The official online publication of the Libertarian Party of Georgia
~~~ Contents ~~~
1. Website of the Week: The Road To Serfdom (http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/320553.html)
2. Register Now For The State Convention
3. Press Release Of The Week: Libertarians Warn Of Bill To Invade Your Medical Privacy
4. A Message From The By-Laws Committee
5. Libertarian Party of Georgia Says Reproduction Is Too Personal To Let The State Determine How Many Kids You Have
6. Opportunities To Run The Libertarian Party of Georgia!
7. Libertarian Meetings Near You
8. Newest Members In the Libertarian Party Of Georgia
======================================
1. Website of the Week: The Road To Serfdom (http://www.press.uchicago.edu/Misc/Chicago/320553.html)
The Libertarian Party is the Party of Principle. We have an underlying philosophy that individual liberty, limited government, and free markets produce the most prosperity and happiness to the most people. One of the people who contributed to our philosophy was a Nobel laureate in economics named Fredrich A. Hayek.
Hayek was an original thinker and articulate proponent of the Austrian school of economics. While teaching at the London School of Economics in London in 1944 Hayek published a book that turned out to be the practical beginning of a conservative renaissance opposed to the orthodoxy of the day of statism and socialism. Tuesday, March 10 marks the anniversary of the date in 1944 that The Road To Serfdom was published in England.
The book’s premise is that statism in general and socialism in particular inevitably devolve into dictatorship.
Wartime paper shortages limited the reach of all new books in England at that time, but it nonetheless The Road to Serfdom was influential. Even Lord Maynard Keynes gave the book a favorable review. In her autobiography, former UK Prime Minister Lady Margaret Thatcher wrote ".. the most powerful critique of socialist planning and the socialist state which I read at this time [the late 1940's], and to which I have returned so often since [is] F. A. Hayek's The Road to Serfdom."
The Road To Serfdom came to America the following year by way of a Readers’ Digest condensed version and a Book-Of-The-Month Club presentation. Astoundingly, this book on economics and political philosophy became a smash hit in the States!
Even though the book includes highly technical sections, Hayek was a lucid writer -- or at least benefited from a readable translation from the original German. The Road To Serfdom is just as relevant today as it was when it first saw the light of day in war-torn England 65 years ago.
One measure of Hayek’s importance is the list of enemies his work has acquired. The Foundation for Economic Education (FEE) has a great article about the way President Obama’s favorite economist, Paul Krugman, completely misunderstands Hayek at (http://www.auburn.edu/~garriro/e5hayek.htm).
Other important Libertarian-themed works from Hayek include The Fatal Conceit (The Errors Of Socialism) and The Constitution Of Liberty.
And no, actress Salma Hayek is not related.
**************************************************
Patronize the businesses that are sponsors of the 2009 Libertarian Party of Georgia state convention. Our sponsors include:
**************************************************
2. Register Now For The State Convention
The 2009 annual state Convention of the Libertarian Party of Georgia will take place on Saturday, April 18, 2009 at the Hilton Atlanta NE in Norcross, the same place as last year’s convention. Now is the time to reserve your tickets online at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/convention.php, before prices increase.
Those purchasing a full day ticket will hear a slate of libertarian speakers. This will include...
● Wayne Allyn Root, our 2008 Vice-Presidential candidate, delivering an energetic presentation in his first Georgia appearance since the election;
● Cato Institute economist Thomas Firey giving a humorous but sobering analysis of the current economic climate;
● 2008 Libertarian Presidential candidate Bob Barr recapping the successful aspects of the campaign; and
● Libertarian National Committee Chairman Bill Redpath explaining the bright future for The Libertarian Party in the face of the incompetence of the old parties
...And we continue to negotiate for additional speakers to engage and energize Libertarians.
Anyone and everyone is welcome to attend the state Convention, BUT... you MUST be a member of the Libertarian Party of Georgia to be eligible to become a voting Delegate -- membership in the LNC is not sufficient! If you’re not sure of your status, call the state office at (404) 888-9468 and we’ll let you know. Or just go ahead and renew or extend your membership online at http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php.
