MAINSTREAM LIBERTARIAN ORGANIZATIONS
The Republican Liberty Caucus is the primary organization in the Nation for Mainstream libertarians. Founded in Tallahassee, Florida in 1990, the RLC represents the growing libertarian wing of the GOP. Over the years the RLC has helped to elect over 30 libertarians to State Legislatures and even 5 to 6 to the US Congress under the GOP banner. The RLC also engages in outreach at GOP conventions with booths and hospitality suites. The group is organized in nearly 30 states nationwide, with its strongest chapters currently in Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, Texas, Michigan, New Hampshire, New York and California.
Another prominent organization that promotes Mainstream libertarian values is Americans for Limited Government, based in Illinois, which backs nationwide petition drives for Property Rights, Spending Limits and Tax Reform.
The Libertarian Reform Caucus works within the Libertarian Party to move it towards a more Mainstream direction, and away from some of its extremist-leaning positions. LRCers now hold top level positions in the LP leadership.
The Libertarian Defense Caucus works to promote a Pro-Military/Pro-War on Terror view for the libertarian movement.
Other Mainstream libertarian political groups include the Club for Growth which assists with PAC money for Pro-Free Enterprise Republican candidates for Congress, and Fiscal Conservative Republicans. Other Mainstream libertarian groups include the Cato Institute in Washington, DC, Americans for Tax Reform, and Reason Magazine based in Los Angeles.
ACTIVIST TIPS
Become a GOP Precinct Committeeman
From the Texas RLC:
01/01/08 -- Hello Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) of Texas Friends, With the new year about to start, we at the Republican Liberty Caucus (RLC) of Texas hope that you will seriously consider running for your local Precinct Chairman position. We’ve been seeing an increase in RLC members applying to be on the ballot as Precinct Chairman and we want to make sure that you are aware of this opportunity. Why would you want to be a Precinct Chairman?
1) You will be a part of the Republican County Committee; we need good Republicans involved in local Republican politics
2.) Also, your name will be on the ballot; wouldn't that be exciting to vote for yourself? It's not hard to do, the instructions are below. So, here are the steps:
Step 1: Find out what Precinct you live in. You can do this by finding it on your Voter Registration Certificate that was recently mailed to you, or Google on the web for your county and "election precincts" map; and look for your Precinct on the map.
Step 2: Print up the Precinct Application from this link:
http://www.rlctexas.org/documents/Ballot_Application_for_Pct_Chairs.pdf
Step 3: Fill out the information and sign it in front of a Public Notary, you can find one at your local bank.
Step 4: Drop off your application on or before January 2nd to your local County Chairman. You can find your local county chairman's phone number by Googling on the web for your county Republican Party.
Want to be an instant Elected/Appointed Public Official?
by Earle Smith, Florida RLC
"I am on the Flagler County Soil & Water Board effective Jan. 1, 2007. I have talked to the District Supervisor and he said we have one incumbert, two new elected members and two vacant positions. The vacancies will be filled in February."
Smith just walked into his County Supervisor of Elections office and asked if there were any local appointments to be had. The Supervisor thought of the Soil & Water Board. Smith called up the only other member, filled out some paperwork, and he was instantly appointed.
Another office that's easy to get appointed to is the Selective Service Board. That's right the local Draft Board. It's a 20-year Federal appointment. The Board meets once a year for training. Simply go to www.sss.gov and sign up.
Talk about Liberty every day with your Customers
by Paul Tiger, Colorado RLC
I am hoping that most of us will dig our heels into this. That is talking politics in everyday life. I’ve been doing it for years and with a hint of caffeine I am a walking talking Libertarian outreach machine. I used to be a LP conversion bot, but I more or less left the party. Or more like the party left me. Libertarianism isn’t necessarily a conversation about politics, but it can be a lead in to politics or the reverse could be true: whereas the discussion of politics can be a lead in to Libertarian idealism. So it is just easy to do.
I’m a technogeek and most geeks are Libertarians. Real geeks tend to want to do things for themselves, and they almost certainly don’t want government to do anything for them that they could do for themselves. So I’ve got a retail business that caters to tech types and I engage people everyday, all day long, in the conversation about how they’d rather do things for themselves that they in fact are paying the government to do for them. I have lots of fun and make money at the same time. My customers are happy with their purchases and services and keep hanging out in the chairs that I have around the counter near the register. They come back for more. I make money and we keep talking politics.
Every so often I get advised that if I keep doing this that I will lose customers and waste time on non-sales. That argument doesn’t wash and my business is growing, and so are the number of Libertarian converts in my area.
