NEW MEXICO LIBERTY

“Let Freedom Ring”

The Official Newsletter of the Libertarian Party of New Mexico

September 2009 http://lpnm.us v.2.2 N.13

Table of Contents Notes from the Editor

Page 1
• Libertarian Media from New Mexico
• Notes from the Editor
Page 2 – Events at a Glance
Page 3 – Voice of the Chair
Page 4 – Health Care Through Central
Planning: A Helpful Analogy
Page 5 – Federal judge rules police
cannot detain people for
openly carrying guns
by Mike Blessing [ mikewb1971@gmail.com ]
THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT CHALLENGE
An Expansion and Explanation
I've been running the Unanimous Consent Challenge for years now, in print with New
Mexico Liberty, on TV with The Weekly Sedition and New Mexico's Consumer's Advocate,
and on the web at KCUF Media. During that time, I've had inquiries as to what it's all about.
It's all very simple – the offer is a cash prize for the following –
To the first person to write a logical and documented essay showing one of the
following to be compatible with the Declaration of Independence:
Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890
Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906

Page 6 Federal Communications Act of 1934

• Reports of Rail Runner's success
greatly exaggerated
• A Little Gun History
Page 7 – Contacts / Internet Resources
Page 8
• Administrivia
• The Unanimous Consent Challenge
Page 9 – Enrollment / Renewal Form
Page 10 – Authorization for Automatic
Transfers
=======================
Libertarian Media from New Mexico
not necessarily endorsed by LPNM)
National Firearms Act of 1934
Banking Act of 1935
The Internal Revenue Code
Controlled Substances Act of 1970
RICO Act of 1970
Federal Elections Act of 1970
Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974
Plumbing Products Efficiency Act of 1992
Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1992
USA PATRIOT Act of 2001
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
I'll leave it to you, the reader, to determine how well each of these Acts of Congress
matches up with the Declaration, the Constitution, and the Bill of Rights.

Speaking Freely
hosted by Paul Gessing and Jim Scarantino
Saturdays 9 – 10 AM on KJOY 1550 AM
riograndefoundation.org/pg_rp.html
tinyurl.com/dcnpwm
Hemp TV – Tuesdays at 7PM
myspace.com/nmhemptv
The One Party State – Wednesdays 11PM
Contact Lance Klafeta
[ lklafeta@yahoo.com ] for details
Reeferhead – Saturdays at 6PM
myspace.com/reeferheadtv
The Fringe Element
thefringeelement.net / postpubco.com

New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 1

 Events at a Glance
Bernalillo County – The BCLP is hosting two meetings per month,
on Thursday, 3 September and Thursday, 17 September, 6:00 to
7:00 PM at Fiesta's Restaurant & Lounge (Carlisle & Montogomery
NE). Contact Mike Blessing for details [ mikewb1971@gmail.com /
505-918-6567], or see the BCLP website – lpnm.us/bernalillo.
Mark Curtis and Jay Vandersloot have been manning a table at the
gun shows hosted in the Manuel Lujan Building at the State
Fairgrounds.
Precinct 553 Chair Elisheva Levin, is considering a run for State
Representative, District 22.
See kcufmedia.xanga.com for more information concerning The
Weekly Sedition and New Mexico's Consumer Advocate.
Dona Ana County – The next scheduled Dona Ana County Central
Committee Meeting is 13 January 2010 at 6:30 PM to plan for the
county convention. Contact chair for more information. The
committee would be delighted to meet before then with any Doña
Ana County Libertarian wishing support in running for office or with
any ideas to advance the party or political issues that the party
should address. Please contact the chair – lpdacnm@lpnm.us /
575-541-9079, or check the LPDAC website – lpnm.us/dona-ana.
Otero County – The Otero County LP meets on Wednesday, 2
September – contact Dr. Gilberto Heredia for more information [
thrill@zianet.com / 575-439-8234 ], or see the OCLP website for
details – lpnm.us/otero. The OCLP hosted this year's state
convention in April.
Rio Arriba – Lynette Cannon has recently signed up as the Rio
Arriba County LP Chair, as well as the Taos County Chair.
Sandoval County – The LPSC is having its monthly meetings on
the fourth Tuesday of each month. Tuesday, 22 September – The
Sandoval County Libertarian Party will meet – contact Ron
Bjornstad [ rbjornstad@earthlink.net / 505-288-4228 ] for details.
Santa Fe County – Ed Nagel is working on organizing an LPNM
county affiliate for Santa Fe County. Contact him at
ed123nagel@aol.com or call him at 505-471-6928. He'd appreciate
any help he can get. The Santa Fe County LP meets at the South
Library on Monday, 14 September at 6:30 PM. Contact Ed Nagel
for details [ ed123nagel@aol.com / 505-474-0300 ].
Ed specified these directions for the South Library –
Although the mailing address is on Jaguar St, the best way
to get there is to turn south off Airport Rd onto Country Club
Rd (by the golf course), proceed 6 tenths of a mile to
Valentine Way, and make a left (heading east), and an
immediate right into the parking lot of the South Library.
Taos – Lynette Cannon has recently signed up as the Taos County
LP Chair, as well as the Rio Arriba County Chair.
Special Events
LPNM Central Committee Meeting – 13 September 2009
The LPNM's Central Committee will have its regularly scheduled
meeting on Sunday, 13 September 2009. Lunch at 12 PM, meeting
from 1 PM to 3 PM. Location is the meeting room of the
Pappadeaux Seafood Kitchen ( 5011 Pan American Freeway NE
Albuquerque, NM 87109 [ pappadeaux.com/location/?id=37 ]) For
details, contact State Chair Ken Cavanaugh [ 505-489-8099 /
phloyd113@cableone.net ]. County and Campus Contacts
encouraged to attend!
LPNM Central Committee Meeting – 13 December 2009
The LPNM's Central Committee will have its regularly scheduled
meeting on Sunday, 13 December 2009. Lunch at 12 PM, meeting
from 1 PM to 3 PM. The (tentative) location is Quarters BBQ at
3700 Ellison Dr NW Albuquerque, NM 87114 [ tinyurl.com/lh89ws ].
For details, contact State Chair Ken Cavanaugh [ 505-489-8099 /
phloyd113@cableone.net ]. County and Campus Contacts
encouraged to attend!
2010 Annual State Convention
The 2010 LPNM State Convention is scheduled for the weekend of
16-18 April 2009 in the greater Albuquerque area. More details to
follow soon.
The LPNM's Candidates
U.S. House of Representatives
District 1 – Alan Woodruff – alanwoodruff.com
State Legislature
State Representative, District 11 – Eric Pino
epelsewhere@gmail.com
State Representative, District 16 – Mike Blessing
mikewb1971.xanga.com
State Representative District 22 – Elisheva Levin
ragamuffinstudies.blogspot.com

