NEW MEXICO LIBERTY

“Let Freedom Ring”

The Official Newsletter of the Libertarian Party of New Mexico

August 2009 http://lpnm.us v.2.2 N.12

Table of Contents Notes from the Editor

by Mike Blessing [ mikewb1971@gmail.com ]
Page 1
• Libertarian Media from New Mexico
• Notes from the Editor
Making Government Responsible?
Page 2 – Events at a Glance That was the title of a speech given by Alan Woodruff, the LPNM's candidate for U.S. House
of Representatives (District 1) at the Independence Grill on 4 August .
Page 3 – A Lesson in Politics

Page 4 – Single-Payer Groceries,

Anyone?

Page 5 – Reports of Rail Runner's

success greatly exaggerated

Page 6 – 545 vs. 300,000,000

Page 7 – Contacts / Internet Resources

Page 8
• Administrivia
• The Unanimous Consent Challenge

Page 9 – Enrollment / Renewal Form

Page 10 – Authorization for Automatic

Transfers

=======================
Libertarian Media from New Mexico
not necessarily endorsed by LPNM)
Speaking Freely
hosted by Paul Gessing and Jim Scarantino
Saturdays 9 – 10 AM on KJOY 1550 AM
riograndefoundation.org/pg_rp.html
tinyurl.com/dcnpwm
Hemp TV – Tuesdays at 7PM
myspace.com/nmhemptv
The One Party State – Wednesdays 11PM
Contact Lance Klafeta
[ lklafeta@yahoo.com ] for details
Reeferhead – Saturdays at 6PM
myspace.com/reeferheadtv
The Fringe Element
thefringeelement.net / postpubco.com
Alan Woodruff at the speakers' podium
Independence Grill – 4 August 2009
I thought that he presented his message very well – he kept it concise and topical, threw in
the occasional bit of humor, and kept his presentation on track when faced with
disagreement from the audience.
Still, it's impossible to make government responsible – government cannot be responsible,
as government isn't a concrete, tangible object, much less a sapient (self-aware) entity that
can be responsible for anything. Government is an abstraction – an agreement that we will
delegate certain powers to certain people for specific tasks (namely, protecting the liberties
of the rest of us) for a limited amount of time in exchange for certain benefits for those so
delegated.
The best we can do is to make sure that those so delegated are the best, most responsible
people we can find for the given tasks, in this case, those specified by the United States
Constitution. And there, Alan Woodruff has some good ideas, in that those in Congress
should be able to specify just what the problem is that they're trying to tackle, that the
problem is actually solvable by government, and that we don't have twenty agencies and
programs working on that same problem when just one would work fine.
See Dr. Woodruff's website for more information – alanwoodruff.com

New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 1

 Events at a Glance
Bernalillo County – The BCLP is hosting two meetings per month,
on Thursday, 6 August and Thursday, 20 August, 6:00 to 7:00 PM
at Fiesta's Restaurant & Lounge (Carlisle & Montogomery NE).
Contact Mike Blessing for details [ mikewb1971@gmail.com / 505-
918-6567], or see the BCLP website – lpnm.us/bernalillo.
Mark Curtis and Jay Vandersloot have been manning a table at the
gun shows hosted in the Manuel Lujan Building at the State
Fairgrounds.
Special Events
LPNM Central Committee Meeting – 13 September 2009
The LPNM's Central Committee will have its regularly scheduled
meeting on Sunday, 14 June 2009. Lunch at 12 PM, meeting from
1 PM to 3 PM. For location, contact State Chair Ken Cavanaugh [
505-489-8099 / phloyd113@cableone.net ]. County and Campus
Contacts encouraged to attend!
LPNM Central Committee Meeting – 13 December 2009

Precinct 553 Chair Elisheva Levin, is considering a run for State
Representative, District 22.
See kcufmedia.xanga.com for more information concerning The
Weekly Sedition and New Mexico's Consumer Advocate.
Dona Ana County – The next scheduled Dona Ana County Central
Committee Meeting is 13 January 2010 at 6:30 PM to plan for the
county convention. Contact chair for more information. The
committee would be delighted to meet before then with any Doña
Ana County Libertarian wishing support in running for office or with
any ideas to advance the party or political issues that the party
should address. Please contact the chair – lpdacnm@lpnm.us /
575-541-9079, or check the LPDAC website – lpnm.us/dona-ana.
Otero County – The Otero County LP meets on Wednesday, 5
August – contact Dr. Gilberto Heredia for more information [
thrill@zianet.com / 575-439-8234 ], or see the OCLP website for
details – lpnm.us/otero. The OCLP hosted this year's state
convention in April.
The LPNM's Central Committee will have its regularly scheduled
meeting on Sunday, 14 June 2009. Lunch at 12 PM, meeting from
1 PM to 3 PM. For location, contact State Chair Ken Cavanaugh [
505-489-8099 / phloyd113@cableone.net ]. County and Campus
Contacts encouraged to attend!
2010 Annual State Convention
The 2010 LPNM State Convention is scheduled for the weekend of
16-18 April 2009 for the greater Albuquerque area. More details to
follow soon.
The LPNM's Candidates
U.S. House of Representatives
District 1 – Alan Woodruff – alanwoodruff.com
State Legislature

