June 2006 Newsletter

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TABLE OF CONTENTS

1. From the Chair

Action, action, action!
2. New Platform
3. Local Official Survey Results
4. High Schoolers’ Know Your Rights Day
5. Calendar of Events
June 13: ACLU – “Privacy: How much is left?”, Montpelier, VT
June 23-25: PorcFest 2006, Lancaster, NH
July 1-2: National LP Convention, Portland OR
July 8: FreedomFest, Montpelier, VT
6. Donate, Volunteer, Run for Office
7. Unsubscribe

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1. FROM THE CHAIR

Libertarian activists have been busy.

* Michael Bandler is part of a group asking the Vermont Public Service Board to investigate Verizon’s actions in regards to turning over phone records to the National Security Agency without their consent.
(more info…)

* Allen LePage is was in the news opposing the National Animal Identification System, which will place a huge burden on small farmers.
(more info…)

* Evan Hughes and Ed Cutler were in the news criticizing the Mayor of Burlington over his comments on gun control for Burlington.
(more info…)

* Hardy Machia was covered on Channel 3 News at the Earmark Express press conference in Burlington.
(more info…)

We had a great state convention. The speakers were all wonderful. John McCardell, president emeritus of Middlebury College, gave a video presentation that you can watch online. We passed a brand new platform. John McClaughry from the non-partisan Ethan Allen Institute even did a radio commentary on the platform.

That’s so much activity that I’m getting really excited about running for State House or another office in November. How about you?

We have money lined to fund ten serious State House candidates this year. We are looking for candidates. If you are interested let’s talk. You can sign up online or email me at [email protected].

Hardy Machia
Chair, Vermont Libertarian Party

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2. VERMONT LIBERTARIAN PARTY ADOPTS NEW PLATFORM

(Montpelier) The Vermont Libertarian Party (VTLP) adopted a new platform at their state convention in Montpelier. Their single-page platform covers the specifics of fifteen areas libertarian legislators will work on over the course of the next few legislative sessions.

Hardy Machia, chairman of the Vermont Libertarian Party, stated, “We taken another step into the realm of practical politics with our new platform. It lays out a sensible middle ground toward more freedom, lower taxes, and smaller government-which a majority of Vermonters support.”

A few highlights of the Libertarian platform are:

1. ECONOMY: We believe in competitive free enterprise as the source of wealth for our people, jobs for our labor force, and the tax base necessary to support the legitimate demands of government.

2. TAXATION: We will adopt a Taxpayer’s Bill of Rights to limit the growth of government to the rate of inflation, and to require a voter referendum to raise any tax.

4. PROPERTY RIGHTS: We will protect the human right of private property ownership against government regulation, confiscation and eminent domain.

8. HEALTH CARE: We believe health care should be affordable and available to all Vermonters. We believe health care decisions are between patient and doctor, not patient, doctor and legislature.

15. LIBERTY: We will pass up every opportunity to tell peaceable, independent Vermonters how to live their lives.

The VTLP’s 2006 platform is available online.

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3. VERMONT LIBERTARIAN PARTY RELEASES LOCAL OFFICIAL SURVEY RESULTS

Montpelier: The Vermont Libertarian Party announced the survey results of local officials for 2006. There were 12 questions ranging from eminent domain to death with dignity. Responses were received from 31 towns across Vermont.

Hardy Machia, Chairman of the Vermont Libertarian Party, stated, “The survey responses highlight the need for a state government and party that better represents the respondents’ views.

Nearly all survey respondents wanted much tougher eminent domain restrictions. Only one respondent agreed with the weak bill passed by the Vermont Legislature this year.

Seven out of ten respondents thought spending should be reduced instead of raising gas taxes. A backlash of protest and some moderate leadership in the Senate removed the gas tax increase passed by the Vermont House.

Nearly all survey respondents thought we needed major reforms in health care, but were split 40-60 on whether a single payer system or free market system was the better way to accomplish those goals.

Support for Death with Dignity and treating marijuana like alcohol both had strong support, with over 80 percent supporting both these reforms.

Zero respondents thought our school system was working great. Getting out of No Child Left Behind received majority support, as did, public and private school choice, limiting spending to the rate of inflation, and shifting funding to an income tax instead of the controversial Act 68 & 68 property tax distribution.

Seven out of ten respondents thought Vermont’s state budget should be 4 billion dollars or less, with a quarter of respondents believing spending should be rolled back to 2002 levels, 3.3 billion. The Governor and Legislature passed a budget that was a 400 million in excess of 2005’s budget of four billion.

The open-ended question on the biggest issue facing their town revealed that education funding is still a top priority for many towns, followed by roads.

The Vermont Libertarian Party has been active in Vermont politics for over 30 years. Vermont Libertarians have served in local office throughout the state. The National Libertarian Party was founded in 1971 and is the third largest political party in the United States. Millions of Americans have voted for Libertarian Party candidates in past elections throughout the country. Libertarians believe the answer to America’s political problems is the same commitment to freedom that earned America its greatness: a free-market economy and the abundance and prosperity it brings, a dedication to individual liberties and personal freedom, and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade.

