Free? State Libertarian ISSN 1076-3155
Volume 21 Issue 2
The Free? State Libertarian is published quarterly by the Libertarian Party of Maryland. All material is copyrighted 1999 and may be reproduced provided credit is given as follows: "Reprinted from the Free? State Libertarian."
Submissions and corrections should be emailed to LPMD.Newsletter*ICengineering.com, or mailed to LPMD Newsletter, PO Box 321, Owings Mills, MD 21117.
Editor: Robert E. Glaser
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Check www.MD.LP.org regularly for the current event calendar, hot topics, email listserv, debate pages, photo album, and more! Be certain to submit current event information to LPMD.Event*ICengineering.com to get your data online.
Table of Contents
State Executive Board Officers
Lorenzo Gaztañaga Runs for City Council
Dr. Scott Becker elected to VIP
Where to buy your Fireworks this year
Federal Election Contribution Limits
Chair: Steve Boone 410-628-6170 LPChairMD*aol.com
Vice Chair: Spear Lancaster 410-923-3331 Maimon*aol.com
Secretary: Stuart Simms
Treasurer: Joe Miller 410-789-3899 Hatsiwear*aol.com
Assistant Treasurer: Michael Audi Freesociet*aol.com
Membership: Wayne Dougherty 301-834-6179 WDarty*aol.com
Outreach/registration: Bill Galvin 301-990-0015 Bilib*juno.com
The executive committee meets on the second Monday of every month. All
meetings are open. Contact Steve Boone for location.
Anne Arundel County: Spear Lancaster 410-923-3331 Maimon*aol.com
Baltimore City: Susan Gaztañaga 410-325-2813 DiazVivar*aol.com
Baltimore County: Nancy Millionie 410-833-8991 LibertyGrl*aol.com
Frederick County: Wayne Dougherty 301-834-6179 Wdarty*aol.com
Harford County: Derek Mancinho 410-836-3104 Mancinho*aol.com
Howard County: Kevin & Deborah Wolf 410-750-8531 Wolf8495*aol.com
Prince Georges County: Jim McLaughlin 301-352-8809 JimMcL*hotmail.com
Montgomery County: Glenn Howard 301-585-1793 glenn*tidalwave.net
Washington County: Kurt Sabert freedom1*innernet.net
Longtime
Libertarian and MDLP activist Lorenzo Gaztañaga is throwing his
hat into the ring, running for Baltimore City Council in the First Councilmanic
District. What is the reason for all of our efforts: community outreach;
lobbying; public relations; letters to the editor; calls to radio talk
shows; etc.? What is the purpose of the Maryland Libertarian Party? to
elect Libertarians to public office in our state! Here is a wonderful
opportunity to accomplish something. Lorenzo has served the MDLP
in so many ways that we cannot even keep track of them. Once again, he
is stepping up to the plate to bat for all of us. How will we feel to have
an elected Libertarian in the city of Baltimore? Yes, it can happen
on November 2nd with enough assistance.
Lorenzo has filed with the Board of Elections, and the campaign is well under way. Business-sized campaign cards have been designed and printed. A website will be coming up soon. The campaign has garnered about $1,200 in contributions so far. At the May 23rd State Central Committee meeting, loyal Libertarians coughed up a total of $590. The money will be used to hire a petitioner to supplement the efforts of the volunteers and ensure that Lorenzo gets on the ballot.
Volunteers have collected between 150 and 200 signatures to put Lorenzo on the ballot; about 490 valid signatures are needed. A year ago, it would have taken three times as many signatures to be on the ballot. Lorenzo's goal is to take advantage of the new petition requirements, and turn in the necessary signatures at the end of June for early validation. In July he will hold a press conference at the Cliftmont Community Wesleyan Church (located in the First District). A badge for the candidate has been produced in the red and white campaign colors. T-shirts, buttons and fliers will be available soon. A button-making machine has been purchased so that they can be produced at minimal cost.
To volunteer in the Gaztañaga campaign, contact Campaign Manager Nancy Millionie at 410-526-7870. Lorenzo499*aol.com is the campaign's email address. If you can keep up with Nancy, she'll find something for you to do! This is a practical opportunity for Maryland Libertarians -- help is a must. Ten thousand dollars are needed to run a serious campaign at this level. Checks should be made out to MIFBAC (Gaztañaga) and sent to Treasurer Jim McLaughlin at 8201 Laurel-Bowie Road, Bowie, MD 20715-1004.
The Libertarian Party in Maryland is poised to make a major leap forward. For years we have used our resources, financial and physical, just to stay in one place. We get party status. We lose party status. We spend all of our time and money to get signatures to get party status again. But now we have the potential to put an end to this cycle. We can become a permanent fixture on the political scene and never again have to exhaust our resources just trying to get in the game.
