The Free? State Libertarian is published 3-4 times/year by the Libertarian Party of Maryland. All material is copyrighted 2001 and may be reproduced, provided credit is given as follows: "Reprinted from the Free? State Libertarian."
Email: LPMD.Newsletter*ICengineering.com (preferably)
Mail: LPMD Newsletter, PO Box 321, Owings Mills, MD 21117
Fax: 801-640-0953
Newsletter submissions are solicited.
Editor: Robert E. Glaser
Check www.MD.LP.org regularly for the current event calendar, news, email listserves, photo album, and more! Be certain to submit all of your current event information to LPMD.Event*ICengineering.com to get the information online.
The views expressed by contributors to this publication are not necessarily the views of the Libertarian Party of Maryland, its Executive Board, or the Central Committee. The Free? State Libertarian is a first amendment publication, and welcomes diverse participation from many sources.
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The Free? State Libertarian is mailed to all Libertarian Party of Maryland members and paid subscribers. You may have received a gratis copy because you are registered Libertarian, are a member of the National Libertarian Party, or requested information. We appreciate your taking the level of action you are comfortable with: become a newsletter subscriber only (send $15 to above address); join the MdLP with the back page form (if you're a National member, it's only $5 more if you renew through us!); join the Central Committee; and/or register Libertarian (when we get 1% of the state registered, we can run candidates without petition signatures).
State Executive Board Officers
Spear Lancaster Runs for Governor
Maryland Libertarian Party Fall Convention
J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake
Further Information on the FairTax (H.B. 2525)
Cecil County's Booth at Sunfest
Howard County Council Candidate
From the Trenches ... County Chapter Notes
Regularly Scheduled Libertarian Gatherings
Chairman: Nick Sarwark 301-562-0640 NSarwark*cuc.edu
Vice Chairman: Shannon McMenamin 410-332-0207 ShannMc*yahoo.com
Secretary: Robert E. Glaser 410-363-8748 N3IC*ICengineering.com
Treasurer: Joe Miller 410-789-3899 hatsIwear*aol.com
Operations: Chip Spangler 301-346-2361 Operations*md.lp.org
Membership: Steven Sass 410-602-8401 Crestln*erols.com
Media Relations: Beth Newman 301-588-3704 BANewman*mindspring.com
The executive board meets monthly. All meetings are open. Contact Nick
Sarwark for date and location.
Anne Arundel County: Michael Dobak 410-798-6550 MDobak*toad.net
Baltimore City: Susan Gaztañaga 410-325-2813 DiazVivar*aol.com
Baltimore County: Nancy Millionie 410-833-8991 LibertyGrl*aol.com
Caroline County: Allen Thomas 410-634-1540 gts*crosslink.net
Carroll/Howard County: Kevin Wolf 410-552-0616 KWolf*bfpe.com
Cecil County: Valerie McGlothlin 410-658-3063 LPCC*dol.net
Charles County Glenn Faini gdFaini*erols.com
Frederick County: Wayne Dougherty 301-834-6179 WDarty*aol.com
Harford County: Roy J. Meyers III RMeyers*rjcc.net
Montgomery County: Glenn Howard 301-585-1793 Glenn*tidalwave.net
Prince Georges County: Tony Spezio 301-498-3436
Somerset County: Harry Hall
Washington County: Kurt Saberg 301-241-3036 Freedom1*innernet.net
Wicomico/Worcester: Graham Couzens 410-726-1733 Objreason*aol.com
Columbia Union College: Derek Pomery kyberneticist*yahoo.com
Johns Hopkins University: Aaron Back Amb18*jhu.edu
Loyola College: Jude Daniel Blanchette JBlanchette1*yahoo.com
Salisbury State University: Mike Wilson Wilson2882*yahoo.com
University of Baltimore: Troy Zinderman TroyZinderman*home.com
Western Maryland College: Jeremy Keil jpk001*wmdc.edu
Maryland voters will finally have a choice in 2002
In
May, Spear Lancaster agreed to be the Maryland Libertarian Party's gubernatorial
candidate for the November 2002 election. It will be a lot of work, but
he is geared up for the task. Spear tells his fellow Marylanders:
"Year after year, we hear how few citizens take part in the political process. Roughly a third of the eligible voters don't register. Only half of the registered voters actually go to the polls on Election Day. It is not unusual for state officeholders to win with less then twenty-five percent of the eligible votes."
"Why? Are Maryland voters lazy? Are Maryland voters too dumb or indecisive to be able to make a decision? Or, is it because in Maryland we have for years had a one-party state? If people feel that their vote doesn't count, why go to the trouble to register and vote? Maryland citizens really do know that their vote doesn't count. We have been saddled with the same high tax-and-spend crowd as far back as I can remember, at least since World War II. All that's changed is that the politicians have become more arrogant and we have fewer liberties and less freedom. Our choices have been restricted to where they are almost nonexistent in many areas."
More on Spear's campaign on pages 5
and 11.
You can help
Send your contributions to:
Friends of Spear Lancaster
P.O Box 42312
Towson, Maryland 21284-2312
Once again, we need to collect signatures to get Spear on the ballot; the signature drive is underway, and petitions are available for download from Spear's website:
Fill in the county at the top of the form, and make sure that separate pages are used for each county of registration. When you have full sheets, please send them to:
PO Box 24241
Halethorpe, MD 21227-0741
-- Troy Zinderman
Campaign Treasurer
| Date: | Saturday, October 27th 2001 |
| Location: | Luigi Petti's Restaurant 1002 Eastern Avenue Baltimore, MD 21202 (Little Italy) (Parking garage next door at $6 per day) |
| Schedule: | 9:30 am – Registration 10:00 am – Opening Remarks: Lorenzo Gaztañaga 10:05 am – Keynote Speaker: Spear Lancaster 11:00 am – Central Committee meeting 12:30 pm – Buffet Lunch Soda, Iced Tea, Coffee, Hot Tea 1:00 pm – Gene Cisewski -- Gene
Cisewski is the founder of the Liberty Council PAC, which played a role
in the election of more than two dozen Libertarians. He organized Libertarian
Victory seminars in Philadelphia, Denver, and Honolulu that have helped
even more Libertarians win public office. He's also conducted training
seminars at more than 20 state conventions. Soda, Iced Tea, Coffee, Hot Tea 10:00 pm – Networking |
Please print and mail completed form with check to:
Shannon McMenamin
901 Hargrove Street
Baltimore, MD 21202
Email: _________________
Telephone: _____________________
Name(s): __________________________
Address: _______________________
_______________________
| Discount Deadline: 10/19/2001 | Before | After |
| Central Committee meeting |
$0 |
$0 |
| Entire Day Package |
$50 |
$60 |
| Entire Day, Couple |
$90 |
n/a |
| Lunch only |
$22 |
$27 |
| Banquet only |
$33 |
$37 |
1-Veal 2-Chicken 3-Pasta
Circle the charges and meal selection above.
Total enclosed $____ (payable to the MdLP)
Prior to 10/19 only – Charge to: VISA MC AmExp Disc (circle one)
#_____________________________ exp. date:______
Signature______________________________________
Map:
It
is an honor for me to be writing my first article for the newsletter as
chair of the Libertarian Party of Maryland. I was saddened to see Steve
Boone step down to become statewide campaign coordinator, and manager of
Spear Lancaster's gubernatorial campaign, but am excited by the challenges
we face as a party in the year ahead.
Shannon McMenamin and Chip Spangler have filled the vacancies on the Executive Board, and have been doing excellent jobs. Shannon is coordinating the effort to organize this year's Fall convention, which promises to be the best one yet. Chip is working towards making the job of activists and volunteers run more smoothly, and constantly improving the website.
We have had a phenomenal summer for outreach at county fairs, festivals, and other events. Thousands of people have seen us and met us, and thousands of signatures have been gathered for Spear's gubernatorial campaign. Montgomery County Fair, 4th of July Hemp Fest, Cecil County Fair, Sunfest, and the Dundalk 4th of July parade are just some of the highlights. Thank you to everyone who organized, volunteered, and helped. Without you, we are nothing more than a debating society.
