[Lnc-business] Requested National Legislation Movement
Starchild
starchild at lp.org
Wed May 16 06:58:42 EDT 2018
Hi Michael,
Thank you for writing to members of the Libertarian National Committee. You're certainly right that there isn't a lack of money going into government, but there is a lack of good things coming out from that money being spent. This may be inevitable when you have a leviathan government that spends trillions of dollars of other people's money via vast bureaucracies, but I couldn't agree with you more about the need to hold politicians accountable, and would love to see the doctrine of "sovereign immunity" ended so that government officials can be sued under a greater variety of circumstances for their malfeasance in office and misappropriation of funds for unconstitutional purposes.
Unfortunately, making this happen is easier said than done. Even simply writing a piece of legislation that meshes with existing law and passes muster with government courts isn't easy – as you are presumably aware, since I don't see any specific language for a proposed bill attached to your letter. Legislators have taxpayer-funded government lawyers to review and help them craft their legislative proposals, but the Libertarian Party lacks similar resources, having at the national level only one part-time paid attorney (not an expert on writing bills as far as I know) whose time is largely spent giving us general legal advice and helping us overcome the obstacles that the Democrats and Republicans who control politics in this country place in the way of alternative party and independent candidates getting on the ballot to offer voters a different choice outside the two-party cartel.
Some of my colleagues think virtually the only thing we should be doing as a party is trying to elect candidates, but personally I'd like to see us explore more outside-the-box ideas like yours, and I'm not the only one. If we had a qualified person willing to take the time to write up your idea as a legally water-tight proposal in accord with the libertarian Non-Aggression Principle, that would increase the chances of it being officially endorsed and championed by the Libertarian Party. Of course it would need to avoid identifying things like schools as "government functions" – taking money away from ordinary people via taxes, so that they are less able to afford to pay for their own education, is a classic example of misappropriation, and is unconstitutional to boot. The U.S. Constitution doesn't give the federal government any constitutional authority to be involved in education! I'm not blaming you for being unaware of this, as many people are not.
Are you familiar with a group called Downsize DC? Started by several Libertarian Party members in 2004, this non-profit has several pieces of model legislation they are promoting, including the "One Subject At A Time Act" aimed at preventing massive legislative monstrosities crammed with all kinds of special interest provisions, and the "Read the Bills Act" which would also deter bills running into the hundreds of pages by requiring each piece of legislation to be read aloud in its entirety on the floor of Congress before being voted on (see https://downsizedc.org). Perhaps these or other already-written bills may even be similar enough to what you have in mind that you would like to join DownsizeDC and us in promoting them (I believe a number of Libertarian candidates have pledged to introduce these bills if elected).
In any case, thanks again for writing, and for caring about civil liberties and political accountability. If you do find someone to draft some legislation for you, or decide to do some research and take a stab at it yourself, don't hesitate to send it along, and I would encourage you to pass it on to the folks at DownsizeDC as well.
Love & Liberty,
((( starchild )))
At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
RealReform at earthlink.net
(415) 625-FREE
@StarchildSF
P.S. – If you'd like to weigh in more directly to share your idea with Libertarian leaders, I invite you to attend our upcoming national convention in New Orleans from June 30 - July 3 if you are able to do so (see LP.org/convention for details). Many of us will also be at the Roads to Freedom Unconvention happening later this month May 25-27 in Omaha, Nebraska (see OmahaUnconvention.com). Or if these things are too much of a stretch, visit https://www.lp.org/state-affiliates/ to get connected with Libertarians in your area.
On May 16, 2018, at 2:27 AM, Michael Laurence Curzi wrote:
> Dear Libertarian Party Officials',
>
> I AM a resident of California and I have observed what seems to be a national issue. Over my years of life I have seen taxes skyrocket, temporary taxes voted in on the ballot nearly always become permanent and always a lack of funds by the Government. As an honors graduate of business administration I feel the issue is not the money coming in, but, the misappropriation of funds going out. I have observed numerous times over the course of my 26 years of life, money allocated for things we need, such as, roads, bridges, schools and other government functions being misappropriated for the purpose of elected officials keeping their campaign promises to both we the people and to lobbyists.
>
> I propose that ballot measures making State constitutional amendments that hold elected officials and lobbyists personally liable for any funds misappropriated. I suggest a provision in this legislation that states, this amendment may only be overturned by the voters in an election. I hope this will help weed out corruption on the part of the two big parties that play to a single tune.
>
> I feel that by backing such a movement of legislation, the Libertarian Party will gain much political capitol with We The People and be able to gain many seats in the 2020 election. I feel that politicians backing this legislation that helps protect We The Peoples civil liberties during election year 2020 will have widespread appeal from both liberals and conservatives. I feel it is about time a third party such as the Libertarian Party takes center stage in the fight for meaningful reform. Accountable politicians have far more appeal to me than ones whom are not held accountable. I feel that the majority feel the same way!!!
>
>
> Thank You for your help,
>
> Sincerely,
>
> Michael Laurence Curzi
>
-------------- next part --------------
Hi Michael,
Thank you for writing to members of the Libertarian National Committee.
