Archive for Libertarian Party
The Libertarian Party National Convention is this week!
Posted by: | Comments
Hey folks, are you attending the LP National Convention in St. Louis, Missouri this week? If so, make sure to find me and say hello. I’d love to meet any readers at the convention. I’ll be in the Texas delegation, and my wife will be there as well. Comment below to alert me and other Christian libertarian readers to your presence!
This is the first time I will have been a delegate at an LP convention. I’m looking forward to bringing out the radicalism, and having fun with some great people.
Please support LCC by sharing this post on your favorite social network.
Tags: events, Libertarian Party
Related Content:
Post Event Recap of the Libertarian State Leadership Alliance
Posted by: | CommentsOn February 27, the city of Austin was visited by the Libertarian National Committee and other LP leaders from around the nation for the 2010 Libertarian State Leadership Alliance. I had made the decision to attend for a while and was particularly looking forward to the “technology track” of speakers, which focused on spreading the libertarian message via the internet and other means of tech. In short, it’s all about good communication. Highlights included:
- Robert Butler’s session on email marketing, which built on methods of attracting media attention via email and communicating effectively with supporters.
- Dawn Westerberg’s session on using social networking and blogging to communicate.
- Jeff McGhee’s session on building effective websites for candidates. This was particularly great since I am interested in freelancing for candidates who need help making websites that are attractive and easy to update. (Contact me for more info if you are interested!)
The dinner that evening was centered around a debate between five individuals who are running for the Chair position of the Libertarian National Committee. I was not personally acquainted with any of them before that day, but I got to know John Jay Mayers and Mark Hinkle a bit. Ernie Hancock was my fave of the night, but everybody had great things to say and I’m excited to see what’s going to happen with LP-National in the coming years. There is a big push from many people to stay the course of principled libertarianism rather than become Republican-lites or Tea Partyists. (Side note: the best word of the day was “Teo-cons”, ha!) I’m just glad to see that even though we can disagree on certain aspects of libertarian theory, we can be united behind “hating the state,” which is what is important in the long run.
But the biggest surprise for me was that the Libertarian Party of Texas presented me with their first “Student Libertarian of the Year Award,” for my work with the Libertarian Longhorns over the past few years and LibertarianChristians.com. This came with no warning and I was at a loss for words (I know, shocking). It was great to be nominated for the SFL award a few weeks ago, but to be recognized by your peers, your colleagues, and so many people that you admire – well, let’s just say it was touching. Many thanks to Pat Dixon, Robert Butler, Art DiBianca, Jim Lark, and the rest of the awesome crew of LP-Texas. My only proper response is to continue serving others via the cause of liberty, and we will make a difference!
Please support LCC by sharing this post on your favorite social network.
Tags: events, Libertarian Party
Related Content:
LP National Just Made Their Best Hiring Move EVER
Posted by: | CommentsFriends, in the past I have been critical of the Libertarian Party at the national level for trading principle for political expediency. I thought they did a poor job capitalizing on what could have been the best Presidential campaign in the LP’s history, and instead they managed to alienate many potential long-term supporters.
However, many of the LP State parties have done a marvelous job in curtailing the spread and pushing back against corrupt government. Texas has been a great place to be libertarian in the past few years. While many State chapters (and especially LP National) have lost members, LP Texas has made a huge difference. One of the prime reasons for this was Wes Benedict, our former Executive Director. He has done a marvelous job at raising funds, building strong candidates, increasing membership, community outreach, improving ballot access, and flat out making LP Texas the best State party in the nation, period. I have been extremely fortunate to work with him (not to mention the other amazing people in the state party: Patrick Dixon, Art DiBianca, Robert Butler, and many more) through our campus libertarian group, Libertarian Longhorns. I am proud to name him as a friend.
LP National, I think, made their best hiring move ever by bringing Wes on board as the new National Executive Director. I believe that Wes will bring some much-needed hard-core principled libertarianism back to National. They are in need of people who know how to get things done and how to do it by staying true to what we value as libertarians.
When LP National Chair Bill Redpath solicited comments about who to select for the executive director position, I knew that Wes was in the running. I told him that he would be insane not to snatch up Wes while he still could. I’d like to think that I said something useful and helped Wes along the way, but it doesn’t really matter. I’m just glad that this may be the first step to bringing the LP truly back in step with their slogan: The Party of Principle. I wish Wes all the best in his journey.
News Coverage in Austin about Wes:
The Austin American-Statesman: Austinite to lead national Libertarian Party
The Daily Texan: Austin engineer chosen to lead Libertarian Party (I’m actually quoted here)
Community Impact: Austin’s Benedict starts work as chief of national Libertarian Party
Please support LCC by sharing this post on your favorite social network.
