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MICHIGAN LIBERTARIAN
Volume 45:02
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Setting Up Franchises
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by Jeff Wood
One of the greatest roadblocks to achieving liberty in our lifetimes is spreading the message. Libertarian content is being produced by the truckload, the only thing missing is an interested, engaged audience. We all know that when supply outstrips demand, value plummets. The last thing the liberty community needs is another blog, podcast or newsletter crammed down its already overstuffed throats. What we need is genuinely enthusiastic individuals ready to take up the fight for freedom.
How can we achieve this? How do we make the love of freedom go viral? What is the biggest impediment to our popularity? A lack of connection. The internet is an impersonal medium, and people need a personal connection to feel a sense of belonging within a community. The only lasting, resilient libertarian groups I’ve encountered are those that host regular face-to-face meetings.
What these meetings consist of varies widely, because the personalities and mindsets within this community vary widely. I’ve been to Anarchist coalitions, Libertarian Party affiliates, and Militia training sessions. How frequently these groups meet is also up in the air. I’ve been to annual festivals that draw in people from around the country, monthly outings of hardcore locals, and weekly meetups amongst friends. Find the niche in your community that keeps people coming back, and things will grow exponentially from there.
The benefits of establishing a thriving libertarian community in your locality go way beyond spreading the message too. By facilitating the creation of mutually beneficial relationships, you can create a backbone of support which people can rely on when they find themselves being pressured by the state. Setting up cells of freedom enthusiasts throughout the nation and the world will create the infrastructure of the libertarian society that will one day replace our current regime.
In conclusion, I want to recommend that anyone reading this attend a local libertarian event. If you can’t find one, start one. You’re bound to meet a lot of people with a different perspective on liberty than you, but it’s the best way to meet people who share your point of view. If you’re truly passionate about freedom, get away from the keyboard and do something real to bring it about in your community.
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The Real Wasted Vote
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]by Nicholas Sarwark
As originally published in Libertarian Leadership 1/18/16
As Libertarians, we’ve all heard of the “wasted vote.”
The argument goes that if a voter votes for a Libertarian, they are wasting their vote, because the Libertarian can’t win. There are many good arguments for voting one’s conscience, but that’s not the wasted vote we should be worrying about.
The real wasted vote problem we have as Libertarians is the vote we leave behind. At this point in America, there are voters who are hungry to vote Libertarian. Voters who are fed up with the old parties. Voters who go into the booth excited and ready to vote for a Libertarian candidate.
If we don’t have a candidate in a race, we’re like a company who spends lots of money on marketing, but can’t get their product on to the store shelves. We need to give as many voters as possible a Libertarian option on the ballot, so their votes are not wasted.
Libertarian votes are like rain. Rain comes down on your house. Sometimes a little, sometimes a lot. It rolls off the roof and into the gutters. It comes out of the downspout. If you don’t put a rain barrel under your downspout, that rain is going to spill out onto the ground and be wasted. Every Libertarian candidate who steps up to give the voters a Libertarian option is like a rain barrel.
Don’t waste votes. Step up to run for office as a Libertarian.
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Building a Libertarian Future
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As previously released in Liberty for America
Your Monthly Step
This message was originally sent to Massachusetts Libertarians. Think of it as a way to build Liberty in your own state. You may need to adopt the details to your local legal arrangements. For example, in Massachusetts town and city governments are the only level below state government—county government except in a few places has long since been abolished.
Building Liberty, One Step at a Time
Are you a libertarian volunteer? Are you willing to invest, if not your blood, at least a bit of your time and energy?
The Libertarian future will not come overnight.
The Libertarian sun will rise, one ray at a time, if we all take steps to bring it above the horizon.
So what should your first step be? Some of you may be a bit ahead of the curve here. I’m starting at the very beginning.
Step of the month: Get the lay of the land.
You will need a small notebook, a pen, and a little time.
Find out where your town or city hall is located. And find out when they are open.
Walk by when they are open. Go inside. You’ll have to look around a bit. Your objective here is to find ways you might get involved in your town or city government.
First, you are looking for a list of boards and commissions. There may well be a bulletin board. Otherwise, ask the Town Clerk where to look. Take notes. Find boards and commissions that sound interesting. Write down meeting times and places if available.
Second, drop by the town clerk or board of elections. Ask for a list of elective offices, and the schedule for the next elections. Also, ask if there is a list of vacancies or appointment dates on appointed boards. Saying you are happy to pay for a copy likely makes you more welcome. If you are challenged, you can honestly say you are writing a magazine article for your state newsletter.
