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REGIONAL ORGANIZING CAMPAIGN '98 LIBERTARIANS IN OFFICE Libertarians influence ACLU FROM THE STATE CHAIR LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS Update: Major Party status

WA Liberty PAC being formed GROWLINGS, G.E. Morton LIBERTY BELLE, J. Moerschel EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE, March Calendar Party Info WL Info

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Regional Organizing
Two more county parties in a single day!

The LPWS Traveling Road Show struck again -- this time on the northern Olympic Peninsula. Mary Maas (State Chair) and Brett Wilhelm (Membership Chair) again helped organize two new regions in a single day.

This double was tougher than January's, with two different locations. But at the end of the day, there were Libertarian Parties in Jefferson and Clallam counties -- and no speeding tickets for Mary or Brett.

We now have twelve chartered regions, covering 86.1% of party members. Back in May, when Director Mike Hihn launched the organizing push, there were only four active regions with 33% member coverage.

The growing list of chartered regions is proof positive that the Libertarian Party is on the march in Washington State!

Clallam County elects teen Vice Chair

John Bennet was elected to Chair the new party, and also serves as Treasurer. Aaron Grahn, Vice Chair, became the youngest party officer in the state. Grahn is a homeschooled 16-year-old.

Melanie Caltrider was elected to the position of Secretary, and will also handle Membership and Database responsibilities. Sharon Adamson serves as the party's Archivist.

Jefferson County LP girds for action

by Brien Bartels

The new Libertarian Party in Jefferson County may go a long way towards making the county's politics more Jeffersonian. The party organized on Mar. 22 in Port Townsend with State Chair Mary Maas presiding. Its members have their work cut out for them.

The county's government is close to maxing out its legal taxation limit to support four new planners and a prosecuting attorney, to fulfil its responsibilities under the Growth Management Act. Taxes are already driving long-time residents to abandon the county for less tax-happy climes.

The county seat, Port Townsend, has managed to provoke a revolt. Widespread anger over city council's decision to renovate a decrepit downtown building to house a swelling cadre of planners and lawyers triggered the founding of a group called MOCCA (Make our City and County Accountable, pronounced "Mocha.") The fact that Port Townsend soon became one of the first municipalities to endorse a worldwide ban on land mines did nothing to sooth the people's irritation.

The Jefferson County Libertarian Party will try to focus some of this discontent in a more productive direction in the coming months. The organizing convention elected Jim Switz to serve as County Chair. Don Post volunteered to serve as Vice Chair and Membership Coordinator.

Other volunteers included Barbara Cochran (Secretary) and Brien Bartels (Treasurer).

Watch for Libertarian opposition to City Council member Kate Jenks. Jenks, a strident "progressive," achieved a measure of national fame last year when she called a National Public Radio talk show featuring Transportation Secretary Federico Pena, to advocate warning labels on automobiles.

Bartels is Assistant Editor at Liberty magazine.

Campaign '98
Operation Fulcrum targets GOP turncoats

What would it do for our party, if we denied state Republicans their majority -- and if we did it on Libertarian principle?

The role of "spoiler" is not often aspired to by Libertarians. But rarely are issues and opportunities properly aligned to actually pull it off, especially for an entire state legislature. This year they may be. "Fulcrum" refers to leverage, and Libertarians now have some -- if we can seize it.

Add it up. Polls show this November's Civil Rights Initiative has overwhelming support among voters. Republicans cowered during most of the petition campaign, while Libertarians were the only state party to immediately endorse and start gathering petitions.

Then Republicans failed to pass it in the legislature, caused by a small number of wafflers and opposers. Most GOP wafflers and opposers are in tight districts. In those districts, as little as 3-5% of the vote could take them out. Do that in enough districts, and we could topple the GOP from power, make a name for ourselves in this state, and position ourselves dramatically as the party of principle -- in this case the principle of true equal rights -- even without winning a single race.

The bigger payoff would come in the next partisan elections, in 2000, when we seek Major Party status. We'd have a big head start.

No Democratic legislator supports true equal rights. Not a single one. In GOP "waffle" districts, the Libertarian would be the only candidate supporting what will likely be the most popular ballot initiative in November. It's an issue that should bring our target voters to the polls. And "victory" could be as little as 3% of the vote, in enough districts.

