The Libertarian Party is the third largest and fastest growing political party in the U.S. The Libertarian party is dedicated to strictly limited government, a pure free market economy, private property rights, civil liberties, personal freedoms with personal responsibilities, and a foreign policy of non-intervention, peace, and free trade. Libertarians of South Central Kansas (LSOCK) are an affiliate of the Libertarian Party of Kansas (http://www.lpks.org/) We meet every Tuesday night (except holidays) from 5:30 to 7:00 pm at Cathy's Westway Cafe located at 1215 W. Pawnee (just west of Seneca Street) in Wichita, Kansas. All who support personal responsibility and individual liberty are invited to attend!
LPKS/LSOCK P.O. Box 2456 Wichita, Kansas 67201
1-800-335-1776

Friday, September 30, 2011

LNEK Scores A Keynote Speaker!

Noted Libertarian author speaks at Topeka gathering 

by Corey Jones/Topeka Capital Journal

Tom Woods Jr., a senior fellow of the Ludwig von Mises Institute and a New York Times bestselling author, spoke to a crowded gathering of about 75 people at Annie's Place, 4014 S.W. Gage Center Dr., during a meeting of the Libertarians of Northeast Kansas.  COREY JONES/THE CAPITAL-JOURNAL
    Tom Woods Jr., a senior fellow of the Ludwig von Mises Institute and a New York Times bestselling author, spoke to a crowded gathering of about 75 people at Annie's Place, 4014 S.W. Gage Center Dr., during a meeting of the Libertarians of Northeast Kansas.

    Click here to find out more! 
    A bestselling author spoke to a local Libertarian group Thursday evening about the merits of less government and more social freedom, which he said would create a self-organizing society.
    Tom Woods Jr., a senior fellow of the Ludwig von Mises Institute and a New York Times bestselling author, spoke to a gathering of about 75 people at Annie's Place, 4014 S.W. Gage Center Drive, during a meeting of the Libertarians of Northeast Kansas.
    Woods, who said he has lived in Topeka for slightly more than a year, quipped that he wasn't sure after his initial uprooting from New York that people who shared his ideas lived in this area.
    "It was nice to find out about this group," Woods said to laughter.
    He said the namesake of the institution of which he is a senior fellow — Ludwig von Vises — was a great model, not only as a scholar and economist, but as a human being. Ludwig would have been 130 on Thursday.
    Woods, who has authored 11 books, penned a work entitled “Meltdown” directly after the 2008 stock market collapse. It delved into the issues surrounding the collapse from a free-market perspective — the Austrian School of economics for which Vises was noted.
    First-term Topeka City Councilman Andrew Gray spoke to the dinner crowd prior to Woods. Gray said "real, viable change" always begins at the local levels. "Armchair politics," he said, needs to end and people have to get out and do something about the current state of affairs rather than simply complain.
    Gray pointed out that he now is in a position to begin promoting Libertarian ideas from his council seat.
    “You can’t have social freedom without economic liberty,” he said. “You can’t have economic liberty without social freedom — they’re dependent on each other.”
    Libertarians are beginning to initiate change, he told the crowd.
    "They're scared because we are starting to apply those principles," he said of the current political system.
    Woods discussed the ever-increasing polarization of the country's politics between Democrats and Republicans. The establishment itself has its own agenda, he said, rather than promoting the good of the public because it is more interested in "perpetuating itself than bringing about real change."
    “We are the excluded middle," Woods said. "We are the reasonable people."
    Woods provided examples of how a free society can "more or less arrange its own affairs — direct itself."
    "This is kind of scary for people," he said.
    He said YouTube is a great way for Libertarians to get their ideas out. Create a YouTube channel, he said, and comment on the day's affairs. Libertarians can't get angry about not having a position in the mainstream if they don't try and spread their word. Books have a shelf life — some run out of print or libraries don't always carry them, he said.
    But YouTube is a medium, he said, that appears as if it will be around forever for easy access to information and ideas.
    He questioned how it was possible for a guy like himself, who isn't toeing the Democratic or Republican line, to write books and give public talks for a living.
    “It’s the Internet," Woods said. "That’s what has made it possible for me to do this.”
    Woods took questions at the end of his talk, following a standing ovation.
    According to its website, the Ludwig von Mises Institute “was founded in 1982 as the research and educational center of classical liberalism, libertarian political theory and the Austrian School of economics.”
    Corey Jones can be reached at (785) 295-5612 or corey.jones@cjonline.com.

