Published by the Libertarian Party of Washington State The party of principled Solutions

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Libertarians in office
Lori and Jack Loranger:
Libertarian innovations for county government 

by Doug Thornton 

A how-to guide for Libertarian leadership, across the state 

"We're giving legislative authority directly to the people," says Jack Loranger. 

Jack and his spouse Lori, a former LPWS officer, are elected Freeholders in Skamania County.  Legislative power vested directly in the people?  How? 

According to Loranger, the concept is simple enough.  It's defined in the state constitution, but it takes a lot of time and work. 

According to Title 36 of the Revised Code of Washington, the state legislature dictates the structure and function of every county in Washington.  Every aspect of county government is spelled out -- from the commissioners to the coroner, all the way down to the provisions for a tax on dog licenses.  The only counties exempted from these laws are those with a "home rule" charter.  Fewer than a half dozen counties have taken the necessary steps. 

"The State Constitution," Jack says, "leaves this door open for people to take control when they're being stepped on."  Article XI, Section 4 spells out the rights and procedures of counties to create their own government. 

The Constitution leaves the door open, but somebody must walk through that door.  This is an opportunity for Libertarian leadership, across the state. 
 

Back in 1994, the people of Skamania finally had enough of their three commissioners.  Citizen activists spoke out at public hearings against proposed legislation. The commissioners nodded their collective heads and passed the laws anyway.  With commissioners enjoying the powers of both executive and legislative branches, the Lorangers and other concerned citizens knew something must be done. 

The people of Skamania would adopt a charter and become a home rule county.  In the 1994 election they officially chose to take that action and elected fifteen Freeholders, including LPWS members Jack and Lori, to take on the task of creating the charter. 

Think about this:  two Libertarians are working with a group of thirteen other activists who are fed up with non-responsive government.  There is little to prevent them from creating the kind of government they want.  Do you think the new government will be all-powerful?  Will these folks create an alphabet soup of bureaucracies?  If the nature of government is to grow, then how might they prevent runaway government? 

According to Jack, there will be no appointed offices.  Everyone in the executive and judicial branches will be elected.  What about the legislature?  There won't be one. 

New laws must go through the following steps: 

• Someone must draft the proposed law.
  
  
• They must gather enough signatures for the proposal to be considered.

• The proposal then goes to the Judicial Committee of the county, which consists of the Superior Court judges, prosecuting attorney, the county advisor, etc., all of whom are elected officials.

• The JudCom then verifies the constitutionality of the proposed law against the county charter, State Constitution, and U.S. Constitution.

• If satisfactory, it is then placed as a question on the ballot in the next general election.

• It must receive a supermajority of 66% to pass.

Needless to say, Skamania County would not have a lot of ordinances to worry about. 
 

What about check and balance? -- the power of the legislature to act as a check on the executive branch?  How can the people take action against a corrupt or inept official between elections?  "Well," Jack explained, "the charter will specify that the oath of office is a contract with the people."  So, an official that violates the oath is subject to the laws pertaining to contract violation. 

If this all seems odd -- heck, it is.  This is libertarian lawmaking from square one.  In this state, it has never been done before. 

For example, when the Skamania Freeholders first got together, the Washington Association of County Officials (that's right, WACO) sent a kit explaining how to properly write a charter.  Not surprisingly, the recommended charter looked a lot like the King, Pierce, and Snohomish Charters.  "We told them," Jack chuckled, "thanks but no thanks." 

The Lorangers are hoping to have the charter ready for the 1998 ballot, but they're reluctant to make any promises.  "We are going slow on purpose," Jack admitted. "We want to involve the people with every word, every letter of our draft."  Slow going, but wise, if you expect voters to buy into such a fundamental change in their government.  The Freeholders are not operating under any time constraints. 

But I had to know, just who is paying for four plus years of charter drafting? 

"We chose to fund this," Jack explained, "without taxpayer dollars.  Initially the county commissioners offered us $35,000 per year, but we decided this shouldn't cost the taxpayers anything."  That 35 grand would also have come with some strings firmly attached, like subjecting the Freeholders to the State's Open Meetings Act, or creating the opportunity for their efforts to be thwarted by some technicality at the state or county level. 
 

It is exciting to see such fundamental changes taking place, especially with Libertarians helping to guide the effort.  If and when Skamania adopts their new charter, one hopes to see the "domino theory" kick in, where county governments around Washington are toppled and replaced with limited-power, libertarian-led, freedom-preserving institutions. 

