you can, and do it today. It’s easier than ever…just go to our website and click ‘Contribute’ where you may either use a credit card or print a mail-in pledge form. www.rogersforcongress2010.com

Bill Gelineau, Campaign Manager
616-723-2776

HELP ME WIN FOR PRIVACY AND FAIRNESS
by Scotty Boman

Dear Loyal Libertarian Compatriot:

It’s election season and I know that both your e-mail box and snail mailbox will be stuffed with letters and literature between now and November 2nd, so let me come right to the point. I have the honor of having been nominated by the LP for what is – for us “minor” parties – the single, most important office in state government: Secretary of State.

Why, you may be wondering, when the voters will be electing a new governor (chief executive), attorney general (chief law enforcement officer) and an entire legislature (both houses), is the office of Secretary of State so important to us? Here are two, purely partisan, reasons:

1. This is the state office responsible for everything associated with elections – including both administering the voting process and regulating campaign finances. These are of much greater concern to us than they are to the well-connected, well-heeled, “major” parties.
2. The order of placement on the ballot of political parties is based on the number of votes cast for their candidates for Secretary of State in the preceding election. The Libertarian Party of Michigan has not run a candidate for Secretary of State recently. That is why our party, despite receiving far more votes for our candidates than all the other “minor” parties added together, is currently listed last on the ballot.

But this election is also an opportunity to raise a very important public policy issue that is uniquely relevant to the campaign for Secretary of State for two more reasons:

1. Although it has not received much attention from the mainstream media, there has been an enormous backlash among our fellow-travelers in the freedom movement – especially in the loosely organized “Tea Party” – against the federal “Real ID.” In fact this George W. Bush administration mandate that states modify their drivers licenses to allow them to be compiled into a single database became so radioactive that the Obama Administration has relabeled it: “Pass ID.” (What? You didn’t seriously think that the ‘Change we can believe in’ would be anything more than the name, did you?)
2. By making repudiation of this proposed national ID – enthusiastically supported by the (now termed-out) Republican incumbent, incidentally – our signature issue we can force the old party candidates (especially the Republican) to address it. This will do at least one of two things. Either move them to our position. Or if they stubbornly resist, get us a whole lot of votes. It will probably do both.

While out on the campaign trail I have already seen the power and effectiveness of this strategy. With the deluge of ads and media coverage surrounding the old party primaries you may not have noticed that they nominate their candidates for Secretary of State the same way we do – at state party conventions. So it's no surprise that their candidates for that office have been vigorously courting their party precinct delegates.

For an issue that doesn’t get much press the Republican candidates for Secretary of State have been climbing over one another, trying to convince delegates that each is the most pro-privacy/anti-Real ID in the field. As Libertarians, you and I know full well that once nominated these candidates will slip back into the same old routine, saying as little as possible to get past their major party opponent and into office. Whichever old party candidates finally secure the nominations will simply return to business-as-usual.

UNLESS… we are there to hold their feet to the fire! That is why it will be essential in the weeks leading up to the election that we offer a high-profile, Libertarian alternative. Your contributions will not only provide the usual (but essential) brochures, etc., to distribute at Tea Party events and such, but will also allow me to create “viral videos” (free distribution through the Internet!), as well as pay for as many carefully-targeted, “talk radio” commercials as we can manage to a sympathetic audience. Please contribute here: http://www.lpwm.org/ScottyBoman/contribute.php

In liberty,
Scotty Boman

PS: Whatever else may come of my campaign, I am absolutely determined to move the Libertarian Party back up the ballot to the top of the list of alternatives to the two older parties. Please be as generous as you can in your support.

Mark Byrne—respected 2009 Libby Winner—served for a number of years as a Libertarian on the Port Huron City Council. Obliged by the Great Recession to move to another state (North Carolina), he nonetheless remembers his fellow Michiganians and what we've had to endure with bad, ineffective government. Here is a letter to his former community, printed in the Port Huron Times Herald. Right on!