Jeremy Keil, President of the Western Maryland College Libertarians, is planning Liberty Week, an outreach event spread over an entire week that will introduce students to the ideas of liberty. WMC is shaping up as a hotbed of Libertarian activism, and I applaud Jeremy, and his predecessor, Dennis Lucey, for their hard work.
Spear Lancaster's campaign for Governor is heating up. Spear has been phenomenal in getting to locations throughout the state, talking with local activists, speaking at events, and petitioning to get himself on the ballot.
For those of you considering running for an office, please contact Steve Boone (GoSpearGo02*aol.com). The more serious candidates we have running, the better the chances we have for winning, and the more seriously the citizens of the Free State take us. 2002 is the year in which we can show the people of Mary-land that we are serious about bringing change to their government, and the benefits of liberty to them, but to do that, we need to run candidates locally.
Our drive to increase Libertarian voter registrations continues. The latest figures (July 31) from the State Board of Elections show us having 4,643 registered Libertarians in Maryland. That's still a long way from the approximately 27,000 we need to become a convention party, but we're growing steadily, and should see even faster growth as we approach the 2002 campaign season.
According to the Montgomery Gazette, the state of Maryland will have a tax surplus of $153 million this year. Representatives from both branches of the Incumbent Party have rushed to point out that we shouldn't do anything with the money, but rather put it in the state's "rainy day fund." This would bring cash reserves up to $1 billion, a new record. We are the only party in this state which believes that the money should go into each citizen's personal "rainy day fund," rather than sitting in the state coffers.
It's stories like that that make me excited to be a Libertarian. They remind me that we are looking out for the freedoms of people who have been pushed to one side by our opponents. It makes me feel good. However, we need to do a better job of letting people know what we believe in, and that we're in their corner. Until we do that, we are complicit in every violation of liberty we allow to go silently by.
I'd like to close with a story. Just recently I made my first skydive. Jumping out of a plane intentionally at 14,000 feet above the ground is a truly terrifying thing. One has to hang half out of an open door of a plane traveling at 80 mph. However, once I got into the doorway, the training I had received all day leading up to my first jump took over. My fear was pushed to the back of my mind by preparation, and everything went smoothly.
As we move ahead in advancing liberty in Maryland, there will be fear. Fear of reaching out to people we've never reached out to in the past. Fear of failing at a point where we are more visible. Fear of succeeding, and the implications of success. However, if we prepare and plan for these things, pushing those fears out of our way, we will achieve liberty in our lifetimes.
Working for liberty,
-- Nick Sarwark
The free beanbag toss for the kids was a great success. And what are parents to do while waiting? Sign Spear's candidate petition, of course! At right, Katie Millionie, Chip Spangler, Nancy Millionie, and Mike Linder field questions and collect signatures.
To
my friends in the MdLP and other places: Many of you in Maryland know that
a signature drive has already begun to collect roughly 40,000 signatures,
and get Spear Lancaster of Anne Arundel County on the ballot for Governor
next year. Since we have until August 5, 2002 to get the needed signatures,
it will not be an impossible task. The campaign committee has already begun
to coalesce, and has begun the draft of a campaign activity program. The
process is ongoing.
Many of you also know that I am serving as the campaign chair, coordinating the committee, and working to see that the signature drive moves forward, that campaign workers are recruited, and that plans are carried out. This is a unique opportunity to help the MdLP by getting a candidate to the ballot who can most likely win the 1+% of the vote in next year's gubernatorial election, guaranteeing that the LP-Maryland will retain ballot status for another two years.
It will dovetail nicely with the State Party's interest in raising the registration figures to 1% of the total statewide for the LP as well, making us a convention party, and absolving us of having to gather signatures for our candidates. Recent history has shown that LP registrations do increase in the areas where we happen to run candidates -- as a result of the campaigns. The best example is for Baltimore City, where in June 1999, there were only 39 registered Libertarians. It was #11 in the state rankings for registration. Lorenzo Gaztañaga's campaign in only one district caught some folks' attention, and at the end of November, 93 people were reported as being registered with the LP. Now, after Lorenzo's -- and Joe Pomykala's 3rd District House run in 2000 -- Baltimore City is #4, with 290 registered. #5 is more than 30 voters away.
A good, solid campaign for Governor can only help in that regard. If the results are as exciting, we'll be ready for convention status by 12/31/02!
Now, why am I telling you all of this? Read on, you're getting close.
There are differences of opinion on varying levels about the proper relationship between a campaign and a party organization. Let's discuss these differences for a moment.
One camp, let's call them the Unifieds, believes that once the nomination is secured, the Party should be running the campaign. On the national level, that means that once the Presidential nominee is selected, auxiliary and ancillary services come from LPUS.
Another camp, let's call them the Separatists, believes that the campaign should be run by the campaign staff, with the objective of getting votes for the candidate. On the other hand, the Party should be run by Party leaders, with the objective of spreading the good news of the organization and increasing both the number of volunteers and the number of registered voters. These are, of necessity, run from entirely different locations and with different staff.
I am a Separatist, under these definitions. I have argued in the past with many, including David Bergland, Steve Dasbach, and Bill Winter, that there should be such a separation -- having the same people doing two different but somewhat related functions was not maximal efficiency, and could lead to confusion over tasks, with neither organization being able to get the best results from such a setup.
As many Marylanders know, I was first elected State Chair in October 1997, and have served in that capacity since. My first duty has been to growing the State Party, and making it more of a political force. We have done well, all things considered, and brought in many new volunteers with plenty of energy to help us do outreach and grow even more. I want to thank each and every one of you for your support and help over the past three plus years!
Now, I had a decision to make: Spear's campaign was getting ready to rock and roll into high gear. My term would end at the Fall Convention in October or November. What should I do?
The only thing I can do as a Separatist. The only thing consistent with my past debate positions. So, at the Executive Board meeting on June 18th, I announced that I was stepping down as Chair and resigning from the Executive Board. Nick Sarwark of Montgomery County was voted the new Chair. He has tremendous energy, good ideas, and shares many of the visions for the future of the State Party. Maryland's LP will be in great hands!
This is not to say that I am leaving for any exotic clime. I'm not. Maryland's summer heat and near 100% humidity is hardly exotic. This move will free me to do the best job I can for the task I've taken on: campaign chair for Spear's campaign, and candidate recruitment for the LP statewide. I won't have to have a vote on the Board, and a new person can come on board. I'll also continue to help develop county affiliates any way I can. This move will squarely avoid any possible charges of conflict of interest.
Thanks again for all your help and support! Without it, we couldn't have gotten where we are today!
STILL working my butt off for Liberty!
-- Steve Boone
GoSpearGo02*aol.com
Space
is short... Thanks to all con-tributors. This has been a tough week to
concentrate while working on the newsletter due to the terrorist actions.
Too late to think about including material related to it in this issue.
I welcome your thoughts for inclusion in the January issue, though I would
prefer a Maryland slant if possible.
We could use more advertising, please visit your local businesses and make a pitch. I hope to see many of you at the Fall Convention -- and if you are a newcomer, and haven't made a personal appearance at any MdLP activities, consider coming to the Convention -- we won't bite (I promise)!
-- Robert Glaser
Congratulations to Dave Sten and his wife for pulling off the best dang MdLP picnic, probably ever! He thought of everything, and we all had a great time! The planning and setting up alone must have been a mammoth job. The route was even all marked with signs and balloons so that nobody got lost. AND, this was a wonderful location -- all kinds of boats, the beach, horseshoes... Libertarians were everywhere having a lot of fun. And Dave and his wife cooked... and cooked... and cooked... Thanks, folks, for all your hard work and for a really great picnic!
Of course, the Central Committee meeting attended to business and our new Chair, Nick Sarwark, did a great job conducting the meeting; and there was a campaign strategy meeting in the evening for Spear's campaign. The best part is that many of us got the chance to meet some of our newer members. I can't remember an MdLP picnic with so many people in attendance. We were honored to have Libertarians from Pennsylvania, Virginia, and DC there, too. Big crowd sharing Libertarian chat. It doesn't get any better than this. In a crowd that size, it almost seems for a while that everybody is Libertarian. What a refreshing thought! Thanks Steve, thanks Nick, and way to go, Dave!
P.S. Hey Dave, can we have the picnic there again next year?
