Published bimonthly by the Libertarian Party of Washington State

Contents copyright (c) 1998 by Washington Libertarian. Any material may be reproduced with credit to the author and to Washington Libertarian.

For the latest on events, speakers, etc., see the ''Updates'' Calendar on the main LPWS web site, http://LPWS.org/events.htm.

Washington Libertarian Party Advances

We did a lot better than the Republicans! The GOP lost ground, both here and around the country. Libertarians continued advancing across the board.

One prime example is Jim Brown's campaign in the 41st legislative district, primarily Bellevue and Mercer Island. Facing an entrenched GOP incumbent, Brown took 16% of the vote.

This was his first attempt at public office.

Because minor parties nominate before the primaries, the feisty Brown had over 100 campaign signs on the street before his opponent even filed. "It seemed only fair to warn her I was coming," Brown smiles. "And I'll be back in two years, a good deal wiser."

Mike Harrington also ran his first race, in Benton County's 8th legislative district and finished with an impressive 15.7%.

Libertarians can also look forward to the effects of the libertarian-toned ballot measures, the Medical Marijuana Act and the Civil Rights Initiative, both of which won overwhelmingly. O

National speakers to attend Success '99

Just in time for the 1999 campaign season, the seminar that teaches you how to seize political power is visiting Washington State.

Success '99, the two-day teach-in for aspiring candidates and organizers (including campaign managers), will be held on February 6th and 7th in the Seattle area. The cost is $79.

National director Steve Dasbach said the seminar will have a different focus than Success '97, this time concentrating on organizing, campaigning, and winning local elections.

The Success '99 faculty will include LP HQ staff, Libertarian National Committee members, and, said Dasbach, "other experienced activists, such as candidates, campaign managers, and state and local chairs."

State Public Relations chair Brien Bartels said the seminar is just the beginning. "We hope that libertarians from all over the state will attend and take this information back to their regions, and lead some mini-Success seminars to extend the reach of this program," he said.

Contact Carol Miller for more information or to sign up. O

Outreach Projects:

Two major outreach projects are currently launching: the Speakers Bureau and Project Reach Out.

The Speakers Bureau supports libertarians to present our ideas to classrooms. Volunteer Speakers get training for the presentation itself, contact information for teachers who have already agreed to host us in their classroom, and materials to give to students.

A kickoff meeting is scheduled for Sunday, January 10th, at 1pm at Chris's home at 12512 9th Ave NW, Seattle. Please attend if you are interested in developing your public speaking ability and/or presenting to classrooms. If you would like more information, call Chip at 206-998-4846 or hwbiii@hotmail.com.

Project Reach Out is making use of the national party's daily reports on people who have just requested an information kit or who have just joined. Juan Ros, the Executive Director of the LP California, says "This is crucial outreach. Personal phone calls to inquiries helped make San Diego the largest Region in California."

It only takes a few minutes of time. Here's a sample script, borrowed from Juan: "Hello, is this John Galt? Good evening, Mr. Galt. My name is Carol Miller, and I'm calling from the Libertarian Party of East King County. I understand that you recently requested information about the Libertarian Party, and I'm calling from the local county organization to introduce myself and ask if you have any questions.

"Our next local meeting is this Thursday the 7th at (location). We would love to see you there. Would you be able to come, or would another occasion be better?"

Volunteers will have an improved web calendar from which to give directions and event details.

If you would like to call people who have made inquiries in your zip code, please contact Carol Miller. The Reach Out Leader will forward emails to you from the national LP.

Other Volunteer Oportunities:

Regional Support Manager. Primarily assist with regional newsletters, final layout in a provided template. Regions supply all copy, of roughly the proper length. Requires Publisher98, or this may be provided.

Assistant Editor, Washington Libertarian. Bimonthly, convert the printed newsletter into an online edition. Requires HTML editing software.

Photographers. The more, the merrier! Members are encouraged to take and submit photographs for use in this newsletter and our website.

Proofread. Proofread documents like this newsletter, communication by fax.

Whatever YOU think is important. State party leadership wants to support you. Let the appropriate person know what you're doing so that we don't cross wires.

Help the party save money on announcements by volunteering your email address at db@LPWS.org.

Except where noted, contact Carol Williams if you want to help out. O

Since this is the final newsletter of 1998, it seems appropriate to review our goals and what steps we are taking to achieve them.