We're going to need money to get 1% of the registered voters in this state. If we have to rely on membership dues paid once a year, we aren't going to make it. We need a monthly income, income that's reliable and significant. There have been some problems with monthly credit card donations in the recent past. Those problems are solved. I'm asking -- No, I'm begging -- credit card pledgers, PLEASE COME BACK! I promise you that if you start your pledges up again, they will be processed in a timely manner. And those of you who haven't ever made credit card pledges, WE NEED YOU TOO! It has been, and will continue to be, our policy that members who pledge at least $10 a month will automatically have their state and national memberships renewed.
For those who would prefer some other method of making regular donations, please give me a call. Do you want me to come to your house once a month and pick up a jar of pennies? Consider it done.
Email me (Hatsiwear*aol.com) or call me at home (410-789-3899). If we want liberty in our lifetimes, we have to be willing to pay for it.
-- Joe Miller
The Annual Millard J. Tawes Crab & Clam Bake at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, MD is being held on July 21 (Wednesday) from 1:00-5:00 pm. Tickets are $30.00 each.
Now, here's the scoop... many of you said, "Hey, that would be a neat thing to go to, especially for the Party." OK, let's sweeten the deal! For the mere price of $150.00 plus a nominal fee for tables and chairs, we can have the Libertarian Party of Maryland right in the thick of things, with our very own TENT... where we can hand out literature, etc...
This event is one where "anyone who is anyone in politics in Maryland" goes... and the LP should be invading that territory with the Duopoly... it'll shake the hell out of them.... Now that we're recognized, we should be going head to head with them...
We need about 15 more people to step forward and buy a ticket, (even if you can't go) and then we'll be able to have an MDLP tent right in the thick of it! Literature, banners, and ALL! You need a day off from work anyway, don't you? Details as follows: Yes, they will have more than seafood to eat. Yes, some transportation is available. Make checks or money order payable to [note: this has changed since the paper publication -- check the online calendar] Crisfield Area Chamber of Commerce. Mail to: Steve Boone, 17 E Hogarth Circle, Cockeysville, MD 21030. Deadline is very soon.
-- Steve Boone
The Delaware and Maryland Libertarian parties are planning to form a new Libertarian Drinking and Debating Society in Seaford, DE covering the lower eastern shore of Maryland and southern Delaware. The first meeting is expected to be in the last week of June or the first few days of July. Residents of Caroline, Dorchester, Wicomoco, Talbot, Worcester, Somerset, and Sussex counties are invited. For more info, check www.MD.LP.org/events, call 1-800-MLP-1776, or contact me.
-- Steve Boone
So... we were treated to the expected anti-embargo/pro-embargo demonstrations. There were the apologists for Castro's failed experiment saying "Oh woe, poor Fidel! No wonder the Cuban people are starving in dire poverty, their homes literally falling on their heads. It's all because of the embargo."
... And, the Cuban exiles, who apparently don't know the embargo doesn't work. It was supposed to topple Castro almost four decades ago. I remember as a little boy in Miami, and later in Baltimore, hearing from my family, "In another six months we'll be back in a free Cuba." My family had supported Castro. We believed him when he promised Cuba's 1940 Constitution and free and open elections in 48 months. But what did we know? We were bamboozled by our top politician, as Americans are today: "Read my lips, I did not have sex with that woman." He's still there; Cubans are starving, but he looks healthy.
... And the media ate it up. The Cuban umpire tackled the Cuban anti-Castro demonstrator on the field (Castro stops defectors by peppering sports teams' coaching with Cuban secret police. The KGB taught him well).
To really help the Cuban people and dismantle the tyrannical, murderous Castro regime, end the embargo, stop all travel restrictions and FORBID FOREIGN AID to Castro's tyranny. Any charitable and private aid mustered should be the Cuban people's alone.
Peter Angelos, exalted among Americans, is exempted from this bad law (embargoes are indeed bad laws; they do not accomplish their purpose -- ask Saddam Hussein). The embargo is Castro's tool to maintain political support. Without it, the BIG LIE would be exposed. It would show that Cubans' poverty results from Castro's policy of denying virtually all personal and economic freedom. Cubans won't be told what to say, or when and how to say it any more than Americans will, and I should know.
-- Lorenzo Gaztañaga
Libertarian Candidate for City Council, First District
Lorenzo left Cuba October 21, 1961, and proudly swore allegiance to the U.S. Constitution January 26, 1973.
Ahhh, summer!
Most people look forward to summer as a time to unwind, take a break from work, and even travel, whether it's "downy oshun, hon" to stretch out on the beach or up to "Deep Crick" Lake to enjoy mountain scenery and smooth sailing. For these folks, "summer" begins Memorial Day Weekend and continues through Labor Day.
We Libertarians look forward to summer as well, but it's not a time to unwind. Rather, it's a time to get busy and work even harder than we do the rest of the year to build the LP. It's "Fair and Festival" season, and our version of "summer" stretches out even longer -- from the first weekend of May to the middle or end of October.
Why do we do it?