If you live in a county with an inactive affiliate and want to get

involved, contact the county chair. See Page 7 for a list of
county chairs, campus contacts and Central Committee
members.

YOUR ADVERTISING HERE?

CONTACT THE EDITOR OR

SEE PAGE 9 FOR DETAILS
EMAIL mikewb1971@gmail.com
New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 2

Voice of the Chair
by Ken Cavanaugh
[ phloyd113@cableone.net ]
ACTIVISM – SECOND INSTALLMENT
Opportunities abound
If we don't fight, we can't win, simply put. Right now I don't see
nearly enough fight in the LPNM, and therefore we cannot expect to
win anything. I understand that many have fought for years, with
little results. I myself am in a similar position, but I cannot give up
the fight.
I am reminded of the protests during the Vietnam War, when
everything was blamed on “The Establishment”, and that things
would change in the future. The Libertarian Party was created on
some of these principles in 1971. Now, that same Generation is
now the Establishment. Yes, they were correct that things would
change in the future, but not quite what they had in mind. We are
the “Establishment” today, and are now, either directly or indirectly,
responsible for the State of our Nation.
I am quickly reminded of something that was shared with me by a
new face, wherein he informed me that he would not be able to
face his children if he did absolutely nothing to restore our great
country. I agree, and that's why I remain in the fight, as I have late
teenagers just starting their journey into adulthood. I call on you
now to step up and take advantage of what we see all around us in
the political climate.
The Republican Party is in disarray, and their followers are
desperately looking for anything that they can hook on to. At the
local level (and I have been out there with them), the GOP can only
pursue an agenda that once again is largely local in nature. Their
conservative following is, at this time, willing to listen to anyone that
can help them move back to conservatism. As conservatism goes,
the Libertarian philosophy is truly right up their values, as long as
they remain willing to support personal choice. The foundation of
conservatism includes that what my neighbor does is his business,
and his responsibility, which falls directly in line with our own views.
I was raised in a Republican household, but personal freedom and
choice were a part of that. I can share with you the example of,
while in high school, I held down two jobs after school, and still
pursued my choice of living to remain out until 2:00 AM or later.
When accosted by my mother, Dad stepped in and pointed out that
I was maintaining a 3.++ GPA, and not missing school or work, so
my choices would remain mine, and I could continue to do as I
pleased with my free time. Thus is the way of true conservatives.
Such conservatives are out there, and are rejecting the Republican
platform more than ever, though these conservatives remain faithful
to the GOP on failing principle only. This should be our audience,
and they feel largely the same as we do.
Since it is so difficult to start gaining ground on our merit, I am
suggesting that we look around and notice the momentum of
crowds that has been created for us. The Tea Tax Parties, the
Town Halls, and other such gatherings can be our jumping off
points. These will have a fabulous target audience to receive our
message, as long as we have a message to spread. Of course, in
order to spread the message, we must be there, armed with the
right approaches.
When face with specific organized events, we can create simple
handouts that can explain how things can be different, if only
people are willing to look for new solutions. Of course, if we had the
money, these handouts could be well-designed, printed in color,
and with glossy photographs. Alas, we lack such funds. But what
we don't (or shouldn't lack) is the heart to spread our message.
Recently, an idea occurred to me that, along with passing out our
message when a crowd is known to be present, we should also
already have a planned event that we can invite these people to,
with an agenda that lines up with the event that we are already at.
For example, with the Health Care issue (though probably past our
time on this one), we could have (should have) scheduled a Town
Hall of our own, where we could have held a conference of
attendees, and guarantee that instead of hearing an official try to
sell them on an issue, but instead permit the attendees (and
PROMISE TO THEM) the opportunity to be heard, and that a
compiled list of input and feedback could be created. This will show
them that we are able to listen, and that can distinguish ourselves
from those already in office. True, we would be armed with our own
proposals per that topic, but we need to get people to start turning
towards us as a viable organization that is there for them.
So, this is a two-pronged strategy. First, identify when such
opportunities have been created for us. Determine what the primary
motivation is for attendees at these events. Then, we schedule a
public meeting 2-3 weeks after this event, one that we sponsor. As
our foot soldiers attend the initial event, they can pass out handouts
that invite these very people to come and discuss the issues in a
forum where we can unite them under a single umbrella.
As I have suggested in the past, there is no reason to outline the
entire party platform, either while handing out our invites, or even at
the scheduled event that we have created to discuss the issues.
The intent is to obtain a growing amount of support over issues that
have already brought people out of their homes. If we can gain the
support of a growing amount of people, over time we can gradually
discuss some of the other pressing issues that we feel need to be
corrected.
This is precisely what I have been trying to convey in regards to
soft-selling our platform. We should wait until we have generated
an amount of support on single-topic issues. Once we have a
growing crowd coming to us on one or two issues, they themselves
might start asking how we might feel about other matters. Now that
we have their attention, and interest, we have the luxury of time to
properly explain many of our other viewpoints.
You see, the idea is to grow support from the ground up, but not
scaring them off with one-liners that we don't have the time to fully
explain. Let them come to us once we have proved that we can
solve their primary issue. Once there, they will approach us, and
they will give us the time to fully discuss the rational of the
libertarian perspective.
As a part of this strategy, I don;t even see a need to mention the
party by name as we invite these participants to a follow-up
discussion, but instead merely let them know that we are like-
minded, and want to build a coalition so that we can become a
cohesive voice. In this way, over time, there will be a migration to
our philosophy.
If you have ideas of your own, I will gladly hear anything that might
help. And yet still.....
We can win if we don't fight.
Ken Cavanaugh
LPNM State Chair
