LPM Online

August 7, 2007

1. Upcoming Events

   August 14, 2007 - 7:30 PM

   Capital Area Libertarian Party monthly meeting. All are welcome. BYO food and beverage. Planning for an open house is on the agenda.

   Location: LPM Lansing office, 2722 E Michigan Ave Suite 22, lower level. Park and enter in back.

   Contact: Will Tyler White Phone: 517 349-3806 Email: whitewi5@msu.edu

   
   

   August 22, 2007 - 7:30 PM

   LP of Oakland County. Nonmembers are welcome. Optional dinner at 6:30. Meeting starts at 7:30.

   Location: Sila's Restaurant, 4033 W. 12 Mile, 2 blocks east of Greenfield, in Berkley.

   Contact: Adam Goodman Phone: 248-765-3213 Email: goodman582@hotmail.com

   
   

   More...

   For more events, see the online calendar at:

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

   
   

2. Mark Owen Throws His Hat in the Ring (Again) — by Bill Hall
   
   Libertarian Party member and former Libertarian Party of Michigan Vice Chair Mark Owen announced that he will run for re-election to the Owosso City Council. Mark currently serves as the City's Mayor Pro-tem. He recently pushed an ordinance through the City Council repealing the City's property tax collection fee, thus lowering taxes for all the City's property taxpayers. If you would like learn more about Mark Owen's campaign and how you can help, please contact him at mark_owen@charter.net. Thanks, Mark. You are one of our heroes for liberty in Michigan!Back to Contents
   
3. Michigan Political Leadership Program Fellowships Available — by Bill Hall
   
   I have been asked to publicize the availability of fellowships to the Michigan Political Leadership Program at Michigan State University.
   
   MPLP is distinguished as one of only a handful of programs of its kind in the nation. Each year a diverse group from across the state come together for one weekend a month from February through November to engage in a curriculum focused on practical politics, public policy process and analysis, leadership development, and effective governance. Twenty-four fully-paid multi-partisan leadership training fellowships will be awarded. Each fellowship is valued at $12,000 and covers meals, lodging, and program materials.
   
   In the past, Libertarian Party of Michigan activists Barb Goushaw and Mike Brinkman have attended and graduated from this excellent program. It is a golden opportunity for you to hone your skills as a Libertarian political activist.
   
   Details and an application are available on the MPLP website at www.ippsr.msu.edu/MPLP or by calling 517/353.0891. The deadline for application is Friday, August 31, 2007.
   
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4. Open Letters — by Scotty Boman
   
   Feel free to plagerize this...
   
   Here are two letters I faxed to members of Congress. One to each Senator and one to my rep:
   
   Honorable State Rep:
   
   When I was growing up, our government always, contrasted itself with the Soviet Union, by claiming Soviet citizens were subject to electronic surveillance without warrants or cause.
   
   In schools we were encouraged to read George Orwell's "1984" to alert us to the evil of unrestricted government surveillance.
   
   George W. Bush Sovietized the United States with his extensive surveillance program. Ironically, he claimed we needed this to protect our nation from terrorists, who don't believe in freedom or privacy. I was relieved to learn that this program was over. Then, like a scene out of 1984, I learned the US House revived this beast from the abyss!
   
   Clearly, many of your colleagues voted for it. What is the point in fighting Al-Qaida abroad, if our elected officials have no more respect for our constitution, or our privacy, than they do? Why not just surrender and spare us the pretense?
   
   Please tell me you voted against this measure.
   
   
   _____________________________________________________
   
   Honorable Senators Levin and Stabinaw:
   
   When I was growing up, our government always, contrasted itself with the Soviet Union, by claiming Soviet citizens were subject to electronic surveillance without warrants or cause.
   
   In schools we were encouraged to read George Orwell's "1984" to alert us to the evil of unrestricted government surveillance.
   
   George W. Bush Sovietized the United States with his extensive surveillance program. Ironically, he claimed we needed this to protect our nation from terrorists, who don't believe in freedom or privacy. I was relieved to learn that this program was over. Then, like a scene out of 1984, I learned the US House revived this beast from the abyss!
   
   Clearly, many of your colleagues voted for it. What is the point in fighting Al-Qaida abroad, if our elected officials have no more respect for our constitution, or our privacy, than they do? Why not just surrender and spare us the pretense?
   
   Please vote against this measure in the Senate.
   
   
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