But that can't happen without you. 

If you want to bring"home rule" to your county, then step one is to read the Washington State Constitution, Article XI, Section 4.  There is a link from the LPWS web site (click Member Services from the home page), or request a mailed copy from the Executive Director. 

For more details, contact Lori or Jack Loranger at 162 Krogstab, Prindle, WA 98671-7605 or email to 71230.66@compuserve.com. 

Thornton, a Seattle freelance writer, is the LPWS Public Relations Chair, and the Activism Workshop Chair for the 1998 state convention.  Contact Washington Libertarianif you'd like to see a convention workshop on home rule (city and/or county).  

Libertarians in office 
Gearhart already making headlines! 

John Gearhart doesn't waste time.  He was just elected to an open seat on Palouse city council, has already attended his first meeting, and been profiled on page one of the Moscow-Pullman Daily News (11/17/97).  All quotes here are from the Daily News interview. 

Gearhart's major campaign issue was opposition to his city's proposed comprehensive plan.  "I just want to kill the plan.  That's the main reason I ran for city council." 

John states flatly, "It's Orwellian in nature," by opposing property rights.  "It's as if they are trying to use government planning to resolve all the little irritations in their lives." 

John acknowledged the good intentions of city planners, and says "I don't want to throw sand in their gears."  But he will move to delay final action until the new council takes office. 

John acknowledges a plan is required of all cities by the state, but says that shouldn't matter.  "Why do we take everything the state says?  If people would just stick up for their rights, they could preserve them." 

Gearhart also inserted a perfect plug for the LPWS, as a defender of individual liberties.  "If it passes, and if they start getting heavy-handed with people, I will raise it as an issue with the Libertarian Party."  (The newspaper noted John's position as LPWS Campaigns Chair.) 

Gearhart's first meeting included council's first look at the next budget.  Here again, John showed his populist streak by opposing the size of pay raises for city employees. 

"I hate to be the hardnose here, but our employees are well paid," asserts Gearhart, a small-business owner.  "I told them we could cut wages by 10 percent and still have people standing in line for the jobs." 

Having made his point, John then showed his political savvy.  He won't actually propose a wage cut, "But I don't see any reason for 3 to 5 percent raises." 

Gearhart gives good interview, and WL believes his rhetoric will resonate with voters.  But unless we're in office, the media doesn't much care about our views. 
 

 

The more we do, the more we grow 

The growth of the Libertarian Party has been exciting, particularly in recent times.  The goal is to continue increasing party membership to give us a larger pool of resources from which to draw for candidates and other vital party functions.  

The question is how to keep growing, especially as rapidly as we desire.  Success 97, which I and another LPWS officer recently attended in Los Angeles, is a program I highly recommend for all devoted to spreading liberty via our only vehicle which can affect change; the Libertarian Party.  

There was so much information that it could take up an entire issue of Washington Libertarian.  Therefore, this will focus on one idea aimed at growing membership.  Holding in-home, project-oriented parties instead of formal meetings has been suggested in Washington Libertarian and in LPWS projects/fundraising letters.  Let's now add some details. 
 

First a little background... The LPWS consists of regional organizations whose thriving is vital to LPWS success.  These regions are large and spread out.  It is difficult to get someone in Pullman to drive to Spokane for a meeting, just as it is to get someone to drive from Auburn to to a Bellevue meeting. 

On top of that, have you ever gone to a regular LP meeting, listened to the speaker, left the meeting and done nothing else to advance liberty until the next meeting?  We are all busy and need to make the most effective use of our time.  If we are going to ask ourselves to take time each month or so to work for liberty, shouldn't we make the best, most productive use of our time? 
 

Let's go to a party... Suppose instead, a person in each city or community was willing to host a potluck party in their home regularly.  These parties would be project oriented, and the projects would consist of a recipe, broken down by ingredients (tasks) which are individually manageable.  We can't reasonably take on monumental projects by ourselves and hope to finish them.  However, we can take on smaller tasks as part of a larger project.  Or, we could take on less complex projects.  

For example, it would be hopeless to think one of us could call the entire membership to update the database with fax numbers and email addresses to improve communications.  However, we could reasonably call 5 or 10 people at our leisure.  This would accomplish something between meetings, yet it is small and do-able.  Or we could volunteer to write one letter to the editor to any newspaper we like on any subject we want this month. 

