January 16, 2008

  • The 2008 LPNM Road-To-Freedom Motorcycle Raffle

    The 2008 LPNM Road-To-Freedom Motorcycle Raffle
    by Joseph Knight

    Libertarian Party of New Mexico
    2008 Road–to–Freedom Motorcycle Raffle

    2008 Harley-Davidson Softail Rocker
    • 96 cubic inches! • 6-speed! • Lowest solo saddle on a production motorcycle!
    • Fat 240mm rear tire! • 5-spoke wheels! • Stretched 5-gallon tank!

    ONLY 399 CHANCES OFFERED
    The Libertarian Party of New Mexico encourages motorcyclists to consider the use of helmets and other safety equipment. However, we believe those who ride should decide and we oppose mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclists.

    Odds depend on the actual number of chances sold, but no more than 399 chances will be available. Drawing will be at approximately 8:00 PM, on Bill of Rights Day, Monday December 15, 2008 at the Farmington Civic Center, in Farmington, New Mexico. The Libertarian Party of New Mexico (LPNM) reserves the right to draw prior to this date in the event all chances are sold early. In the event of an early drawing, notice will be posted at lpnm.us at least two weeks prior to the drawing. LPNM will make every effort to notify the winner using the contact information provided. In the event the winner cannot be contacted within 30 days of the drawing, the prize will be awarded to a backup winner. Winner is responsible for tax, title and license fees.

    For Raffle Tickets, send $100 per ticket and your contact information, including name, mailing addresses, phone numbers and e-mail address to


    LPNM c/o Ron Bjornstad
    918 Ivory Road SE
    Rio Rancho, NM 87124
    rbjornstad@earthlink.net

    OR you can purchase your ticket(s) over the internet using PayPal

    The official raffle page — www.sjclp.org/Rocker_raffle.htm

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    We have the paperwork on the LPNM’s first motorcycle, a Harley-Davidson FXCW Softail Rocker, in Crimson Red.

    There will be 399 tickets with the first 190 going to cover the cost of the bike. After the first 190, LPNM can spend the money as fast as it comes in. Places we can sell tickets include the newsletter, San Juan county fairs (August, 2007 and 2008), the 2008 state fair, regional fair in Roswell (October, 2007 and 2008), gun shows, and biker rallies. I will plan to have the bike at the NATIONAL convention in May, 2008. and will also see that the Dona Ana bunch will have an opportunity to show it off in Las Cruces.

    COUNTY GROUPS — There is no provision for the county parties to retain a share of the proceeds from ticket sales. HOWEVER, the LPNM’s Central Committee has been very willing to support county activities with appropriations in the past and county groups selling the tickets locally will surely see some of the fruits come back.

    Pursuant to the raffle, the LPNM Central Committee recently (in December 2007) passed the following resolution by an email poll:

    Resolved by the Central Committee of LPNM that:

    The Libertarian Party of New Mexico encourages motorcyclists to consider the use of helmets and other safety equipment. However, we believe those who ride should decide and we oppose mandatory helmet laws for motorcyclists.


    STANDARD FEATURES – NEW IN 2008
    Top-mounted battery
    25 mm hollow rear axles
    240 mm wide rear tire
    LED bullet-style stop/turn/tail lights
    Custom stretched gas tank
    Stretched low profile console with integrated indicator lights and speed shop-styled speedometer
    Custom adjustable, internally wired, independent V-bar set in a 2-piece, sculpted 5 in. curved riser
    49 mm Showa® front forks with sculpted fork lowers, low profile front fender and 19 in. front tire
    Satin stainless powder-coated, tapered, 5-spoke cast aluminum wheels
    Integrated ignition switch and coil
    Satin stainless powder-coated front fork lowers
    Satin stainless powder-coated bullet headlamp and triple clamp
    Silver powder-coated Twin Cam 96B™ engine and 6-Speed Cruise
    Drive™ transmission with satin stainless powder-coated covers
    Satin stainless powder-coated oil tank
    Unique satin stainless powder-coated swingarm
    Satin stainless powder-coated turn signal housing and stand-off
    Satin stainless powder-coated hand controls
    Color-matched frame painted to match fenders and tank
    Machined 3-D tank medallion

    ADDITIONAL SPECIFICATIONS

    Dimensions –
    Fork Angle – 37.5°
    Oil Capacity — 3.5 qt. (3.31 l)
    Transmission Capacity — 1 qt. (0.95 l)
    Primary Chain Case Capacity — 1 qt. (0.95 l)
    Weight – In Running Order — 690.7 lbs. (313.3 kg)
    Gross Vehicle Weight Rating — 1,175 lbs. (532.97 kg)
    Gross Axle Weight Rating — Front — 415 lbs. (188.24 kg)
                                              Rear — 760 lbs. (344.73 kg)

    Engine –
    Air Cleaner – Fiber element, washable
    Drivetrain — Primary Drive — Chain, 34/46 ratio
    Gear Ratio (overall) — 1st — 9.312
                                    2nd — 6.421
                                    3rd — 4.774
                                    4th — 3.926
                                    5th — 3.279
                                    6th — 2.790