When will that happen again?

Libertarians are finally out front on a popular issue that voters will actually support -- ending state-mandated racial and gender preferences. At the national level, it's Libertarians urging Americans to boycott the racial question on year 2000 Census forms.

Operation Fulcrum would apply that same principle in Washington State. It would be our first campaign in years with a party presence, and a distinct theme.

It's the type of gutsy campaign that Libertarians around the country would be likely to support, like last month's Strang campaign in Florida.

Can we do it? As we go to press, it's only probable. Very close, but still probable.

Washington Libertarian would not normally report a tentative project, especially on page one. But as few as one or two people reading this article could make it happen.
The project and strategy originated with Jesse Malkin, a typically energetic newer party member. Doug Thornton, Campaigns Chair for West King County, signed on immediately.

As Operation Fulcrum came closer to reality, state Campaigns Chair John Gearhart appointed Malkin to his Campaigns Committee, making it a project of the state party.

The nature of Fulcrum dictated that it begin as an activist project. Recruiting enough candidates is hard enough, but these candidates had to be in specific districts, targeted by Malkin. Hundreds of phone calls and letters were eventually used.

Malkin began by asking for support from both the State Chair and Executive Director. That came quickly, but Malkin was advised to organize the demanding recruiting effort on his own. This then proceeded, as Malkin and Thornton solicited support from Regional Chairs, and made contacts on their own.

The project needs a critical mass of candidates, each in the right district. As we go to press, it hasn't quite jelled yet. It looks like 5-9 candidates, with perhaps half in non-Fulcrum districts. A few may run regardless.

We are starting a little late, for an election this November. That can be offset by the nature of this particular campaign, its theme and its media value. A high-level convention workshop had already been planned, for candidates and campaign managers.

As reported elsewhere, a planned new Liberty PAC is being rushed into existence, to tap into likely support and dollars from both inside and outside the party.
Our experienced candidates are all in the "wrong" districts, but many have agreed to leverage their experience, by advising one or more campaign managers.

We need more candidates, perhaps as few as one or two -- for the ride of their lives. If you're interested, contact Jesse Malkin at 206-632-9288, or email malkin1@ix.netcom.com.

We also need to hear from any members experienced in video production, and associated professions.

One final note, from Doug Thornton, on what he learned from his phone calls. What he hears is that Operation Fulcrum may have already energized our party, even if it doesn't quite actually happen. "Even people with no interest in running say they now believe this party is finally getting serious."

Sundberg announces for state Supreme Court

Kris Sundberg has announced his candidacy for state Supreme Court, to reverse the current pro-government majority. The official kick-off is April 11. Sundberg aligns with Justices Madsen and Sanders. Sundberg is on the board of CLEAN, and hosts a local monthly meeting series sponsored by FEE (publishers of The Freeman).

For Sundberg’s judicial philosophy, visit the campaign web site at http://www.sundberg.wa.net/. Contributions may be mailed to Sundberg for Justice, P.O. Box 77473, Seattle, WA 98177-0473. To volunteer for the campaign, phone (206) 230-0212. O

Libertarians in public office
How government could work

Hint: it must be Libertarian

by Doug Thornton

How on earth can a Libertarian be involved in the creation of a taxing district? That's a question commonly heard by Tom Hayden, Chair and Regional Representative of the Whatcom County Libertarians. His answer might surprise you; his results will astonish you.

I spoke with him recently about taxing districts in general and the Deming Diking District in particular.

Hayden has served as a commissioner since voters approved the district in 1991. In 1996, he was reelected for another six years. The people living in the Deming Diking District could not be happier--last month, the commissioners voted on the tax levy for the fiscal year. They approved a rate of 0%. That's right, no typo, zeropercent.

"We're sitting pretty good. There's no major work to be done. The accountant says we look good," Hayden explained. "And we promised everyone we would do this as soon as possible." I was silent for a few moments while I tried to absorb the fact that a taxing district exists in the state that is not collecting taxes this year. Only a Libertarian--or a non-libertarian loaded with common sense--could pull this off.

But it was never all so rosy. The diking district was formed when the community in and around Deming was struck by severe flooding for the third time in five years. The flood in November 1990 was devastating to the area. Homes and businesses more than a mile away from the Nooksack River were affected.

