Posted by salvinian on 05/22/11

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Polk County Campaign For Liberty

On Saturday, May 21, 2011, approximately twenty people convened at Johnston Public Library between 1300 and 1530 to discuss ways to support Campaign for Liberty's mission: to promote and defend the great American principles of individual liberty, constitutional government, sound money, free markets, and a non-interventionist foreign policy, by means of educational and political activity.

Some among the speakers of the day were Matt DeVries, Jill Ellsworth, Glen Massie, and Ross Witt.

Mr. DeVries chaired the meeting, and discussed current events within the Campaign for Liberty. We learned that many of the state and county leaders have left or would be leaving their positions within Campaign for Liberty while supporting their candidate during the 2012 presidential election campaign. During the interim, anyone interested is encouraged to assume these vacant positions. Dusty Juhl, from Ames, is currently the interim state coordinator.

Ms. Ellsworth talked about how she was able to encourage younger people to become interested in government by offering a $250 scholarship to high school seniors, to be awarded to the student who authored an essay that best addressed relevant issues. While listening to Jill, I was reminded of some things I'd read that I thought really brought things into perspective: What Does One Trillion Dollars Look Like?; The Four Ways to Spend Money, by Milton Friedman; Stock Market Monkeys; World's Smallest Political Quiz.

Glen Massie, who was elected to Represent District 74, explained some differences between serving at State and Federal levels, and offered some insight into the legislative process, especially as it applies to the Iowa capitol. He also talked about the best ways to affect change within our government, which is to fill the seats with people who don't cater to party authority, but to the Constitution and its principles. He also recommended some books, The Making of America, The Creature from Jekyl Island, and Liberty Defined.

Mr. Witt discussed the Federal Reserve, and especially how through our efforts we were able to push through a bill to audit the federal reserve bank, but how ultimately it was diluted and adulterated so that little remained of the original bill by the time it made it to the next level. Government obfuscation was brought up. I stated that if you don't support auditing or ending the federal reserve, then you condone fraud. Central banking was shown to be inherently corrupt and how elitists enjoy all of the rewards and none of the risks of the market because of it.

Other points were brought up, to include Real ID, Parental Rights, unpasteurized milk, and other ways individual liberty has been chained to the wall, right next to a pile of government applications for a hall pass. Make it a goal of yours to talk to as many people as you can about the straw poll in Ames and energize people to become politically active: participate in town hall meetings, caucuses, and future Campaign for Liberty meetings.