LibertarianPartyofFlorida PrecinctCaptainsGuide IntroductionbyAdrianWyllie

Welcome!CongratulationsonbeingelectedLibertarianPartyPrecinctCaptain. Youhavetakenthefirststepinajourneytorestorelibertyforyourself,yourcommunity,yournation, andforourfuturegenerations.Weareonthevergeofforeverchangingpoliticsforthebetterin Florida,andyouarethetipofthespear. YouprobablyhaveseveralnotionsaboutwhatyouwillexperienceinyourdutiesasaLibertarian PrecinctCaptain.Youmaythinkthatitsgoingtobeextremelydifficulttoconvinceyourneighborsto embracetheLibertarianPartyandvoteforLibertariancandidates. Thegoodnewsis...yourewrong. Granted,youwillencountersomediehardDemocratsandRepublicansthatwontbeveryhappyto seeyou.Somepeoplestillclingtothearchaicnotionthatwecanonlyhaveatwopartysystem.But, theywillbetheminority. MostpeoplethatyoumeetwillbeexcitedthatyouarereachingouttothemabouttheLibertarianParty. Manywillthankyou.Somewillwanttojoinyou. ThereisagoodreasonwhywearethelargestandfastestgrowingthirdpartyinAmerica. Themajorityarefedupwiththetwopartyduopoly.Theyhavebeendeceivedanddisenfranchisedby decadesofemptypromises,failedpoliciesandpoliticalgames.Theyhaveseenthatboththe DemocratsandRepublicansonlybringusmorewar,withlessprosperityandlessfreedom.Theyrealize thatcontinuouslyvotingforthelesserevilalwaysresultsinevil. Theyhungerforrealsolutions. Peoplearedesperatetocasttheirvoteforpeopleofsteadfastprinciples.Theyarereadytotrya differentapproach.Theyarereadytovoteforeconomicfreedomandindividualliberty.Theyare waitingforsomeonetotellthemthattheyhaveanotherchoice. Thatsomeoneisyou. Inmy20plusyearsofworkingtospreadtheLibertarianmessage,Ihaveneverexperiencedsuch overwhelmingsupportforourcause.Thoughthepoliticalestablishmentandmainstreammediahave foughttoothandnailtosuppressourmessage,theyhavefailed.Thepeoplehavebeguntohearour voice.Whatstartedasawhisperhasbecomeadeafeningroar. Now,weareincreasingoureffortstoreachasmanypeopleaspossible.Itisasimplemathematical equation:IfwecanreachenoughvotersinFlorida,WEWILLWIN. Youwillbeanimportantpartofthatvictory.Thankyouforsteppinguptothechallenge,andforyour dedicationfreedom.

TableofContents 1.LibertarianPartyLeadershipandContactInformation 2.FrequentlyAskedQuestionsandCommonMisconceptions 3.HistoryoftheLibertarianParty 4.RolesandResponsibilities 5.LibertariansNewYearsResolution

1.LibertarianPartyLeadershipandContactInformation
National
LNCChair: LNCViceChair: LNCTreasurer: LNCSecretary: Region2Representative: Region2Alternate: GeoffreyNeale LeeWrights TimHagan DavidBlau VickiKirkland DougCraig

StateofFlorida
FloridaChair: EMail:chair@lpf.org FloridaViceChair: EMail:vicechair@lpf.org FloridaTreasurer: EMail:treasurer@lpf.org FloridaSecretary: EMail:secretary@lpf.org Region8Representative: EMail:region8@lpf.org DanaCummings AlexanderSnitker DanielleAlexandre LynnHouse BrianCole

PascoCounty
PascoCountyChair: EMail:chair@pascolp.org PascoCountyViceChair: EMail:vicechair@pascolp.org PascoCountyTreasurer: EMail:treasurer@pascolp.org PascoCountySecretary: EMail:secretary@pascolp.org GregRoe JamesMeadowcroft DanielleAlexandre PatriciaSnitker

