LPM Online

May 8, 2001

Contents

  1. Upcoming Events
  2. Libertarians Kickoff Petition Drive to Restore Ballot Status
  3. Petitions Filed to Overturn Eastpointe "Living Wage"
  4. Bouwman runs for Ottawa ISD
  5. Dangerous Guns
  6. Article from LP news

  1. Upcoming Events

    May 8, 2001 - 7:00 PM
    LP of Oakland County Executive Committee Meeting. All dues-paying members are welcome. Business begins at 7:00 PM.
    Location: LPM Headquarters, 619 East Nine Mile in Hazel Park, just east of I-75.
    Contact: Chris Pellerito Phone: (248) 373-9411 E-mail: chair@lpocmi.org

    May 9, 2001 - 6:30 PM
    Libertarians of Macomb County monthly meeting. Drinks and dinner at 6:30 PM, business begins at 7:00 PM.
    Location: Miles World Resturant, 17689 Masonic, Fraser, MI 48026, 810-415-4500.
    Contact: Diane Barnes Phone: (810) 774-1625 E-mail: dbarnes98@aol.com

    May 10, 2001
    Deadline for submitting information for the next issue of the LPM's print newsletter, the Michigan Libertarian.
    Location: Send articles to Keith Edwards, 28960 Jane, St. Clair Shores MI 48081
    Contact: Keith Edwards Phone: (810) 777-7468 E-mail: newsletter@michiganlp.org

    May 10, 2001 - 7:00 PM
    The Ballot Access Restoration Committee meets the second and fourth Thursday every month -- until we submit petition signatures to the Bureau of Elections to be certified to once again be able to run Libertarian candidates in partisan races. All LPM members are welcome to attend and help with both the planning and execution of our petition drive.
    Location: LPMHQ, 619 E. 9 Mile, Hazel Park (just east of I-75)
    Contact: Nancy O'Brien Phone: (313) 562-5778 E-mail: nobrien321@home.com

    May 14, 2001 - 7:00 PM
    Clare-Gladwin Libertarian Party Meeting. Refreshments provided. Ballot Access Petitioning Kickoff.
    Location: Mid-Michigan Community College, Room 167.
    Contact: Ghazey Aleck Phone: (989) 386-2699 E-mail: ghazey@alecklawfirm.com

    May 14, 2001 - 7:00 PM
    LP of Livingston County invites you to our monthly meeting. Dinner is at 7 p.m. and business begins at 8 p.m.
    Location: Mexican Jones Restaurante, 675 W. Grand River, Brighton, MI.
    Contact: George Sise Phone: (734) 498-3298 E-mail: sise_george@hotmail.com

    May 15, 2001 - 7:00 PM
    Libertarians of Allegan County monthly meeting. We have news about last week-end's LPM convention, kick-off of the LPM Ballot Access Petition drive, and our upcoming fight against 2 tax hikes this year in Allegan County. Please attend. All are welcome!
    Location: Entrance to Riverfront parking is at the corner of Hubbard and Chestnut. Drive down and park behind Dockerty's. The Blue Heron is right next door to Docherty's, entrance on the riverfront.
    Contact: Rick Dutkiewicz Phone: (616) 673-5503 E-mail: rdoogie@datawise.net

    May 16, 2001
    Monthly meeting of the St. Clair County affiliate.
    Location: Figaro's is located at 1503 11th Street, Port Huron, MI 48060. TX: (810) 987-3588. Join us for dinner at 6:00 PM. Business begins at 7:00 PM.
    Contact: Richard Friend Phone: (810) 982-7178 E-mail: rfriend@advnet.net

    May 17, 2001 - 7:00 PM
    The Van Buren County Libertarian Party meeting. Food will be available at 6:30. Everyone Welcome!
    Location: CT's Restaurant, South Haven, corner of M-140 & Blue Star Highway
    Contact: Bill Bradley Phone: (616) 637-4525 E-mail: free@cybersol.com

    May 17, 2001 - 7:00 PM
    This should be an interesting meeting. Hope we see you.
    Location: CTs restaurant, South Haven (on the corner of Blue Star Highway and M-43)
    Contact: Bill Bradley Phone: (616) 637-4525 E-mail: bbradley@cybersol.com

