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Old Dominion Liberty Letter Issue #17
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This issue distributed on Friday, June 19, 2009.
CONTENTS
1. Don't Make Me Beg
2. Free The Liberty Dollar Four!
3. Virginia State & Local Government Spending Database
4. EXPLORING LIBERTY: The LP's "Abortion" Plank
5. Next SCC Meeting Sunday, July 26, 2009
6. The "Government Behaving Badly" Files: The GlouCo Four
7. The "Government Behaving Badly" Files: This week's Criminal Bureaucrats
8. THE LIGHTER SIDE: Presidential Tragedies
9. Calendar
THIS PUBLICATION NEEDS A PERMANENT EDITOR! Volunteer by leaving a message @
703-715-6230, or writing to:
[email protected]
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=odllvolunteer>
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1. Don't Make Me Beg
================================================
Alright, folks, there are 600 ++ readers out there. This publication needs a
permanent editor. You enjoy reading these briefs, right? Wouldn't you like to
engage your creativity and help it continue? There must be at least one person
out of that 600 plus who can take an hour or two a week to scrape stories from
around the state and say a few lines about why Libertarian policies would solve
whatever problem they're talking about.
Please -- if you'd like to volunteer to improve our internal communications and
help inspire your fellow members, volunteer to edit this "Old Dominion Liberty
Letter".
The permanent editor volunteer we seek should be a punctual self-starter who is
willing to seek out and summarize an average of five brief news items that
would be of interest to Virginia Libertarians, and seeing to it that the
publication is sent in a timely way to the LPVA Announcements list.
Please compose your letter of interest, include a brief resume and perhaps a
sample of three or four proposed ODLL stories you might include in the next
edition, and send it to me:
Marc Montoni <[email protected]>
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2. Free The Liberty Dollar Four!
================================================
Remember when we told you about the arrest of four Liberty Dollar employees?
They're out on bond at the moment. Their company is still fully operational.
Check out their "Tea Party Dollars". For more information about the arrest and
what's happening with the case now, as well as to read up on their current
bullion coin offerings, check out:
http://www.libertydollar.org/ld/pr_nl/06_11_2009.htm
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3. Virginia State & Local Government Spending Database
================================================
Wondering what your county government spends every year? HINT: It isn't
peanuts.
Wondering how much the local fire protection monopoly establishment costs you
every year?
Take a look here:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/online/database_center/city_county_govt_spending/
Make sure your browser's javascript is 'on'; and when the page comes up just
select your locality from the drop-down list.
================================================
4. EXPLORING LIBERTY: The LP's "Abortion" Plank
================================================
This issue, we bring you an exploration of the Libertarian Party's platform
position # 1.4 - Abortion, which reads:
--------
"Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold
good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out of
the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious
consideration."
--------
Libertarians universally condemn state-funded and state-mandated abortions; for
the obvious reason that it is particularly harsh to force someone who believes
that abortion is murder to pay for another's abortion. In this context,
taxation -- government force -- is the elephant in the room.
Many Libertarians assert that each person must be the sole and absolute owner
of his or her own body, and therefore they support the right of women to make a
personal choice regarding the termination of pregnancy. These Libertarians
oppose the undermining of the right via laws requiring consent of the pregnant
woman's parents, consent of the prospective father, waiting periods, or
compulsory provision of indoctrination on medical risks or fetal development.
Libertarians, no matter which side of the abortion debate they are on --
pro-choice or pro-life -- would probably agree that fewer abortions, rather
than more, would be a better state of affairs. Most Libertarians would
probably also agree that abortion is not a desireable outcome of a pregnancy.
Former LP headquarters media director George Getz was often asked in interviews
what Libertarians would do to minimize abortion, and his answer was that the
best way to work towards fewer abortions was to improve the adoption system so
that mothers who decided they couldn't care for a baby would have a more
attractive alternative.