    Tuesday, September 27, 2011

    Late Monday Message!

    September 26, 2011

    Dear Friend of Liberty,

    This poll shows a record-high 81% of Americans are dissatisfied with how our country is being governed. Count me as one of the 81%.

    Freedom would provide the best environment for job growth, economic security, innovation, and the pursuit of happiness. Libertarians know that, but not enough others know it.

    I hope you'll help us recruit more members. Last week I asked for your help recruiting members, but so far, I'm only aware of one person who recruited a new member. He's listed here.

    I'd like to add more names to that list. Please ask someone to join the LP today.

    We've also done some mailing to recruit new members. The net cost to bring in a new member by sending out lots of snail mail has been anywhere from $20 to $90. If you make a contribution of $100, that will definitely be enough to help us recruit one new Libertarian Party member.

    Please donate $100, $90, or $20 today to help us pay for the mailings to recruit new members.

    Sincerely,

    Wes Benedict
    Executive Director
    Libertarian National Committee

    P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

    Friday, September 23, 2011

    Libertarians And Social Security Cuts

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 23, 2011

    Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
    E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
    Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222


    Libertarians, not Republicans, offer Social Security cuts

    WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party Chair Mark Hinkle issued the following statement today:

    "In the Republican candidate debate last night, I observed that not a single Republican candidate made any proposals for immediate cuts to Social Security, the single largest government program in America.

    "Republicans are so scared of losing senior citizens' votes that they are willing to throw their children and grandchildren under the bus.

    "Republicans constantly claim they want to cut government spending, so it should be easy for them to propose small cuts to Social Security, like raising the retirement age from 67 to 68, or reducing current benefit checks by just 5%. However, no Republican candidate has proposed any cuts.

    "Republican Rick Perry has been doing backflips to counter his earlier negative statements about Social Security. He says it's a Ponzi scheme, but he still wants to keep it going.

    "Republican Mitt Romney says it's a wonderful program.

    "Both Republicans and Democrats are determined to kick the can as far down the road as possible, until we are overtaken by events, and it becomes impossible to pay people what they have been led to expect. Their attitude is the height of irresponsibility -- even cruelty.

    "It's not just the politicians -- Republican voters may claim they want to cut spending, but they are in denial about Social Security. In a Gallup poll conducted in January, only 34% of Republican-aligned voters said they supported cuts in Social Security. (They weren't willing to cut much else either -- but that's another topic.)

    "Whenever Social Security reform comes up, politicians fall over themselves to say they won't cut benefits for retirees and 'people nearing retirement.'

    "Unfortunately, Social Security is effectively a Ponzi scheme, and all Ponzi schemes unravel eventually. People are not going to receive what they've been led to expect -- we know that. But the politicians' claim that only young people should suffer is unfair.

    "I believe that we all need to recognize Social Security for the disastrous Ponzi scheme that it is, and we all need to share the burden of cutting it.

    "Unlike Republicans, I propose that we reduce government spending now by making the following three changes to Social Security:

    "First, increase the retirement age to 72.

    "Second, remove the automatic increase in benefits. From now on, an act of Congress will be required to increase benefits.

    "Third, allow people of any age to opt out. The government should not say to Americans, 'You must participate in our retirement Ponzi scheme whether you want to or not, or else we'll throw you in prison.'

    "In a recent poll at the Libertarian Party website, 53% of respondents said 'We should completely get rid of Social Security.'

    "There is no way to 'make Social Security strong' or 'protect it for the future.' Those are politicians' lies. You can't fix a Ponzi scheme. You can only terminate it, or try to prolong it so that future generations suffer even worse.

    "In the past, some Libertarians have proposed selling off government assets for a one-time bailout of Social Security. I'm afraid a bailout would just provide a short-term reprieve, and then we'd be right back to the same problems we face today.

    "We should start winding down Social Security now, and suffer some pain and disappointment, so that future generations will be able to live and retire with freedom and security."

    The Libertarian Party Platform says in section 2.10, "Retirement planning is the responsibility of the individual, not the government."