Rio Arriba – Lynette Cannon has recently signed up as the Rio State Representative, District 16 – Mike Blessing –
Arriba County LP Chair, as well as the Taos County Chair. mikewb1971.xanga.com
Sandoval County – The LPSC is having its monthly meetings on (Exploratory committee at present)
the fourth Tuesday of each month. Tuesday, 25 August – The
Sandoval County Libertarian Party will meet – contact Ron State Senate, District 26 – Mike Blessing –
Bjornstad [ rbjornstad@earthlink.net / 505-288-4228 ] for details. mikewb1971.xanga.com
(Exploratory committee at present)
Santa Fe County – Ed Nagel is working on organizing an LPNM
county affiliate for Santa Fe County. Contact him at
ed123nagel@aol.com or call him at 505-471-6928. He'd appreciate
any help he can get. The Santa Fe County LP meets at the South
Library on Monday, 10 August at 6:30 PM. Contact Ed Nagel for
details [ ed123nagel@aol.com / 505-474-0300 ].
Ed specified these directions for the South Library –
Although the mailing address is on Jaguar St, the best way
to get there is to turn south off Airport Rd onto Country Club
Rd (by the golf course), proceed 6 tenths of a mile to
Valentine Way, and make a left (heading east), and an
immediate right into the parking lot of the South Library.
Taos – Lynette Cannon has recently signed up as the Taos County
LP Chair, as well as the Rio Arriba County Chair.

If you live in a county with an inactive affiliate and want to get

involved, contact the county chair.

YOUR ADVERTISING HERE?

CONTACT THE EDITOR OR

SEE PAGE 9 FOR DETAILS
EMAIL mikewb1971@gmail.com

New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 2


Voice of the Chair
by Ken Cavanaugh
[ phloyd113@cableone.net ]
Petitioning for Party Status
I will return to political science in later newsletters. For now, it has
become critical that we discuss the party status of the LPNM here
in New Mexico. Though the secretary of State, and then the County
Election Boards have not distributed any notice (and I'm glad they
haven't), we can rest assured that the LPNM has been disqualified
as a minor party. We have been through this in the past, yet we
now face this challenge once again.
In last years election, the Presidential nominee Bob Barr failed to
achieve the 0.5% of the total votes cast that was required in order
to maintain minor party status. The LPNM is now faced with the
task of collecting signatures on party qualification petitions in order
to regain this minor party status.
I know that many of you have been through this before, and don't
really want to go through it again. However, I need to ensure that
we all understand the impact of not being a minor party. The most
important aspect of this is that any libertarian that wants to run for
office (under statute) must collect signatures for their own
candidacy. This is required whether or not they run as a minor party
candidate, or a non-affiliated candidate. Yet there is a significant
difference between those two categories.
Depending on what office is being sought, a non-affiliated
candidate might need as many as 3-4 times the number of
signatures that a minor party candidate would need. In that way, to
run as a minor party candidate takes less effort to obtain ballot
access by a substantial amount.
Also, and this is absurd, if a candidate wants to run as a minor
party candidate, they have to collect signatures on petitions that
state the minor party name. These petitions aren't made officially
available from the Secretary of State until October 1st (we are
challenging this in a lawsuit that has been filed). At the same time,
similar official petitions for party status also aren't made available
until the same date. What this does is place a potential candidate
into a quandary. They might collect signatures with a minor party
designation, while the party members strive to obtain the necessary
signatures for minor party status. What can happen is that, if the
party supporters fail to obtain the requisite signatures for minor
party status, all the efforts made by the candidates for running
under a minor party label are discarded as useless.
Currently we have 1 active candidate (Dr. Alan Woodruff for U.S.
House 1st District), and a few others that are considering running.
These active and potential candidates would have their efforts at
risk since the LPNM itself is no longer qualified as a minor party. As
tedious as it is to obtain petition signatures, can you imagine if a lot
of hard work gets discarded because the party itself failed them?
For those that have never run for office, I can assure you that would
be devastating to potential candidates.
So, I am writing this (with a degree of reluctance) to start ramping
up the effort that we will need to go through (again) to obtain minor
party status once again. I have spoken with the national LP
Chairman (Bill Redpath) about how the national presidential
nominee has hurt us here in New Mexico. He and I have agreed
that, in order to have national presence, we are expected to permit
national nominees on our ballot, however, he has also agreed that
the national organization will step up and help those states that lose
party status if that is the result. In that way, I expect some
assistance down the road from the LP itself. Still, we need to do the
best we can to accomplish that which we can for ourselves.
In reviewing our options, I have received offers for paid petitioning
to accomplish our task. However, the price tag that comes with that
is cost-prohibitive, and outside our current budget. There is no way
that we can go that route alone, though it might yet be necessary
as we see what we ourselves can generate. Some of us have been
collecting signatures for months now, even though we have not
been notified, nor been given the “official” petition forms. Still,
having reviewed the forms over the years, it appears that the forms
that we have been using should suffice. So, if you want to get
started, send me an email ( phloyd113@cableone.net ) and I can
get you a party qualification petition form. These forms have a
blank for the county designation, as the signatures must be
collected by that grouping. Make copies so that you can write in the
county name as needed.
In order to regain party status, we need to collect nearly 3,000 valid
signatures (the number is slightly higher than 2,700, but use 3,000
as the official target). The key is the word valid. Many people that
are willing to sign petitions see that they are being asked to provide
an address. A lot of folks are reluctant to give a correct address,
usually out of fear of being added to a mailing list. Of course, if you
collect signatures by going door-to-door, it is difficult for them to not
provide their correct address, but still might. The address on the
petitions MUST BE in agreement with their voter registration
address (yes, that means the signatories must be registered
voters). What I have found to be successful is to assure the person
even before they consider signing that this is not to be used for a
mailing list; that after the purpose is completed, these forms will
merely be shredded. Usually that takes away a lot of their concern.
Another challenge that slows the process down is that people often
want to spend time finding out about the Libertarian philosophy.
This does slow you down, but is helpful to expand our reputation.
When I collected signatures for my candidate bid, everybody
wanted to take an hour or two of my time discussing the issues.
This puts you in a difficult position. It is up to you as to what time
you are willing to give to these questions, but I include that warning
here because it will cost you time unless you manage it well. Try to
keep the goal in mind, that we need to collect a significant amount
of signatures, but still recognize the value of giving the un-informed
public some ideas as to what the Libertarian philosophy is all about.
Balance that as you see fit.
So I would ask all of you that are able to collect such signatures as
you can. Even if all you are willing to do is grab 10-20 from your
immediate neighborhoods. I would estimate that one short evening
(2-3 hours) could accomplish that. Even that count will add up
through all of our efforts. So I urge all of you to help out in whatever
way you can.
By the way, I mentioned the cost earlier of paid petitioners. True,
additional donations to the LPNM would be helpful, but the cost is
so great that raising funds for a petition drive is not the priority. We
would need thousands of dollars to cover that cost. It would be nice
to have that kind of funds, so that we wouldn't need to do the
footwork itself, but the gap between what we have today, and what
we would need is so great as to make raising funds as the lone
approach is a large task itself. At the end of this newsletter is a form
from which you can make donations, if that is your preference.
Thank you for your assistance in putting us back in play,
Ken Cavanaugh
LPNM State Chair
505-990-4024
phloyd113@cableone.net
New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 3