505-990-4024
phloyd113@cableone.net
New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 3
 Health Care Through
Central Planning:
A Helpful Analogy
by Karen Kwiatkowski
[ ksusiek@shentel.net ]
31 August 2009
http://tinyurl.com/mrhg8t
Some wonderful analogies have been offered that sweetly damn
the "Cash for Clunkers" idiocy. We can look at how this logic would
extend to lousy houses that don’t "work" anymore, and the
mainstream news is reporting a possible "Kitchen Clunkers"
program to "stimulate" department and home supply stores,
presumable complete with public spectacles of smashing
refrigerators. For farmers, the latest buzz is a "Cash for Clunker
Cow" program. "[T]here are vast differences in cow efficiency…So,
how about providing, say a $200/cow subsidy to allow producers
the opportunity to trade in our older, less-efficient models for more
efficient, newer models?" writes Cow-Calf Weekly editor Troy
Marshall. Of course, he is writing tongue in cheek, picking up on a
joke that has been on the cattle circuit since the onset of the
"Clunker" program.
Having the federal government buy or subsidize worthless assets
(with borrowed or confiscated money) is not new. I remember the
stories of the $500 hammers and $2000 toilets back in the day
when it was popular to question military waste. And that’s parlor
room stuff. In my lifetime, the wars pursued by the federal
government, whether against drugs or countries or cultures have
been classic case studies in obscene levels of federal spending,
concomitant with physical destruction of people and property, for
absolutely nothing. Afghanistan? Simply a "Cash for Clunkers"
program on an international scale – this one targeted at sustaining
US military contractors, subcontractors, and extended family
members, as well as bumping up the military budget (think
Government Motors, Rockets, Planes and Torpedoes, Inc). Iraq, on
the other hand, could be viewed as government spending at
extreme levels for non-operating and insecurable oil fields – and
perhaps most significantly, on property that does not and will never
belong to us! How Lehman Brothers! It all makes perfect and
beautiful sense, in a "Cash for Clunkers" world.
The Bush buyouts were no surprise, nor should it be surprising that
the insanity continues at home and abroad under Obama. After all,
when you join a club, you do so because you like the way it does
things and how it makes you feel, not because you want to make
radical changes. Obama’s pledge of "Change!" was certainly a
cruel joke on the masses of naïve believers in government who live,
like picket-fenced housewives, in a world made substantial through
dreams.
Let’s consider how all this will work in government-provided health
care, whether you call it single payer, or just Article 99 writ large, or
something in between. We already have several examples of
government health care – and apparently the only one that people
want to talk about is the Congressional insurance program,
whereby millions of people subsidize the unlimited health care for
an unaccountable few. Well, if you are the few, it’s a great program.
But to hold this up as an example in town hall meetings is proof that
a century of public schooling in this country has succeeded in
producing a nation of parrots who can repeat words but have no
idea, or apparently interest, in what those words mean.
The health care that the government already runs has also been
mentioned. The real performance versus cost of the military
hospital system, the abject hinterland of VA hospitals, and the
contracted HMO memberships offered to the military families could
be discussed. Less well known is the Indian Health Service, and its
track record, described succinctly here in an article written by the
executive director of the Property and Environment Research
Center in Montana.
It’s not rocket science – federal management of anything, even its
bare-bones constitutionally chartered duties, is flawed at best.
But there is some good news about increased government
ownership and direction of the health care system, presuming that’s
the path we're on. It comes in small ways, and some might think,
mysterious ways. For example, I have a government subsidized
medical insurance. I’m not clear on what it provides or doesn’t
provide, exactly, as in the six years since I retired, I have used it
one time, in getting a school physical for my then high-school aged
son. We found out, after we paid our part of the bill at the
physician’s office, that they maintained one price for insurance,
along with a cash price. Turned out . . . drum roll . . . the cash price
was actually cheaper than the deductible! So henceforth, we paid
cash.
Of course, my family has in recent years, been healthy, and in the
case of accidents, costs have been shared by responsible parties.
My daughter crashed into something on the soccer field and had to
have some MRI work done – our share for that ran close to $1000.
One imagines how wonderful truly free market medicine would be,
with real choice, and real competition in the industry.
We have examples – ophthalmology and veterinarian services
come to mind first. You can get an eye exam for $50, and then
order glasses online for another $20. Overall, that’s less than a pair
of running shoes, or a meal out with the family at Applebee’s. The
wide variety of eye surgeries available and the competitive and safe
nature of these surgeries speak to the working of a freer market
than what we see for the rest of our health care. The argument by
the statist left and statist right is falsely premised by the idea that
the current health care "system" is a free market system, and
based on the ideas that free market systems can’t work for health
care because people are not all equal in either health, desires for
health or finances.
But the market works precisely and wonderfully because we are
differently abled, financed, with unique wants and desires! It works
well in animal health care (you can buy cheap medicines and health
aids across state and international lines for your pets competitively
and privately, and a whole new array of private insurance products
have emerged to help you meet the unexpected health needs of
Fido or Kitty). Compare this to our government controlled and
manipulated system where buying your meds in Canada or Mexico,
or self-medicating with THC will land you in jail.
But what happens in this private system when animals, for
example, don’t get the heath care they need, due to poverty or
ignorance? Private organizations – unfortunately often working with
the state, as in the case of the SPCA, or working in extreme ways,
as with PETA) do step in. More often than not, they are beaten to
the punch by neighbors and concerned citizens who work far more
quietly and lovingly. In the case of human poverty, innumerable
private organizations run hospitals, providing clinics and
eyeglasses, and even surgeries for the needy. Again, unseen, is
the quiet and sustained help given by family members and friends
when people are in dire straits. We don’t see this undercurrent on
