Newsletter of 4/21/1998

Contents

1. Upcoming Events
   
   

   April 21, 1998 - 7:00 PM

   Meeting of the Committee to Elect Diane Barnes to State Board of Education. All people interested in working on this important campaign are encouraged and welcome to attend.

   Location: LCMA Headquarters (also Brass Roots) at at 1035 Hilton Road (West of I-75 between Eight Mile and Nine Mile Roads) in Ferndale.

   Contact: Paul Soyk Phone: 810 977-3523 E-mail: LNUSGMB.ZZYQNH@gmeds.com

   
   

   April 21, 1998 - 7:30 PM

   The Andrews University Libertarian Society will show the Academy Award-nomination documentary "WACO: The Rules of Engagement" to the students of Andrews University and the local residents of Berrien Springs. This will be treated as a membership drive for the Andrews Libertarians and the LPs of Berrien County and of Michigan. There will be a repeat showing on 23 April 1998 at 7:30 pm. All are welcome to attend the show. Free Admission.

   Location: Mutch Recreation Centre, Andrews University Campus Centre, Berrien Springs MI

   Contact: Glenn Whitt Phone: 616 473-5708 E-mail: whitt@andrews.edu

   
   

   April 22, 1998 - 7:00 PM

   The Andrews University Libertarian Society and the LP of Berrien County will hold a joint monthly meeting. Discussion over participation in a Memorial Day rally in Cass County promoting legalised farming of industrial hemp will take place. All are welcome.

   Location: Beijin Palace Chinese Restaurant, Downtown Berrien Springs MI

   Contact: Glenn Whitt Phone: 616 473-5708 E-mail: whitt@andrews.edu

   
   

   April 23, 1998 - 7:30 PM

   There will be a second showing the of the Academy Award-nominated documentary "WACO: The Rules of Engagement." All are welcome.

   Location: Mutch Recreation Centre, Andrews University Campus Centre, Berrien Springs MI

   Contact: Glenn Whitt Phone: 616 473-5708 E-mail: whitt@andrews.edu

   
   

   April 25, 1998 - 10:00 AM

   The Libertarians of Macomb County Adopt-A-Road clean up day. We will be cleaning up our assigned stretch of Metro Parkway, all volunteers are welcome.

   Location: Southwest corner of Schoenherr and Metro Parkway in Sterling Heights (bank parking lot).

   Contact: Rosemary Racchi Phone: 810 776-2214

   
   

   April 26, 1998 - 9:00 AM

   I 196 cleanup by LPWM. We'll meet there and deploy our resources for the cleanup

   Location: Bagel Factory on College and Michigan in Grand Rapids

   Contact: haas Phone: 1 616 942 7674 E-mail: haas@iserv.net

   
   

   April 27, 1998 - 7:00 PM

   Meet the Candidate Night! All the candidates from the Mid-Michigan districts will be there to shake the hands of students and anyone else who would care to show. We will be promoting this big time, so we should hopefully get a decent turnout. Tenative

   Location: Wells Hall, Room B100, Michigan State University

   Contact: Mike Brinkman Phone: 517 355-4857 E-mail: Brinkman1@aol.com

   
   

   May 4, 1998 - 6:30 PM

   Teresa Pollok is announcing her candidacy at a Campaign Kick-Off Party. Speakers will be Diane Barnes and Teresa Pollok.

   Location: Mexican Jones Restaurant, 675 W. Grand River, Brighton.

   Contact: Teresa Pollok Phone: 810 229-0737 E-mail: tpollok@livingonline.com

   
   

   May 5, 1998 - 6:45 PM

   Monthly Meeting - LP of Wayne County. Optional Dinner at 6:30pm. Meeting starts at 7:45pm. Diane Barnes to speak. Plans for participation in 4th of July Parade to be finalized.

   Location: LaTrattoria Restaurant - 13736 Michigan Ave. Dearborn MI (west of Schaffer across from City Hall.

   Contact: Bill Shotey Phone: 313 278-3673 E-mail: Ben45@aol.com

   
   

   May 12, 1998 - 7:00 PM

   Meeting of the Committee to Elect Diane Barnes to State Board of Education. All people interested in working on this important campaign are encouraged and welcome to attend.

