November 2024
When the skies of November turn gloomy …
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!
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From the Chair
Well, it looks like Donald Trump is getting another term. We’ll see if all the fascism his critics have promised arrive in the next four years. It was, after all, why he couldn’t possibly be allowed to be president. Despite having been, you know, president already.
So what can we look forward to in the next four years? We don’t really know. First, it has to be recognized that this election might not be over. The Democrats went into full hysteria in the past 100 days or so of the Harris candidacy. Some pretty strong language got used. If Trump is the existential threat to everything ever that he’s being billed as in certain circles, then the lawfare and elector-shenanigans (and potential riots) are about to heat up through to January. So there’s every reason to believe that the shrieking will not abate between now and the inauguration (and almost certainly not even then). Be safe, friends.
If those things don’t happen, of course, then I guess we’ll know how serious the Democrats were about accusations like that. Be alert, friends.
But what might he actually do? As with everything Trump, it’s going to be a mixed bag. He did stand in front of a crowd of Libertarians back in May and amid the boos promised to free Ross Ulbricht and put a Libertarian in his cabinet. We’ll see if he honors that promise. It’s impossible to know at this stage if he will, which … makes him just like every other elected official. In fairness, the way his inner circle has evolved certainly leaves room for hope. Be hopeful, friends.
Speaking of other elected officials, you also had a variety of other things to vote on that are, believe it or not, more important than who the president is. In positive news, RCLP’s own Wendy Hewitt and Bob Karwin look to be holding onto their council seats, in Calimesa and Menifee respectively. Congrats to them!
On the downside, it looks like 20 billion or so in bonds are about to get issued by Sacramento (collateralized with your property, natch). Prop 36 had resounding support–we’ll see how the devil in those details shakes out (spoiler alert: you better start asking how your community is going to implement those details, right now).
You undoubtedly had a city council or school board race on your ballot (Calimesa and Menifee sure did). Did you know anyone you were voting for? If so, good for you! If not, be better! Knowing who the local tinpot weasels are in your town is the first step toward being relevant in the future.
Be relevant, friends.
–Loren Dean
In the News: Peanut!
This was the last-minute absurdity that may have tainted the entire election this year:
Just search the web for Peanut the Squirrel. The libertarian lessons there regarding petty tyranny speak for themselves. It’s this kind of ludicrous government nanny overreach that Libertarians should be in front of the pack denouncing. Disagree? Come tell us about it this Saturday.
More Suggested Reading/Viewing/Listening This Month
Avens O’Brien, a Libertarian from Los Angeles, shares her thoughts on voting day, in which she expresses the concerns which are pretty standard for libertarians every election cycle. Read her here:
Post-election hope was mentioned earlier. Here’s an early hopeful indicator, from the inimitable Joel Salatin: https://www.thelunaticfarmer.com/blog/11/6/2024/celebration
By now we are also seeing rumblings of the “this isn’t over!” variety from several quarters. How might this presidential election continue to be dramatically ridiculous? Well, there are several things that can still happen, from “everyone grumbles but goes home” to “men with guns”. Consider:
Meanwhile, Jesse Singal has some interesting and clear-eyed things to say about the never-Trump-industrial-complex, and there are some thought-provoking lessons in here for libertarians, too:
And on the Only In America side of humor, behold Florida Man’s partner, New Jersey Woman. Stay classy, Jersey girls: https://dailycaller.com/2024/11/02/woman-rips-off-clothes-casts-vote-bra-donald-trump-hamilton-new-jersey/
https://news.lp.org/ is the website for the newly launched Libertarian Party news portal. What was once a periodic newsletter is now 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
9 November 2024: Q4 county central committee meeting. Our last quarterly meeting of the year. Come complain about the election and look ahead to 2025! As usual, we'll get lunch at 11 (at Cactus Cantina in Riverside) and the meeting will start at noon. We’ll be calendaring our county convention in January, so if you want input on that date, come speak up.
22-24 February 2025: LPCA Convention. The state convention and election of officers. It will be in Walnut Creek (which is in the bay area), in a hotel accessible by BART from Oakland’s airport. Links to registration and hotel reservations will be coming soon, but for now save the date.
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 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