    May 19, 2001 - 6:30 AM
    Tri-City Libertarian Party of Michigan. 6:30 PM Dinner Club 7:00 PM Guest Speaker 7:30 PM Regular business meeting
    Location: Howard Johnson at M-81 and I-75 in Saginaw, MI
    Contact: Clint Foster Phone: (517) 671-TCLP E-mail: cooljay@triton.net

    More
    For more events, see the online calendar at:
    http://www.michiganlp.org/lpmonline/events.php

  2. Libertarians Kickoff Petition Drive to Restore Ballot Status by Press Release

    5/7/00
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    CONTACT: Tim O'Brien
    (248) 591-3733
    (313) 562-5778

    HAZEL PARK. "This is the single, most important thing we will do this year," said Libertarian Party of Michigan Executive Committee member Nancy O'Brien in announcing the official start of the party's petition drive to restore its ballot status.

    As chair of the party's Ballot Access Restoration Committee she promised the party faithful at the LPM's annual convention last weekend that she and her committee would do whatever is necessary to collect the 30,272 petition signatures needed because, she stated, "Failure is not an option."

    "It's a pretty sad commentary on Michigan election law," added newly elected party chair Michael Corliss, "that after having 115 candidates get a total of more than 1.5 million votes in the last election, we should lose our ballot status anyway and have to petition to get back on."

    "It's a pretty sad commentary on Michigan election law," added newly elected party chair Michael Corliss, "that after having 115 candidates get a total of more than 1.5 million votes in the last election, we lose our ballot status anyway and have to petition to get back on."

    Corliss was referring to Michigan's unique 'Top-of-Ticket' rule that puts the fate of an entire political party on the one race that is highest up on the ballot.

    The LP actually fielded a slate of candidates larger than all the other so-called 'third' parties combined. And those candidates garnered many times the vote total of all the other 'third' parties -- added together. But the LP's presidential candidate, Harry Browne, fell victim to 'Wasted Vote' syndrome in the historically tight race between Republican Bush and Democrat Gore. And since Michigan law puts all of the party's ballot status eggs in that one basket, the LP is off while the Green and Reform parties -- far weaker overall -- maintained their ballot positions.

    The unfairness of the situation is so self-evident that state representative Leon Drolet (R-33) has taken up the cause of reforming the law and plans to introduce legislation to eliminate the "Principal Candidate" limitation so that any of a party's candidates can meet the minimum requirement to retain ballot access.

    In fact Drolet was at the LP's convention in Frankenmuth and was among the very first to actually sign the petition to put the party back on the ballot.

    "We are hopeful that we can get the law changed," concluded Corliss. "But in the meantime we have no choice but to go out and collect 30,272 signatures of registered voters if we are to run candidates again in 2002."

    The party has 180 days to complete its task.

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  3. Petitions Filed to Overturn Eastpointe "Living Wage" by Press Release

    Petitions Filed to Overturn Eastpointe "Living Wage" Ordinance

    5/3/00
    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
    CONTACT: Diane Barnes
    (810) 202-5817
    (810) 774-1625

    EASTPOINTE. "Now Eastpointe residents will decide whether or not we want a 'Living Wage' ordinance," said repeal organizer Diane Barnes. "And I don't think they're going to like the idea of gouging taxpayers for the sake of special interests," she added.

    On Wednesday the local business owner filed petitions containing 465 signatures -- 65% more than required under the city charter -- with the Eastpointe City Clerk's office. Once the signatures are certified, this action will block the ordinance adopted by the city council on April 3. Local officials must then either rescind the ordinance themselves or else put it on hold until it can be put to a vote on the next general election ballot.

    If affirmed by voters, the "Living Wage" ordinance would require all companies who contract with the city, or receive public subsidies, grants or tax abatements, to pay employees a minimum wage of $11.00 per hour (or $8.50 per hour with full benefits).

    "I oppose the so-called 'Living Wage' because it will cost us taxpayers in the end -- either through loss of services or higher taxes," said Vicky Beeman who helped with the petition drive. "Or both," added her husband Rick who worked with her.

    The city clerk now has 10 days to certify that the petition contains the required minimum 286 valid signatures. However, the entire question could be rendered moot if the Michigan legislature passes HB 4328 which would retroactively eliminate the authority of cities to impose minimum wages higher than those mandated under federal law.

