Newsletters

Golden Gate LIBERTARIAN
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Libertarian Party of San Francisco 2215-R Market Street, PMB170, San Francisco, CA 94114 (415) 775-LPSF www.lpsf.org November 2000
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National Election Analysis
Starchild

It was the best of times and the worst of times. So might a future libertarian historian review the chaotic aftermath of this year's national election in the United States.

On the bright side, there is no denying that an alternative party's Presidential candidate held the balance of power in the narrow finish between the Republican and Democratic nominees. The intense scrutiny produced by this razor-thin vote margin has in turn drawn back the curtain on how America counts its votes under two party rule. That process has now been revealed to the world as replete with inaccuracy and error, creating ample opportunity for arbitrary decision-making if not outright fraud.

Most Americans, lukewarm on the major-party contenders to begin with, appear to view the two camps maneuvering over the Florida recounts with suspicion and disgust. Not a few have wished that the parties could choose different nominees and do the whole thing over. Meanwhile, in contrast with the political mess, the economic good times continue, making people generally better off and less reliant on government.

Unfortunately, the history-making outsider was once again not the representative of the biggest grassroots alternative, whose existence the mainstream media refuse to acknowledge--the Libertarian Party--but rather the Green Party's stale icon, Ralph Nader. And the same close margin that has demonstrated the power of alternative parties is also likely to hurt their vote totals for years to come by cementing wasted-vote anxiety in the brains of legions of mathematically challenged voters.

Given the meager comprehension of statism as the root problem, there is little chance a growing awareness that the system is broken will soon lead to any positive fixes. Especially since many still credit the saving grace of the recent strong economy to the man most likely to have screwed it up--Bill Clinton.

Still, one of the most noticeable long-term trends in America is an increase in well-founded cynicism and mistrust toward politicians and government. And that may ultimately turn out to be the crucial thing.

To expand on one of Ross Perot's corny metaphors, the public may not figure out how to check under the hood, but it's just possible that they'll become annoyed enough by the smoke pouring out of their car to pull over, get out, and start looking for another means of transportation. When they do, the Libertarians will be waiting nearby with a factory-fresh Lamborghini and a full tank of gas.

Supervisor Run-Off Event Scheduled December 4

Questionnaires Mailed to Candidates

On Monday, December 4, the Libertarian Party of San Francisco will be hosting candidates for the San Francisco Board of Supervisors at our run-off endorsement event. This will be held the Thai House Restaurant, at the corner of Market and 15th Street, from 6 to 9 p.m.

While the Party only gives full endorsements to Libertarian candidates, we plan to issue voting recommendations in those races where one contender appears to be significantly more pro-freedom (or less anti-freedom!) than the other. All 18 remaining contenders for Supervisor have been mailed questionnaires which they have been asked to return to us this week. Responses, or nonresponses, to these questions will be used along with the speeches and oral answers given by the candidates at the Thai House event as the basis for our recommendations. (See Questionnaire, p. 2.)

We invite all Libertarian Party members, supporters, and friends to come out to this free event. The chance to hear the candidates make their pitches to a Libertarian audience and field questions from Libertarians is sure to prove interesting! This event is free to the public, but attendees are encouraged to purchase dinner or drinks as a way of thanking the Thai House for graciously extending us the use of their venue at no charge. The restaurant has a full bar as well as excellent Thai cuisine with plenty of vegetarian options.

The run-off election between the two top candidates from districts 1 (the Richmond), 3 (North Beach/Chinatown), 4 (the Sunset), 5 (the Haight), 6 (South of Market/Tenderloin/ Treasure Island), 7 (West of Twin Peaks), 8 (the Castro/Noe Valley), 10 (Bayview/Hunters Point), and 11 (Ingleside/Oceanview) is scheduled for Tuesday, Dec. 12.

For more information, please contact LPSF Outreach Director Starchild at (415) 626-3036.

Libertarian Party Supervisorial Questionnaire

1. For many decades, government in the United States has been exercising greater and greater amounts of control, moving us ever closer to a society like that of Nazi Germany and Soviet Russia, where all power rests with the state. Will you pledge that, if elected, you will not vote to increase the government's total spending or its cumulative impact on people's lives?

2. Are you also willing to fight to reduce the size of government if elected?

3. Community-based (private) schools are widely recognized as offering better education than state-run schools. One reason may be their accountability to parents. What steps are you willing to take to give San Francisco Unified School District parents more control over their children's education?

4. San Francisco was once served by independent ferries, street cars, and rail. Would you favor allowing community transit operators to compete with government-run systems like BART and MUNI?

5. Members of Food Not Bombs have been arrested for giving out free food to the homeless without a permit. Should people be allowed to provide food, clothing, and housing to the homeless without a permit or license from City Hall?

6. Do you feel that San Franciscans currently pay too much, too little, or about the right amount of taxes, fees, and assessments?

7. During the prohibition of alcohol from 1919 to 1933, violent crime in America skyrocketed. Many observers have noted the same effect under current drug laws. Do you favor ending the prohibition on the peaceful sale and use of these substances?

8. According to SF Weekly's August 9-15 cover story, a wide array of housing studies show that San Francisco's version of rent control has not only failed to limit or soften the effects of the current housing crisis, but has actually worsened San Francisco's housing problem, and hurt the poor people it was designed to protect. Do you agree? Why or why not?

9. City permits are currently required for dance parties and other entertainment in San Francisco, even for events taking place on private property with the owner's consent. These permits are sold by the police department, which has a history of unfairly denying and revoking them. What do you feel should be done about this situation?

10. The Libertarian Party has supported sexual freedom and legal same-gender marriage since the Party's inception in the early 1970s. Do you believe the government should be involved in approving or denying marriages?