2.FrequentlyAskedQuestionsandCommonMisconceptions
WhatisaLibertarian?
Let'sstartwithWebster'sdefinitionoflibertarian:Apersonwhoupholdstheprinciplesofindividual libertyespeciallyofthoughtandaction. Libertarian:amemberofapoliticalpartyadvocatinglibertarianprinciples. Libertariansbelievein,andpursue,personalfreedomwhilemaintainingpersonalresponsibility.The LibertarianPartyitselfservesamuchlargerprolibertycommunitywiththespecificmissionofelecting Libertarianstopublicoffice. Libertariansstronglyopposeanygovernmentinterferingintheirpersonal,familyandbusinessdecisions. Essentially,webelieveallAmericansshouldbefreetolivetheirlivesandpursuetheirinterestsasthey seefitaslongastheydonoharmtoanother. Inanutshell,weareadvocatesforasmallergovernment,lowertaxesandmorefreedom.

AreLibertariansliberalorconservative?
Libertariansareneither.Unlikeliberalsorconservatives,Libertariansadvocateahighdegreeofboth personalandeconomicliberty.Forexample,Libertariansadvocatefreedomineconomicmatters,so we'reinfavorofloweringtaxes,slashingbureaucraticregulationofbusiness,andcharitablerather thangovernmentwelfare. ButLibertariansarealsosociallytolerant.Wewon'tdemandlawsorrestrictionsonotherpeoplewho wemaynotagreebecauseofpersonalactionsorlifestyles. Thinkofusasagroupofpeoplewitha"liveandletlive"mentalityandabalancedcheckbook. Inasense,Libertariansborrowfrombothsidestocomeupwithalogicalandconsistentwholebut withouttheexceptionsandbrokenpromisesofRepublicanandDemocraticpoliticians.That'swhywe callourselvesthePartyofPrinciple.

HowlargeistheLibertarianParty?
Intermsofpoliticalactivity(i.e.numberofcandidates,accesstotheballot,andelectedofficeholders), theLibertarianPartyisthethirdlargestpoliticalpartyinAmerica.Wereactiveinall50statesandhave morethan300,000registeredvoters.

WhatkindofofficesdoLibertariansrunforandhold?
AroundthenationthereareLibertarianmayors,countyexecutives,countycouncilmembersandevena

Libertariansheriff!Libertariansalsoserveonschoolboardsandinhundredsoflocaloffices.In2008, morethan15millionvoteswerecastforLibertariancandidatesaroundthenation. Whilewearemostsuccessfulatthelocallevelfornow,weruncandidatesatalllevelsofgovernment, evenPresidentoftheUnitedStates. OurelectedLibertariansarehardatworksavingyoumoneyandprotectingyourcivilliberties.Infact, LibertarianssavedAmericansover$2.2billionin2004alone.

WhatkindofpeoplejointheLibertarianParty?
Peoplelikeyou.PeoplewhousedtobeRepublicans,Democrats,andindependentsfromallwalksof life.Theyjoinedusbecausetheyrealizethatweretheonlypoliticalpartyworkingfortheirbest interests. Thosewhojoinusrealizethat,unlikethetwomajorparties,weplacetheinterestsofournation ABOVEtheinterestsofourpoliticalparty.WhiletheRepublicanandDemocraticpartiesexistto maintaintheirownpower,weexisttograsppowerforthebenefitofyouandmillionsofother Americansacrossournation.

CommonMisconceptions
Libertariansarepacifists.
Truthfully,libertarianstendtoagreewithRandolphBournewhosaid,"Waristhehealthofthestate." Government'spowergrowswhenitmobilizesapeopletofight.Selfdefenseisnecessarywhenfaced withathreat,butwarsofchoicemustbeopposedeverytime.Also,rememberthatalibertariancalled MiltonFriedmanpersuadedRichardNixontoendthemilitarydraft.

Libertariansareagainstanyandalleconomicregulation.
Regulationisacrucialgovernmentduty.Governmentmusttakestepstoaddressfraud,environmental pollution,andtradebarrierswherevertheyappear.Afreemarketcanonlyworkwellwhentherearea few,simplerulesbywhicheveryonemustabide.