   Location: LCMA Headquarters (also Brass Roots) at at 1035 Hilton Road (West of I-75 between Eight Mile and Nine Mile Roads) in Ferndale.

   Contact: Paul Soyk Phone: 810 977-3523 E-mail: LNUSGMB.ZZYQNH@gmeds.com

   
   

2. LPM Discussion List by Mark Heil

   I finally have a reliable list server set up to host our LPM discussion list (similar to the national party's LPUS list, but much more polite :-). Please follow the instructions in this article if you wish to subscribe. If you have any problems, e-mail me at markheil@flash.net.

   The primary purpose of the LPM Discussion list is to supplement the LPM Online e-mail newsletter with a forum for its subscriber's to discuss the events and articles in the newsletter. A broader goal for this list is to also provide a forum for Libertarian Party of Michigan members to discuss party business, policy and the efforts of its candidates. This discussion list is intended for members of the Libertarian Party of Michigan however, some non-members with interest in the LP in Michigan will be participating.

   To subscribe to the LPM Discussion list, send an e-mail to listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu with the command in the body of the message (without the brackets):

     
   Subscribe Libertarian [your first name] [your last name]
     
   

   You will then get a welcome message and instructions on maintaining your subscription.

   To post a message to the list, send it to Libertarian@maelstrom.stjohns.edu

   You may leave the list at any  time by sending a "SIGNOFF Libertarian" command to listserv@maelstrom.stjohns.edu

   A thank you goes to Richard and Cyndi Ask for helping me get this started.

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3. Libertarian Party of Michigan Address Change

   The mailing address of the Libertarian Party of Michigan has been changed to:

   
   Libertarian Party of Michigan
   604 N. Vernon
   Dearborn MI 48128-1553
   
   

   Please make the necessary changes wherever you may be using the old address (in your local newsletters, membership forms, etc.). New envelopes and letterhead are being printed and will be available soon to those who use it.

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4. San Diego County Treasurer candidate seeks support by Richard Rider

   Richard Rider for San Diego County Treasurer -- 1998

   Dear Libertarian,

   I am a Libertarian running a serious race for the nonpartisan office of San Diego County Treasurer/Tax Collector (heavy with irony, of course). The incumbent is 72, tainted by past scandals and has decided not to run again.

   According to the media, I am now the front runner with only one opponent who has any chance of catching me.

   Three lifetime bureaucrats are my main opponents, including the Carlsbad and San Diego city treasurers, plus the Assistant County Tax Collector. None has political base to work from. The San Diego city treasurer is liked by the downtown establishment, but they don't seem to care enough to give her any money.

   There are two other opponents, but they cannot be taken seriously.

   None of the six candidates has ever been elected to office.

   I think that with all the notoriety I've received these past two years, it is apparent that I am the odds on favorite to not only make the June two-candidate runoff, but actually win the November election! This type of financial office is made to order for Libertarians in general and for me in particular.

   My taxpayer activities these past two years concerning public financing of corporate subsidies such as stadiums and convention centers have resulted in an incredible amount of publicity. For instance, a website search of the San Diego Union-Tribune finds my name at least once in 115 stories and letters to the editor in 1997, over NINETEEN TIMES MORE COVERAGE than all five of my opponents combined! And, aside from the editorials in the Union-Tribune denouncing me, the stories have been generally rather positive describing my role as defender of the taxpayer.

   I have had solid experience as a political campaigner. Prior to my Libertarian Party candidacy for Governor in 1994, I ran for Congress twice. More important, in 1992 I made a legitimate run at County Supervisor, a race about the size of a Congressional district. I received over 19% of the vote, finishing a respectable third in a six-way race.

   Part of my success then was due to my lawsuit repealing an illegal county half percent sales tax, forcing the refunding of over $400,000,000 of collected taxes and interest back to the taxpayers. That lawsuit, Rider vs. County of San Diego, was listed by California Lawyer magazine as the "blockbuster case of 1992," and has since saved California taxpayers over NINE BILLION dollars.