-- Nancy Millionie
Chair's report: Nick Sarwark accepted the honor of being the Party's Chairman. He specifically thanked Steve Boone for ably handling the duties as his predecessor; Dave Sten for offering the location for the picnic and meeting, and cooking; Tony Spezio for successful petitioning and assuming the Prince George's county LP chair; Charlie Hardman for organizing the Leonardtown Criterium; Valerie McGlothlin for organizing Cecil county; Kevin & Deborah Wolf for organizing Carroll & Howard counties; Gail Mangum for his Adopt-a-Highway efforts; Mike Linder for handling the Tawes outing; and Renee Sten for putting up with us. We are looking for a Volunteer Coordinator for the state; future plans include more youth outreach.
Election of Board Vacancies: Two Executive Board positions are open due to the resignations of Spear Lancaster to run for governor, and Steve Boone to be Spear's campaign manager. Both resignations were made to prevent any potential conflicts of interest. Chip Spangler and Shannon McMenamin were voted onto the Board.
Constitutional Amendments: These are as follows: words
removed [words added]
Proposed Amendment #1 (Investigating Committee recommends YES
Article V, Section 4B. Election of the Executive Board:
The [Beginning in 2002, the] members of the Executive
Board shall be elected at the regular fall [spring] meeting
of the Central Committee...
Article V, Section 6. Meetings A. The Central Committee
shall hold at least two meetings per year: one in spring (if practical,
in May) and one in fall (if practical, in October.) The fall
[spring] meeting may be known as the Convention for all statutory purposes,
and it shall include on the agenda the election of the Executive Board.
Discussion: It was generally believed that it would be preferable to elect officers in the spring rather than the fall, because in election years the MdLP and its officers are busy with candidate assistance and election matters.
Vote: 31 yes, 2 no; the amendment PASSES.
Proposed Amendment #2 (Investigating Committee recommends YES)
Article V, Section 4B. Election of the Executive Board:
The members of the Executive Board shall be elected at the regular fall
meeting of the Central Committee. Election shall be to a two
[one] year term with 3 positions being elected in odd-numbered
years and 4 in even-numbered years [for all positions].
Discussion: those in favor felt that with all seven Board members elected at once, and with our proportional voting method, a return to simultaneous one-year terms would open the door to potentially smaller constituencies within the Party for Board representation; and that the proportional voting method protects us from a large outside group coming in and taking over the Party. It was suggested that this could prevent the type of debacle that has occurred in Arizona. Those opposed thought that the staggered terms offered additional protection.
Vote: 27 yes, 5 no; the amendment PASSES.
Bylaw Change: Tony Spezio prepared a bylaw change regarding assigning
out-of-state delegates for National Conventions. After discussion, it was
voted to table the bylaw change until the next Central Committee meeting,
because the issue will not come up until after that time, and this will
offer members time to deliberate on the matter.
The entire MdLP Constitution is online at the www.MD.LP.org/docs/mdlpconstitution.html URL. Go to www.MD.LP.org/docs/cc to find approved Central Committee minutes.
Announcements: Lorenzo Gaztañaga reported from the LNC that they are completing a strategic national plan; there are six goals plus several hundred strategies; there is an opportunity to do what we need to do, such as youth outreach; he believes that we will have a supermarket of ideas, so that state and local LP chapters will be able to select the methods that best fit their area.
-- Robert Glaser
Secretary
New Operations Director Chip Spangler and new Vice-Chair Shannon McMenamin
The Bear
Very sad news... We have lost a member
It
is with tears in my eyes that I inform you all that we have lost a dear
fellow in our midst. One of our champions in the fight for Liberty, and
potential future candidate, Barry (Bear) Costello, died the morning of
21 May 2001 in his home.
My conversations with Barry were one of the reasons that I joined the MdLP. He was an outspoken, hardline Libertarian who donated a lot of money to the Maryland LP.
His Dad says that he thinks it was his heart, because he had been complaining of pains in his left shoulder for some weeks. That, even though he had had a complete going-over during a medical exam on May 1.
For those of you who didn't know Barry... he was the victim of an accident swimming in Ocean City. He dove into a wave, and hit the bottom somehow... perhaps a sandbar... and broke his neck. He has been in a wheelchair ever since. He worked for the Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and as such, created their new website and was greatly relied upon by the Department.
Barry, who insisted that everyone he met call him "Bear," was a real bear. Cute and cuddly on the outside, but full of "vinegar" to those who would challenge him (i.e., statists), and he had great hopes of running for office one day.
His email moniker was YodaJedi*home.com. He was a great fan of Yoda and the Jedi Warrior because they stood for freedom, truth, and what is right. Barry also had a personal email relationship with Claire Wolfe of the popular internet site Wolfe's Den, whose opening statement is: "Note to Federal Agents."
He had a great love for the Second Amendment, and was very schooled in the use of firearms and all things military. He taught me a lot. It was because of him that I joined the VFW last year. I am so proud and so privileged to have been counted among his friends. He called me "Peestola." He was proud of his Italian heritage, and usually ended his emails with "Ciao." No words can convey how much he is missed. Bear regularly attended our LDDS Timonium meetings in the AMF Lounge. "Hey, Peestola, can you get me a Bud?" will always echo in my mind.
-- Nancy Millionie
Barry was named the Outstanding Marylander of the Year by the Governor's Committee for Employment of Persons with Disabilities. He received the award at a ceremony on 19 May 2000, in recognition of his accomplishments in overcoming physical challenges to become a valued workforce member.
The Bear was an abundant contributor to the MdLP listserve. Here are two of his many posts:
23 February 2001
Walt, dear friend,
Let me remind you of a true "gun nut." One who loved hunting, fishing, camping, and farming his own land, when he could.
He supported RealTree camouflage, Remington Arms, the right to use the land and its bounty, and the right to do with the land, air and seas granted his family by birthright as he saw fit.
He came from a "tobacco state," and dropped out of school in the 8th grade to pursue his family's interests.
He worked his dad's farm, even the small auto mechanics shop by sweeping floors. He learned, at a young age, that the 2nd Amendment is a very important hinge-pin, along with its provisions to do what one needed and wanted to do on his/her own property in order to preserve his family, by self-defense and putting venison on his daddy's table.
He built a race car, and took it to Charlotte, 20 miles away. He won a whopping $600 in his first real "big" race, which he used to repay the guys who loaned him the parts to get him there.
His name is/was Dale Earnhardt.
Godspeed, Dale, Teresa, Dale Jr., Taylor, Kerry, Kelly et al.
From your #1 Maryland Fan.
I'll see you at God's Daytona!
-- Barry "Bear" Costello
5 December 1999
Intent is the key word, Ian. Alleged's another one.
I freed my worried mind two years after my diving accident in ‘82 that left me wheelchaired. I coulda done one of two things, by the way; Get over the anger, or be relegated to a lifetime of bitterness and misery.
I got over it. I don't "worry" simply because I've seen the "Other Side" that awaits us all — ergo, uniting us all in one sense — and came out with an eternal, internal smirk and shine.
Why WORRY? Live Free Or Die....Capice? :)
YIL!
To The Bear
Wherever you are
Know that you are missed.
You will always be an inspiration
to all of us who knew you, and to all
who will learn of you in years to come.
You are our "Brave Heart,"
and you showed by the way you lived
that the fight IS worth doing,
the goal IS worth the struggle,
and the obstacles don't matter.
Your life will echo down the years,
and in the end, we WILL earn our
"FREEDOM".
-- Bill Buzzell
Once again, Maryland Libertarians made a show of strength at the 25th Anniversary J. Millard Tawes Crab & Clam Bake in Crisfield on July 18th. This year we had 13 libertarians show up for the feast. The day started off with rain, initially causing sparse attendance. This created an ideal opportunity to start on the crabs, fried fish, fried clams, steamed clams, and corn. Later, as the sun shined through, the crowd showed up and the politicians appeared. Our own Libertarian Gubernatorial candidate Spear Lancaster was there in attendance working the crowd. Mark your calendar for next year's event -- July 17, 2002 -- which will be a good show because of an election year, with many of the politicians showing up, surely to include our own Libertarian candidates.
-- Michael Linder
Derek Mancinho (photographer), Michael Linder (event organizer), Keith
Halderman, Eleanor Evans, and Robert Glaser at the MdLP section under the
large pavillion
Ahh, even though the weather wasn't the greatest, it was a very good day! It may have rained most of the day in Baltimore and DC, but in Crisfield, the rain held off for the most part.