THANK YOU PORT HURON...
FOR TEN YEARS OF TAX EDUCATION

Thanks and good luck to those of you who understood my message that Michigan is not competitive at attracting jobs. The Michigan economy will not create jobs until voters elect candidates who understand the tax structure in Michigan is broken. Until then, Michigan will pay to educate our children so they can move away and pay taxes in another state where they can find jobs.

North Carolina is one of the states with a better tax structure.

North Carolina has no job-killing 18-mill nonhomestead property tax. Michigan's politicians choose a tax they think will pass every time by saying it will cost you nothing. This tax has cost you thousands of good jobs. For many grandparents, it undermines their chance to watch their grandchildren grow up because their adult children move elsewhere for job opportunities.

North Carolina's property tax is simple. It taxes 100% of the assessed value instead of 50%. Why complicate the calculation other than for the illusion of giving the taxpayer a break? North Carolina property tax errs in favor of the taxpayer. In Michigan, everyone knows their houses are assessed for more value than they can be sold. In North Carolina, assessed values are lower than the price for which homes are sold.

The Michigan Constitutional requirement that assessed values are at 50% is ignored. The assessors instead use a statistically flawed method to exclude many home sales. They compare each sale this year to a previous year's data to determine which are outliers. Statistically, you can only compare this year's sale to this year's data to determine if it is an outlier. Not one of the state representatives or state senators I contacted would ask the attorney general to issue an opinion on this unconstitutional practice.

North Carolina's total property tax rates are low. For any business near my North Carolina house, the rate is 5.35 mills, the equivalent of 10.7 mills in Michigan's system. Kimball Township is at 39.77 mills, and Port Huron is 55.33 mills. When Michigan offers a five-year, 100% tax abatement in Port Huron, a company choosing Port Huron would pay 2½ times as much in property taxes in 10 years than it would in Catawba County, N.C. That is with no tax abatement and no begging politicians for special breaks.

North Carolina has fewer government layers. You pay a county property tax. If you reside within a city limit, you also pay the city's property tax. Each county runs the school district and the fire department. North Carolina property taxes are timely. As I have suggested Port Huron do, property taxes are due in early January, so you can double up on itemized deductions one calendar year and take the standard deduction the next keeping more money in your pocket and the local economy.

North Carolina applies the tax burden more evenly on products not made in North Carolina by having lower property taxes and a higher sales tax. The North Carolina sales tax is 8% as compared to 6% in Michigan. Manufacturers do not pay sales taxes, so they create jobs where property taxes are lowest.

Michigan can become the lowest property tax state. MiFairTax.org calculates a 9.7% sales tax in Michigan could replace property taxes along with the state income tax in Michigan. Catawba County, N.C., recovered from the loss of the textile industry and the furniture industry because it attracted new job creators. It attracted new jobs because it has a better tax structure. In this election, ask the candidates where he or she stands on the Michigan Fair tax. Vote for a brighter future in Michigan.

by Brian Wright
LPM Webmaster

PLEASE WRITE AND CALL YOUR STATE REPRESENTATIVES
ASK THEM TO GET HEARINGS FOR HB 6480, HB 6479, AND HR 314

This article cribbed from the Vote Hemp Newsletter at VoteHemp.com.

Two new bills were introduced in Michigan this week! HB 6480 is an industrial hemp farming bill and HB 6479 is an industrial hemp study bill. Both were introduced by Representative LaMar Lemmons and were referred to the Committee on Agriculture. Two months ago HR 314 was introduced and was referred to the Committee on Commerce. The bill is a resolution that asks Congress and the administration to recognize industrial hemp and remove barriers to farming the crop once again.

We need your help. If you are a Michigan resident please call and email Rep. Huckleberry, Chair of the Committee on Agriculture, and ask him to hold hearings on HB 6480 and HB 6479, the industrial hemp farming and study bills.

You can phone Rep. Huckleberry at (517) 373-0834 and email him at MikeHuckleberry@house.mi.gov.

We also need you to call and email Rep. Jones, Chair of the Committee on Commerce, and ask him to hold a hearing for HR 314, the industrial hemp resolution.

You can phone Rep. Jones at (517) 373-1785 and email him at robertjones@house.mi.gov.