Libertariansareindifferenttomonopolies.
Infact,libertariansareagainstempoweringthegreatestmonopolyofall:government.Whywould someonebeagainstamonopolyincomputersoftwareorfoodproduction,butsupportamonopolyin schoolingorhealthinsurance?

Libertariansadvocateracistorsexistpolicies.
Equaltreatmentunderthelaw.Also,libertarianswanttoendthefailedanddestructiveWaronDrugs.

Libertariansareforprivateownershipofschoolsforthesakeofprivate ownershipofschools.
ThisfallacyemergesregularlyinChicago,wherethehighschoolgraduationratefromtraditionalpublic schoolsisjustover50%.We'veseenhowagovernmentmonopolyinschoolingcontinuestolower standardsincentivestoimprovearemostlyabsent.Schoolsthatmustservestudentsorfacelosingthem (andtheirattendanttuition)performbetter.Privateincentivesworktocreateinnovativeproductsfor satisfiedcustomersinnearlyeveryothersectoroftheeconomy,andtheyworkwelltodayforthe relativelyfewluckystudentswhocanattendanongovernmentmonopolyschool. Libertariansseektomakeconsumerdrivenschoolingavailabletothemostchildrenpossible.

Libertariansareanarchists.
Acouplepeoplearguedlibertariansdon'twantanygovernmentatall.Intruth,libertariansadvocatea strictlylimitedgovernmentthatprotectseveryone'srightsequally.

Libertarianswantpoorpeopletodie.
SomeoneactuallysaidthatafterItriedtoexplainhowpricesworktodirectgoodsandservicestothe peoplewhovaluethemmost,particularlyintheaftermathofadisastersuchasHurricaneKatrina.A freepricesystemdoesn'tmeanpricesalwaysrisenecessarily,butthattheychangetoaddressthe scarcityandneedofthemoment. Libertariansbelieveinprivatecharityandnotgovernmentcontrolonyourcharity. Libertariansarenotoriousforhavingtheirownspinonthephilosophy,buttheseideasrepresentthe mainstreamoflibertarianthoughttoday.Libertariansdonotseektocreateaheavenonearth,butto discoverrulesandinstitutionsthatmaximizeeveryone'sfreedomandprosperity. http://www.policymic.com/articles/9534/10bigmisconceptionsaboutlibertarianism

3.HistoryoftheLibertarianParty

TheLibertarianPartyisthethirdlargestpoliticalpartyintheUnitedStates.MillionsofAmericanshave votedforLibertarianPartycandidatesinpastelectionsthroughoutthecountry,despitethefactthat manystategovernmentsplaceroadblocksinourpathtokeepourcandidatesofftheballotanddeprive votersofarealchoice. LibertariansbelievetheanswertoAmerica'spoliticalproblemsisthesamecommitmenttofreedomthat earnedAmericaitsgreatness:afreemarketeconomyandtheabundanceandprosperityitbringsa dedicationtocivillibertiesandpersonalfreedomandaforeignpolicyofnonintervention,peace,and freetradeasprescribedbyAmerica'sfounders. WhatbeganwithasmallgroupofactivistsinColoradohasbecomeAmerica'sthirdlargestpolitical party.Weareproudofourheritageandtheprogresswehavemadesince1971.Andthebestisyetto come!