Effective flood control takes money. It also takes the participation of the property owners along the river. The county government promoted a traditional program of cost sharing with the owners. County taxpayers provided 70% of the cost with the owner picking up the rest. "The problem with that," Hayden said, "is the multiple floods. Thirty percent of the cost can become a burden when your property is damaged so often."

Moreover, people who derive no benefit from the flood control are forced to pay for it. Hayden and his neighbors got together to solve their own problem. They took control of the problem away from county government.

Voters approved the formation of the Deming Diking District in 1991. Since then, the 100 or so homes and businesses in the district have never been taxed for more than $25,000 (total) in a single year. In fact, after three years, the tax rate was chopped 60%. The rate was subsequently cut an additional 25% and now it the rate hovers at 0%. Amazing.

How could something be done so cheaply? "We used volunteers in the community. People loaned us heavy equipment," Hayden said. "We made a deal with a Marine unit on Whidbey Island. They worked on our flood control project as part of their training. They would come down on weekends and work. We used the tax dollars to feed them at local restaurants. We saved well over $100,000."

The Nooksack's flooding is not limited to the Deming district; it has caused damage throughout the county. Further downstream, it has forced folks to relocate their homes and in one instance, it changed its course right through some farmland.

"The county now has a Flood Control Zone District," Hayden sighs. "It was formed at the same time as us. This year, it looks like they might start doing something. They've spent hundreds of thousands of dollars 'planning' and holding meetings. You know what 'planning' gets you?" The question was rhetorical but I could hear the disgust in Hayden's voice. The good people of the Deming Diking District must pay taxes for the Flood Control Zone District, too.

Had it really been as easy to do as Hayden makes it sound? "Our biggest problems have been the institutional and bureaucratic barriers," he said.

You mean those busybodies at the county level? "They're just the start," Hayden went on. "There's all of the State of Washington Departments, two Indian Tribal governments, and the Army Corps of Engineers." Hayden guesses that the paperwork actually costs more than the labor.

"And these agencies aren't concerned about costs. It isn't their money." For example, the diking district is responsible for a barrier constructed by the USDA in an emergency some years ago. When part of it was damaged after the district took control, FEMA came in, inspected, and issued a check for $290,000 to repair it. "Then they gave us an additional $100,000 to do the planning."

Unfortunately, the original work was too big, causing significant erosion further along the river. When the district submitted their plan for repair, the Tribes and the State Fisheries rejected it. It has since been approved and fixed, but it illustrates what can happen when control is taken away from the local citizens.

Luckily, the Deming Diking District was not set up as a "taxing" district, but as a local flood control tool, benefiting all those living within its borders.

Now that the hard work is finished, and there is money in the bank, the commissioners--influenced by one of our own--have taken the unprecedented step of not collecting taxes.

That's an example of government that even I could support.

Thornton is Campaigns Chair for West King County.

Tom Hayden achieves national milestone!

There are now 250 Libertarians in public office nationwide. It was our own Tom Hayden who reached this new milestone. Hayden, profiled on this page, has been in office for several years, but never notified the party. He's not the only one.

Apparently, Libertarians can be quite modest. Of eight current office holders, only one has immediately notified the party.

This is quite typical, according to Bill Winter, communications director for the national party -- especially in states like ours, which (until recently) have few local party organizations. Hayden's office was identified at the Whatcom County organizing meeting. Several other names popped up, shortly after their counties were organized.

With almost 90% of state party members now in organized counties, we may finally have listed all our office holders. Or maybe not.

If you're an LPWS member holding public office, elected or appointed, don't be bashful. Tell us!

LP official Bruce Coe says,
"Cut my government pay!"

Libertarian Bruce Coe sits on the Kittitas County Planning Commission, and was recently hired as Facilities Director for that county’s fairground. As reported by the Ellensburg Daily Record (3/25/98), Coe’s salary for the new position was cut by $2000 per year, at his own request.

At a session for new county employees, Coe combined principle with political savvy, by complaining that his own salary was too high.

Coe is nominal leader of the Kittitas Libertarians, a county committee in the Central Washington region. The Kittitas group recently hosted a public showing of the Oscar-nominated film, Waco: Rules of Engagement. Like so many Libertarian officeholders, Coe is developing public trust through positive and principled actions.