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  4. Bouwman runs for Ottawa ISD by Jason C. Miller

    WEST OLIVE -- Newly elected Ottawa County Libertarian Party chair has filed petitions to run for a seat on the Ottawa Area Intermediate School District. Though this position is technicaly elected, the only people eligable to vote in the June 4 election are representatives from each constituent local district.

    ISD elections are usually uncontested and are generaly a joke. However, one of the incumbants has declined to seek re-election. Roger has filed while hoping that he will face no opposition.

    This could be an interesting little election.

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  5. Dangerous Guns by Glenn Whitt

    With the petition drive to recall the new CCW law that Governor Engler signed into law, I felt that I should share the following story to add a little humor to the issue. It makes the point that guns by themselves are not dangerous

    Utahns Guns Are Dangerous! by Larry Ripplinger

    For Utah gun owners, ittle has changed since the days when Brigham Young cautioned Mormon pioneers to stock food and rifles. More than 30,000 Utahns have applied for and been granted concealed - carry permits, and virtually every able-bodied, law abiding citizen able to vote can strap on a holster with a loaded pistol in Utah as long as the weapon remains in plain view. Is this really a good idea? It seems gun violence is rampant all across the United States. Especially terrifying are the guns that are killing children in schools.

    All I can say is I’m glad I don't own a gun that kills children. In fact I'm not sure this gun I have will kill anything. A friend of mine gave me a 357 Police special a while back and told me at the time, "it's a really dangerous gun". I told him I would keep an eye on it, and put it in a case by my easy chair.

    A few weeks later one evening while watching an especially violent show on TV, I thought I saw it move, out of the periphery of my eye. Boy, I stared at that thing the rest of the night. I wasn’t taking any chances. The next day I went out to my tool shed, got a hammer and placed it along side my easy chair. I wanted to have it handy to beat the h....out of that gun if it tried something funny again.

    Guess I should have known it wouldn't shoot the TV. This was a Police special that was trained to shoot mostly people or once in a while a mad dog or some violent critter. Maybe it just got excited.

    I didn’t have to wait long before it showed it’s true colors. It was on Super bowl Sunday. My son, Randy, walked down from his house to watch the game with my wife Kay and me. It was a wonderful Sunday. Good football and we are having a nice visit and then it happened.

    True story. When I look out my front door, across the porch I see a good share of landscape. I can look across the Burr Trail into the Grand Staircase of The Escalante, Clinton’s first declared National Monument by executive order. Suddenly, we all hear the yapping of Cappy, a very small white 10 month old puppy we have at our home because we are puppy sitting while a daughter, husband and family are away in Germany for a year, Mitch doing his Elton John impersonation.

    The shrill yapping of the puppy was like nothing I've heard before or since. My eyes caught the movement of animal action outside. Looked like a big dog or possibly a coyote about to munch our little Cappy. So I yelled "Coyote" and Kay hollers, "big dog".

    Randy can’t see the action from his seat but "hears" the action outside and our hollering inside. Boy, he’s up in a flash and out that door like a gun shot and on to the rescue. Well, me, I'm stuck there in my seat with my prosthesis off, leaving me pretty helpless.

    So I am putting on my artificial leg with one eye on the door and the other on my gun. By now that dangerous, violent gun ought to be springing into action. What does it think it was made for anyway? Doesn’t it remember?

    By the time I get to the door and open it to go out to give Randy a helping hand, Cappy is a white streak, shooting between my legs, headed for the back bedroom and under the bed. Whoa!!! There is Randy at the end of porch. He has a snowball in his hand. I’m sure it’s one of those hard, dangerous snowballs. You know, the ones that hit you in the face and black your eye, The one kids use all the time to subdue the enemy! Ouch.

    I asked Randy what happened? My jaw fell open as he explained to us what took place.

    As he rounded the porch, he could see the action had come to a standstill. Looking for a dog holding Cappy down, it took a moment to register what was really holding him down, (still yipping). It’s not a dog at all, or a coyote. It’s a snarling, staring him right in the eye, cougar!

    He only stood there for a moment, hoping that dangerous, violent gun would come to his aid and get rid of this menace once and for all. But that coward gun was still laying there, trying to hide behind anything it could see.