GOAL #1. Our primary goal as Libertarians is to see our policy enacted into law. The easiest way to achieve this is to convince those already in power to do it. However, given we were deceived by "new" Democrats in 1992 and by "limited government" Republicans in 1994, each saying one thing while doing another, we need to prepare to govern, and we are.

ACTION. The first step in passing our policy into law is to inform Washingtonians what our policy is. We all realize utopia is not an option, so our policy must solve problems in a way that will appeal to the mainstream while conveying our beliefs and taking a giant step toward our ideals.

The action we are taking to achieve that first step is to present widely publicized policy proposals to all interested Washingtonians at a rate of one issue per month beginning in January. Issues presented before our next state convention will include Taxation, Education, Social Security, Health Care and Environmental Policy.

We intend to present each one at a public event first, then sell videos and written copies and publish the proposal on the web.

The Libertarian Party will become the opposition voice in Washington State, as Republicans will risk no political capital to articulate clear stances.

GOAL #2. The next step is to put more Libertarians in public office.

ACTION. Kelly Haughton, a man with a passion for seeing more Libertarians in local office, is chairing a committee to recruit candidates for 1999 races. If you would consider running for anything from an appointed board or commission to Port Commissioner, please contact Kelly at Haughtons@aol.com. He can help you discover what positions are open in your town and county.

GOAL #3. The other goal we must achieve in the near future is Major Party Ballot Status, which requires garnering at least 5% of the vote in a statewide race. We have an unusual window of opportunity in the year 2000, as State Membership Chair Brett Wilhelm will explain. This step in our growth will add new stature to our party as well as eliminate the need for each of our candidates to jump the hurdle of holding nominating conventions and gathering signatures during those conventions in order to appear on the ballot. As Mr. Wilhelm says, it is a milestone we must pass along the way.

ACTION. Brett Wilhelm is leading this effort and getting the pledges required to hire a professional manager to achieve Major Party Ballot Status, pending board approval to proceed with the project at the next SEC meeting January 9.

The beauty of each of these goals is that most people have a strong desire to see one of them achieved more than the others. Through the efforts of each of us following our passion and contributing in our own way, we will achieve all three goals with ease. Please contact Carol Williams to discuss the part you can play.

Thanks to each of you for your support this year. We look forward to your continued support as we accelerate our growth in 1999.

Happy Holidays Mary Maas. O

Clallam County Convention Caucus

Vice Chair Aaron Grahn reports that the Clallam County LP will hold its convention Saturday, May 15, 1999. The convention location will be decided at the next meeting, but the Sequim Masonic Lodge is one of the locations being considered.

"If it's at all possible, we want to have a barbecue, with hot dogs, soda, and balloons," said Grahn. "A guest speaker may be engaged."

The party plans to endorse three candidates in 1999:mayoral races in Port Angeles and Sequim, the County Commissioner race, and seats on three city councils.

McCord Takes Snohomish Chair; Rathjen is Gray's Harbor Chair

The Snohomish county Libertarian Party elected Bill McCord chair on Nov. 21, replacing Tony Smullin. Other officers are Vice Chair: Bill Wald; Secretary: Paul Erickson; Treasurer: Tony Smullin; and Regional Rep: Gordon Bohnke.

The party agreed to get behind the $30 License Tab initiative, Larey McLaren, former regional rep, said.

"We had eleven attendees, including at least one prospective new member," McLaren added. The party's next meeting will be Saturday, January 16th at 3 pm in the Everett Public Library meeting room.

Gray's Harbor County now has an LP affiliate, chaired by veteran activist Art Rathjen. Other officers are Vice Chair: Bill Wolper; Secretary: Joanna Parker; and Treasurer: Bob Dome.

Archives and Informal Library

Chris Caputo has offered to host Party archives and materials for loan. If you would like to donate any materials, or borrow from the library, plan to attend one of the many events that he hosts in his Seattle home.

Interim Director Appointed

An Interim Executive Director, Carol Miller, was appointed during the November 14 State Executive Committee (SEC) meeting, pending confirmation of a permanent Executive Director at the next SEC meeting January 9, 1999. The State Executive Committee wishes to thank Mike Hihn for his previous service in that position and assistance in the transition.

Anyone else interested in applying for this position should contact State Chair Mary Maas. O

Hayden Steps Down

Whatcom County Chair Tom Hayden stepped down, it was announced Nov. 16, to pursue interests other than politics. Hayden was also a commissioner of the Deming Diking District.