As we go to press, Coe is still only tentative to host a Convention Roundtable on appointed offices and Planning Commissions. Check the Web site for updates.

Libertarians influence ACLU

Among Libertarians, the ACLU is a topic for disagreement. They are a valuable ally on so many issues, but so plain wrong on others.

LPWS activists Scott Semans, Pat Michl and Tom Stahl have long urged Libertarians to join the civil rights organization, to help move the ACLU back to its original, more principled, overall purpose.

Libertarian ACLU members have proposed such policy issues as jury nullification, proportional representation, even a letters column in the ACLU-WA newsletter.

Two Libertarian-sponsored issues have been adopted by the ACLU-WA board: proportional representation and a letters column. Then in 1996, as Tom Stahl describes it, "They circled their wagons, when the board abolished member voting rights at annual meetings."

Libertarians decided to fight. Pat Michl launched a successful petition drive, aided by Stahl, to force a mail-in vote by members on restoring voting rights. The hearing was also attended by LPWS member Ernie Ludwick.

Ballots will be enclosed in the April 1998 edition of Civil Liberties, the state ACLU newsletter. Michl urges Libertarian ACLU members to look for the ballot and vote promptly.

The larger issue is, of course, Libertarians defending free speech within the ACLU — an action even anti-ACLU Libertarians can appreciate.

From the state chair
See you in Bellevue!

by Mary Maas

Hello, Washington Libertarians,

This is the last newsletter before our state convention, May 2-3 in Bellevue. We want to make this our most successful convention ever, and are well on our way.

Most of you are aware by now we have an all-star cast of speakers lined up for Saturday, May 2, to include 1996 presidential candidate, Harry Browne; 1984 presidential candidate and candidate for 1998 National LP Chair, David Bergland; and Michael Cloud, who we are privileged to have a sneak preview of before he is keynote speaker at the national LP convention.

There will also be informative activist and candidate workshops by both party members and our National Director, Ron Crickenberger, as well as gala social events.

We also will have the media present this year. During a recent live interview, Kirby Wilbur from KVI radio requested a press pass so he can attend. We will likely have other media outlets there as well.

What all that is leading up to is potentially a very impressive convention.

However, as usual, this will be a truly successful event only with your help. Each of you can assist in various ways, such as the following.

1) Most importantly with your attendance. Many of you have already signed up to be there. If you haven't yet, please do. It will help our planning and budget, not to mention we need the very best turnout we can get to impress upon the media how much we have grown and developed.

Kirby Wilbur, in particular, attended a couple of Libertarian Party conventions in the '70s. This will be his first since then. Those of you that were involved then know we had good attendance. We need to impress him and others in the media that we are becoming a major party. Apathy on May 2-3 will do us damage. There are many things you can do on a spring weekend, but given you value liberty in your life, your attendance this year is critical.

The libertarian movement has grown rapidly nationwide. However, the Libertarian Party is the only way to restore liberty as the rule. We must bond, show unity and every member, old and new, needs to show up to speak for and celebrate liberty.

2) Call print media, radio and TV stations in your area and let them know Harry Browne will be in town, that he was the 1996 candidate and will likely run again in 2000, that he has plans for dealing with the national debt time bomb, the income tax and other issues that affect virtually everyone. Encourage them to interview him either while he is in town or from his office the week prior. Also encourage them to ask for a press pass to cover at least Harry's speech at our convention, if not the entire convention.

If anyone shows an interest, they should contact Debbie Greeson in Mr. Browne's office at (615) 377-6482 to make arrangements.

The SEC and Executive Director will of course all be working on this as well, but the media usually listens to public opinion more than party leadership. We need your help. Contacting regional media outlets would make an excellent project for interested members in your region.

3) Ask those Libertarian-leaning friends to join one more time, or at least come hear Mr. Browne's speech. We need as many people as possible there on Saturday. Need I mention if each of us brings one person, attendance will double?

4) Equally important is your role in shaping the future of our party. Please stick around for the business meeting on Sunday.

Local Organizations

King County launches newsletter, other counties to follow

The first King County Libertarian was mailed on March 19th, to members of the East King and West King parties. KCL will be published bimonthly, alternating with this newsletter — paid from the state party’s new Regional Support budget. Each regional party is budgeted for its own newsletter.