What crabs they had were fairly small, they ran out twice and had to have more shipped in from as far away as Cambridge, and some appear to have been boiled, rather than steamed. But the beer was cold.
At one point, Nick and I took a stroll through the tent areas. We passed the GOP tent, and one of the young Republicans, probably in his 30's, said, "Why are you running someone for Governor? You shouldn't do that!"
"You guys made the law that forces us to run someone so we can retain ballot access! We have no choice!" I replied. "Besides, it's gonna take some 40,000 signatures to get him on the ballot. Your guys don't have to do that!"
"But, Maryland is a one-party state! We're trying to make it a two-party state..."
"So are WE!" Nick chimed in. #
... Potomac businessman John Kane and a group of his supporters were working the crowd outside of the GOP tent, handing out stickers and talking to the crowd. Spear and I took the opportunity to walk over and talk to him for a few minutes. The two candidates shook hands and had a very friendly conversation.
Kane is big on building the ICC and studying a toll "techway" from Gaithersburg to Dulles. I asked him about making the ICC a private toll road, and his answer was "absolutely not." He said that the road has "already been paid for, the money has been allocated, we should build it." #
... A group of watermen had t-shirts saying "Glendenning [sic!] and Townsend are trying to STARVE Maryland's watermen!" It seems that the Department of Natural Resources has proposed rules to cut the length of the crabbing season, cut the number of hours that a waterman can ply his trade each day, and so forth, in the effort to "save" the blue crab and other species. Seems the Chesapeake Bay Foundation is big on getting this done. A lot of them sported Kane stickers, and many were also willing to sign Spear's petition. The main object of the day was not petitioning, but to get around and talk to various people at the event. #
...In the Republican primary, only Kane is a declared candidate. Ehrlich is still dangling a possible candidacy in front of the GOP, but won't make a decision until late fall, when other Repubs are grousing that it will not leave enough time to get their names out and build support. There were little blue and white Ehrlich footballs being passed out, though.
For the Democrats, the Kennedys have apparently bought off Martin O'Malley with a judgeship for his wife. (Even though O'Malley still has three years left of his first term as Baltimore Mayor.)
Baltimore County Executive "Dutch" Ruppersberger, however, is running, and his folks were actively working the crowd. Although Dutch will be wounded severely in Baltimore County because of SB509 in 2000, the rest of the state's Democrats may well buy into him as an alternative to KKT.
It'll be a verrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrry interesting primary season.
And, we'll keep on gathering signatures. #
... Spear also gave an interview with Tom Dennison, from the Maryland Independent and Chesapeake Publishing group's newspapers. The papers, including the Maryland Independent in Waldorf, and the Easton Star-Democrat in Easton, are now owned by the Washington Post company.
If anyone happens to get either of these papers and saw an article on the Crab Feast, please let us know! We'd like to get a copy of the article, if it mentions Spear, for the campaign scrapbook. #
Woo hoo! Ain't politics fun??? Working for liberty,
-- Steve Boone
The Tawes event always brings out large crowds. The orange shirts represent
the watermen.
More photos at www.MD.LP.org/album
Walking...
Without A Number?
Hostile police encounter while (literally) on the road
I
must look like a criminal. It's the only explanation.
I'm the type who can stay up forever. On a Friday night I was feeling a bit restless, and decided to take one of my walks around the small town where I live. I've never clocked it, but that one is probably 3-4 miles. The weather was very nice out so I headed out the door. Time: 3:00 am. It's all the quieter at that hour, and tonight was a beautiful night to be out. In season, I'll do this maybe once or twice a month.
About 45 minutes later, I'm walking up a road, and still feeling a little bit tense, I begin entertaining the idea of adding an extra 1-2 miles, when this car passes me from behind, then stops just ahead.
It's a police car.
It backs up a ways behind me, stops, then pulls forward even with me. The window rolls down. There are two officers inside. The driver mutters, "Come here."
This wasn't the first time.
Last September, I was on a similar late night exercise when I was stopped by two local police officers. They stayed in their cruiser, but gave me a "friendly" interrogation. I didn't cooperate too much then, and they drove off when they realized I was no pushover citizen. Subsequent queries regarding that incident at the following month's police commission meeting provided some reasonable 2-way communication on the matter. Summer vandalism had apparently prompted the local police chief to instruct his patrolling officers to talk to any suspicious people they saw at night. Dressed in my hooded jogging suit, I apparently qualified. I was a tough test for them, which I believe they failed, but that incident better prepared me for this night's encounter.
Bracing myself, I answer back: "Why?"
He parks the car, and both officers get out and come over, one to my front, the other to my side. Since I didn't think to bring my tape recorder with me on this starry night (silly me -- what was I thinking?) I can recall things only so well.
The officer first rattled off a description of someone that, in fact, resembled me. Okay, this involves some kind of reported incident. At least they have some kind of probable cause, but he didn't identify the complaint. I noticed that these were Pennsylvania State Troopers, and not the local police.
"Do you have any ID?"
"Am I required to provide ID?" I left my wallet at home, so I had no ID to show.
"Yes, you are." He pulled out some handcuffs and began toying with them in plain view, no doubt to intimidate me. "If you don't want to tell me who you are, we can take you in."
Some time ago, someone explained to me that he had accidently set off a home alarm at his parents' house, and the police arrived and demanded ID. He asked for suggestions on what he should have done. After siding with the police, I suggested, for the benefit of experience, he could have refused to show ID and allowed himself to get arrested. What better time to get arrested than when the police have absolutely no case against you? That way you can practice a real, live arrest without any fear of legal consequence if you're tricked into waiving your rights (which everyone will do the first time around).
I thought of taking my own advice as I eyed the handcuffs. I had no important plans for the following day. But I knew they couldn't, or at least shouldn't, arrest me for simply not identifying myself. They do, after all, read Miranda rights when they arrest people, which includes some statement about having the right to remain silent. Well, if I have the right to remain silent, then how can they arrest me for doing just that? Legally, they can't. While they can arrest me if a crime is alleged, and I am a legitimate suspect, the catch is they would have to inform me of the charge, which is something this officer didn't want to tell me. If he tells me the potential charge, then (depending on what it is) I'm pretty much obligated to either identify myself or get arrested.
"Don't
you first have to ask me my permission to ask me questions?"
"No, we don't. We can ask all the questions we want."
"Well, yes you can, but I don't have to answer any of them. I'd have to dig it up, but I could give you a court case on that." (As though the 5th Amendment wasn't convincing enough.)
Insinuating a crime, the second officer asks, "So what are you doing out at 3:30 in the morning?"
"I'm out for a walk. It's a very nice night out tonight. Is there a problem? Am I being detained, or under arrest?"
"You are not under arrest."
"I'm a citizen's rights activist, and I'm aware of my 4th and 5th Amendment Rights."
Informing the officers that I am a "citizen's rights activist" puts them on notice that my evasion of their questions was a rights issue, and not simply to give them a hard time. It also gives them fair warning that if they screw up with me, they may pay for it later.
Perhaps because of that, or the way the general conversation was going, the officers seemed to ease up a bit, though I was still a suspect. The handcuffs disappeared, but they still pressed me for my name, pen and pad ready. I consider it, but stand my ground. "May I ask what the complaint is?"
Finally, he gave in. "We got a report of window peeping."
"Well, I can assure you I've stayed on the road, except perhaps for just a step or two off when a car approaches."
The police had a complaint, and I matched a description. While I can think of a lot more glamorous things to be suspected of, tonight, "window peeping" will have to do. It wasn't until later that someone pointed out that prime window peeping hours would be roughly 9:00 pm to midnight. Anyone trying to window peep after 3:00 am simply isn't going to have any fun at all. Had I thought of it, I could have pointed that out, but it's probably just as well I didn't demonstrate a strategic knowledge of the art at the scene.
With the alleged offense on the table, and being a viable suspect, it was then reasonable for me to tell them who I was. I gave him my name, address, and phone number. I didn't have to, but I described the course I had walked.
"Are you an attorney, or just someone who reads up?"
"I am not licensed to practice law, or dispense legal advice."