    Chassis –
    Swingarm — Mild steel, elliptical tube sections, forged junctions;MIG welded
    Wheels — Polished, 5-spoke cast aluminum
                   Front — 19 x 2.15 in. (482.6 x 54.61 mm)
                   Rear — 18 x 8 in. (457.2 x 203.2 mm)

    Performance –
    Lean Angle (per SAE J1168) — Right: 32.5° / Left: 29.5°
    Fuel Economy (urban/highway) — 35/54 mpg (6.72/4.36 l/100 km)

    Electric –
    Battery (per Battery Council International Rating) — Sealed, maintenance-free, 12V, 19A/hour, 270 cca
    Charging — 3-phase, 38A system
    Starting — 1.2 kW electric with solenoid shift starter motor engagement

    Lights –
    Headlamp (quartz halogen) — 55W low beam, 60W high beam
    Stop/Turn/Tail Lights — Integrated LED
    Front Turn Signal Lights — 28W (21W) self-canceling
    Indicator Lamps — High beam
                               Neutral
                               Low oil pressure
                               Turn signals
                               Engine diagnostics
                               6-speed
                               Low fuel warning

  • Purity and Pragmatism

    Purity and Pragmatism
    by Joseph Knight
    I think the whole “purity vs. pragmatism” thing is contrived. Purity, in the context of its current intra-LP use, is a term used to denigrate those of us who adhere to principle. Not that there is anything wrong with purity. Most of us would not dilute our wine with water. Sure, sometimes a spoonful of sugar helps the medicine go down, but by adding sugar, we take nothing away from the medicine.

    I am a pragmatist. I believe in and attempt to practice practical politics in the real world. What I am not, is a reformer, at least not with regard to philosophy. I don’t regard pragmatism as an antonym of “purity.” I believe that, like sugar in medicine, we can be practical without betraying principle.

    I see no conflict between the two, nor do I see a conflict between principle and incrementalism (so long as the incremental movement is in the right direction). Nor have I ever considered myself an anarchist since I can envision a government that doesn’t initiate force. I’m a lot more liberal and open in the interpretation and application of the non-aggression principle than many. If I were playing “survivor” with Steve Trinward, L. Neil Smith, Mary Ruwart, and Murray Rothbard’s ghost, I’d probably be the first one voted off the island.

    I adamantly support — indeed, insist on — retaining the non-aggression principle as our guiding core value. Freedom is the absence of the initiation of force. However, I also realize that there is no magic button to push that would make us all free, all at once. Freedom is the goal, incrementalism is the path. If anybody knows of a shorter path, by all means post a sign and I’ll take it.

    As a practical matter, I know that electoral politics is quantitative by nature — whoever gets the most votes, wins — and that every vote counts the same whether it was cast in ignorance, motivated by pure principle or as a protest against the other parties. This raises the question of how we can expand our base without sacrificing our principles. I think LPNM is on the right track to the answer. We define membership in two tiers. Anybody can join the LP in New Mexico by simply registering as a Libertarian. But to be a policy maker or spokesperson, one must “upgrade” their membership to “caucus” status by signing the non-aggression pledge (and meeting the other requirements). The former has the potential to expand our base, the latter has the potential to protect our basic philosophy.

    This brings us to the platform. I was (and remain) opposed to the gutting of the platform. I believe that we should have a bottom-line, principle-based position on every conceivable issue. To do otherwise is cowardly, morally deficit, and opens the door to the LP being used to advance un-libertarian causes. On the other hand, I fully recognize that our positions strike the average voter as way too radical and this renders the platform ineffective as an outreach tool. The solution is to have positions, like membership, in two tiers: a statement of practical, incremental positions on key current issues and a statement of philosophical, bottom-line positions on all issues.

    The national LP has made two attempts to do this. The first was to have a “program” on a few issues for outreach and practical political purposes and a “platform” as a roadmap to where we ultimately want to go. I thought this worked well and I am disappointed that LPUSA doesn’t do it anymore. The second attempt was to require presidential candidates to submit a “campaign platform” that would focus on current issues and be briefer in scope than the party platform. This didn’t work in ’04 because Badnarik simply submitted the LP Platform as his campaign platform — and then proceeded to stray from it.

    Well, what the national LP has thrown away, LPNM can recover and fix up. The LPNM Constitution states that “The Platform of the national Libertarian Party is the Platform of LPNM, except that LPNM may, at any state convention, delete any plank by a two-thirds vote of the delegates voting, or add any plank consistent with the Statement of Principles, by a two-thirds vote.” I think we should restore to the LPNM Platform those planks recently deleted by the national convention, and will ask our next state convention to do so. LPNM candidates can already run on their own platforms: “Candidates for public office may run on their own platforms. However, the Central Committee may disavow any plank that is contrary to the Statement of Principles or LPNM Platform.” I think we could go a step further and have a short-term “program.” The most expedient way to do this would be to collect current CenCom resolutions into a single document. Again, the LPNM Constitution states “The Central Committee is empowered to issue resolutions expressing party positions on various issues throughout the year.”

    We could also consider some changes in nomenclature, for example calling our philosophical document (now the “platform”) a manifesto and our lesser-scope document the platform. Two different documents, different in breadth (but neither inconsistent with the non-aggression principle), is something for everybody — whether we want to do radical outreach or practical politics.

