Bucks County Libertarians Seek to Crash the Party
The upstart organization wants to show Bucks voters who are sick of the two-party system that there is an alternative.
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If you believe that the government overtaxes its citizens and interferes with the free market, then you are probably a Republican. But wait, you also believe in the separation of church and state and that the government should not impose religious standards that limit individual freedoms, so that must mean you are a Democrat.
Instead of suffering through this political identity crisis, Dr. Tom Stevens suggests that, if you generally follow the fiscally conservative/socially liberal philosophy, you are most likely a Libertarian. It's a realization that has expanded exponentially in the past, politically charged year.
"We doubled our registered members since April 2012," said Dr. Stevens. "Most people don't have the time to sit and really think about their political parties. After I speak with them for 5 to 10 minutes, they find out they agree with our 'Live and Let Live' attitude."
As chairman of Pennsylvania's Libertarian Party, Dr. Stevens travels the state establishing county committees and adding to the party's membership.
Twenty members of the Bucks County Libertarians held their first meeting on a snowy Monday night in a conference room at the office of Doylestown plastic surgeon Brian Buinewicz. State party chair Dr. Tom Stevens sat in and watched as the group, made up of mostly college-age activists, elected Nicholas Hillman the Bucks County Chapter President.
Hillman also announced his intention to run for Judge of Election in Warminster's District 4, which encompasses the neighborhoods between Norristown Road and Henry Avenue, with Street Road bordering the north and County Line the south.
"That's a great stepping stone for getting into public office," said Hillman, a student at Bucks County Community College. "It's not a time-consuming position that will take over your life, and it gives you an opportunity to meet voters one-on-one on election day."
The past election was one of the most successful campaigns for the national organization. Presidential candidate Gary Johnson, formerly governor of New Mexico, appeared in 48 state ballots and earned more than one million popular votes, the most for any Libertarian candidate since the party formed in 1971. However, the .99 vote percentage fell way short of the 5 percent needed for the party to earn federal matching funds.
"It's hard to battle against people's fear that they are throwing their vote away if they go with a third party candidate," said Dr. Stevens. "However, voting for both major parties has given us the same outcomes year after year, how is that not wasting a vote?"
Another obstacle for Libertarians and all other alternatives, such as the Green Party, is gaining ballot access. When they are not holding fundraisers and knocking on doors, representatives from the Libertarian Party are in courtrooms fighting attempts to keep them off the ballot. In October 2012, the Pennsylvania Supreme Court ruled against the state Republican Party's motion to disqualify the Libertarian Party from the ballot because they didn't have enough proper signatures.
The party plans to keep building off its 2012 momentum in the 2013 off-year elections for state and local offices, where third party candidates historically have more success. Currently, there are 135 Libertarians holding elected office nationwide, with 27 in Pennsylvania, ranging from mayor and city council to town treasurer and constable. Dr. Stevens is counting on the young members such as those surrounding the conference table to keep the energy going.
"They don't have a lot of political experience, but that's why I am here to coach them," said Dr. Stevens. "And they make up for it with their incredible enthusiasm. We have commitees dedicated to reaching out to youth groups at college campuses. They are very receptive to the Libertarian viewpoint."
John Kaker
11:50 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
Finally a party i can really stand behind. We need to break the ridiculous two party system in this government.
Kevin Foster
12:57 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
John we appreciate the support. Please vote / register as a Lib.. the sooner people embrace a new party, the sooner we can influence and implement true change in this country.
Carol Ann
2:06 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Ditto.
google that
11:54 am on Monday, January 28, 2013
When is the next meeting?
Nicholas C Hillman
12:00 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
No date set in stone but should be late; Feb 20-21. You can get that information and more at www.BucksLP.org (Pleases pardon it's aperrance we are in the middle of remodeling it.)
We welcome everyone to the Libertarian Party of Bucks County meetings we are 100% transparent. We will be talking about a possable food drive next meeting to help our people in Bucks County.
wheezer96
12:18 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
I thought the Democrats believed in imposing government on religious freedoms?? Isn't that what Obamacare does?
Nicholas C Hillman
1:10 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Our point is that the two parties are becoming one. That is why we need a new party to come in.
That Guy
1:22 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Awesome.
Kerin Patrice
1:49 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Great article... and I completely agree in that most people don't have the chance, take the time, or even feel the need to sit back and truly think about their political party/stance.