There are conceivably hundreds or even thousands of projects, large and small, that will incrementally help increase our membership and the number of people in public office.  These projects can be community or politically oriented.  

For example, it can be as simple as wearing Libertarian Party clothing or a lapel pin at an event you would normally attend, such as a Lion's Club function or bike race, or putting a bumper sticker on your car.  Or it can be as challenging as running for State Representative or another office.  

Some other ideas for projects would be to have an information booth at a street fair, flea market, and county fair or rock concert.  Or someone could start a local Libertarian Toastmasters group.  These projects would be broken down into manageable steps to make completion easy.  Other ideas include getting a representative to attend Toastmasters, Rotary, Kiwanis or Lions Club meetings, or hammering nails for Habitat for Humanity.  

The Executive Committee is working on ideas for projects, which will be copied to all Regional Representatives and Chairs for use if they are interested.  If any of you have ideas, please let your Regional Chair or Representative know.  

Sharing ideas is important.  The more we do, the more we grow.  

The more we grow, the more candidates we can run and support.  Regardless of our particular passion within the movement, we must elect people to office in order to limit government so we can realize our personal desires for liberty 
 

Back to the party... Imagine at this party there is a bulletin board, and on the bulletin board are several envelopes with project names on them, and steps for completion enclosed. If the project will cost anything, the cost is listed on the envelope. During the party, the host can occasionally take a project off the bulletin board, describe it and see if anyone is interested. If not, at any time during the party, anyone can go up to the envelopes and see if there is a project for them.  

These projects could come under  categories of Membership, Public Relations and Campaigns, to help people narrow down their interests. If someone is unable to devote time right now, they may be willing to donate money toward a project happening instead. 
 

The results... Perry Willis has used this successfully in San Diego County (then the largest party in the country aside from California and the LPUS) and is now using the idea successfully in Arlington, VA. 

January convention announced 
West King LP seeks activist leadership 

December and January meetings to revise bylaws, elect 8-9 positions 

"We're hoping to attract the activist style of leadership that I see in the newly formed regions," says Scott Semans, vice-chair for West King County.  Semans is also proposing new bylaws to increase both opportunities and stability within our largest chapter.  

The December 11th meeting is for proposing bylaws, with officer elections and bylaw adoption on January 22nd.  (See Announcements Calendar) 

West King is home to 25.5% of LPWS members, which earns the region an extra Rep on the ExecComm.  In recent years, the region succumbed to the same "Volunteer Virus" that had infected the state party--officers moved away, or no longer had time to serve.  New leaders did not step forward.  The Liberty Supper Club, even with great speakers and a Public Access Cable slot, had dropped to a handful of members per month -- with recent attendance more than tripling. 

The "revitalization" plan was developed by Semans and Kevin Bjornson.  (Bjornson runs the supper club, subsidizing it with personal funds.)  The goal is to provide several top leadership openings, but also assure continuity in the key areas of finance and administration. 

Semans will run for Secretary, to continue managing the database and member mailings.  Bjornson will run for Treasurer, to continue subsidizing the supper club for now.  Semans concludes, "I don't foresee anyone jumping up to take  these administrative tasks, but who knows?" 

Other open positions are Chair, Vice Chair, and two ExecComm Reps.  To avoid further bouts with Volunteer Virus, Semans proposes bylaws to create standing alternates for the Reps.  A new countywide Campaigns Chair and committee is being explored with the East King chapter.  All West King members will receive a mailed announcement of the January meeting/convention. 

Scott and Kevin have provided the opportunity.  It's now up to the rank and file to show up and run or vote.    Staying home will do nothing to advance liberty in Seattle and the western suburbs.  
 

Regional convention 
Pierce County roars back! 

by Brien P. Bartels 
 

The gap has been filled. 

Pierce County, recently a vast chasm south of King County, again has a Libertarian presence.  And this regional chapter threatens to pace all the other affiliates with new and innovative tactics for outreach and seeking public office. 

A reorganizing convention was held Nov. 2nd at the Gig Harbor home of LPWS activist and Regional Organizer, Kelly Haughton.  The delegates and observers, both new libertarians and libertarians who have been in the political wilderness for years, hurried through a streamlined business session.  There followed the usual painful process of choosing officers for the party, as the delegates weighed activism against work and family time.  There is, of course, room for more Pierce County members to get involved. 

