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Welcome to the December 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

"[T]axes are not raised to carry on wars; [it is, rather,] that wars are raised to carry on taxes." — Thomas Paine

In the spirit of patriotism, I salute all of you who have taken part, who have run as candidates or worked to restore the republic through other means, here as part of the Party of Principle. I was proud to be your gubernatorial candidate this season, as well as chair now for two seasons. It's been more work than I anticipated (doing both) but I wouldn't trade my experience for the world.

Whoever said, "What doesn't kill us makes us stronger," was right on the mark. This cycle should stimulate real discoveries and solutions to why the LP (and the LPM) has not achieved its true potential, count me in for my share of the work to make it happen. Some observations.

• Our results were most encouraging, as Greg Stempfle documents below.
  
  
• Liberty Fest on November 8 in Livonia (described below) was a world-class venue with Detroit Renaissance via libertarian entrepreneurship of Rodney Lockwood in the spotlight.
  
  
• The road to 2016 really started Nov 5th. I've learned a lot this election season and we as a party really have to do things better and get more organized.
  
  
• Finally, I'm really looking forward to implementing the many ideas that were put forward at "The Liberty in Action" event on October 25th.

I would like to thank each and every one of our candidates for stepping up and running for office. You have done a great service by letting us vote for people we can believe in and support.

In Liberty,

Mary

Rodney Lockwood ‘Liberator of Belle Isle’
Addresses 2014 Libertyfest

Mr. Lockwood’s inspiring and informative presentation posted here.

Winners of This Year’s Libbies:

• Producer of Liberty – Arnis Davidsons
• Promoter of Liberty – Erin Stahl
• Spokesperson for Liberty – Mary Buzuma

A special award was also presented to our speaker Rodney Lockwood. He received the first ever “It’s About Liberty I” Award which is to be given to a person who has worked “In Defense for the Moral Superiority of Laissez Faire Capitalism.” 

Greg Stempfle reports via Facebook and posted here:

• Mary Buzuma: 35,570 votes (1.13%), Governor, LPM best ever
• James Lewis: 60,874 votes (1.98%), Secretary of State, LPM best ever
• Jim Fulner: 62,623 votes (2.01%), US Senator, only minor to exceed 2% since Jon Coon
• State House average percentage 4.96%, LPM best ever
• District 61, Michael Stampfler: 2,941 votes (8.88%), LPM best ever since Coon (15.74%)
• State Senate average percentage 4.47%, LPM best ever
• District 20, Lorence Wenke: 7,263 votes (9.03%), best ever for any 3d party
• Congress average: 2.03%, best except 2012 (2.31%)
• Ed Boards: two LPM candidates finish in top three for all races

In summary, “we done good.” Much to digest and look positively upon. Stempfle post.

Will White of the Capital Area Libertarians testified before the House Committee on Elections and Ethics on November 17 regarding HB 5974, which modifies current election law. Closing as follows:

"It is encouraging to see this issue before the legislature, but since all legislators are members of the two parties affected, it is clearly a conflict of interest. Any changes to electoral college votes or the election system should be brought before the voters to decide. The electoral college system is primarily a federal issue anyway, with states only allowed to determine the manner of appointing electors. Ideally all states would use the same system. Enacting legislation like this that benefits the two parties writing it is unethical and violates the very first section of the Michigan Constitution cited above. Excluding entire classes of voters from equal participation in the electoral process is certainly grounds for a legal challenge as a civil rights violation."

Full testimony may be found on this pdf file. And it is expected that a video will appear on Bruce Fealk's YouTube channel. Check with Will White here.

By Scotty Boman

It is an honor to be appointed to the position of Michigan Director of Our America Initiative (OAI). 

The non-partisan 501 c(4) organization was founded by Governor Gary Johnson prior to his 2012 run for United States President.  Their stated of purpose is "to redefine the liberty movement in America. We aim to restore liberty, personal responsibility and economic freedom as the true American values, to coexist as individuals who respect the rights and sanctity of all persons, to foster an environment that allows  each person to pursue his or her individual dreams and happiness without the burdens of unneeded government restrictions."