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4. KNOW YOUR RIGHTS DAY

The Vermont Chapter of the National Youth Rights Association (NYRA) spun off of my campaign for governor in 2004. This is the first year they organized this event and they did a superb job. All of the students who attended learned a great deal about their rights and exerting their rights. I wish NYRA-Vermont and NYRA-VT_Commons much continued success in their efforts. They are a great bunch of people. Here is the Free Press coverage of the event….

Three dozen students gather for workshops such as Bill of Rights 101
Free Press coverage

By Caroline Vial

Free Press Staff Writer

May 17, 2006 SOUTH BURLINGTON — About three dozen high school students gathered at Vermont Commons School on Tuesday to learn more about their civic rights.

Know Your Rights Day, an event organized by student members of the National Youth Rights Association, consisted of a day-long series of workshops. Topics ranged from Bill of Rights 101 to Freedom of Speech at School.

Speakers included Frank Bryan, a professor at the University of Vermont; Allen Gilbert, executive director of the ACLU Vermont; Hardy Macia, Libertarian candidate for governor in 2004; and Matt Brown, a sophomore at UVM and graduate of Vermont Commons School. Know Your Rights Day was co-sponsored by the ACLU and received support from local businesses.

Although the student turnout and teacher response did not meet the hopes of the student organizers, many remained confident in the educational mission.

“That’s what civics is really about,” said Jay Leff, “to take charge.” Leff, a Burlington High School senior, decided to develop a student-run youth rights education event and bring it to the Vermont Commons School after he attended a program on the Bill of Rights. He is on the board of directors at the National Youth Rights Association and co-founder of Youth for Democracy.

“Know Your Rights Day” is geared toward educating teens, not just about social responsibility. “Responsibility is just the half of it,” Leff said. “Understanding that right is what it means to be a responsible citizen.”

Leff said he thinks the school system does not encourage learning about civic rights. “We’ve lost that in our education of civics in Vermont and in the United States. Every time we talk about civics in school, our rights are only taught in the context of history,” he said.

“I wish I could have gotten more friends to come,” said John Lange, a senior who attended a workshop entitled “Busted — Protecting Your Rights From Police.” He added that knowing one’s rights is crucial for young people to “know how to handle a situation, such as being taken advantage by cops.”

Lange said the highlight of the event was that “any questions that we had could be answered by someone who has dealt with the situation themselves.”

Alex Hollender, a junior at Vermont Commons School and member of the National Youth Rights Association, said: “As soon as I started learning about these issues, it dawned on me that I had no idea how important it is to know one’s rights.” From now on, he said, “I am going to do as much as I can to get as many people to learn about civic rights.” He helped organize the event.

Because no responses had been received from teachers outside of the Vermont Commons School, Leff and Hollender, said they hope the initiatives will be taken next year from the “bottom-up.” Hollender said, “While I was relying on the support of teachers at other schools, next year we will make many more follow-up calls and extend the event to many more high schools.”

In the future, Leff said he hopes for more involvement from teachers, as well as more action from the student councils.

Ariel Smith, president of Youth for Democracy and a senior at South Burlington High School, said: “I was very impressed with today and disappointed in the low student turnout. But for the people that did come I think they benefited a great deal.”

“It’s not just about bringing many people to the event,” Leff added. He said the day-long exposure the students gained from learning from and interacting with lawyers, educators and politicians, served a worthy purpose.

“They will be able to spread the word by talking about this when they get home,” he said.

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5. CALENDAR OF EVENTS

June 13, 2006: “Privacy: How much is left?”
A day long conference Tuesday, June 13 at the Capitol Plaza being hosted by the Vermont ACLU.
(more info…)

June 23-25, 2006: 2006 Porcupine Freedom Festival
Held every summer in New Hampshire, the festival brings together small government activists of all types for a week of socializing, strategizing, and getting to know the Free State.
(more info…)

July 1-2, 2006: National Libertarian Party Convention
Held in Portland, Oregon this year.
(more info…)

July 8, 2006: FreedomFest
FreedomWorks Vermont and Ethan Allen Institute are teaming up again to host the second annual FreedomFest in Vermont. The event this year will take place at U-32 high school in Montpelier.
(more info…)

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6. DONATE, VOLUNTEER, RUN FOR OFFICE

To make a contribution to the Vermont Libertarian Party or to sign

your friends up for the newsletter, visit us on the web at

https://lpvt.org.

If you are interested in volunteering or running for office, then

contact Hardy Machia at [email protected].

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7. LETTERS TO THE EDITOR / SUBMIT AN ARTICLE

For information or to submit news, letters, or articles, contact

Hardy Machia, Chair, Vermont Libertarian Party, [email protected],

(802) 372-9512.

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The VERMONT LIBERTARIAN NEWS is a publication of the Vermont Libertarian

Party, PO Box 5475, Burlington, VT 05402. All Rights Reserved.

Copyright ? 2006.