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Libertarian National Committee, Inc. • 2600 Virginia Ave, NW, Suite 100 APRIL 1998 Washington DC 20037 ♦ Phone: (202) 333-0008 ♦ Fax: (202) 333-0072 newsletter Jacob Hornberger considers run Will the Web spawn a for LP's presidential nomination acob Hornberger, the president of the Future of Free- new political party? dom Foundation and a public speaker known for his new political party might arise from the Internet — passionate oration, has announced that he is "giving and it will probably be libertarian in nature. That's serious consideration" to seeking the LP's presidential nomi- Athe prediction of Investor's Business Daily, which nation in 2000. wrote that "the idea that one of the big parties could fall by In an advertisement in the May issue of LP News, Horn- the wayside isn't far-fetched . . nor is the idea that the two- berger said that over the next 18 months, he will make "a party system itself could be in danger." final decision whether to seek" the party's nomination. In a front-page article on March 18, reporter Charles "I am very excited about the possibility of entering the Oliver noted "the switch from an industrial society to an competition to be your nominee for president. And I am information society has brought enormous changes . . . it's looking forward to exploring this possibility with you in the difficult to think politics will be immune to these forces." months ahead," Hornberger wrote. Specifically, the rise of the Internet and World Wide Web A noted public speaker in Libertarian circles, Horn- — "where voters everywhere are tied together by computer, berger gave the popular keynote address at the 1996 LP constantly exchanging political ideas and information" — National Convention. could force "tremendous change" on America's political He is the founder and president of the Future of Free- system, predicted the national investment newspaper. dom Foundation, a Virginia-based, non-partisan, non-profit And who might gain from a cyber-revolution in Ameri- "educational foundation whose mission is to advance liberty can politics? A libertarian-style party, speculated Oliver — and the libertarian philosophy by presenting an uncompro- while acknowledging that the "Libertarian Party has not yet mising moral, philosophical, and economic case for indi- emerged as a threat to Democrats and Republicans." vidual freedom and limited government." But the good news for LP members: "If the two big parties fail to win over wired voters, others are ready to try. LP sets record: 25,000 members The Libertarian Party claims to have been the first party hanks to a 165% growth in members over the past four with its own Web site. It now aims many of its activities at Tyears, the LP has passed a milestone once considered an winning the online vote," he wrote. "impossible dream" — 25,000 dues-paying members. On March 25, the party reached the 25,000-member Libertarian books dominate threshold, thanks to a flood of new memberships generated by the LP's direct-mail marketing blitz, Project Archimedes. Amazon.com's political lists The new record represents a dramatic 165% growth since ho says the Internet is a stronghold of libertarian March 1994, when there were 9,512 contributing LP mem- Wbeliefs? Amazon.com, that's who. In early April, the bers — and is a 294% increase since 1988, when party member- massive online "virtual" bookstore listed three explicitly ship stood at only 6,402. libertarian books among its top 10 bestselling "Ideological LP National Director Ron Crickenberger said he was Tracts and Manifestos." delighted by the new record — but said he prefers to focus on According to Amazon.com, its #1 bestselling ideological what the party can accomplish with so many new members. book is Libertarianism, A Primer by David Boaz; followed by "I believe that hitting 25,000 members is just the begin- The Libertarian Reader by David Boaz, editor (#2); and Why ning of the curve — that we are poised for continued growth Government Doesn't Work by Harry Browne (#8). at a rapidly expanding pace," he said. And four libertarian works are included on the online "But keep in mind why we need new members: As our bookstore's list of 15 bestselling "Political History, Theory membership grows, so grows the number of Libertarians in and Biography" books: Libertarianism, A Primer by David office, so grows our media presence, and so grows our Boaz (#5); What it Means to be a Libertarian by Charles Murray influence in the political debate. That's why we exist as a (#7); The Libertarian Reader by David Boaz, editor (#11); and political party — and that's why this membership news is so Capitalism: The Unknown Ideal by Ayn Rand (#14). exciting. It means we have more people working for liberty." Liberty Pledge News • April 1998

Third-party candidates seek help for struwle from Capitol Hill