Town Committees Organize
Bellevue, Kirkland first in the state

On October 3rd, the East King County LP sponsored a "Town Committee Bash" in Bellevue. The event was hosted by that region's Town Committees Chair, Mike Hihn. Party members in five of the region's larger cities were invited, with individualized postcards.

Organizers said a third of those who attended had never attended a libertarian function.

The meeting was scheduled in two parts, a general discussion on town committees, followed by splitting into separate groups and actually organizing. Four cities attended the general presentation, but only Kirkland and Bellevue chose to organize that day. Rachel Hawkridge chairs the Kirkland Libertarians. Ernie Ludwick chairs the Bellevue Libertarians. Each received a printout of all local print media. Hihn advised, "Libertarians don't tend to read the local weekly papers, but these papers are far more likely to print letters and guest columns. They are the key to establishing a Libertarian presence in your community."

Town Committee Takes Action

The Kirkland City Council schedules time for citizens to comment at each meeting, which is a great opportunity for Kirkland Libertarians to offer a libertarian perspective. Kirkland Libertarians also provide information to citizens who need help with issues of liberty, law, or justice.

Gene Hawkridge pointed out that onerous taxation and legislation has driven the cost of housing in Kirkland sky high. He had council members squirming to explain that the cost of housing is impacted by many variables (and they all involve excessive government!).

At a recent meeting, Kirkland Libertarians met a man whose land was reduced from five buildable lots to three; then the remaining buildable lots were stripped away in a recent "Sensitive Areas" ordinance. The Council apparently believes that they can take this property without compensation. The property owner was given contact information for the Northwest Legal Foundation.

Kirkland Libertarians are studying the city budget and are planning to share many wonderful ideas with the Council.

See the calendar for more information. O

For more events, details, and directions, see the Events Calendar at www.LPWS.org/events.htm. No RSVP needed unless marked.

Speakers Bureau Meeting January 10th, 1pm. Home of Chris C. at 12512 9th Ave NW, Seattle. Chip, 206-998-4846. See page 12 for more info.

Success '99 February 6 & 7 as mentioned on front page.

WA Convention 99 June 12 & 13 in Bellevue, details to follow. Mark your calendar! Carol Williams, 206-781-5661.

State Executive Committee Second Saturdays of odd-numbered months. January 9th, Seattle area, details TBA

New Year's Eve Liberty Bash Home of Chris C. at 12512 9th Ave NW, Seattle.

E. King County Liberty Forum, 3rd Wednesdays. Azteca in the Bellevue Hilton, 150 112th NE. Dinner 6:30pm, meeting 7:30, speaker 8:00. $2 contribution. Ernie, 425-641-9824.

Kirkland Meet in advance of City Council meetings, 1st and 3rd Tuesdays at 6:30pm, at Wendy's 312 Central Way. Council meetings start at 7:30. Rachel, RaeHawkrij@aol.com or 425-814-4548

Grays Harbor County Saturday, January 16th at 1pm at the River Haven Restaurant in Hoquiam. Directions: (360)289-4940.

W. King County Liberty Supper Club—4th Thursdays. Oscar's II Restaurant, 2051 E. Madison in East Capitol Hill. Dinner 6:30pm, meeting 7:45. $2 contrib. Scott, 322-4180.

Benton/Franklin Counties 4th Thursdays, Godfather's Pizza, 1051 G. Washington Way, Richland. Dinner 6:30pm, meeting 7pm. Dave, 509-627-1303.

Kitsap County, 2nd Tuesdays at 6:30 pm, odd-numbered months at Round Table Pizza 3276 NW Plaza Rd., Silverdale; even-numbered months at Jester's Coffee House, 1468 Olney Ave. SE, Port Orchard. Ron, 360-479-2921.

Olympia 3rd Thursdays (1/21) at 6:30pm at the Urban Union, 116 Legion Way next to Sylvester Park, downtown. Following meeting, see "Waco, Rules of Engagement." Matt, 360-432-0162

Spokane 2nd Mondays at 7pm. Lindaman Non-Profit Center, 315 W. Mission. Frank, 509-326-7147.

Snohomish County odd-numbered months. Everett Library, Main Branch, lower meeting room, 2702 Hoyt Ave. Tony, 425-355-0543.