Single-Payer Groceries, Anyone?
by Thomas J. DiLorenzo
[ tinyurl.com/oas5sv / tdilo@aol.com ]
lewrockwell.com/dilorenzo/dilorenzo176.html
7 August 2009
The American Socialist Party (ASP), whose members entertainingly
call themselves "Democrats," is determined to use its control of the
executive and legislative branches of government to destroy the
private health insurance and healthcare industries in favor of
"single-payer" healthcare. Of course, when government is the
single payer that means government-run monopoly. Average
people instinctively understand that monopoly is never in their best
interest, but to politicians who will administer and benefit from the
monopoly the thinking is apparently "it’s good to be the monopolist,"
as Mel Brooks might say.
Moreover, there is no reason to believe that they will stop there. If a
government-run monopoly is good for healthcare, they will
eventually argue, why not food, cars, and other essentials of
modern life? They are socialists, after all.
Since I always try to keep a step ahead of the bad guys, it will be
useful to think through how say, a single-payer grocery industry
would work. Such an exercise will also teach us some lessons
about what can be expected of a "single-payer," government-run
healthcare monopoly.
Here’s my take on how central planning for the new American
single-payer grocery industry monopoly would work: First, all
groceries will be paid for by the taxpayers, who are sometimes
confused with "government" by the media. Anyone at any time –
even illegal aliens – can walk into a grocery store and walk out with
whatever groceries and other items they "need." A national
government I.D. will be needed so that the state can "track" our
grocery purchases with it. It will be as easy to obtain for illegal
aliens as it is for citizens, since illegal aliens are such an important
voting block in support of the American Socialist Party. The
government grocery stores will keep track of all food purchases so
that they can better administer the state’s new anti-
obesity/mandatory exercise campaign. The stated purpose of this
"campaign" will be to cut healthcare costs by forcing us all into
healthier lifestyles (as defined by the state). With government in
charge of health and lifestyle planning, that old saying will be
altered to say "a ton of prevention for an ounce of cure."
Since the laws of economics have not been repealed, one problem
is that since groceries are free, many people will tend to consume
far more than is necessary. Cats and dogs will dine on filet mignon,
salmon, and sushi, for example, which might drive the pet food
industry out of existence. Good riddance, some would say. In
economics lingo, there will be an explosion of consumer demand,
which will cause a subsequent explosion in costs in most of the
food industries (these are called "increasing cost industries" by
economists, since average costs of production tend to increase as
they expand). Thus, "free" food will become expensive beyond
belief. This phenomenon is what economists call "the moral hazard
problem" of government subsidies.
In response to the government-created explosion of food costs, the
government will wage nationwide propaganda campaigns to raise
taxes, complete with televised pictures of starving babies, similar to
the "feed the children" television commercials that raise charitable
donations for starving children in the Third World. All opposition to
the tax increases will be denounced by Nancy Pelosi and her
comrades as "Hitler-like," and worse.
The booboisie will eventually recognize that the food cost explosion
(and the healthcare cost explosion that will inevitably come with
single-payer healthcare) cannot be paid for indefinitely by the Fed
chairman’s announcements of the printing and/or borrowing of
another trillion dollars this week, a trillion more next week, etc.
They will demand that "something be done" about the out-of-control
costs of food as their tax burden escalates, and the politicians will
comply.
Politicians typically have only one response to the cost explosions
that their own policies cause: price controls, usually euphemistically
called "global budgeting," "price caps," or some other deceitful
phrase. The new price controls on food will stimulate consumer
demand even further, while stifling food production and supply,
since they will take much of the profit out of farming, which for the
time being will still be in private hands. Food shortages are the
inevitable result, which of course will call for even more government
intervention in the form of a new government food-rationing board,
similar to what occurred during World War II when there were price
controls on food and many other items. The more affluent will be
able to bribe their way into adequate food purchases, while the
poor will simply be out of luck, as they always are whenever
government rations anything. The affluent always have more
political influence than the poor.
I would expect the new government grocery stores to be unionized,
as the American Socialist Party will change the labor laws to make
it mandatory, just as the government did with airport employees
after 9/11. This will give tremendous clout to the public grocery
union since a strike can literally shut down food distribution. It will
essentially transfer much of the power to tax to the public employee
grocery union. Consequently, grocery industry workers will be
among the highest paid people in America. This will be an
additional cause of a further cost explosion, which will ignite more
tax-increasing campaigns and the demonization of the taxpaying
public whenever it resists the additional plunder.
With no genuine profit-and-loss statements in our new single-payer
grocery industry there will be no way in the world to know whether
or not agricultural resources are being used efficiently, that is,
whether say, a million dollars in grain is turned into food products
that are worth more than a million dollars. When that occurs, there
is a profit in the private sector, but the private sector will be only a
memory. Consequently, there will be perpetual economic chaos in
the food industry. We are talking about socialism here, after all.
Since civil service regulations make it all but impossible to fire
public employees, we can expect the highly paid food industry
bureaucrats to be as inefficient, lazy, and unproductive as any
government bureaucrats anywhere. They will have no incentive to
acquire skills that enable them to be more efficient at serving their
customers. Instead, the "skills" they will acquire will be political
networking, scheming, and conniving skills. Politics will be the route
to higher pay and perks, not customer service.
