What's next for the liberty movement?

[WTLaw]

Don't see the PM feature, but I would be interested in helping out. We can't sit on our hands, thats for sure.

 

[Xerographica]

There's still no substitute for physical proximity. Even the most tech-intensive, abstract fields do better when concentrated in geographic clusters, i.e. Silicon Valley. Some of the major advantages of this proximity are in that link I just posted. Examples are just the simple frequency of face to face meetings and discussions, the energy we all get from being around like minded people, always having a diversity of other activists to work with and draw on for support, the "10% effect" where all that's needed to bring about real change is to have 10% of people in a given population believing strongly in that one new idea. Technology helps shrink the world in certain ways for sure, but for the vast foreseeable future there will continue to be myriad advantages to physical geographic proximity.

I took a class at UCLA on agglomeration... so I definitely understand the concept. But I also understand the concept of spending. And when I compare the two concepts... I'm pretty sure that spending is infinitely more important.

Check out this libertarian blogroll. Which of those websites do you value most? Which of those websites do I value most? Does it matter? Does it matter which of those websites are the most valuable to the liberty movement? Of course it matters... which is why the Ron Paul Forums should have its own blogroll that would be sorted by crowdfunding. This is infinitely easier and more valuable than trying to get a bunch of libertarians to move to New Hampshire or Honduras.

When I was stationed in Afghanistan... I quickly realized that the war wasn't about more soldiers or bigger bombs... it was about information. And we sucked at organizing information. We just happened to suck slightly less than our opponents.

Right now the liberty movement is just as bad as its opponents at organizing information. We produce a heck of a lot of information... but we fail to sort it according to its value to the movement. As a result... valuable information is buried under mountains and mountains of worthless information. We need to use our money to dig the most valuable information from beneath the mountain and make it as accessible as possible.

 

[Peace&Freedom]

I echo the comments on the need to focus more on state and local campaigns, and national projects that restore constitutional governance (i.e., strict limits on the federal government). We should add electing more constitutional sheriffs (to head off more fed land grabs and tragedies like the Oregon standoff), and more locally-geared "Free Town Projects" to elect liberty town or city councils in places where they appoint the sheriffs.

In terms of national candidates, we've got to field pro-liberty candidates who are also conservative evangelicals, and/or Tea Party fiscal populists, especially in Iowa or New Hampshire region, in order to have more built-in access to the major voting blocs needed to win the early primary contests.

 

[DavesNotHere]

How can we build towards liberty? What is the best thing to do?

I see spreading truth among all the MSM lies, as the path towards liberty. To me (a no-body here), this site is a valuable source of alternative information, with a nice collection of interesting people- priceless.

Note- I live in California, so voting has ALWAYS been as pointless as the politicians that end up in office. One example- as a boy, I picketed Barbra Boxer's office with my mother... many years (and votes) later BB rules on.

IMO little truth drips are the answer to spreading liberty...

 

[r3volution 3.0]

As other have said, Congressional, State, and local races should be given higher priority.

We need to not only identify libertarian/libertarian-ish candidates already running, we need to build up a stable of people to run.

A Rand Paul, who goes from doctor straight to US Senator, is quite unusual. Most politicians pass through the maius maiorum: county/municipal, state, federal.

It's pretty easy/cheap to win local races in most parts of the country (i.e. not major cities), state too.

Say if we want a majority in the US House in the future, that's 218 Reps.

We need a multiple of that number in state legislatures (only the best of the bunch would go on to federal office).

And, in turn, a multiple of that number in local government (only the best of those go on to state office).

Our failure to elect enough of our people is often explained in terms of money and media, which is certainly a huge factor, but we also lack qualified candidates. Build up the stable. This approach will also give our movement some much needed confidence and momentum; we will actually start winning more elections than we lose, even if most are lower level offices.

