LPNC Weekly Update

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Libertarian Party of North Carolina Weekly Update      March 11, 2009
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CONTENTS

1.  New “Weekly Update” – needs a name!

2.  2009 State Convention — Next Move: Building on Success

3.  LPNC Reaction to Perdue’s State of the State Address

4.  2010 Census: Snooping In Your Neighborhood

5.  Fellow Travelers: StopNCAnnexation

6.  Libertarian Voter Registration Update: 4,500+!

7.  Elevator Pitch: Gun Control

8.  LPNC Resources

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1. New “Weekly Update” – needs a name!
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This week we start a new weekly email update for those on the LPNC's
email list. It will be short, but with lots of great of information on
the LPNC's meetings, people, and activities, plus tools you can use as
a libertarian activist.

Have a story idea? Affiliate news? Feedback on this update?  Send it
to Susan at Susan.Hogarth@lpnc.org

Can you think of a better name than the rather lame "Weekly Update"?
If you can, please send it to Susan at Susan.Hogarth@lpnc.org. The
contributor of the name chosen will receive a prize and recognition.
Send your best ideas!

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2.  2009 State Convention — Next Move: Building on Success
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http://lpnc.org/convention.php

Join the Libertarian Party of North Carolina as we ponder our Next
Move: Building on Success at our annual State Convention in Burlington
April 17-19, 2009. As we look forward to the next several years
without the onerous task of collecting signatures for ballot access,
what strategy should we adopt to help move the LPNC toward future
successes?

The convention is a combination of business and fun. Activities begin
on Friday evening with a Friends and Family gathering. Saturday
morning and early afternoon will be devoted mostly to the Bylaws
Committee report. Our Saturday morning session will include a panel
discussion 'What Would You Have Done with Your $80K'? On Saturday
afternoon, we'll have a special communications workshop presented by
Michael Cloud, well known libertarian communicator. You certainly
don't want to miss the Saturday evening banquet. Michael Cloud will
deliver our keynote address. The evening concludes with our
Libertarian awards and the now infamous annual liberty auction. If you
have items you would like to donate for the auction, please contact
auction@lpnc.org. Convention delegates will elect a new Executive
Committee Sunday morning and hear Mike Munger offer his 'Reflections
from the Campaign Trail'.

For information on attending, tickets, and the convention hotel, check
out the Convention '09 website: http://lpnc.org/convention.php

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3.  LPNC Reaction to Perdue’s State of the State Address
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(contributed by Brian Irving)

Governor Bev Perdue's first address to the General Assembly contained
no surprises, as predicted, but North Carolina Libertarians were
pleased to hear some familiar themes in the speech.

"We applaud Governor Perdue's tough statement that she will reduce and
cut state programs," said Barbara Howe, state party chair. "We're glad
she finally is on board with what Libertarians have been saying all
along and anxiously await to see if she has muscle behind her decision
to cut the fat."

Libertarians were slightly disappointed that the only specific action
Governor Perdue promised was to drive a truck to South Carolina to
pick up Federal recovery funds.

"The governor is an educated woman, so I'm sure she realizes there's
no 'pot at the end of the rainbow.' Those funds are taxpayer funds
from her fellow North Carolinians and all Americans."

But Libertarians were heartened to hear the governor say that "cutting
the fat" didn't go far enough and that the budget she'll present next
week will reduce and cut state government programs and services the
state simply cannot afford. "We can't wait to see that budget," Howe
said.

Governor Perdue's call to "stand up to the sweet seductions of special
interests, the temptations of politically popular pork barrel
spending, and end the practice of back room dealing" also echoed
Libertarian values.

The governor said that education is the engine that drives the
economy, is essential for economic recovery and would not be
sacrificed. "We hope that means she'll be open to genuine 'out of the
box thinking' to improve our educational system," Howe said.

For example, the governor said no parent has a free pass from the
responsibility to be fully involved in their child's education.
"Libertarians would add that this means parents should have authority
to school their children as they see fit — for example at home or in
charter or private schools," Howe said.

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4. 2010 Census: Snooping In Your Neighborhood
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(reprinted from Old Dominion Liberty Letter, Issue #7, courtesy of Marc Montoni)

During previous Census years, Libertarian Party activists and others
championed a 'Constitutional response' to nosy Census questions: As
the Constitution specifies, tell the Census how many people live at
your address. And that's it!

