Welcome to the Vermont Libertarian Party website. Below is our party blog where you can get the latest news and commentary as well as post your comments. You can also view our press releases, newsletters and events.
We just received our official acceptance of the Certificate of Organization. We are now officially recongnized as a minor party in Vermont until the next reorganization cycle.
A big thanks to everyone who helped organize their towns and getting paperwork filed.
Five knowledgeable Vermonters will headline “Rx for Healthcare Reform”, a program at the Williston Central School Auditoriumon Tuesday, November 17thfrom6:30-8:30pm. The general public is invited.
At a time when national and state health care “reform” efforts have become the top item on the domestic policy agenda, the speakers will zero in on what these plans mean for our liberty, the quality of our health care, and the enormous costs.
The keynote speaker will beJohn McClaughryof the Ethan Allen Institute. He was a state senator at the time of Gov. Dean’s reforms in the 1990s, and before that a senior policy advisor in the Reagan White House. McClaughry will explain how the proposed national “reforms” will steadily convert the health care sector of the economy into a wholly owned subsidiary of the federal government.
Other speakers will include EAI DirectorWilliam Sayre, a past board member of Porter Medical Center and a member of the Governor’s Council of Economic Advisors, Rutland attorneySteven James Howard, interim coordinator for the Vermont Campaign for Liberty,Dr. Robert S. Emmons, Burlington psychiatrist and adjunct Clinical Associate Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Vermont, andJane CombsRN, of the Burlington Health and Rehabilitation Center. The moderator isPaul Beaudryof True North Radio.
This forum will include overviews of the various Federal and State healthcare “reform” bills, their economic impact, their constitutionality and legal implications, insurance reforms, ethical considerations, the impact of government regulations on health care providers, and preserving the quality of medical care and the doctor-patient relationship.
Speakers will provide valuable information followed by an hour long question/answer period. Citizens who attend this forum will leave with a better understanding of how proposed healthcare “reforms” will affect their lives.
The forum is cosponsored by the Ethan Allen Institute and Vermonters for Choice in Health Care. VCHC is a coalition of Vermont organizations created to educate the public on the key issues involved in health care policy.(vermonters4choiceinhealthcare@gmail.com)
Posted by: Jeremy Ryan
Date/Time:
11/2/2009 10:28:05 AM
EVENT TITLE: Presentation to Champlain College SSDP
SPONSORING CLUB: Champlain College SSDP
EVENT TYPE: presentation
EVENT DESCRIPTION/DETAILS: SSDP is new at this school. John will present on his experiences and focus on the economic angles as to why the drug war has failed and needs to be replaced with legalization. 40-45 minutes presentation followed by 15-20 minutes Q&A
EVENT LOCATION/DETAILS: Alumni Auditorium, Champlain College, South Willard Street, Burlington, VT - Parking is free on the weekends; closest parking lot is behind Bader Hall. Alumni Auditorium is #27 on this map
EVENT DATE/TIME: Saturday, November 14, 2009, 2:00-3:00pm
EVENT COST to ATTENDEES: none
EVENT CONTACT NAME(S), POSITION, PH#, EMAIL: Eric Geller, eric.geller@mymail.champlain.edu, 603-759-8575 DAY OF EVENT EMERGENCY NUMBER: 603-759-8575
APPROXIMATE ATTENDANCE: unknown EQUIPMENT NEEDED: projector and screen EQUIPMENT AVAILABLE: projector and screen.
MORE ON LEAP:
Law Enforcement Against Prohibition (LEAP) is an organization comprised of cops, judges, prosecutors, prison wardens and others within the criminal justice community who have fought on the front lines of the War on Drugs but have come to believe that the War on Drugs is a colossal public policy failure. LEAP believes that America will never be 'drug-free' and that in order to keep our children safe and make our communities safer, we must consider alternatives. LEAP calls for a dramatic and completely different direction: America must end prohibition and replace it with real control over the manufacture and distribution of all drugs. LEAP believes prohibition must be replaced with regulation and some form of legalization.