television or read about it in the news – but it is real.
The marketplace would do a wonderful job in providing organs and
blood products, if unleashed from government control. Everything
has value, including above all the health of human beings – and the
most destitute among us can make a wish and have it granted by a
free society and the innumerable charities a free society can
support. For the rest of us, a little personal responsibility goes a
very long way. It’s also the American way, if you ever watched an
old Western, or one of Clint Eastwood’s more recent ones!
[ Continued on Page 5 ]
New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 4
[ Continued from Page 4 ] On these facts, Judge Black concluded as a matter of law that the
police violated Matthew St. John's constitutional rights under the
If we get more governmentized and centrally managed health care,
Fourth Amendment because they seized and disarmed him even
one thing we can look forward to is even more waste and
though there was not "any reason to believe that a crime was
misallocation in the industry – and both of these eventually find a
afoot." Judge Black's opinion is consistent with numerous high state
home in black and grey markets, which in turn foster increased
and federal appellate courts, e.g., the United States Supreme Court
distrust and delegitimization of government.
in Florida v. J.L. (2000) (detaining man on mere report that he has
What Americans need is a helpful analogy, like "Cash for a gun violates the Fourth Amendment) and the Washington
Clunkers," to help them think about the health care proposals being Appeals Court in State v. Casad (2004) (detaining man observed
put forth by government and interested corporate beneficiaries. by police as openly carrying rifles on a public street violates the
How about collective agriculture in the old Soviet Union and Fourth Amendment).
Eastern Europe? During the Cold War, we often heard about the
Mr. St. John's attorney, Miguel Garcia, of Alamogordo, NM was
incredibly productive backyard gardens of the downtrodden
pleased with the ruling and look forward to the next phase of the
peasants, and the poor yields of the massive state fields. The
litigation which is a jury trial to establish the amount of damages,
uninformed among us credited this as an excellent example of
and possibly punitive damages. Garcia said that
incentive over command economies. But what we forgot then,
briefly, is that, absent a true pricing system and real freedom, "[i]t was great to see the Court carefully consider the issues
productivity and availability of goods will always be severely presented by both sides and conclude that the U.S.
constrained overall. Constitution prohibits the government from detaining and
searching individuals solely for exercising their rights to
In the 1980s assessment of backyard garden superproductivity of
possess a firearm as guaranteed by our state and federal
the old Soviet Union, agriculturalists, economists and pro-freedom
constitutions."
advocates all missed a simple fundamental reality. This mythical
small-garden "productivity" was wholly dependent on a Notably, Judge Black denied the police officers' requested
concentration of work time, equipment, fertilizer, good seed, and "qualified immunity," a judicially created doctrine allowing
actual meat, grain, fruits and vegetable products "stolen" from the government officials acting in good faith to avoid liability for
"state" and subsequently sold on the "free market." violating the law where the law was not "clearly established." In this
case, Judge Black concluded that
That this theft was justified to feed the people is beside the point.
Collective and command driven health care will produce similar "[r]elying on well-defined Supreme Court precedent, the Tenth
results – and ultimately we will begin to hate the healthy. Circuit and its sister courts have consistently held that officers may
not seize or search an individual without a specific, legitimate
LewRockwell.Com columnist Karen Kwiatkowski, Ph.D., a retired
reason. . . . The applicable law was equally clear in this case.
U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel, has written on defense issues
Nothing in New Mexico law prohibited Mr. St. John from openly
with a libertarian perspective for MilitaryWeek.com, hosts the call-in
carrying a firearm in the Theater. Accordingly, Mr. St. John's motion
radio show American Forum, and blogs occasionally for
for summary judgment is granted with regard to his Fourth
Huffingtonpost.com and Liberty and Power.
Amendment and New Mexico constitutional claims. Defendants'
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++ motion for summary judgment is denied with regard to the same
and with regard to qualified immunity."
Federal judge rules police
Judge Black's opinion and order is welcome news for the growing
cannot detain people
number of open carriers across the United States. Though police
for openly carrying guns harassment of open carriers is rare, it's not yet as rare as it should
9 September 2009 – tinyurl.com/m77vos be – over the last several years open carriers detained without
Mike Stollenwerk [ mike@opencarry.org ] cause by police have sued and obtained cash settlements in
Pennsylvania, Louisiana, Virginia, and Georgia. More cases are still
On September 8, 2009, United States District Judge Bruce D. Black pending in Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Pennsylvania.
of the United States District Court for New Mexico entered NOTE: Mathew St. John's attorney, Miguel Garcia, is an associate
summary judgment in a civil case for damages against at John R. Hakanson PC, 307 11th St., Alamogordo, NM 88310
Alamogordo, NM police officers. The Judge's straight shootin' and can be reached at miguelo.garcia@gmail.com .
message to police: Leave open carriers alone unless you have
"reason to believe that a crime [is] afoot." Mike Stollenwerk retired from the U.S. Army after over 20 years of
The facts of the case are pretty simple. Matthew St. John entered service to attend law school at Georgetown University. Mike lives in
an Alamogordo movie theater as a paying customer and sat down Virginia, works at a small law firm in Washington, D.C., and
to enjoy the movie. He was openly carrying a holstered handgun, manages OpenCarry.org with John Pierce.
conduct which is legal in 42 states, and requires no license in New
Mexico and twenty-five other states. Learn more here.
In response to a call from theater manager Robert Zigmond, the
police entered the movie theater, physically seized Mr. St. John
from his seat, took him outside, disarmed him, searched him,
obtained personally identifiable information from his wallet, and only
allowed him to re-enter the theater after St. John agreed to secure
his gun in his vehicle. Mr. St. John was never suspected of any
crime nor issued a summons for violating any law.
Importantly, no theater employee ever ordered Mr. St. John to
leave. The police apparently simply decided to act as agents of the
movie theater to enforce a private rule of conduct and not to
enforce any rule of law.