HistoricalOverview
1971TheLibertarianPartyisfoundedDecember11,inthehomeofDavidNolan.Disillusioned Republicans,Democratsandpoliticalnewcomershopetocreateanalternativetotheoldparties. 1972FirstnationalconventionheldinJuneinDenver,Colorado.JohnHospers,aphilosophy professorattheUniversityofSouthernCalifornia,isnominatedaspresidentialcandidate.Libertarian PartyvicepresidentialcandidateTonieNathanbecomesthefirstwomaninU.S.historytoreceivean electoralvote. 1976PresidentialcandidateRogerMacBrideandrunningmateDavidBerglandgainballotstatusin32 statesandreceiveover170,000votes.NewsweekmagazinenotesthatLibertariansaregainingunique appealonboththeleftandright. 1978EdClarkreceives5percentofthevoteinhisraceforgovernorofCalifornia.DickRandolphof AlaskabecomesthefirstelectedLibertarianstatelegislator.Presidentialnominatingconventionheldin LosAngeles.EdClarkandDavidKochnamedpresidentialandvicepresidentialcandidates.Permanent ballotstatusachievedinCaliforniaasmorethan80,000votersregisterLibertarian. 1980EdClarkappearsontheballotinall50statesandtheDistrictofColumbia,andearnsalmost1 millionvotes.HiscampaignrunsextensivenationaltelevisionadsandoffersmanyAmericanstheirfirst lookatwhattheLibertarianPartyhastooffer.Atthesametime,DickRandolphisreelectedtothe Alaskastatelegislature.KenFanningisalsoelectedtotheAlaskalegislature. 1982LouisianacongressionalcandidateJamesAgnewreceives23percentofthevote.Alaska gubernatorialcandidateDickRandolphreceives15percentofthevote.Arizonagubernatorialcandidate SamSteigerreceives5percentofthevote. 1984Ontheballotin39states,DavidBerglandandJimLewiscomeinthirdintheraceforpresident forthefirsttimeinpartyhistory.AndreMarroubecomesthethirdLibertarianelectedtotheAlaska legislature.ElevenotherLibertariansareelectednationwide.

1986200candidatesacrosstheU.S.receive2.9millionvotes.RayCullen,candidateforCalifornia Treasurer,gets570,000votes,thelargesteverforathirdpartycandidateinthatstate. 1987LibertarianssweepthecitycouncilraceinBigWater,Utah,winningeveryseat.FormerTexas Rep.RonPaulresignsfromtheGOPandjoinstheLibertarianParty.SeattleconventionnominatesRon PaulforpresidentandAndreMarrouforvicepresident. 1988RonPaul,ontheballotin46statesandtheDistrictofColumbia,comesinthirdfortheU.S. presidency.Hereceivesmorethan430,000votesalmosttwicethetotalofanyotherthirdparty candidate. 1990Approximately2millionpeoplevotefortheLPcandidates.ElectionsDayisDoubleDigit Day,asmanyLPcandidatesfortheCongressandstatehousedrawpercentagesintheteens,20sand 30s.NewMexicostatelegislaturecandidateIllaMaeBoltongets31percentofthevote,and CaliforniacongressionalcandidateJoeSheareceives27percent. 1991NewHampshirestatelegislatorsCalWarburtonandFinlayRothhausresignfromthe RepublicanPartyandjointheLibertarianParty.ChicagonominatingconventionnamesAndreMarrou andNancyLordasitspresidentialandvicepresidentialnominees,respectively. 1992IntheNewHampshireprimary,AndreMarroubeatsincumbentPresidentGeorgeBushin DixvilleNotch,thefirsttowntovoteinthenation.Inthegeneralelection,fourLibertarianstate legislatorsareelectedinNewHampshire.InadditiontothereelectionofWarburtonandRothhaus, DonGormanandAndyBorsaareelected.Onceagain,thepartyspresidentialticketisontheballotin 50statesandtheDistrictofColumbia. 1993LPNationalDirectorStuartRegestestifiesbeforeCongress,endorsinglegislationtomakeit easierforthirdpartycandidatestoappearinpresidentialdebates.Inoffyearelections,15 Libertarianswinpublicoffice.MariamLuceisappointedtotheNewHampshireStateLiquor Commission,andBonnieFlickingeriselectedMayorofMorenoValley,Calif. 1994Morethan40Libertariansareelectedorappointed,settingarecord,andLPactivists participateinthesuccessfulefforttostopPresidentClintonstakeoverofthenationshealthcare system.InNovember,morethan650Libertariancandidatesrunforoffice,andmorethan2.2million peoplevoteLibertarian. 1995Membershipandvoterregistrationssoartorecordlevels.TheLPmovesitsnational headquartersintotheprestigiousWatergateOfficeBuilding,whichtheWallStreetJournaldubsasign ofthetimesofthepartysgrowingstature.InNovember,threemoreLibertariansareelectedtocity councilsBruceVanBuren(AvondaleEstates,Georgia),DewayneMethaney(Auburn,Georgia),and DougCarsten(Brighton,Colorado). 1996TheLibertarianPartybecomesthefirstthirdpartyinU.S.historytoearnballotstatusinall50 statestwopresidentialelectionsinarow.ThepresidentialnominatingconventioninWashington,DC,

