Stay the Course

by Eugene J. Flynn

Bad title, I know, but it does convey what I want to urge.

Every year, some Libertarian Party candidates who lost their race are frustrated. They consider leaving the LP, and some do. This year, there have been fewer calls urging us to leave. Unfortunately, however, there have been some. When people leave the LP, what they have done and what they have learned thus far has to be relearned by those who come after them. All of us need to stay with the LP and begin to establish the critical mass needed to win elections.

Candidates often complain that “the party” isn't doing enough for them. What those individuals don't seem to understand is that THEY are the party. The party doesn't have a massive amount of funds to send to candidates, nor does the party have a mass of volunteers to help with campaigns. However, if people stay with the party, we will build that mass of • William Bryan Strange, III for Justice of the Texas Court volunteers. of Criminal Appeals, Place 8, won 171 precincts. 143 of them in the 23rd SD, 15 in the 16th SD, 6 in the This year, candidates set numerous records. Statewide, five LP 2nd SD, 3 in the 9th SD, and 4 in the 8th SD. candidates won over 1 million votes. In Dallas County, those five, plus two other candidates, won quite a number of precincts. • Tom Oxford for Justice of the Texas Supreme Court, Place 4, won 169 precincts 140 of them in the 23rd The leading Dallas County candidate was Jamie O. Perez for SD, 14 in the 16th SD, 7 in the 2nd SD, 4 in the 9th Railroad Commissioner (Unexpired Term) who won 217 SD, and 4 in the 8th SD. precincts, 180 of them in the 23rd Senatorial District (SD), 19 in the 16th SD, 10 in the 2nd SD, 4 in the 9th SD, and 4 in the • Jarrett Rab Woods for State Representative, District 108, 8th SD. (See map: Purple is Libertarian.) won 7 precincts and Jason Darr for State Board of Education, Dist 11, won 2 precincts. The others winning precincts were: The most precincts won by any LP candidate in Dallas County • Mark W. Bennett for Judge, Court of Criminal Appeals, in 2010 was 122 won by J. Randell Stevens for Judge, Court Place 7 won 184 precincts 157 of them in the 23rd SD, of Criminal Appeals, Place 2. 101 of them in the 23rd SD, 11 13 in the 16th SD, 5 in the 2nd SD, 5 in the 9th SD, in the 16th SD, 7 in the 2nd SD, 2 in the 9th SD, and 1 in the and 4 in the 8th SD. 8th SD. Our most successful candidate this year won 96 more precincts then our leading candidate in 2010. • RS Roberto Koelsch for Justice of the Texas Supreme Why so many more this year? Active candidates like John Jay Court, Place 2, won 181 precincts. 150 of them in the Myers, Seth Hollist, Dave (Mac) McElwee, and numerous 23rd SD, 15 in the 16th SD, 9 in the 2nd SD, 3 in the others made it acceptable to vote Libertarian. They were out 9th SD, and 4 in the 8th SD.

Page 1 Libertarian Party of Dallas County, Texas December, 2012 meeting voters and delivering the Libertarian message. People As we build our base, those who consider it safe to vote LP liked them, and while some may not have yet been ready to will start to consider LP candidates even when their own party forsake their old party, many were willing to vote Libertarian has a candidate. Sticking with the LP will achieve this in races where their party had no candidate. desirable situation.

Statewide, the Texas LP's percentage of the vote continues to increase. Just look at the steady percentage increase for the Eugene J. Flynn is a representative on the State Executive last three presidential elections: Committee of the Libertarian Party of Texas from the 23rd Senatorial District. Average Results 2004 2008 2012 US House races (3-way) 1.7% 2.4% 2.6% Hey! Need to find US House races (2-way) 6.9% 13.1% 17.6% voters not already Texas House (3-way) 2.7% 2.8% 3.8% locked in to another Texas House (2-way) 9.7% 13.4% 16.2% party? Statewide Judicial races (2-way) 15.1% 18.1% 21.7% It isn't likely that those turning 18 and those (3-way means LIB, DEM & REP; 2-way means LIB plus newly naturalized are DEM or REP.) already locked in to another party. There is There was only a 60.42% turnout in Dallas County for this an interactive map that can show you where the most election. There are lots of people out there who were not newly naturalized citizens reside in your district. motivated to vote this year. If we stick together, we can get more and more of those people to the polls to vote Libertarian. http://csii.usc.edu/RockTheNaturalizedVote_maps.html The more candidates we have, the more acceptable voting for LP candidates becomes. People come here seeking freedom. We can show them that the Libertarian Party is the party of freedom. Looking at the vote elsewhere, we see that three of the four top percentages for Texas LP candidates were won by local candidates. Do You Hear the Liberties Lessen? • David Kinney, Hockley County Sheriff – 36.49% by Neil Knott • Lillian Martinez Simmons, State Rep. District 52 – 29.71% Perpetual war. Exploding debt. • John Jackson, Williamson County Constable – 29.52% Unreasonable searches and • Mike Andras, Williamson County Sheriff – 27.58% seizures. Political favoritism.