Regions were advised they could publish a 4-page quarterly newsletter, but encouraged to develop alternatives. Jim Gordon and Ken Houghton, respective Chairs for East and West King, opted for greater frequency, with shared content per issue. Andria Frost was named editor.

Local newsletters are yet another part of the state party’s focus on grassroots organization and development. They provide a regular link to the vast majority of members who do not attend meetings — for project development and notice of local events and meetings.

Other local parties are still at various stages of developing their newsletters. A few still need editors. If you’re interested, please contact your local chair.

New East Pierce Libertarian Committee

On March 19th a new Libertarian committee formed in Sumner. The meeting was organized by long-time Libertarian activist George Wigginton of Puyallup. The group named itself the East Pierce Libertarian Committee. Its members are now concentrated mostly in Sumner, Puyallup and Bonney Lake.

The committee has yet to adopt a formal mission, or commit to specific projects. We did discuss a possible Libertarian Party booth at the upcoming Puyallup Fair (Western Washington), as one way to increase Libertarian visibility and membership.

Kelly Haughton, County Chair, presented a vision of local Libertarians appointed to county and municipal boards and commissions, toward electing candidates to higher city, county and state offices. This new committee is, itself, another example of the new bottom-up strategy to build a legitimate Libertarian political movement in Pierce County.

The committee will meet monthly, with the next meeting set for 7-9pm, April 16th. For location and directions, contact Mark Hamilton at 253-863-6275 or email hamilton@frugal.com.

-Mark Hamilton

Spokane convention

The annual convention of the Spokane Libertarian Party was held on March 9, 1998. A new Executive Committee was unanimously elected. The new officers are: Frank Grigaliunas, Chairman; Marc Whitman, Vice Chairman; Kristen Holmes, Secretary; and Paul Claussen, SEC Representative. Loretta Czap was re-elected Treasurer.

Major business included repealing term limits for Executive Committee members and reducing the number of Judicial Committee members from 5 to 3. The transition is in process with hopes of many good things to come from the new leadership.

Tax Day plans are moving full steam ahead. All Spokane Libertarians are invited to participate. Libertarians will be rallying at the Terminal Annex Post Office at Hamilton and Cincinnati streets in Spokane (at least between 6 and 10pm). Other locations will be considered, if there are sufficient volunteers. For further information phone Janice Moerschel at (509) 327-5062.

-Janice Moerschel

Tax day protests

Several regional parties are planning Tax Day protests. The ones we know of include: Snohomish, East and West King, and Spokane. Please contact your Regional Chair.

WSU Libertarians: first debate draws 100

On February 11th, Jacob Hornberger, Future of Freedom Foundation President faced off with Dr. Cornell W. Clayton, WSU Political Science Professor in the CUB Auditorium at WSU. The debate, "Is Government the Enemy of Freedom?" featured a modern liberal, Dr. Clayton, and a classical liberal, Mr. Hornberger. Approximately 100 attended this lively debate, sponsored by the WSU chapter of Students for Individual Liberty.

Mr. Hornberger was clearly the stronger debater. Dr. Clayton held up well against him. The debate continued for 1-1/2 hours with tremendous audience participation.

Pamela McEachern, Secretary

Update: Major Party status

In last year's survey, members ranked the achieving of Major Party status in year 2000 as their highest priority. That became the core of the party's still-evolving strategic plan. This will review some of the obstacles and opportunities involved.

Major Party status requires getting 5% of more of the vote, in the previous election for any statewide office (state executives or U.S. Senate). That means we need to achieve it, and keep defending it in every statewide election, or we lose it.

Gaining and losing ballot status has long been the lot of Libertarian state parties, each with different hurdles to leap. Our statewide elections occur in even-numbered years. Twice every 12 years, including this year, only one race is available -- the U.S. Senate. And getting 5% for the Senate may be tougher than even the governor's race.

Major Party status also requires meeting certain state mandates for party organization. A State Central Committee must be formed, with two representatives from each county. The Central Committee elects its own officers. Precinct Committees must be organized. Both of these must be done by the next statewide election. That's a lot of work down the drain, if we then lose Major Party status when only the U.S. Senate is available. (Expect the Reform Party to lose Major Party status this year, which they qualified for in 1996 -- unless they can find another billionaire.)