That Guy
4:29 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Yo check this guy out. He's running for the 6th congressional district (not bucks, but montgomery, chester, lehigh, berks) as a LIBERTARIAN! Check out his posts. This guys goes into serious depth with his stances on the issues. https://www.facebook.com/mjfalcaro2014?fref=ts
Kyle
6:14 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
I've always supported the Libertarian movement. Too bad the Repubocrats drown out the real candidates with money.
Kevin Foster
6:17 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Kyle... thats why spreading the movement and principles of the party is important. We have to get over the 'taboo'ness of discussing politics with friends and neighbors and family. Most people identify with Libertarian principles.. but people are resistant to change sometimes.
Page
9:18 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
We're not just for tax-dodging conspiracy theorists anymore!
The Illuminati
9:54 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Man...I need to read the headlines more closely! I was wondering what party the Librarians wanted to crash? Lol.
Gotta Opinion
10:16 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
I voted Gary Johnson and will continue to support the Libertarian Party! More education about what they stand for will create more support for them!
google that
10:34 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
The Libertarians may not have power or the money like the other two parties but they will be doing something that neither of them offer. That my friends is by doing something. The two parties just inflate the system over and over. We need to brake the system and then we will have change. Please help the Libertarian movement that is coming to Bucks. Become a member, write a story on liberty, become an activits and above all VOTE!. Dont be intimadated by anyone, vote for the one you think will fix the problems not just puch them down the road. Democrate, Libertarian, Republican, Green, Justice,.... doesnt matter aslong as you are informemd.
Please welcome the Libertarians into our community and they will pay us back 10 fold.
Pier Giacalone
10:37 pm on Monday, January 28, 2013
Welcome Libertarians. May you peel off Republican votes for years to come.
George Marasco
11:21 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
My thoughts exactly, Pier. Please folks, do join the Libertarian party. It's the best thing you can do for the Democrats.
Personally, I never met a Libertarian I could stand to be around for more than about 5 minutes. Something is seriously off with those folks.
Kevin Foster
11:28 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
George - http://www.learnliberty.org/content/what-it-means-be-libertarian
What is off with those folks? The way they dress? They way they prefer individualism over collectivism? Painting folks with a broad brush like that is a bit insulting.
Kevin Foster
11:31 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Democrats and Republicans have been bankrupting this country for too long... the debt and unfunded liabilities in the US will be paid for by our children for years to come... at a minimum, what is the Democratic defense for the out of control spending that is going on at the Federal, State, and Local levels?
George Marasco
4:08 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@Kevin, every Libertarian I've ever met has been completely unbearable to be around for more than 5 minutes. And interestingly enough, there have been many people I disliked immediately and later found out they were Libertarians, so it's not an automatic dismissal based on their political beliefs. I just can't stand to be around them. If that's painting with a broad brush, so be it. Don't really care.
Kevin Foster
4:52 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@George - would be happy to have a beer with you sometime. I'd bet you a shiny nickel we'd get along for a lot longer than 5 minutes :)
Kevin Foster
8:16 am on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Pier - actually Libertarianism has attracted equally from both major parties. Europe has proven that big government and central planning simply does not work in the long term.
Mike Shortall
2:26 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
As a Republican, I admire a lot of what libertarians offer on domestic policies; but they always lose me over their approach to foreign policy. Isolationism didn't work in 1920-1940, and I doubt anyone would agree we should repeat that mistake, especially in a world that's even more dependent on a global economy.
Brad W. Cooper
3:23 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Libertarians are not Isolationism but non interventionist. We want to stay friendly with different countries and work with them in trade and different issues. We just do not want to me in war with them.
I am glade my work and everyone else in the party has done so far. We made such great strides and have accomplish so much. Great job everyone and I can't wait to contiue to work with everyone.
Nicholas C Hillman
3:25 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
This is often a false fact that people belive we are
Isolationists. The real fact is we are non-interventionist.
(1) Building positive relationships, with an emphasis on free trade, and
(2) Avoiding negative relationships, with an emphasis on military non-intervention.
Those best sum up the policy and if any one would like to know details about particular points in the policy just visit: http://www.lp.org/issues/foreign-policy
Mike Shortall
8:08 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@Brad & Nick: When I hear libertarians speak of international politics, they speak about pulling most - if not all - military forces and closing bases overseas ... everywhere, no involvement in or support of the United Nations, no military action overseas (which basically tells everyone else, "do as you wish"), no interest in world leadership or policing ...