New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 5

 Liberty, Opportunity, Prosperity County
The fact is that New Mexico facesContacts
a $300 million budget shortfall for
the coming fiscal year. We could really have used the $400 million
that was spent
Bernalillo to build the Rail Runner right now, but we are
– lpnm.us/bernalillo
beyond that point.
Mike Blessing With money /scarce
– 505-918-6567 and the economy still in bad
mikewb1971@gmail.com
Reports of Rail Runner's success shape, it would seem that we should do the wise thing when one
greatly exaggerated finds oneself in a hole: stop digging.
Colfax
By Paul J. Gessing Paul
RichardGessing
Moore –is575-377-6849
the President of New Mexico's Rio Grande
/ myliberty@mail.com
[ pgessing@riograndefoundation.org ] Foundation. The Rio Grande Foundation is an independent, non-
6 August 2009 -- tinyurl.com/kkncjf partisan,
Dona Ana tax-exempt research and educational organization
– lpnm.us/dona-ana
dedicated to –promoting
Siebert Ickler prosperity
575-541-9079 for New Mexico based on
/ lpdacnm@lpnm.us
principles of limited government, economic freedom and individual
Gov. Bill Richardson has been touring New Mexico touting the responsibility.
Lea
"success" of the taxpayer-financed Rail Runner commuter train. Christina Groth – 575-397-9366
A Little Gun History
Recently, he has promoted the idea of transforming the train from a Forwarded from various sources
regional, commuter rail system operating between Santa Fe and Lincoln
the southern suburbs of Albuquerque to one that bisects the state Richard Obergfell – 575-378-8025
In 1911, Turkey established / lplcnm@valornet.com
gun control. From 1915 to 1917, 1.5
traveling through Las Cruces on to El Paso and keeps going far million Armenians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up
beyond Santa Fe all the way to Denver. Los Alamos
and exterminated.
Allen Cogbill – 505-662-7833 / acogbill@geopotential.com
Ambitious goals indeed, but they are founded on the assumption on In 1929, the Soviet Union established gun control. From 1929 to
the part of Richardson and other policymakers that the Rail Runner 1953,
Luna about 20 million dissidents, unable to defend themselves,
is a "success." The problem arises in defining what success should were
Marilynrounded
Steffenup and exterminated.
– 575-531-2556 / b_lamont5@hotmail.com
look like. China established gun control in 1935. From 1948 to 1952, 20
In financial terms, it would be extremely hard to say the train is million
Otero –political dissidents, unable to defend themselves, were
lpnm.us/otero
successful. After all, the infrastructure needed just to set the current rounded up and exterminated
Gilberto Heredia – 575-439-8234 / thrill@zianet.com
100 mile system up from Belen to Santa Fe cost average Germany established gun control in 1938 and from 1939 to 1945, a
taxpayers, whether they use it or not, $400 million. This is a sunk Roosevelt
total of 13 million Jews and others who were unable to defend
cost that will never be paid back. That's because the system Ken Sanderswere
themselves – 505-749-2085
rounded up and exterminated.
operates at a significant and growing loss.
Cambodia
San Juan –established
sjclp.org gun control in 1956. From 1975 to 1977, one
As the Rio Grande Foundation points out in a new study, "Red Ink million educated people, unable to defend themselves, were
Gary Wood – zang5775@msn.com
Express," according to information obtained from the managers of rounded up and exterminated.
the Rail Runner, from the first date of service in July 2006 through
Sandoval
Guatemala established gun control in 1964. From 1964 to 1981,
May 31, 2009, the average daily "ridership" on the train was a mere
Ron Bjornstad
100,000 Mayan – 505-288-4228 / rbjornstad@earthlink.net
Indians, unable to defend themselves, were
2,539. That number shrinks even further when its meaning is
clarified. The Rail Runner's "ridership" is calculated based on each rounded up and exterminated.
Santa Fe
individual boarding. That means a round-trip commuter to Santa Fe Uganda
Ed Nagelestablished gun / control
– 505-471-6928 in 1970. From 1971 to 1979,
ed123nagel@aol.com
from Albuquerque is counted twice, since they get on the train 300,000 Christians, unable to defend themselves, were rounded up
coming and going. The actual average number of daily commuters and exterminated.
using the Rail Runner for its three years of operations is just under Valencia
1,270. Abran Gabaldon
Defenseless – 505-864-6870
people rounded up/ abran_d@yahoo.com
and exterminated in the 20th
Century because of gun control: 56 million.
In addition, its annual operating and maintenance deficit is
LPNM
Amnesty International says Vacancies
the actual number is well over one
exploding. The data received from the Rail Runner's management
show that in 2006, the train's first year of operation the operating hundred million people, murdered by their own governments in acts
