July 2024

Life, liberty, and the pursuit of awesomeness.

Jul 09, 2024

Oh say can you see, by the yard’s early light …

If you would like an essay featured in the Liberty Letter, or if you read or watched something awesome that you think should be in the Suggested Reading of one of these newsletters, reach out to us at admin@rclp.us and let’s chat!

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From the Chair

The Declaration of Independence ends with this sentence:

And for the support of this declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of Divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our lives, our fortunes, and our sacred honor.

Each July we take a moment as Americans and … eat a lot and blow things up. By the time you’re reading this, you have already done so (I know I did). But now, in the aftermath, in the quiet moments while you’re eating the last of the chips or discovering one last Modelo in the back of the fridge, consider for a moment what the founders had to say about supporting the principles of the declaration. They pledged their lives, their fortunes, and their sacred honor.

The Founding Fathers were all in for liberty. They committed everything they had, everything they were, to the cause of living free from tyranny. Are you ready to do likewise?

You may not be called on to die for liberty today. But can you pledge a little bit of your life to the principles of the declaration? Can you make some phone calls for a candidate, or go knock some doors, or start attending civic meetings?

You may not be called on to sacrifice your fortune for the principles of the declaration. But can you pledge a small measure of your resources to the principles of the declaration? Can you become a dues-paying member of the LP (see details below)?

You ARE called on to pledge your sacred honor, even today. What have you done for liberty today? Who have you talked to? Or have you played it safe? Have you complied, weakly protesting but nevertheless submitting to the yoke? Is this you?

Collapse may be around the corner, but if you haven’t committed now to building what’s next, you won’t then, either. Things don’t just happen. People pledge their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to make them happen. Stop waiting. The future is local and the future is now. Pledge your life, your fortune, and your sacred honor. Do it today, and start building liberty around you right now. Don’t wait for someone else to stand. You stand.

Stand and fight.

How can you fight? Go find the agenda for your city council. Start paying attention to your local school board. Beyond your local activity, which will always be the most important, I am currently getting onboarded as the California state coordinator for the Chase Oliver presidential campaign. If you want to be an active part of the team spreading the message of the Libertarian Party POTUS ticket from now to November, shoot me an email and let’s chat.

–Loren Dean

In the News: UCR and the Gaza question

The Libertarian Party is built on a foundation we call the non-aggression pledge. Every member of the LP affirms this, as follows:

I certify that I oppose the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.

As libertarians, we condemn aggressive force. We condemn all initiations of violence. No one should ever be subjected to it, regardless of their religion or ethnicity. We note that the freedom of speech and the freedom to petition the government for the redress of grievances encompass the freedom to protest. None of that, however, produces any justification for initiating force.

The situation on the UCR campus vis-a-vis the current conflict in Gaza involves the above points. The Libertarian Party of Riverside County calls on both the Muslim and Jewish individuals, and their respective so-called allies, in Riverside County to speak rationally with one another here and find common ground here, that they might live together in peace here. The only thing any of us can control is ourselves. Nobody can control “them.” Trying is a big part of the reason why Gaza is such a mess. Regardless of what is happening over there, each of us must figure out how to get along over here. Here is all any of us have any control over.

The LPRC also calls on UC Riverside’s governing bodies to honor their contractual obligation to see to the on-campus safety of all students. The UCR administration has shown itself to be quite willing to stand idly by and allow an atmosphere of hate-fueled tantrums, property damage, and open threats to student safety to go unchecked. This is completely unacceptable, the grossest contractual negligence. UCR took people’s money and made promises. It is well past time to make one of two choices:

Honor those promises, and enforce both the institutional viewpoint neutrality and robust but peaceful debate environment that should be the hallmark of a University campus, or
Be honest about UCR’s administrative biases, and refund aggrieved students’ money so they can take their business elsewhere.

No other option is defensible from a University that desires any credibility whatsoever in the education marketplace.