P.S. For an idea of how much bang for the buck we could get on state-level campaigns:

http://classic.followthemoney.org//press/ReportView.phtml?r=420&ext=2

[TABLE="class: DBtable"]
[TR]
[TH="align: left"] Legislative Chamber[/TH]
[TH="align: center"] Number of Candidates in the General Election[/TH]
[TH="align: right"] Average Raised[/TH]
[TH="align: right"] Median Raised[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="align: left"] Senate[/TD]
[TD="align: center"] 2,266[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] $157,699[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] $55,501[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="align: left"] House/Assembly[/TD]
[TD="align: center"] 8,883[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] $68,490[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] $20,540[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2 bold text-right totalline"]
[TD="align: right"] TOTAL[/TD]
[TD="align: center"] 11,149[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] $86,622[/TD]
[TD="align: right"] $25,165[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

So, with a mere $1 million per cycle, for instance, we could run as many as 50 state legislative candidates.

...and it gets cheaper over time: it costs a lot less to defend a seat than to win one in the first place.

Which States to target?

[TABLE="class: DBtable"]
[TR]
[TH="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] State[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] Senate Total[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] Senate Average[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] House Total[/TH]
[TH="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] House Average[/TH]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Alaska[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $862,007[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $86,201[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,728,693[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $68,217[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Arizona[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,549,830[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $84,994[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $4,677,152[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $155,905[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Arkansas[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,017,603[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $112,089[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $4,236,952[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $42,370[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] California[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $28,245,063[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,412,253[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $71,079,242[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $888,491[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Colorado[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,401,834[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $126,412[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $5,341,734[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $82,181[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Connecticut[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $5,207,196[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $144,644[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $5,262,324[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $34,850[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Delaware[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,000,905[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $100,090[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,286,889[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $55,778[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Florida[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $11,259,735[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $536,178[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $25,876,533[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $215,638[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Georgia[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $6,258,805[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $111,764[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $11,538,108[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $64,101[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Hawaii[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,930,180[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $160,848[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,791,154[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $54,729[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Idaho[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,535,698[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $43,877[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,376,609[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $33,952[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Illinois[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $22,733,532[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $568,338[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $39,569,825[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $335,338[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Indiana[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $3,480,374[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $139,215[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $16,654,890[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $166,549[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Iowa[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $5,042,923[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $201,717[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $15,269,249[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $152,692[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Kansas[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $5,204,004[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $130,100[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $5,015,513[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $40,124[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Kentucky[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $4,840,809[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $254,779[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $4,726,520[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $47,265[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Louisiana[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $16,687,268[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $427,879[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $19,770,577[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $190,102[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Maine[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,775,707[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $50,734[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,632,899[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $10,814[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Massachusetts[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $7,361,231[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $184,031[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $12,484,305[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $78,027[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Michigan[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] N/A[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] N/A[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $13,062,027[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $118,746[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Minnesota[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] N/A[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] N/A[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $8,191,541[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $61,131[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Mississippi[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $4,544,606[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $87,396[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $5,529,492[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $45,324[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Missouri[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $7,480,507[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $440,030[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $13,127,303[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $80,536[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Montana[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $668,772[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $26,751[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,609,957[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $16,100[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Nebraska[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,874,728[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $110,566[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] N/A[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] N/A[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Nevada[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $4,429,850[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $442,985[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $7,843,936[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $186,760[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] New Hampshire[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,524,485[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $105,187[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $460,594[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $4,472[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] New Jersey[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $22,013,042[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $550,326[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $19,183,526[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $479,588[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] New Mexico[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $3,519,670[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $83,802[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $3,621,026[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $51,729[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] New York[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $43,866,132[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $707,518[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $21,566,093[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $143,774[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] North Carolina[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $14,530,667[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $290,613[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $13,215,479[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $110,129[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] North Dakota[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $437,998[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $19,043[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $395,533[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $17,197[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Ohio[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $10,519,593[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $657,475[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $33,231,610[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $335,673[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Oklahoma[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $6,607,587[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $275,316[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $9,554,982[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $94,604[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Oregon[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,735,938[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $170,996[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $15,927,576[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $265,460[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Pennsylvania[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $19,325,222[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $773,009[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $43,286,041[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $213,232[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Rhode Island[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,540,254[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $40,533[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,357,104[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $31,428[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] South Carolina[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $8,936,420[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $194,270[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $6,682,497[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $53,891[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] South Dakota[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,956,772[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $55,908[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,380,636[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $37,314[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Tennessee[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $6,525,315[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $407,832[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $7,931,285[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $80,114[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Texas[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $17,582,391[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,172,159[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $64,472,778[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $429,819[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Utah[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $2,039,254[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $135,950[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $3,439,687[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $45,862[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Vermont[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $403,797[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $31,061[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $778,987[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $7,213[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Virginia[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $29,672,959[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $741,824[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $31,530,213[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $315,302[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Washington[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $6,030,548[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $231,944[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $14,774,173[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $150,757[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] West Virginia[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $1,887,409[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $111,024[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $3,551,687[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $61,236[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey2"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Wisconsin[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $4,072,434[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $254,527[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $7,655,752[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $77,331[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR="class: grey1"]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: left"] Wyoming[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $224,039[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $14,002[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"][/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $719,877[/TD]
[TD="bgcolor: inherit, align: right"] $11,998[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