    Well, with no choice left, Randy does the unthinkable. He reaches down and picks up one of those dangerous, bloody your nose, unlicensed, unregulated, hard as ice snowballs and smacks that bad fellow cougar right in the chops. That was it. Coug dropped that yipping puppy dog like a hot potato or should I say "hot dog"?. I think it figured if it got hit by another ice ball, it would be his demise. At any rate he lit out of there like there was no tomorrow. Randy ain’t afraid of no stinking cougar, not as long as he had a snowball.

    That’s a pretty scary weapon you know, and I just may have changed my mind about guns. Maybe they aren’t the violent killing machine we have been led to believe. The fact is, arrows have killed more heads of state in this world than bullets. Of course cars kill the most now. We license them, put in seat belts, give drivers training, make it against the law to drink and drive and cars are killers. Right?

    Lets put the blame for these senseless school shootings in proper perspective. It isn’t the bows and arrows or the guns and cars, it’s the snowballs. They’re unregulated, unlicensed and free.

    Yep! They're uncontrolled and just too many of ‘em.
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  6. Article from LP news by Jonathan Trager

    Jason Miller, 18, runs for spot on Hudsonville, Michigan school board
    School Board candidate Jason Miller: "I have seen the system from the inside, so I know what it's like."

    by Jonathan Trager
    LP NEWS STAFF WRITER

    Jason Miller isn't old enough to buy beer, but that isn't stopping him from trying to help some Hudsonville, Michigan parents buy a better education for their children.

    The 18-year-old Libertarian activist is running for a seat on the local school board. And while some people might view his youth as an election obstacle, Miller believes his recent experience as a high school student might actually work to his advantage.

    "I have seen the system from the inside so I know what it's like," he said. "Other board members don't. They are insulated by a group of administrators with an institutional bias who just don't get the real world."

    Miller also has something few other 18-year-olds can claim: Real political experience. He co-founded and currently chairs the Ottawa County Libertarian Party, and, while still in high school, was appointed to the Hudsonville Parks & Grounds Advisory Board by the county commissioner.

    In addition, he served as a student representative to the Hudsonville school board prior to graduating six months early in January.

    "Attending meetings and working with the school board has taught me about the issues and encouraged me to get more involved," he said.

    Miller said he decided to run for office because the Hudsonville public school system has been plagued with fiscal problems -- and because no child should suffer because his or her parents can't afford a private school education.

    "Although Hudsonville is a pretty conservative district, the schools are constantly running spending deficits," he said. "Half of parents with children in the district either teach their kids at home or send them to private school.

    "The Hudsonville Board of Education needs a voice for lower spending instead of deficit spending, for school choice instead of paranoia, and for common sense instead of institutionalized bias."

    As a school board member, Miller said he would have a higher profile with which he could lobby the state legislature for school choice. Specifically, he would work to expand charter school opportunities and lobby for education tax credits.

    "Whenever the state considers anything that allows more school choice, there is a constant parade of teachers, union leaders, and school board members talking about how we have to 'save public education.' They say choice will hurt our public schools," he said. "We need somebody to explain how competition will benefit students, as opposed to the public school establishment."

    Michigan LP State Chair Stacy Van Oast said she was excited about Miller's candidacy.

    "Jason is definitely one of the party's rising stars," she said. "If anyone can handle a position at 18, it's him. He's helped organize and solicit funding for other campaigns, so he has a lot of experience even though he's young."

    Miller, who is currently a freshman at Grand Valley State University in Allendale, said he is optimistic about his chances in the race. Because only a fraction of Hudsonville citizens actually vote in school board elections, Miller said he has a wide pool of potential voters from which to garner support.

    His campaign strategy will be to target registered voters who didn't vote in the last local election and give them a reason to show up and vote for him, Miller said.

    To achieve that, he said, he will go door-to-door, use direct mail, and post signs at popular locations in town to promote his candidacy -- and to remind people that their vote can make the difference.

    "I really think this is one of the LP's most winnable races this year," he said. "I believe that I will be the youngest Libertarian elected to public office in the country."

    The Hudsonville election will take place on June 11.

    For information, or to make a contribution, write: Miller for School Board, 6450 28th Avenue, Hudsonville MI 49426. Or-mail: jcmiller@egl.net.

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