deficit was $7.8 million. Its operating deficit last year was $10.8 entirely separate from Central
war. Committee (1)
million. Its operating losses for its third year of operation to May 31, Why do you think District
we call 3it Representative, Seat A
"victim disarmament" ?
2009, already exceeded $13.4 million. That is a total of $32 million
in operating losses so far. County Contacts (20)
This means that the taxpayer subsidy per commuter has also been
increasing as the Rail Runner produces ever higher operating and Catron / Chaves / Cibola / Curry / De Baca / Eddy / Grant
maintenance costs far in excess of the fares it charges. The Guadalupe / Harding / Hidalgo / McKinley / Mora / Quay
subsidy has grown from $6,128 per commuter in its first year to Rio Arriba / San Miguel / Sierra / Socorro / Taos / Torrance / Union
more than $10,500 this past year.
College Contacts (3)
Taxpayers are effectively paying a select few to ride the rails
instead of a taking a bus or driving. At the average daily ridership of Eastern New Mexico University (Portales)
2,539, taxpayers were kicking in $16.89 per ride during the past New Mexico State University (Las Cruces)
year. New Mexico Tech (Socorro)
Considering that the trip from Las Cruces to Belen – the current University of New Mexico (Various Campuses)
southern terminus of the Rail Runner – is 191 miles, nearly twice Western New Mexico University (Silver City)
the system's current length, and that the proposed Raton to Santa
Fe leg is an additional 176 miles, such an expansion of train service Contact the state chair if you're interested in filling a slot.
would cost an additional $1.5 billion just to construct. Since the If you don't, who will?
prospective Rail Runner service areas are far more sparsely
populated than the current service area, operating losses would
likely exceed $50 million annually. These costs would, of course, be
financed by New Mexico taxpayers, whether they ride the train or
not. New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 7
New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 6
 LPNM Central Committee County Contacts
Chair Bernalillo – lpnm.us/bernalillo
Ken Cavanaugh – 505-489-8099 / phloyd113@cableone.net Mike Blessing – 505-515-7015 / mikewb1971@gmail.com
Vice Chair Colfax
Jay Vandersloot – 505-362-1733 / jayvandersloot@yahoo.com Richard Moore – 575-377-6849 / myliberty@mail.com
Secretary Dona Ana – lpnm.us/dona-ana
Siebert Ickler – 575-541-9079 / lpdacnm@lpnm.us Siebert Ickler – 575-541-9079 / lpdacnm@lpnm.us
Treasurer Lea
VACANT Christina Groth – 575-397-9366
At-Large Representative, Seat A Lincoln
Allen Cogbill – 505-662-7833 / acogbill@geopotential.com Richard Obergfell – 575-378-8025 / lplcnm@valornet.com
At-Large Representative, Seat B Los Alamos
Attila Csanyi – Allen Cogbill – 505-662-7833 / acogbill@geopotential.com
District 1 Representative, Seat A Luna
Mike Blessing – 505-515-7015 / mikewb1971@gmail.com Marilyn Steffen – 575-531-2556 / b_lamont5@hotmail.com
District 1 Representative, Seat B Otero – lpnm.us/otero
Bob Finch – 765-412-2374 / nmlibertarian@gmail.com Gilberto Heredia – 575-439-8234 / thrill@zianet.com
District 2 Representative, Seat A Rio Arriba
Gilberto Heredia – 575-439-8234 / thrill@zianet.com Lynette Cannon – 575-756-1511 / kevincannon55@msn.com
District 2 Representative, Seat B Roosevelt
Kathleen Hodgkinson – Ken Sanders – 575-749-2085
575-437-6042 / hodgkinson@cybermesa.com
San Juan – sjclp.org
District 3 Representative, Seat A Gary Wood – zang5775@msn.com
Ron Bjornstad – 505-891-4541 / rbjornstad@earthlink.net
Sandoval
District 3 Representative, Seat B Ron Bjornstad – 505-288-4228 / rbjornstad@earthlink.net
Mike Moss – 505-564-4905 / mmoss@plumbersoft.com
Santa Fe
Membership Coordinator Ed Nagel – 505-471-6928 / ed123nagel@aol.com
Ron Bjornstad – 505-288-4228 / rbjornstad@earthlink.net
Taos
Press Secretary Lynette Cannon – 575-756-1511 / kevincannon55@msn.com
Bill Koehler – 505-264-0835 / bkoehler8@comcast.net
Media Director LPNM Vacancies
Bob Finch – 765-412-2374 / nmlibertarian@gmail.com Executive Committee (1)
Campus Contacts Treasurer
Central New Mexico Community College [CNM] County Contacts (19)
groups.myspace.com/cnmlibertarians Catron / Chaves / Cibola / Curry / De Baca / Eddy / Grant
Mike Blessing – 505-515-7015 / mikewb1971@gmail.com Guadalupe / Harding / Hidalgo / McKinley / Mora / Quay
College of Santa Fe San Miguel / Sierra / Socorro / Torrance / Union / Valencia
Morgan Wells – mwells109@gmail.com College Contacts (4)
New Mexico State University [NMSU]
Eastern New Mexico University (Portales)
Kathleen Hodgkinson –
575-437-6042 / hodgkinson@cybermesa.com New Mexico Tech (Socorro)
University of New Mexico (Various Campuses)
Internet Resources
Western New Mexico University (Silver City)
Official Website – lpnm.us
Contact the state chair if you're interested
LPNM Forum – groups.yahoo.com/group/lpnm-forum
Caucus membership required, per the Central Committee
in filling a slot.