Kelly Haughton was elected regional chair.  David Franta, Bill Ryan, and Dan Johnson were elected to the vice chair, treasurer and secretary posts.  Ben Helms, a self-described "computer geek", volunteered to manage the chapter's database.  Helms also represent the region on the state ExecComm.  Franta is the Alternate. 

The delegates planned their next gathering to be part political and part festive, in the form of a holiday bash in Tacoma.  (See Announcements Calendar)  There will be plenty of time for activism after the members get to know each other. 

But the chapter is all business when it comes to using new tactics to recruit members and influence public policy.  The party's draft strategic plan calls for running selected candidates in 1998, winning non-partisan races in 1999, and running a strong campaign for the legislature after that. 

But winning elections isn't the only way to practice politics. 

Haughton produced a two-sided, single-spaced paper listing dozens of open seats on boards, commissions and committees that are just waiting for libertarians to walk in and ask for them.  And, as any observer of Pierce County politics knows, those entities are in dire need of the injection of sense that a single libertarian would provide.  (Haughton wrote about the ins and outs of seeking board appointments in the October Washington Libertarian.) 

Haughton also stressed the importance of being present, if not highly visible, in community organizations, such as the Chamber of Commerce, Scouts, and churches.  There's no need to show your party membership card to everyone.  Just hang out, meet new people, and sound the occasional note of sanity. 

The reborn Pierce County Libertarian Party fills an important gap in LPWS coverage of the state's populations centers.  The Party now can reach thousands of pragmatic, middle-class voters, and recruit from colleges and universities in and around Tacoma--the state's third largest city.  Expect to read more here about Pierce County Libertarians in the years ahead. 

Bartels, a Tacoma native, now lives and works in Port Townsend as assistant editor for Liberty Magazine.  Also a freelance writer, Brien has volunteered to provide PR for his home region.     

Regional convention 
First-ever Kitsap County LP formed, 
starts with 33% attendance 
 

Regional Organizer Ron Ralstin did an outstanding job in a region which had never been organized.  On a dreary and rainy evening, one-third of the county membership showed up as delegates--100% of those who said they'd attend.  Not bad for only 39 members. 

Although new, the chapter is unusually blessed with talent and experience.  Ralstin's organizing flair was recognized with a quick nomination to the post of regional chair, which he declined citing business demands.  He was later elected Vice Chair. 

David Creech, elected as chair, is a recent transplant from the California LP, where he represented the large San Diego chapter on that state's Executive Committee.  Creech immediately asked for the regional database, to start setting up a Letters-to-the-Editor tree.  "With enough different writers," he says, "we can get a Libertarian letter published every week."  Creech also suggested electing both a Representative and an Alternate to the state ExecComm, an idea also adopted later by Pierce and Snohomish Counties. 

Clarica Laubscher, treasurer, worked for Reason Magazine in the early 1970s, and claims to have then known every libertarian on the west coast.  Imagine your grandmother ... with an attitude.  And a hearty laugh.  Laubscher brings a unique style to the Treasurer's role--pounding on the table and demanding money.  (She got enough to open a bank account and post office box.) 

John Thorne was elected Secretary.  John Wiegenstein is Regional Rep to the ExecComm, with Dan Seaver as his Alternate.  The Membership Chair is Jon Kott. 

The new chapter may also have a free and secure permanent meeting site, at Jester's Coffee House in Port Orchard (owned by a party member).   See Announcements Calendar for their first "regular" meeting. 

Each region has a different personality.  This is a laid back, fun, group, typical of the peninsula.  But they are determined to create a Libertarian presence and influence in their communities.  

Regional convention 
Snohomish County LP reorganizes,  
combines energy and experience 
 

Snohomish was the second convention, after Pierce, to skip the dinner meeting and get right down to business. 

Tony Smullin, Regional Organizer, had originally phoned members to discuss a combined dinner and business meeting.  But instead of dinner, most members wanted to spend the time planning and discussing party goals and activities for the new chapter. 

Smullin was elected Chair, and provides the energy level for organizing and growing the chapter.  Long-time LP activist and candidate, Bill McCord, provides seasoned experience as Vice Chair. 

Turnout was light, so the offices of Secretary and Treasurer were combined for now in Mark Kifowit.  Larry McLaren represents the region at state ExecComm meetings, with Gordon Bohnke as Alternate. 