To me, that's not non-interventionist; it's isolationism.
I checked out Mr. Falcaro's Facebook page, and he specifically calls his policy "isolationist". https://www.facebook.com/mjfalcaro2014?fref=ts
Now I'm sure there are some libertarians who do not believe in strict isolationism; but everyone I ever heard or read says they do.
Nicholas C Hillman
4:31 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@ George: You my have had bad experinced but I would encourage you to come out to one of our meetings or events. To see for yourself before sterotyping all LP.The LPBC is a very friendly and fun group.
nacho bear
5:26 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Libertarian Party = liberal's best weapon
Richard Saunders
7:21 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
Dr. Tom Stevens has been disavowed by many for his promotion of bestiality as a right. He even argued bestiality should be included in the Libertarian platform.
http://www.independentpoliticalreport.com/2011/12/lp-pres-carl-person-fires-campaign-manager-apologizes-for-bestiality-comments/
I'd urge caution around extremists like Stevens. He's known for crippling and dismantling organizations left and right.
Brad W. Cooper
10:46 pm on Tuesday, January 29, 2013
@Mike Shortall let me ask a question. How would you feel if Military guys were walking up and down your street and big tanks rolling down the road. Then the military just walked right on your lawn and stepped on your flowers. What if the military just shot someone innocent just because they got scared or thought they were going to shoot you. That is what are military is doing in other countries. We as libertarians do not agree in this type of behavior. We want to be friendly with other countries and with are military all over other countries basically controlling the citizen in there is not going to make any friends.
See the media make people portrayed us Libertarians as not caring about other countries and being isolationist. We care about other countries, but we do not like what we are doing to them and how we are controlling them. We are wasting tax dollars, military people, and creating blowback. See America has 17 trillion dollars of debt. We do not have the funds to keep paying for are military to be over in other countries. We need are guys home to protect us. Spend there money over in our country. Also to save more military lives. There is not one good reason we should be fighting in any of these countries. Like Nick said come to are meeting and see what we are really about.
[When]
Thursday, February 21, 2013
[Time]
7:00pm until 9:00pm
[Location]
25 Upper Holland Road, Richboro, PA 18954)
Mike Shortall
9:38 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
@Brad ... I get the whole military intrusion thing. I don't disagree about that to a point; but there are GOOD things the military does besides invading hostile countries from a geopolitical point-of-view. Yes, it's expensive; and yes, I think we need to disinvest some of our military commitments, like Afghanistan.
The example you offer is an extreme one that applies in only ONE region right now (Afghanistan/Pakistan) where there are hostile forces trying to actively kill Americans. SHould we still be there after 10 years? No.
But that's not a justification for withdrawing from EVERYWHERE and hunkering down behind our borders and beaches ... in my humble opinion.
I'd be interested in attending a meeting when someone can explain to me what the libertarian view is of America's role in international relations that doesn't sound like it comes from the 1920s.
BTW ... Thought you were GREAT in "Silver Linings Playbook"!! ; ^ )
That Guy
10:29 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Mike, in short summary .. the LP believes in defending our country here at home instead of destroying countries overseas and rebuilding them with our tax dollars...especially with the track record America now has for lying about reasons to invade other countries..We never quite did find those WMDs in Iraq, did we? Also, now Osama Bin Laden is apparently dead, so why are we not out of Afghanistan now? Why are troop surges still happening there and why did Obama sign a contract a year or two ago stating that we will be there till 2024?
I agree, though with Brad, you should come by a meeting. The January meeting was my first LP meeting and i found the atmosphere very friendly..though it's not the place for long, heated, debates (since we have much to discuss about our chapter efforts)..the LP members present are always happy to answer questions about the party's platform
That Guy
10:37 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/01/21/top-defense-contractors-s_n_431542.html
....27 Million dollars lobbied....for ONE troop surge by military contractors. Not the occupation of Afghanistan. JUST...ONE.....SURGE. Corruption and loss of life like this is an example of what we at the LP are fighting to end. We believe in protecting America..but that's not what this is.
That Guy
10:43 am on Wednesday, January 30, 2013
Also, Mike, I believe Mike Falcaro will be at the meeting in February. He has multiple degrees in Communications, History and of course Political Science. He specialized in Intercultural Communications, Foreign Policy, International Relations, National Security and Election & Campaign Reform. He's a really friendly, laid back guy and is always interested in discussing the issues