   As to whether this nonpartisan race will be bring credit and attention to the Libertarian Party, consider that in 82 of the 115 Union-Tribune stories that mentioned my name in 1997, I am listed as "Libertarian Richard [or Dick] Rider." The paper's attacks on me have often tried to "smear" me with the Libertarian connection, but the effect has been the opposite from what they intended -- the party now has a favorable image with a substantial portion of the population. And that is just the way I like it.

   Of course, there are questions as to just what I can do once elected to this office, and why Libertarians should care about my race. Actually the job will not allow me to change to the world. The position is two, actually three jobs.

   1. County Treasurer 2. County Tax Collector 3. Sit on the nine member board overseeing the investment pool used by the county, plus cities and school districts around the county.

   But the office offers a number of opportunities and advantages:

   1. The "bully pulpit" aspect is perhaps the biggest factor. When the County Treasurer calls for an audit or highlights politicians playing fast and loose with the law, he will get major attention drawn to the issue.

   2. As "tax collector," the place can be made more taxpayer friendly. For instance, a taxpayer wanting to pay and get a receipt has to go downtown to pay. This, in a county bigger than the state of Rhode Island! I have spoken with the Gregg Smith, the county Tax Assessor, who has five offices around the county. He is willing to receive such cash payments at any of these offices, saving taxpayers time and trouble.

   3. As Treasurer, my job would be to see that the millions of taxpayer funds can be invested prudently yet as profitably as possible. Based on the low yield experienced in the county investments, it is apparent that improvements can be made in this area of operations. Even a half percent increase in yield is worth tens of millions of dollars to the taxpayers.

   4. The investment pool board invests a large amount of money -- over three billion dollars! My goal would to be to maximize return within the "prudent man" limitation while opposing any "PC" investing, a dangerous trend in many public money funds.

   5. The job would be the biggest election victory in the history of the LP. This election is larger than four congressional districts with over 2.8 million residents.

   6. It may very well be a stepping stone to higher office, once credibility and name recognition is established. It may be the breakthrough needed to get a Libertarian (me!) in Congress, a goal we all would love to see attained.

   7. It would seem that I could withhold payments that are not lawfully authorized, an important consideration in such matters as issuing bonds without a vote.

   As I learn more about the job, there may be other reasons for selecting a Libertarian for the position. I'll post more on this to contributors as the election progresses.

   WHY I CAN WIN

   There are a baker's dozen reasons why I think I can win this race.

   1. Obviously, the key is my taxpayer activities. There is no one in the county with better or more positive name recognition as a taxpayer advocate. Poll after poll indicate that the voters agree with out central push to put these public subsidies on the ballot for a vote of the people. Given that the stadium subsidy issue was (and is) the biggest story in over 30 years in this county, it gives me a wonderful basis for campaigning.

   2. Because the office of Treasurer does not set public employee pay scales, the local labor unions, which often have the predominant say in who gets elected to local offices, simply don't care much about this race. They have more important races into which they will pour money, and this is crucial to my chances of winning this race.

   3. I have easy access to the press, and they do indeed show up when I call a press conference. With one or two exceptions, I have a very good working relationship with radio, TV and print media people.

   4. None of my opponents have any significant popular support, so my taxpayer allies make a fine base of support for my effort. In the primary, my opponents should split the statist vote, giving me an excellent shot at finishing number one or two in the June primary, making the runoff if not winning the race outright.

   5. In the late 1970's, Libertarian Party activist and noted local tax protester Barbara Hutchinson ran for County Tax Assessor, a sister office. She was out of town most of the campaign and spent $20 on her race, and yet she came within one percent of winning the race.

   6. I have great endorsements. The Howard Jarvis Taxpayer Association and the Paul Gann Citizens Committee have both endorsed me, as has the San Diego County Reform Party.

   Interestingly, two state Republican Assemblymen, Howard Kaloogian and Steve Baldwin, gave me their endorsement WITHOUT ME ASKING. And they endorsed me knowing that I will be supporting their Libertarian opponents in their races. Their party has since issued a formal sanction against each of them, but they defiantly refuse to back down from their endorsements of me.