Third, take your lists home.
Yes, in some places you could have found this information on the web. A web search from home misses the point here.
Now you have seen the lay of the land. Please send us a copy of your notes.
That’s all we’re suggesting for this month.
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Boman Sentenced
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]by Scotty Boman
First of all I would like to thank my friend Detroit Police Commissioner Willie Burton for sitting by my side in support of my efforts in pursuit of justice.
The sentencing hearing could have been better, but it could have been worse. We had requested a “delayed sentence” which means I would have paid a fine and possibly do community service or probation… but I would have a clean criminal record.
The prosecution wanted to impose both a fine and community service while putting this “serious crime” on record since I was supposedly “disrupting an election and was a threat to campus security”… Really!
Well, I got stuck with a $375 fine and a criminal record, but no community service. Mine was one of the last cases to be adjudicated so I noticed this fine was typical of those standing before Judge Archer today.
So my sentence has been served! Thank you to all who helped me do that. I have no more than 21 days to decide on whether or not to appeal the criminal charge, but it would cost more than the fine to even get started.
The civil suit is still in play and has been escalated from state to Federal Court. The case would be much stronger without a conviction, but oh well.
So now I get to tell my story every time I get asked if I have a criminal record. This should be almost as fun as telling people about a snowball fight in the 1980s when I would be asked if I had ever been arrested or been in jail.
Now I will rest, and get comfortable with my new status as a convicted criminal.
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Libertarians the Right Alternative for Michigan
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]by Zach Boyle as originally published in the Alpena News November 21, 2015
Michigan needs an alternative to the big government duopoly that are the Democrat and Republican Party. I believe the Libertarian Party of Michigan is a viable alternative. Unlike the Democrats and Republicans who violate their promises for smaller government, Libertarians deliver, by keeping out of your pocket book and keeping out of your bedroom. Next time you are at the polls, vote for the limited government alternative, vote the Libertarian Party
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Something is Wrong!
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]by Arnis Davidsons, Libertarian candidate for State House District 80
There is something seriously wrong with our “elected representatives” at ALL levels; from local townships all the way to Washington. Did they get a bad batch of Kool Aid? Did somebody drug their champagne? Is there lead in their water? I’d really like to know, and I’m sure you would too!
I was always taught that we elect people to various political positions to represent OUR interests, those of WE THE PEOPLE. But instead they are angry at US when we don’t approve THEIR plans.
Last May, WE THE PEOPLE overwhelmingly voted HELL NO! to a tax increase to fund road repairs (along with lots of other pork). We believed there was enough money, if they simply stopped wasting it on pet projects. Did they listen to us? NO!!! A few months later, they rammed through a tax increase when WE told them NO!!! But they know better what we want than we do. Do you believe that? I don’t!
Right here in my own District 80, in recent times the County Commission and County Sheriff wanted us to pay for a fancy new jail. What they wanted was FAR larger than what we needed. Why? Because they hoped to “make a profit” by renting space to other counties. Is a jail supposed to be “for profit”?
They put the tax increase vote to WE THE PEOPLE, TWICE! They actually said we didn’t “understand” the first time! Both times we told them HELL NO! Did they listen? NO! To our surprise, the County Commission “found” the money in the general fund to do it anyway, lbeit on a slightly smaller scale. Amazing.
They do not care what WE THE PEOPLE want. They only want us to approve their magnificent plans. They do not behave as our “representatives”, but rather as “all knowing illustrious potentates.” Bow down to your overlords, peasant! They know what is best for us. BULL!
Our illustrious overlords even believe THEY get to choose our representatives! Send Lansing a clear message. WE decide who represents us; they don’t! Elect a Libertarian!
[/vc_column_text][vc_separator border_width=”2″][vc_custom_heading text=”Quick Notes!”][vc_column_text]We’ll be sending out a special mailing regarding our upcoming Straw Poll Event scheduled for March 19th 2016.
Don’t Forget to check out our most recent press releases. You never know when a breaking story is going to hit the news leaving the Libertarian Party of Michigan to react quickly.
This is an election year and we currently have a Special Election here in Michigan and the Libertarian Party of Michigan has two candidates running. We also already have a few declared candidates seeking our nomination is our up coming State Convention May 14th 2016 you can find the members seeking nomination on the General Election page.