    This brings us to serious candidates and public-office holders who have to function in the real world and work with various types of statist politicians to accomplish anything. Some have suggested that to actually hold office would be a violation of libertarian principles but I reject that. I want to elect Libertarians and I want them to move society in a libertarian direction. I realize that we won’t be successful by simply introducing the whole platform as a single, sweeping ordinance. I think Mike Blessing has the right approach for elected Libertarians in his New Mexico Liberty editorial statement: “New Mexico Liberty holds that Libertarian candidates, officeholders or appointed spokespersons at all levels of government or the Party should refrain from advocating new or more restrictive laws, new or more expensive spending programs, or new or higher taxes. To paraphrase from the medical profession, ‘First, do no harm.’” This gives our officeholders the ability to decide, in their particular situation, where to start dismantling the omnipotent state, but not to expand it. That works for me!

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    “Do not be afraid of enemies; the worst they can do is to kill you. Do not be afraid of friends; the worst they can do is betray you. Be afraid of the indifferent; they do not kill or betray. But only because of their silent agreement, betrayal and murder exist on earth.”

    – Bruno Yasienski, “The Plot of the Indifferent” (1937)


    Greenhouse Gasses
    by John Trever of the Albuquerque Journal
    13 December 2007

  • Can we afford President Bill Richardson?

    Can we afford President Bill Richardson?
    A View from New Mexico
    by Paul Gessing
    Bill Richardson wants to be President of the United States. If you’re thinking about voting for him, consider what kind of governor he’s been.

    Richardson touts his experience. He’s been a U.S. Representative, Ambassador to the UN, Bill Clinton’s Energy Secretary, and now Governor of New Mexico. No argument with that.

    He also touts his fiscal responsibility and free market nature: “As Governor, I have to balance budgets. I’ve balanced five.” He also calls himself “a market Democrat.” Big argument there.

    As governor, Richardson did cut the top income tax rate from 8.2% to 4.9% over five years. He also halved capital gains taxes. However, Richardson increased other taxes and fees, including motor-vehicle registrations, hunting and fishing licenses, cigarette taxes, truck fees and tire-recycling fees. His tax cuts simply offset those increases.

    The tax cuts did help improve the state’s poor economy: during his term, the state’s personal income levels rose from #47 in the nation to #45. However, spending rose by nearly 11% between FY 07 and FY 08 — and by a 7% average prior to that. Only New Mexico’s revenue flow from mining, oil and gas industries helped compensate for Governor Richardson’s out-of-control spending.

    Now that flow is threatened, as he is doing everything possible to slaughter the cash cows that balanced his budgets. Governor Richardson backed a federal law that kicked oil and gas development out of the state’s energy-rich Valle Vidal — but not out of Ted Turner’s ranch next door, with its 500 working oil wells. Down went future tax revenues.

    He also signed a state bill ceding control over energy operations on government lands to ranchers who don’t even own the lands, but just have grazing permits. This imposed hefty cost increases on oil and gas companies, and will send tax revenues further downward.

    Richardson imposed stringent state renewable energy mandates. He supports pushing automobile mileage standards to 50 mpg and requiring utility companies to derive 30% of their electricity from renewable sources, supposedly to protect the environment, reduce imports and prevent global warming.

    However, coupled with his anti-drilling campaign, the mileage rules would mean every gallon saved is offset by a gallon not produced here in the US. We’ll end up importing more oil. Worse, the higher mileage will come from smaller, less safe cars that cause more injuries and fatalities.

    Only 6.9% of America’s energy came from renewables last year, and nearly all of that was biomass (mostly wood wastes) and hydroelectric. Wind and solar combined produced less than 0.5% of our energy — and they only work a third of the time. Moreover, wind turbines and solar panels require huge land areas. Just meeting New York City’s electricity needs eight hours a day would mean blanketing Connecticut with turbines.

    Governor Richardson’s “alternative” energy is actually only minuscule supplemental energy. Killing off real fossil fuels before we have true alternatives is economic suicide, not responsible government.

    Thanks to policies like these, New Mexico’s economic future is in doubt. The Speaker of the House, Secretary of Economic Development, Legislative Finance Committee Executive Director and other key legislators realize we need rural economic development and additional tax revenue.

    About half of New Mexico’s general fund, and much of its public school permanent fund, once rolled in from oil and mining industries. But the old mines are mostly played out, the oil and gas wells are drying up, and the governor’s policies all but ensure that no new ones will take their place. When they’re gone, New Mexico will remain one of the poorest states in America — worse than Juarez.

    Some think the revenue shortfall can be made up by uranium mining, with its high salaries, significant capital investment, severance taxes and royalties, and related economic spin-offs. But the Governor’s Office is not keen on this either.

    In fact, Bill Richardson is playing energy and revenue killer in other ways, too. He says he doesn’t think “oil and gas drilling can be conducted in the Galisteo Basin without placing our environment and water quality at risk.”