In 2014 or 2016 you could be one of these successes! These are all elements of tyranny and oppression.

They are all policies of the United States government today.

And they are all policies which were practiced by the government of the British Empire, and which led to the American Revolution.

Today the US government spends nearly as much on the military as the rest of the world combined. But it is madness to think that our government can continue policing the world and waging endless wars of aggression.

James Madison once observed:

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"Of all the enemies to public liberty, war is, perhaps, the most to be dreaded, because it comprises and develops the germ of every other. War is the parent of armies; from these proceed debts and taxes; and armies, and debts, and taxes are the known instruments for bringing the many under the domination of the few."

When Madison wrote these words, he was drawing on experience. The Seven Years War was the first in a governed, it inevitably results in the destruction of liberty. chain of events that ended with America's independence. After the war, the British government was deeply in debt. To pay it Whether or not our government was ever based on consent, at off, they attempted to tax the American colonists without their present it is certainly not. Every day it looks more like the consent. In order to prevent smuggling and to collect duties on British government Americans once rebelled against. We must imports, they began issuing 'general writs of assistance' which act to stop this before it's too late. allowed officials to carry out random, unreasonable searches and seizures, without probable cause. In the words of George Santayana, those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it. We can't afford John Adams considered to ignore the lessons of history. For those who refuse to see the writs controversy "the history's LESSON, will soon see their liberties LESSEN. spark in which originated the American (Note: For more history lessons, check out Conceived In Revolution". And there is Liberty by Murray Rothbard: little if any difference http://library.mises.org/books/Murray%20N between the arbitrary %20Rothbard/Conceived%20in%20Liberty_Vol_2.pdf ) methods then employed by the British government and those employed today in the name of 'security' Analysis of Northern Dallas Area 2012 by the TSA. Everyone Elections Shows Libertarians Gaining was essentially a suspect; everyone was assumed Strength guilty until proven by Seth Hollist innocent.

Among the taxes imposed on the colonists was the duty on tea. With the Nov. 6th, 2012, elections The British government granted a monopoly on the sale of tea behind us, it's time to analyze the to the East India Company. This policy of favoritism was outcome and decide what to do next – based on the doctrine known as mercantilism, and it is in or what not to do. For the Northern principle no different from our politicians' practice of bailing Dallas area, not much really changed out banks and corporations because they're "too big to fail". Of in the political world. Most of the course, it was the government-granted East India Company incumbents got re-elected, and life monopoly which set the stage for the "Boston Tea Party". seems to go on as usual for most people. These are the lessons of history: Men cannot be trusted with arbitrary power. The interests of government are distinct from The re-election of President Obama has stirred up a lot of the interests of the people. These interests often conflict, and anxiety among certain groups of die-hard conservatives who when government is not founded on the consent of the are now talking about secession; however, this is most likely premature. While it certainly makes a statement, I tend to

Page 3 Libertarian Party of Dallas County, Texas December, 2012 agree with Ron Holland at The Daily Bell who calls it "bad coming century – unless we change the game all together. politics". Editor's Note: Re-published from the Collin County Independent Examiner So what does the future (http://www.examiner.com/article/northern-dallas-area-2012-elections- analysis-show-libertarians-gaining-strength) with permission from the truly hold? For author. Libertarians in Texas, the future is actually looking Libertarians Have a Future Because up, as they seem to be gaining momentum with Republicans are Wimps the average results for the by Garry Reed last 3 presidential elections showing a steady increase Politicians are partners in crime. in popularity for their candidates: Democrat politicians take the lead on social issues and expanding entitlement Each race for 2004, 2008, and 2012, respectively: programs because that's what their base wants. Republican politicians want it • US House races (3-way) – 1.7%, 2.4%, 2.6% too but they loudly protest against it • US House races (2-way) – 6.9%, 13.1%, 17.6% while obediently trotting along behind • Texas House (3-way) – 2.7%, 2.8%, 3.8% because they don't want to be accused of being "intolerant" • Texas House (2-way) – 9.7%, 13.4%, 16.2% and "insensitive." • Statewide Judicial races (2-way) – 15.1%, 18.1%, 21.7% Republican politicians take the lead on empire building and Gary Johnson, the Libertarian Party Presidential candidate, expanding the police state because that's what their base also saw great improvements over previous Libertarian Party wants. Democrats want it too but they loudly protest against it Presidential candidates. Gary Johnson ended up getting 1% of while obediently trotting along behind because they don't want the national vote, which was more than double the 0.40% to be accused of being "soft on crime." received by Bob Barr in 2008, and more than triple the 0.32% received by Michael Badnarik in 2004.