Tacoma January 21, 7pm, Roundtable Pizza, 7901 S. Hosmer. Michael Hamilton 253-846-1928.

Vancouver Vancouver Libertarians meet 3rd Thursdays, 7pm, Smokey's Pizza, 10411 NE Fourth Plain, Orchards, Washington. Lori or Frank, 360-837-3760. O

Mike Hihn's article titled "Major Party Status: the negatives" in the October 1998 Washington Libertarian mischaracterized the opinions of Ron Crickenberger, Political Director for the National Libertarian Party. According to Ron, "I'm afraid that Mike Hihn and I must have misunderstood each other during our conversation regarding the attempt to attain major party status in Washington. While it is likely that I discussed the possible negative aspects of major status as well as the positives with Mike, I certainly did not mean to give any impression that the LPWS should not run as many statewide and other candidates as possible—and as strong of campaigns as you can muster. And I most certainly did not mean to convey that the LPWS should delay status 'as long as possible.'"

The State Chair's column in the October 1998 Washington Libertarian stated that the Island County LP's "No on Pool Tax" PAC raised over $2,000 to send postcard advertising to more than 8,000 registered voters. The actual numbers were $1,625 and 6,265 postcards. A self-imposed ceiling on fundraising allowed the PAC to reach virtually all its targeted voters while simplifying disclosure requirements. O

Political Grief Counseling

This last election looked like a blow to believers in freedom. The sight of exultant Democrats like Patty Murray and Jay Inslee was so sickening to me personally that I wished I could obtain some medical marijuana. That's supposed to be good for nausea. But there is a certain amount of grieving going on in the wake of the election. And, as I think everybody knows, the four stages of the grieving process are Denial, Anger, Depression, and finally, Acceptance.

It is the duty of Libertarians to act as grief counselors during this difficult time for the Republicans who believe in a republic and not a theocracy. Their leaders blew an election that they had every right to expect to win, and now our mutual hopes—for tax relief and economic liberty, for caging the power of the state—are pushing up the daisies.

You will find your Republican friends in Denial, at first, typified by statements like, "We still have co-control in the House! We are still in charge!" Maybe so, but what did the Republican leadership do with their political power before now?

Your Republican acquaintances may soon progress to Anger, as the congresscritters who booted Newt have. This anger may be directed at you personally. "Why don't you libertarians get on the team!? You spoilers!" they may scream. They may threaten to join the American Heritage party and other self-destructive acts. Listen to them unjudgementally, because soon they will enter the stage of Depression.

Depression might manifest itself as forswearing of interest in politics. This stage will pass, because just about anyone who pays quarterly Business and Occupation taxes, or sends kids to a government school, or reads about the latest scandalous abridgment of our rights, will face the fact that politics pays attention to you, even if you don't pay attention to it.

Finally, if you have seen your Republican friends through this difficult time, will come Acceptance. This is the realization that life goes on, and with it, the struggle for freedom. At this point, they may be ready to start anew and join the Libertarian Party. The Republicans politicians who squandered their years in the majority will be seen for what they are: guys who talk a good game at election time, and let the Department of Revenue do the talking the rest of the time.

And speaking of talking a good game, Republican Chair Dale Foreman, after casting around for good news in the wreckage of the election, hit upon this: The Civil Rights Initiative passed by a hefty margin, and that's a Republican type of measure, so that must be the Republican victory the world has been waiting to hear about.

Dale Foreman is clearly a man in Denial. The fact is, his Republicans turned their backs on I-200 when it counted. They just let it lie there in the legislative session in 1998. And which of them rushed to its defense during the campaign when the entire Seattle media empire tried to smear the initiative as a new Jim Crow law? Now for Foreman to claim its passage as the Republican's last graspable straw. . .well, the man deserves our sympathy. And so do all the Republicans. Reach out to them in their grief. Get them to join the party that actually works for freedom. O

Grassroots Liberty

Mike Hihn has a vision. It might be said the former LPWS director isn't letting the grass grow under his feet. But, given his interest in grassroots organizing, that might be incorrect.

"We need the same support structures the older parties have," said Hihn. He describes that as a network of independent organizations and PACs that directly support party efforts. "Cato and Reason are both excellent, but they don't directly support the election of Libertarian candidates."

Hihn now has time to focus on his passion—grassroots campaigning and organizing. He's now planning a small network of organizations and publications, including a PAC, targeted for January rollout. The goal is to provide a complete package of training, financing, issues-development and professional campaign management. For now, this includes candidates for state legislature and lower.