Don Boudreaux, a senior fellow at the CATO Institute, further examined the
possibilities available within the framework of a free society, in a CATO
Policy Journal article:
http://www.cato.org/pubs/journal/cj15n1-7.html
Only Libertarians favor the right of all individuals to be left free to make
their own choices in private matters; and only Libertarians expect all
individuals to be held responsible for those choices. All other political
persuasions ask government to be mommy and daddy to the citizens. They forget
that if individuals are assumed to be irresponsible, irresponsible they will be.
================================================
5. Next SCC Meeting Sunday, July 26, 2009
================================================
The next meeting of the state committee will occur on Sunday, July 26, 2009 at
12:00 pm, with an 11:00 am lunch preceding. Exact location TBA. Directions:
Minutes of previous meetings are posted at:
http://www.LPVA.com/Archives/SCCMinutes/Minutes.php
Bring your appetite, your ideas, be ready to roll up your sleeves, and help us
win a free country!
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6. Gloucester County Four - Update
================================================
In our third issue (2009/01/28 - Issue 3), your humble editors summarized a
rather disturbing extortion case in Gloucester County, VA ("SLAPP'ing
Citizens"). Here's an update:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/article/GLOU18_20090617-214402/274465/
I've seen some really boneheaded decisions that had no logical basis come out
of the Virginia Supreme Court, but one would hope that this case is so clear
that they will reverse Parker's order with extreme prejudice.
Here's the original article:
>In July 2008, four of seven Gloucester County Board of Supervisors members
>(Teresa Altemus (R - York District), Michelle Ressler (Ind. - At Large),
>Robert Bobby Crewe (R - Gloucester Point district), and Gregory Woodard
>(Ind. - Ware district) as well as the county sheriff Steve Gentry (Ind.)
>were indicted by a grand jury finding the supervisors had violated state
>open-meetings law, unlawfully removed computers from two top county officials,
>and illegally pressured the county planning director to rule in favor of a
>politically connected developer. In total, the supervisors were indicted on
>12 misdemeanor counts.
>
>After the indictments, 40 county citizens began a petition drive to remove
>them all from office, eventually turning in over 6,000 signatures of county
>residents who agreed with them. It's indicative of the state of affairs in
>the county that residents were so ticked off with secret meetings, back-door
>plots and shameless disregard for conflict of interest or accountability that
>6,000 of them would sign the petition.
>
>However...
>
>On October 31, however, the criminal charges against the Gloucester Four were
>dropped by another government employee, Virginia Beach special prosecutor S.
>Catherine Dodson. Dodson was appointed to prosecute the case after a judge
>removed Gloucester County Commonwealth's Attorney Robert Hicks. Dodson
>claimed there was insufficient evidence against the supervisors, and said the
>supervisors' actions were not criminal. She wrote that while the evidence
>presented to the grand jury showed the supervisors "deliberately acted to
>circumvent" open meetings law, it did not prove they violated the law.
>
>[Editor's note: Huh? Dodson speaks what language, again?]
>
>She said that since the seized computers were county property, the supervisors
>did not break the law when they took them, and added that pressuring a county
>employee is not illegal.
>
>Once the deck was wiped clean of criminal charges, yet another government
>employee, Suffolk judge Westbrook J. Parker, ordered the 40 petition
>circulators to pay $80,000 of $125,000 in legal expenses incurred by the supes
>in defending themselves against removal. The supes fiercely battled removal
>with months of pricey legal representation charging up to $525 an hour.
>
>"Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation" or "SLAPP" lawsuits are those
>that are designed to punish people for being involved in the political
>process, and for questioning the actions of a body. See the complete
>explanation at:
>
> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/SLAPP
>
>One might have thought such suits were prohibited in Virginia, but apparently
>that is just a delusion.
>
>The GlouCo Four have varied partisan histories. Altemus
>http://www.vpap.org/donors/profile/index/123362 was a Republican vendor and
>donor, but in the spring of 2008 fell out of favor with the local GOP and was
>ousted from their committee. Perhaps indicative of her current leanings is
>the fact that she attended the inauguration, missing a scheduled BOS meeting
>in the process. Gregory Woodard also attended the inauguration. Ressler ran
>as an independent; while Crewe is identified as a Republican.