It's simple enough. When you have the opportunity to reach vast numbers of people and teach them about Liberty, you go for it. The fairs and festivals we attend help to spread the word to the greatest number of people at one time. Even if people don't stop and talk to us, they get the message that we're around.
What's more, thus far this year, we have been talking to many more people at our various booths than we've noticed in the past. Far more people are disenchanted with the current political setup. And far more people are saying, "I'm ready to switch parties. What do I do?" Our friendly folks at the booths are ready, willing, and able to talk, offer literature, and voter registration forms to people who say those magic words.
At the Towsontown Festival in early May, we noticed some very encouraging signs:
This isn't limited to fairs, either. Many people report that folks they talk to have one theme in common: "Both *&#*$!^ parties are no damned good! I'm open to a third party!" When I hear that, I calmly explain what the basic principles of the LP are and, if there's interest, pull out a handy voter registration form that I just "happen" to keep in my car.
Thankfully, we're no longer in "petition mode." No more "pleeeeeeease sign our petition to get us access to the ballot..." It was the main reason to increase our outreach exposure in the past year and a half. Now, that boat, the SS Party Recognition, has sailed.
But, the work isn't finished, and we're moving on up into a new phase. Now boarding are the luxury liners, the SS Convention Party and its sister ship, the SS Party Retention. Both of these require that the Libertarian Party have, on December 31, 2002, a minimum of 1% of the statewide registration figure. Under current conditions, that would be 26,000 voters.
The Convention Party features a really neat draw: No more petitioning! We'll not need to gather signatures to put a candidate on the ballot. Our nomination of candidates will be done by convention.
Although it would be fantastic to have the 1% by December 31, 1999 so that we could nominate a full slate of candidates for Congress and Senate next year, it may not be an achievable goal. Thus, our goal should be having the 1% by December 31, 2001, and we'll be players in the 2002 state and local elections. Party Retention guarantees a permanent place on the ballot with the 1% figure reached every December 31.
We've got lots of work this summer. Volunteers are always needed, and we may have a weekend or two where we've got as many as *four* outreach booths going at once. For a more complete list of where we're going to be, please check out the website (www.MD.LP.org/events), or call me for more details. The work is very easy, the rewards are immeasurable, and the goal is liberty.
You can help! If you're not the kind to show up and help staff a booth, we can still use donations to help pay for booth space, for more literature, and for the various little "gimmes" that get given away, such as our stickers for the kids, matches for adults, and so forth.
Ch-ch-ch-changes
As many of you know, Lorenzo Gaztañaga is running for Baltimore City Council. He was, until this last Central Committee meeting, a member of the Executive Board and the state's Vice Chair. He resigned from both positions at that meeting, and Spear Lancaster, who also wears the Anne Arundel County Chair's hat, was elected to the Board, and named its Vice Chair. Good luck, Lorenzo, and welcome, Spear!
Congratulations to Washington County, which organized on Tuesday, June 1, 1999! To Kurt Saberg, the new county Chair, and Bob Morningstar, the new Treasurer, best wishes! Which county's next?
Working for LIBERTY in our lifetimes!
-- Steve Boone
The Libertarian Club of Baltimore has adopted a mile section of Charles Street just south of the Beltway under the MD State Adopt-A-Highway program. This is an LP publicity / public relations project of the Baltimore area (and some very welcome other) Libertarians. We meet at the Ruxton Center on Charles Street (about one mile South of I-695). The next time out will be Saturday, July 17 at 10 am. (Saturday October 9 at 10 am after that.) If you would like to join us, contact me, 410-477-9173 home, 410-637-5058 24-hour voicemail, or wabuzzell*juno.com.
-- Bill Buzzell
Voting Integrity Project invites Maryland podiatrist to step up
Arlington, VA -- The Voting Integrity Project (VIP), a nationally recognized non-partisan election watchdog organization, has unanimously elected Maryland activist Dr. Scott Becker to its governing board. VIP, based in Arlington, Va., offers free programs to protect election integrity. Its most recent successes have been in Maryland, California, Hawaii and Pennsylvania. VIP in Maryland instituted the first of its kind fraud focused poll watching program during Maryland's 1998 gubernatorial election. It's being credited with increasing voter turnout and voter confidence in that race, said Dr. Becker. "I am honored to serve on VIP's board."
Dr. Becker, a Maryland podiatrist, came to the attention of the Voting Integrity Project when he initiated contact with the organization two years ago asking for its help in his fight against what he called "election discrimination" in Maryland. In 1996 the Chevy Chase, Md. Gazette described Dr. Scott Becker as "one of Maryland's leading advocates for third party rights." The local newspaper was paying tribute to its resident who had identified a discriminating election procedure in the state and was driven to change it. By 1998 Maryland's Legislature did change the law and by January 1999 it was in effect.
