LPM OnlineAugust 8, 2006 |
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Contents
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Because of problems delivering the Michigan Libertarian by Snail mail, I have made it available via this link: http://www.mi.lp.org/mi_libertarian_July_2006.pdf The PDF file will be removed when newsletters start reaching homes. The LEC is working to ensure more timely deliveries in the future. If you are not a member of the Libertarian Party, or your dues have lapsed, consider this an introductory complementary copy. The League of Women Voters is one of the few organizations that distributes candidate questionnaires and hosts forums in which alternative political parties get equal treatment. One of the reasons they no longer host presidential debates, was because they wouldn’t promise to exclude third parties. Libertarians have been invited to speak at some of their forums. So I was surprised not to get a candidate questionnaire in the last election. I was even more surprised when their voter guide listed me as not responding to the questionnaire. I think they simply made an error with my address, and they have assured me they will be in touch this year. They have the statewide list of candidates that we delivered in Lansing, but if you registered locally you may wish to forward your contact information to them to make sure: League of Women Voters of Michigan 200 Museum Drive Lansing, MI 48933-1997 Telephone: (517) 484-5383 Fax: (517) 484-3086 e-mail: info@lwvmi.org Don’ t bother sending them promotional information. They aren’t interested in it. Just contact information. Apparently they have taken some nonlibertarian positions on some issues, but save your argument s for thei r questionnaires and the candidate forums. The LPM Federal Fund has funds in it, but could use more. Also, there needs to be money in the Libertarian Party of Michigan Campaign Fund. Why? Because the government says so of course. What will we use this money for? To tell the voters about our candidates. Campaign finance laws require that any promotional materials the party distributes (such as a slate list of our candidates) must be paid for out of the LPM Campaign Fund. The bad news is that the LPM campaign fund is empty. The good newsis that the LPM has money in it's Federal Fund. It is illegal to move money between funds. There is only one way for the LPM to promote it's slate of candidates statewide... Donate today. Checks must be made out to the “LPM Campaign Fund” Checks that don’t include the suffix “Campaign Fund” will go into our general fund. Donations can be sent to: The Libertarian Party of Michigan Campaign Fund P.O. Box 27065, Lansing, MI 48924-7065 To promote the Libertarian Party and its candidates, you should distribute handbills and brochures that are designed for outreach. The state party has three new outreach brochures publicizing that the Libertarian Party is the only political party (1) that supports equal rights a n d opposes racial preferences, (2) that supports small business, and (3) that wants to get government busybodies off your back. Some of our candidates will have handbills or brochures. Other outreach material is available from the national party and o t h e r l i b e r t a r i a n organizations, such as The Advocates for Sel f-G o v e r n m e n t , www. theadvocates.org, and the International Society for Individual Liberty, www.isil.org. You shouldn't waste time and money distributing the Libertarian Party News, the Michigan Libertarian, and other party newsletters. They are designed for members, not for recruiting voters or new members. Distributing party newsletters to nonmembers also creates campaign finance problems. Distributing outreach literature to friends is most effective. Because they like and respect you, friends are more likely to read the literature. But LPM has only a few h u n d r e d m e m b e r s , each with a limited number of friends, who probably have h e a r d o u r promotions for the Libertarian Party. Therefore, outreach to strangers is essential. An inexpensive way to distribute outreach material is the literature drop; walk door-to-door leaving a packet of information. Don't put outreach material in mail boxes; it is a federal crime. To protect the material from rain and wind, try to leave the material between the door and screen door. Many libertarians find it more fun to hand out outreach material at parades, arts and crafts festivals, concerts in the park, and other outdoor events where people are sitting or strolling. If you are a candidate for a statewide office (or if you think that most people at the event live in your district), say something like "I'm a candidate for [name of office]." If you are not a candidate (or if you think that most people don't live in your district), say something like "Please consider voting Libertarian." You can distribute several outreach items simultaneously. You should have everything assembled before hand in packets. Place one brochure inside another, with the brochure that you think is most effective on the outside. One of the most expensive parts of political signage is paying for sign wires. November 9th is a great day to get lots of free wires. After the primaries, most of the candidates have lost, and picking up all those wires is but the post mortem of their campaign. Such scavenging may seem distasteful, but it is a great way to help your favorite candidate. Of course one should observe some basic etiquette: 1. Respect private property. Only signs wires in public places, like freeway embankments, are fair game. Many are there illegally, and you may be saving the campaign that put them there unwanted hastles and fines. 2. Don’t touch the public sinage until the day after the primary. This is a matter of fair play. Let’s face it; some of our favorite candidates put signs on public property too. It’s a “do unto others” thing. If the signs are up after the primary, then they are already due to be removed. 3. Don’t get in arguments about them. If someone says the wires are theirs, they are probably right. Earlier this year, the National Libertarian party discontinued its Unified Membership Program (Ump). Under UMP, if you sent $25 to either the national or state organization, you were a member of both. This made matters simple for members. You were either caught up on your dues or you were not. Now it’s like this: You may have current membership in the national organization (at no charge) and pay $25 to the national organization, but still not be a member of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. To assure your membership you must renew with the Libertarian Party of Michigan. Is this less convenient? Yes. Is it important to support both organizations? Yes. Without a Libertarian Party of Michigan, there is no slate of libertarian candidates on the ballot. Even if the national organization nominates a presidential candidate, he or she cannot be on the ballot without going through the State Party, or spending thousands of dollars on ballot access. Likewise we need a national organization to coordinate presidential efforts during presidential election year, and to speak the libertarian position on national issues. So double check you records, or contact our membership director if you have any doubt. We need dues paying members to keep an office open and produce a newsletter. If you are running for office, and able to get out to Caro Michigan, you may be interested in their meet the candidates night. Here is the complete text of the letter Davenport University sent me: July 6, 2006 Dear Candidate: Davenport University is pleased to announce after a great deal of inquiries and requests, we will again be hosting our Meet the Candidates night. On Thursday October 5, 2006 from 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, the Caro Location of Davenport will be open to candidates to meet with the public. We welcome you and your agents to attend this forum for the purpose of meeting with the public in a casual setting. I think you will find our newly renovated building and upgraded technology will offer you a wonderful stage for meeting with the communities you represent. Please contact myself, Audrey Kelly, at (989) 673-5857 if you, or your agent, plan to attend and to request any accommodations such as technology, display tables, or other additional equipment we may be able to supply you with. As an alternative, you may email me your attendance and necessary equipment at audrey.kellv@davenport.edu. In the event you are unable to reach me directly feel free to leave your response with our customer service staff. On behalf of Davenport University, we are delighted to bring to you Meet the Candidates night once again and look forward to a successful evening of community conversation! Sincerely, Audrey Kelly Admissions Representative James Auld Department Coordinator for Legal Careers Director of Student Life 1231 Cleaver Road · Cara, Michigan 48723 · 989.673.5857 · 800.968.9710 www.davenport.edu If you read this early enough for it to matter, you may say "so what! The LPM already selected it's candidates" This is true, but it's a great chance to get hard-core voters by surprise. When they go in you can watch them dodge the volley of literature foisted before them. They may deliver some of it to the trash basket. On the way out the are empty handed. You hold out your libertarian outreach or candidate brochure. They smugly say, "I already voted." You say, "Yes. This is for you to look at between now and November." |
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