>
>Because of Parker's ruling (which practically begs for an appeal), two local
>Republican members of the Virginia House of Delegates delegates Tom Gear of
>Hampton and Harvey B. Morgan of Middlesex have filed bills to protect
>citizens from being forced to pay extortion for attempting to remove
>[politicians; whether in the form of removal costs, attorney fees or other
>sanctions.
>
>If either measure succeeds, the outrage judge Parker perpetrated last month
>upon petition organizers in Gloucester won't happen again in Virginia.
>
>In the "it wouldn't hurt" department: Send a message to the GlouCo Four, and
>suggest that they should feel ashamed of themselves for their behavior:
>
>http://www.gloucesterva.info/registrar/PDFFiles/ElectedOfficialswebpage4.pdf
>
>Further reading:
>
>http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_tamara_0116jan16,0,7359499.column
>
>http://weblogs.dailypress.com/news/local/breakingnews/blog/
>
>http://www.dailypress.com/news/dp-local_glosupes_0107jan07,0,4879594.story
>
>http://hamptonroads.com/2008/10/charges-against-gloucester-county-supervisors-dropped
>
>QUESTION OF THE DAY: Can the same thing happen in YOUR county?
>
>ANSWER OF THE DAY: Make sure it doesn't by GETTING INVOLVED.
>
> http://lpva.com/Archives/Tips/s99/first.html
================================================
7. The "Government Behaving Badly" Files: This week's Criminal Bureaucrats
================================================
"Exposing criminal government employees (but I repeat myself...) with the harsh
glare of ridicule since June 2009!"
Seen any government employees facing justice for crimes committed while on-duty
lately? Let us know about it! Send announcements and news to <[email protected]>
or <mailto:[email protected]?subject=criminal_bureaucrats> !
Our inaugural "Protect and Serve" weekly awards go to the following current or
former government employees:
------------------------------------------------
1) William J. Fell: Bad Meter Reader! No Donut!
------------------------------------------------
AWARD ONE goes to William J. Fell, 61, of Stafford County. He five-finger
discounted almost $100,000 in taxpayer coin:
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/state_regional/article/alexandria_parking_meter_attendant_admits_stealing_100000_in_coins/274601/
Government: Stealing your life away, a nickel at a time.
------------------------------------------------
2) Charles Michael Harpster: Former Cop Finds New Trade
------------------------------------------------
AWARD TWO goes to former Henrico County PD narcotics officer Charles Michael
Harpster, 54.
Harpster pleaded guilty to stealing marijuana from the evidence room in 2006.
If I'm reading the summary correctly, Harpster (along with his wife) was also
convicted of distributing less than an ounce of marijuana. The one-time boy in
blue (with Henrico PD for 30 years) was let off with a slap on the wrist:
Harpster and his wife were originally charged with felony drug distribution,
but the charge was reduced to a misdemeanor, and both received 12-month
suspended sentences and fined $100. Harpster was forced to give up his law
enforcement credentials and promised not to serve as a police officer for at
least 10 years.
http://www.timesdispatch.com/rtd/news/local/article/HARPGAT_20090618-084601/274572/
================================================
8. THE LIGHTER SIDE: Presidential Tragedies
================================================
One day, the President of the United States is is on his way to give a speech
at a government elementary day-care indoctrination center. He asks the
pedagogue what the children are studying and she replies that they are learning
about Greek Tragedies. So the Commander In Chief decides to talk about
Tragedies. He asks a student, "What would you consider to be a tragedy?"
The kid thinks for awhile and then says, "If a boy is running after a ball into
a street and gets run over by a car and dies."
The Anointed One responds, "No, I don't think that's a tragedy... that's an
accident." Then His Eminence asks another student to give an example of a
tragedy.
The kid says, "It would be a tragedy if a bus full of kids is driven over a
cliff, and they all die."