Cross reference this information with the states where Ron did best, where C4L, YAL et al have the most members, and other relevant factors about either the ease of winning or the benefits of doing so (e.g. states that are earlier in the Presidential primary process might be weighted more heavily, all else being equal), and we can make a ranked list of states in which we should focus our efforts.

 

[Deborah K]

Those who still believe in the electoral process should consider getting term limits for congress passed. I know all the arguments against it. But there aren't enough good guys to make it worth allowing all the career-corrupt-creeps to continue ruining this country. A movement has already started for it.

 

[65fastback2+2]

Can we get someone to challenge McCain or Graham?

Kelly Ward is challenging McCain and doing a good job so far.

 

[65fastback2+2]

I think we need to start more basic than even state and local campaigns.

We need to start with simple liberty education. No one will vote for anyone without being enlightened to freedom.

 

[Suzanimal]

I think we need to start more basic than even state and local campaigns.

We need to start with simple liberty education. No one will vote for anyone without being enlightened to freedom.

This ^^^

 

[angelatc]

THIS! Go with the advice that Ron Paul gave us back in 2008. Focus on getting more Ron / Rand supporters into office at the state and local levels, and of course a few more in Congress can't hurt. We've been making incremental gains in getting good people in office since 2008. We need more Massies, Amashes, Rands, Lees, Yohos, and Gunnys. Massie started out at the County level, and where is he now? When mitch retires, where do you think he will end up? THIS is how we win! Forget all about the Presidential race for this election, we can still get good candidates on the ballots in many places and chalk up wins this year while attention is focused on cruz / trump / sanders. Just go into midterm mode, like we've done here before in 2010 and 2014.

I am too busy in my real life to do anything but try to earn a living. But I agree with this.

I got a feedback from someone who said that working inside the system was never going to work. But the left has made it work. I think that we have to start from the bottom up, and getting legislators elected at the state and local level is the best way to lay the groundwork for future victories.

 

[69360]

Now that Rand is done, people should just do what they think is best. Trying to unite all the people on this forum is like herding cats.

Honestly at this point just look out for you and your own the best you can while waiting to see how events play out.

 

[jmdrake]

We should quit focusing all of our efforts on representative democracy and start looking at direct democracy. I'm talking about ballot initiatives. Look at what happened in Colorado with the change of marijuana laws? That totally went under my radar and I never saw any real move among the so called "Liberty" movement to back it. The push in Colorado was led by Tom Tancredo, someone that most of us considered a "neocon" and an enemy of Ron Paul when they both ran in 2008. And who fought against legalization of marijuana? Why none other than the Campaign For Liberty endorsed Ken Buck! My point is that when we are talking about issues, rather than parties, it's easier to build the types of coalitions needed to make real change. Recently a republican senator in Tennessee proposed legislation to legalize pot for the treatment of vets with PTSD. Some folks here were critical. "That's not fair! Why not legalize it for everybody?" Because in the Tennessee state legislature, a law limited to vets is probably the only thing that could actually pass. And that stands little chance of passage. But 75% of Tennesseans support medical marijuana!