ASHINGTON —As third-party advocates are participated in the 1992 Libertarian Party, charged that million of them going to Mr. Perot. polls continue to persevering in their uphill fight. presidential debates, but he was "political discrimination is the The stock argument against reflect widespread The first bill would require rejected under new commission civil rights battle of the '90s." admitting third-party candidates public apathy if not states to establish "fair, uniform GERMOND guidelines that stipulated that a While state election laws to the presidential debates is that disgust toward the and nondiscriminatory candidate had to have "a realistic require only 25,000 to 50,000 they clutter them up, and impair two major political standards" for all candidates to chance" to be elected. Mr. Perot's signatures from Republicans and the voters' ability to hear and parties and interest get on their ballots. In 1996, the supporters complained about the Democrats to obtain ballot make judgments about the In an alternative, long-shot efforts Libertarian Party managed to ITCOVER use of such a subjective criterion, position. he said. "the law requires major-party nominees. It is an are going forward to crack the achieve ballot position in all 50 hut in vain. third-party candidates to gather argument that won out in 1996. door open for independent and states for its nominee, Harry approximately 700,000 and is likely to prevail again in third-party candidates in the next Browne. but the effort was Unfair competition signatures." 2000. unless a third-party presidential election. extremely costly and with Democratic nominee Bill He called the requirement "a candidate demonstrates the The commission's decision Leading the effort is time-consuming. Ross Perot's Clinton and Republican nominee poll tax on those with differing strength in the polls that Mr. caused an uproar not only in the Republican Rep. of Reform Party also qualified in all Bob Dole in their three debates. political affiliations." Perot mustered in 1992, when he Texas. who was the Libertarian 50 states, and two other minor It would bar presidential Perot camp but among advocates Of Mr. Paul's proposal on of some alternative to the won 19 percent of the vote. Party's presidential nominee in parties, the U.S. Taxpayers Party candidates who accept federal debates, Mr. Crickenberger said it 1988 and was elected to the House and the Natural Law Party, matching tends (Mr. Clinton and Democratic and Republican "simply recognizes that A third choice parties. The Reforni Party went to as a Republican in 1996. He is earned ballot position in about 40 Mr. Dole in 1996) from taking part candidates who take money from Still, if voters are as unhappy court charging that federal sponsoring bills that would make Helpingthe rejected in debates that exclude other taxpayers (under the federal with the choices the two major it easier for such candidates to candidates who have qualified for election laws were rigged against subsidy that matches private third parties and were parties give them as the polls gain ballot position in the various Mr. Paul's second bill the ballot in at least 40 states. contributions] have a special indicate, the fight of the unconstitutional, but a federal states arid to gain admission to addresses the rejection of Mr. Mr. Browne. who wound up responsibility to debate people third-party forces may not be presidential debates. They had Perot and Mr. Brown in 1996 by winning nearly 486,000 votes. district judge recently dismissed who are expressing the same wide the case. forever in vain. hearings before the House the Commission on Presidential never got serious consideration variety of ideas that Americans Oversight Committee last week. Debates, headed by former for the debates. In testimony' before the House hold." Jack Germond and Jules and while they caused hardly a Republican and Democratic The commission debated the committee, Ron Crickenberger, In 1996, third-party candidates Witcoser write from The Sun's ripple. they served notice that national chairmen, to compete merits of admitting Mr. Perot. who national director of the received about ()million votes. 7.8 Washington bureau.

A The Baltimore Sun Taking drug intolerance a step too far Baltimore, Maryland There are two ways to lose the war on ille- lieu of jail time. March 11, 1998 gal drugs. The most obvious is to allow In Kansas, a lawmaker proposes life with- wholesale violations of the law, as is seen in out parole for anyone convicted of growing -4 The Tampa Tribune Colombia, where intimidation and assassina- marijuana, a sentence that would have pot Tampa, Florida tion make a mockery of justice. gardeners serving more time than most mur- March 9, 1998 Another dangerous outcome would come derers. from cracking down so hard on drug abuse Steve Dasbach, chairman of the Libertari- • The Winchester Ste' Winchester, that cherished civil liberties are damaged. an Party, points out that 72.4 million Ameri- That is where some lawmakers throughout Virginia caris, or about 34 percent of all adults, have March 6, 1998 the , in their tenacity to get a tried illegal drugs and more than 22 million grip on drug problems, would take us. Americans used illegal drugs last year. In Mississippi a legislator proposes giving If widely implemented, these laws would drug convicts a choice: serve serious time subject a third of the U.S. adult population to locked up or have a body part amputated. surgical torture or life in prison, says Das- "If it was me, I may lose a finger instead of sitting in a jail cell," said the author of the bach. bill, Rep. Bobby Moak. The brutal anti-drug bills that are popping Even marijuana smokers would have their up reveal a frustration stemming from the limbs at risk if Moak's amputation bill be- fact that a large minority of Americans refuse came law. According to a report in the Sun to behave precisely as pertinent laws de- Herald in Mississippi, the judge and the drug mand. Fortunately, most legislators under- offender would have to agree before a foot, a stand that cutting off a hand to spite a drug hand or some other body part was taken in user would also dismember the Constitution.