While our government ramps up its Census-taking bureaucracy for the
decennial Census, it will be fighting low compliance, anger at the
intrusiveness of its questions, and other hurdles.  Libertarians have
a solution that will eliminate most of the heartache for everyone
involved, bureaucrats and citizens alike: Get rid of the long form,
get rid of the short form, and eliminate the extra-intrusive American
Community Survey (ACS) -- and replace them all with a "Census
Postcard".

Libertarians have just one question for the Census Bureau. Since the
U.S. Constitution requires just a count of the population, why doesn't
the Census ask just one question: How many people live in your home?
Such a Census-on-a-postcard would save time, address Americans'
concerns about privacy, save taxpayers billions of dollars, and cause
the compliance rate to soar. All the Census has to do is follow the
old motto: Keep it simple, stupid.

Boycott the Census:

       http://www.erichsmith.com/census.html

The Intrusive ACS

      http://www.nolanchart.com/article6074.html

The Census Scam:

      http://www.lewrockwell.com/orig/garris1.html

The 'race' question on the U.S. census is racist -- why this is so and
what to answer instead:

      http://www.sodabob.com/Constitution/Census.asp

Don't Trust the Census:

      http://www.toad.com/gnu/census.html

"Postcard Census" LP Media Release from March, 2000:

      http://multiracial.com/site/content/view/847/2/

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5.  Fellow Travelers: StopNCAnnexation
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[“Fellow Travelers” is a regular feature spotlighting groups in North
Carolina and beyond who help further the libertarian cause in one or
more directions. If you have a group you’d like to share with fellow
Libertarians for this feature, please send it to Susan at
Susan.Hogarth@lpnc.org]

Stop NC Annexation

http://www.stopncannexation.com/

StopNCAnnexation is organized to help victims of forced annexation
learn about the annexation process and connect with others across
North Carolina who are also fighting forced annexation. The goal is to
inform each group about the others, about what the laws say about
forced annexation, how to fight it, and how to work together to lobby
our State lawmakers to change this law. It was also created to be an
internet resource of information regarding what others have done in
their fight against annexation; their court challenges, fundraising,
and experiences with the annexing municipalities.

Starting in 2004, StopNCAnnexation has held a yearly 'Rally in
Raleigh' event to bring information and the voice of the citizens to
the legislators on the same day that the cities are lobbying to
preserve forced annexation laws at the NC League of Municipalities
'Town Hall Day' event. These have grown in impact and success with
each year. LPNC activists attend this rally - watch this newsletter
for upcoming information on this year's rally!

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6.  Libertarian Voter Registration Update: 4,500+!
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http://lpnc.org/libs_by_county.php

Wake County is in the lead with over 600 registered Libertarians!
(Take THAT, Mecklenburg!!)

New Hanover County has the highest percentage of registered
Libertarians, at nearly 0.15%

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7.  Elevator Pitch: Gun Control
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[An ‘elevator pitch’ is an overview of an idea for a product, service,
or project. The name reflects the fact that an elevator pitch can be
delivered in the time span of an elevator ride - for example, thirty
seconds and 100-150 words. This week’s ‘pitch’ is really a collection
‘escalator pitches’ – one-liners which can be tossed into a
conversation to spark thought or interest.]

"Those who hammer their guns into plows will plow for those who do
not." ~ Thomas Jefferson

An armed man is a citizen. An unarmed man is a subject.

A gun in the hand is better than a cop on the phone.

Gun control is not about guns; it's about control.

Free men do not ask permission to bear arms.

What part of "shall not be infringed" do you not understand?

The Second Amendment is in place in case the politicians ignore the others.

64,999,987 firearms owners killed no one yesterday.

Guns only have two enemies: rust and politicians.

911: government-sponsored Dial-a-prayer.

Assault is a behavior, not a device.

Criminals love gun control; it makes their jobs safer and easier.

If guns cause crime, then matches cause arson.

Only a government that is afraid of its citizens tries to disarm them.

When you remove the people's right to bear arms, you create slaves.

The American Revolution would never have happened with gun control.

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8.  LPNC Resources
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Join the LP!
http://lpnc.org/join_choose.php

Keep in Touch:
LPNC Announcement List (includes this Weekly Update and Special Announcements)
http://lpnc.info/mailman/listinfo/announce

LPNC Activist/Discussion List – Connect with Fellow Activists:
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/lpnc/