    He’s talking about purely speculative harm from tiny amounts of chemicals in drilling fluids that are 95% water and clay — and supports new regulations for handling fluids that would add up to $300,000 to the cost of a single well. Meanwhile, he’s silent about policies that turn forests into tinder boxes and cause monster fires that have destroyed millions of acres of soil, streams and habitats.

    State Representative James Strickler who represents the natural gas-rich Farmington area has said of the new regulations, “As a freshman legislator and 30-year veteran in the oil and gas industry, I know the regulation is poorly thought out, ineffective and a huge threat to our state economy.” If it is implemented, “legislators will be pressured to raise income, property and gross receipts taxes in an effort to replace lost revenue. Governor Richardson is trying to over-regulate us out of business for no environmental gain, and with no cost benefit analysis.”

    Energy experts say 30-50% of the price of gas at the pump can be directly traced to environmental regulations. With gas at $3.00 a gallon, up to $1.50 of the price you pay at the pump is the result of regulations like these. Add in an average of $.50 per gallon in local, state and federal taxes, and as little as $1.00 of the pump price is really for gas!

    We who live here know Governor Richardson’s policies are due to his ties to national environmental groups and their multi-million-dollar campaigns. One such example is a collaboration to eliminate fossil fuels — a campaign they call “No Dirty Oil and Gas,” or NoDOG. He wants their vocal support, and their cash, phone bank and canvassing contributions. And we’re paying the price.

    The endless agency hearings on the new drilling rules were so discouraging that independent producer Tom Mullins said, “I’m no longer looking to invest here. I’m looking to cut my losses.”

    A company thinking about investing in New Mexico commented that Richardson’s policies send “a strong anti-business message to ALL industry and employers (both current and prospective).”

    We’re hearing that all over New Mexico because of Governor Bill Richardson. How would you like to hear that all over America because of President Bill Richardson?

    Paul Gessing is President of the Rio Grande Foundation, a non-partisan, tax-exempt research and educational organization dedicated to promoting prosperity for New Mexico based on principles of limited government, economic freedom and individual responsibility.

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    “Rightful liberty is unobstructed action according to our will within limits drawn around us by the equal rights of others. I do not add ‘within the limits of the law,’ because law is often but the tyrant’s will, and always so when it violates the rights of the individual.”
    – Thomas Jefferson

  • Libertarian group holds second meeting

    Libertarian group holds second meeting
    Alamogordo Daily News
    By Laura London, Staff Writer
    6 December 2007
    The
    Libertarian Party of Otero County held its second meeting Dec. 5 at the
    home of Dr. Gilberto Heredia, chairman. Thirteen people, including the
    doctor, were in attendance.

    Before calling the meeting to order,
    Heredia chatted with attendees about books and introduced his idea to
    start a Libertarian library. He said he already has several books
    featuring Libertarian philosophy, and invited people to borrow them as
    long as they identify themselves and the book they’re borrowing.

    Once
    the meeting was called the Libertarians settled into business, and the
    first item was the treasurer’s report. It was short — they have nothing.

    “We have zero,” said Sherrie Adler, party treasurer. “We’re working on it.”

    Earth
    Day, coming up in April, was an item of interest at the meeting.
    Heredia mentioned there was a contest for a four-word slogan for Earth
    Day 2008. Heredia’s suggestion was “Freedom Is Earth Friendly.” He
    hadn’t heard whether it was selected.

    Heredia viewed the local
    Earth Day event as an opportunity to educate the public about
    libertarianism, and said he would love the party to have a booth there.
    He said the Cottonwood Festival, the Fourth of July parade, the county
    fair and perhaps even gun shows would also be similar opportunities.

    Some
    discussion momentarily heated ensued among attendees as to whether gun
    shows are actually worth the party’s time or just full of “rednecks.”
    Heredia explained gun show enthusiasts are interested in preserving 2nd
    Amendment rights, and so they may respond well to the Libertarian
    philosophy.

    “But yeah, just because you believe in the 2nd
    Amendment doesn’t mean you’re a Libertarian,” Heredia acknowledged.
    “But also, the philosophy goes beyond that. It’s kind of like respect
    for the individual, you know . . . and the respect for the individual
    to own weapons.”

    Heredia reminded the group they did not have to
    attend all events, just some, to educate the public. He also mentioned
    he would like to make contact with Libertarians in Ruidoso, and
    encouraged anyone with friends there to let them know.

    Heredia
    said he probably will be running against Ron Griggs for a seat on the
    city commission in March. Acknowledging a lot can happen between now
    and then, he said he is 99 percent certain he will run. He plans to
    oppose an increase in the gross receipts tax for fixing roads.

    “A
    better way, if you really want to be fair about who uses roads, is have
    a user fee in the form of gas taxes. And that’s really the fair way,”
    Heredia said. “Not a gross receipts tax, but the fair way if we have
    to, really have to is to increase gas taxes. Not that I necessarily
    would be for that.”

    Heredia said he believes the city should
    retire the general obligation bond that will soon be paid off, rather
    than roll it over to pay for a new library or anything else.

    “They
    (city commission) just want to have all these really incredible plans
    to build another civic center, they want to spend a few bucks on the
    library . . . I’m not anti-library, I just think there’s a better way,”
    Heredia said. “And then today, this overtime issue . . . and they
    basically say, ‘Well, we don’t have $300,000.’ Well, where we going to
    come up with $20 million to fix the roads? Oh, and build another civic
    center?”