   I have also been endorsed by three other Republican County Central Committee members, even though they can be thrown out of their office for supporting me. In addition, Republican Party leader Ron Unz gave me $250, a tacit endorsement.

   7. The local special interests who frankly hate my guts don't seem to care much about me winning this race. In fact, I've gotten confidential feedback that some of them think I might be good in this office, and, more important, would be out of the way when they seek additional taxpayers subsidies from the city (a miscalculation on their part, I might add).

   8. With my Libertarian and taxpayer connections, I feel I can raise enough money to achieve the outreach necessary to win this race. None of the other candidates have this fund raising capability.

   9. In the 1 January to March 17 campaign financing reporting period, I am the number one fund raiser! When was the last time that you heard that the Libertarian led all candidates in fund raising?

   Only San Diego City Treasurer Conny Jamison comes close, with $5,900 compared to my $6,500. The most any of the other candidates have raised is a paltry $450 (not counting personal loans which we have all made to pay for the $971 filing fee and $6,550 ballot statement cost).

   In addition, I have by far the biggest balance in my checking account for future advertising needs. My results are all the more impressive in that I have not yet done a fund raising mailer or held a fund raiser for supporters. Three of the former and two of the latter are now planned to take place before 15 May.

   10. There will be controversial local ballot initiatives on both the June and November ballot, and I will be co-writing the ballot arguments from the taxpayer perspective. It is a wonderful platform from which to campaign, and my opponents have no role to play in these issues.

   11. The controversial positions we Libertarians support are not issues that as County Treasurer I can take action on -- all I can do is have a say in the money matters. As I point out to friends -- "San Diego voters might not want me to run the border guard operation, and for darn sure I would make a lousy drug Czar, but if the people want some tightfisted S.O.B. to watch over their tax dollars, then clearly I'm the best choice."

   12. Because there is no serious Democrat in the race, I think I can get some support there, or at least avoid activist opposition. Many Democrats have been very pleased with my actions opposing corporate and professional sports subsidies. Again, because of the nature of the office, they should feel that I pose no threat to their agenda.

   For instance, I had a good meeting with the San Diego Democratic Club (the gay activist group). I was able to persuade them that, while they probably would not want to actually endorse me because my score on their gay issues quiz was not high enough, they should not feel threatened enough by my campaign to work against me. They will stay out of this race.

   13. Finally, my public rejection of a $100,000 "hush money" offer (an offer of cash if only I would simply keep quiet for 60 days while the big business interests pushed through their special convention center subsidy legislation) has had a startlingly positive effect on the electorate. One major columnist labeled me "the most feared man in San Diego."

   WHAT IT WILL TAKE TO WIN

   My biggest immediate need is -- surprise! -- money. In addition to paying almost $7,500 to get into the race (filing fee and campaign statement), I have already purchased a $6,000 Republican slate mailer that goes to 268,000 high- propensity voter households. Based on the size of this race, that is one of the most efficient uses of money I can come up with.

   We will be doing signs as well. The pundits tell me that this media is one of the most cost effectives ways to reach the voters. A sad truth, I'm afraid.

   I am also looking at doing radio ads. Normally these are somewhat wasteful for our local candidates as they are advertising to many folks who are not in their districts, but my race covers the whole county (bigger than Rhode Island!) which will work well with strategically placed radio commercials.

   If you can contribute, please do. The maximum contribution in this race is $250 a person, which makes it tough to raise significant money from a few financial angels. So whatever you can do will be helpful. Rest assured I will use your money as carefully as I would my own. I can take contributions ONLY from individuals -- no PAC, corporation or political party money can be accepted.

   If you can contribute, make your check out to "Rider for County Treasurer." Of course, if you give $100 or more, we need your OCCUPATION and EMPLOYER, if any. If self-employed, we need the name under which you do business.

   Send your contribution to:

   Richard Rider 10969 Red Cedar Dr. San Diego, CA 92131

   For more information, call me at 619-530-1776, or email me at drider@aol.com. If you would like to receive updates on the campaign, let me know (along with your email address), and I will put you on my email distribution list.