Initially, I was hesitant to apply for the position because I already had so many plans.  I wanted to mobilize potential activists by calling lapsed members and new volunteers.  There is a huge untapped and neglected opportunity for growth in the Libertarian Party.  Many people just need to hear form us. 

Another project was the need to have a more active presence in Lansing.  State legislators are very accessible, and sometimes a few visits from liberty minded activists is enough to influence their votes, so long as they and their constituents don't have any strong feelings to the contrary.

Well, I learned that Our America Initiative (OAI) is also interested in mobilizing liberty minded people and influencing legislation at the state level.  So this position works well with plans I already had in mind.  As I write this, I need to be clear, however: OAI is a "small-L" libertarian organization; it is not affiliated with any political party or candidate.  While wearing my OAI hat, I can't use my position to promote the LPM, but I can certainly put LPM members to work on the legislative projects of OAI, and that's what really matters... promoting liberty.

OAI is currently focused on five main areas of reform.  The specifics vary from state to state:

* cutting taxes & red tape (regulations)
* rolling back over-criminalization
* restoring educational & health freedom
* respecting personal liberty
* streamlining government

This is an agenda Libertarians can get behind, and it is beneficial to have a non-partisan group through which Libertarians and like minded people of other affiliations can lobby.  Let's face it,  the legislators we meet with were elected as Republicans or Democrats, not Libertarians.  So they are more likely to listen to representatives of a non-partisan group, then of an opposing political party.

Vice Chair Scotty Boman has scheduled a legislative action day for December 10, and hopes to mobilize members to lobby legislators on these issues:

1. Allowing a Pro-Gun group to install a plaque on the capital grounds (at their own expense, of course).  This may seem trivial but there is an important history behind this for Michigan Libertarians (important hearing on December 2):
   
   
   http://brassrootsplaque.wordpress.com
   
   
   
2. Stop a huge gas tax hike.  Our State Senate passed this job killing tax, so we need to fight it tooth and nail in the state House.
   
   
   
   
3. Changing the way Michigan allocates Presidential electors. From a non-partisan perspective it is about seeing that all parties, are treated fairly and that the will of the people is reflected in the electoral college.  The Michigan Third Parties Coalition supports a proportional assignment of electors.  Currently we have winner-take-all.  Michigan Republicans are pushing for a half-measure that would be semi-proportional for the top two candidates only

Whether or not certain bills have moved out of committee, or have already been voted on, will determine where the area of focus will be on that day.

If you can make calls to mobilize people, or attend the action day yourself, please contact Scotty Boman.  

Detroit, MI - When the staff at Fox 2 TV in Detroit needed somebody to speak for the right of individuals to decide their own fate, they called the Libertarian Party of Michigan.  Many potential spokespeople had other commitments, but 2011 Libby Award winner Pat Clawson stepped up to the task. 

The segment was entitled, "Both Sides of the Dying with Dignity Movement."  A short write-up and a video of the entire discussion is posted here:

http://www.myfoxdetroit.com/story/27177139/both-sides-of-the-dying-with-dignity-movement

The conversation originally aired near the end of the Fox 2 News program that started at 11AM..

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"In vain, after these things, may we indulge the fond hope of peace and reconciliation.  There is no longer any room for hope.  If we wish to be free – if we mean to preserve inviolate those inestimable privileges for which we have been so long contending – if we mean not basely to abandon the noble struggle in which we have been so long engaged, and which we have pledged ourselves never to abandon until the glorious object of our contest shall be obtained – we must fight! I repeat it, sir, we must fight! An appeal to arms and to the God of Hosts is all that is left us!" — Patrick Henry

 

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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 one of the first recent newsletters since Brian Wright became Webmaster. Click on this link for the full online 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).

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More... For all events, see the full online calendar on the Website:
http://michiganlp.org/?page_id=61. Note for those who do not have online access, please contact your local affiliate representative or call the office at 1-888-FREENOW (373-3669) to get a description of events in your area. 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):
201412_ML.html

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