    For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

    The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
    ###
    P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

    Monday, September 19, 2011

    LP Monday Message: Rewarding New Member Recruiters

    September 19, 2011

    Dear Friend of Liberty,

    I need your help recruiting new members into the LP.

    By many measures, such as the number of candidates and number of votes received, the Libertarian Party has been growing for the past few years. Unfortunately, the number of dues-paying members has not gone up. In August, we dipped below 14,000 active donors for the first time in a few years.

    We've tried lots of different ideas to increase LP membership. One of our most recent efforts was to send a letter to lots of people registered to vote as Libertarians. That's helped some, but not enough.

    I need your help to strengthen our party. Please try and find someone new to join the LP.

    In return, I want to give you recognition for your help.

    If you find someone new to join, have them type "recruited by ________" (first name, last name, city) in the Comments box at the bottom of our online membership page, or write it on the paper membership form.

    You can print out membership forms here.

    (I'm looking specifically for new members. If you convince former LP members to renew their dues, I'm afraid that doesn't count!)

    I want to list our recruiters in LP News, and on our website. It might look something like this:

    Susan Smith, Chicago, recruited 2 members
    John Jackson, Los Angeles, recruited 1 member
    If anyone recruits even five new members, I'll definitely want to hear about the details and share them with everyone else so we can get more people working effectively. Please make an effort just to get one new member, so we can get your name in LP News and on the website and give you credit.

    You might try asking your spouse, a friend, a campaign worker, or someone at the next LP meeting you attend.

    I'm not setting an overall deadline on this, but the deadline to be listed in the next LP News is October 1.

    Please find a new member today, and don't forget to have them write "recruited by ________" (first name, last name, city) so we can recognize you!

    Sincerely,

    Wes Benedict
    Executive Director
    Libertarian National Committee

    P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

    Friday, September 16, 2011

    Happy Constitution Day!

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 16, 2011

    Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
    E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
    Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222


    Libertarian remarks on Constitution Day

    WASHINGTON - In honor of Constitution Day, Libertarian Party Executive Director Wes Benedict released the following statement today:

    "Tomorrow, September 17, is Constitution Day: the anniversary of the agreement on the U.S. Constitution by the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in 1787.

    "When I think about that anniversary, I am saddened by how far we have strayed from our original respect for the Constitution. But I am hopeful for the future.

    "The value of a constitution is that it binds government and prevents pure majority rule. Without it, government tends to grow without bounds as political majorities find ways to constrain and take money from political minorities.

    "Fortunately, the American Founders were well aware of this problem. They created a Constitution to limit the federal government's powers to just a few narrow functions.

    "But unfortunately, over the last 224 years, all three branches of government, and most of the American people, have often decided that the Constitution can be ignored if it's too inconvenient. Our attitude has been that, if we really want something, then we say 'times have changed' and the Constitution doesn't apply anymore.

    "Instead of amending the Constitution, we have chosen to ignore provisions the majority doesn't like anymore. That has led to an explosive growth of the federal government. It now interferes deeply in education, health care, retirement planning, employment, and a variety of other areas that would have been unthinkable 100 years ago.

    "This unconstitutional growth of government has caused many new problems in our society, and aggravated many existing ones.

    "Instead of a government described as 'islands of power in a sea of rights,' our government now functions as a 'sea of power with islands of rights.' And those islands are shrinking.

    "If we are to have a government that respects and protects individual rights, we must return to the Constitution. We must recover the principle that the federal government is limited to the enumerated powers of Article I, Section 8. We must accept that the General Welfare clause does not mean the federal government can spend money on whatever we want; and the Interstate Commerce clause does not mean the federal government can impose whatever regulations we want.

    "If -- and only if -- we return to the Constitution, America's future is bright."

    The following six sentences in the Libertarian Party platform mention the Constitution:

    "We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused." (1.3 Crime and Justice)

    "We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution." (2.4 Government Finance and Spending)

    "We support the passage of a 'Balanced Budget Amendment' to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes." (2.4 Government Finance and Spending)

    "We support a halt to inflationary monetary policies and unconstitutional legal tender laws." (2.5 Money and Financial Markets)

    "Government is constitutionally limited so as to prevent the infringement of individual rights by the government itself." (3.0 Securing Liberty)

    "The Constitution and Bill of Rights shall not be suspended even during time of war." (3.2 Internal Security and Individual Rights)

    For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

    The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
    ###
    P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