LEAP is absolutely not pro-drug. LEAP wants drugs to be less available to children and more restrictive to adults, and LEAP wants to reduce crime and violence in our communities. Our cops know that it's not the drugs themselves that cause these problems, but the illegal drug marketplace.
Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary Clubs, prestigious universities, political groups from both the left and the right have all hosted LEAP speakers and provided almost entirely positive feedback. In 2009, LEAP has been featured in the Wall Street Journal, The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Economist and on CNN and MSNBC. In fact just today, three of our speakers were featured on the NYT web site here:
President of FEE in Burlington - Putting Vermont Back on Track
The Ethan Allen Institute presents... Putting Vermont Back on Track How the Power of Ideas Can Make Change Happen
Featuring: Lawrence Reed
Sheraton Burlington Conference Center Thursday, October 15, 2009 - 5:30pm
Lawrence Reed is the founder and for twenty years President of Michigan’s Mackinac Center for Public Policy, long considered the most influential free-market state think tank in the nation. His address, part of the ongoing Sheraton Economic Series, will focus on how the ideas of individual liberty, private property, limited government and competitive free enterprise can be packaged to promote increased economic opportunity and prosperity for Vermonters. Reed is now President of the Foundation for Economic Education in Irvington-on-Hudson NY. In the past twenty years, he has authored over 1,000 newspaper columns and articles, 200 radio commentaries, dozens of articles in magazines and journals in the U. S. and abroad, as well as five books. His articles have appeared in The Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, and USA Today, among many others. Reed’s most recent book is Striking the Root: Essays on Liberty. Reed holds a B.A. degree in Economics from Grove City College (1975) and an M.A. degree in History from Slippery Rock State University (1978). He taught economics at Midland (Michigan) Northwood University from 1977 to 1984 and chaired the Department of Economics from 1982 to 1984. He designed the university’s unique dual major in Economics and Business Management and founded its annual, highly-acclaimed “Freedom Seminar.” "Larry Reed 's commitment to principle, his passion for liberty, and his vast practical experience have made him a much sought after speaker on four continents. This is a program EAI members and all friends of liberty and prosperity will not want to miss." - John McClaughry, EAI VP
The Sheraton Economic Series is hosted by the Sheraton Burlington Conference Center and cosponsored by the Vermont Economy Newsletter, Vermont Business Magazine, Vermont Tiger, and the Lake Champlain Regional Chamber of Commerce.
(Reservations not necessary; no admission charge.)
Posted by: Jeremy Ryan
Date/Time:
10/15/2009 11:04:26 AM
Liberal, Libertarian Economists to Debate Merits of Stimulus Package Oct. 5
Upcoming event of interest to Vermont Libertarians...
Liberal, Libertarian Economists to Debate Merits of Stimulus Package
Start: 10/05/2009 - 4:00pm
Description:
Was the $787 billion federal stimulus package an enlightened act of government intervention that averted economic catastrophe or a colossal waste of taxpayer money that has done more harm than good?
That provocative question will be the subject of the latest installment in UVM's Janus Forum, a popular debate series now in its second year that matches prominent thinkers with opposing views on important social issues.
The debate, titled "$787 Billion: Stimulus or Sedative," will take place Monday, Oct. 5 at 4 p.m. in the Davis Center's Grand Maple Ballroom. The approximately 60-minute debate, which is free and open to the public, will be followed by a 30-minute question-and-answer period.
Arguing for the benefits of the stimulus will be Justin Wolfers, associate professor of business and public policy at the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania and a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution. Arguing against will be Jeffrey Miron, senior lecturer and director of undergraduate studies at Harvard University and a senior fellow at the Cato Institute.
It's time for all parties in Vermont to reform their town committees. The Vermont Libertarian Party will hold its town caucuses on September 16. If you are interested forming a town committee in your town, then contact me asap so I can send you the forms you need and the directions.
We hope to be adding some new towns, but we also will be losing some town committees as people move so you help is vital in making sure we can easily put presidential, statewide, and local candidates on the ballot to give Vermonters a choice of lower taxes, less government, and more freedom.
