Finding Local Issues ..............Educate, Agitate, Organize for Freedom in our lifetime.................

To do this, the savvy Libertarian Activist must know what's going on in the community, what the local (or state) government is doing to take away or lessen people's freedoms, as well as what the government is doing in the way of extending its power structure through taxation and regulation.Any issue which increases the size or scope of government is a Libertarian issue. The goal is to "educate, agitate, and organize"... let people know whats going on, stirring them up, then organizing them into a potent political force.

The most powerful "political weapon" in your arsenal is the ability to "educate" people as to what is really going on in their local gov't. Get the information and spread it throughout the community (see Actions) You and the LP will gain instant credibility...you know what's happening, and...you tell the people about it. Very powerful stuff. Timing is very important in releasing info...you want your version to "hit the streets" (in flyers, not a newspaper story,which can be manipulated) in time for people to respond...but not so early the opposition has time to combat it.

Once you have organized folks (See Organizing)... the gov't will always attempt to "compromise" (offer the leaders a seat on a commission, offer to strike down various portions of the ordinance folks are riled up about)...this is an ideal moment for a Libertarian to show that "Libertarians Defend Liberty without Compromise"...and, even if you "lose" (i.e. the gov't passes the ordinance) use that to show your supporters that the only way to "stop" the gov't is...to elect Libertarians.

HINT: all communities have "unofficial" leaders. These leaders are not recognized by the government, they haven't got a government title, they don't serve on a government board, and, they have usually steered clear of local politics. Who are they? Local small businesspeople, preachers, teachers, retired folks who volunteer at the community center, they can be anyone. They will find you. Once you begin listening and talking to folks in your community about local issues, they'll tell you..."you need to talk to Joe, down at the hardware store". (NOTE: be careful, however, of what we call 'gov't flunkies'. Local politicians always have 2-5 local "stooges" out in the community, who are their eyes and ears. They're easy to spot...they invariably tell you to talk to a local politician.

For the "inside scoop" on local governing, (know your 'enemy') take a look at Inside Government.

Local issues are particularly potent organizing issues. Usually, average people (not academics or intellectuals) become interested in the Libertarian Party after they have personally felt the heavy hand of government on them. The average person deals primarily with local government officials...building and zoning inspectors and planning boards, sewer and water commissioners, tax assessors and collectors, local police, local fire departments, local ER services, etc. If an average person has a "run in" with a government official, it is almost always a local official, not a Federal official.

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• Know what kinds of Issues to look for
• Stop, Look, Listen to folks in your community
• Read the local paper
• Read the minutes and ordinances from past gov't meetings

Sometimes, you'll find about issues that are important to the local community, that the government is planning to pass laws regulating, but the local folks know nothing about it. This is the best possible type of issue to organize around... issues you find and bring to public attention. But first, you'll need to know what type of issues to look for, and, what types of issues are important to your local community. (For example: in the 1980's, Aiken County SC government was 'secretly' planning to pass county wide zoning. Talking to local residents, it was apparent that property rights were very important, in the rural and semi rural areas. Residents simply could not believe that the government was really truly planning to "tell them what to do with their property". Four Libertarians (Tom King, John and Ron Heaton, and Mary Lou Seymour) found out about the government's plans, spread the word about these plans (with documentation, through the community (using petitions, flyers, and rallies), and, the first locally active LP club in South Carolina was born...gaining credibility by the simple strategy of finding out about the gov't's plans, documenting them, and letting others know.

NOTE: The government will invariably fall into the trap of initially denying they are planning to do anything, making them look even more foolish when the truth is exposed. This technique works equally well for almost any issue. Often, they will even claim they "never read" the ordinance in question, or, if they did, they didn't understand what it said.

So...what type of issues should you look for?

LAND USE ISSUES:

zoning, building permits, licensing laws, nuisance ordinances, comprehensive planning, water & sewers, bond referendums on 'capitol improvements'.