Prior
to Dr. Becker's ballot access campaign, a third party candidate in Maryland
wanting to run for public office had to first provide petition signatures
of 3% of the qualifying voters in the corresponding area. That meant a
third party candidate would have to obtain nearly 2,000 signatures before
starting to run for a district office, and a statewide candidate would
have to come up with at least 75,000 signatures. Such onerous requirements
shut out most third party candidates in Maryland.
Dr. Becker learned of the discriminating petitions when he ran for public office as a Libertarian in 1994. "It was crazy," he said. "I was forced to spend all my time and resources obtaining signatures before I could even begin to get my message out to all the voters. I could see then how the incumbent parties kept new parties out of Maryland. I wanted to do something about it."
And he did. Today in Maryland a third party candidate requires signatures from only 1% of his or her qualifying voters when running for office. On average, a candidate can be on a local ballot after providing about 600 signatures, or be on a statewide ballot after providing 25,000 signatures. Dr. Becker was able to bring about this election rule change in Annapolis when he mobilized at least 18 activist groups, such as Maryland's ACLU and the Maryland Public Interest Research Group, into the Coalition for a Democratic Maryland. He served as its Secretary General.
More information about VIP and its newest board member, Dr. Scott Becker, is available toll free at 888-578-4343, and at www.voting-integrity.org.
The
LPMD's State Central Committee gathered on Sunday, May 23rd
at Perry's Restaurant in Odenton. An amendment to the Constitution was
passed which restores language replaced several years ago dealing with
participation in Libertarian primaries. This amendment to the Constitution
was required by the Assistant Attorney General attached to the State Administrative
Board of Election Laws to comply with the ballot access laws which took
effect on January 1, 1999, and it was one of the contingencies in our being
fully recognized.
It was reported that as a result of our recent rerecognition by the State, the counties are in the process of sending out letters to voters previously registered Libertarian. Most of these letters state that in order to remain registered as a Libertarian, it is necessary to sign and mail back a form so indicating. Some counties may have taken it upon themselves to change one's registration status from Libertarian to either Independent or Unknown during the time between the loss of State recognition and our reacquisition of such status. In those cases, the counties may not send a notification letter! (Yes, they kick us when they can.) It behooves each of us to verify our registration status with our county officials.
Lorenzo Gaztañaga resigned from the Executive Board in order to concentrate on his run for office. Spear Lancaster, Anne Arundel county chair, was elected to fill Lorenzo's spot.
The past
year has been full of amazing legal revelations, the scope of which truly
boggle the mind. First we learned that cigarettes smoke themselves, a discovery
which has cost the tobacco industry 260 billion dollars. Then we found
out that guns and their manufacturers were responsible for the deaths of
hundreds of people, instead of those persons who pulled the triggers of
said firearms. Now, the Supreme Court has given us another gem: Films can
be held responsible for the deaths of innocents, too. It's almost as if
there was some sort of nationwide conspiracy actively working to demolish
the ethic of personal responsibility, the core of our justice system. And,
as the high court has just displayed, the Constitution itself is not exempt
from these atrocities.
This latest infringement of First Amendment rights began way back in 1995, when Patsy Byers, a convenience store clerk in Louisiana, was shot during a robbery. She survived, but was left a quadriplegic. Her assailants, Sarah Edmondson and Benjamin Darras, who were both 18 at the time of the assault, were convicted and sent to prison for 35 years. On the way there, though, they left our legal system a little present: the claim that their actions were inspired by Oliver Stone's film Natural Born Killers. Now, picking up on this bit of genius, Ms. Byers has sued Mr. Stone, hoping to hold him liable for her injuries.
Even the most unschooled of Americans should be able to immediately realize that this sort of charge violates the First Amendment. In fact, the amendment prohibits claims made over copycat crimes. However, after being struck down by a rationally-minded judge in Louisiana for this very reason, the state appeals court resurrected the case, which was then bounced up to the high court. Instead of doing the right thing and annihilating the suit then and there, the Supreme Court did nothing, denying review of the case and sending it back to Louisiana for trial.
Of course, this means that the Court has made no decision with regards to the case, has set no precedents, and has offered no opinion. In theory, this action by the court has no legal meaning. However, it leaves open the door for similar cases to be brought against filmmakers, TV producers, newspaper writers, and everyone else who expresses themselves publicly and privately. Until the High Court makes some statement with regards to this case, our rights are once more in danger.
Shifting the blame, long an established part of American culture, has finally made it to the big-time. In the past, suits like this one, the tobacco settlements, and the gun manufacturer suits were laughed off and almost instantly derailed by the courts due to both their stunning irrationality and unconstitutionality. Cases such as the Judas Priest suicide, where parents claimed that the band was responsible for the suicide of their son, were mercifully put down. However, our society has now changed to the point that the reassigning of responsibility has infiltrated our legal system, and now blame, legally validated, is being liberally spread to whoever public opinion would like to see crucified.
