Greeting
From the Chair(s)
2014 LPM Convention
Marketing for Liberty Report
The Wasted Vote Argument: Solved
LPM at the Michigan Grassroots Pow Wow
Time for Part-Time
Folks, We Need You!

Image of the Month
Quote of the Month
Past Blast
Letters
Book Review
Contacts
Calendar

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Welcome to the April 2014 issue of the online newsletter of the Libertarian Party of Michigan, the Michigan Libertarian. The newsletter is our main vehicle for sharing what's happening for Libertarians in Michigan. You may manage your subscription by going here or visiting our Website www.michiganlp.org).

From Mary
chair@michiganlp.org

"We have now reached the point where, no matter how much ‘truth’ the media choose to share, no one believes anything they say. We are suffering from massive cognitive dissonance. Find the truth for yourself. You’ll not get it from the minions of a royalty that refuses to accept its own irrelevance." — Cathy Smith

Happy April everyone! It looks and feels like spring may finally be here let’s hope Mother Nature doesn’t April Fool us with any more snow. Here are my items for this month’s newsletter:

• LPM Convention “Liberty is the Future” May 17 in Howell. Go to http://michiganlp.org/?page_id=71 for more details and to register. The convention is open to anyone who wants to attend. Only delegates are required to have a current LP/LPM membership. New members need to join the party before April 17.
  
  
  
• LP National Convention in Columbus, OH June 26-29, 2014. If anyone would like to be a national delegate or alternate please forward your name, address, email and phone number to Jim Fulner at secretary@michiganlp.org This will be to compile a slate of delegates that will be voted on at the state convention on May 17. Nominated delegates will then be entered into the LP Convention Credentials Data Base. Current membership is required and cannot expire before the end of the convention so make sure yours is up to date.
  
  
  
• LPM participates at Grassroots PowWow March 22 in Mount Pleasant. Over 400 liberty grassroots activists gathered at the Soaring Eagle Casino in Mount Pleasant, MI and the LPM was there. See my write up on the event in the newsletter.
  
  
  
• Does Michigan need a Part-time Legislature? If you agree with Mark Twain’s quote “No man’s life, liberty, or property are safe while the legislature is in session,” the answer is yes.

In Liberty,

Mary

by Rodger Young
Convention Chair

The LPM 2014 Convention in Howell, Michigan, State Convention includes the nomination of 2014 Candidates for office, as well as delegates to the National Convention in Columbus, Ohio, June 26-29.

Saturday May 17, 2014 Howell, Michigan.
Convention Location:
Johnson Center at Cleary University
3750 Cleary Dr. (map)
Howell, MI 48843
517.548.3670 (Cleary U)

Registration

Go to this page to register and pay: http://michiganlp.org/?p=2616

Directions to Convention: Howell is 47 miles Northwest of Detroit. Interstate 96 to Howell's Latson Rd. Exit #140. Turn left at the light at Latson Road onto Grand River, then through the next light at the Meijer entrance. Turn left onto Cleary Drive (immediately past the Meijer entrance) and follow the drive to Johnson Center. Water tower at Cleary University is your landmark.

Hotel Location:
Holiday Inn Express Howell
1397 North Burkhart Rd. (map)
Howell, MI 48855 517.548.0100 http://www.hiehowell.com
Group room rates: Standard King Non Smoking $99.99 +tax
Quantity 7 Standard 2 Queens Non Smoking $109.99 +tax
Quantity 8 Free wired and wireless internet
Free Express Start Breakfast Bar
Free shuttle van to Johnson Center @ Cleary University

*Group cut-off date for hotel reduced rate package = April 25, 2014*

Main Business of Convention: We will be nominating the Libertarian Party of Michigan slate of candidates for the 2014 general election in Michigan. Be sure to inform the LPM Political Director Leonard Schwartz politics@michiganlp.org of your intentions to run for office in this important year.

Program Saturday, May 17

• Registration: 8:30 a.m.
• Opening and Keynote: 9:00 a.m.
• Business Session 1: 9:00 – 12 Noon
• Lunch: 12 Noon – 1:30 p.m.
• Business Session 2: 1:30 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
• Cocktail Reception: ~ 5:00, preceding banquet (bar open thru banquet)
• Banquet with Tatiana Moroz: 6:00 thru 8:30 p.m.