Tickets for the whole Convention -- morning and afternoon sessions, lunch, the evening banquet, and all our featured speakers -- is just $79, a 27% drop from last year’s rate! At the low end, $39 gets you lunch and the afternoon session. As always, there is no charge for the morning business session. Ticket prices will rise on April 1st, so sign up early for the best price. Register online at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/convention.php. If you prefer, you can print the order form at the end of this newsletter, or the one posted at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/pdf/2009_Convention_Registration.pdf and mail it with your check or credit card information to the LPGa office. Or you can fax the form with your credit card information to the LPGa office at (404) 874-8339.
The Libertarian Party of Georgia recognizes our convention sponsors: The Elliott Wave, L. H. Thomson Company, the J. D. Aiken Company, and R. James Properties. We appreciate their support of Libertarian ideals in Georgia.
===================
3. Press Release Of The Week: Libertarians Warn Of Bill To Invade Your Medical Privacy
The Georgia Legislature is considering a law that would invade the privacy of innocent citizens for the ‘offense’ of having a cold, or insomnia, or anxiety, or chronic pain. The Libertarian Party Of Georgia issued this media press release to call attention to this mistaken attempt as controlling free individuals.
Atlanta, GA: A bill in the state legislature could compromise your privacy if you use certain prescribed or over-the-counter medicines, says the Libertarian Party of Georgia (LPGa).
HB 614, also referred to as the Georgia Prescription Monitoring Program Act, would create a database to monitor certain prescription and over-the-counter drugs, such as Ritalin, Xanax, most pain medications, sleep aids and any product containing pseudoephedrine.
The legislation has cleared committee and is awaiting placement on the calendar for a vote by the Georgia House of Representatives.
“Both the Georgia and United States Constitution are very clear on the individual’s right to privacy and due process,” says LPGa Legislative Director Jason Pye.
You can read the entire press release at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/blog.php?article=95. The Libertarian Party Of Georgia alerts the media as well as our members when government action or stupidity warrants.
===================
4. A Message From The By-Laws Committee
The business session of the State Convention will include consideration of changes to our party by-laws. By-Laws committee chairman David Shock has this message to members of The Libertarian Party of Georgia.
“Please send proposed by-laws changes to committee chair, David Shock, via e-mail to david-dot-shock-at-LPGeorgia-dot-com. Please include existing language and proposed changes in the email text or as an attachment by no later than Friday, March 20, 2009. A current copy of the LPGa by-laws can be found at http://www.LPGeorgia.com/pdf/LPGa_Bylaws_2008.pdf.”
The members of the by-laws committee also include Jim Serrate, Chad Colopy, Jason Pye, and Doyle Jones.
**************************************************
LPGa T-Shirts on Sale Now! The Libertarian Party of Georgia’s official T-shirt design is in stock and available for a donation of just $24.80, including shipping. Proceeds fund our Public Outreach Program. Visit www.lpgeorgia.com/buytshirt.php and order your LPGa T-shirt now! Libertarian Party affiliates can get a discount on orders of a dozen or more, and there’s a nice price for individuals who want 12 or more at one time. If you are looking for a large quantity of LPGa T-shirts, email Operations.Director-at-LPGeorgia-dot-com.
**************************************************
5. Libertarian Party of Georgia Says Reproduction Is Too Personal To Let The State Determine How Many Kids You Have
Historian Robert Higgs, in his book Crisis And Leviathan, articulates the concept that the state manipulates natural crisis (or creates artificial ones) in order to increase government control. Here at home, the state Legislature is using a bizarre incident that has only occurred one time ever and has never happened in Georgia as the opportunity to control how many children you and your family can have.
The economy is falling apart around our ears. Georgia’s high school graduation rate ranks 49th. But what does state Senator Ralph Hudgens (R-Athens) think the most pressing issue for the state is? Preventing a woman from ‘overdoing’ in-vitro fertilization.
The Senator is responding to the birth of octuplets in January. Nadya Suleman of California gave birth to eight babies after an IVF procedure implanted six viable embryos. Hudgens is one of the busybodies outraged that the California woman is unmarried, already had six children, and is on government assistance.
Concerned about something that has never happened in Georgia and has occurred only one time in the entire world, Senator Hudgens dropped SB-169, “The Ethical Treatment of Human Embryos Act,” (http://www.legis.ga.gov/legis/2009_10/fulltext/sb169.htm) to limit the number of embryos that could be implanted in an IVF procedure.