So what does it matter that the Court has done nothing? More likely than not, we hope, Oliver Stone will triumph and will not be held liable for Ms. Byers' condition. This case, if Stone succeeds, will set a precedent, but that precedent will only apply in Louisiana unless the Supreme Court takes action. Until that time, there are 49 other states in which pretty much anyone can be sued in civil court for being responsible for the death or injury of anyone else.
As long as you speak, as long as you might "influence" someone else, you are at risk. If the lawsuit succeeds and Stone is held liable, we're all in deep sh*t. The 1980's were considered by critics to be the era of the lawsuit, but that will be nothing compared to the upcoming flood. Think about it: any victim will be able to point to the person that wronged him and say that the perpetrator was "influenced" by the actions/words/appearance of someone else, and then sue that person for damages. Overnight, pretty much all of Hollywood and every major TV actor, producer, journalist, or other public figure gets a big red target on their foreheads, particularly if they are wealthy.
There is a reason that we have the Constitution: it is a bulwark against the vagaries of public opinion, mob rule, and vicious irrationality. Unfortunately, the Supreme Court, charged with the protection of that document, is neglecting its duties and taking no action with regards to the Stone case. Until something is decided at the national level, we are all at risk. Watch your backs.
-- Alex Gianturco
Reprinted with permission from The Johns Hopkins Newsletter, the student paper. Mr. Gianturco is an undergraduate there who regularly contributes opinion articles to the publication.
The first food packages donated by Maryland Libertarians were distributed through the Baltimore SHARE Program. This is a new outreach/public relations project approved by the LPMD Executive Board last year. Packages of food worth about $30.00 each are delivered to needy families through one of the many SHARE outlets in MD. Each package contains a notice "Donated by the Libertarian Party of Maryland" and a MD State Libertarian Party brochure. A list of distribution sites is available. If you would like to help out with this project, send a check for $15.00 (made out to LPMD and marked for SHARE-LP) to Bill Buzzell, 7806 Saint Fabian Lane, Baltimore, MD 21222.
-- Bill Buzzell
If you can't find the Ayn Rand stamps locally, call the U.S. Postal Service at 1-800-782-6724 to order some. The stamps come in sheets of 20, and are priced at 33 cents each (i.e., no premium). Shipping on the order is $1.00 regardless of quantity. Order large. Order often. Show them how popular a stamp can be.
-- Bill Buzzell
On
the evening of Friday, April 23rd, Harry Browne made a campaign
stop at the Sheraton International Hotel (at BWI Airport). Harry was the
LP candidate in the 1996 presidential election, and is planning to seek
the party's nomination for the 2000 race. He gave a talk to the filled
room, sold some of his books Why Government Doesn't Work and How
I Found Freedom in an Unfree World, and signed copies as requested.
Michael Cloud conducted a fundraiser on Browne's behalf.
Harry hosts a weekly radio talk show on Sunday evenings broadcast on the 60 stations of the Talk America Radio Network, not presently carried by any Maryland stations. RealAudio archives of past shows are available at his website: www.HarryBrowne2000.org.
Lauren Hill (Baltimore County) draws attention to the LP booth with her home-made patriotic garb at the first festival of the year on May 1 and 2. Photo by Gwendolyn Marilyn Jones.
Jack Leonard and his wife Barbara are new members of the MDLP and regularly attend the meetings in Timonium. They have a Fireworks stand in Shrewsbury, PA (which is just over the MD line). I've seen a partial price list of his fireworks inventory. I've never seen so much selection in my life, and the prices are cheap! And even sweeter, all Libertarians get a discount! Cruise up there and patronize a fellow Libertarian!
The stand is open for business on Saturday, June 26th through the 4th of July. Hours are 9 am to 8 pm every day. Directions from the Baltimore area: from the Beltway, head north on Route 83. Take the first exit in PA (Shrewsbury, exit 1) and turn left. Pass a beer store on the right and the entrance to WalMart on the left. Just past Saubel's supermarket on the right, turn left at the traffic light and go south. Drive about 1 mile and cross the railroad tracks. Keep going until the Pizza Hut is on the right. The Leonards' stand is at the bottom of the hill on the right, diagonally across from the Rutter Brothers store. Careful: there is another stand at the railroad tracks (a different vendor).
-- Nancy Millionie
The
membership form in the last issue of the Free? State Libertarian
had a typo for the Maryland-only dues rate. The correct amount is $20.
The form included in this issue shows the proper figure. However, the combined
MDLP and National rate of $30 is a great deal -- so why not take advantage
of that? If you don't want to mutilate your pristine copy of this issue,
the form can be printed out from the website (www.MD.LP.org/state_party.html).
And as our treasurer points out on page
2, we can use the support!