LPNM Discussion – groups.yahoo.com/lpnm-discuss If you don't, who will?

Open forum (unmoderated for the most part)
Blog – lpofnm.blogspot.com
Facebook group
facebook.com/group.php?gid=20233114967
Ning.com social utility – lpofnm.ning.com
Myspace group – groups.myspace.com/lpnm

New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 7

 Administrivia Subscriptions and Correspondence
by Mike Blessing, Editor
For a print subscription, contact Ron Bjornstad for details. New
If you have news, interesting stories, op-ed pieces, a letter to the Mexico Liberty will be posted to the web, in PDF format, to the Files
editor, or timely information that you think belongs in the newsletter, section of the Google group I’ve set up for it –
please send it along. I can be contacted at 505-918-6567, or just
groups.google.com/group/nmliberty
send it to email address mikewb1971@gmail.com.
If you are moving or change your mailing address, please use keep
When sending your submission as an MS Word (or Open Office
us in the loop so we can keep your New Mexico Liberty coming to
Text) file, send it single-spaced in 9-pt Arial – like this is. Margins
you – contact Ron Bjornstad [ rbjornstad@earthlink.net ] if you're a
should be quarter-inch (0.25”) around, with no headers or footers. If
print version subscriber. Otherwise, contact the editor.
you send it in a text-only format, make it clear to me if you want
anything in bold type, underlined, in italics, struck-through, Advertising in New Mexico Liberty
different colors, etc. I’m not telepathic here, so help me out. And
Current rates for year-long spots
NO Wordperfect files – I can't open those.
Full page Ø60.00
Graphics (pictures, cartoons, etc.) – send the highest quality
Half page Ø30.00
graphics you can – email them to me at the address above, and I’ll
Quarter page Ø15.00
do what I can to get them in the next issue. In particular, what I
Business card Ø 8.00
want are pictures of YOU the LPNM members, either at LPNM-
sponsored events or at other peoples' events. Submission deadline Rates are subject to change at the discretion of the editor. The
for each issue – midnight, third Tuesday of the month. editor will do his best to make any such changes only when
absolutely necessary.
Articles
Inserts – For an insert into the PDF version that goes out over the
As for writing your article, It should be concise (no longer than a full
internet, contact the editor at email address . For an insert into the
page) and topical. A bit of humor helps, especially for op-ed pieces.
print edition, contact Ron Bjornstad at email address
What I'm really looking for in the way of articles is what's going on
rbjornstad@earthlink.net or phone number 505-288-4228.
in the LPNM – what YOU the membership are up to in spreading
the message. For example, an article about the stupidity, insanity Ø – The symbol for Federal Reserve Note(s), as used by Boston T.
and evil of the UN might get put in, depending on available space Party in his books. In plain-text message traffic (such as email), the
and the quality of the article. A group of LPNM members counter- acronym “FRN” will be used by the editor. See javelinpress.com for
protesting the raising of a UN flag by the city council WILL get put more information. Also see the Wikipedia page for “Federal
in, and probably will get first priority. Reserve Note” – en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federal_Reserve_Note.
Editorial Viewpoint
THE LPNM OFFICIAL WEBSITE – lpnm.us
The basis for libertarian thought is the Zero Aggression Principle
LPNM OFFICIAL MAILING ADDRESS
[ZAP] –
AND PHONE NUMBER
A libertarian is someone who believes that no human being 918 Ivory Road SE
has the right – under any circumstances – to initiate force Rio Rancho, NM 87124
against another human being, nor to threaten, incite or 505-288-4228
delegate its initiation.
If the date on your mailing label reads before 10/01/09, it's time
New Mexico Liberty holds that Libertarian candidates, officeholders to renew your LPNM membership.
or appointed spokespersons at all levels of government or the Party
should refrain from advocating new or more restrictive laws, new or THE UNANIMOUS CONSENT CHALLENGE