McCord captivated delegates (and your editor) by drawing on his experience as both a candidate and activist.  McCord's campaigns have been unusually well managed.  In one legislative race, he saturated the district with low-cost TV ads, on CNN.  As an outreach project, Bill convinces newsstands to carry Liberty magazine, then sends people there to buy it. 

The first post-convention meeting will be on January 17th.  (See Announcements Calendar)  Based on Smullin's phone calls, the chapter starts with roughly a dozen people eager to get involved--and a small but committed leadership. 
 

Regional Reports 

Spokane Region  
The latest effort at obtaining signatures for I-200 was held at a Spokane gun show, where volunteers collected about 160 signatures.  Based on the latest guesstimate, Spokane region has collected roughly 2/3 of the I-200 signatures by the LPWS, with 9% of statewide party membership. 

The chapter is now a participant in Habitat for Humanity, a private sector initiative that rehabs homes for needy families. 

Regional board elections will be be held at the March meeting (2nd Monday).  Now is the 
time to get the SCLP moving—with your candidacy, so consider running for office! 
 

Election Musings .... 

by Mike Hihn, Executive Director 
 

Statewide initiatives had special interest for Libertarians, with both guns and drugs.  I went to bed on election night, probably like most LPers, thinking we'd won one and lost one.  But I received morning email with a different spin on the drug initiative. 

"Legalizing crack, smack and LSD was more popular than registering handguns.  And despite a 'conservative' turnout, legalization was even more popular than Ellen Crasswell.  Legalization is less than ten years away." 

Agreed, if we talk medicalization instead of legalization--and honestly include all drugs.  "Yes, I include heroin.  If some medical researcher discovers a heroin-based cure tomorrow, do we start saving lives--or start gathering signatures again?"  As Libertarians, our first goal must be to get nonviolent drug offenders out of jail. 
 
 
Likely NON-voters were a key factor in two closely-watched Libertarian campaigns.  We believe non-voters might be a good source of potential votes, but we don't do anything about it. 

The Sabrin campaign for New Jersey governor accepted state matching funds, which provided a little-appreciated side benefit.  Sabrin is the first Libertarian candidate to be included in formal exit polls.  (Let me know if you'd like a copy.)  Sabrin finished with 4.9% overall, but polled a relatively staggering 13% among self-described non-voters. 

Sabrin had big bucks.  For a more typical Libertarian campaign, look to Michigan.  Barb Goushow, easily the best Libertarian campaign manager, won a mid-size city council race.  Her candidate ran an explicitly Libertarian campaign, and finished a hair behind the top vote-getter for six at-large seats. 

The difference:  Goushow saw opponents following standard practice, and barraging likely voters with direct mail.  Her budget was too small to compete directly.  So she mailed a single postcard to registered non-voters. 

Did it work?  Voter turnout was 25% higher than in recent years.  That's not conclusive proof.  But combined with the Sabrin exit polls, it works for me.  Target registered non-voters.  There are a lot of them, and they've already rejected the older parties. 
 
 
Here in Washington, we can take pride in John Gearhart's win.  He was unopposed, but ran an anti-establishment campaign, did not hide his libertarianism, and finished only 13 votes behind the top vote-getter. 

Jim Campton polled 30% for Federal Way School Board.  He may have been blind-sided by a late editorial in that community's newspaper, which suggested the popular Superintendent might quit if Campton won.  Those are code words to public-school watchers.  Superintendents are known to work quietly to oppose board candidates, through the PTA, Boosters Clubs, etc. 

John Tyson never waivered from his original goal for Lacey Fire District.  He was a winner just by filing, attended every candidate event, but put very little of his own money into the effort, and returned two large contributions.  His vote increased 30% from the primary.  It was a learning experience, probably more typical for most of our reluctant candidates, and he will run again. 
 

 
Executive Committee - November  
First-ever formal budget includes regional support 
 

The board approved its first-ever formal budget, for the balance of this fiscal year--January through July.  A formal accounting system has been in place since July.  

The budget includes a new level of regional support, at $125 per month.  As proposed by Director Mike Hihn, the LPWS would eventually be sharing dues revenues with qualified regions.  If dollars are not placed into our cost structure now, they may never be available.  