    Wednesday, September 14, 2011

    From Our Friend John Todd

    AFP targeting Ambassador hotel guest tax

    The Wichita Eagle

    WICHITA — The Wichita chapter of Americans for Prosperity announced this afternoon it's launching a petition drive to overturn about $2 million of a financial incentive package the City Council approved Tuesday for a downtown hotel group.
    The city incentives for the 117-room Ambassador boutique hotel at the corner of Douglas and Broadway include a 75 percent rebate of the 6 percent transient guest tax generated by the hotel for 15 years, or roughly $2 million, according to AFP-Kansas officials.
    Susan Estes, field director for AFP-Kansas, said the group needs a little more than 2,500 signatures — or 10 percent of the 25,000-plus people who voted in the last election — to bring the guest tax rebate before the voters. The drive will begin as soon as a charter ordinance amendment approved by the city is published in The Eagle.
    Reach Bill Wilson at 316-268-6290 or bwilson@wichitaeagle.com.


    Monday, September 12, 2011

    LP Monday Message

    September 12, 2011

    Dear Friend of Liberty,

    Several Libertarian candidates and groups have made extraordinary efforts lately that I want to point out.

    Brendan Kelly, who is already an elected official in New Hampshire (Seabrook Selectman), recently ran for a special election to an open seat in the New Hampshire legislature. He was in a race against both a Republican and Democrat and ended up getting 17%. While 17% may not sound like much, historically it's very high: in 2010 elections for state legislatures, only one Libertarian in a three-way race against both a D and R got more than that. So congratulations to Mr. Kelly for such an outstanding effort.

    More details, including links to stories in the Houston Chronicle and Boston Globe can be found here.

    Brendan Kelly recently sent this note to his supporters:

    I'd like to thank my family, friends and associates who showed up to help me with my campaign. A special thank you to the 17% of voters who took the time to come out and vote for me. This is the third time now that I'm being informed that I could have won if I ran as a Republican. That will never happen. I believe the two major political parties are the cause of our fiscal problems and will never be able to repair the damage they have inflicted on our republic. Many libertarians have been elected by running in disguise, thinking they will be better able to make a change by getting elected. My principles and the desire to always tell the public the truth as I know it, prevent me from taking the easy route. I'm not interested in getting elected just to get elected. My goal is to make a difference. Not easy when you are outspent by twenty to one. Thank God that in politics as in baseball there is always the hope of wait until next year. I'd like to announce that I will be a candidate to be your state representative in the 2012 elections. We don't know yet what the district will be but I'm happy to be the first to announce.

    Brendan Kelly, Seabrook
    Now that's the fighting spirit I like to hear.

    Speaking of fighting, the Ohio Libertarians just got the courts to reinstate their ballot access.

    And according to Ballot Access News:
    Several Republican Party officials in Kentucky have filed a lawsuit in state court to remove the Libertarian Party nominee for State Treasurer from the ballot....They charge that he does not have 5,000 valid signatures. The state has already certified him for the ballot.
    I'm betting Ken Moellman fights back and retains his place on the ballot. You can show your support for Ken Moellman here.

    If you would like to help our party keep up the fight all over America, please donate to the LP.

    Sincerely,

    Wes Benedict
    Executive Director
    Libertarian National Committee

    P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

    Thursday, September 8, 2011

    LP Response To Obama Speech and GOP Debate

    FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

    September 8, 2011

    Contact: Wes Benedict, Executive Director
    E-mail: wes.benedict@lp.org
    Phone: 202-333-0008 ext. 222


    Libertarians respond to Obama speech and Republican debate

    WASHINGTON - Libertarian Party Executive Director Wes Benedict has released a video response to President Obama's jobs speech. The video is available here.

    A transcript follows:
    My name is Wes Benedict and I'm the Executive Director of the Libertarian National Committee in Washington, DC.

    I have a message for the American people in response to President Obama's proposal tonight for an American Jobs Act. I also have a few comments about last night's Republican Presidential debate.

    Unemployment is at 9 percent. Four years ago, in late 2007, unemployment was less than 5 percent. Then in 2008, President Bush mailed out millions of 300-dollar government stimulus checks. Later that year, he supported the massive TARP bailout. Unemployment rose. In 2009, President Obama said if we passed another big stimulus plan, unemployment would stay below 8 percent. Now it's at 9 percent. Government spending does not help the economy, it hurts the economy.