You can read the rest of the article at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/blog.php?article=94. The Libertarian Party of Georgia makes sure the press and our elected representatives know that we believe the freedom option is always is the best one.
======================================
6. Opportunities To Run The Libertarian Party of Georgia!
Many leadership positions will be up for election at our state convention on April 18th. The people who fill these posts will be the ones who set strategy, priorities, and tactics for the next year -- and YOU can be one of them! It’s a chance to have more impact than just coming to meetings and renewing your membership.
The Convention will choose two Officers: a Secretary and a Vice Chair. It also will select four at-large representatives, while delegates will elect a total of 15 regional representatives from the party’s five state districts. Any of these positions might be yours, but only if you attend the state party convention and raise your hand.
The requirements are simple: you MUST be a member of the Libertarian Party of Georgia (LNC membership is not enough!), and you must be willing to attend an Executive Committee meeting in Atlanta each month, either in person or by teleconference, where party policy is decided. Representatives also are responsible for keeping an eye on the local affiliates in their area, and helping create new ones.
The Convention will take nominations from the floor, but if you let the state office know in advance of your intent to run, we can publicize your interest.
Other than running for public office in a general election, the most impact you can have on politics is being a delegate to the convention and running for a party position. Attend the convention and run for office!
======================================
7. Libertarian Meetings Near You
New affiliates are being formed all over Georgia. Contact the office for the one nearest you, or check our updated affiliates page (www.lpgeorgia.com/affiliates.php) at our website. Can’t find meetings in your area? Form an affiliate! We’ve made it easy! Contact our Operations Director for a Start-Up Kit -- or call him at (404) 888-9468.
Atlanta/Fulton County: The Libertarian Party of Atlanta meets on the second Monday of each month. Join us on Monday, March 9th at 7 PM at the Silverton Mortgage building in Atlanta, at 1027 Monroe Drive. We are preparing ourselves for the annual convention to take place on the 28th. The agenda items include voting on the Director of Event Coordination and selecting a committee; setting the date for the monthly social gathering; and discussing involvement in local bids for office. Find out more at the website at http://libertarian.meetup.com/444/, or email Chairman Anne Harper at anneandreah-at-gmail-dot-com.
Macon/Bibb County: The Libertarian Party of Macon meets on the second Tuesday of the month at the Books-A-Million in Macon, at 2115 Eisenhower Parkway. Join us at 7 PM on Tuesday, March 10th. To find out more, email Chairman David Corr and corrd-at-bellsouth-dot-net.
Augusta: The Central Savannah River Area Libertarian Party (CSRA LP) meets on the second Wednesday at a new location: at the 1102 Bar And Grill in Augusta, at 1102 Broad Street. Join us at 7 PM on Wednesday, March 11th. Chairman Rocky Eades says about the new location: "Our only condition for using this venue is that we take care of the wait person. Come hungry and/or thirsty. The food is excellent, the beer is cold and the coffee is hot!" Find out more at http://www.meetup.com/Augusta-libertarian/, or email Chairman Rocky Eades at kiddleddee-at-yahoo-dot-com.
Kennesaw State University: The College Libertarians of KSU will NOT meet on Wednesday, March 11th. We return to our normal schedule on Wednesday, March 25th. You can get details by emailing us at ksulibertarians-at-gmail-dot-com.
Hall & Gwinnett Counties: The Libertarian Party of Hall And Gwinnett meets for breakfast on the second Saturday of the month. Join us at 9:30 AM on Saturday, March 14th at our new location: the Cafe:ine coffee shop in Buford at 4050 Buford Drive, between Satellite Boulevard and Golden Corral. "We will discuss what strategy to take given the current economic climate." Find out more online at www.libertarian.meetup.com/429, or email Chairman Brandon Givens at
BrandonGivens-at-hotmail-dot-com.
Douglas County: The Libertarian Party of Douglas meets on the third Sunday of each month at Provino's Restaurant in Douglasville, at 2911 Chapel Hill Road. Join us at 4 PM on Sunday, March 15th to meet with other freedom-minded people in the area. Find out more online at http://www.lpgeorgia.com/douglas/, or email us at lpdouglas-at-yahoo-dot-com.