    Heredia generated some discussion on current national
    issues that have him and other Libertarians concerned. The first he
    noted was the Military Commissions Act, which he had also discussed at
    the first party meeting Nov. 7.

    “To me it’s kind of a scary
    thing,” Heredia said. “It’s basically it does a lot of things but one
    of the things it does, it suspends Habeas Corpus for U.S. citizens.
    It’s kind of a scary thing, actually.”

    Heredia explained the act
    allows the government to declare anyone an enemy combatant — even a
    U.S. Citizen — and those unfortunates can be picked up, sent to a brig,
    put in solitary confinement with no lawyer and no rights.

    “But
    in a liberal democracy . . . that power shouldn’t even exist,” Heredia
    said. “And even less people know about the Homegrown Violence and
    Radicalization Act    .”

    Heredia said House Bill 1955 has passed the House of Representatives and is expected to pass the Senate overwhelmingly.

    “It’s an extension of the Patriot Act,” Alan Stenger observed.

    Heredia said if made law, the Homegrown Violence and Radicalization Act would curb freedoms significantly.

    “If
    you say something kind of bad like ‘let’s impeach Bush’ ‘Oh, that can
    be violent, and you’re homegrown so we need to pick you up and put you
    in jail for a few years,’” Heredia said. “Once again, maybe I’m
    exaggerating actually, not really . . . the definition of violence in
    this bill is very liberal.”

    The Libertarians next meet Jan. 2 at
    Dr. Heredia’s home. He invites those interested to call him at (575)
    439-8234 for more information.

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  • 2008 LPNM State Convention

    Libertarian Party of New Mexico
    2008 State Convention
    11 – 13 April 2007, Albuquerque, New Mexico
    Radisson Hotel Albuquerque
    2500 Carlisle Boulevard NE, Albuquerque NM 87110 – See HERE for directions

    All events FREE except Banquet Program and Diehard Breakfast Program
    PUBLIC WELCOME but only members can participate in the Business Meeting



    FRIDAY, APRIL 11


    5:00 PM — 7:00 PM      Registration / No-host cash bar, appetizers and short order from bar menu

    7:00 PM — 9:30 PM      Presidential / Vice-Presidential debate, all candidates from all parties invited.
                                       Report from Region 6 LNC Representative Wes Benedict or Alternate Nancy Neale

    SATURDAY, APRIL 12

    8:00 AM — 9:00 AM       Registration, County Conventions or Caucuses, as needed

    9:00 AM — 10:00 AM     Paul Gessing of the Rio Grande Foundation

    10:30 AM — 11:30 AM   To be determined

    11:30 AM — 1:00 PM     No-host Lunch and movie showing (V For Vendetta)

    1:00 PM — 2:30 PM       State of the Party Address and LPNM Annual Business Meeting
                                        Jay Vandersloot, State Chair Presiding

    3:00 PM — 4:00 PM       To be determined

    4:30 PM — 5:30 PM       To be determined

    5:30 PM — 7:00 PM       County Conventions or Caucuses, as needed

    7:00 PM                       Banquet Program (see below), Key Note Address, Fundraiser Auction and Concert
                                        L. Neil Smith, libertarian science fiction writer and columnist

    SUNDAY, APRIL 13

    8:00 AM – 10:00 AM     Die Hard Breakfast Program            Speaker to be determined

    10:00 AM                     Convention ends, After-convention Central Committee meeting

    = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = = =


    REGISTRATION DEADLINE – MUST be received by TUESDAY, APRIL 10

    ____BANQUET:  $35 – All-you-can-eat buffet

    ____DIEHARD BREAKFAST: $25 – All-you-can-eat buffet

    ____BOTH Banquet and Diehard Breakfast , $50 – save $10

    ____Check here if you are a member and plan to attend the business meeting

    NAME & PHONE __________________________________________________________________________________

    ADDRESS & E-MAIL _______________________________________________________________________________

    Return to:
    Mike Blessing, Convention Coordinator
    7200 Georgetown Ave NW
    Albuquerque, NM 87120-1672
    Please make checks and money orders payable to “LPNM”

  • Voice of the Chair — January 2008

    Voice of the Chair
    by Jay Vandersloot

    “Men, like nails, lose their usefulness when they lose direction and begin to bend.”
    – Walter Savage Landor

    “If you can dream it, then you can achieve it. You will get all you want in life if you help enough other people get what they want.”
    – Zig Ziglar, Author

    Think about it. People (voters) want to know “what’s in it for them.” Approach the issues from the aspect of what it will do for the person or people to whom you are speaking. You’ll get further with them and accomplish more. Some more things to remember when you are talking with people are also embodied in the following quote.

    The Fear of Loss:

    “People are also motivated to act by the fear of loss. This fear, in all its various forms, is often stronger than the desire for gain. People fear financial loss, loss of health, anger or disapproval of others, loss of the love of someone and the loss of anything they have worked hard to accomplish. They fear change, risk and uncertainty because these threaten them with potential losses.”