Not to mention management, who will all be political appointees
whose jobs will be protected by their politician/benefactors. Bad
management, spoiled food, high costs, filthy grocery stores,
shortages, and all other costly problems will all be addressed with
one strategy: more tax increases and more government
demonization of tax resisters.
Since government-run monopolies are, well, monopolies, any
competition between the government grocery stores will be strictly
controlled or prohibited. The most likely means of doing this will be
to assign each person to a certain neighborhood grocery store, just
as the government schools assign everyone to a certain government
monopoly school, and as the British nationalized healthcare
bureaucracy assigns everyone to a specific hospital. That way, our
new government-run grocery monopoly will have a truly captured
audience of "customers."
[ Continued on Page 5 ]
New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 4
[ Continued from Page 4 ] That means a round-trip commuter to Santa Fe from Albuquerque
is counted twice, since they get on the train coming and going. The
Black markets for food will eventually crop up (no pun intended), actual average number of daily commuters using the Rail Runner
but they would have to be harshly penalized by fines and even for its three years of operations is just under 1,270.
imprisonment for the more egregious offenses, war-on-drugs style.
In addition, its annual operating and maintenance deficit is
Single payer means single payer, the government will ominously
exploding. The data received from the Rail Runner's management
preach. Black market gardening will draw resources away from the
show that in 2006, the train's first year of operation the operating
government-run grocery monopoly, which will be especially harmful
deficit was $7.8 million. Its operating deficit last year was $10.8
to "the children," the state will inform us. This is the argument that
million. Its operating losses for its third year of operation to May 31,
is always made by the state in response to the creation of private
2009, already exceeded $13.4 million. That is a total of $32 million
schools, increased homeschooling, or even school voucher
in operating losses so far.
proposals, and it will be repeated if there is any competition for the
new government grocery monopoly. This means that the taxpayer subsidy per commuter has also been
increasing as the Rail Runner produces ever higher operating and
Some years ago I discussed this scenario in a class of maintenance costs far in excess of the fares it charges. The
undergraduate students and asked them if all of these subsidy has grown from $6,128 per commuter in its first year to
characteristics reminded them of any particular industry in America. more than $10,500 this past year.
(It’s how public schools are organized). One student who had
grown up in the Republic of China (Taiwan) immediately shouted, Taxpayers are effectively paying a select few to ride the rails
"Communism!" Having grown up in the shadow of Chinese instead of a taking a bus or driving. At the average daily ridership of
communism he was very familiar with the subject, and he was right, 2,539, taxpayers were kicking in $16.89 per ride during the past
of course. I’m sure he would have the same opinion of "single- year.
payer healthcare." Considering that the trip from Las Cruces to Belen -- the current
southern terminus of the Rail Runner -- is 191 miles, nearly twice
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ the system's current length, and that the proposed Raton to Santa
Thomas J. DiLorenzo is professor of economics at Loyola College Fe leg is an additional 176 miles, such an expansion of train service
in Maryland and the author of The Real Lincoln, Lincoln Unmasked: would cost an additional $1.5 billion just to construct. Since the
What You’re Not Supposed To Know about Dishonest Abe and prospective Rail Runner service areas are far more sparsely
How Capitalism Saved America. His latest book is Hamilton’s populated than the current service area, operating losses would
Curse: How Jefferson’s Archenemy Betrayed the American likely exceed $50 million annually. These costs would, of course, be
Revolution – And What It Means for America Today. financed by New Mexico taxpayers, whether they ride the train or
not.
===================================
The fact is that New Mexico faces a $300 million budget shortfall for
the coming fiscal year. We could really have used the $400 million
Liberty, Opportunity, Prosperity
that was spent to build the Rail Runner right now, but we are
beyond that point. With money scarce and the economy still in bad
shape, it would seem that we should do the wise thing when one
finds oneself in a hole: stop digging.
Reports of Rail Runner's success
greatly exaggerated Paul Gessing is the President of New Mexico's Rio Grande
Paul J. Gessing Foundation [ riograndefoundation.org ]. The Rio Grande
[ pgessing@riograndefoundation.org ] Foundation is an independent, non-partisan, tax-exempt research
tinyurl.com/kkncjf – 6 August 2009 and educational organization dedicated to promoting prosperity for
New Mexico based on principles of limited government, economic
Gov. Bill Richardson has been touring New Mexico touting the freedom and individual responsibility.
"success" of the taxpayer-financed Rail Runner commuter train. ===================================
Recently, he has promoted the idea of transforming the train from a
regional, commuter rail system operating between Santa Fe and
the southern suburbs of Albuquerque to one that bisects the state
traveling through Las Cruces on to El Paso and keeps going far
beyond Santa Fe all the way to Denver.
Ambitious goals indeed, but they are founded on the assumption on
the part of Richardson and other policymakers that the Rail Runner
is a "success." The problem arises in defining what success should
look like.
In financial terms, it would be extremely hard to say the train is
successful. After all, the infrastructure needed just to set the current
100 mile system up from Belen to Santa Fe cost average
taxpayers, whether they use it or not, $400 million. This is a sunk
cost that will never be paid back. That's because the system
operates at a significant and growing loss.
As the Rio Grande Foundation points out in a new study, "Red Ink
Express," according to information obtained from the managers of
the Rail Runner, from the first date of service in July 2006 through
May 31, 2009, the average daily "ridership" on the train was a mere
2,539. That number shrinks even further when its meaning is
clarified. The Rail Runner's "ridership" is calculated based on each
individual boarding.