Libertarian Spokesman: Fewer Signatures Mean More of a Chance cent of the total vote in either of the two The House of Delegates and the Senate that requirement to 10,000 signatures, access issue, making phone calls and By JASON ENGLISH previous elections, Bruce Meadows, secre- each passed versions of a "ballot access" significantly easing the burden for candi- writing letters to the area's state legisla- The Weechester see tary for the state Board of Elections, has bill during the session that ends today. dates hoping to break the two-party sys- tors. Snapp didn't know if the increased Area Libertarians are celebrating a Previously, statewide candidates for tem's control in national and state poli- pressure made the difference in the Gen- said. Virginia is one of eight states to never legislative victory after the Virginia Gen- parties not officially recognized by the tics. eral Assembly's mind. field a Libertarian candidate for U.S. eral Assembly passed a "more reason- state—like the Libertarian Party—were "We were hoping for 5,000 signatures, "We'd like to think so," he said. Senate or governor, and it's the only able" petition requirement for political required to obtain, at a minimum, the but it's still a major improvement," He said he was especially pleased to state that doesn't allow an individual candidates of lesser-known parties. number of signatures equal to one half of Snapp said in a phone interview Satur- see Del. Beverly Sherwood, R-Frederick petitioner to circulate petitions through- Robert Snapp, area spokesman for the 1 percent of the total number of regis- day. County, support the ballot access bill, out the entire state. Libertarian Party, said it was an "ardu- tered voters in Virginia in the specific Candidates for congressional offices after he said she voted to table compa- Snapp said Libertarians are still trying ous" sg'—g.11iy."th-ease the requirements election year. will only have to obtain 1,000 signatures, rable legislation last year. to name a candidate for the 10th Con- statewide and congressional Libertarian That number totaled about 17,000 sig- compared to about 1,550 previously. To be recognized as an official party in gressional District seat, held by Republi- candidates must meet to get their names natures statewide. Snapp said since last summer, area Virginia, which means having automatic can Rep. Frank Wolf on an election ballot. The General Assembly has reduced Libertarians have focused on the ballot- ballot access, a party must win 10 per-

Liberty Pledge News • April 1998 Libertarians celebrate their gains, challenges TECH TALK

By ERICA GARCIA running for a seat in the 3rd con- CORRESPONDENT gressional district and is state chair of the Libertar- Big Brother's using FRANKLIN — New Jersey Lib- ian Party. ertarian Party members ap- high-tech gadgets on you plauded their progress but vowed "We've become a real party in Do high-tech cameras leave your to press on yesterday at the New Jersey," said Michael Buon- body nekkid before the police? cristiano, a congressional candi- group's annual convention. The Libertarian Party says the Murray Sabrin, the party's can- date in Hudson County. Buoncris- tiano said that although he doesn't Fourth Amendment's protection didate in November's gubernato- against unreasonable search is rial race, said that since here- have a chance to win, he is "show- ceived nearly 5 percent of the vote, ing people there is a choice." under "technological siege." party recognition has increased, Libertarians are candidates in The group cites national and Libertarian ideas have be- each of New Jersey's 13 congres- newspaper accounts, which you come part of the mainstream. sional districts. can consider while you search for that lead apron to tie around your "We have made the term 'Liber- Much of the party's success may tarian' a digestible term," he told be attributed to concentration at waist: the convention crowd. the local and grass-roots levels, • North Carolina: County Sabrin said the numbers have from precincts to townships, said governments use spy satellite been "gratifying" and urged col- Timothy Moir, a regional repre- photographs to search for property leagues to push on. sentative from Pennsylvania. improvements to increase property "We have to organize and build "I think that's the direction in tax assessments. this coalition to create the society New Jersey as well," he said. • Arizona: State officials use we all want," he said. satellites to monitor farmland and He spoke of a moral and philo- Party optimism was not limited to local and state levels. compare images to databases to sophical vacuum that needs to be determine which farmers don't filled by Libertarians in upcoming New Jersey has a "good slate of have irrigation permits. years. He said he gave a talk on candidates," said Ron Cricken- etc.: why Jews must be Libertarians berger, national director of the ENew Jersey and California, and joked that he could give a a Libertarian Party. "I see contin- Police sitting in their cruisers can similar speech for Christians and ued growth." use thermal imaging devices to other denominations because it is scan houses for unusual heat based on the Ten Commandments. National membership stands at about 25,000 he said, a figure that sources that could indicate indoor Sabrin said he was thinking of has doubled from a few years ago. marijuana growing. writing an essay titled, "Is God a Elected officials now total about Libertarian?" 