    – Brian Tracy, Management Consultant, and Writer

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    “The nine most terrifying words in the English language are, ‘I’m from the government, and I’m here to help.’”
    – Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. president

    “Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak. Courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.”
    – Winston Churchill, British Prime Minister

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    What — 2008 LSLA Leadership Conference
    Where — Henderson Nevada (by Las Vegas, NV)
    When — Presidents’ Day Weekend, 2008 (February 15-17)

    As I promised last month, this month we are giving you the agenda for the LSLA Conference. As you can see, it is quite a full schedule, especially on Saturday, with something for everyone, regardless of your area of interest, emphasis, or expertise.

    A single ticket for this conference costs only $150. And, because this is a conference that every libertarian in the country would benefit from attending, discounts will be given to members based on the number of fellow libertarians from their state who attend.

    When two libertarians from a single state party attend the 2008 National Leadership Conference, their price will be reduced from $150 per person to $135 each.

    The February 14th — 19th week-end in Las Vegas will be very crowded with not only our LSLA group, but those planning Valentine’s Day celebrations and others celebrating President’s Day. Our hotel, Sunset Station, will allow cancellations and provide a prompt refund of your deposit with 48 hours notice. We have a limited number of rooms available at these low rates, so I can not stress strongly enough the need to lock in your reservations early.

    Here are the reservation details. Sunset Station Hotel and Casino is holding a limited number of rooms at low rates just for our LSLA group. Choose one of their newly renovated rooms with two Queen beds or one King for $79.00 Sunday to Thursday nights and $129.00 on Friday and Saturday nights. Room tax is currently 10% and a $4.95 amenity fee per night will be added. These rates are for single or double occupancy. Each additional person over double occupancy will add $15.00 to the room rate. Maximum allowed is four to a room. To reserve your room at the low LSLA rates call 888-786-7389 and request the LSLA group rates.

    Hotel Information: Sunset Station Hotel & Casino, 1301 W Sunset Rd Henderson, NV 89014, local telephone number 702-547-7777.

    Agenda for the LSLA Leadership Conference

    Friday, February 15, 2008

    8:00 –  5:00     Bylaws Committee Meeting
    8:00 –  5:00     Platform Committee Meeting

    Saturday, February 16, 2008

    7:00 —   7:30    Registration (Sunset Room)
    7:30 –   7:50    Welcome (Sunset Room)
    8 00 — 11:50    Political Communication (Sunset Room)
                           Introduction
                          Body Language
                          How the evil ones think
                          Analysis of Moral Politics
                          Slave Psychosis

                          Monthly Pledge Program (Nina Room)
                          Writing a Fundraising Letter
                          Organizing Political Volunteers

                          Roberts Rules of Order (Pinta Room)
                          Hours of Minutes (How to be an effective secretary)
                          Conventioneering

                          Ballot Base (Santa Maria Room)
                          Writing an Effective Press Release
                          TBA

    Noon — 1:50    National Chairs Debate (Sunset Room)
                              Lunch with cash bar (Cash bar open rest of day)

    2:00 — 5:50     Political Communication (Sunset Room)
                          Green Zone
                          Story as Campaign Vehicle
                          Delivering your Story

                          How to file with the FEC (Nina Room)
                          Basic Accounting Procedures for a County/State Treasurer

                          Planning a State Convention (Pinta Room)
                          Ballot Base

                          Platform Debates (Santa Maria Room)
                          Platform Purpose
                          Abortion
                          Immigration
                          Terrorism / Foreign Affairs

    5:50 — 7:00     Dinner (Sunset Room)
    7:00 — 10:00    Presidential Debate (Sunset Room)

    Sunday, February 17, 2008

    7:30 — 10:00    State Chairs meeting — all welcome (Sunset Room)
    10:00 — 11:00  Closing Champagne Brunch (Sunset Room)
    11:30 — Noon   NVLP Convention Registration (Sunset Room)
    Noon — 6:00    NVLP State Convention (Sunset Room)
                          Libertarian Leadership (LLS) (Santa Maria Room)
                          LNC meeting ? (Nina Room)
                          Platform Committee meeting? (Pinta Room)
    6:00 — 7:00     Cocktails (cash bar)(outside the Sunset Room)
    7:00 — 10:00    Dinner Buffet for LLS Class and NVLP (Sunset Room)

    Monday, February 18, 2008

    8:00 –  5:00     LNC meeting

    Check out www.statechairs.org for additional information and pre-registration.

  • Field Reports / Calendar — January 2008

    Field
    Reports
    From
    County Contacts

    Bernalillo
    –     The BCLP County Convention
    will take place concurrent with the state convention, on 12 April
    2008. More details to follow.

    The
    BCLP is hosting two meetings per month. For more information, see the
    BCLP website —     http://www.lpnm.org/bernalillo.
    The Weekly Sedition will run from January, 2008 through March,
    2008 on Albuquerque Comcast Channel 27. New Mexico’s Consumer
    Advocate     will resume in April, 2008. Both shows are viewable in
    webcast format. For the viewing links, see the Channel 27 site [
    www.quote-unquote.org
    ].