"We need to break the cycle," Hihn explained, "where state parties now compete to see which one can run the largest number of under-financed and non-managed campaigns, each getting 2-3% of the vote."

Hihn's project will soon have its own publication, Grassroots Liberty, including a web-based resource for candidates, state and local party officers, and campaign managers around the country. For now, progress bulletins are available on the web at http://libertyissues.com, or by email mikehihn@libertyissues.com.O

A Real Human Right
Constitutional Amendment Would Restore Freedom of Association
by G. E. Morton and Janice Moerschel

Before voting on whether to expand the City of Spokane's "Human Rights" ordinance to include sexual orientation and source of income, members of the City Council might wish to take the following pop history quiz:

Question: What 20th Century nation was characterized by the following practices?:

1. Newspaper editors were obliged to check copy against government-approved lists of forbidden words and phrases before publishing;
2. Employers, educators and others conducted periodic indoctrination sessions to make sure their employees or students did not deviate from the party line;
3. Government-paid informants were recruited to infiltrate schools, workplaces, apartment buildings, public meeting places, and elsewhere to observe and report on "illegal or antisocial activities."
4. Government agents ordered citizens opposed to its policies to cease meeting and speaking publicly, under threat of fines or imprisonment.

If they answer Nazi Germany or Stalinist Russia, they will of course be right. But sadly, a correct answer would also be the United States of America.

Largely unbeknownst to the average citizen, the U.S. government has adopted all of these practices and others equally tyrannical—all in the name of enforcing what it calls, in a classic example of Orwellian doublespeak, "civil rights" laws.

Now there is, and can be, no "civil right" that someone else hire us, or do business with us. There can be no "right" to enter upon or use another's property without his or her permission, or that others admit us to their professional or fraternal organizations. There can, in short, be no "right" to force others to associate with us if they prefer not to do so, and any attempt by the State to enforce such bogus "rights" tramples upon the real rights the Bill of Rights was adopted to protect—the rights to one's life, to one's natural liberties, and to one's justly acquired property.

Until the 1960s most Americans would have listed freedom of association, along with the freedoms of speech, assembly, and religion, as a fundamental right which no government could justly deny its citizens. Civil rights were understood simply to be those peculiar rights citizens of a constitutional democracy could assert against their government—the rights to vote, to stand for public office, to be presumed innocent until proven guilty, to the equal protection of the law—with the latter meaning only that the law itself would make no distinctions among its citizens based on race or color. There was no conflict between civil rights so understood and the freedom of association—the natural rights of people to freely choose with whom they would enter into personal, professional, business, or other private relationships.

What are now disingenuously called "civil rights" laws were adopted to redress the appalling treatment of black citizens, especially in the South. But that entire Jim Crow regime—separate sections on buses and in restaurants for blacks, prohibitions against selling property in certain neighborhoods to minorities, separate school systems, etc.—was nurtured and enforced by the State. Yet, when finally becoming aware of the tragic consequences of this illegitimate exercise of State power, instead of prohibiting further State interference in private relationships, we simply shifted its aim. We moved, in barely 10 years, from a regime of State-mandated segregation to one of State-mandated integration. In the process we granted the State even more power.

As a result, choices and options Americans once took for granted are foreclosed. Women can no longer obtain the comfort and safety of an apartment in a building catering only to women, or patronize health clubs where men are not admitted. The Boy Scouts and Little Leagues can no longer offer their unique—and quite successful—methods for helping boys grow into men, for fear of offending against the new "civil rights." An immigrant with little money and broken English who starts a successful business can no longer restrict his hiring to family members of other members of his own ethnic group, thus giving them opportunities they could not obtain elsewhere, because that stands in the way of forced integration.

A concerted national effort is now getting underway to restore the freedom of association to American life. Within the next few months the following Amendment to the U. S. Constitution will be brought to the attention of Congress and the legislatures of all fifty states:

"The right of the people to freely choose with whom they will associate, for any personal, professional, commercial, or other lawful private purpose, shall not be infringed by the United States or by any State."

We can only imagine how James Madison, author of the Bill of Rights, would react if told the limited government he helped create had by the 1990s acquired the power to impose fines on its citizens for something they said in a private conversation with another citizen, or for looking at someone the wrong way while speaking to them, or for running a newspaper ad containing the words "Executive Living," or for peacefully opposing an action of the government.