Banquet Entertainment - Liberty Singer Songwriter Tatiana Moroz. Tatiana Moroz is a young sultry-voiced songstress who fights for liberty, love, freedom, and peace. Her music, a mix of acoustic & electric Pop infused with Blues, Country, Soul, and Rock is liberty and anti-war themed throughout. One of her most well known songs is her version of "Masters of War" by Bob Dylan. Tatiana is active in the Liberty movement and has performed at numerous liberty oriented events around the world. Based in New Jersey, some of Tatiana's recent gigs include:

• Galt's Gulch Spring Celebration in Curacaví,­ Chile
• Porcupine Freedom Festival in Lancaster, New Hampshire
• The Inside Bitcoin Conference in Berlin, Germany
• RT America Television Network
• Latin American Bitcoin Conference in Buenos Aires, Argentina
• Ron Paul Festival in Tampa, Florida

Tatiana has successfully written, produced and self-released 2 full length LPs, “Tatiana” and “Love and Liberty,” 2 EPs, “Fall In August Live” and “For the New Year,” as well as several singles. Her company, Same Side Entertainment, an activist/talent booking and event marketing company books several prominent keynote speakers to liberty events worldwide.

Brian Wright at webmaster@michiganlp.org

Roughly 50 persons (altogether) attended the Marketing for Liberty event put on by Scotty Boman and Heather Richards-Wodrich at the Capital Area LP office on Michigan Avenue in Lansing on March 8th. Several speakers with expertise in marketing, media, strategy, grassroots organizing, and so forth presented dense-packed ideas for invigorating the LPM and moving forward.

The following individuals shared their invaluable insights.

• Pat Clawson – Former CNN reporter
• Tim Obrien – Advertising consultant / membership growth expert
• Helena Blakemore – Video/Movie producer
• Derek Magill – Campus activist/organizer
• Bill Gelineau – Election result analyst
• Greg Marshall – Radio talk show host to TEA Party market
• Heather Richards-Wodrich – Media relations consultant
• Brian Wright – LPM cofounder, author, publisher, strategist

Party and affiliate leaders also listened to an array of critical comments, which were for the most part constructive and illuminating. For example, who knew that “students have a poor image of the LP in general for, well, too many representatives of the LP(M) not presenting a positive, professional image?” The speakers came forth with all kinds of quite simple “do’s and don’t do’s” in their areas of expertise… that we can all take to the bank.

Speaker Helena Blakemore of Mooshka Productions with a small staff of volunteers set up in the office below to produce a short, effective video using clips of several of the marketing event attendees doing a read. She is graciously donating that video for use on our Website and for other purposes. When it is complete, the video will appear on this writeup and will take a prominent place on the home page.

Exciting times most definitely to come. Several new memberships and renewals are directly attributable to the positive messages taken away from the event. Thank you to all who made it possible, especially Scotty, Heather, Helena, and Mary. Also to Jon Addiss owner of the property who donated the lecture hall.

Reprinting this excellent column from the March 2014 issue--ed.
By Leonard Schwartz

Our target audience is not loyal Democrats and Republicans. It is (1) libertarians, (2) disgruntled Democrats and Republicans, and (3) independent voters and people who rarely vote. For people who are fed up with Democrats and Republicans, we don't need to convince them to support libertarianism. We merely need to take advantage of their disgust with the two old parties.

Surveys indicate that 15-20% of voters already support libertarianism. That is, they are in the libertarian sector of the Nolan diamond chart. But Libertarian candidates rarely get more than 5% of the vote.

Why? I discovered the answer in 2000, when I first worked at a Libertarian information booth and later became a candidate. I met many people who said they were libertarians. When I asked libertarians whether they voted for Libertarian candidates, they sometimes said "Rarely" and usually said "Never." When I asked them why they [almost] never vote for Libertarians, the typical response was, "Libertarians have no chance of being elected. Therefore, voting for Libertarians is a waste of my vote. Voting for the lesser of two evils is more expedient."

At the LPM election night party in 2000, one member said that he hated Al Gore so much that he didn't dare waste his vote on Harry Browne, the Libertarian candidate for president. Another member said that he hated the incumbent Republican US senator that he didn't dare waste his vote on the Libertarian candidate. Even Libertarian Party members sometimes think that voting Libertarian is waste of their vote.