See: https://www.mpp.org/states/tennessee/ If this was a ballot initiative, instead of a piece of legislation, it would pass by a landslide. But when people go to the polls to pick their "representatives", single issues usually aren't on the top of their list. In fact most people don't even know the name of their state representatives. And these people in power count on such ignorance. They know Tennessee is a "red state" and as long as they can get through the primary process one time, get elected as a republican (or a democrat in the state's democratic pockets), they've got a cushy job for life.

Some (like the now departed from RPF Matt Collins) are against ballot initiatives because of what I can only describe as "principled stupidity." Matt's my bud, but he was wrong as hell on this. The argument is "Well if people vote for laws directly they will vote to raise other people's taxes." Only....ballot initiatives are the law in all 50 states and typically ballot initiatives that say "Let's raise taxes" fail. In fact there have been ballot initiatives in Tennessee to lower the power of the state to raise taxes. (See: https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_Income_Tax_Prohibition,_Amendment_3_(2014))

So here's my proposal.

1) Let's identify ballot initiatives that we'd like to see passed in all 50 states. Like kicking out the TSA from state airports. Or strengthening the 2nd amendment at the state level. Or decriminalizing medicinal and/or recreational marijuana. Or limiting the power of local police to receive military style weapons from the federal government. Or barring local police from cooperating with federal "fusion centers."

2) Let's find out how to get issues on the ballot in each state.

3) Let's work towards that goal.

Sure, that doesn't get the federal reserve audited, but it could to a lot to restore liberty.

 

[iNoob]

We need to draft Ron Paul for president in 2020.

 

[navy-vet]

THIS! Go with the advice that Ron Paul gave us back in 2008. Focus on getting more Ron / Rand supporters into office at the state and local levels, and of course a few more in Congress can't hurt. We've been making incremental gains in getting good people in office since 2008. We need more Massies, Amashes, Rands, Lees, Yohos, and Gunnys. Massie started out at the County level, and where is he now? When mitch retires, where do you think he will end up? THIS is how we win! Forget all about the Presidential race for this election, we can still get good candidates on the ballots in many places and chalk up wins this year while attention is focused on cruz / trump / sanders. Just go into midterm mode, like we've done here before in 2010 and 2014.

Yes.

 

[squirl22]

1) Let's identify ballot initiatives that we'd like to see passed in all 50 states. Like kicking out the TSA from state airports. Or strengthening the 2nd amendment at the state level. Or decriminalizing medicinal and/or recreational marijuana. Or limiting the power of local police to receive military style weapons from the federal government. Or barring local police from cooperating with federal "fusion centers."

2) Let's find out how to get issues on the ballot in each state.

3) Let's work towards that goal.

These are all very good ideas. Initiative and referendum at the local level is pure populism at work and the courts are very hesitant to overturn this type of thing. It was very powerful in Maine, where I used to live, but here in the south, NC, the people are very submissive....I have no idea why, maybe a result of losing the civil war and reconstruction, but the state governments don't even like their own residents...more laws than anywhere else I've ever lived.

I agree with the ideas of starting at the local levels and working up, but also, I would not give up on the federal level. It took the left from 1965 to 2008 to finally control the Democratic Party...but they did succeed. So take heart...it's a long haul.

Finally, I really do not think one can change the tide of history through electoral politics. I had this sense with Obama's election that some how it was destiny..a cycle, it could not be thwarted. But, it is still important to have people in place for when it does start to turn. Right now, it seems to me, and me only, that it would take a major event to slow down the progression of big government. Something on the level of 9/11 but with the opposite effect, but I have very little idea of what that could be. Maybe an economic collapse of some kind that would force people to fend for themselves? Something that would stop the flow of money from the federal government forcing states and individuals to live within their means? I don't know...anyone have any ideas? I'm interested.

 

[P3ter_Griffin]

Hey Bryan, I haven't been on my computer so I haven't been able to PM you but I am interested in hearing what you're thinking and going from there. Thanks to you, your staff, and volunteers for maintaining RPF. I have so much respect for y'all that I am excited to hear what RPF has in store.