more expensive spending programs, or new or higher taxes. To CASH Ø10,000 PRIZE
paraphrase from the medical profession, “First, do no harm.”
To the first person to write a logical and documented essay
Submissions Policy showing one of the following to be compatible with the Declaration
The editor reserves the right to refuse service to anyone for any of Independence:
reason. The editor will most often be willing to explain any such Sherman Anti-Trust Act of 1890
reasons. Appeals of the editor's refusal to post an advertisement, Pure Food and Drug Act of 1906
article, letter to editor, or anything else can be made to the LPNM's Federal Communications Act of 1934
State Chair, Central Committee and/or Judicial Council. National Firearms Act of 1934
Copyright Banking Act of 1935
The Internal Revenue Code
Copyright © 2003–2009 Libertarian Party of New Mexico. All rights Controlled Substances Act of 1970
reserved. Permission is explicitly granted for subscribers to recopy RICO Act of 1970
New Mexico Liberty for non-commercial purposes, specifically as Federal Elections Act of 1970
use as an outreach tool, provided that New Mexico Liberty is copied Plumbing Products Efficiency Act of 1992
in its entirety. Use your imagination here. Anti-Money Laundering Act of 1992
USA PATRIOT Act of 2001
Bipartisan Campaign Reform Act of 2002
This challenge is also on the web at tinyurl.com/hn982
To claim your prize, contact
Mike Blessing at 505-515-7015 or
send an email to mikewb1971@gmail.com

New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 8

 Libertarian Party of New Mexico
Enrollment / Renewal / Donation Coupon
(Please print in all areas)

Name ___________________________________ Address ____________________________________

City ___________________________ State ________ Zip ______________ Phone _______________

Email _______________________ Employer ____________________ Occupation _________________

[ ] I am registered to vote as “Libertarian” in the State of New Mexico and wish to [ ] join or [ ] renew as a caucus
member. I am paying $25 annual dues. I will receive a one year (12 issues) subscription to the LPNM state
newsletter “New Mexico Liberty” (the national “LP NEWS” IS NOT included) and I will have delegate status at state
conventions. I certify that I do not advocate the initiation of force to achieve political or social goals.

Signed _____________________________________________

[ ] I am not registered to vote as “Libertarian” in the State of New Mexico and/or [ ] I do not wish to sign the
statement opposing the initiation of force to achieve social or political goals. I am paying $25.00 for a one year (12
issues) subscription to the LPNM state newsletter “New Mexico Liberty” (the national “LP NEWS” IS NOT
included). I understand that I will receive no other benefits.

[ ] I am making a DONATION to the LPNM in the amount of $ ________ to be applied as follows:

$_____ General Fund $_____ Chairman's Fund $_____ Major Player Fund $_____ Win One Fund

TOTAL of DUES or SUBSCRIPTION plus DONATION $_________ to be paid as follows:

[ ] by enclosed CHECK payable to “LPNM” (Sorry, we cannot accept corporate checks)

[ ] by CREDIT CARD (circle one): VISA / MASTERCARD

Number: __ __ __ __-__ __ __ __-__ __ __ __-__ __ __ __ Expires: ____/____

Signature: _____________________________________________

Government mandated notices:

● The US Postal Service requires us to notify you that the annual New Mexico Liberty subscription cost is
included in your LPNM membership dues of $25.00.
● The Internal Revenue Service requires us to print “political contributions are not tax deductible” on all
fundraising appeals.
● The Federal Election Commission requires us to ask for the employer and occupation of each individual
whose contributions aggregate in excess of $200 in a calendar year.

The preceding notices alone should be enough reason to join the Libertarian Party, the only political party working
to increase your freedom.

COPY OR PRINT, FILL OUT, AND SEND TO:

LPNM c/o Ron Bjornstad

918 IVORY RD SE
RIO RANCHO NM 87124

New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 9

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New Mexico Liberty – September 2009 – Page 10