    Jay
    Vandersloot continues to be active in staffing at table at blade and
    gun shows at the State Fairgrounds in Albuquerque and could use some
    help at the shows — any assistance would be welcome, even if it is
    only for a couple of hours. Anyone interested in helping at the table
    at the gun show, providing literature to hand out, loaning us an LP
    banner, or a projection screen should contact Jay at either
    yprocrastinate-emailme@yahoo.com
    or call 505-362-1733.

    Paul
    Gessing and the staff of the Rio Grande Foundation have been getting
    columns and letters to the editor printed in the local newspapers,
    including the Albuquerque Journal. on a regular basis. Some of those
    have been printed here in New Mexico Liberty. Others are
    available at the RGF’s website — www.riograndefoundation.org.

    Dona
    Ana —     The LPDAC Central
    Committee has been having monthly meetings, as well as an information
    table at the Las Cruces Farmer’s Market. See the LPDAC website for
    details —     www.lpnm.org/dona-ana.

    The
    Dona Ana County Convention will take place on 16 February 2008, in
    the Dresp Room of the Branigan Library from Noon – 5 PM.

    Otero
    – The Otero County LP was recently organized by Dr. Gilberto
    Heredia. Their first two meetings were attended by 13 people and
    garnered coverage by the Alamogordo Daily News — see here
    for more information.

    San
    Juan —     The San Juan County LP is sponsoring a new fundraising
    drive for the LPNM in addition to the annual rifle raffle that they
    run. This new effort will raffle off a new, limited-edition Harley
    Davidson motorcycle for Ø100 per ticket, with a maximum of 399
    tickets available. More information on the motorcycle raffle is
    available here — www.tinyurl.com/2fu72e.
    See the events page on the SJCLP site for more information on the San
    Juan county LP’s activities — www.sjclp.org/events.htm.

    Sandoval
    –     The LPSC is having its
    monthly meetings on the fourth Tuesday of each month.

    Santa
    Fe —     Ed Nagel is working on
    organizing an LPNM county affiliate for Santa Fe County. Contact him
    at     ed123nagel@aol.com
    or call him at 505-471-6928. He’d appreciate any help he can get.

    TV
    Shows — Channel 27 in Albuquerque
    (not
    necessarily endorsed by LPNM)

    The
    Weekly Sedition     — Wednesdays at 8PM
    www.myspace.com/kcufmedia

    Hemp
    TV     — Tuesdays at 7PM
    www.myspace.com/nmhemptv

    The
    One Party State     — Wednesdays at 11PM
    Contact
    Lance Klafeta [ lklafeta@yahoo.com
    ] for details

    Reeferhead — Saturdays at 6PM
    www.myspace.com/reeferheadtv

    The
    Fringe Element
    www.thefringeelement.net
    / www.postpubco.com


    ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==

    “Individual
    rights are not subject to public vote; a majority has no right to
    vote away the rights of a minority; the political function of rights
    is precisely to protect minorities from oppression by majorities (and
    the smallest minority on earth is the individual ).”
    – Ayn
    Rand


    ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==

    Calendar

    Special
    Events

    LPNM
    2008 State Convention

    The
    2008 LPNM State Convention will be in the greater Albuquerque area on
    the weekend of 11-13 April 2008 at the Radisson Hotel Albuquerque
    (2500 Carlisle Boulevard NE, Albuquerque NM 87110). Planned Banquet
    Speaker is libertarian science-fiction writer and columnist L. Neil
    Smith    . We are currently soliciting suggestions for other speakers. We
    hope to have another presidential candidates’ debate, and maybe a
    debate between the vice-presidential candidates. The LPNM Central
    Committee has named Secretary Mike Blessing as the Convention
    Coordinator.

    LP
    2008 National Convention

    The
    LP’s 2008 National Convention will take place at the Adam’s Mark
    Hotel in Denver     on Memorial Day weekend (23-26 May 2008). Speakers,
    business sessions and the presidential nomination are on the agenda.
    Contact Jay Vandersloot if you’re interested in being a delegate from
    the LPNM.

    See
    www.lpconvention.org
    and www.denverlpcon.com
    for details as they develop.

    Regular
    Events

    Wednesday,
    2 January — Otero County LP meeting. Contact Dr. Gilberto Heredia
    for more information — 575-439-8234.

    Thursday,
    3 January and 17 January — Bernalillo County Liberty Forum meets in
    Albuquerque, 6:00 to 7:00 PM at Fiesta’s Restaurant & Lounge
    (Carlisle & Montogomery NE)    . Contact Mike Blessing for details [
    kcufmedia@gmail.com
    / 505-918-6567 ].

    Wednesday,
    9 January — The Dona Ana County Libertarians will meet. Those
    interested are invited to attend and to contact Siebert Ickler [
    lpdac@peoplepc.com
    / 505-541-9079 ] for information on location and time.

    Saturday,
    12 January — San Juan County LP meets at 6PM — contact Gary Wood
    [ zang5775@msn.com
    ] for details. The San Juan County LP’s Central Committee will meet
    at 5PM.

    Tuesday,
    22 January — The Sandoval County Libertarian Party will meet –
    contact Ron Bjornstad [ rbjornstad@earthlink.net
    / 505-288-4228 ] for details.