"Well, we're just out here doing our job. If you want to complain, my name is Sgt. Eshleman from the York Barracks."
"Do you have a card, sir?"
He paused, turned slowly, and went back to his cruiser to retrieve one. He probably took my response the wrong way. I had always forgotten to ask police officers for cards in the past, and his statement reminded me: always ask for a card. I may not complain, but a card lets me document the incident better, and I might actually send a letter off anyway. There's no way I'd remember his name without it.
His partner then went into lecture mode, explaining that if I had immediately cooperated, they could have moved on and continued searching for the real offender, instead of spending time with me.
My turn. "Look, I know most police officers are good people. But the government is getting way out of line by violating people's privacy, and I have to protect my rights."
He counters: "All we do is enforce the laws that the government passes, the government that is elected by you and me that we all pay taxes for. We control the laws by voting."
Though not disagreeing, I added, "We are a republic, not a democracy."
They let me have the final word and turned back to their cruiser. I wished them a good night, and I gave them a friendly wave as they drove off. I'm not sure, but I think the whole incident lasted some 10-15 minutes.
I busted up laughing. Unlike previous encounters that shook me up a little bit, this one actually provided some needed comic relief, and I decided I didn't need to extend the night's travels.
That was the third hostile police encounter in 12 months, not counting having been pulled out of the regular U.S. Customs line to have my dirty laundry searched late last year. I'm telling you, I look like a criminal.
When I got home, I noticed the T-shirt I was wearing. In two inch high letters on the back, it reads: "Libertarian Party of Maryland."
-- Neil McIver
www.cjMcIver.org
All
political campaigns issue pol-icy positions. The positions generally revolve
around specific issues. How does a candidate decide what issues to focus
on, and what issues to ignore?
Someone said, "it's the economy, stupid." Likewise, "it's the voters" who determine what the issues will be. For example, I will not feature or speak about issues that might be dear to me, but of no interest to most of the voters. There are many esoteric views that might be interesting, but most voters are not interested in. A cardinal rule of sales is that you talk about what the buyer wants to talk about, not what you want to talk about. Unless, of course, you share the same interests. Our main goal is to convince voters that Libertarians understand and have solutions to their problems.
While I appreciate and welcome input, don't be surprised if I don't cover issues that have no appeal to most of the voters. How will I determine whether or not an issue is of concern to the public? Simple. If an issue is not being discussed on the radio or TV, and is not being written about in the newspapers or magazines, rest assured that there is no public interest. This is sometimes hard for true believers to accept, but the media is a lot smarter that we will ever be about what the public wants to hear and read, and you can take it to the bank that they will cover it if it can create interest.
Another criteria that I will use is whether or not the issue has a solution. There are many issues that people are passionate about. So much so that it is impossible to have them discuss them in a civil and rational way. When breached, these issues result in dogmatic opinions and heated dialogue. I define these issues as political Vietnams. I will not initiate discussion of these issues, and if questioned, will state the Libertarian principles that apply. I will remind the questioner that I subscribe to the Libertarian principles.
Lastly, I don't intend to discuss issues where the only way to make them work would be the use of government force. There are a lot of noble causes. However, I do not want any part in denying citizens their freedom. Yes, I know that perhaps some behavior modification would benefit the person and/or society. People will make foolish choices sometimes, but I will tolerate their right to do this, and I hope they will tolerate me when I make my foolish choices.
I exult in being an American. I am proud of my ancestors, who were willing to fight for freedom. I will not take part in denying other people their right to freedom. If an issue other then the prevention of violence or fraud would require that government use force to enact it, I will not be able to support it.
-- Spear Lancaster
Libertarian candidate for Governor
I
hope many of you got to read the brief article I wrote in the (National)
August 2001 LP News -- "Why the LP should support the
FairTax (national sales tax)." I would like to go into a little more
detail here, still keeping it nontechnical, but addressing some of the
concerns I have heard individuals have with the bill. I welcome direct
questions to me, by phone or email, and you are also encouraged to send
a note to the newsletter, which I will attempt to answer for everyone.
Let me first review the key points of the FairTax:
While the National Libertarian Party has not taken a stand on this proposed law, the West Virginia state party has just endorsed HB2525.
Here are some significant points people have raised, and a short response to each:
1. The 16th Amendment was never officially ratified, and the operation of the income tax system is a fraud, so passing the FairTax is a wasted effort. It is my understanding that the National Libertarian Party does not endorse the concept that the Income Tax is illegal. We, and many others, don't like it, and we would like to return the country to a more reasonable and historic tax system, but that is a separate matter from those who wish to ignore or avoid the entire income tax "liability." In my personal opinion, I think that there is a real chance the IRS will raid such a person's home and business. More power to those prepared to wage that battle, but the risk disappears with FairTax.
2. Because of getting paid in cash, and by using overseas banks and other actions, some people feel they are paying no taxes now and see no reason to start paying something. I am sorry to be the bearer of bad news to such people, but there is no way to avoid paying significant amounts of money to the Federal government, because there are hidden taxes in every item you purchase! Consider a $1.00 bottle of soda. It is estimated that 20 to 30 cents of that dollar goes to the Federal Government, and you as a consumer are paying it. Where does that 20 or 30 cents come from? Consider first, the employer's share of FICA and Medicare (about 8% of wages) and the costs of tax departments in corporations and the payroll calculating system that determines how much comes out of each person's paycheck and how much the company pays. Then there is the pay to tax lawyers and the tax that is levied on the Corporation. Probably you know, but for those who don't, businesses do not pay taxes. Income, payroll, and other taxes are calculated into the pricing of a product just as surely as is steel, advertising, or delivery costs. Under FairTax, this charade is ended. Corporations will not pay income taxes, or the "employers share of FICA." This will also lead to more economic efficiency and lower interest rates, when dividends and interest are equal options for a company, and not influenced by tax considerations. It will also mean that corporations that keep large amounts of capital overseas, so as not to return the money to the U.S. and incur taxes here, will be quickly repatriated.
3. If the FairTax is passed, we are going to end up with a national sales tax and an income tax! Focus groups organized around the country for FairTax consultants showed this to be the biggest public fear. Thus, specific features were designed into H.B. 2525. While anything can come out of a joint legislative review, FairTax advocates know that the 16th Amendment must be repealed. Such a repeal takes time, and to counter this, the FairTax gives the states five years to officially repeal the 16th Amendment, while the IRS will administratively be closed almost immediately; if the amendment is not enacted within five years of H.B. 2525, the national sales tax automatically sunsets.
4. The FairTax will do nothing to reduce the size of government. It is true that the FairTax is designed to be revenue neutral, so the Federal government will receive as much revenue as it does from the income taxes. However, the tax will be more visible and controllable by an individual, since a lowerpriced item can be purchased (the tax is a percent of the item's price), a used item could be purchased (no tax), or the individual could pass up buying the item at all. In this respect, the FairTax will work like the tariffs the founding fathers considered as the prime source of revenue. More important to those concerned about the size of government, once people see the tax they are encountering every day, there will be great and continuing pressure to lower the tax rate. Some who oppose the FairTax have said that Congress can start with one rate, and move it higher as they wish. This is technically true, but it will be much harder to perform that manipulation; it is a basic part of the Income Tax system. The proponents of FairTax are determined to keep it simple and uniform, just to avoid such congressional game playing. While there could be a different rate for food or medicine, this would only lead to other exceptions (a lower rate on solar energy systems?) so all is kept uniform. Further, even if nothing else was involved, it is estimated that operation of the IRS and the cost of compliance is about $250 billion per year. Ending this completely wasteful use of economic resources will add more to the economy than the entire recent tax cut.