The summer brings plenty of outreach opportunities. A listing of upcoming events is included in this issue, but I urge all to check the website's event calendar on a regular basis; sometimes it changes daily as new information is submitted. I have also made it more complete recently, so that all events are included chronologically in the present month. From the homepage, there is a direct link to the event calendar (under Meetings, on the right) which puts you right to the current week of upcoming events. Scroll down to view what's happening; to get from there to the calendar view, scroll to the top and click on Event Calendar. You can always select Community from the homepage to get access to the calendar, this and previous newsletter issues in electronic form, the photo album, and more. And if you sponsor an event, be sure to email me the info. I do monitor the MDLP-Announce listserve and automatically place pertinent event info I glean from it onto the web calendar.
A couple of weeks ago, Showtime first aired their original film, The Passion of Ayn Rand, made from the 1986 biography of the same name written by Barbara Branden. I braced myself before watching it, as I knew that the movie was going to revolve more around her extra-marital affair with the author's husband, Nathaniel, than on her philosophical ideology. Thus prepared, I thought the film was fairly decent, though I would have preferred that it include more of the biographical background and core issues that the book contained. The next airing on the Showtime channel is on Tuesday night (Wednesday morning), June 23rd at 1:45 am.
I vividly recall my personal emotional distress when I read the Branden biography years ago. Having been uplifted by Rand's prolific tomes and her lesser works, I had been unaware of the strife in her personal life. It seems that there was much agony among a circle of highly educated intellectuals, and I came away from the biography with a feeling that the more intelligent one is, the less likely happiness is to be found. I suppose that this doesn't have to be true, but nonetheless it does not appear to be an unusual occurrence. At times, members of her group viciously ripped one another apart mercilessly. I see a similarity between this historical lesson and the flame wars occurring on the MDLP listserve on the same weekend of the Showtime flick. But rather than be too upset over them, perhaps we should take heart from the fact that these arguments are endemic to intellectually honest searches for truth. Though I would recommend a heavy dosage of civility be liberally added to the mix.
Speaking of the listserves, I find it helpful to subscribe to the digest format which Onelist provides. This way I can look forward (?) to one email in my inbox each morning. I keep the MDLP-Announce subscription in the usual format because it has less traffic, and it may contain breaking event information.
Now is a good time to revisit your friends whom you know are disgusted with the incumbent parties -- for now, we are the only other Maryland-recognized political party. Stop by a post office and pick up a few registration forms. When someone assents to reregistering as a Libertarian, whip out the form and say, "Great -- Do it now!"
-- Robert
Libertarians believe in Capital Punishment ...
We believe everyone in the Capital ought to be punished!
Baltimore City activists Earle Pearce, George Kirby, and Lorenzo and Susan Gaztañaga met at the home of Baltimore activist Louis Passano on Saturday, May 1, 1999. At the top of the agenda was a discussion of our response to the game between the Orioles and the Cuban National Team coming up on May 3. Lorenzo, who came to the United States from Cuba at the age of 12, explained to us that the embargo is morally wrong and helps to solidify the power of the tiny Marxist elite that rules the Cuban people. However, the games -- an arrangement between a totalitarian regime and a big corporation -- are not the answer to Cuba's problems. The best chance to liberate the pent-up desires of the Cuban people for personal and economic freedom would be to have no embargo, open and unrestricted travel, and no government-to-government foreign aid.
We brainstormed slogans, which were later turned into posters for a demonstration outside Camden Yards: Free Cuba/Cuba Libre, The embargo helps Castro, Don't play with dictators, Cuba's future is not a game... That Monday, Steve Boone, Owen Jones, Lorenzo, and Susan lifted the Cuban flag across the street from the light rail station at Camden Yards. Around the corner, on Pratt Street, Earle found himself caught in the middle between two opposing groups hurling epithets at each other -- the anti-Communist, knee-jerk pro-embargo Cuban exiles and the socialist leaning, anti-embargo, pro-Castro group.
Our encounters with genuine human rights activists were quite moving. One man, who apparently was not confident in his ability to speak English intelligibly, motioned for a pen and wrote on the back of a flier, "I was in Cuba two months ago. Terrible. People hungry. Not eat." Another man gave me a T-shirt with a photograph of three men and a woman and the words, "Free the Cuba 4 imprisoned by Castro for speaking their minds." I immediately put it on, and told anyone who asked about it that I didn't know the people in the picture, but I was sure there were more than four.
-- Susan Gaztañaga
The Baltimore County LDDS's and meetings are growing. We've welcomed a large number of new members and reregistered quite a few brand shiny new Libertarians! See the various chapters listed elsewhere in the Newsletter, and please join us!
Towsontown Festival was a huge success. The voter registration forms and membership applications were flying out of there almost as fast as the literature was! This is heartening folks...... we must be doing something right. As I've traveled around the State over the last three years doing outreach booths and collecting signatures, I've gotten my share of that question: "Liber-what?" And I'm pleased to tell you that that is changing. I'm hearing that less and less, and instead, hearing more of, "Oh, I've heard of you guys" and, "Yup, I've finally made up my mind. Do you have a voter registration form?" It's just great. The hard work seems to be paying off; let's keep it up. And thanks to all who helped in Towsontown.
