From: sconley@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu (Stephen M Conley)
Subject: Re: Why should I vote for Marrou?
Organization: The Ohio State University
Date: Fri, 16 Oct 1992 19:37:56 GMT

In article <1992Oct15.153914.7179@board8.uucp> skinny@board8.uucp (skinny) 
writes:

> What a bunch of hogwash. The Libertarian party has ALREADY been around
>for 20 years and has gone where it will end up - NOWHERE! Just like all
>the other fringe groups. Sure, the crap the Libertarians spout looks good,
>but no one take them seriously and hence, no one has really taken the time
>to look at the candidates.

The Ohio Board of Elections took us seriously enough to try and keep one
of our candidates for state legislature off the ballot on a trumped-up
technicality.  Other state and local governments take us seriously enough
to arrest our petitioners.

> Marrou was recently asked on a local radio show why he thought people
>should vote for him. His answer was to start talking about how there are
>all sorts of groups just waiting to 'take over the country by force' and
>he thought that voting for him was a viable alternative. He kept (too
>much) repeating how HE didn't want this violence to happen, but he kept
>making it sound impending. He's a intelligent sounding man with CO2 be-
>tween his ears. If he has such information, then why doesn't he turn
>it into the proper channels? Either he's a traitor or he's a liar.
>Take your pick.

Traitor to what?  Besides, I've never heard Marrou say anything like that.
I think you're quoting him out of context.

> The local candidates are even worse. Anyone who wants to can get on
>a ballot and that's what's been happening. 

Now THAT is hogwash!  In Ohio (whose election laws are mild 
compared to states like Florida and Pennsylvania) it takes 5000 
signatures (of registered voters) to get a presidential candidate 
on the ballot (as an "Independent"!--it is virtually impossible to 
get one on running under an unrecognized party name and it takes 
50,000 signatures to be 'recognized'), and about 400 signatures for 
candidates for state representative positions (I don't have figures 
for state senator, congressman, etc.).

I can tell by the tone of your article that you've never done any 
political work before, so let me tell you that getting people to sign 
petitions for candidates from parties they've never heard of is like 
pulling teeth.  I averaged 20-30 per hour in crowded places.  Whip out
your HP 48SX and figure out the man hours involved in the 12,900
signatures we got for Andre Marrou, plus 3 state rep and 2 congressional
candidates in Ohio, genius.  Then multiply it by 50.

>The Libertarians are so busy
>trying to get exposure (in the form of candidates) that no one has
>scrutinized the merchandise.

If more people would get involved (like you, Bozo), we could run
better candidates and better campaigns.

> In a local election, we had a 'Libertarian' run un-opposed in the
>primary. For people who are so big on cutting out government waste,
>this seems a poor way to spend MY tax money. I can understand running
>in a general election, but this smells of hypocrisy.

No, it smells of ballot access laws, which we don't make.  And believe
me, the piddly amount of money spent on running an unopposed candidate
is nothing compared to what the LP would cut out of government.  But
we have win, first, which means bums like you have to get off your
asses and actually work for what you believe in, instead of waiting
around for those of us who actually give a damn to do it for you.

> Sure, these guys sound good. They (like all other politic-types) will
>tell you anything you like to hear.

Then why is it that so many of our proposals are so unpopular?  If we
told people what they wanted to hear, then our platform would be
virtually indistinguishable from the Republicans, Democrats, and
Perot-oids.

> What if the Libertarians ever DO WIN?

[long winded and rather pointless story about stamps deleted]

Every action involves some risks.  If the Libertarians really do 
start winning elections, then perhaps there will be some Libertarian
politicians who will go bad.  How is that any worse than the way
things are now?  Besides, most Libertarian candidates (Andre Marrou,
for instance) have virtually no chance of winning.  They're trying
to promote Libertarian *ideas* (you know, those things in your head--
well, in most people's heads, at least).  I have yet to meet a
Libertarian who actually *wants* to be a professional politician.

> The only true libertarian party is no party at all. As long as you
>follow the crowd (any crowd) you can't possibly be free. Freedom is
>a truth from within. No group speaks for me.

That's such a beautiful philosophy.  I'm sure it will give a you a
lot of comfort to have found true freedom when the secret police drag
you away in the middle of the night.  And I'm sure voting for yourself
in every election will really help reduce the amount of taxes you pay.
And when that naughty movie you bought the other week lands you in the
slammer, I'm sure you will take great pleasure in contemplating how
incredibly free you've been since you got away from that crazy
Libertarian group.

For those of you who think this guy might still have a point, let me
add that there's a big difference between 'following the crowd' and
allying yourself with others to achieve mutual goals.

> thank you

'Sallright.  Now go out and get involved.

Steve Conley
sconley@magnus.acs.ohio-state.edu
"Jesus built my car.  It's a love affair.
 Mainly Jesus, and my hotrod."   --Ministry, "Jesus Built My Hotrod"
Newsgroups: alt.politics.libertarian