So far, that looks pretty bleak. But there's another quirk in the statewide ballot, which ties in perfectly with our goal for year 2000.

Once every twelve years, there are no statewide races. That happens next in 2002. So if we qualify for Major Party status in 2000, we'd have four years (instead of two) to organize Precinct Committees and a State Central Committee. We wouldn't need to defend our status until 2004, when all the statewide races are up again. By 2006, we must do it in a Senate race.

The year 2000 wasn't just plucked out of a hat. Qualifying then gives us a four-year gap to jump through all the legal hurdles. We won't get that opportunity again until 2010. This is worth fighting for, in 2000.

So, we have two critical elections to plan for, to both keep and retain Major Party status. We need 5% or more of the vote in 2000, for any statewide race. And we need a plan to capture 5% or more for the U.S. Senate in 2006.

Much of what we're doing at this year's state convention is intended to feed these goals, as detailed elsewhere. Just briefly, the workshops and seminars include candidate development, membership recruiting and increasing our visibility around the state. With delegate approval, we can start now toward the necessary organizational changes, instead of facing them all at once, by forming a Central Committee that works for us now -- then evolving toward the required structure.

The current emphasis on "Town Committees" is an important organizing tool in itself, It's also an interim step toward Precinct Committees.

Our media advertising starts in May. As described in the last Projects Letter, there are two goals (a) generate inquiries to our 800 line and Web site; and (b) develop positive awareness of the Libertarian Party, to help pave the way for our candidates.

Summing up, getting and keeping Major Party ballot status is more than just a nifty goal. And it's not just a goal for party leadership. It requires anticipation, a plan, hard work, the direct involvement of several dozen members, and the support of the entire party. We can do it!

WA Liberty PAC being formed

A PAC is being formed, to support and finance Libertarian candidates and possible ballot initiatives in Washington State. The PAC will be an independent project of Mike Hihn, a marketing and management consultant who is also contracted as Executive Director for the LPWS.

Hihn says the idea has been on the back burner for nearly a year. Formation was accelerated to support this year's possible Operation Fulcrum campaign.

In effect, says Hihn, he's creating a client for his consulting practice. Hihn would be responsible for statewide fundraising, at a fixed percentage cost to the PAC. A libertarian board, now being recruited, would be responsible for selecting candidates and the dollars provided to each.

Other possibilities include a possible statewide initiative in 2000, to require voter approval of all tax increases -- a plank in the state Libertarian Party platform. Support could then be combined, for both the candidates and the presumably popular initiative, within the larger goal of increasing the popularity of Libertarian ideas.

Hihn is now developing a test program for the LPWS, to develop a base of non-member donors for the party. The PAC is intended to complement that effort. An independent, non-party, entity would have more flexibility, and likely to attract a broader base of contributors.

The net result: multiple and varied appeals to both Libertarian and libertarian-leaning voters and contributors, like the older parties now enjoy.

Check That Premise

by G. E. Morton

Once in a while I troll the Internet newsgroups in search of an argument. Although newsgroup discussions usually more closely resemble barroom brawls than civilized debates, they can relieve the boredom of a dreary winter day. Favorite haunts include alt.politics.libertarian and talk.politics.libertarian.

In one recent "thread" (a topic to which a number of contributors have posted comments) a rabid leftist who claimed to be a former philosophy professor declared that the libertarian embrace of individualism is an Anglo-American anomaly, deriving mainly from Hobbes, Locke, and Adam Smith, while Continental thought, as exemplified by Rousseau, Hegel, and Marx, has tended to be more cognizant of the social dimensions of personhood.

The professor is right about the schism in Western social philosophy. He could have mentioned that the "communitarian" approach traces all the way back to Plato.

A fundamental choice when constructing any social theory is that between two different sociological assumptions, which we can call organicism and atomism. This assumption concerns the relationship between the individual and the society of which he is a member. If you go wrong at this point, you end up with a theory that is irrelevant, that describes (or prescribes) a society that doesn’t exist.

Fortunately, whether society is best described as organic—a cohesive whole with interests and goals that transcend those of its individual members---or as atomistic, comprised of autonomous individuals interacting but having no fixed connections among one another, is essentially an empirical question. It can only be answered by observing societies and the patterns of interaction among their members. And only a moment’s observations are needed to convince us that the atomistic model is much closer to the truth.