We need volunteers to help with the Gaztañaga for City Council campaign. We'll be walking a lot of neighborhoods and we need an entourage of supporters to walk with us. We will also be in the Independence Day Parade in Dundalk. It takes place on Saturday, July 3rd, from about 8 to 11 am. Please let me know if you want to be among those with our candidate, carrying the MDLP banner high! I'd love to see a big crowd of Libertarians out there! We will have a vehicle in the parade for little children, and anyone who becomes tired.
I am aiming to have a booth at the Reisterstown Festival again, and at the Parkville Festival. Please contact me if you can help.
-- Nancy Millionie
We know that summer is a busy time of year for everyone, with vacations, family reunions, the little ones home from school, etc. There never seems to be enough time to do the things which are necessary. In the past, we have tried to get people together in the area. Most of the people we contacted were either unwilling or unable to donate their time to any political activism. We would like to attempt, one more time, to develop an active Howard County chapter. Once again, we will be contacting the local members and those who have expressed an interest in the party, in an effort to find out who would be willing to take part in this endeavor, and what roles they would be willing to perform. Hopefully, we will have enough interest to schedule a meeting by mid-July. Anyone who is interested, please feel free to contact us via phone (please talk to the machine, we will pick up -- too many salesmen!) or email.
-- Kevin and Deborah Wolf
On April 15th we did get out to cover taxpayers' day. The rain stopped about 7 pm, and the evening was cool. Several county LP members were at the Silver Spring Post Office with the official LP "funny money" flyers. Many late taxpayers accepted our handouts. Each year we get better and better reception.
During our May meeting we folded and sent the Montgomery County Libertarian News to National only members, with an appeal letter to join the state and local LP, in addition to the regular county distribution.
On Sunday, July 4th, we plan to cover the Nation Hemp Festival at the mall in DC. Five of the speakers will be from the Libertarian Party at Lafayette Square in front of the White House where the festival begins. After the speakers give their presentations, a parade goes from the square to the mall at 21st and Constitution Avenue. This is where we will have our tent. Additional speakers will be at the second location. This is a good time to talk to a young crowd, many of whom are not yet committed to a political party. Anyone interested in being at our booth to help out, please call Keith Halderman at 301-926-1594 for further details. If you stay until dark, you will be treated to one of the biggest displays of fireworks in the nation! Many people will have the next day off, so take the time to celebrate and help the LP too.
As usual, this year we will have a booth at the Montgomery County Agriculture Fair. Thousands of people will pass by our booth and hundreds will stop and talk. This is the year we concentrate on signing up new members! The fair dates are Friday August 13th to Saturday August 21st. We plan to cover the fair from 10 am to 10 pm each day in three 4-hour shifts. This is a good opportunity for those of you from counties that are not fully organized yet, and would like to learn first-hand how to run a booth at a fair. Bill Galvin and Keith Halderman are coordinating the LP booth effort. If you want further information, please contact Keith at 301-926-1594.
The Montgomery County LDDS is now on the 2nd and 4th Wednesdays of the month at the usual place, Bennigan's on Rockville Pike next to the intersection of Twinbrook Parkway, starting about 7 to approximately 9 pm. The day was changed to accommodate some of the regular attendees' schedules. This makes a good midweek break to relax and swap ideas and have fun! All LP members and guests are welcome!
Our meetings are as follows: June 21, business; July 19, social; August 9, business (early in month so as to be a last minute planning meeting for our fair); September 20, social. All meetings are on Mondays from 7:30 to about 10 pm. For further details, give me a call at 301-585-1793. Drop by and say hello!
-- Glenn Howard
I'm more than happy to announce that Washington County is now an organized libertarian county within the state of Maryland. The first Washington County meeting was attended by 14 people, with the election of Bob Morningstar as County Treasurer, and myself as County Chair. Present at the meeting were representatives from Frederick County, Baltimore County, and Washington, D.C., as well as our own Washington County. Many issues were discussed, and plans were made to help get the county off to a running start. Thanks to all for a successful and well attended meeting.
-- Kurt Saberg
As we get closer to election season -- and with so many new members and activists -- I wanted to remind folks of the contribution limits in effect for federal campaigns. The following information is courtesy of the Federal Elections Commission.
It's fairly well known that there is a $1,000 per election individual contribution limit for Presidential elections. And many are also aware that "per election" means $1,000 during the primary, and $1,000 during the general election, for a total of $2,000 per person. Some know that the above rules also apply to US House & US Senate races, too.
But did you know:
... that the 2nd $1,000 (general election) can only be contributed IF the candidate does not receive federal matching funds? Not a problem for most LP candidates, I suspect.
.... that a THIRD $1,000 (from the same individual) can also be contributed? This must be made payable to the Presidential candidate's legal and accounting fund, a separate fund set up to handle payments for these expenses.
..... For House & Senate seats, any "runoff" election would allow a 3rd $1,000 contribution as well?
