LP News April 1993
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Just one penny Member promises $10,000 for 10 cut Party from Las Vegas, Eric A memberKlien, recentlyof thepromisedLibertarianto give $10,000 to the U.S. Treasury if President Clinton reduced federal spending one penny. Klien even offered to allow for inflation and popula¬ tion growth in determining if the appropriations in the next budget are less than this year’s. “I, Eric Klien, at 8124 Bridlepath Way, Las Vegas, NV 89128, challenge Bill Clinton to keep his word to cut Commenting on Klien’s letter, LP National Chair spending,” Klien said in a letter to the White House. “If Mary Gingell said, “Given Mr. Clinton’s past record, I he cuts spending by even one penny I will donate expect Mr. Klien will be keeping that $10,000. $10,000 to help pay off the federal debt.” Unfortunately, that means that the rest of us will be los¬ “Considering that he plans to raise taxes by over 10 ing a lot more of our money to continuing big govern¬ trillion pennies, I feel that it is only fair that he reduce ment and waste.” spending by at least one penny.” Klien, 27, is a retired computer programmer and suc¬ ‘The terms of the contest are as follows: Take the cessful stock market investor. In the last election, he total amount spent by the federal government in 1992. was treasurer of the Tamara Clark for State Senate cam¬ Multiply this amount by the CPI increase in 1993 and by paign. * the population growth in 1993. See if Bill Clinton can The Libertarian Party advocates substantial reduc¬ manage to spend at least one penny less than this tions in the government’s size and cost through such amount in the year 1993,” Klien explained. measures as privatization, public land and property Klien’s challenge was sent by Federal Express to sales, abolition of subsidies, and an overall cutback in arrive at the White House on Monday, March 1. the role of government. Group forms to Protest build Libertarian majority BATF condemned for actions in Texas standoff More than 50 LP members and activists have National Chair announced the formation of the Committee for a Mary Libertarian Majority (CLM). Chaired by 1992 vice- Gingell condemned presidential candidate Dr. Nancy Lord, the group the armed BATF raid supports the mission statement and goals endorsed by the Libertarian National Committee on the Mount (LNC) in December. Carmel sanctuary of the Branch “CLM is committed to broadening the base of Davidian religious the Libertarian Party to appeal to all libertarians, community out¬ and to presenting our message in a positive man¬ side Waco, TX, and reiterated a ner that appeals to the media and the public,” Lord long-standing plank of the party’s said. “Millions of Americans have rejected the big government agenda of the Democrats and platform: “We demand the immedi¬ Republicans. We must bring those Americans into ate abolition of the Bureau of the Libertarian Party. We believe that it is time for Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms.” the LP to become serious about participating in the Local Libertarians picketed the BATF' political process. CLM believes that we can do this building in Dallas and the BATF officials in without ever Waco, and also called for compromising our principles.” CLM NEWS photo by Larry Dodge the abolition of the BATF'. Their demonstrations strongly supports retaining the current LP received national media attention. DALLAS - Libertarians and others held a “Domestic Statement of Principles, according to CLM offi¬ Peace Demonstration” in cials. “While Texans celebrate the 200th anniversary of the early March outside the Federal birth of Sam Houston, and the 157th anniversary of the Building in Dallas protesting the assault by the Among the goals supported by CLM are two BATF on the Branch revolution which created the Davidian compound in Waco. LP controversial ones: Republic of Texas, their eliminating the “oath” as a con¬ activist Honey Lanham Dodge, center, is lives and freedoms are being inter¬ dition of being threatened as never before viewed membership and revising the platform to by television news while holding a sign reading, by domestic terrorism financed by their own tax dollars,” make it more relevant, positive, and solution-orient¬ “Is your church ATF approved?” ed. read a news release issued by the Libertarian Party of Dallas County. Lord sees CLM as a long-term project. The The BATF assault on the church compound near Committee for a Libertarian Majority is much big¬ Waco was a grotesque violation of the First, Second, and ger than just the reforms currently being debated. Voting results Fourth Amendments to the Constitution. Such attacks on Far beyond the outcome in Salt Lake City, we plan Results of the voting on the 900-telephone to be involved in the serious religious