Caucusing is simple to do, but there are some laws that must be followed. For example, you need to post a notice in two places in your town at least 5 days in advance of your caucus, and if you have more than 1000 people in your town, then the notice must also appear in your local paper.
ASR Interviews Neil Randall, Former Libertarian-Republican Vermont Representative
ASR (American Socialism for the Rich) recently interviewed Neil Randall,
Libertarian-Republican, Vermont former Representative '98-'02.
During the interview they covered topics such as GM Bailout, Vermont Budget
Passes, Libertarianism and the party in Vermont, Dairy Industry/Government,
Campaign Finance Reform (Act 64), education, Ron Paul and more.
If you reside in Essex or know someone who lives there, please consider attending or getting people you know to attend so that Kevin can successfully organize Essex for the party.
Posted by: Jeremy Ryan
Date/Time:
5/27/2009 3:30:37 PM
LEARN about YOUR Constitution and the way our Founding Fathers meant it to
be;
- Now, constitutional violations escalating over many years – OUR Republic
is in grave danger;
- The true causes of our National distress;
- The fate of our Nation now rests with You… The People!
Find out VERMONT’s Role in the coming Continental Congress 2009
In the Spirit of our Founding Fathers and the Continental Congress of 1774,
this national assembly will bring
delegates from each state representing The People to discuss the future of our
Nation and how we can restore
Constitutional Obedience in America, before it is too late.
Posted by: Jeremy Ryan
Date/Time:
4/29/2009 11:07:12 AM
- John McClaughry, former Senior Policy adviser to Ronald Reagan and VT State Senator and current president of the Ethan Allen Institute will be speaking about "Vermont's Long Slide Toward Less Liberty" - what has happened over the past 40 years and what we can do about it.
- Matt Cropp, of VT Campaign For Liberty, American Socialism for the Rich and the Bank Users Strike Team will talk about credit unions and how they benefit users and the communities they serve.
- Jim Hogue, blogger, farmer and radio host will be discussing the Federal Reserve and how this private banking cartel took control of the American Taxpayer.
- Stewart Skrill, farmer and former VT and US House of Reps. candidate, will be speaking about the 10th Amendment of the US Constitution.
- Vermonters For Economic Health will also be providing us a speaker.
Please bring at least 3 tea bags with you to the rally. We will have 3 crates set up near the Federal building in which you should deposit your tea bags. The crates will then be delivered to the offices of Rep. Welch and Sens. Leahy and Sanders. I am asking for volunteers who would be willing to make these deliveries (especially to Welch as his office is in Burlington).
**UPDATES**
Be sure to pack a lunch and bring a blanket or chairs to sit on. There is no vending on the State House Lawn, though the cafeteria will be open. Again, this is a peaceful, family-friendly event. No pets allowed unless they are service animals.
Vermonters For Economic Health will be making a presentation "vermont's Unsustainable Future" immediately following the Tea Party at 2pm in the AIV conference room. This presentation is free and open to the public. Having seen this presentation before I highly recommend making time to attend. For more information please visit
The "We The People" Food drive at the Tea Party will benefit the Salavation Army Emergency Food Shelf. TJ Michael's will be helping me coordinate this effort. Please make sure to bring a non-perishable food item.
And don't forget-- the Legislature is in session! Be sure to allow time for yourself to stop in and say hello. Let your Representatives and Senators know where you stand!
** Parking:
Parking in Montpelier can be a challenge! Most of the parking lots are permitted and many of the meters have a 2 hour limit. Here is a link to parking info from the City of Montpelier: . There is a map and listed below that
http://www.montpelier-vt.org/gettinghere/car.cfm are the names and locations of lots. There is also a parking garage located at the City Center on the corner of Main and East State Sts behind La Brioche. I really encourage everyone to try to carpool and arrive early. Again, to help coordinate carpoolers we have set up this email: teapartycarpool@gmail.com. If you have room or need a ride send an email. This is a courtesy and we can't be held liable if problems arise from your choice to carry passengers or ride in someone else's car.
Rain date April 18 noon-2pm
Posted by: Jeremy Ryan
Date/Time:
4/4/2009 11:44:31 AM