Governments can neither create nor destroy rights—they can only respect or violate them. In the near future the Spokane City Council must decide which it will do.

G. E. Morton and Janice Moerschel are Communications Director and Executive Director, respectively, of the Freedom of Association National Coordinating Committee. More information on the Freedom of Association Amendment is available on the Committee's Web Site at http://www.freeassociation.org.

How to Lower Our Taxes and Win Friends
by John Tyson

The specter of Referendum 49 and the failed automobile excise tax rollback initiative have sparked discussion over the propriety of cutting revenue without first deciding which state programs will be eliminated or reduced. What we Libertarians would do in our fifteen minutes of power is design and install the smallest government that meets all constitutional mandates. Then, we would fund that government with a different combination of taxes.

But this order won't work. Analyses in Reason magazine and by the Cato Institute, among many, speculate that a key reason the 1994 Republican "Revolution" failed to "make government smaller" was the noise of groups that receive government benefits. Many authors make the case that any individual taxpayer receives an insignificant refund when a federal program is eliminated. And the doubts raised and mean-spirited accusations voiced by the recipient groups negate the value of the refund created by the elimination of one small program. "Reduce the size of the Food and Drug Administration?" they say. "Won't children die?" "I'll pay $200 more to save the children!" And so on. The noise the Republicans enjoyed for proposing the elimination of the National Endowment for the Arts and reducing the size of the Environmental Protection Agency cost the party dearly. Millions of tiny tax refunds could not have re-gained that lost political capital

The small reduction on each of millions of tax bills will not save a local legislator his seat if his district loses the employment or benefits of the program. Federal subsidy of Bonneville Power is a fine regional example. Libertarians argue that the constitution neither guarantees Northwesterners inexpensive power nor requires residents of Wisconsin to pay for it. But Linda Smith would be a Senator-elect today if only Patty Murray had crossed her wires and argued to stop subsidizing the BPA. State pork is in similar abundance.

Libertarians can gain good press by taking on unpopular taxes. Our answer to the rhetoric that "important programs will die" lies in rapid-fire questions: "Which programs?" "How much will they suffer?" "Have you prioritized state programs to serve the most with the fewest dollars?" "How have you improved the efficiency of service delivery (i.e. can we get rid of 26,000 state employees)?" "Is it unconstitutional to eliminate this program?" And an opportunity to ask those questions is coming up.

The sponsors of the last summer's initiative that would have nearly eliminated car tab fees are preparing for another attempt. Dubbed "The $30 License Tab Initiative," this bill, should it pass, will add to the color of our state's law-making process. First, it will inevitably lead to some open debate about taxation, as the legislature and governor thrash through inadequate potential sources of replacement revenue. "Our" government will struggle with this replacement question before deciding which programs to cut.

Public services that are used by the most people will be the first to the sacrificial altar. Government takes this approach first to try to defeat the offending initiative by creating noise among recipient groups, and then to soften resistance to replacement revenue. This is our chance to influence the debate. We must make the most noise and write the most letters. If the revenue shortfall is harsh enough "our" government will be able to hide very few programs from inspection. We can be a part of reducing the omnipotence of government and refunding more taxpayers' money. We want to lead the exposure of all programs to public scrutiny.

We cannot silence the shrieks of the recipient groups because the media profits from the noise. So Libertarians should form careful coalitions with other groups interested in reducing either taxes or programs or both. Our collective efforts will create the noise that attracts the media. This we can do without sacrificing our identity or aligning with the "radical fringe." In the end, even if the programs we want eliminated are not, we will have succeeded in reducing our tax burden and will take satisfaction that one program eliminated is one brick in the road to smaller government.

Yes, our goal is to pare back government to constitutional mandate and that is a daunting task. Because of the self-perpetuating nature of government, the only path to our goal is to attack the taxes that support it. Government will not, ever, voluntarily diet. Citizens achieve efficient government by starving it of revenue and insisting it manage its reduced budget to the greatest benefit of all. Let us, as Libertarians, support the $30 License Tab initiative. Immediately, we return money to its rightful owners and shortly thereafter we help decide how government will become smaller and which programs remain. And even if the $30 License Tab initiative loses, Libertarians win.O

Plain talk about Politics and Plunder
by James Brown

I ran for office this year intent on restoring opportunities for human expression and self-sufficiency now denied by the state government. Fortunately I am not alone in this struggle. We Libertarians are united and in the right on this issue. We are presently fighting against the greatest threat to freedom and democracy this country has ever faced.