Tags: Libertarian Party, Texas
Related Content:
LP Texas Helps Defeat $1 Billion Scheme of Fake “Private Roads”
Posted by: | CommentsOver the past two days, the Libertarian Party of Texas has done a splendid job in saving Texans a truck-load of money from a scheme that fleeces taxpayers of their hard-earned money and gives far too much power to government.
I am a staunch proponent of privatization of road systems, even publishing an article about transportation pollution in a peer-reviewed journal advocating such. But this perverse plan that the Texas government has put out is a sham, and misconstrues what privatization is all about. Robert Butler says: “The toll roads aren’t a free market privatization plan. You’re granting monopoly rights to private operators. The bonds backing these toll roads have clauses that prevent competition and are guaranteed with tax dollars.” Thank goodness that it has been defeated!
This is what local activism is all about, self-destructing the plans of autocrats (pun intended) at the local level and saving peaceful citizens livelihood. Well done, LP Texas (esp. Pat Dixon & Robert Butler), Texans for Accountable Government, TURF, and all others unmentioned who have worked so hard to do what is right. If you’re involved in local activism in your community, take this as an example of how you can make a difference.
I should mention that this should not be taken as a blanket endorsement of the LP in every way. I have actually been very critical of LP National in the past and sometimes I think they severely miss the mark in terms of being consistent libertarians. But, I have been extremely impressed by the work of the LP Texas organization and am honored to be a friend to many of the people there.
See the press release below.
Libertarians Put the Brakes on Toll Road Transportation Bill
“Twitter and Facebook Play a Role” (original article link)
AUSTIN, TEXAS – July 2, 2009 - The Texas Legislature left a controversial new toll road bill pending in committee today and Libertarians are claiming a major victory in stopping a billion dollar scheme to use taxes and pension funds to pay for private monopolies and foreign management of Texas toll roads.
Libertarians worked together with TURF, Texans Uniting for Reform and Freedom, and Texans for Accountable Government (TAG), to stop what some have dubbed the largest tax increase in Texas history.
On Wednesday morning, Libertarians from across the state converged at the Texas Capitol, emailed, and called their state representatives to demand that public-private partnerships funded with Texas tax dollars and pension funds be stopped.
“We used our extensive email lists, Twitter, and Facebook accounts to activate thousands of freedom-loving Texans,” said LPT Executive Director Robert Butler. “Our people called, emailed, and personally visited every member of the House and Senate. Our press conference and grassroots effort had a major impact in potentially killing this bill. We have to continue our public awareness campaign until the special session officially ends.”
“Credit goes to the work of our staff and volunteers for discovering the ugly details behind this legislation,” said Libertarian State Chair Patrick Dixon. “For an organization with just over $100k in revenue, we certainly do have an impact on policy.”
“Toll roads cost up to twice as much to build as non-tolled expressways,” said LPT Executive Director Robert Butler. “The toll roads aren’t a free market privatization plan. You’re granting monopoly rights to private operators. The bonds backing these toll roads have clauses that prevent competition and are guaranteed with tax dollars.”
In 2005, the State of Texas entered a 50-year agreement with a Spanish company named Cintra to develop the Trans-Texas Corridor, a 4,000-mile network up to 1,200 feet wide to carry parallel links of tollways, rails, and utility lines. Cintra’s parent company, Grupo Ferrovial, S.A, was a major collaborator with Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and depends upon its political connections to secure toll road contracts around the world.
In 2007, by a combined vote of 169-5, the Texas Legislature passed a moratorium on private toll contracts, called comprehensive development agreements (or CDAs) that privatize and sell Texas highways to the highest bidder. That moratorium ends August 31, 2009, and CDAs, except for approximately a dozen projects that were exempted, sunset with it. CDAs are the primary financial vehicle used to construct the Trans Texas Corridor.
“I want to cut taxes and spending,” declared Libertarian activist Wes Benedict. “They have refused to approve low-cost road improvements claiming they don’t have the funds, then propose rail and toll roads which cost up to ten times more than buses and non-tolled roads per passenger mile of added capacity. Light rail and toll roads cost too much and do too little.”
“We Libertarians and our friends at TURF and TAG have shown that an educated voter can change the course of legislation.” noted Butler. “This bill will be a litmus test in the 2010 elections, we’ll make sure of that.
Please support LCC by sharing this post on your favorite social network.
Tags: activism, Libertarian Party, private roads, taxes
Related Content:
Norman is the creator and primary writer for LCC. Learn a little bit about him in the