 

[Dianne]

Those who still believe in the electoral process should consider getting term limits for congress passed. I know all the arguments against it. But there aren't enough good guys to make it worth allowing all the career-corrupt-creeps to continue ruining this country. A movement has already started for it.

I agree completely. Maybe we can create a petition large enough to force it to be voted upon.

 

[RonPaulIsGreat]

If we had any sense we'd invest all this time and effort into a productive income generating business. Then the successful people would be libertarians, as opposed to nuts on the interwebz, then we could simply buy the politicians which are all for sale anyway. "Normal" people as in apathetic sociopaths don't give a shit about freedom, and that is in my estimation 80% of the population. They care about food, housing, pussy, and entertainment. Good luck convincing them to do anything that interferes with any of those things.

PEOPLE DO NOT CARE ABOUT FREEDOM....

 

[fr33]

Nothing passes because the rest of the Congress is bullshit. Our focus should be getting rid of these guys. Challengers to McConnell, Ryan, McCain, Graham, just to name a few, should be supported by us vigorously. Greg Brannon versus Richard Burr right now is a prime example of where energy should go. Let's take them down one at a time.

I agree but party politics works to prevent this from happening. Both Rand and Ron endorsed terrible Republican candidates in their career because their party requires them to.

 

[VIDEODROME]

We should quit focusing all of our efforts on representative democracy and start looking at direct democracy. I'm talking about ballot initiatives. Look at what happened in Colorado with the change of marijuana laws? That totally went under my radar and I never saw any real move among the so called "Liberty" movement to back it. The push in Colorado was led by Tom Tancredo, someone that most of us considered a "neocon" and an enemy of Ron Paul when they both ran in 2008. And who fought against legalization of marijuana? Why none other than the Campaign For Liberty endorsed Ken Buck! My point is that when we are talking about issues, rather than parties, it's easier to build the types of coalitions needed to make real change. Recently a republican senator in Tennessee proposed legislation to legalize pot for the treatment of vets with PTSD. Some folks here were critical. "That's not fair! Why not legalize it for everybody?" Because in the Tennessee state legislature, a law limited to vets is probably the only thing that could actually pass. And that stands little chance of passage. But 75% of Tennesseans support medical marijuana!

See: https://www.mpp.org/states/tennessee/ If this was a ballot initiative, instead of a piece of legislation, it would pass by a landslide. But when people go to the polls to pick their "representatives", single issues usually aren't on the top of their list. In fact most people don't even know the name of their state representatives. And these people in power count on such ignorance. They know Tennessee is a "red state" and as long as they can get through the primary process one time, get elected as a republican (or a democrat in the state's democratic pockets), they've got a cushy job for life.

Some (like the now departed from RPF Matt Collins) are against ballot initiatives because of what I can only describe as "principled stupidity." Matt's my bud, but he was wrong as hell on this. The argument is "Well if people vote for laws directly they will vote to raise other people's taxes." Only....ballot initiatives are the law in all 50 states and typically ballot initiatives that say "Let's raise taxes" fail. In fact there have been ballot initiatives in Tennessee to lower the power of the state to raise taxes. (See: https://ballotpedia.org/Tennessee_Income_Tax_Prohibition,_Amendment_3_(2014))

So here's my proposal.

1) Let's identify ballot initiatives that we'd like to see passed in all 50 states. Like kicking out the TSA from state airports. Or strengthening the 2nd amendment at the state level. Or decriminalizing medicinal and/or recreational marijuana. Or limiting the power of local police to receive military style weapons from the federal government. Or barring local police from cooperating with federal "fusion centers."

2) Let's find out how to get issues on the ballot in each state.

3) Let's work towards that goal.

Sure, that doesn't get the federal reserve audited, but it could to a lot to restore liberty.

I've also been wondering if this group could become a kind of Foundation, but wondered if that would be redundant with the other similar groups like Campaign for Liberty, yet it sounds like CFL is inept or misguided.

I dunno maybe this group could run political Kickstarters on issues to raise money and educate.