You're certainly right that there isn't a lack of money going into
government, but there is a lack of good things coming out from that
money being spent. This may be inevitable when you have a leviathan
government that spends trillions of dollars of other people's money via
vast bureaucracies, but I couldn't agree with you more about the need
to hold politicians accountable, and would love to see the doctrine of
"sovereign immunity" ended so that government officials can be sued
under a greater variety of circumstances for their malfeasance in
office and misappropriation of funds for unconstitutional purposes.
Unfortunately, making this happen is easier said than done. Even simply
writing a piece of legislation that meshes with existing law and passes
muster with government courts isn't easy � as you are presumably aware,
since I don't see any specific language for a proposed bill attached to
your letter. Legislators have taxpayer-funded government lawyers to
review and help them craft their legislative proposals, but the
Libertarian Party lacks similar resources, having at the national level
only one part-time paid attorney (not an expert on writing bills as far
as I know) whose time is largely spent giving us general legal advice
and helping us overcome the obstacles that the Democrats and
Republicans who control politics in this country place in the way of
alternative party and independent candidates getting on the ballot to
offer voters a different choice outside the two-party cartel.
Some of my colleagues think virtually the only thing we should be doing
as a party is trying to elect candidates, but personally I'd like to
see us explore more outside-the-box ideas like yours, and I'm not the
only one. If we had a qualified person willing to take the time to
write up your idea as a legally water-tight proposal in accord with the
libertarian Non-Aggression Principle, that would increase the chances
of it being officially endorsed and championed by the Libertarian
Party. Of course it would need to avoid identifying things like schools
as "government functions" � taking money away from ordinary people via
taxes, so that they are less able to afford to pay for their own
education, is a classic example of misappropriation, and is
unconstitutional to boot. The U.S. Constitution doesn't give the
federal government any constitutional authority to be involved in
education! I'm not blaming you for being unaware of this, as many
people are not.
Are you familiar with a group called Downsize DC? Started by several
Libertarian Party members in 2004, this non-profit has several pieces
of model legislation they are promoting, including the "One Subject At
A Time Act" aimed at preventing massive legislative monstrosities
crammed with all kinds of special interest provisions, and the "Read
the Bills Act" which would also deter bills running into the hundreds
of pages by requiring each piece of legislation to be read aloud in its
entirety on the floor of Congress before being voted on (see
[1]https://downsizedc.org). Perhaps these or other already-written
bills may even be similar enough to what you have in mind that you
would like to join DownsizeDC and us in promoting them (I believe a
number of Libertarian candidates have pledged to introduce these bills
if elected).
In any case, thanks again for writing, and for caring about civil
liberties and political accountability. If you do find someone to draft
some legislation for you, or decide to do some research and take a stab
at it yourself, don't hesitate to send it along, and I would encourage
you to pass it on to the folks at DownsizeDC as well.
Love & Liberty,
((( starchild )))
At-Large Representative, Libertarian National Committee
[2]RealReform at earthlink.net
(415) 625-FREE
@StarchildSF
P.S. � If you'd like to weigh in more directly to share your idea with
Libertarian leaders, I invite you to attend our upcoming national
convention in New Orleans from June 30 - July 3 if you are able to do
so (see [3]LP.org/convention for details). Many of us will also be at
the Roads to Freedom Unconvention happening later this month May 25-27
in Omaha, Nebraska (see [4]OmahaUnconvention.com). Or if these things
are too much of a stretch,
visit [5]https://www.lp.org/state-affiliates/ to get connected with
Libertarians in your area.
On May 16, 2018, at 2:27 AM, Michael Laurence Curzi wrote:
Dear Libertarian Party Officials',
I AM a resident of California and I have observed what seems to be a
national issue. Over my years of life I have seen taxes skyrocket,
temporary taxes voted in on the ballot nearly always become permanent
and always a lack of funds by the Government. As an honors graduate of
business administration I feel the issue is not the money coming in,
but, the misappropriation of funds going out. I have observed numerous
times over the course of my 26 years of life, money allocated for
things we need, such as, roads, bridges, schools and other government
functions being misappropriated for the purpose of elected officials
keeping their campaign promises to both we the people and to
lobbyists.
I propose that ballot measures making State constitutional amendments
that hold elected officials and lobbyists personally liable for any
funds misappropriated. I suggest a provision in this legislation that
states, this amendment may only be overturned by the voters in an
election. I hope this will help weed out corruption on the part of the
two big parties that play to a single tune.
I feel that by backing such a movement of legislation, the Libertarian
Party will gain much political capitol with We The People and be able
to gain many seats in the 2020 election. I feel that politicians
backing this legislation that helps protect We The Peoples civil
liberties during election year 2020 will have widespread appeal from
both liberals and conservatives. I feel it is about time a third party
such as the Libertarian Party takes center stage in the fight for
meaningful reform. Accountable politicians have far more appeal to me
than ones whom are not held accountable. I feel that the majority feel
the same way!!!
Thank You for your help,
Sincerely,
Michael Laurence Curzi
References
1. https://downsizedc.org/
2. mailto:RealReform at earthlink.net
3. http://LP.org/convention
4. http://OmahaUnconvention.com/
5. https://www.lp.org/state-affiliates/
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