New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 5

 545 vs. 300,000,000 County Contacts
There are no insoluble government problems.
Forwarded by Jay Vandersloot Do not let these 545 people shift the blame to bureaucrats, whom
Bernalillo
they hire and
– lpnm.us/bernalillo
whose jobs they can abolish; to lobbyists, whose gifts
545 PEOPLE
Mikeadvice
and Blessing
they
– 505-918-6567
can reject; to/ mikewb1971@gmail.com
regulators, to whom they give the
By Charlie Reese
power to regulate and from whom they can take this power. Above
Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems all, do not let them con you into the belief that there exists
Colfax
and then campaign against them. disembodied
Richard Mooremystical forces like
– 575-377-6849 "the economy," "inflation," or
/ myliberty@mail.com
"politics" that prevent them from doing what they take an oath to do.
Have you ever wondered, if both the Democrats and the
Republicans are against deficits, WHY do we have deficits? Dona Ana
Those 545 –people,
lpnm.us/dona-ana
and they alone, are responsible.
Siebert Ickler – 575-541-9079 / lpdacnm@lpnm.us
Have you ever wondered, if all the politicians are against inflation They, and they alone, have the power.
and high taxes, WHY do we have inflation and high taxes? They, and they alone, should be held accountable by the people
Lea
You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. Christina
who are their
Grothbosses.
– 575-397-9366
You and I don't have the Constitutional authority to vote on Provided the voters have the gumption to manage their own
Lincoln
appropriations. The House of Representatives does. employees.
Richard Obergfell – 575-378-8025 / lplcnm@valornet.com
You and I don't write the tax code, Congress does. We should vote all of them out of office and clean up their mess!
Los Alamos
Charlie Reese is a former columnist of the Orlando Sentinel
You and I don't set fiscal policy, Congress does. Allen Cogbill – 505-662-7833 / acogbill@geopotential.com
Newspaper.
You and I don't control monetary policy, the Federal Reserve Bank
does. What
Luna you do with this article now that you have read it.......... Is up
to you. Steffen – 575-531-2556 / b_lamont5@hotmail.com
Marilyn
One hundred senators, 435 congressmen, one president, and nine
This might be funny if it weren't so darned true.
Supreme Court justices equates to 545 human beings out of the
300 million are directly, legally, morally, and individually responsible Otero – lpnm.us/otero
Be sure to read all the way to the end:
for the domestic problems that plague this country. Gilberto Heredia – 575-439-8234 / thrill@zianet.com
Tax his land, Tax all he has
I excluded the members of the Federal Reserve Board because Roosevelt
Tax his bed, Then let him know
that problem was created by the Congress. In 1913, Congress Ken the
Tax Sanders
table – 505-749-2085 That you won't be done
delegated its Constitutional duty to provide a sound currency to a At which he's fed. Till he has no dough.
federally chartered, but private, central bank. San Juan – sjclp.org
Tax
Garyhis tractor,
Wood – zang5775@msn.comWhen he screams and hollers;
I excluded all the special interests and lobbyists for a sound reason. Tax his mule, Then tax him some more,
They have no legal authority. They have no ability to coerce a Teach him taxes Tax him till
senator, a congressman, or a president to do one cotton-picking Sandoval
Are
Ronthe rule. – 505-288-4228 / rbjornstad@earthlink.net
Bjornstad He's good and sore.
thing. I don't care if they offer a politician $1 million dollars in cash.
The politician has the power to accept or reject it. No matter what Tax his work, Then tax his coffin,
the lobbyist promises, it is the legislator's responsibility to determine Santa
Tax hisFe
pay, Tax his grave,
how he votes. Ed
He Nagel
works –for505-471-6928
peanuts / ed123nagel@aol.com
Tax the sod in
Anyway! Which he's laid.
Those 545 human beings spend much of their energy convincing
Valencia
Tax his cow, Put these words
you that what they did is not their fault. They cooperate in this
Abran
Tax hisGabaldon
goat, – 505-864-6870 /Upon
abran_d@yahoo.com
his tomb,
common con regardless of party.
Tax his pants, "Taxes drove me
What separates a politician from a normal human being is an Tax his coat. LPNM Vacancies
To my doom..."
excessive amount of gall. No normal human being would have the
Tax his ties, When he's
gall of a Speaker, who stood up and criticized the President for Central Committee (1)gone,
creating deficits. The president can only propose a budget. He Tax his shirt, Do not relax,
cannot force the Congress to accept it. Tax his work, District 3 Representative,
It’s time toSeat A
apply
Tax his dirt. The inheritance tax.
The Constitution, which is the supreme law of the land, gives sole County Contacts (20)