Election 2024 Updates

We could talk about the presidential debate, but A) there are more pressing issues closer to home, and B) Why? Much ink is being spilled about Biden’s readiness and Trump’s tomfoolery, but there are issues of tomfoolery and readiness here in California you need to be aware of. Let’s talk about the November ballot. The real physical ballot.

Explaining this is complicated; we won’t go into heavy detail here, instead urging you to be warned and alert. A pile of amendments and edits have come out of Sacramento modifying what you’re going to see on your ballot this autumn (and this will undoubtedly continue for several more months). Propositions have been renamed in ways that make them sound bad (or good). At least one proposition that qualified for the ballot was blocked in court from proceeding. How the ballot itself is designed may change this year.

What it all adds up to is that Sacramento has decided to try and play games with the ballot this year in an attempt to manage the outcome of the election. This is what shyster politicians do when they know they’d lose in a straight contest. We are 120 days out from November, and we will do our best to keep you informed about when to watch for your voting information, but this is something you need to be as alert about as possible. Be watching, and read both the voting guide and your ballot carefully when they arrive.

Calendar Notes

As always, bookmark and regularly check our website for the most up-to-date event details: https://rclp.us

15 June-7 July 1846: The Bear Flag Republic. As we observe a broader independence day in July, we would be remiss if we did not acknowledge the Bear Flag Revolt: the 25 days during which California was theoretically a sovereign state, declaring independence from Mexico before being annexed by the United States (at gunpoint). Raise a glass (or maybe that leftover Modelo from the back of the fridge) to the memory of Los Osos.

25 July 2024: Make California Great Again Unity rally. This is a second of the three of these being held this summer. A coalition of groups and parties are being brought together by congressional candidate David Serpa, and will be rallying to deepen understanding and ties between an assortment of candidates and activist groups. RivCo party Chairman Loren Dean is part of the speaking roster. The rally this month will be at 5 Rivers Cuisine of India in Riverside, a restaurant of no small reputation. Coalitions are the future, so this is not only an opportunity to support a business that deserves it, it’s a chance to cheer for the Libertarian Party as a vehicle to help build a greater, freer California. Find the ticket link at our website. Come join the fun!

3 August 2024: Aguanga Comedy Show. Come see Robbie “the Fire” Bernstein play in Riverside County! This will be a stop on his Summer Porch Tour, which he has been doing for the last several years. He tried to get out here last year, but a travel snafu at the last minute forced a cancellation. Come enjoy libertarian comedy in a very libertarian corner of Riverside county. Find ticket information here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/robbiethefire-summer-porch-tour-aguanga-ca-tickets-891334915727

10 August 2024: Q3 RCLP Central Committee meeting. Mark your calendars and watch our website for exact place and time as we find a proper spot. Come have some lunch, get informed about what’s going on, and see where you can help out. All are invited; we’d love to meet you!

30 August-2 September 2024: The Norco Fair. Get this on your calendar, because it’s always a great time. More details to come.

Voter Registration and Party Membership

If you vote, be sure your registration is Libertarian. Whether you vote or not, stay abreast of your registration details on the California Secretary of State page at this link: https://www.sos.ca.gov/elections/cavoter

Being a registered Libertarian voter certainly allows you to call yourself a real libertarian. However, there is more you can do. You can join the national Libertarian Party as a “sustaining member" by signing the membership application statement and paying dues (currently a minimum of $25 per year) to the national organization. Note that while paying dues at the state level (California) makes you a local "central committee member," national membership is separate.

If you aren't a dues-paying member at all, you can join as a national member AND as a state/county member using a single online form:

Combined National/State/County Membership Form

Join us in taking a stand for a world set free!

Find us on the web at https://rclp.us

Email us at admin@rclp.us

LPCA Discord server: https://discord.gg/wfXzapGsTd

LNC Discord server: https://discord.gg/fxdH2bre

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