It would also be very helpful for your state representative to become a sponsor for these bills. If you don't know who your representative is you can use the Find a Rep tool to easily figure it out. Please call and email them and ask them to become a sponsor for HB 6480, HB 6479 and HR 314 and for them to work for committee hearings for the bills.

It is especially important to make these calls and emails if your representative is on the Committee on Agriculture and/or the Committee on Commerce.

If you would like more detailed information about the lobbying process please check out The Vote Hemp Guide to Hemp Activism. This eleven page guide will give you the information and tools that you need to confidently and effectively ask your elected representatives to support legislation which will lift the current ban on hemp farming in the U.S. Please click here to download this essential tool.

More information and the text of the bills are on the Vote Hemp Michigan state page. We need your help and that of your family, friends and colleagues in Michigan, so please forward this email to them. We encourage you to write and call today!!

The following Campaign for Liberty (Ron Paul 2008 legacy political movement) letter was passed on to me from a prominent local Whigg resource. I am making the editorial judgment that publication of this letter in the Michigan Libertarian constitutes 'fair use.'— Brian Wright, LPM Webmaster

STOP DOMESTIC SPYING IN MICHIGAN!

It's been reported that we already have two domestic intelligence centers (Fusion Centers) in Michigan. The legislature is trying to give retroactive authority to these agencies by passing SB 1404, the State Intelligence Center Act.

What information are these centers collecting?

Everything that comes out of them seems to target limited government activists. Do you remember the MIAC (Missouri Information Analysis Center) report? It came out right before a Campaign for Liberty Regional Summit in 2009. It listed those who displayed Constitution Party, Campaign for Liberty, and Libertarian Materials and are usually supporters of former Presidential Candidates Ron Paul, Chuck Baldwin, and Bob Barr as potential criminals at best and potential terrorists at worst.

And then what about the Department of Homeland Security's report on right wing extremists, which labeled millions of Americans as potential terrorists? Then there is the Domestic Extremism Lexicon report, which lists "Alternative Media" as a extremist term. And most recently, the Department of Justice's Terrorism and Criminal Terms and Concepts, which mentions Gun Owners of America, Antiabortion Groups, the Constitution Party, and Collection (of information).

Yes, that's right, by standing up in front of a Senate committee and talking about the collection of information that happens with these Domestic Spying Centers, Campaign for Liberty is using terrorist and criminal terms.

Read Bruce Fein's Report before a House subcommittee on intelligence sharing and terrorism risk assessment. These Domestic Spying Centers are embroiled in controversy and have little to no oversight. SB 1404, the State Intelligence Center Act, will enshrine, with legislative approval, domestic spying. We must stop this. It is critical to have your help fending off and defeating these attacks on Liberty.

Read our testimony against this legislation here.

Here is what you can do to help:

• It takes money to fund our operations. We have not asked for donations a lot because we know how hard Michigan has been hit by a Big Government-induced depression. That said, we must find funding to keep moving forward. Many of us are spending our sacred honor and fortunes to fight big government, and now we would like to ask for your help.
• Click here to go to our donation page and contribute.
• If every Liberty Activist contributes $5, we will be able to accomplish great things in Michigan. If you would like to send a check or money order, you will find the details at the top of the donation page. Please remember to put the mail code of SMI0908A on your check. All money donated on this link or with SMI0908A as the mail code will go directly to Michigan activities. That's right, 100% of your donations will help us fight off big government right here in Michigan.
• Call, email, and write the members of the Homeland Security and Emerging Technologies Committee and tell them to vote no on this legislation, and then call your state senator and tell them what you think! Find your senator's contact information here.