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Chair
David Molony
chair@lpsf.org
(415) 516-3151

Vice-Chair
Kelly Russell Simpson
KellySimpson@pacbell.net
(415) 487-9325

Secretary and Database Manager
Vince Grubbs
vwg@sirius.com
(415) 682-9482

Treasurer and Newsletter Editor
Mike Acree
macree@psg.ucsf.edu
(415) 668-5794

Elections Chair
Jerry Cullen
gtcullen@slip.net
(415) 567-9642

Membership Chair
Mike Denny
mfd@MichaelDenny.net
(415) 750-9340

Outreach Director
Starchild
dreamer@ziplink.net
(415) 626-3036

Media Coordinator
Jerry Pico
picoman@mindspring.com
(415) 885-5350

Fundraising Chair
Chris Maden
crism@shore.net
(415) 504-8677

Opinions expressed in unsigned columns of the Golden Gate Libertarian do not necessarily represent those of anyone but the Editor.

Submissions are encouraged. The deadline (including agenda and calendar items) is the first Thursday of the month. Text should be sent to Mike Acree at <macree@psg.ucsf.edu>. Photos and artwork should be mailed to Mike Acree, 859 45th Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94121-3223. Please let us know if you want your item returned.

Next meeting: November 25, 3-5 p.m. (business), 5-6 (social), upstairs at Round Table Pizza, 5160 Geary Boulevard (at 16th Avenue).

Reader Response on Ballot Recommendations

I think the ballot recommendations from the LP are very valuable. Most of us, unfortunately, don't have time to research these countless measures like we should, so it's nice to get a quick refresher and opinion from the LP. Please keep it up.

Tim Myles

I think the LPSF should definitely look to present endorsements for publicity's sake. I agree that it would be especially beneficial to jump in on nonfinancial propositions and anywhere we can recommend a yes.

Erik Bauman

Browne Ends Campaign in San Rafael

Jerry Cullen, in collaboration with Aaron Smith of Sonoma County, persuaded Harry Browne to make his penultimate campaign stop--and final fund-raiser--on Thursday, November 2, at the Sheraton Four Points Barcel Hotel in San Rafael, midway between San Francisco and Sonoma. Since the location was decided only a week in advance, local libertarians received very short notice of the event. Concerns about attendance proved unfounded, however, as a crowd of about 250 people showed up, packing the room that had been reserved. As was typical of other rallies this season, about 40% of those present were attending their first Libertarian event--a very encouraging sign of successful outreach. It was also encouragingly a young crowd. The modern libertarian movement began with a cohort who were in college in the '60s, and are now approaching senility; the present campaign, in particular, seems to be drawing in fresh young blood to carry the movement forward.

There was also concern about the prospects for fund-raising this late in the campaign, with many regular contributors having pretty well exhausted their resources by this point. The event raised over $15,000, however--a respectable $60+ per person.

Harry's speech and question-answering, and Michael Cloud's comic introduction ("We want to make government so small you can put its picture on the back of a milk carton") and fund-raising are very well polished, and the sequencing was smoothly choreographed, but the whole event lasted over 3 hours. One might have expected major signs of restlessness in a crowd packed so tightly on straight chairs, listening to political speeches and fund-raising appeals for that length of time But in fact the audience listened raptly; the newcomers rose with everyone else for the standing ovations; and most stayed until the end.

Thanks to Jerry for his initiative in organizing this very successful event and copying and mailing postcards announcing it, and to the Mikes Denny and Acree for covering the cost of the mailing.

Libertarian Party of San Francisco Membership, Donation, and Volunteer Form

I wish to become a member of the Libertarian Party. I understand that I will be joining the local, state, and national levels of the LP, all for one of the four annual membership rates or the lifetime rate indicated below, and I will receive the Golden Gate Libertarian (local newsletter), LPC Monthly (state newsletter), and LP News (national monthly newspaper). I choose the following membership category:

Basic ($25) Sustaining ($100) Sponsor ($250) Patron ($500) Life Member ($1,000)

(Note: Joining the LP does not automatically make your voter registration Libertarian.) The Libertarian Party is the party of principle. To publicly affirm what we believe÷and to ensure that our party never strays from our principles÷we ask our members to proudly sign this statement:

I hereby certify that I do not believe in or advocate the initiation of force as a means of achieving political or social goals.

Signature (required only for membership): _________________________________________________________________

I wish to make a separate donation of $__________ to the Libertarian Party of San Francisco. (Membership dues go primarily to the national and state organizations.) Nonmembers who donate at least $15 will receive a one-year subscription to the Golden Gate Libertarian.

I wish to volunteer to help with ______________________________________________________________________________________. (Please specify if you prefer to help with campaigns, computers, event plans, information tables, mailings, newsletters, phone calls, speeches, etc.)

Government-Mandated Notices:

The Federal Election Commission requires political committees to report the name, address, occupation, and employer for each individual whose contributions aggregate more than $200 in a calendar year. The IRS requires us to print "contributions are not tax-deductible" on all fundraising appeals.

Name:
Address:

Phone(s):
E-mail:
Total enclosed: $

Please make your check payable to the Libertarian Party and mail it with this form to 2215-R Market Street, PMB 170, San Francisco, CA 94114.

Forthcoming events:

Saturday, November 25: Regular LPSF meeting. Election of delegates to state LP convention in February.

Monday, December 4: Supervisor Run-Off Event, Thai House Restaurant, Market at 15th Street, 6-9 p.m.

Saturday, December 16: Regular LPSF meeting rescheduled to avoid the holiday.

Saturday, January 27: Regular LPSF meeting. Election of officers.