Details still need to be worked out for each region; newer and/or smaller regions may have different needs.  But the budgeted sum should provide printing and mailing costs for quarterly newsletters in each region.  Another proposal is that each region could schedule two "outreach" functions per year, and the LPWS would mail invitations to the entire database of members and prospects (2000 in West King alone), plus place ads in community newspapers and provide professional PR support.  On average, the budget is roughly $1.75 per member per year. 

In other action, the Lending Library created in July was scrapped and replaced with a different concept.  The library, intended to provide member access to a variety of books, audio- and videotapes, has greater demands than originally anticipated. 

For example, a Libertarian video would be an excellent meeting attraction in smaller regions, Town Committees, or informal "living room" meetings--much as larger regions now use a featured speaker.  Advocates for Self-Government produces a set of videos, created for Public Access cable TV.  If purchased, individual videos could circulate through each region for local broadcast. 

Starting in January, party members will be asked to contribute books and tapes.  For purchases, "Lending Library" will become a new Designated Fund for contributions.  Applications for a volunteer Librarian, with Project Manager status, are solicited elsewhere. 

In other action, the board began creating its first-ever written Policy Manual.  The intent is to create written policy, as and if needed, rather than working from an ivory tower approach.  The Director's single-signature check signing authority was increased, for large printing jobs where the lowest-cost printers typically require cash. The second policy requires an independent annual audit of the party's books. 

Tom Stahl and Pat Michl urged board members to join the ACLU, and help move that organization closer to the LP on matters other than free speech.  The state party already has one formal liaison to the NRA (Treasurer Ken Houghton).  The combination of NRA and ACLU would demonstrate something uniquely ... libertarian.  Neither left nor right. 
 

Clinton attacks equal rights 

If we are all truly to get along, we must dismantle the government policies that divide us. 
 
 
"Shall government be prohibited from discriminating or granting preferential treatment based on race, sex, color, ethnicity, or national origin in public employment education and contracting?"  

That is the question posed by the Washington State Civil Rights Initiative (I-200).  One would think that all Americans would support the position that we are all created equal and that government should not treat anyone differently based on the nature of their birth.  

Alas, in trying to right wrongs previously perpetrated by government, a new form of discrimination was launched in the form of government quotas, set-asides, and mandatory preferences.  But, as an old saying goes, "Two wrongs do not make a right." 

President Clinton called for a dialogue on race and created a Commission on Race.  All members chosen were like-minded individuals who believe that all whites harbor "unconscious racism".  Ward Connerly of Prop. 209 fame in California, who is spearheading anti-discrimination efforts nationally, was not invited.  

More recently, a presidential advisory board held a meeting on higher education, excluding those who questioned government preferential policies.  The panel's chairman, John Hope Franklin stated that opponents "had nothing to contribute to the discussion"--so much for dialogue!  

Facing criticism for this exclusivity, White House aides succumbed and asked Abigail Thernstrom, co-author of America in Black and White: One National Indivisible, to participate in the discussion--claiming they wanted to hear a variety of views.  

President Clinton doesn't think parents are teaching their children to be tolerant and unbiased, so he has called for more diversity training programs in the school.  "Don't you think you almost have to have an organized effort to do it?  There would almost have to be some sort of club or organization at the school--because if you think about it, your parents are still pretty well separated."  

Oh, really, Mr. President?  

The Bureau of the Census reports that intermarriages between blacks and whites are on the rise.  Since 1970, the number of interracial marriages has grown from less than 400,000 to more than 1.5 million--without a government program!  But in government-run schools, a study by the Harvard Graduate School of Education shows, segregation is becoming rampant, as it is in institutions of higher learning where preferential policies are employed. 

The President's argument that people of different races will not voluntarily associate with each other, i.e., that they must be forced by government to tolerate or love each other, is patently absurd.  In the private sector, interracial marriages and associations occur voluntarily.  In places of higher education, where quotas and racial policies are pursued, students are segregating themselves from each other--and those who associate with those not of "their kind" are hated.  
 

Recently in Spokane, student response to racial incidents has been to urge Gonzaga University to make courses in diversity part of the "core curriculum" and to strengthen the commitment to affirmative action.  This is all supposed to be part of the effort to curb hate crimes.  In fact, these very programs and policies have fueled distrust, hatred, and fear between races and sexes.  

Another aspect to be considered is that opposing government discrimination/preferences may brand a person as a hater.  Imagine--it may one day be possible to be guilty of a hate crime for disagreeing with government preferential policies! 