Homeland Security and Emerging Technologies Committee:
Cameron Brown (C) (517) 373-5932 sencbrown@senate.michigan.gov
Valde Garcia (VC) (517) 373-2420 senvgarcia@senate.michigan.gov
Randy Richardville (517) 373-3543 SenRRichardville@senate.michigan.gov
John Pappageorge (517) 373-2523 SenJPappageorge@senate.michigan.gov
Tupac Hunter (MVC) (517) 373-0994 SenTAHunter@senate.michigan.gov
Dennis Olshove (517) 373-8360 sendolshove@senate.michigan.gov
Buzz Thomas (517) 373-7918 senbthomas@senate.michigan.gov

Tony DeMott
Interim Michigan State Coordinator, Campaign for Liberty
www.campaignforliberty.com/usa/MI/

... AND RESPONSE BY RAY J. KOZORA II

The following exchange took place in mid-September between Senator Carl "I'm from the government and I'm here to help" Levin and Mr. Ray Kozora, a Michigan small business owner (and Libertarian). The editors have supplied some short cuts to Mr. Levin's form letter:

Thursday, September 16, 2010

Dear Mr. Kozora:

[Blah blah] promote job creation in Michigan. [blah blah] bold legislation to support community banks and increase lending to small businesses, the Senate passed the Small Business Jobs Act of 2010 (H.R.5297) today. This important legislation [blah blah] helps unlock credit critical for the American job-creation engine.

[Blah, blah] $12 billion in tax cuts for small businesses. … expand two of the Small Business Administration’s (SBA) most important loan programs. [Blah, blah] other enhancements to SBA loan programs that will increase lending to small businesses by $5 billion.

[Blah blah] address a key problem small businesses have had with obtaining the capital they need to operate, expand and grow. [Several lines of hooey.] State of Michigan is in on the deal.… [Blah, blah] will provide $1.5 billion in badly needed assistance to state and local [governments].

Finally, this bill will create the Small Business Lending Fund, an initiative very similar to the Bank on Our Communities Act (S.1822), which I was proud to cosponsor. … provides capital to some banks [that we like].

Blah, blah, blah, hooey and double-hooey.

Sincerely, Carl Levin

---

Dear Senator Levin:

Give it up. We're wise to you. We've seen this movie before. ("Foreclosure Disaster") We know that these kinds of bills are favors to your big bank contributors. You back up the large lenders with taxpayer guarantees so that the smaller lenders can make risky loans to bad credit risks. This inevitably leads to bundles of toxic assets, and your 'too big to fail' buddies get gigantic bail-outs, and the ensuing deficit wreaks ruin upon us all.

So, you're from the government and you're here to help me. You want to give me some candy? No thanks! We don't need a small business foreclosure crisis, which will be the end result of this evil and anti-constitutional bill.

In a free market like we used to have, it was in the interest of lenders to lend to those whom they believed could actually pay them back.... consequently, an almost perfect balance of borrowing and lending took place.

Pleeeeze get rid of all these evil programs, and regulations, and high taxes. In return, we, the small businesses of America promise to expand, and hire so many workers, there will be a shortage of people to hire, rather than a shortage of jobs. (It will be in our best interest to do so.) That's how free markets work.

You did, after all, put your hand on a bible, and swore to uphold and defend the Constitution, and stay within the boundaries of it's enumerated powers. I suggest you do so, not just for political reasons, but because your immortal soul may be in jeopardy.

Yours in liberty,

Ray J. Kozora II
Incidental Sounds Co.
West Bloomfield, MI
Web: www.incidentalsounds.com
E-mail: rjkozora@yahoo.com

Libertarian Secretary of State candidate Scotty Boman and Libertarian Attorney General candidate Dan Grow have been busy, as all our candidates have. Scotty sent some pictures and commentary, or at least captions.

A large contingent of Libertarian leaders and candidates converged on the annual March at the Mackinac
Bridge.

NORTHERN MICHIGAN LIBERTY ALLIANCE and WMKT RADIO 1270 AM / 92.1 FM PRESENTS:

“March on the Mack... taking our Country back!!!”
Moderators: Greg Marshall – WMKT Radio, Chad Stevens – Founder of NMLA, “Trucker Randy” Bishop - Tea Party Leader

The moderators will be vetting and asking the tough questions of:
U.S. Congress Candidates – 1st District (Bart Stupak’s seat)
Dan Benishek – Republican
Patrick Lambert - U.S. Taxpayers
Gary McDowell – Democrat
Keith Shelton - Libertarian
Glenn Wilson – Independent
Michigan Governor
Virg Bernero – Democrat
Ken Proctor - Libertarian
Rick Snyder – Republican

Sunday, September 5, 2010

Next above we have a photo of Scotty and Dan attending the NAACP convention. Then bringing up the remainder is another collage of various candidates and occasions around the state. At the moment we go to press, not much in the way of descriptive narrative. However, I do have it from Scotty that he has "been photographed with (and have debated with) every oppostition candidate except Robert Gale of the USTP."