freedom, firearms ownership, and the right of grassroots organizing line for private citizens to be secure in their persons, homes, and February are complete. The question that is necessary to grow the Libertarian Party and was, “Should the Libertarian achieve electoral success.” possessions are reminiscent of the high-handed actions Party change its of British troops at platform to meet the new New Hampshire State Rep. Finley Rothhaus Lexington and Concord,” the LP of proposed criteria?” Dallas continued. serves as CLM vice chair, and former Indiana State County release Ninety-seven responses were received, and “The BATF used to be called the Bureau of 60 Chair Joe Hauptmann serves as political director. callers, or 62 percent, responded “yes,” while Prohibition and, ever since Prohibition was Other CLM supporters include New Hampshire repealed in 37 callers, or 38 percent, responded “no.” 1933, it has been an State Rep. Cal Warburton; LNC members Steve agency in search of a mission,” Results of the March question concerning the Gingell observed. “This dangerous agency has a history Dasbach, Bill Redpath, Clay Conrad, Ron membership statement will be reported in the NEWS next see CLM on page 5 see BATF on page 5 month. 2 Libertarian Party NEWS April 1993 Think about it Others outside LP provide food for thought for Libertarians Living and working near a major aca¬ governmental agencies first, repealing the servative elements on campuses around demic university gives me opportunities to From the Chair most horrendous of laws against ind ividual the country, defending First Amendment hear some interesting and provocative rights? rights even for people who don’t hold the speakers. I’d like to share two of these Mary Gingell Should the national party hold high the currently “accepted” viewpoint. recent National Chair experiences with you. banner of our ultimate goals as a target for His suggestion to those of us who would Several weeks ago I had the chance to locals to work toward, or should we, nation¬ change society? Conservatives and liber¬ hear Dr. Viktor Danilov-Danil’ian, Minister ally, define the steps to be taken to achieve tarians (yes, he actually used the “L” word for National Resources and Ecology for the liberty around the country? I can see argu¬ in his talk!) have to get radicalized. The Russian Federation. Dr. Danilov is now the ments on both sides of these issues, and I liberals won in the ’60s because of their man who was one of the earliest advocates Russian equivalent of the head of our Envi¬ of don’t have the definitive answers, but commitment to the cause. You have to get ronmental Protection transforming Russia’s economy into a Agency, but he was Danilov’s comments me up free market. He did admit later that as certainly made in the morning with a fire in your belly, also one of the early supporters of the free think. Minister of the are you have to live and breathe the cause, you market in Russia. Environment there few I also recently attended a luncheon at have to GET IN THEIR FACES and not let Dr. things he can do to speed the process along Danilov is a soft-spoken man whom which David Horowitz them discount or to encourage to in¬ spoke. Horowitz is your point of view. his introducer described as a “true foreign businesses Euro¬ the son of two American Communist Do we have it in we a vest in Russia, Party us? Can make pean—interested in culture, science, although he does work with poli¬ members. He spent much of his early politi¬ libertarian society a reality? Do we care tics—a American and other companies after they dying breed.” He spoke, through an cal life fighting for free speech on we have negotiated a basic deal. “If I were in college enough? Can get in their faces and stay interpreter, about how Russia is moving campuses in the ’60s. He is now a self- there until we charge of the process (of win, just like the liberals did away moving toward from central planning and toward a styled “radical conservative”, the publisher in the ’60s? I so. one capitalism) perhaps we would move faster,” hope But of my fellow free market economy. He explained that he commented. of Heterodoxy, a monthly newspaper that luncheon attendees remarked as we were progress in this area is very different in Danilov’s is championing the right of students to leaving, “That’s one thing about former different comments started me think¬ geographical areas of Russia and enjoy free speech rights even in this era of leftists. They never forget how to get their also varies from ing about how we Libertarians should ap¬ industry to industry. “politically correct” speech. message across. Conservatives and liber¬ For the most proach the goal of moving the United States part, in many Russian cit¬ Horowitz said that in the ’50s and ’60s tarians don’t have a in the direction of liberty.