Institutionalized government discrimination (i.e., preferences of some groups over others) was defended by liberal supporters as being necessary to atone for the sins of our ancestors.  I believe this is a false argument. Some white ancestors owned slaves, others did not; some white ancestors were racists, others were not; some white ancestors were even indentured servants.  

If it's true that affirmative action and quotas are needed to right historical wrongs, we would need to set up preferences for many groups including American Indians, Japanese- Americans (interned in WWII) and, I'm sure, many other victims of various government actions and policies. These victim groups would have to be given preference--generation after generation.  
 
 
Misguided liberalsbelieve that government can make life fair and eliminate inequities.  Government cannot do this.  But, while government can and must respect the rights of all to pursue their dreams, it cannot guarantee the outcomes will be the same for all.  If we are all truly to get along, we must dismantle the government policies that divide us. 

To foster a harmonious society, government must not pass laws against any group or individual.  Government must get out of the way and let people pursue their dreams as they choose and are able.  

Considering the government's shenanigans and their misguided attempts to foster harmony, which really have served to divide us, it is all the more crucial to send government a message:  "We're fed up and we're not going to take it any more." 

Let's rally in these last remaining days (we have until December 22, 1997) to get the Washington State Civil Rights Initiative (I-200) on the ballot!  
 

Moerschel chairs the Libertarian Party of Spokane County. 
   

Case Casts Doubt On "Date Rape" Dogma 

Accused murderers are often acquitted--or never charged--because the crime occurred in the heat of passion and the victim prompted the attack in some outrageous way ... 
 
 
Spokane's Spokesman-Review reported recently on the furor caused in the newsroom after the newspaper ran an editorial suggesting that women must sometimes shoulder some responsibility for "date rape." 

The commentary followed a news story involving a female student at the North Idaho College in Coeur d'Alene who had attended a campus party, became intoxicated, put on a strip show and lewd dance for the edification of the male party-goers, and then accompanied two equally inebriated male students to their dorm room. After necking for a while with one of the young men on a bed in the room, the tart apparently decided to call it a night. As you might expect, her companion had other ideas. She now accuses him of rape. 

The editorial modestly suggested that while rape is never excusable, women must nonetheless bear some responsibility for making sure it doesn't happen to them--that actions have consequences. "If a woman demands the right to be a promiscuous fool, like so many men today, she shouldn't expect society to embrace her as a victim when she gets burned." 

In a counterpoint piece appearing at the same time, Managing Editor Scott Sines accused the Editorial Board of hypocrisy--on the one hand, it wants to make sure women who behave brazenly in the dating arena are held accountable for their actions. But the only way for society to hold this woman accountable is to dismiss the rape charge, which the Board emphasized it was not advocating.  

So let me propose what the Editorial Board in its politically correct timidity would not: that the rape charges in this and similar cases should indeed be dismissed.  

The dogma currently being assiduously peddled by victimologists on the political Left is that "No" always means no, that rape is never excusable, that rape victims must never be blamed for what happened to them. 
 

The first claim is preposterous on its face. Everyone older than sixteen knows that in the mating game "No" often does not mean no. Instead, it means "Wait 'til I've had a couple more drinks," or "Not yet--I don't want you to think I'm too easy," or "My prudish upbringing won't let me say 'yes' outright, but if you were to get carried away, what could I do?" To pretend otherwise is an attempt to replace ancient reality with a pop social agenda.  

 And if rape is never excusable and rape victims must never be held responsible for the attacks on them,  then that is the only crime for which that is the case. Accused murderers are often acquitted--or never charged--because the crime occurred in the heat of passion and the victim prompted the attack in some outrageous way (a defense, we may note, currently favored by feminists in spousal homicide cases). And police would not likely take too seriously a theft complaint from someone who admitted placing his wallet on a park bench and walking away from it--just to see if someone might be tempted.  

In other words, whether any particular violent act constitutes a crime depends on various circumstances--including the prior conduct of the "victim."  

The newspaper's editorial apparently provoked a virtual rebellion in the newsroom. To restore peace, the editors allowed disgruntled staffers to air their disagreement in print. In their piece, reporters Kelly McBride and Jim Camden suggested that adopting the editors' stance would mean a store owner would be held responsible for his own robbery because he took his eye off the till, or a mother would be blamed for a kidnapping because she turned her head in a park.  

