Editors Enclave

By Kevin Tull

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It’s been a year since I was given the opportunity to be the Editor of this fine newsletter and time sure flies when you’re having fun. OK, it hasn’t all been fun, but it has been an adventure.

One of my goals has been to make every issue a little better than the last. Some things like grammar and watching for errors are always in the forefront of my mind, and I have noticed a problem or two slip through the cracks, but I believe things are getting better. Last issue I had computer problems that almost caused the issue to get out later than the Elections. Working feverishly with TL Wahl (our excellent printer,) we were able to get it out on time. The issue still had a couple of visual problems, but I feel it was our best to date as far as content goes.

Speaking of content, we’ll be recapping the Fall elections and updating everyone on the upcoming MOLP State Convention this issue. We also have a new contributor, Clint Lacey, who discusses in two articles the Liberal Media and what the MOLP should do now that the Mid-term elections are over. We have another great article from Mike Ferguson that was actually printed in USA Today.

We will be featuring an article from the Federal Observer website that they have graciously given us permission to reprint called “Truth IS Stranger Than Fiction The Racist Roots of Gun Control,” by Clayton E. Cramer, with commentary by Leonard Whitley (Editor.) It is an article within an article and it provides some great historical content to bolster the case for 2^nd Amendment Liberties guaranteed us under the Constitution.

Some time back we posted at the “Show Me Freedom” website a reprint of an article from Miriam Pepper of the Kansas City Star asking for people across the Midwest to send in 500 word essays for a chance to be a writer for the Star’s Editorial staff for one year in a column called “Midwest Voices.” The chosen writers would produce a total of five essays over the next year. Did any of you see it in the Kansas City Star or spot it on our website? If you did, did you write an essay and send it in? Well this Editor did and I’ve included it in this issue of SMF, it’s called “Roasted Constitution.” I hope you enjoy it.

In closing I would like to mention that I know that the November elections didn’t go as hoped, we only elected a very few Libertarians to small offices, but even though some will look at the results and think or say “Throw in the towel,” I and many others like me will never even consider it. Why? Why in the face of what appears to be overwhelming losses do I, and others continue to stick to the cause? And why do we favorably point out 14% here and 16% there (you candidates know who you are), and even 2% in a statewide race that maintains our ballot access for a couple more years? It clearly, at least for me, is a matter of belief in something bigger than myself. It’s about what the Libertarian Party means by its slogan “The Party Of Principle,” and it’s about an ideal that this party has led me to that won’t allow me to give up the ship.

Before I found the Libertarian Party I had a strong idea of what freedom meant. After I found the Libertarian Party I learned how freedom works.

We ran more candidates than ever before, which probably means we garnered more total votes than ever before, we extended our ballot access another two years and we have several candidates who received about 150 of every 1000 votes. We may not have won any major office, but we are definitely making a positive difference by interjecting into the political debate a consistent voice for limited government and extended personal and economic freedoms.