5. The FairTax's stated rate is misleading and a fraud. The initial national tax rate will be 23%, and it will apply to all final goods and services purchased by individuals, governments, and noncharitable, noneducational institutions. Let me point out first that the 23% rate is the inclusive rate, as is the income tax rates of, say 28%. I want to say a word or two about this, because some people think there is something misleading here, but you will see, the desire is only to be consistent. As an example, suppose an individual has an adjusted taxable income of $28,000 and is in the 25% bracket. That would mean that the individual owes 25% of $28,000, or $7,000 in taxes. This is the "inclusive" calculation, because if you now say, "wait, when you give $7,000 to the government from $28,000, you can now really only spend $21,000, and on the basis of $21,000 in spendable income, the person who handed $7,000 to the government actually gave an equivalent of 33% of their disposable income in taxes." This is a good point, and mathematically very valid, but it is not the way we generally think of the income tax rate. But to stay on the same playing field, the FairTax is calculated the same way. Thus, if the FairTax were enacted, and you went into Giant Food and end up with a bill of $100, you would have $77.00 in product, and $23.00 in paid national sales tax. The $23.00 in tax is 23% of the $100, but it is 30% of the physical items you received. When FairTax says the rate is 23%, it is not trying to deceive anyone, only to be consistent with the way the income tax system has caused us to think. Further, to make sure this is clear to everyone, unlike a sales tax which in general only applies to physical items, the FairTax will apply to services also, whether a lawyer's fee or work by a mechanic or a dry cleaner. Keep in mind, however, that like products, the cost for services will go down, as the service providers will not have to pay employment taxes, tax accountant fees, etc.
6. Significant organization will be needed to administer various parts of FairTax, and people will have to "register." In designing the FairTax, it was very important to keep the system simple, avoid exceptions, and ensure that the tax burden did not fall excessively on low income people. This required almost no exceptions to be made in items subject to the tax (if you exempt food, is ice cream a food, and if you exempt food wouldn't this mean that a $1000 a plate dinner at Bill Gates' home would be given as much benefit as the hot dog and beans that a low income family had every week? Or if medicine is exempt, will herbal medicines qualify, or medical treatments at a spa in Aspen?) So this implied taxing everything, but a poverty level family of four
($20,000 annual income) can hardly get by now, and they are paying little in income tax (but of course a significant amount in FICA taxes). To keep this family and all individuals essentially free of taxes on basic necessities, a rebate or in fact "pre bate" program was devised. This means that for that family of four, with a determined poverty level of $20,000, they will need 23% of $20,000, or $4,600, from the government to balance the increase in taxes that they will incur. Every family of four would get the same size check, while a different payment would go to single individuals, couples, etc. There are certainly things we, as Libertarians, will not like about this system: you have to register yourself and your family with the government; the Social Security system will send out checks to everyone registered, whether they need the money or not, but not to those who do not register, even if they need it; and someone (the government) determines what the poverty level is. All of this is bothersome, but:
All of us feel the government is too big and too meddlesome. The FairTax will not, by itself, end that, but it will move us a long way on the right road. There is still more to say, but I look for your questions and concerns. You can get further information by calling 1-800-FAIRTAX, or visiting the www.FairTax.org website.
-- Steven M. Sass
Maryland State Director (volunteer), FairTax
At the 29 April 2001 Central Committee meeting, it was moved and seconded that the MdLP endorse H.B. 2525. There was vigorous discussion, but due to time constraints, the motion and its second were withdrawn. Therefore, at present the MdLP takes no official stand on the matter.
Some libertarians are touting the so-called "FairTax" promoted by Americans For Fair Taxation. It calls for special sales taxes on consumer goods and services collected by the states (a 23% tax rate is proposed) to be turned over to the federal government for its support in lieu of the current income tax-IRS system. While promising relief for individual taxpayers in many ways, it is still a tax under the control and spending authority of the "Feds." Also, like the tax program now, it taxes (punishes) the wealthy disproportionately.
I have an alternative: shifting towards a society where citizens pay only for wanted and used government activities. To do it without chaos means switching from taxes to user fees and lotteries in a progressive manner. It allows for independent parties to compete with government in supplying desired services as well.
The plan is ambitious, and for brevity, is only sketched out here. I know from experience that such a plan is likely to be faulty, and in need of adjustment to accomplish its aims. As such, I write about it with the hope that those readers who like the essence of the plan will give me feedback on it, suggesting changes, additions, modifications, etc. to make it better.
There must first be a freeze on compulsory new taxes of any kind. Governments would have to live within their current income levels. Government employees would not be fired (except for cause as is usual). No new government employees would be hired. Persons now dependent on government patronage for survival without practical substitutes would suffer no cutbacks.
Executive agencies other than the military and police (broadly defined to cover necessary health and safety agencies as well until alternatives appear) needed to protect life and property would be phased out. Agency phase-out would be proportional to dropout rates for personnel. Forced unemployment would be avoided by asking personnel from closed agencies to fill positions in remaining agencies vacated by death, retirement, and resignation. Money derived from closed agency budgets would be used for necessary retraining for those jobs, and as bonuses and buyouts to spur voluntary exodus from government. Caps on salaries and promotions in agencies headed for termination could further stimulate unforced departure.
A second major thrust would be phase-out of all government retirement, entitlement, and subsidy benefit programs. Methods used would ensure that truly needy persons benefitting or about to benefit from such programs are not hurt.
Social Security and other government pensioners, or those near to retiring (let actuaries work out the details) could be paid off in a lump sum. Payoff money would come from sale of surplus and non-critical government assets, and remaining funds, if any, from closed government agency budgets. Retirees would be free to use the large amounts of money received as desired. Political uncertainty about retirement would be ended.
Younger persons would arrange for their own retirement using money otherwise taken from salaries for social security payments. There would be no required government social security system.
Massive tax credits would be offered to individuals and groups to assume welfare, education, public works, environmental protection, and other social services. Those tax credits would be warranted, given the savings to government by not providing those services.
The judicial system would be made self-supporting by requiring convicted felons to pay court and related costs. This includes establishing a "felon annuity" funded by an excise tax on felons with assets to cover costs for indigent felons. Imprisonment costs are included. (I have a more detailed plan for this.) Police and fire protection services would also be paid this way, supplemented by independent subscription, and voluntary donations.
Military costs (cut by about two-thirds with a plan not included here) would be funded by a national lottery, and voluntary donations. Other countries would be asked to pay for military protection by the United States if necessary.
Laws covering how we should behave could be drastically reduced, thereby limiting the need for elected legislators. Trespass, nuisance, and negligence laws administered by the judicial system should suffice, in most, if not all cases. Salaries and expenses of elected officials still needed, likely to be part-timers for the most part, would be funded through service fees and voluntary donations.
Finally, the 16th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, the legal basis of our income tax, could be repealed. Americans would never again have to fight taxation without representation!
-- Gerald Schneider, Ph.D.
3101 Blueford Rd., Kensington, MD 20895, 301-929-8593
The
newly-organized Libertarian Party of Cecil Coun-ty had their first booth
at Sunfest in Rising Sun on Saturday, June 2nd. Because
of the dismal weather, the turnout for the local festival was not as good
as in recent years. But in spite of the weather, we did get to talk to
a lot of people, including Representative Dave Rudolph, who also had a
booth at the Sunfest. Mr. Rudolph was open to the idea of a public debate
on the issues, and we are going to follow up on that offer.
In general, the response from the public was very favorable. Many people quizzed us on the issues, and in almost every case, took literature and contact information with them when they left. We were also able to collect some signatures for Spear.
My thanks to Banner Segraves, Dave Sten, and Jeff Carr for getting everything together, setting up, and manning the booth in the rain. And my thanks to Steve Boone for the loan of the canopy which kept us all dry during the gloomy morning.
-- Valerie McGlothlin
Thanks to all six who participated in the 63rd Annual Gaithersburg Labor Day Parade! We had a United States of America flag, a Spear Lancaster Libertarian for Governor banner, Spear handouts, and lots of enthusiasm to offer the crowd! We were also placed well, about midway in the parade, and directly in front of the University of Maryland band -- one of the best attention-getters in the parade. We were announced from the event stand as "Spear Lancaster, Libertarian candidate for Governor, and Lauren Hill Lt. Governor."
-- Glenn Howard
I would like to thank all of the dedicated volunteers who took time from their busy schedules to work the booth. The volunteers went above and beyond the call of duty to collect signatures for Spear -- hundreds of signatures were collected. Many voters in Montgomery County got to meet Spear, and they were impressed.
We have a candidate who can, and will, get more than the 1% vote the Libertarian Party of Maryland needs. Spear will make the difference in next year's election. Kathleen Kennedy Townsend and whoever the Republicans nominate had better look over their shoulders. Spear will be right on their collective butts!
Again, thanks to all who volunteered.