Those analogies are disingenuous and silly. The young woman in Coeur d'Alene did not merely take her eye off her clothes, permitting some lecherous opportunist to remove them. She removed them herself. And she did not enter the boys' dorm room through some innocent lapse, perhaps mistaking it for her own room, only to be thrown onto a bed and raped. She entered the room freely, climbed on the bed with one of her escorts, and commenced sexual preliminaries.  

Opponents of the Spokesman-Review's editorial position worry that if a woman's conduct prior to a rape may be held against her, then every woman who is raped will find herself on trial along with the rapist. There is certainly some truth to this--every rapist's attorney will attempt to show that the victim "invited" the attack. Not a pleasant prospect for victims of actual rapes. 
 

But that is how it must be. Just because "No" does not always mean no. Sometimes it does, but sometimes it doesn't. Deciding what it really meant in a particular case requires prosecutors and jurors to consider all of the circumstances, including the conduct of the "victim" before and while she was saying "No." Did her actions taken as a whole give her date reasonable grounds to doubt she meant no?  

Our choice here is one between artificially making things easier for rape victims by pretending women have no power to control what happens to them, or insisting on personal responsibility for men and women alike. The latter is infinitely more important--and in the long run will prevent far more rapes.  

Morton, a political columnist, is also the Spokane County LP's Regional Rep to the State Executive Committee. 
 

Ed. Note:  We had asked for local "horror" stories of government abuse.  The first letter was obtained by Tom Stahl, from a non-member. Gene Hopp is a leading activist in the East King County LP. 

No such thing as a free lunch? 

There is a federally (taxpayer) funded United States Department of Agriculture Summer Food Service Program providing "free" lunches in Ellensburg, WA. The government free summer lunch program lasts approximately 6 weeks (June 17 - July 31) and is served at Mt. Stuart Elementary School.  The program is operated by the Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public instruction. 

Anyone aged 2 - 18 may show up between 11:30 AM and 12:30 PM at Mt. Stuart Elementary School in Ellensburg, WA and receive a free lunch. Adults may purchase the same lunch for $2.50. This is a free lunch, but once you are in line it is mandatory that 3 food groups be put on your plate, regardless of whether you want all of them or plan on eating all of them. 

If the child gets full before eating all the food, the food must go into the garbage. The child is not allowed to take any food out of the building for any reason. Adults may not eat food that children take, even though it will end up in the garbage -- unless the adult purchases a lunch and then the adults may eat their children's unwanted food. 

There are "food cops" (cafeteria monitors) roaming around the cafeteria enforcing these absurd rules. The program is also subject to audit by federal inspectors (undercover cops?) to make sure the rules are being followed. 

My child aged 6 told me "Mommy this doesn't make sense that I have to take 3 foods and that you can't eat what I don't want." I answered, "Yes sweetheart, this doesn't make sense, but it is typical of government." 

Cyndi Tilton
Ellensburg

Education in the nanny state 

Well, I guess I'm in another flap with Bellevue Community College.  I just got their winter schedule and it includes the usual idiotic, sexist, NEA-style, nonsense. 

On page 9, I see an Equal Opportunity/Antidiscrimination statement that reads in part, "BCC does not discriminate on the basis of ... sex ... the presence of any sensory, mental or physical disability."  My first question is:  how do they differentiate between successful and unsuccessful students in light of the second claim? 

I then look for "gender studies" and can only find three pages of "Women's Studies".  Two of the courses are Divorce, Money and You and Financial Planning After Divorce.  So I call Jean Floten's office and her secretary(?) tells me the course is also open to men!  Interested?  There are also courses on The Parenting Plan and The Truth about Single Parenting. 

There's also a half-page (110) ad hyping "Women in Transition" (code word) and what one can learn in the Women's Dept.  Who paid for that? 

Now I wonder ... if the Athletic Dept. was called "Men's Sports", but also open to women, how long would it last under that name?  These courses are prep programs for women getting divorces at taxpayer expense. 

I'm going to rail at them a bit and write a few letters, but I don't know how far I can take it.  Any advice is appreciated.  Calls to Ms. Jean Floten (425-641-2301) might be helpful.  I realize this goes on in every college in the US, but it's outrageous.  Check your own local college. 
 
 

Fraternally,
Gene Hopp, Bellevue