ZONING: If your area (county or city) is not already zoned, the gov't will try to zone it by the year 2000. The first great "zoning push" happened in the late 1970's; there have been sporadic outbursts since. Most states have adopted a "Year 2000" approach, in which all existing zoning ordinances will be revamped, and unzoned areas will be zoned. This is a great organizing opportunity for the Libertarian Party! Zoning is an especially obnoxious form of gov't interference, particularly to folks in rural areas, particularly to middle and lower class folks who believe their right to private property is "sacred".Folks can get really hot about zoning issues, particularly if they are currently in an unzoned area. By proper organizing, you can easily turn out crowds of several hundred, several of whom will be your future Libertarian candidates! NOTE: The Libertarian Party is the ONLY political party which is unequivocably AGAINST government zoning. The "zoning" hook is an excellent organizing issue. Point out that Libertarians are in favor of private covenants and deed restrictions, not govt interference with private property.

Also, check out Citizens Against Repressive Zoning CARZ is concerned with the loss of personal and property rights caused through the unconstitutional, unreasoning enforcement of nuisance zoning codes against law abiding citizens."P.O. Box 536 Haslett, Mich. 48840

Building Permits: Most counties passed varieties of the Building Code in the late 1970's. (It was required for locales to obtain federal money.) Building inspections and permitting provide a source of revenue for the gov't, and for unscrupulous building officials and inspectors. Although you can easily win some individual converts (particularly among small and/or honest building contractors, who don't have 'friends' on the planning board or building dept, this is generally not an organizing issue, unless the gov't tries to increase penalties, make regulations stricter, etc. (For example, most locales allow individuals to do their own work, without a gov't permit. When locales attempt to change this, to require, for example, homeowners to get permits to put up their own deck or change a faucet, it can become a good organizing issue. )

Licensing Laws: Most states have licensing laws, many counties still do not. The push is on, however, giving savvy Libertarian Activists another golden opportunity to stop the power of gov't from increasing, and, explain the Libertarian position on licensing. (NOTE: Again, the LP is the ONLY political party which is adamantly opposed to gov't licensing. It's usually easy to explain: every person who has had work done on their car (by a licensed mechanic), their plumbing or wiring repaired (by a licensed contractor), their legal work taken care of (by a licensed attorney) and HAD A PROBLEM, is a potential convert. Again, this is primarily an individual issue, UNLESS your gov't negins increasing the scope of its licensing laws. (NOTE: In some unfortunate locales, it is now required to have a licensed plumber to come change a washer on your own faucet. People who livein more unregulated areas don't believe this.

Nuisance Ordinances: Legitimate nuisances are taken care of through the small claims court system. The gov't often "invents" nuisances, such as "derelict vehicles" (translation: parts cars) when big developers have their eye on an "undeveloped area" (translation: working class neighborhood that has suddenly become desirable to real estate interests). Nuisance ordinances on things the community doesn't consider a nuisance are great organizing issues.

Comprehensive Planning: Usually a buzzword for "stricter zoning", or, government "takings" of property for the "benefit" of the community. Usually includes using eminent domain or "condemnation procedure to "clean up blighted areas" (translation: working class and ethnic neighborhoods that have become valuable to developers. Comprehensive Plans offer good long range organizing opportunities: however, be wary. The gov't will often try to put you and/or your leaders on its Planning Board. Planning Boards and Planning Meetings and Community Meetings (run by the gov't) can take years... wearing out even the most determined opposition. Don't fall into this trap.

Water & Sewer Expansion: often used to run folks out of those "blighted areas" (who can afford a $500 hookup and $100 month bill, and why should you if you already have water & septic tanks?) Sewer and water systems are also VERY expensive, requiring tax dollars, bonds, as well as user fees on the hapless end recipients. Any gov't project which has this much money floating around is going to be filled with corruption.

Bond Referendums on Capitol Improvements: see sewer and water projects, also see taxing issues

Coming Next: TAXING ISSUES, FREEDOM ISSUES

FINDING & DEVELOPING LOCAL CANDIDATES

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