The biggest problem Libertarians thus face is not convincing people to support libertarianism. Rather it is motivating them to vote Libertarian. People often ask Libertarians, "Who do you consider the lesser of two evils?" I maintain that the only good answer is, "I let the Democrats and Republicans quibble about that. I never waste my vote on the lesser of two evils."

If you say anything that indicates who you consider the lesser evil, people will consider that an endorsement. This will encourage them to vote for that candidate rather than the Libertarian. Through trial and error, I discovered a short, effective message to solve the wasted vote problem.

One version is on www.LeonardSchwartz.us. Another is my stump speech, below. I encourage Libertarians to adapt this message to their own campaigns.

3-Minute Stump Speech

My opponents think they can spend your money and manage your life better than you can. I'm not a busybody. I don't want to spend your money or manage your life. Some people are too lazy or cheap to spend their time and money meddling in your life. They want government bureaucrats meddling in your life. Government busybodies are much worse than private ones. Government can compel disclosure of your private information. Private busybodies cannot. Government can impose taxes, fines, and imprisonment. Private busybodies cannot.

If you think the Democrats can spend your money and manage your life better than you can, please raise a hand. If you think the Republicans can spend your money and manage your life better than you can, please raise a hand.

Perhaps you didn't know that [almost] all of you are libertarians. If you vote for Democrats or Republicans because you consider them the lesser of two evils, you vote for evil. Why would any decent person vote for evil? Elections are rarely decided by only a few votes. Therefore, your vote rarely determines who is elected.

But your vote always sends a message. If you vote for Democrats or Republicans, you send a message that you agree that they can spend your money and manage your life better than you can. What a waste of your vote. If you don't vote, you waste your right to send a message and you imply that you don't care. Vote for what you know is right, rather than for what falsely seems expedient.

Send a message that you want government busybodies off your back. Vote Libertarian.

I'm [name], Libertarian for [office]. Thank you.

by Mary Buzuma
chair@michiganlp.org

LEC members Kim Moore, Arnis Davidsons, Jim Fulner and yours truly participated with over 400 liberty activists at the Michigan Grassroots PowWow at the Soaring Eagle Resort in Mount Pleasant, MI on March 22.

The event sponsored by the Plainwell Patriots (who were happy to see us), brought together 40 of Michigan’s and the nation’s top notch liberty grassroots organizations to show unity for freedom. (L to R: Kim Moore, Myself, Arnis Davidsons, and Jim Fulner)

Organizations that were present included: The Tenth Amendment Center, Campaign for Liberty (who were really happy to see us), Young Americans for Liberty, and People Against the NDAA. We passed out flyers, talked to the crowd, and gave the quiz (no surprise – everyone scored Libertarian).

Jim Fulner’s senate campaign sign “Re-Elect NO ONE” was a big hit. We would like to do more events like to promote the party and particularly, since it’s an election year our candidates. If anyone out there knows of any let me or any other member of the LEC know.

by Mary Buzuma
Chair@michiganlp.org

If you care about personal and economic freedom the answer would be yes.

In the past few weeks there has been a lot written about the pros and cons of Michigan returning to a part-time legislature. It’s been mostly con and mostly written by the politically well connected. However I haven’t come across any evidence that it needs to be full-time or that Michigan is better governed than those states with part-time legislatures.

Are our roads and infrastructure top notch? Are our schools world class? Are we more prosperous?

What Michigan does have is a lot of laws. Laws that have created a government that has gotten too big, too intrusive and way too expensive. Many laws, take more of our money, pile on to existing laws, provide corporate welfare benefits, intrude into personal liberty (“nanny laws”), violate property rights (civil asset forfeiture), intrude on private business (regulations and licensing laws)and there’s no end in sight.

In 2013, there have been 1,812 bills introduced, 853 amendments, and 159 new laws passed.

It’s said that Michigan is a big state with a lot going on. That may be true but that doesn’t mean everything has to be legislated. The evidence is clear that freedom brings prosperity and that goes for countries as well as states. It’s time to downsize Michigan and cutting back to part-time lawmakers would be a good place to start.