Now you wonder why these candidates like to avoid debating Scotty...

This just in from Campaign for Liberty, following the November elections, Harry Reid will pull out all the stops in a last ditch effort to pass as many bills as he can in a lame-duck session. According to a report in The Hill today, Democrats are planning to bring up as many as 20 bills in as little as six weeks! Bills such as S. 510, the FDA’s War on Food, Joseph Lieberman’s Internet Takeover Bill, Cap & Tax, and many more we’ve alerted you about are all likely to come up for a vote during that session.

A thing moderately good is not so good as it ought to be. Moderation in temper is always a virtue; but moderation in principle is always a vice. — Thomas Paine

---

Note: Please submit photos and cartoons for inclusion in the monthly newsletter by sending them to E-Newsletter@michiganlp.org

The following review excerpts are courtesy LPM Webmaster Brian Wright's commentary and review site, The Coffee Coaster. If you would like to submit book or movie reviews please notify the editor.

Book Review
The Content of Our Character
A new vision of race in America
by Shelby Steele

Walter Williams then concludes " ...the 'welfare state' [my quotes] has done what Jim Crow, gross discrimination, and fewer opportunities could not have. It has contributed to the breakdown of the black family structure and has helped establish a set of values alien to traditional values of high moral standards, hard work, and achievement." Williams focuses on statist political and economic barriers to black success, while Steele points out the moral and psychological virtues that these barriers (these siren songs of renewed slavery) inhibit:
[full review ]

Movie Review
They Live
Libertarian cult classic or just not so good? __ 6/10

All right, so you can see from the lines above three things: a) the dialog writers just graduated from grade school, b) when a person wears special sunglasses he sees which people—usually the politically powerful and socially influential—are actually aliens, and c) a social context for the aliens' motives and methods. They Live is a 1988 John Carpenter—director of mainly schmaltzy or fright films, the more notable starring Kurt Russell (Escape from New York, Starman, Escape from LA)—movie, in which Carpenter uncharacteristically tries for a "sorta maybe big political idea."
[full review]

Take a stroll down memory lane with this excerpt from one of the longest-running state Libertarian newsletters. Today, check out the September-October issue of 1996. Click on this link for the full PDF version of this newsletter.

Newsletter editor Greg Stempfle has compiled the entire body of available Michigan Libertarian newsletters up on this page of the LPM Website.

In Response to Pro-Republican Letter

I think someone's been smoking ropey dopey. Let's take a look at what the GOP has given us (or more rightly, taken away) since 1980:

1. Gave us Asset Forfeiture - violation of the Constitution's Due Process clause
2. WAR - costing nearly 3/4 of a Trillion dollars per year, not counting all the other money spent on our imperialistic foreign policy.
3. Suspension of Habeas Corpus - thanks Mr. Bush
4. the Patriot Act, including warrantless wiretapping.
5. Crackdown of "Border security," which means less freedom for Hispanic-Americans, as well as cheap labor for Corporations.
6. NAFTA, which allows American manufacturers to build plants overseas and get rid of scores of American workers (building a HUGE trade deficit).
7. McCain's bill that he co-sponsored with "Independent" Joe Liebermann so that the government can arrest anyone they suspect of possible terrorism, and hold them until the endless war is over without due process or trial, etc......
8. Bigger Drug War budgets, which empowers gov't even more (just like Border Security).
9. Medicare Drug Prescription program
10. Clear Air Act
11. Americans with Disabilities Act

I'm sure we could add hugely to this list. I'll stop for now.

