Looking ahead in the Rear View Mirror and readers comment on Han Solo’s suggestions
In the rear view mirror, we see the elections fading into the distance. Gone … but not forgotten. Did we accomplish all we had hoped?
No way!
So, what are we doing about it? Well, here in the heartland, our little group that meets monthly to promote Libertarian candidates and causes is already looking forward to the Spring elections.
They come quickly, we recall. As we try to remind our self, our purpose is to not be a debating society. Rather, we are a political party. We identify good candidates and help them get elected to office.
Long-time suffering readers will recall this is a group of dedicated Libertarians inspired by the leadership of a true visionary, Sharon. Our group wants to see the Libertarian agenda promoted in our area. So, we meet monthly to strategize. We now have our agenda for the next three meetings.
At our meeting next week, we will begin to identify potential candidates for office. We will also consider a proposal to develop a mass email list to keep Libertarians across the state informed. Rather than hire a lobbyist to sway the votes of legislators, we will inform the voters about the activities of their elected representatives so they can contact them directly.
Direct lobbying, we expect, will be more effective than “professional” lobbying … and less expensive.
If done correctly, we hope to also be able to identify supporters in every county, city and burg … and every legislative district. Then we can contact and mobilize our supporters quickly when necessary. Future candidates for state-wide races will also be able to use this to get supporters to show up at or to organize rallies.
At our December meeting, we will hear from a man who has managed a number of successful campaigns for office. True, he has some other funny letter after his name, but his heart is in the right place and he is willing to share his expertise and experience with us. If we want to win, we must incorporate proven successful techniques in our efforts.
Then, at our January meeting, we will hear from a sitting legislator who will share insights on the major issues facing our elected tormentors this Spring. Since she is close to the action (and shares our values), we hope she will be an additional set of eyes and ears to let us know when unfavorable or ill-conceived legislation is proposed so we can activate our state-wide volunteer lobbyists through our email channel that we will be setting up.
We weren’t at all happy with the outcome of this election. We aren’t complaining about it. We see a need for an immediate course correction to prevent disappointment in the future. We are taking steps to change our ways.
We don’t expect the voters to come to us; if we want to win, we realize we must go to the voters. We’re not a debating society. We’re a political party. We want to win! We’re going to the voters.
Now for the Weekly TidBits:
* Three readers responded to Han Solo’s suggestions for Constitutional Amendments. In response to Mr. Solo’s 9th point, Dale wrote: “In reality I know many more religious right conservatives that would need the Crayon than I do Liberals. So your slant in favor of Republicans shows itself here and I certainly do not like it as I do not like Tea Party People, most of them only seem to be able to read large block Crayon letters. How is that?” … seems pretty clear to us.
* Lelon G. has also read the Constitution. He points out, “OK, I’m amongst the loudest of complainers that the ‘general welfare’ clause is sorely abused, but you might point out to Mr. Solo that the words ‘general welfare’ actually DO occur in Article 1, Section 8, and I quote, in part: ‘The Congress shall have Power To lay and collect Taxes, Duties, Imposts and Excises, to pay the Debts and provide for the common Defence and general Welfare of the United States;’ ”
* And finally Jeffrey A. appreciates Mr. Solo’s suggestion concerning election of Senators that was changed nearly 100 years ago. “When I suggested that senators should be elected by State Governments to represent the State, at the federal level. Libertarian Delegates laughed me off the podium at the State convention in Indiana in 2004. And elected a Candidate that his number one issue was he wanted one class high school basketball.
“I am glad to hear that there is at least one Libertarian that understands. Good luck with that 17th amendment thing,”
* It’s been an interesting week for the Federal Reserve. As the rest of the world savages the Fed’s recent actions, Fed leaders gathered for a celebration … at the scene of the original crime.
“A Return to Jekyll Island: The Origins, History and Future of the Federal Reserve” was the official name of the two-day conclave at the Georgia resort where plans to form the Fed were first hatched in secret this very month 100 years ago. (The Morgan and Rockefeller men in attendance were on a duck-hunting trip, it was claimed at the time.) To learn more about the Fed, read the excellent book, Creature From Jekyll Island.
* Of course, real Fed transparency would come in the form of a full audit. Rep. Ron Paul, for what it’s worth, is promising to press again next year … and he’s sounding confident that unlike 2003 and 2005, the Republican leadership will actually let him chair the subcommittee on domestic monetary policy.
“I will approach that committee like no one has ever approached it because we’re living in times like no one has ever seen,” he said recently.