In what modern society do we find all of its members pursuing a common purpose? Nowhere do we find the "general" will Rousseau sought, or Plato’s "community of feeling." Instead we find millions of individual wills enthusiastically pursuing millions of individual purposes; instead of commonality and coherence we find diversity and disorder. We find cooperation, but also competition and conflict. No matter how diligently we search for the collective consciousness, all we find are individual minds, each infused with its own uncertain conception of the good and beset by the dread of its eventual extinction.

The longing for a communal society is an atavism—a wistful desire to resurrect tribalism. Homo sapiens, if the anthropologists are right, has been on Earth for about 200,000 years. Until the last 10,000 or so of those years, he lived in small tribal villages, consisting of a few dozen to a few hundred members—small enough that all of its members knew all of the others, indeed, had known each other all of their lives. They midwifed one another’s births, tended one another’s illnesses, shared one another’s possessions, and married one another’s cousins. They knew and trusted one another, and had dense, intimate relationships among one another. They needed neither formal ethics nor any political structure to govern their affairs, simply because each was and had always been a part of every other’s life.

The organic model is a good approximation of the structure of such societies. But with the rise of civilization—the culture of cities—that model began to break down. People found themselves living in communities in which most of the people around them were strangers, with whom they had no familial or other personal ties, and often very little in common. People began to notice the differences among them—differences in coloration and bone structure, in habits of dress, in temperament and mannerisms, in interests and tastes, and eventually even in religion and language. They discovered individuality.

That was a huge transformation, not merely of the social structure, but of the human psyche. The traditional tribal control mechanisms, based on age and personal stature, gave way to formal systems of governance—politics. The tribesman’s intuitive sense of right and wrong, which derived primarily from his personal ties to and regard for his fellows, gave way to formal systems of ethics. Ethics is a code for regulating behavior among strangers—among people who have no personal interest in one another’s welfare.

The communal society that continues to beckon to the professor from our long primate ancestry is lost to history. It is irrecoverable. Modern societies are meta-communities—public venues for personal interactions. They provide opportunities for individuals to forge relationships with others, but supply no content for those relationships. They are like public playing fields—they offer space and seating, but each team brings its own gear, its own personnel, and its own game with its own rules. The house rules are few and general: "No reservations accepted: first-come, first served", "Do not intrude on others’ games," and "Pick up your litter."

Every totalitarian movement that has emerged in this bloody century began with some version of the organic assumption. But that premise is false, destructive, and obsolete.

Morton is a political essayist, living in Spokane.

Libertarians support voluntary charity; government opposes it. Despite what you've heard about President Clinton's pleas for volunteerism (for the right causes and often for pay), government has little interest in private sector help or solutions to problems. Case in point: A private addiction recovery club that was operating in Spokane is being shut down because it is not zoned or licensed to operate as a mission or detox center. "First Step" owner Harold Johnson says, "I can't help anyone anymore." Guess those homeless people and prostitutes will find themselves on the street—thanks to a bunch of government bureaucrats.

Government school horror story. In McMinnville, Oregon, teenage girls were strip-searched by police who were searching for cash and items missing from a school locker room. The search of 30 girls turned up nothing. Only apologies were offered to the victims of this un-Constitutional search and traumatization which resulted in Police Chief Rod Brown stating, "We believe the manner in which the search was conducted may have been inappropriate." Sadly, the War on Drugs has popularized such police state tactics.

Are we scaring ourselves to death? A recent Hepatitis A outbreak in Spokane has captured national attention, but is there anything to worry about? A Spokane County public health official has recommended shots for everyone (at a total cost of $84 per person). State officials disagree and say this is an over-reaction. No matter. The media has fueled fears that all are at risk. Overlooked is the fact that restaurants and grocery stores were already voluntarily getting employees vaccinated and taking measures to ensure that employees wash their hands properly — the most effective preventive step.

Three boos to Washington legislators. The Republican-dominated legislature has refused to vote on the Washington State Civil Rights Initiative (I-200) despite wide support evidenced by signatures gathered. What wimps for refusing to take a public stand! If you can vote Libertarian or run against these spineless legislators, please do!