In the next few months we will be adding opportunities to our members and liberty minded colleagues to help spread the word of what they are doing to make this world a little less regulated – spread the word and let your friends know about Michigan Libertarian and have them join the mailing list. Remember, when we begin to franchise with each other, we can grow liberty.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column_inner][/vc_row_inner][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_separator border_width=”2″][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]
Be a Delegate to the National Libertarian Convention
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]updated from original text by a previous Chair Emily Salvette December 2009 Michigan Libertarian
You’ve watched them on TV–seen the crowds, the balloon drops, the behind the scenes intrigue. Have you ever wanted to attend a national political party convention? Your chance is coming up on Memorial Day Weekend 2016 in Orlando, Florida. The Libertarian Party holds its biannual convention Friday, May 27 – Monday, 30. The LP National Secretary has announced state delegate allocations and Michigan may send 25 delegates and 50 alternates to the convention.
At the convention delegates will elect a new national chair, new national committee and make changes to the national platform and bylaws. There will be opportunities to hear nationally-renowned speakers and to learn about issues, campaigning and grass-roots organizing at educational break-out sessions. One of the best parts of going to the convention is meeting great Libertarians from around the country.
To be a delegate or alternate, you must be a member of the national Libertarian Party or of the Libertarian Party of Michigan. The Libertarian Party of Michigan will elect the delegation at a Special Convention on March 19, 2016. If you would like to be a delegate or alternate, please contact State Chair Kimberly McCurry at chair@michiganlp.org or 989-593-1000 and she will add your name to the list. We will contact you with more information as the date approaches.
Plan now to attend. It’s a fun and exciting weekend and we want Michigan to have a strong voice in Orlando.
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Freedom of Marriage Update
[/vc_column_text][vc_column_text]views of a Lawyer by Mark Kollar, Esq
I’m a simple man, even though I am an attorney. Political philosophy discussions can send me to the stratosphere of incomprehension. I can at times reach the pinnacle of my understanding regarding only legal philosophy, but that normally leaves with a headache equal to the hangover I have the morning after my New Year’s celebration. When people talk about deep thoughts, my mind leaps to fishing on a Saturday and the water depth under my boat. The mere mention of libertarianism, capitalism, socialism or communism is enough
to send me into full flight panic attack because the ending “ism” reminds me too much of my abuse filled youth stemming from the weekly attendance in catechism. I still cannot explain the divine and miraculous ability of a Catholic Nun to use maximum force striking your wrist of the back of your hand with a ruler without leaving any “physical” evidence baffling even the most seasoned of CSI investigators. The mere sight of a black habit is usually enough to leave me babbling and blubbering like a village idiot.
Yet, here I am as lead counsel driving the litigation of a religious freedom case against the state of Michigan regarding laws restricting the fundamental right to marry without state interference embodied in the form of a marriage license. Requiring a license is an attack on pure libertarianism according to my client, the Reverend Neil Patrick Carrick. The failure to obtain the aforementioned marriage license prior to the Priest, Minister, Rabbi or Inman solemnizing the religious marriage, according to the law, results in pain similar to my worst New Year’s Eve hangover to the clergyman (or woman) performing the marriage, undermining the foundation of Libertarian principles. My Catholic forbearers might have just used the term “heresy” referring to the State’s actions.
Again based on the aforementioned aversion to words ending in “ism”, I must confess I didn’t know what the good Reverend was even talking about. So, like the good attorney I can be at times, I did legal research. Libertarianism, according to Wikipedia (the fountain of all knowledge in this day and age) is a political philosophy that upholds liberty as its principal objective. Following the blue highlighted link of the word “liberty” took me to another Wikipedia entry (almost like magic) that states Liberty invokes free will rather than determinism. It further adds “in politics liberty consists of the social and political freedoms enjoyed by all citizens.” And in theology, “liberty is freedom from the bondage of sin.”
Although I really am simple, and more likely simple minded, scrambling together the unquestionable brilliance of the Wikipedia with two Venti Latte’s from Starbucks including the extra shot of espresso leaves me with the understanding that from a Libertarian standpoint everyone (legal adult humans) should have the ability to marry who they want (again another legal adult human) while being free from sin. Yet the state government in Michigan (and almost every other state in the Union) and, more importantly not my Church, defines “sin” as violating a civil law which fundamentally restricts the social and political freedoms implicit in liberty. Unlike catechism in my youth and the awful exposure to confession, failure to get the license does not result in 50 “Hail Mary’s” and “Our Fathers” (or even 5,000 of each for that matter) but legal penalties including fines and potential imprisonment.