Personally, I received slightly fewer than 5,700 votes in my race, or about 2.26%. While the percentage is slightly lower than the previous Libertarian to run against the same incumbent, the vote totals are about 50% more, and about a thousand votes higher than in 2008. The reason for this variance is that more people tend to vote in a Presidential election cycle, than the in-between elections. Based on this, if I could improve the vote total by another 50% in 2014, I'd get an estimated 7% of the vote. Certainly still far from a win and less than half of the incumbent's likely 15%+ lead, but still very good for an alternative party candidate.

Basically this means, that despite his voting record, and a very low congressional approval rating, the incumbent is likely to get re-elected until he retires, or a very strong candidate challenges him in a primary election. En try into that contest is anything but trivial. However, when an idea's time has come, it has a tendency to gain popularity exponentially. Both factions of the OneParty political mob get what they want: more power, more wealth and more ego gratification If the Republican Party continues to do poorly over the next through big intrusive authoritarian government. decade because they are becoming increasingly socialist (i.e. no longer holding small government principles, as in my But they're not equal partners in crime; it's more like a host opinion has been the case for the last couple of decades), then and parasite relationship. it could create the right environment for a major shift in what two political parties are considered the main players over the Democrats are hardcore socialists no matter how insistently

Page 4 Libertarian Party of Dallas County, Texas December, 2012 they squeal that they're not. Unfortunately, the same can be said for those anti-socialist But what do Republicans believe? Certainly not freedom. civil liberties loving folks still clinging to the Democratic Think Bush bailouts, Romneycare, corporatism, Patriot Act, Party who keep voting for their own Lesser Evil. NDAA. It's time for them to declare their libertarianism too.

Editor's Note: Re-published from the Dallas Libertarian Examiner (www.examiner.com/libertarian-in-dallas) with permission from the author. Why Libertarians have more integrity and Upcoming Meetings intellectual honesty than Republicans and Democrats • Trivia night at Trinity Hall ◦ Every Sunday Night, 7:30 PM ◦ Trinity Hall Irish Pub & Restaurant 5321 E Mockingbird Ln, Dallas, TX

Republicans don't stand for anything; all they have are Up-to-date meeting announcements and details can always be vaguely defined and ever-shifting "positions" and "policies." found on meetup.com. (www.meetup.com/Dallas- Two examples: Libertarians/)

• "Susan Rice: why GOP opposition to her is no longer Libertarian References white-hot" – Christian Science Monitor. • Books • "Why Republicans Are Abandoning the No-Tax Pledge" ◦ Good to be King, Michael Badnarik – US News & World Report. ◦ Why Government Doesn't Work, Harry Browne ◦ Atlas Shrugged, Ayn Rand The "why" in these articles is moot; Republicans can't take a stand on principle because they don't have any principles. ◦ Libertarianism: A Primer, David Boaz

So don't complain, Republican voters; this is the lesser of the • Videos two evils you voted for. ◦ Neitzsche and the Nazis, Stephen Hicks ◦ Bullsh*t!, Penn & Teller Ron Paul offered those voters something to believe in. Early ◦ Free to Choose, Milton Friedman polls in the nomination process showed that only he could beat ◦ America: Freedom to Fascism, Aaron Russo Obama. • Websites • "Ron Paul poll shocker: He beats Obama head-to-head" – ◦ The Libertarian Party of Dallas County Christian Science Monitor, quoting Rasmussen Poll, lpdallas.org February 28, 2012. ◦ The Libertarian Party of Texas lptexas.org • "CNN Poll Shows Ron Paul Most Likely Beats Obama In ◦ The National Libertarian Party November, Newt Does Not" – CNN, January 22, www.lp.org 2012. ◦ Free Talk Live www.freetalklive.com • "Poll: Ron Paul Could Beat Obama, More Electable Than ◦ The Cato Institute Bachmann" – Yahoo News, quoting Gallup Poll, www.cato.org August 24, 2011. ◦ Molinari Institute praxeology.net/molinari.htm Ron Paul had, and has, principles. Republicans do not. ◦ Objectivism In-Brief The Republican Party must either become hardcore mol.redbarn.org/objectivism/writing/InBrief Libertarian or it must be replaced by the Libertarian Party. Only Libertarianism can counter America's death dance with failed European style socialism. Republicans are vacillating wimps.

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LPDC Officer List Chair – Paul Petersen ([email protected]) Vice-Chair – Curry Taylor ([email protected]) Secretary – Jordan Wagnon ([email protected]) Treasurer – Paul Osborn ([email protected])

LPDC At-Large Directors Marshall Beerwinkle ([email protected]) Ethan Brockman ([email protected]) Kevin Frederickson ([email protected]) Marcus Huffer ([email protected]) Dave Mason ([email protected])

Working Committee Leaders Marketing – Events – Kevin Frederickson ([email protected])

The LPDC is a local branch of the Libertarian Party based in Dallas County, Texas. Find out more about the LPDC at http://lpdallas.org. The Libertarian Party is the third largest political party in the United From Everyone in the States, and was established in 1971 to promote more freedom and less intrusive government in all aspects of life. Find out more about the LP at http://www.lp.org. Libertarian Party of Dallas County to You:

Happy Holidays!!!

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