responsibility to the House of Representatives for originating and Tax his tobacco,
approving appropriations and taxes. Who is the speaker of the Tax his drink,
Catron
Tax him if he/ Chaves / Cibola / Curry / De Baca / Eddy / Grant
House? Nancy Pelosi. She is the leader of the majority party. She
Guadalupe
Tries to think. / Harding / Hidalgo / McKinley / Mora / Quay
and fellow House members, not the president, can approve any
Rio Arriba / San Miguel / Sierra / Socorro / Taos / Torrance / Union
budget they want. If the president vetoes it, they can pass it over Tax his cigars,
his veto if they agree to. Tax his beers, College Contacts (3)
It seems inconceivable to me that a nation of 300 million cannot If he cries
replace 545 people who stand convicted – by present facts – of Tax his tears.Eastern New Mexico University (Portales)
incompetence and irresponsibility. I can't think of a single domestic New Mexico State University (Las Cruces)
New Mexico
Can Tech
problem that is not traceable directly to those 545 people. When (Socorro)
What in the hell happened? you spell “politicians?”
you fully grasp the plain truth that 545 people exercise the power of University of New Mexico (Various Campuses)
the federal government, then it must follow that what exists is what Western New Mexico University (Silver City)
they want to exist.
Contact the state chair if you're interested in filling a slot.
If the tax code is unfair, it's because they want it unfair.
If you don't, who will?
If the budget is in the red, it's because they want it in the red . . . .
If the Army & Marines are in IRAQ, it’s because they want them in
IRAQ.
If they do not receive social security but are on an elite retirement
New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 7
plan not available to the people, it's because they want it that way.
New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 6
 LPNM Central Committee County Contacts
Chair Bernalillo – lpnm.us/bernalillo
Ken Cavanaugh – 505-489-8099 / phloyd113@cableone.net Mike Blessing – 505-918-6567 / mikewb1971@gmail.com
Vice Chair Colfax
Jay Vandersloot – 505-362-1733 / jayvandersloot@yahoo.com Richard Moore – 575-377-6849 / myliberty@mail.com
Secretary Dona Ana – lpnm.us/dona-ana
Siebert Ickler – 575-541-9079 / lpdacnm@lpnm.us Siebert Ickler – 575-541-9079 / lpdacnm@lpnm.us
Treasurer Lea
VACANT Christina Groth – 575-397-9366
At-Large Representative, Seat A Lincoln
Allen Cogbill – 505-662-7833 / acogbill@geopotential.com Richard Obergfell – 575-378-8025 / lplcnm@valornet.com
At-Large Representative, Seat B Los Alamos
Attila Csanyi – Allen Cogbill – 505-662-7833 / acogbill@geopotential.com
District 1 Representative, Seat A Luna
Mike Blessing – 505-918-6567 / mikewb1971@gmail.com Marilyn Steffen – 575-531-2556 / b_lamont5@hotmail.com
District 1 Representative, Seat B Otero – lpnm.us/otero
Bob Finch – 765-412-2374 / nmlibertarian@gmail.com Gilberto Heredia – 575-439-8234 / thrill@zianet.com
District 2 Representative, Seat A Rio Arriba
Gilberto Heredia – 575-439-8234 / thrill@zianet.com Lynette Cannon – 575-756-1511 / kevincannon55@msn.com
District 2 Representative, Seat B Roosevelt
Kathleen Hodgkinson – Ken Sanders – 575-749-2085
575-437-6042 / hodgkinson@cybermesa.com
San Juan – sjclp.org
District 3 Representative, Seat A Gary Wood – zang5775@msn.com
Ron Bjornstad – 505-891-4541 / rbjornstad@earthlink.net
Sandoval
District 3 Representative, Seat B Ron Bjornstad – 505-288-4228 / rbjornstad@earthlink.net
Mike Moss – 505-564-4905 / mmoss@plumbersoft.com
Santa Fe
Membership Coordinator Ed Nagel – 505-471-6928 / ed123nagel@aol.com
Ron Bjornstad – 505-288-4228 / rbjornstad@earthlink.net
Taos
Press Secretary Lynette Cannon – 575-756-1511 / kevincannon55@msn.com
Bill Koehler – 505-264-0835 / bkoehler8@comcast.net
Media Director LPNM Vacancies
Bob Finch – 765-412-2374 / nmlibertarian@gmail.com Executive Committee (1)
Campus Contacts Treasurer
Central New Mexico Community College [CNM] County Contacts (19)
groups.myspace.com/cnmlibertarians Catron / Chaves / Cibola / Curry / De Baca / Eddy / Grant
Mike Blessing – 505-918-6567 / mikewb1971@gmail.com Guadalupe / Harding / Hidalgo / McKinley / Mora / Quay
College of Santa Fe San Miguel / Sierra / Socorro / Torrance / Union / Valencia
Morgan Wells – mwells109@gmail.com College Contacts (4)
New Mexico State University [NMSU]
Eastern New Mexico University (Portales)
Kathleen Hodgkinson –
575-437-6042 / hodgkinson@cybermesa.com New Mexico Tech (Socorro)
University of New Mexico (Various Campuses)
Internet Resources
Western New Mexico University (Silver City)
Official Website – lpnm.us
Contact the state chair if you're interested
LPNM Forum – groups.yahoo.com/group/lpnm-forum
Caucus membership required, per the Central Committee
in filling a slot.