Ed Burley
Traverse City MI

Appeal to Republicans First [Letter to the Editor from September Newsletter]

... I hate to say it but you should take a page from the Democrats (ugh) and learn the meaning and uses of incrementalism. First you get the vote, then you implement your policies. You don't campaign by confusing the electorate, airing your least palpable agenda items or alienating the Republicans who are more likely to vote with us on our most important issue: FREEDOM FROM GOVERNMENT.

This should be your campaign slogan and your only slogan. Stay on this point and keep hammering at it. Stop talking about legalizing marijuana, trashing Reagan or any of the other issues certain to lose you any serious support and side track you from your main intentions - getting elected and getting this onerous, evil, oppressive and increasingly collectivist government off our backs....

Iratus Personus

We would like to hear feedback from you, real people, on any little thing, preferably with something short and punchy. Please voice your comments or opinions to the newsletter editor, Greg, via email by the 25th of the month... and we will post them.

October 4 - Tri-City LP Monthly Meeting [Tri-City LP is now the Great Lakes Bay Region LP and covers Genesee and Thumb-area counties.] – Group meets on the 1st Monday of the month. Dinner at 6, meeting at 7 at Damon’s, 4960 Towne Centre Rd, Saginaw Township, MI 48604 (off Tittabawassee, just west of I-675 at exit 6). Everyone interested in liberty, from Bay, Saginaw, Midland, Genesee, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot and Isabella counties is invited. Contact Al Chia, chia4senate@gmail.com

October 6 – LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Business Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). Contact Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@gmail.com

October 6 – LP of South West Michigan Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00 – 6:50 pm at IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor. Guests are welcome. Followed by: Round Table Political Forum hosted by the LP of South West Michigan. 7-9 pm at The Livery, 190 Fifth St, Benton Harbor. Visitors are welcome to participate. Contact Bill Bradley, wbradley@i2k.com 269-637-4525, or Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com.

October 7 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666

October 7 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting - 7-8:30 pm. The newly re-organized Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843 (non-smoking area). The meeting will have 4 parts: Mingling (over dinner, if you want), studies in liberty, news and party business. Contact Tim Keirnan mailTim@sbcglobal.net

October 12 – Capital Area LP Monthly Meeting – 7 pm at former LPM office, 2722 E Michigan Ave, Ste 22, Lansing (park and enter in back). Contact Will Tyler White, 517-349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu

October 12 - LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm. The LPWM meets on the second Tuesday of each month at Perkins Restaurant, 5121 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512 (just off I 96). Contact Nick Sundquist, Nicholas.sundquist@yahoo.com, 231-750-5468

October 20 – LP of Oakland County Monthly Meeting – The LP of Oakland County meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting. Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Contact Jim Fulner, fulner@gmail.com

October 20 – Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited to attend. The meeting begins at 7:30 but feel free to join us for good food and conversation at 6:30 pm at the Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. Contact Jim Allison, jim.e.allison@gmail.com

October 20 – LP of Washtenaw County Social/Work Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). Contact Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@gmail.com

October 26 – LP of Calhoun County Monthly Meeting - Executive Committee, 7 p.m. Please contact Jack Worsham for location. (269) 963-2679, WORSHAM74@aol.com

November 1 – Tri-City LP is now the Great Lakes Bay Region LP and covers Genesee and Thumb-area counties. Monthly Meeting – The group usually meets on the 1st Monday of the month. Dinner at 6, meeting at 7 at Damon’s, 4960 Towne Centre Rd, Saginaw Township, MI 48604 (off Tittabawassee, just west of I-675 at exit 6). Everyone interested in liberty from Bay, Clare, Gladwin, Gratiot, Isabella, Midland, Saginaw, Genesee, Huron, Lapeer, Sanilac and Tuscola counties is invited. Contact Al Chia, chia4senate@gmail.com

November 3 - LP of Washtenaw County Monthly Business Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson Rd, Ann Arbor (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). Contact Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@gmail.com

November 3 – LP of South West Michigan Executive Committee Meeting – 6:00 – 6:50 pm at IHOP, 1981 Pipestone Rd., Benton Harbor. Guests are welcome. Followed by: Round Table Political Forum hosted by the LP of South West Michigan. 7-9 pm at The Livery, 190 Fifth St, Benton Harbor. Visitors are welcome to participate. Contact Bill Bradley, wbradley@i2k.com 269-637-4525, or Dan Grow, grow.daniel@gmail.com.