   Many thanks,

   Richard Rider drider@aol.com

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5. Attention Macomb County Candidates by Tim O'Brien

   Macomb Daily political columnist, Chad Selweski, has repeatedly shown himself to be actively hostile to our philosophy, our party and our candidates.

   Selweski will try and pass himself off as a reporter seeking facts for a news story when in reality he is looking for any statements he can spin into some kind of ammunition in an effort to try and paint us as out-of-touch-with-reality lunatics, if possible, and, failing that, rabid radicals out of touch with the average voter.

   He WILL attempt to sandbag you in an interview.

   Therefore, it is strongly recommended that, if he contacts you regarding your campaign, you either be "unavailable for comment," or tell him that you are extremely busy, ask that he please put his questions in writing and advise him that you will fax him your response. (This technique will both allow you the time to reflect carefully on your answers so that they can be phrased in such a way that it is difficult to take them out of context and also eliminate the possibility of being misquoted.) If he claims that an imminent deadline will not allow a written exchange, simply thank him for his interest in your campaign and tell him that he should feel free to contact you again when time permits.

   In view of the fact that we have struggled for years to get even modest news coverage it is regrettable when we have to guard against media people. Nevertheless, we would be foolishly niave not to recognize the fact that, now that we are becoming increasingly effective in the political arena, there are both liberals and conservatives out there who will do whatever they can to torpedo our efforts.

   It should be noted that the above warning applies specifically to Mr. Selweski. The rest of the Macomb Daily staff appears to be very professional and have given us no reason to think they won't cover us and our candidates impartially and accurately.

   Please pass this advisory on to any of our other Macomb County candidates who are not subscribers to this e-newsletter.

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6. Does Your Email Reader Support HTML? by Greg Dirasian

   Does your email reader support HTML? If it does, and you're not getting this newsletter in HTML format, then you are missing a lot. For example, if you are receiving this newsletter in HTML format, then you see a Statue of Liberty, with a flickering torch, to the left of this article.

   All this technical stuff too complicated? Here's an easy test. Go to:

           http://www.michiganlp.org/lpmonline/mailtest.php
   

   Then, enter your email address, check either one or both of the boxes for the type of message you want (HTML or Mime-Html) and click on the button. You will be sent one message for each box you check.

   If the messages you receive look good, then email Mark Heil, markheil@flash.net, and ask him to make sure you receive the newsletter in HTML format.

   If you are using AOL, you can upgrade to their most recent version for free - AOL's latest version supports HTML format. If you are using Netscape to read your email, Netscape 3.0 and above support HTML. But if possible, don't miss out on the high-quality version of the newsletter.

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7. Health Care Task Force Found Guilty by Sue A. Blevins

   [Reprinted, with permission, from Health Freedom Watch, Vol. 1, Issue 2, March/April 1998]

   The Clinton Administration indulged in "dishonest" and "reprehensible" conduct in its efforts to keep its 1993 Health Care Task Force meetings secret.

   So concluded District Judge Royce C. Lamberth after reviewing the lawsuit filed by the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) and others. They filed suit in February 1993.

   Special Interest Groups

   The suit claimed that the First Lady's task force -- contrary to what the government claimed -- was made up of special interest groups. The doctors demanded open meetings, which the government refused.

   Four years later, on December 18, 1997, Judge Lamberth agreed that the government had provided misleading information, noting that Clinton's former health care czar, Ira Magaziner, lied about the makeup of the health care task force "working group."

   The Reason For the Lie?

   "It was a bid to block the group's meetings from being forced open under the Federal Advisory Committee Act, which bars closed-door meetings of any presidential advisory group that has non-governmental workers as members," explains Paul Bedard in _White House Weekly_.

   Bedard adds, "...Magaziner claimed that the working group was composed only of government workers when in fact it included dozens of private sector consultants and lobbyists."

   Although Kent Masterson Brown was the original lawyer for the doctor's group, Thomas Spencer took over the case and brought it to its satisfactory conclusion.

   Judge Lamberth ordered the government to pay sanctions of $285,864 to the AAPS.

   [Copyright 1998, the Institute for Health Freedom, http://www.IHF-HealthFreedom.org]

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