-- Steve Wilson
Got
a call from WBAL radio. They said that our own little Statue of Liberty,
Katie Millionie, had won the WBAL Radio/Mars Food Rookie Broadcaster
of the Year contest! Perhaps some of you have heard the contest mentioned
on the radio. She sent in her tape, calling a "pretend game,"
and she won! She gets interviewed on September 12th in the morning
on Dave Durian's show, and picks up her prizes (including an official Oriole
jersey with her name on it) and two tickets to that night's game. She gets
dinner in the Clubhouse restaurant before the game, and some (nice, I hope)
seats to that game. Then, she gets interviewed by Jim Hunter and Fred Manfra
in the booth during the game. How cool is that?!?!?!? Our little Libertarian
is a celebrity!
I hope you hear her on the the Dave Durian show, and during the radio broadcast of the Orioles game. We'll be there. Do I dare wear my Libertarian shirt to the game? We could be on Jumbotron! Gee... maybe I could make her wear her Statue of Liberty parade costume. eek... does that make me a stage mother or something?
I'm so proud'a this kid.........
-- Nancy Millionie
Nancy wrote this prior to the event (which will probably be rescheduled
now). Many in the MdLP have witnessed 15-year-old Katie's energetic promotion
of Liberty, and we join her Mom in giving Katie a great big congratulations!
Our booth was a great success. Over the course of two days (May 27/28), we spoke with thousands of people, young and old (but mostly young), with great results.
The main focus was, and is, voter registration. When all was said and done, we had registered 74 people to vote. Of those 74, 56 affiliated with the Libertarian Party. Look for these numbers to be reflected in upcoming SABEL reports, hopefully with many more from other events around the state.
In addition to voter registration, we were gathering petition signatures for Spear Lancaster's gubernatorial race in 2002. According to my count, we gathered 255 over both days. This effort was helped immensely by Spear coming to the second day of the festival personally, to meet and talk to people. Most everyone I spoke with was impressed that our candidate was willing to come out and talk to them, and Spear was connecting well with people of all stripes.
The final act in the parade of statistics: 81 people signed up to learn more about the LP. I am going to be sending an email (and calling those without email) to let them know more about what we as a party are doing this summer, how they can get involved, and who to contact for more information.
I have to thank many people for our success. First, thank you to Jon Kelvey, Jeff Carr, Marc Brandl, and Tony Spezio for volunteering. Thank you to Spear Lancaster, the next Governor of Maryland, for coming out and impressing the hell out of everyone you spoke with. Thank you to all of the people who offered to volunteer. If we weren't limited to the number of volunteers we were allowed, I would have taken you all up on your offers. Of course, I'm sure there will be many more events to help at.
We owe a great debt of gratitude to the LP of Virginia representatives. The level of cooperation and camaraderie between our groups was incredible. Not content to merely point people from one booth to the other, Abel came up with the idea of personally introducing Marylanders who visited the Virginia booth to someone at our booth, and vice versa. It worked wonderfully, sometimes overwhelmingly well, and I want to personally thank Abel Ashbridge, Glenda Roasa, Gary Reams, Jim Turney, Sean Sweeney, Steve Atwell, Garry Myers, Carl Milsted, Jacob Gray, and Jackie Leyland for all of their help. Last, but by no means least, thank you to Sara Rossell of 99.1 WHFS, for being so helpful in getting us passes, and answering all of my questions.
Next year should be even better!
-- Nick Sarwark
I would like to announce my Libertarian candidacy for a Howard County Council seat. I have a campaign treasurer in place (Deborah Wolf), and I've spoken with several people who live in my vicinity about my run for office. The reaction has been very favorable. I will formally file my candidacy with the board of elections after the new councilmanic districts have been redrawn and approved. I anticipate filing by late November. In the meantime, I plan to file the paperwork with the board of elections so that I can start raising campaign funds. According to a recent Baltimore Sun article, it's possible that I may run in an open district, following the councilmanic redistricting. If so, my chances of winning the race would substantially increase. If you're interested in helping out, please e-mail me. Thank you.
In Liberty,
-- Dave Margolis
herrdave*hotmail.com
Long live the Revolution. Sounds like a good idea, right? Well, maybe from a propagandist's point of view, but when you sit back and think about it pragmatically, is that what you really want? I sure don't want that for the libertarian movement. Does the libertarian movement have a problem with expecting the revolution to last forever? I don't know; I'm new to it, but a recent experience suggests we need to look into this. At the last AA County meeting, a new chair was elected. The week before, the AA Republicans had an article in the Sun about their new chair, so the running joke was that we would expect a similar article ourselves. It was funny at the time, but later on I thought, "Why not? Why shouldn't we expect an article in the paper?" More importantly, how does that happen? The Dem's and Rep's don't automatically get coverage. They send out press releases. They call reporters. If the Libertarian Party wants the same coverage, we need to do the same. For every event, press releases should be sent out beforehand, and followed up with a phone call to ensure coverage. After the event, another press release, and another phone call. Local newspapers are dying for good stories. With the right methods, that reporter will soon show up, and the LP will be on its way to getting the press coverage we should expect, and do deserve.
-- Jeremy Keil
Some time ago, in Volume 20 Issue 3, an article was written by Beverly Lynch concerning a "dubious company" called Gercor -- dubbed Jerkor in the article. It may be of interest to you to do a follow up on this company that indeed turned out to be very dubious, and in fact downright fraudulent. The president, David Young, took millions of dollars from investors, and after several years of evading questions from investors (which I am one), lying and refusing to set up a corporation as stated in the corporate bylaws -- has filed for chapter 7.
As stated in the paperwork from the court, there are no assets to show for these millions of dollars. David has left Maryland and has been "working" out of Virginia. Where is the money??? I smell fraud.
David was once quoted by one of the investors as threatening to file for divorce and siphon funds to his ex-wife. He is now divorced.
For more details, feel free to contact me. The investors are investigating proceeding with criminal charges against David.
-- Scott Deane
Scott.Deane*Intel.com
Gasoline is too expensive. You hear and read of so many complaints about the "high" price of gas. Is it really so expensive? I have been driving (and, buying gas) since 1938. In those days it was sold, typically, as "8 gallons per dollar." Sometimes, only 7.5. Occasionally, 9 to the dollar, at some discount station. In those days I had minimum wage jobs, 25 cents per hour. So, one hour's work got me two gallons of gas.
Today's minimum wage ($5.25) buys three gallons.
The currency is depreciating -- but gasoline is cheap.
College tuition is too high. I graduated from Stevens Institute of Technology in 1941. My children attended various colleges in the sixties and seventies. Four of my grandchildren graduated in the nineties, three more are starting this fall. So, I've been able to keep track of tuition rates. They have not changed in 60 years.
Ivy league tuition was, and is, one Cadillac per year.
Tuition at a typical private college is a new Chevy per year.
State Universities charge about the cost of a four or five year old car, per year.
We are running out of petroleum reserves. Soon, we'll run out. That same complaint has been made, ever so often, for the last 100 years. What is the explanation?
The large oil companies feel comfortable with 15 year reserves. They maintain modest prospecting efforts to maintain such reserve levels, at ever increasing consumption levels. Occasionally, reserves diminish to only 12 year reserves. This leads to more intensive drilling and prospecting efforts. Also, on occasion, large oil fields are discovered, resulting in diminished search efforts, for a while.
Of course, the Earth's total supply is finite.
But, we won't run out, soon.
Rich nations, poor nations. Remember what they taught us in school. Look at your kid's Geography book. They always emphasize the importance of riches in the ground -- oil, copper, etc. It is important for any nation to have vast mineral reserves.
They must be right.
That's why Equador, The Congo (formerly Zaire), and Russia are so rich. And, why places such as Switzerland, The Netherlands, and Japan are so poor.
-- Erwin Vogel
Vogel has distrusted governments all his life. He joined the Md. Libertarian Party in 1977. In 1978, he ran (as an Independent, but with the MdLP's endorsement) for the State Assembly in then District 15-A (Upper Montgomery County). He came in second, with about 16% of the vote. He is still an enthusiastic libertarian, but at age 80, he is glad to relax and observe the younger crowd fight the good battles.
It's
Official!