choosesbestsellingauthorHarryBrowne,whogoesontowinnearly486,000votesthesecondbest showinginpartyhistory.LPcandidatesforstatewideandfederalofficealonewin5.4millionvotes,and sevenLibertariansareelectedorreelected. 1997Anotherrecordsettingoffyearelectionfortheparty,with39Libertarianselectedtoofficein Novemberincludingfourcitycouncilwinners:FredCollins(Berkley,Michigan)RonWittig(New Meadows,Idaho)BobDeBrosse(Picqua,Ohio)andJohnGearheart(Palous,Washington). 1998AfricanAmericancivilrightsleaderRoyInnisandtalkradiopowerhouseArtBelljointheparty. InCalifornia,ArtOliverbecomesMayorofBellflower,whileinGeorgia,DewayneMethaneyis elevatedtoactingMayorofAuburn.InNovember,thepartysetsanewrecordbyrunning853 candidatesin44states.NeilRandallwinselectionasastaterepresentativeinVermont.Inall,19LP candidatesareelected. 1999ThepartybreaksnewgroundinpoliticalactivismwithitsInternetbasedcampaignagainstthe FDICsproposedKnowYourCustomerbankspyingregulation.Afterbeingfloodedby250,000 complaints,theFDICwithdrawstheplan.TheInternationalBiographicalCenterinEnglandnamesparty founderDavidNolanoneofthe2,000OutstandingIntellectualsofthe20thCentury.Fourteen Libertariansareelectedlocally. 2000TheAnaheim,California,conventionagainnominatesHarryBrowneforpresidentandArt Olivierforvicepresident.Theyheadaticketof1,436LPcandidates,including256candidatesforU.S. Housethefirsttimein80yearsathirdpartyhascontestedamajorityofCongressionalseats.Those LibertarianU.S.Housecandidatesgetover1.7millionvotes.TheLPpresidentialticketgets382,892 votes,and34Libertariansareelected. 2001InNovember,thepartyrunsabout300candidatesarecordslateinanoffyearelection andarecord76Libertariansareelected.AstudyinBallotAccessNewsreportsthattheLPisthemost successfulthirdpartyin50years,basedonthebestvotetotalsofcandidatesforU.S.Senateand governor.ThenumberofLibertariansholdingoffice,includingappointedoffices,nears500. 2002Thepartyruns1,642candidatesforoffice,thelargestslateofthirdpartycandidatessince beforeWorldWarII.Morethan3.4millionAmericanscastatleastoneLibertarianvoteonElection Day.TheLPalsomakeshistorywhenitsU.S.Housecandidatesreceiveover1millionvotesforthe secondtimeafeatachievedpreviouslyonlybytheDemocratsandRepublicans. 2003Intheoffyearelection,46Libertariansareelectedtolocaloffice.InMichigan,three incumbentLPcandidatesarereelectedinacleansweepofcitycouncilraces:MarkOwenin OwossoAndyLeCureauxinHazelParkandBillBradleyinSouthHaven.Astheyearends,theparty hasnearly600officeholders(includingappointedoffices),whichismorethanallotherthirdparties combined. 2004TheLibertarianPartynominatesMichaelBadnarikforpresidentatthenationalconventionin Atlanta.InNovember,thepresidentialticketgets397,367votes.Americanvotersareabletovotefor Badnarikin48states,whichleadsallotherthirdparties.LibertariansrunningforU.S.Housereceive