Sweet irony. In a twist for Spokane city officials, the state's Department of Ecology rejected Spokane's application for a shoreline permit for a new Lincoln Street bridge because it violates the city's own shoreline protection plan. The city's rules forbid any activity that "will tend to lessen or obliterate in part the falls and rapid areas" (of the Spokane River). City Council officials (excepting new Mayor John Talbott and Councilwoman Cherie Rodgers) were irate and planned to challenge the Department of Ecology's ruling. Maybe there is justice after all ... bet City Council wishes they hadn't made that law.

Nanny state stuff. Despite the fact that most alcohol-related, fatal accidents occur among drivers with an average blood-alcohol content level of 0.17 percent, the new national limit will be 0.08. States that refuse to comply with the new law will lose federal highway dollars (can you say "extortion?"). But legislators are "doing good." Senator Barbara Boxer of California claims we will save 600 lives per year. (It should be noted that, according to anti-drunken driving groups, 17,000 highway deaths (of 40,000 total) in 1996 were alcohol related.)

In a scene reminiscent of Atlas Shrugged, Microsoft Corp. Chairman Bill Gates was attacked at a Senate hearing for being an evil monopolist (despite falling software prices, much innovation and wealth creation). He was told that Microsoft "will have to learn to live by the rules that govern monopolies." Gates defended himself by saying, in part: "The software industry's success has not been driven by government regulation but by freedom and the basic human desire to learn, innovate and excel." And, "no company owns the factory for ideas." Jeers to Senator Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) for his role in this charade and his call for "vigilant enforcement of the antitrust laws now to avoid federal regulation of the Internet later." Keep an eye on Novell (Utah-based company) stock.

Moerschel is an activist in the Spokane LP.

Executive Committee - March
Board approves ad campaign & long-distance calling plan for members

With uncertainties clarified on several stalled projects, the Executive Committee had a highly productive March meeting.

Director Hihn reported that contributions designated to the Advertising/PR fund had increased sharply from a special appeal in the January Projects Report letter, but were still insufficient to launch the planned advertising campaign. The board voted to subsidize the Advertising/PR fund for six months, from a surplus in the fund for "Discretionary" contributions. The Discretionary fund is intended to cover underfunded projects, if the board so votes. Hihn suggested that Advertising/PR contributions would increase, once members saw the ads actually running. The March Projects Report and Fundraising Letter was delayed to include a description of the media plan, the actual ads, and another special appeal for designated Advertising/PR contributions.

The ads will start in the May Puget Sound ComputerUser, reaching over 200,000 readers in four counties, and expand across the state as and if sufficient funding is available.

Accepting credit cards on the party’s Web site was originally to include a third-party vendor, for the Secure Server and processing. But the current LPWS provider recently added the necessary optional services. The board voted to go with the new option. Higher startup costs will be offset eventually by lower merchant commissions paid by the party.

A new proposal was also approved, an "affinity" long-distance calling plan for LPWS members. The plan is similar to a plan available to LP members in California, and provided by the same vendor. Enrolled LPWS members will receive discounts on long-distance calls, calling cards, and 800/888 lines, with a commission paid to the party. See below for details.

Hihn presented the draft for a new LPWS promotional and outreach brochure. Several suggested changes were made. The piece should be available by mid-April.

Treasurer Ken Houghton has arranged for LPWS imprinted and embroidered apparel, which will be available for ordering at the state convention.

Hihn and PR Chair Reece Causey worked out a sharing of the task, in arranging media interviews and Press Passes related to the convention.

Publisher: Libertarian Party of Washington State. PO Box 69223, Seatlle, WA 98168-9223 Seattle: 206-329-5669. Toll-free: 800-353-1776 Editor: Mike Hihn, editor@LPWS.org 206-241-6058, fax: 206-241-6128 Contributing Editors: G.E. Morton, Janice Moerschel, Rep. Brian Thomas, Doug Thornton Regional Correspondents: Janice Moerschel (Spokane) Change of Address: Notifying either the state or national party will do for both. Advertising Rates: Click here to download a rate sheet in Acrobat (pdf) format. Click here to request a rate sheet via snailmail. Mailed prox the 1st of even-numbered months. Editorial and advertising close 15th of the prior month. Submissions are encouraged, preferably in any PC format. Please query the editor before submitting.