250, he said, with Pennsylvania "She is," Janice Presser an- having the greatest concentration, swered quickly. Presser will be at 34. Libertarians back action committee A (TOP) The Home News Tribune East Brunswick, formed to fight tax hike for stadium New Jersey, In addition to his role with the remain in effect 35 months, gen- March 16, 1998 BY FRITZ WENZEL BLADE STAFF WRITER political action committee, Mr. erating $35.4 million. Most of Domanski is chairman of the the money — $26 million — A (RIGHT) The An anti-tax group known as county Libertarian Party, and is would pay to build a 12,900-seat Indianapohlr Star People Incensed by the Stadium a former Toledo mayoral candi- stadium, proposed for a site in Indianapolis, Indiana Tax has formed a political ac- date. th-e--1,,/g•ehouse district between March 2, 1998 tion committee that will help in Lucas County commissioners Summit and Superior streets. the fight against increased have voted to refer to voters a The rest, $9.4 million, would fund construction of the aquatic 10- The Blade taxes in Lucas County to pay for one-quarter-cent sales-tax in- a sports stadium in downtown crease to pay for the stadium, complex at the recreation cen- Toledo, Ohio Toledo. which would be the new home ter. March 17, 1998 The group, which is backed of the Toledo Mud Hens Class Jim Boehm, committee treas- by the Lucas County Libertar- AAA baseball team, and for a urer, called the proposed sales ian Party, is not oppose-Eg)TITe swimming complex at the tax a "regressive tax that im- construction of a sports stadi- Lucas County Recreation Cen- pacts the poor the hardest." um, said Dave Domanski, chair- ter in Maumee. "It is especially unfair when man of the group. But it is Voters will face the measure they will likely be using the opposed to the use of tax money in the May 5 primary election. If stadium the least — or are com- to build it, he added. approved, it would raise the missioners planning to give free "The function of government sales tax in the county from 6.25 seats away to the poor?" he is not to build a stadium," Mr. cents to 6.5 cents on the dollar. asked, adding, "Don't count on Domanski said. The tax increase would it." Liberty Pledge News • April 1998 Washington full of high-paid staffers If you has hit an all-time high. family income of $37,000 pay $101.4 billion in 1996, compared think con- In fact, for the first time in his- exorbitant taxes to fund the sala- to just $93.7 billion four years gressmen are tory, there are more behind-the- ries of political aides who earn earlier. This is despite the fact paid too scenes congressional staffers nearly three times as much. that federal employment has fal.i len by more than 300,000 work- much, wait pulling down six-figure salaries Currently, 81 GOP congress- until you hear than congressmen and senators. ers, thanks to military men and senators pay out downsizing. how much These figures will be an $100,000-plus salaries to staff • When it comes to getting Capitol Hill expensive surprise for most tax- members, compared to 59 staffers get: payers. Most Americans assume raises, federal employees are Democrats. experts. Since 1980, compensa- 554 congres- you make a sacrifice when you When it comes to padding the tion for federal workers has risen s i o n a l take a political job in Washing- payroll, Republicans are leading five times as fast as for private employees ton, D.C. In fact, we taxpayers the charge. The number of six- sector employees, according to a make more are the ones making the sacrifice figure employees has skyrock- study by Wendell Cox. t h an — to pay inflated salaries of eted since the so-called Republi- • Over the last 18 years, the aver- $100,000 per year. That number Washington's bureaucratic rul- can Revolution of 1994. age federal employee's inflation- has grown since 1995, according ing class. Republicans are doing the adjusted compensation (wages to a new study. The total taxpayer tab for the same thing to their employees' and benefits) has jumped by Working for the government 554 six-figure staffers? More salaries as they're doing to the more than 25 percent, compared used to be considered public ser- than $63 million per year. rest of government: rapidly to just more than 5 percent foi vice. Now it's highway robbery. " This is a dramatic illustration expanding it. everyone else, the study says. First politicians raised their own of how large and unaccountable But the federal salary scandal It's time to make these high- pay without a vote. Now they're government has become. Politi- doesn't end with congressional priced bureaucrats get honest jobs. Federal workers are earning using our tax dollars to pay ridi- cians aren't content to raise their staffers. The $100,000 Club is culous salaries to hordes of own salaries behind our backs. too much for doing too little — just the tip of the iceberg: or, even worse, earning too much staffers. They're also sharing the loot with • Despite the "Reinventing Gov- According to a study in Roll hundreds of Capitol Hill for doing too much that's harm- ernment" scheme that President ful to our liberty and prosperity. Call newspaper, the number of flunkies. Clinton boasts about, the overall political staffers in Washington, As a result, Americans strug- Steve Dasbach is the