over1,053,000votes. 2005TheLPofferstheAmericanpeopleanIraqExitStrategy.ThepartypassesaZeroDuesPlanto focusonelectingLibertarianstooffice. 2006AtthePortlandnationalconventiontheLPvotestoconsolidateitsplatform,reducingthe numberofplanksfrom61to15inordertoreachouttonewvoters.TheLibertarianLeadershipSchool islaunched.LibertariansrunningforU.S.Housereceiveover650,000votes. 2007Intheoffyearelection,19of98candidatesareelectedorreelectedtopublicoffice.Former congressmanBobBarrstartsservingontheLNC. 2008TheLPnominatesformercongressmanBobBarrforpresidentatthenationalconventionin Denver.Thepresidentialticketgets523,686votesinNovember.50Libertariansareelectedor reelectedtopublicoffice.TwoLibertariancandidatesinTexasandGeorgiaeachreceiveoverone millionvotes.LibertariansrunningforU.S.Housereceiveover1,078,000votes,breakingthe congressionalmillionvotethresholdforthefourthtime. 2009Throughouttheyear,48Libertariansareelectedorreelectedtopublicoffice.InIndianapolis, CouncilmemberEdColemanofficiallyswitcheshisaffiliationtoLibertarian.Bytheendoftheyear,there are146Libertariansholdingelectedoffices. 2010Over800LibertariancandidatesrunforofficeinNovember.LibertariansrunningforU.S. Housereceiveover1,073,000votes.PamelaBrown,runningforCaliforniaLieutenantGovernor againstbothaRepublicanandaDemocrat,receives574,640votes.38Libertariansareelectedor reelectedtopublicoffice,andbytheendoftheyearthereare154Libertariansholdingelectedoffice.

4.RolesandResponsibilities
ThePrecinctCaptainistherepresentativefortheLibertarianPartyofPascointheprecinct. ThePrecinctCaptainsresponsibilitieswillinclude Establisharelationshipwiththevotersintheprecinct Responsibleforallgetoutthevoteeffortsintheprecinct Becomethepollwatcherduringallelections

 RegisterpeoplewithintheprecinctintheLibertarianParty EducatetheprecinctonnewsandupdatesfromtheLibertarianPartyofPasco ProvidetheLibertarianPartyofPascosvotersguidetothevotersintheprecinct ThePrecinctCaptainwillreceivethefollowingmaterialsfromtheLibertarianPartyofPasco NameBadge BusinessCards(1,000) EmailAddress VoterList PrecinctCaptainHandbook LibertarianPartyofFloridaPlatform PascoCountyByLaws LibertarianPalmCards(250) VoterRegistrationForms(500) PascoCountyLibertarianPartymembershipforms(100) LibertarianPartyofFloridamembershipforms(100)

Weshouldstartwithdefiningwhataprecinctactuallyis.Aprecinctisthesmallestgeographic,political areautilizedinthepoliticalprocess.Mostpeopleonlyknowthewordasthebuildingyouwalkintoon electiondaytocastyourballot.However,itisactuallyanareaorgroupingofvoters.Itissimplyyour neighborhood,butwithanindividualnumber.Therearealsoreports,statistics,andvoterinformation aboutyourownprecinctthatisavailabletoyou. Theprecinctiswhereanindividualcanbethemosteffective.Thepeoplewithinyourprecinctareyour neighbors.Theyaretheoneswhomyoudrivepasteverydayasyougotoandfromwork.Theyarethe onesyouseeatthelocalgrocerystore,communityevents,andjustwalkingaroundyourneighborhood. Thebestwaytoinfluencethevoteisinyourownhome,orbyextension,yourneighborhood.Thatis wheretheprecinctcaptaincomesin.Theprecinctisthekeytowinninganyelection. ThePrecinctcaptainisthecommunicationshubfortheLibertarianmessage.Youaretheretoprovide informationtothevotersaboutthelocalpartyandtheroleofgovernment.Yourgoalwillbetobecome thepersonyourneighborswillturntoforvotinginformation.Astheprecinctcaptain,youaretheone whoisinfluencingthevoteinyourprecinct.Youwillbuildarelationshipwiththem.Theywillstarttosee youasthepersonintheknowwhenitcomestopoliticsandelections.Overtime,youwillgaintheir trust,andtheywillvoteforthepeopleyourecommendtothem.Theaveragepersonknowsthat somethingiswrong,butjustquestionshowitcanbefixed.Youaretheretoprovidethemwiththe solution. Theprecinctcaptainsmaintaskistoconnectwiththevoters.Youaretheretobecomethepersonthey turntoforadviceandrecommendationsinpolitics.Yourgoalistobecomethepersonyourneighbors turntowhentheyhavequestionsregardingpolitics.Andyouwillbetheretohelpthecommunityfind

solutions. Therearesomelogisticalresponsibilitiesthatgoalongwiththataswell:

MaintainingaListoftheVotersinYourPrecinct

IdentifyingLikeMindedIndividuals(Invitethemtothelocalaffiliate) MaintainingaCurrentVoterGuide MaintainingInstructionsforAbsenteeVoting EnsuringthateachVoterisContacted(Ourgoalistocontact100homespermonth)

Alongwithbeingthehubofinformationinyourprecinct,youwillalsohaveavoteintheoperationofthe countyLibertarianaffiliate.YouwillbetherepresentativeoftheLibertariansinyourprecinct.Theywill cometoyouwithanyissuesorideasandyouwillrepresentthematthemonthlycountyaffiliatemeeting.

5.LibertariansNewYearsResolution
Writtenin1998byHarryBrowne,1996&2000LibertarianPartyNomineeforPresident Iresolvetoselllibertybyappealingtotheselfinterestofeachprospect,ratherthanpreachingtopeople andexpectingthemtosuddenlyadoptmyideasofrightandwrong. Iresolvetokeepfrombeingdrawnintoargumentsordebates.Mypurposeistoinspirepeopletowant libertynottoprovethattheyrewrong.

Iresolvetolistenwhenpeopletellmeoftheirwantsandneeds,soIcanhelpthemseehowafree societywillsatisfythoseneeds. Iresolvetoidentifymyself,whenappropriate,withthesocialgoalssomeonemayseekacleaner environment,morehelpforthepoor,alessdivisivesocietyandtrytoshowhimthatthosegoalscan neverbeachievedbygovernment,butwillbewellservedinafreesociety. Iresolvetobecompassionateandrespectfulofthebeliefsandneedsthatleadpeopletoseek governmenthelp.IdonthavetoapproveoftheirsubsidiesorpoliciesbutifIdontacknowledge theirneeds,Ihavenohopeofhelpingthemfindabetterwaytosolvetheirproblems. Nomatterwhattheissue,Iresolvetokeepreturningtothecentralpoint:howmuchbetteroffthe individualwillbeinafreesociety. IresolvetoacknowledgemygoodfortuneinhavingbeenbornanAmerican.Anyplanforimprovement mustbeginwitharecognitionofthegoodthingswehave.TospeakonlyofAmericasdefectswillmake meatiresomecrank. IresolvetofocusonthewaysAmericacouldbesomuchbetterwithaverysmallgovernmentnotto dwellonallthewrongsthatexisttoday. Iresolvetocleansemyselfofhate,resentment,andbitterness.Suchthingsstealtimeandattentionfrom theworkthatmustbedone. Iresolvetospeak,dress,andactinarespectablemanner.ImaybethefirstLibertariansomeonehas encountered,anditsimportantthathegetagoodfirstimpression.Noonewillhearthemessageifthe messengerisunattractive. IresolvetoremindmyselfthatsomeonesstupidopinionmaybeanopinionIonceheld.IfIcan grow,whycantIhelphimgrow? Iresolvenottoraisemyvoiceinanydiscussion.Inashoutingmatch,noonewins,noonechangeshis mind,andnoonewillbeinspiredtojoinourquestforafreesociety. IresolvenottoadoptthetacticsofRepublicansandDemocrats.Theyusecharacterassassination, evasions,andintimidationbecausetheyhavenorealbenefitstoofferAmericans.We,ontheother hand,areofferingtosetpeoplefreeandsowecanwinsimplybyfocusingonthebetterlifeour proposalswillbring. Iresolvetobeciviltomyopponents,andtreatthemwithrespect.Howeveranyonechoosestotreat me,itsimportantthatIbeabetterpersonthanmyenemies.