     

    Christmas
    Biomass
    26
    December 2007
    by
    John Trever of the Albuquerque Journal

  • Notes from the Editor — January 2008

    Notes from the Editor
    by Mike Blessing [ kcufmedia@gmail.com ]


    Otero County LP Forms

    The editor offers apologies to Gilberto Heredia and the others involved
    in organizing the Otero County LP for not mentioning the events of
    November in last month’s issue — see page 6 for the coverage from the
    Alamogordo Daily News. Good job!

    Maurice McDonald Passes Away

    I received the bad news at the Albuquerque Liberty Forum on 20 December
    from State Chairman Jay Vandersloot. Jay sent me the obituary listing
    from the Albuquerque Journal –

    MCDONALD — MAURICE December 6, 1938 — December 15, 2007 Maurice
    McDonald, age 69, died peacefully in his home on December 15,
    surrounded by his loving family, after a long battle with cancer. He
    was proceeded in death by son, Robert McDonald, and is survived by his
    beloved wife, Paula Rhae McDonald; children, John McDonald, Heather
    McDonald, Michelle Kimbrell, Chris Tarpley, and James Tarpley;
    siblings, Richard McDonald and Diane McDonald; grandchildren, Samantha
    Bruns, Kai Bruns, Shea Ward, and Violet Tarpley; nieces and nephews,
    Kim McDonald, Randy McDonald. Heidii Vogue, and Shawn Vogue and his
    faithful companion, Lucky. He was born Dec. 6, 1938 in Albuquerque New
    Mexico to John and Helen McDonald. Maurice attended grade school and
    high school in Albuquerque as well as UNM and the New Mexico Military
    Institute in Roswell. After serving in the Coast Guard, he settled in
    Santa Fe, in 1969 where he worked in real estate. Maurice founded the
    Libertarian Party of New Mexico in which he was politically active his
    entire adult life. He was staunch supporter of American Indian Art and
    an avid collector. He will be sorely missed by all who knew him and
    will remain in our hearts forever. His wishes were to be cremated and a
    memorial will be held in his honor at a later date. In lieu of flowers
    please make contributions to your favorite charity in his name.

    It really sucks to have to report the death of one of our
    comrades-in-arms. This is the third time during my tenure as editor of
    New Mexico Liberty that I’ve had the duty to report the passing of a
    fellow freedom fighter — the first was Dan Weiner, who was at our 2003
    State Convention in Albuquerque and passed in October, 2003, followed a
    month later by Norman Van Gorder, one of the LPNM’s activists from the
    Ruidoso area.

    I first came to the LPNM in 1995, after arriving in the state in July,
    1994. While I missed seeing Maurice’s term as State Chair, I’ve been
    told that at first, no one wanted the job, and that Maruce ended up
    with it when he stepped out to use the restroom, only to return and
    find himself elected state chairman.

    In 1998, Maurice ran a credible campaign for the public office of
    Commissioner of Public Lands, getting nine percent of the vote in a
    three-way race — a record that yet to be broken, from what I’ve seen
    while living in the state. That nine percent translated to 6.8% of the
    votes cast in that year’s gubernatorial election, and earned the LPNM
    “major-party” status for a short time.

    So I ask the membership — have Maurice’s contributions to the cause and
    Party been wasted? What can we do to ensure that his time spent with us
    was well-spent?

    2008 LPNM State Convention
    The 2008 LPNM State Convention will be held on the second weekend of
    April (11-13 April 2008) at the Radisson Hotel Albuquerque (2500
    Carlisle Boulevard NE, Albuquerque NM 87110). See page 4 for more
    information.

    New Mexico Liberty on Google


    New Mexico Liberty     will now be available for
    download as a PDF file from the Google group I’ve set up for it –
    groups.google.com/group/nmliberty
    – as well as the Yahoo!
    Group    . Google will let you read and/or download the document
    without the sign-in requirement that Yahoo! has.

    ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==  ==


    “You cannot help the poor by destroying the rich. You cannot lift the wage earner by pulling down the wage payer.”
    – Abraham Lincoln


    Confidence
    12 December 2007
    by John Trever of the Albuquerque Journal

    “A democracy cannot exist as a permanent form of government. It can exist only until the voters discover that they can vote themselves largesse ( gifts ) from the public treasury. From that moment on, the majority always votes for the candidates promising the most benefits from the public treasury, with the result that a democracy always collapses over loose fiscal policy, always followed by a dictatorship.”
    – Alexander Fraser Tytler (later Lord Alexander Fraser Woodhouslee),
       in “The Decline and Fall of the Athenian Republic,” published 1776.

  • County Conventions — 2008

    Dona Ana County LP Convention
    by Siebert Ickler
    We are planning our 2nd annual county convention for the afternoon of February 16, 2008. I would like to invite any and all of you to join us – the location will be the Dresp Room of the Branigan Library from Noon-5pm or so. And we would especially appreciate speaker volunteer(s).


    Bernalillo County LP Convention
    by Mike Blessing [kcufmedia@gmail.com]
    The BCLP convention will take place concurrent with the state convention on 12 April 2008. More details to follow.