Victory in Belton

Libertarian activism and writings by Libertarian proponents gain legs and carry the day

"WE WON TONIGHT!!!!!!", was Mike Ferguson's e-mail pronouncement February 4 after Libertarian Party activists helped defeat an onerous city charter proposal that would have given the city government "unlimited" power.

Voters approved forming a commission to draft a charter with 61% of the vote a year ago. This proposal, among other things, would have:

1. Taken away the right of citizens to approve all tax increases and would have allowed tax hikes at the whim of the City Council.
2. Have given the city government unlimited power to "regulate and tax all business, occupations, activities and all things whatsoever..."
3. Have demanded that the "powers of the city" be both "liberally construed" and insisted that the city's authority not be limited in any way.

"Make no mistake about this: THIS CHARTER WOULD HAVE WON IF IT WERE NOT FOR THE CASS COUNTY LIBERTARIAN PARTY", exclaimed Cass County Vice Chair Mike Ferguson.

"We made it a point that we would convince at least 10 voters each to vote against this charter", Mike continued.

The activists included Rick Bailie, Mike Hurley, David & Lori White, Wendy Rousch and Beth Springate who all worked hard to get the word out.

Mike’s letter to the editor against the charter was published in the Belton Star-Herald in the final edition before Election Day. (See related article)

As it turned out, a local real estate developer not affiliated with the Libertarian Party made over 4,000 copies of the letter and mailed them to registered voters in Belton.

The letter also attracted the attention of the local press in other ways. A left-wing newspaper in Belton blasted Mike for his writings using character assassination among other ploys. This makes the work of the Libertarian Party even more commendable.

The mayor, some aldermen, and the chief of police acknowledged the letter had an impact.

"They all said that at least one person they know changed their minds and voted because of the letter", Mike reported, "although I'm sure that our phone calls, personal conversations and emails had a much greater impact".

The Charter lost by a total of 168 votes, 1048 No versus 880 Yes.

"Several people at the February 4 aldermanic meeting asked me to convey their thanks to us as a group because of our efforts against this charter", Mike went on to report. "This came from Republicans, Democrats and independents. We had an enormous impact and gained a tremendous amount of respect in Cass County tonight".

But their work is not quite done. Mike continued, "It's nice to enjoy this win, but we now have a proposed tax hike to kill in April. We'll sit back and enjoy this for a couple of days, then it's back to work defending freedom!

"When we formed and organized the Cass County Libertarian Party almost four years ago, we agreed that we were doing so for one purpose: to have a positive impact on local government and to keep government as small and non-intrusive as possible".

"We did just that tonight", Mike concluded. "I cannot begin to explain how proud I am to be associated with each and every one of you".

Congratulations!


"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - political "extremist" Benjamin Franklin

"In the rush to cure all the ills to which humans are heir, liberty is too often an innocent
bystander -- and an accidental casualty." - Barry Goldwater, 1964