    Stimulus spending doesn't create jobs, it destroys them. When investors hear that the U.S. government is going to flush more money down the spending hole, they react immediately by cutting back on investments that would have created jobs.

    Government stimulus spending benefits a few, but at great expense to everyone else. Politicians like to be able to say they're "doing something," but too often, "doing something" means handing out money to special interests. Often these programs are promoted with false claims that they will benefit the poor and middle class. Usually the opposite happens.

    We don't need the government "doing something" if it involves more spending and new programs.

    We'd be better off if the government stopped trying to help, and gave Americans a chance to recover, adjust their plans, and start solving economic problems themselves.

    However, if politicians feel like they must be seen "doing something", then they should cut spending, bring our troops home from the Middle East, reduce Medicare and Social Security benefits, cut taxes, and eliminate burdensome licensing laws and minimum wage laws. Licensing and minimum wage laws take the bottom rungs off the economic ladder.

    The President's tax cut proposals are good and bad. Libertarians always support broad-based tax cuts. But targeted special-interest cuts and loopholes just amount to social engineering, and they pit different interest groups against each other. And tax cuts without spending cuts virtually guarantee that future generations will suffer a heavier tax burden.

    It's foolish to talk about increasing taxes on the wealthy. That would be a great way to destroy even more jobs. Libertarians want to cut spending, and cut taxes for everyone.

    Last night, I watched the Republican Presidential debate, and it was the same old nonsense from Republicans. They sometimes say they are for free markets. Yet, Mitt Romney defended his Romney Care plan. Rick Perry boasted about his new 3-billion-dollar taxpayer funded medical research center in Texas. Newt Gingrich said we need to grow revenue. Mr. Gingrich, the last thing we need is to put more money into the incompetent, wasteful, and corrupt hands of the federal government.

    Libertarians want less government, and more jobs. We support free markets, civil liberties, and peace.

    You can find out more on our website at LP.org.

    Thank you, and good night.
    For more information, or to arrange an interview, call LP Executive Director Wes Benedict at 202-333-0008 ext. 222.

    The LP is America's third-largest political party, founded in 1971. The Libertarian Party stands for free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can find more information on the Libertarian Party at our website.
    ###
    P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.

    Monday, September 5, 2011

    LP Monday Message

    September 5, 2011

    Dear Friend of Liberty,

    I hope you've had a nice summer and are enjoying a relaxing Labor Day.

    The tenth anniversary of the 9/11 tragedy will be next Sunday. I am deeply sorry for those killed or hurt, their friends and family members, and others who have had to deal with the aftermath.

    It's impossible to turn back time, but Libertarians have warned for decades that an aggressive foreign policy often creates resentment that may incite terrorism. Our platform states:

    "3.3 International Affairs
    American foreign policy should seek an America at peace with the world. Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack from abroad and enhance the likelihood of peace by avoiding foreign entanglements. We would end the current U.S. government policy of foreign intervention, including military and economic aid. We recognize the right of all people to resist tyranny and defend themselves and their rights. We condemn the use of force, and especially the use of terrorism, against the innocent, regardless of whether such acts are committed by governments or by political or revolutionary groups."

    A review of some of the negative consequences of an aggressive foreign policy:

    • 9/11: the deaths of thousands of Americans and others
    • The Patriot Act
    • The Wars in Afghanistan and Iraq, and the deaths of soldiers and civilians
    • Trillions in government spending
    • Setting bad precedents for future governments, both domestic and foreign
    It is long past time to bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan.

    If you expect to attend any rallies or other politically-oriented public events in the next couple of weeks, I encourage you to remind people about the Libertarian Party and what we stand for.

    If you have any of the door hangers left over, you might hand them out and show people the writing on the back that says: "Bring our troops home from Iraq and Afghanistan."



    If you'd like to order some of these, we'll make an extra effort to ship them immediately by Priority Mail, so you might have them by the weekend.

    You can find ordering instructions here.

    Sincerely,

    Wes Benedict
    Executive Director
    Libertarian National Committee

    P.S. If you have not already done so, please join the Libertarian Party. We are the only political party dedicated to free markets, civil liberties, and peace. You can also renew your membership. Or, you can make a contribution separate from membership.