Local Libertarians try to stir interest

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Marshall Thompson of Grand Rapids knows something is needed politically "to ignite the
firestorm." On Tuesday night a match was lit.
He was among almost 20 people of all ages, from teenagers to senior citizens, who gathered to learn about
the Libertarian Party and the hope to develop an active group in Wood County. They met in the community
room of the district public library at the invitation of Scott McClure of Bowling Green, Wood County’s
development coordinator for the Libertarian Party of Ohio.
Before the informational meeting concluded, Thompson had volunteered to become the communications
director "or in any capacity for that matter." He said later he has been a Libertarian for
most of his adult life and plans to help start an active Libertarian Party locally on the ground level.
"It’s overdue, and it’s needed now, as much as it’s ever been needed."
After seeing the announcement of the meeting in the Sentinel-Tribune, Catherine Hann of Bowling Green,
who just graduated from the high school, attended the meeting with her friend Brandon Rife, a senior.
Last fall they wanted to represent the Libertarian Party during a mock election at the high school but
failed to have five students, enough to make it a legitimate party.
"We needed one more person, but no one was willing to join us," said Rife, who said he’s
considered himself a Libertarian for several years. So he "joined" the Republican Party
instead for the mock election and "became" Todd Palin.
The two teens plan on volunteering with the local Libertarian group as much as time allows them. Hann
said she is limited because she will attend college out of state in the fall, but indicated during the
meeting she may be able to help at a Libertarian booth at the Wood County Fair.
Andrew Griggs of Weston Township attended the meeting because he received an invitational letter and left
with plans to become an active member.
"The government in this country seems to be ignoring its own laws for its own gain," he said.
"I believe a return to holding the Constitution as the supreme law of the land is necessary, as in
the Bill of Rights is more important than a corporation’s interests. The two main political parties are
more concerned about fundraising than principles."
During the meeting, McClure stressed the Libertarian Party is "The Party of Principle," summed
up as smaller government, lower taxes and more freedom (individual liberty). Whenever a person runs as a
Libertarian candidate, voters can trust that he or she holds to those key principles.
McClure said it is prime time to organize the Libertarian Party in Wood County. "These are
extraordinary times we have now. A lot of people are disgruntled with the way things are going." He
noted Tax Day "Tea Parties" and other grassroots protests are going on. "What we’re
trying to do, we’re a political party, not a grassroots organization. We want to use it to elect people
and get that kind of action."
During his power-point presentation, McClure showed how America’s government has moved slowly over
200-plus years toward bigger and bigger government, from the time of the New Deal to today’s corporate
bailouts. "The Libertarians’ purpose is to reverse that trend and come back to a country based on
individual freedom, individual responsibility and minimized government."
Among major Libertarian Party initiatives is elimination of the income tax and the IRS, a balanced budget
amendment, the end of corporate welfare and bailouts, a recall of the military to American soil and the
end of the war on drugs.
McClure envisions a communications network to alert people about important events and issues as well as
volunteers to help him in areas such as recruiting candidates, serving as treasurer, event coordinator
and more. After the meeting he said he was pleased with what was accomplished and that people did
volunteer to help.
For more information on the local Libertarian effort, McClure’s e-mail is [email protected].

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