Our people have all but forgotten our franchise. "All power is inherent in the people, and governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed, and are established to protect and maintain individual rights." These very important words are the first Article of the Washington State Constitution, a document every elected official in the state has sworn to uphold. Unfortunately the need for our consent is increasingly subverted or subjected to the boldest and most bizarre "interpretations" by the State Legislature as they relentlessly impress their authoritarian socialist agenda on the people.

We hear claims from the government that government involvement in private enterprise is a good thing. Using our taxes as venture capital in government/private partnerships stimulates the economy and creates jobs. This is propaganda intended to blind the public to the truth of such involvement.

Allow me to explain further using the Safeco baseball stadium as an example of government business practices. An examination of the contracts for the stadiums reveals frightening truths. The $900,000-a-year lease on the new facility is a token sum that won't even pay the interest on the bonds. Of course the government isn't concerned about money. They have all of ours to use and claim the right to increase taxes without further public consent. Remember we didn't grant permission to build this stadium. It was undertaken at the discretion of elected officials who deserve to lose their jobs.

The stadium financing arrangement provides that if the hotel and motel excise tax should prove inadequate, the rest of us taxpayers will have our taxes increased to make up the shortfall. Consider the plight of the Nintendo Corporation of Japan, unfortunate owners of the money-losing Mariners. They once claimed that a new stadium was necessary to operate the team profitably. As a "partner" of the Metro government they are already responsible for more than $120 millions in cost overruns resulting from Metro's incredible bungling and inept handling of the construction management. The costs continue to mount astronomically as the project staggers on. Given the present financial situation in Japan the future solvency of Nintendo is predictable, and so is the magnitude of the liability taxpayers are going to assume.

But this is only a first small example of a government/private partnership. I wonder what the Seahawks stadium is going to cost?

I always advance the concept that where government exists, its sole purpose is to protect the rights and properties of individual citizens.

It is my opinion that every person has a natural right to preserve his life, to enjoy individuality and liberty under the full protection of the United States Constitution, and to be free to pursue happiness as he or she desires, bound only by the respect for the rights of others.

These concepts clearly define how my Libertarian ideals differ from those of the Democrats and Republicans, I urge all Washington voters to look objectively at the recent conduct of government in this state and to compare the reality of what you observe with the beliefs and opinions just described.

As you read this, we are being robbed. Robbed of our security, our property and our human rights. We are losing both individual liberty and economic liberty.

It's time to fight back!

James Brown ran this year in the 41st District against Ida Ballasiotes.

When is the Age of Majority for Libertarians?
by Brett Wilhelm, Membership Chair

We gain major party status when a Libertarian candidate for statewide office garners 5% or more of the total votes cast in a general election. Races that qualify as "statewide" are President, Vice President, U.S. Senate, Governor, Lt. Governor, Attorney General, Secretary of State, State Treasurer, State Auditor, Superintendent of Public Instruction, Insurance Commissioner, and Public Lands Commissioner. (Races for U.S. Representative, State House and State Senate don't qualify as statewide because they are for districts.)

There is a window of opportunity for us to gain major party status in the year 2000 general election that only occurs once every twelve years. Due to the timing of the six-year terms for our two U.S. Senators, there will be no statewide races in 2002. So if the LPWS fails to win major party status in 2000, we will not have another chance until 2004. However, if we succeed in 2000 we will have four years instead of the usual two years to build the LPWS to the level of strength necessary to retain major party status going forward.

Rapid growth will enable us to win more votes than ever before. "Project Archimedes," the National Libertarian Party's recruiting effort, promises to quadruple our contributing membership by the 2000 elections. Assuming that average campaign contributions match historical figures, we will be able to fund statewide campaigns at four times our previous levels and run television ads for the first time!

We know all those new members and donors are on their way, but how do we engage as many of them as possible in our 2000 campaign effort and in the process build a volunteer organization capable of winning future elections? Subject to Executive Committee approval, the plan is to hire a full-time project manager to implement a strategic plan, recruit candidates and professionally coordinate campaigns to elect a slate of Libertarian candidates for all statewide offices in the 2000 elections—a project tentatively named "L2000". The L2000 project manager will also assist in campaign staff recruiting, training, fundraising, and coordinating advertising among the campaigns.