Athens/Clarke County: The Athens Area Libertarian Party meets on the third Tuesday of the month. Join us on St. Patrick’s Day Tuesday, March 17 at 7:30 PM at Stevi B's Pizza in Athens, at 122 Alps Road. Find out more at the website, http://libertarian.meetup.com/353/, or email Chairman Ed Nachman at ednachman-at-hotmail-dot-com.
Augusta: The Central Savannah River Area Libertarian Party (CSRA LP) has planned a rally and sign waving to protest the continued occupation of Iraq, and the expansion of the occupation of Afghanistan. We will also call attention to the expansion of the war into Pakistan and the uptick in the belligerence towards Iran. We will get together at 5 PM on Thursday, March 19th -- the 6th anniversary of the war. Details will be forthcoming -- check for information online at http://www.meetup.com/Augusta-libertarian/calendar/9874438/?a=cv1o_grp, or email Chairman Rocky Eades at kiddleddee-at-yahoo-dot-com.
Cobb County: The Libertarian Party of Cobb County meets for breakfast on the third Saturday of the month. Join us at 8:30 AM on Saturday, March 21 at the Marietta Piccadilly, at 236 Cobb Pkwy SE. "The Breakfast Buffet is less than $9.00 and custom omelets are available at no extra charge." Find out more at http://libertarian.meetup.com/382/, or email Chairman Matt Godown at Matt.Godown@LPGeorgia.com.
======================================
8. Newest Members In The Libertarian Party of Georgia
The Libertarian Party of Georgia sends a big “thank-you” to our newest members: Emily Poole of Fayetteville, David Jones of Atlanta, and Rick Granger in Lawrenceville. And we are grateful for renewals from Loronzo Thomson of Macon and Walker Chandler in Molena. We appreciate your support for the Libertarian Party of Georgia!
**************************************************
“Operation Politically Homeless” Your Libertarian Party of Georgia wants to create a professional display booth to take to outreach events like the Pride Festival and the North Georgia Fair. “Operation Politically Homeless” (OPH) is a proven method of getting the message of individual liberty out, and of growing the party membership. As with so many good things in life, it takes money -- money we don’t have. Please “chip in” and make an earmarked donation to help us out! Go to the “professional display booth” chip-in at the LPGa home page to contribute.
**************************************************
Got a news tip? Send it in! INFO-at-LPGeorgia-dot-com
What’s going on where you live? Make sure all Georgia Libertarians are informed of your activities. Send announcements and news to operations-dot-director-at-lpgeorgia-dot-com.
- Join the Party
Ø Having a membership card from the national party does not make you a member of the LPGa! Because we have separate membership rosters, we do not benefit from your LNC membership. Don’t quit them, join us, at http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php!
- Renew Your Membership
Ø Is your membership current? Or have you been a member in the past, but not renewed recently? Call the office to check your status at (404) 888-9468, or just go ahead and extend your membership another 12 months at http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php.
- Begin Your Pledge
Ø Are you ready to make the ultimate commitment? Join the LPGeorgia Pledge Program and ensure that our Libertarian beliefs will reach the people of Georgia! Your small monthly contribution adds up to important financial stability for the party. Will you spare even $5 a month to help your Libertarian Party of Georgia boost the largest minority, the individual? Only with your pledge can we make long-term financial plans! http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php.
- Enroll A Friend
Ø Are you ready to make the ultimate commitment? Join the LPGeorgia Pledge Program and ensure that our Libertarian beliefs will reach the people of Georgia! Your small monthly contribution adds up to important financial stability for the party. Will you spare even $5 a month to help your Libertarian Party of Georgia boost the largest minority, the individual? Only with your pledge can we make long-term financial plans! http://www.LPGeorgia.com/donate.php.

The Libertarian Party of Georgia
1776 Peachtree Street NW ● Suite 715 South Tower ● Atlanta, GA 30309
Daniel N. Adams, Chairman
Tony Trauring, Operations Director
The Libertarian Party of Georgia, Inc distributes the Georgia Libertarian Online (GLO). Any inquiries regarding this e-mail should go here. If you would rather not get future updates from the LPGa, click here.