...... that tickets to fundraising events count as contributions, as do purchases of merchandise and loans to the campaign, even if repaid.
What is exempt from these limitations? Any volunteer work, or receptions for candidates in your home where expenses don't exceed $1,000. Above that, and it's an in-kind contribution and subject to the restrictions above.
What about the "soft money" we've all heard about in the news? On that front......
....... companies, unions, and individuals can make UNLIMITED contributions to the National LP for party building purposes. So, please give early, often, and to the best extent your means will allow!
I hope this helps clarify the contribution limit issues. If you have questions, the FEC web site has more details at www.fec.gov.
Yours in Liberty,
-- Mark A. Tuniewicz
Libertarian Party National Treasurer
Note: consult www.MD.LP.org/events for up-to-date info. Contact numbers for persons listed on page 3 are omitted here. The LDDS's are listed separately on the back page.
June 19 (Saturday): 12:00 to 7:30 pm. Juneteenth Festival at historic Orchard Street Church -- Walk with OUR CANDIDATE (Baltimore City) Lorenzo Gaztañaga. Contact Nancy Millionie.
June 21 (Monday): 7:30-10:30 pm. Montgomery County LP Business meeting. Contact Glenn Howard.
June 26-27 (Saturday/Sunday): Latino Festival in Patterson Park -- Walk with OUR CANDIDATE (Baltimore City) Lorenzo Gaztañaga. Contact Nancy Millionie.
July 3 (Saturday): 9:00 am - 12:00 pm. Walk with the MDLP in the Dundalk Parade!! Contact Nancy Millionie.
July 4 (Sunday): Nation Hemp Festival at the mall in DC. Contact Keith Halderman at 301-926-1594. (see page 9)
July 17 (Saturday): 10:00 am. The Libertarian Club of Baltimore Adopt-A-Highway cleanup. Contact Bill Buzzell at 410-637-5058. (see page 4)
July 19 (Monday): 7:30-10:30 pm. Montgomery County LP Social meeting. Contact Glenn Howard.
July 21 (Wednesday): 1:00-5:00 pm. The Annual Millard J. Tawes Crab & Clam Bake at Somers Cove Marina in Crisfield, MD. Contact Steve Boone. (see page 2)
July 26 (Monday): 6:00 pm. Baltimore County Central Committee meeting at the Dragon House restaurant, Garrison Forest Plaza, Owings Mills. Contact Nancy Millionie.
August 9 (Monday): 7:30-10:30 pm. Montgomery County LP business meeting. Contact Glenn Howard.
August 13-21 (Friday-Saturday): 10 am - 10 pm daily. Montgomery County Agriculture Fair. Contact Keith Halderman at 301-926-1594. (see page 10)
September 20 (Monday): 7:30-10:30 pm. Montgomery County LP social Meeting. Contact Glenn Howard.
September 27 (Monday): 6:00 pm. Baltimore County Central Committee meeting at the Dragon House restaurant, Garrison Forest Plaza, Owings Mills. Contact Nancy Millionie.
October 9 (Saturday): 10:00 am. The Libertarian Club of Baltimore Adopt-A-Highway cleanup. Contact Bill Buzzell at 410-637-5058. (see page 4)
October 16-17 (Saturday/Sunday): Maryland LP State Convention
Stay up-to-date on MDLP activities with our online calendar of events: visit www.MD.LP.org/events (often!). Check page 3 for contact numbers not listed here.
LDDS (Libertarian Drinking and Debating Society): Second Chapter Sports Bar Conkling & O'Donnell Streets, Baltimore MD Thursdays, 7:30 pm. Earle Pearce, 410-327-1776
LDDS West (Montgomery County): Bennigan's on Rockville Pike in Federal Plaza near the intersection of Twinbrook Parkway (behind the Texaco gas station) 2nd and 4th Wednesdays, 7-9 pm. Glenn Howard.
LDDS North (Baltimore County): Lounge of bowling alley in shopping plaza across from the State Fairgrounds, Timonium, MD. 2nd and 4th Fridays, 7:30 pm. Nancy Millionie.
LDDS East (eastern Baltimore County): 2nd Wednesday of the month, 6:30 pm at Pop's Tavern, at the corner of North Point Blvd. and Wise Avenue. Nancy Millionie.
LDDS AA (Anne Arundel County): 3rd Friday of the month, 6:30 pm, at Piezano's in Annapolis, just east of the Rt. 2 and West St. intersection, next to the TrakAuto store. GMJ (redleo*juno.com).
LDDS WC (Washington County): 1st Tuesday of the month, 7:30 pm at Richardsons Family Restaurant on Rt. 40 (Dual Highway) in Hagerstown. Kurt Saberg.
Northwest Baltimore Supper Club: Dragon House Restaurant in Garrison Forest shopping center on Reisterstown Road, Owings Mills, 4th Monday, 7:00 pm. Nancy Millionie.
Ayn
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