In 2000, the Libertarian Party will be 29 years old. As a milestone, major party status demonstrates that our principled solutions now represent a significant portion of mainstream Washingtonians. Since ballot access petitioning requirements do not apply to major party candidates, Libertarian candidates will appear on future ballots by simply filing.

Until the LPWS is much larger it will be difficult to "defend our ballot line." Some observers fear that major party status will allow non-Libertarians, weak or even politically harmful Libertarians to run as "our" candidates and the LPWS will be too small to prevail over such impostors or opportunists. However, difficulty protecting our ballot line is an inevitable phase. Major party status brings respect, credibility, media attention, candidate forum invitations and debate access—in short, exactly the stature the LPWS needs to grow strong enough to defend our ballot line.

With the anticipated surge in new members and four-year opportunity to grow strong enough to retain major party status, the time for the Libertarian Party of Washington State to come of age is now.

Lean on the Legislature to Apportion Electoral Votes
by Janet Anderson

Libertarians are painfully aware that our election system doesn't reflect voters' wishes. But most of us don't know what we can do to change the system. The purpose of this story is to suggest actions you can take to improve our election system.

Let's start at the top to examine the problem: the election of the president. In 1992, 56% of Washington's voters cast a vote for someone other than Clinton, yet Clinton was awarded all of our state's 11 Electoral College Votes. That year Bush received 32%, Perot 24% and Clinton 44%, yet as far as the rest of the nation was concerned, Clinton scored a landslide in Washington.

In 1888, Harrison won the Presidency with the largest number of Electoral College votes even though Cleveland had the larger popular vote. In recent years, this has come close to happening again. It is only a matter of time.

How about a modest step to fairer elections, one with a realistic chance to succeed in the near future? As long as we are stuck for the time being with the Electoral College, how about apportioning its votes to reflect each state's popular vote? Each state already has the responsibility of determining how their Electoral College votes will be counted. Just because 48 of our states currently award all their Electoral College votes to the candidate receiving the most votes (not necessarily majority), doesn't mean that they all have to do it that way. (The two states which dare to be different, Maine and Nebraska, apportion their votes based on the highest popular vote in each congressional district.)

It would only take passage of one bill by our state legislature to require that our Electoral College votes for president be apportioned to reflect our state's popular vote. If such a bill had been in place in 1992, instead of all 11 of our states' electoral votes going to Clinton, he would have received 5. Bush and Perot would have each received 3 votes. A much more accurate picture of our state's vote would be portrayed and it would only take an affirmative vote by 1/11th of the state's voters to chalk up an Electoral Vote for the Libertarian candidate.

A month ago, current members of our legislature were asked if they would be willing to consider sponsoring legislation to apportion the state's electoral votes. Of those who responded, most said "yes" or "maybe".

It would be great to see Libertarians take the lead in lobbying for such a bill. It would be popular with the voters. It could probably win without having to go the initiative route. Voter support in the form of letters and telephone calls to legislators would stimulate their interest.

How does one argue against more accurately reflecting voter's choices? Certainly not the original reason for devising the Electoral College—that the voters are not wise enough to make the final decision! The principal argument seems to be that if enough states apportion their Electoral College votes to reflect the popular vote, it might mean that no candidate would receive a majority of Electoral votes. Under current law, that would throw the final vote to members of the House of Representatives. There, each state delegation (in our case, 9 members) would be given one vote to cast for President.

If enough states vote to apportion their Electoral votes, Congress may see the hand writing on the wall and become interested in fair apportionment of their own house. After all, it only took the passage of several Term Limits initiatives to inspire a record number of legislators to give up their dream of lifetime incumbency.

Three years ago, a bill such as described above was quietly introduced in our legislature and received one public hearing before the House State Government Committee. Although there appeared to be enough votes to pass the bill out of committee, the Chairman refused to allow a vote believing that "if we do anything to make the Electoral College more fair, we'll never get rid of the Electoral College"!

Remember, there are ready sponsors for such a bill in the legislature right now. If you like the idea of making our voting system a tiny bit more fair, would you be willing to make one toll free telephone message to your three state legislators this week? The number is 1-800-562-6000. If you are willing to do more to further this cause, please leave a message with Janet Anderson at 206-285-2460 or JanetRAnderson@msn.com.

Janet Anderson corresponds from Washington Citizens for Proportional Representation. O