LPNM Discussion – groups.yahoo.com/lpnm-discuss If you don't, who will?

Open forum (unmoderated for the most part)
Blog – lpofnm.blogspot.com
Facebook group
facebook.com/group.php?gid=20233114967
Ning.com social utility – lpofnm.ning.com
Myspace group – groups.myspace.com/lpnm

New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 7

 Administrivia Subscriptions and Correspondence
by Mike Blessing, Editor
For a print subscription, contact Ron Bjornstad for details. New
If you have news, interesting stories, op-ed pieces, a letter to the Mexico Liberty will be posted to the web, in PDF format, to the Files
editor, or timely information that you think belongs in the newsletter, section of the Google group I’ve set up for it –
please send it along. I can be contacted at 505-918-6567, or just
groups.google.com/group/nmliberty
send it to email address mikewb1971@gmail.com.
If you are moving or change your mailing address, please use keep
When sending your submission as an MS Word (or Open Office
us in the loop so we can keep your New Mexico Liberty coming to
Text) file, send it single-spaced in 9-pt Arial – like this is. Margins
you – contact Ron Bjornstad [ rbjornstad@earthlink.net ] if you're a
should be quarter-inch (0.25”) around, with no headers or footers. If
print version subscriber. Otherwise, contact the editor.
you send it in a text-only format, make it clear to me if you want
anything in bold type, underlined, in italics, struck-through, Advertising in New Mexico Liberty
different colors, etc. I’m not telepathic here, so help me out. And
Current rates for year-long spots
NO Wordperfect files – I can't open those.
Full page Ø60.00
Graphics (pictures, cartoons, etc.) – send the highest quality
Half page Ø30.00
graphics you can – email them to me at the address above, and I’ll
Quarter page Ø15.00
do what I can to get them in the next issue. In particular, what I
Business card Ø 8.00
want are pictures of YOU the LPNM members, either at LPNM-
sponsored events or at other peoples' events. Submission deadline Rates are subject to change at the discretion of the editor. The
for each issue – midnight, third Tuesday of the month. editor will do his best to make any such changes only when
absolutely necessary.
Articles
Inserts – For an insert into the PDF version that goes out over the
As for writing your article, It should be concise (no longer than a full
internet, contact the editor at email address . For an insert into the
page) and topical. A bit of humor helps, especially for op-ed pieces.
print edition, contact Ron Bjornstad at email address
What I'm really looking for in the way of articles is what's going on
rbjornstad@earthlink.net or phone number 505-288-4228.
in the LPNM – what YOU the membership are up to in spreading
the message. For example, an article about the stupidity, insanity Ø – The symbol for Federal Reserve Note(s), as used by Boston T.
and evil of the UN might get put in, depending on available space Party in his books. In plain-text message traffic (such as email), the
and the quality of the article. A group of LPNM members counter- acronym “FRN” will be used by the editor. See javelinpress.com for
protesting the raising of a UN flag by the city council WILL get put more information. Also see the Wikipedia page for “Federal
in, and probably will get first priority. Reserve Note” – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_Note.
Editorial Viewpoint
THE LPNM OFFICIAL WEBSITE – lpnm.us
The basis for libertarian thought is the Zero Aggression Principle
LPNM OFFICIAL MAILING ADDRESS
[ZAP] –
AND PHONE NUMBER
A libertarian is someone who believes that no human being 918 Ivory Road SE
has the right – under any circumstances – to initiate force Rio Rancho, NM 87124
against another human being, nor to threaten, incite or 505-288-4228
delegate its initiation.
If the date on your mailing label reads before 08/01/09, it's time
New Mexico Liberty holds that Libertarian candidates, officeholders to renew your LPNM membership.
or appointed spokespersons at all levels of government or the Party
should refrain from advocating new or more restrictive laws, new or THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT CHALLENGE
more expensive spending programs, or new or higher taxes. To CASH Ø10,000 PRIZE