national cost of the salaries and benefits chairman of the Libertarian D.C.'s exclusive $100,000 Club gling to get by on the median paid to federal workers grew to Party. A The Clayton News-Daily, Jonesboro, Georgia, March 4, 1998 V The Charleston Gazette, Charleston, West Vriginia, March 12, 1998 Libertarians offer alternative on ballot By John K. Brown role of government as a service to pro- flict with the rights of others. The philosophy is that tect these basic rights. It is easy to see why the libertari- HIS YEAR marks the first time individual rights are It should come as no surprise that an Party is the party of less govern- since 1914 a new political par- Libertarians consider Thomas Jeffer- ment. It believes the government's T ty will field candidates in all supreme to society's son, the author of the Declaration of only role is essential executive, leg- West Virginia congressional races. whims. Independence, as their unofficial islative and judicial services. Anything In fact, if the Republications fail to founding father. more is reserved for free enterprise or appoint congressional candidates in the His words serve as their credo: 'We the states. 1st and 3rd Districts, this new politi- His showing, in fact, was the best hold these truths to be self-evident, that Libertarianism, like the ideas of our cal party, the Libertarian Party will be showing of more than 15 third-party all men are created equal, that they are Founding Fathers, is rooted in capi- • the first third party to replace one of gubernatorial candidates nationwide endowed by their Creator with certain talism. Capitalism is the social system the two traditional parties at the top that year. But earning enough votes unalienable Rights, that among these driven by the actions of the free mar- of the ticket. - wasn't the most difficult task that are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of ket and competition. It is the opposite Recently, the party was added as a year. The party had to collect more Happiness. That to secure these rights, of socialism. Communism is the ad- choice on new voter's registration than 32,000 petition signatures just to Governments are instituted among vanced, pure form of socialism, which forms. It is the first time in state his- get on the ballot. This was a monu- men, deriving their just powers from gives the government total control. tory that a political party other than mental task, since the signers had to the- consent of the governed. That Communism's ultimate goal is an un- the Democratic and Republican parties be registered voters who gave up their whenever any form of government be- attainable utopia where the good of the has been listed as a registration choice. right to vote in the primary election comes destructive of these ends, it is state is supreme. • The party will nominate its candi- that year the Right of the People to alter or abol- Communists and socialists view lib- dates by state convention in 1998. The The party's philosophy, libertarian- ish it, and to institute new Govern- erty as dangerous and they are par- primary nomination convention will be ism, is best described as, "a defense ment, laying its foundation on such tally coned. Someone once said, "Lib- held May 9 at the Holiday Inn Char- of Liberty" hence the root word. This principles and organizing its powers in erty is always dangerous, but it is the leston House in Charleston. Since it is further evident by the party's choice such form. as to them shall seem mist safest thing we have." And Benjamin will be held three days before the De- of mascot or emblem, the Statue of likely to effect their Safety and Hap- Franklin once wrote,- to war 1, "Those mocratic and Republican primary elec- liberty. The party was founded in piness." who would give up essential liberty to tions, the Libertarians will be the first 1971, but really didn't begin to take The 'essence of the words above is purchase a little temporary safety de- candidates named to the general elec- root in West Virginia until 1995. "Life, Lherty, and pursuit of Happi- serve neither liberty nor safety" tion ballot in November. The filing Despite the relatively short exis- ness." .The right to life requires the gov- The state motto in West Virginia is deadline for libertarian candidates is tence of the party the philosophy is ernment protect us from crimes of "Montani Semper Liberi" which is May 11 If nominated at the primary founded upon ideas proposed in the force and fraud, including foreign ag- Latin for "Mountaineers are always convention. Declaration of Independence, and the gression. The right to liberty requires free." If this truly has meaning to state By winning more than 16,000 votes United States Constitution, including the government not to disrupt any voters, it's time, to consider a new al- in the 1996 gubernatorial contest, Dr. the Bill of Rights. The central theme peaceful and honest activities of its cit- ternative. West Vuginia's new choice Wallace D. Johnson of Beckley earned of these documents is clear: the rights izens. The right to pursue happiness in politics is the libertarian Party- the Libertarian Party major-party sta- of the individual are supreme to the requires government not to disrupt the Brown is chairman of the Libertar- tus. whims of society. Libertarians Mew the pursuits of its citizens that do not con- ian Party of West Virginia.