The Committee to Restore Michigan’s Part-Time Legislature has a daunting task of collecting 400,000 signatures by July 1st. Go to http://parttimemi.com/ if you would like more information or to volunteer.

by Arnis Davidsons:
Excerpt from Veterans News Now, January 22, 2014

Folks, we have a serious problem. Let me explain. The Libertarian Party of Michigan accepts "National" party memberships as fully valid. This seems like a good idea at first, but it has unintended consequenses. In the past few years the LPM has lost over 1600 members. It seems the vast majority of Michigan Libertarians have a National membership, but not a Michigan LP membership.

The national party does NOT share the dues money with the state party! They keep every cent, and they need it. But we get nothing!

The reason is due to changes in FEC law the national party can no longer pass on a portion of national dues to the states. It's not that they want to keep it all, it's because they have been prohibited from doing so by FEC.

This loss of 1600+ members has cost our state party a loss of over $40,000 per year just in lost dues! Can you imagine how much more help the LPM could give our candidates with an extra $40,000? In my travels, the one thing I hear most is "we need more backing from the State party." I agree! But we can't do it when we're broke.

Help us out! I know times are tough. If you can only afford one membership, PLEASE make it a Michigan LP membership!

[Please go to this page, our payments page. Take advantage of our two-year deal for $40, a $10 savings!]

To the affiliates I've visited, thanks for having me. To those I have not been to yet, you are on my list. It's a bit of a challenge since I live on the "west coast," but I'll get there.

Arnie Davidsons

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The Revolution was effected before the War commenced. The Revolution was in the minds and hearts of the people; a change in their religious sentiments of their duties and obligations. This radical change in the principles, opinions, sentiments, and affections of the people, was the real American Revolution. – John Adams, 1818

 

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Take a stroll down memory lane with this excerpt from one of the longest-running state Libertarian newsletters. Today, check out the newsletter 10 years ago in April, where a Lansing state office was opened. Click on this link for the full PDF version of this newsletter.

Former editor and LPM archivist Greg Stempfle has compiled the entire body of available Michigan Libertarian newsletters up on this page of the LPM Website (most if not all of the newsletters have been transferred over to the new site if you have a particular issue you're interested in and it doesn't show up on the page, please contact Webmaster@michiganlp.org).

 

Reminder to sign petition against the Detroit police state...

 

Dear Friends,

 

Please take a moment of your time and look at this story. I know Mr. Boman, and can't imagine what he did to deserve this treatment. I pray you will sign the petition. Thanks and best regards. http://www.thepetitionsite.com/828/669/441/dont-prosecute-victim-of-rogue-cops/

 

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness,

 

Nicholas Sundquist

 

 

[Submissions of reviews are solicited for this Michigan Libertarian Book Review feature.
Please contact us via webmaster@michiganlp.org -- ed.]

Book Review
Democracy Reaches the Kids! (2014)
by George Meegan

Reviewed by Brian Wright

Democracy Reaches the Kids! is a tour de force, a blockbuster, and a game changer. It delivers a blow to the ‘education industrial complex’ from which it will not recover, and we are all the better for it. One of the higher density books of ideas-per-page you’ll ever read. Meegan’s pace is quick and energetic, a rich tapestry of facts from all over the world—pertaining to education, both how it has been and how it can be. Taking it all in is like reading Future Shock by Alvin Toffler, though Democracy! shines with genuine compassion and focus. Where Mr. Toffler tends to overwhelm the reader with technology ahead of its time, Mr. Meegan shows us how to liberate our souls and become humanely connected to one another through life-learning….[Full Review]

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For those who do not have online access, we are screenprinting the May 2014 calendar [to obtain detailed information on any given event, please contact the affiliate in the contact list above]:

 

More... For all events, see the full online calendar on the Website:
http://michiganlp.org/?page_id=61 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://old.michiganlp.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 weekly LPMOnline and the printed-and-mailed ML.  We will post the newsletter 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.michiganlp.org (or www.mi.lp.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 (888-373-3669). Subscribe/Unsubscribe to Newsletter [Note: Just send us a message via our Contact page, and we will add you to the list.] We respect all unsubscribe requests.

Newsletter URL (Webpage address for this issue of the ML):
201404_ML.html

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