paraphrase from the medical profession, “First, do no harm.”
To the first person to write a logical and documented essay
Submissions Policy showing one of the following to be compatible with the Declaration
The editor reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any of Independence:
reason. The editor will most often be willing to explain any such Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890
reasons. Appeals of the editor's refusal to post an advertisement, Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
article, letter to editor, or anything else can be made to the LPNM's Federal Communications Act of 1934
State Chair, Central Committee and/or Judicial Council. National Firearms Act of 1934
Copyright Banking Act of 1935
The Internal Revenue Code
Copyright © 2003–2009 Libertarian Party of New Mexico. All rights Controlled Substances Act of 1970
reserved. Permission is explicitly granted for subscribers to recopy RICO Act of 1970
New Mexico Liberty for non-commercial purposes, specifically as Federal Elections Act of 1970
use as an outreach tool, provided that New Mexico Liberty is copied Plumbing Products Efficiency Act of 1992
in its entirety. Use your imagination here. Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1992
USA PATRIOT Act of 2001
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
This challenge is also on the web at tinyurl.com/hn982
To claim your prize, contact
Mike Blessing at 505-918-6567 or
send an email to mikewb1971@gmail.com

New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 8

 Libertarian Party of New Mexico
Enrollment / Renewal / Donation Coupon
(Please print in all areas)

Name ___________________________________ Address ____________________________________

City ___________________________ State ________ Zip ______________ Phone _______________

Email _______________________ Employer ____________________ Occupation _________________

[ ] I am registered to vote as “Libertarian” in the State of New Mexico and wish to [ ] join or [ ] renew as a caucus
member. I am paying $25 annual dues. I will receive a one year (12 issues) subscription to the LPNM state
newsletter “New Mexico Liberty” (the national “LP NEWS” IS NOT included) and I will have delegate status at state
conventions. I oppose the initiation of force to achieve social or political goals:

Signed _____________________________________________

[ ] I am not registered to vote as “Libertarian” in the State of New Mexico and/or [ ] I do not wish to sign the
statement opposing the initiation of force to achieve social or political goals. I am paying $25.00 for a one year (12
issues) subscription to the LPNM state newsletter “New Mexico Liberty” (the national “LP NEWS” IS NOT
included). I understand that I will receive no other benefits.

[ ] I am making a DONATION to the LPNM in the amount of $ ________ to be applied as follows:

$_____ General Fund $_____ Chairman's Fund $_____ Major Player Fund $_____ Win One Fund

TOTAL of DUES or SUBSCRIPTION plus DONATION $_________ to be paid as follows:

[ ] by enclosed CHECK payable to “LPNM” (Sorry, we cannot accept corporate checks)

[ ] by CREDIT CARD (circle one): VISA / MASTERCARD

Number: __ __ __ __-__ __ __ __-__ __ __ __-__ __ __ __ Expires: ____/____

Signature: _____________________________________________

Government mandated notices:

● The US Postal Service requires us to notify you that the annual New Mexico Liberty subscription cost is
included in your LPNM membership dues of $25.00.
● The Internal Revenue Service requires us to print “political contributions are not tax deductible” on all
fundraising appeals.
● The Federal Election Commission requires us to ask for the employer and occupation of each individual
whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in a calendar year.

The preceding notices alone should be enough reason to join the Libertarian Party, the only political party working
to increase your freedom.

COPY OR PRINT, FILL OUT, AND SEND TO:

LPNM c/o Ron Bjornstad

918 IVORY RD SE
RIO RANCHO NM 87124

New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 9

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New Mexico Liberty – August 2009 – Page 10