Hello Liberty Lovers of Riverside County!
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!
This email may be too long for some email inboxes. If so, scroll to the bottom to find a link to read it in your browser. All the contact information you need is also at the bottom.
From the Chair
May is known for a variety of things, but the biggest moment for many this month is Mother’s Day. Observances like this can range from the simple and heartfelt to overdone and cringe. Whichever way you choose to deal with it, whichever way the word “mother” applies in your life, I hope it’s a good day for you and yours.
There’s a broader libertarian/activist point to consider vis-a-vis Mother’s Day, and regardless of your opinion on the day I hope this broader point resonates: your work in your own home is of paramount importance. The habits, traits, and tone you cultivate in your own home play an enormous role in your ability to be effective anywhere else. The work you do improving the nature of your own home and household will affect your ability to impact your community. Be purposeful.
As you bring your mother (whatever form she takes) to mind this month, please also bring to mind the little things mothers do and have done, every day with little fanfare, to produce this thing we call civilization. Ponder that example. And enjoy May.
–Loren Dean
In the News: FISA Reauthorization
A quick websearch will give you all the nauseating details of that. The short form is this: the federal government reauthorized secret government surveillance of Americans (effectively ALL Americans). This is an obvious and atrocious violation of both codified Fourth Amendment rights and the fundamental concept of equality before the law.
And the Republicans did it. House Speaker Mike Johnson shepherded it right along. If you needed one more piece of evidence that the Republicans don’t care about American liberty any more than the Democrats do, this is it. The Republicans had a chance to halt secret wiretapping and bring genuine accountability to an overweening and out-of-control federal spy apparatus, and flinched. They could have ended this. They had all the power to make it happen. And in the moment when it mattered, they caved. Again.
Neither the Republicans or the Democrats care about individual people. If you think they do, think again.
Election 2024 Updates
As this letter was being drafted, this section was being placeheld with “It’s quiet. Maybe too quiet. Like the deep breath before the plunge.”
And then the plunge came. As you are hopefully aware, the Libertarian National Convention is happening in just a couple of weeks now. This will be the convention where the party selects its ticket for the 2024 Presidential race. It is often an … exciting convention, as fine points of philosophy and ideals are debated (sometimes hotly). This particular convention now promises to be extra hot, by virtue of a surprise speaker: Donald Trump.
You may be wondering what Donald Trump is doing speaking at an LP nominating convention. He is, after all, a decidedly mixed bag. This is the guy who brought America the bump stock ban and let Anthony “I am the science” Fauci become medical dictator of American life for over a year, but also the guy who appointed a massive number of pro-freedom federal judges. Trump is a lot of things, but a “real libertarian” he ain’t. What’s he doing at the LP convention?
Well, we’ll see. There is an energetic discussion being had presently in various quarters of the internet about what exactly this means, and who benefits, and how, and how much. Several of your RivCo party officers will be delegates at the convention (including Chair Loren Dean, Vice Chair Jeff Hewitt, and Secretary Marcus Schuff). They will be watching as events unfold over Memorial Day weekend. They will have reports and stories to share when they return. Stay tuned.
More Suggested Reading/Viewing/Listening This Month
Javier Milei laying down some basic economic truth for FEE: https://fee.org/articles/economic-insights-from-javier-mileis-2021-presentation-for-fee/
With Milei’s basics in mind, here is an exercise in reading between the lines. TSMC is the biggest microchip manufacturer in Taiwan, and probably the biggest one in the world. They are trying to build a huge factory just outside of Phoenix. It’s not going well. Why? Lots of people have stopped understanding market forces, thanks to lots and lots of government intervention. As you read this article on this debacle in the desert, look for all the ways government has inserted itself into this situation at almost every level, and how badly it’s screwed everything up. Grow your brain here: https://restofworld.org/2024/tsmc-arizona-expansion/
For better or for worse, find the LNC’s statement on Trump’s convention attendance here: https://www.lp.org/president-trump-to-address-libertarian-party-concerns-at-national-convention-may-25th/
https://news.lp.org/ is the website for the newly launched Libertarian Party news portal. What was once a periodic newsletter will now be a 24/7 web presence. Check it out, subscribe there for updates, and check out how to contribute yourself!
Calendar Notes
As always, bookmark and regularly check our website for the most up-to-date event details: https://rclp.us
23-26 May 2024: The Libertarian Party National convention. This is the big one. Under this year’s theme, “Become Ungovernable,” libertarians from all over the country will discuss and debate the issues of our time. LPN will also conduct its regular election of officers. As this is a big election year, this will also be the event where the LP nominates its presidential ticket for the general election. Find details here: https://lnc2024.com/
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