November 4 – Wayne County LP Monthly Meeting – 7 p.m. - Kiernans Steak House, 21931 Michigan Ave, Dearborn (at Monroe). Contact Ray Warner, 313-598-3666

November 4 – Livingston County LP Monthly Meeting - 7-8:30 pm. The Livingston County LP meets the first Thursday of each month at Cleary's Irish Pub, 117 E Grand River Ave, Howell 48843 (non-smoking area). The meeting will have 4 parts: Mingling (over dinner, if you want), studies in liberty, news and party business. Contact Tim Keirnan mailTim@sbcglobal.net

November 9 – Capital Area LP Monthly Meeting – 7 pm at former LPM office, 2722 E Michigan Ave, Ste 22, Lansing (park and enter in back). Contact Will Tyler White, 517-349-3806, whitewi5@msu.edu

November 9 – LP of West Michigan Monthly Meeting – 6:30 pm. The LPWM meets on the second Tuesday of each month at Perkins Restaurant, 5121 28th St SE, Grand Rapids, Michigan 49512 (just off I 96). Contact Nick Sundquist, Nicholas.sundquist@yahoo.com, 231-750-5468

November 17 – LP of Oakland County Monthly Meeting – The LP of Oakland County meets on the 3rd Wednesday of the month. 6:30 pm dinner, 7:30 meeting. Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile (2 blocks east of Greenfield), Berkley. Contact Jim Fulner, fulner@gmail.com

November 17 – Libertarians of Macomb County Monthly Meeting - All members of the Libertarian Party, their friends and family, and anyone interested in learning more about the LP are invited to attend. The meeting begins at 7:30 but feel free to join us for good food and conversation at 6:30 pm at the Loon River Café, 34911 Van Dyke Ave, Sterling Heights. Contact Jim Allison, jim.e.allison@gmail.com

November 17 – LP of Washtenaw County Social/Work Meeting -7 to 9 pm at Classic Cup Cafe, 4389 Jackson (In the Parkland Plaza west of Ann Arbor). Contact Larry Johnson, michlibertarian@gmail.com

November 23 – LP of Calhoun County Monthly Meeting - Executive Committee, 7 p.m. Please contact Jack Worsham for location. (269) 963-2679, WORSHAM74@aol.com

February 5, 2011 – LibertyFest Dinner - Gala dinner in the Flint area. Save the date! Contact Denee Rockman-Moon denee.rockman-moon@live.com

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More...

For all events, see the full online calendar on the Website:
http://www.mi.lp.org/Shared Documents/Calendar.aspx

The Michigan Libertarian ONLINE is distributed on the first of each month. Send calendar events and news articles by the 25th of the prior month to:
e-newsletter@michiganlp.org

Note: The final print edition of the Michigan Libertarian is available online at http://www.mi.lp.org/Past%20Newsletters/ Michigan%20Libertarian%2038.2%20summer%202009.pdf

The Michigan Libertarian is published/posted on the first of each month. Send calendar events and news/articles to e-newsletter@michiganlp.org by the 25th of the prior month.

The Michigan Libertarian is one of the longest-running Libertarian newsletters in the country, debuting in 1973 shortly after the founding of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. The "new" Michigan Libertarian (a predominantly online version) debuted on August 1, 2009 and replaced the monthly LPMOnline and the printed-and-mailed ML.  We will post on the Website and deliver via email on the first of every month. A printed version of the new Michigan Libertarian will be sent free to anyone who signs up, which you may do at the LPM web site www.mi.lp.org (or www.michiganlp.org).

LPM members who need a hard copy may request one be mailed to them by contacting
e-newsletter@michiganlp.org or calling the LPM toll-free number 888-Free-Now.

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Newsletter URL (Webpage address for this issue of the ML):
http://www.michiganlp.org/ENewsletters/201010/201010_ML.html

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