The Carroll/Howard County Chapter of the Libertarian Party of Maryland filed with the State Board of Elections over the summer, and is now an officially recognized chapter with the Board. I am the Chairman, and Deborah Wolf is registered as the Treasurer. The group has 11 regularly active members, and are looking for more! If you know anyone who resides in either of the two counties, who may be interested in joining the group, please call me.
We've Adopted a Highway! Gail Mangum, a member of the Carroll/Howard County group, was instrumental in securing a prime location for an Adopt-A-Highway project. Because of Gail's efforts, the group managed to secure a great, high visibility location in Howard County. The group is responsible for an area on Broken Land Parkway between Snowden River Parkway and Guilford Road. The Libertarian signs are scheduled to be in place some time around Christmas (what a great present!) The next cleanup will be scheduled in September, after the "dog-days" are over.
-- Kevin Wolf
We
had the Harford County Fair July 26-29, spoke to hundreds of people, got
seven new Libertarians (one for Baltimore County, too), netted a few attenders
at meetings and the LDDS, and signed up a bunch of folks to be on the mailing/email
list. Comment from the Democrat who initiated the district election referendum
in Harford: "This is the most engaging booth here."
By the end of July, we had a total of 266 registered Libertarians, up 18 people from June. At the beginning of August, we sent out a letter to all our registered Libertarians to encourage potential candidates, and generate active members. On August 8 Spear visited our LDDS, and spoke to the usual suspects plus six new folks. At our most recent meeting, we had delegate B. Daniel Riley (Dem-dist-3 4) visit and talk about running for office. Dan gave us a good picture of the local political landscape, and some great ideas for effective campaigning in the area.
We will have a booth at the Darlington Apple Festival on October 7 (8:00 am to 3:00 pm) -- we welcome Libertarians from around the state to stop by and say "Hi." (email me for directions.) Until next time,
-- Roy J. Meyers III
Starting
in September, we are changing our LDDS to once a month -- the second
Wednesday only, the usual time (7:00 to 9:00 pm) and place (Bennigan's
on Rockville Pike and Twinbrook Parkway), to see if we get a bigger crowd.
The LDDS has been most successful in getting activists into our organization.
Prospects are attracted to a neutral or familiar territory where they feel
more at ease -- a restaurant rather that someone's home. The bigger
the crowd they see, the more popular they believe the LP is. Newcomers
have made this comment.
Outreach events have increased now that the warmer season is upon us. The Takoma Park Jazz Festival on May 19th brought the usually liberal crowd. We had a good attendance at our booth. The International Festival on June 16th in Silver Spring almost got rained out. We were moved into the ground floor of a parking garage along with other vendors to escape the on-and-off rain that continued throughout the day. The crowd was light, but we did have some good interaction with those who came. The Hemp Fest on July 4th was well attended. Our county LP sponsored a booth again this year after a year's break. Ron Crickenberger from the National LP came and helped with supplies and other activities. The college-age crowd was very receptive to the Libertarian Party. We had a free drawing that attracted many. The first prize was a "slick Willie hemp sack" with a picture of Bill Clinton not inhaling. The second prize was a replica of the Statue of Liberty -- fitting for placement on a desk or shelf.
The big event of the year for us, was as usual, the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair in Gaithersburg August 10th through August 18th. Steve Wilson did a fine job as volunteer coordinator, and had a prefair party / meeting at has home August 9th to get everyone in sync for covering our booth. Our main thrust was petition signatures for Spear Lancaster for Governor, and petition signatures we got -- well over one thousand! This far exceeds our petition efforts at previous fairs. The free drawing prize was an autographed copy of Harry Browne's book How I Found Freedom in an Unfree World -- 1997 edition. Spear was on hand most days to greet the crowd and get petition signatures.
I want to thank everyone who has contributed to these outreach events; those who took an active part in planning, helped setup, shared themselves with prospects, got petition signatures, and packed up our booth. Particularly those from outside Montgomery County who had their own territory to cover, yet were kind enough to help us out, and members who show up time-and-time-again for these events!
An early announcement: our holiday party, potluck, business meeting and fundraising auction is scheduled for Saturday, December 8th from 6:00 pm to midnight at Doris Gordon's home in Wheaton (Montgomery County). All LP members and guests are invited. More details will be announced at a later date on MDLP-announce*yahoogroups.com, or give me a call in late November or early December.
-- Glenn Howard
Western
Maryland College students Doug Novielli, Neal Page, and myself have recently
formed a new group called Students for Liberty. Students for Liberty
intends to focus on the benefits of liberty and the virtues necessary for
its sustenance. Activities for this school year are lectures by Dave Borden
of the Drug Reform Coordination Network on October 23rd,
and Gregory Kane of the Baltimore Sun on February 6th.
The culminating activity is Liberty Week, March 25-29, 2002. The
week will include lectures, debates, and a pro-liberty concert on Friday.
Doug Bandow of the Cato Institute and Harry Browne have been contacted
about appearing at Liberty Week. For updates and more info, go to www.libertyweek.org,
or call 410-751-8396.
For those wishing to donate to Liberty Week, checks can be made out to "WMC Students for Liberty," and sent to Liberty Week/WMC/2 College Hill/Westminster MD 21157.
-- Jeremy Keil
Tony Spezio is the new Prince George's county chair
$100 Full Page
$60 1/2 Page
$35 1/4 Page
$20 Business Card
Make checks payable to the Maryland Libertarian Party, and send along with copy to:
PO Box 321, Owings Mills, MD 21117.
Note: consult www.MD.LP.org/events for up-to-date info. Contact numbers for persons listed on page 3 are omitted here. Regularly scheduled events are listed separately on the back page. Please mark your calendars now!
October 6 (Saturday): Frederick In The Streets. Mike Barnes, montybarnes*yahoo.com, 301-695-9211.
October 7 (Sunday): 8:00 am - 3:00 pm. Darlington Apple Festival in Harford county. Roy Meyers III
October 13 (Saturday): 10:00 am. Libertarian Club of Baltimore Charles Street Adopt-A-Highway cleanup. Ruxton Center on Charles St. one mile south of I-695. Bill Buzzell, 410-477-9173, 410-637-5058 voicemail, waBuzzell*juno.com
October 23 (Tuesday): Lecture by Dave Borden of the Drug Reform Coordination Network at Western Maryland College. Page 18
October 27 (Saturday): 9:30 am - midnight. MdLP Fall Convention. Pages 2-3
December 8 (Saturday): 6:00 pm - midnight. Montgomery county holiday party. Page 17
February 6 (Wednesday): Lecture by Gregory Kane of the Baltimore Sun at Western Maryland College. Page 18
March 25-29 (Monday-Friday): Liberty Week at Western Maryland College. Page 18
www.Spear2002.org
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): Baltimore City. Suspended until further notice. Earle Pearce, 410-327-1776
LDDS (Montgomery Co.): 2nd Wednesdays, 7:00 pm at Bennigan's, Rockville Pike in Federal Plaza near Twinbrook Pkwy. (behind Texaco gas station). Glenn Howard
LDDS (Annapolis): 2nd Friday, 7:00 pm, at Hong Kong Buffet, 3283 Solomon's Island Road at intersection of Routes 2 & 214. Michael Dobak
LDDS (Timonium): 3rd Friday, 7:00 pm in AMF Bowling Alley lounge, opposite Fairgrounds. Nancy Millionie
LDDS (Essex): Poplar Inn, Merritt Blvd. and Wise Ave. Check with Nancy Millionie for dates and time.
LDDS (PG County): 4th Tuesday, 6:30 pm at the 94th Aero Squadron, 5240 Paint Branch Parkway, College Park. Tony Spezio
Northwest Corridor Libertarians: 4th Monday, 7:00 pm at the Dragon House Restaurant, Garrison Forest shopping center, Reisterstown Rd., Owings Mills. Nancy Millionie
Cecil County Lib's: 4th Wednesday, 7:00 pm at the Cecil County Public Library, Newark Road in Elkton. Valerie McGlothlin
Harford County Lib's: 4th Monday, 7:30 pm at Harford Community College, 209 Edgewood Hall. Roy J. Meyers III
Carroll/Howard County Lib's: last Sunday, 5:00 pm at Nathan Henry's Restaurant (in the upstairs lounge) at 6228 Sykesville Road (MD Route 32), Eldersburg. Kevin Wolf.