Again the simple minded attorney can internalize all the above and, if he were a Libertarian, he could without getting a headache conclude Michigan Marriage Law (and all other state laws similar) is (are) wrong because they restrict liberty and improperly cross the chasm which separates Church and State which I believe is somewhere encouraged under our Constitution. The state does not require a license to be baptized, to receive absolution for sins, to receive communion, or to receive last rights. All these are performed by clergy of many denominations albeit in different forms or methods. Yet the State applies perceptible collar and shackles to the generically titled group “clergy” and definitively chills with the threat of punishment the solemnization of marriage without a license.
That in itself is the heart of the matter.
The easy solution which resolves all the above issues (also causing a decrease in the amount of ibuprofen I buy and potentially the stock price of major ibuprofen producers) is to decriminalize private religious marriage ceremonies which are intended to have “no legal effect” meaning simply that I don’t get any tax benefits or similar because the marriage has not been civilly filed with the State. Let two consenting adults stand in front of their God, their Priest, Minister, Rabbi, Inman or the like, there church, synagogue, temple or mosque congregation and say the simple words “I do”, “with this ring I thee wed”, and “by the power invested in me by GOD, I pronounce you man and wife (or whatever gender terms are applicable). Following the ceremony, the Couple can file a license if they want “civil” recognition of the marriage with all the legal privileges that attach therein.
This simple solution resolves this case.
And yes as expected, the Attorney General of Michigan and the Governor said no we are not agreeing because …. __________________.
If you are waiting for an answer, sorry, I waited as well but to no avail.
Actually in the latest filing in the case requiring an answer to the Judge’s question, answering the question which paraphrased states “do the marriage laws of Michigan and the penalties therein apply to purely private religious ceremonies where marriage is solemnized without “legal” effect” the State punted. No answer was given other than the assigned Assistant Attorney General stating emphatically that the Governor and Attorney General did not have to answer the Judges’ question.
No Hail Mary to win, no strong defense to prevent the other team winning, actually nothing except that they refuse to answer the most basic and fundamental question of this case. Meaning they effectively, or ineffectively punted causing further unnecessary delay.
Now I understand Michigan has several severe issues causing the Governor and Attorney General pain and negative publicity. Flint’s water and the Detroit schools come to mind. However, the State’s interference in simple religious ceremonies and compounding this interference with threatened punishment qualifies as harm to Michigan Residents generally and specifically anointed or ordained shepherds of God. I won’t be disingenuous and equate the harm caused by this explicit religious freedom threat to the lifelong harm caused by the inexcusable government actions to use the water in the Flint River for drinking water. Yet it is still harm haunting the very area of our lives which our Constitution protects under the First Amendment, the freedom to practice religion without state interference.
The Honorable Judge Levy has the State’s filed non answer and our filed answer to contemplate in deciding if Reverend Carrick’s lawsuit can move forward.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]
February Letter from the Chair
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The cold has finally arrived and with it comes the truth about the Flint water situation; well part of it anyway. Now that it’s out in the open, let’s help where and when we can, individually and in groups. We all have busy lives, but if we can find any time, find a charity group to help residents at least get clean water to drink.
Our media director is looking at getting our old Twitter account up and running so we can use that medium to help our candidates, along with the website and Facebook. The website itself is nearly finished and we hope to be launching around the same time as the newsletter goes out. The sooner we have the revamped site up and running, the sooner we can start sharing information about the upcoming elections, especially the special elections in the 80th & 82nd state house districts where we have candidates seeking your vote.
The major party primaries are quickly approaching and we’ll be watching so we can see who our eventual Presidential nominee will be up against. Speaking of our Presidential nominee, the Libertarian Party is up to 12 declared candidates of our own. You can see the list here. If you are interested in being a delegate from Michigan to the Libertarian National Convention to vote for one of these candidates, we have a special convention coming up. Please contact me at chair@michiganlp.org for more details.
We’ve been hard at work focusing only on a few items this month in order to get ready for the election year, but we are always looking for more articles about legal proceedings, legislation, ballot proposals, and the libertarian philosophy. If you’re interested in sharing an information article, please e-mail newsletter@michiganlp.org. We are a volunteer organization, so submissions are always welcome.
Over the next few months, we will be gearing up our search for those interested in becoming Libertarian Candidates. We do plan on having a training session at the end of April to help with paperwork and filing instructions. If you, or anyone you know, may be interested in running for an office at any level, please contact Scotty Boman at politicaldirector@michiganlp.org.
Make sure to follow our website, our Facebook page and our newsletter for information on upcoming events. Please remember our website is under construction and new formats will be appearing over the next few weeks. Let us know how you are enjoying the new experience at webmaster@michiganlp.org.
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