This time Our Savior says, "I don't think that's a tragedy... I think that's a
great loss." So again Mr Big asks another kid to give an example of a tragedy.
The kid responds, "If you, the Vice President, and the Speaker of the House are
on Air Force One and it crashes, with no survivors."
"Right!" says our Supreme Prefect to the kid. "Now, *that* would be a
tragedy... how did you ever know that?"
Quickly, the kid replies, "Because I know it's not an accident and I know it's
not a great loss."
================================================
9. Calendar
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------------------------------------
Wednesday, June 24, 6:00 p.m.
REASON Magazine Happy Hour
Marvin (bar), 2007 14th Street NW Washington, DC 20009 US
Phone: 202.986.0916
MORE: http://reason.org/events/show/9.html
------------------------------------
Sunday, July 26, 2009
LPVA State Committee
Quarterly Meeting
All LPVA members welcome!
Group lunch at 11:00.
Meeting begins at 12:00
Bleu Bistro Restaurant
8982 Quioccasin Rd., Richmond, VA 23229
------------------------------------
September 24 - October 4, 2009
LPVA Outreach Booth at Virginia State Fair
The Meadow, Caroline Co.
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November 3, 2009
General Elections
Remember to Vote,
and Vote Libertarian!
------------------------------------
December 2009 - February 2010 -
congressional district committee conventions
- consider formal endorsements of candidates
for 2010 election
- elect LP congressional district officers (chair, etc).
------------------------------------
Jan 29-31, 2010
Annual meeting of all state activists
See: http://statechairsconference.org/about
Also sit in on the Libertarian National Committee,
the Bylaws and Platform committees.
Location will be Austin, registration information
to follow in future newsletters
------------------------------------
March or April, 2010
LPVA State Convention
Exact location & Date TBA.
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May 4, 2010
Municipal Elections
Remember to Vote,
and Vote Libertarian!
------------------------------------
May 28 - May 31, 2010
LP National Convention
Renaissance St. Louis Grand and Suites Hotel, in Missouri.
------------------------------------
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Old Dominion Liberty Letter Issue #17
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Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-Share
Alike 3.0 United States License by Marc Montoni.
================================================
Publishing Schedule: Weekly - But it depends on YOU!
Publisher: LPVA Communications Committee
Editor: Marc Montoni
Distribution: 500 + readers, via LPVA-Announce
================================================
Sign up for the latest news from The Libertarian
Party of Virginia:
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================================================
Got a news tip? Click: <mailto:[email protected]?subject=vlw>
Allow me to emphasize this: We prefer Virginia news
to news you can get elsewhere. If you have a good
liberty-oriented story centered in Virginia, please
alert us to it.
================================================
WHAT'S GOING ON where you live? Make sure all
Virginia Libertarians are informed of your
activities. Send announcements and news to
<[email protected]> or <mailto:[email protected]?subject=vlw>
================================================
JOIN THE PARTY - Never been a member of the
Libertarian Party of Virginia? There's no time
like NOW to become a member of Virginia's third
largest political party.
http://Membership.LPVA.com
================================================
RENEW YOUR MEMBERSHIP - Have you been a member in
the past, but for one reason or another chosen not
to renew? Renew today and resume the fight for
Liberty!
http://Membership.LPVA.com
================================================
BEGIN YOUR PLEDGE - Are you ready to make the
ultimate commitment? Join the LPVirginia Pledge
Program and help us promote our Libertarian
ideas to all your friends and neighbors!
http://Contribute.LPVA.com
================================================
NOTES: This newsletter will be migrated to a CMS with an RSS feed (which our
webmaster has been very generous in setting up!) sometime soon. This version
is primarily to guage interest. If you want it to continue, then participate!
#############################################################
Have an announcement you'd like to post? SCC members & many
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your announcements to the List Master:
<mailto:[email protected]?subject=announcement>.
##################################################
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Libertarian Party of Virginia
http://www.LPVA.com
Phone: 703-715-6230
