LIBERTARIAN VIEWPOINT

I was having lunch with a small group last week when the subject of public infrastructure came up - sewer systems to be precise. I had complained that NC County had decided to build a system in the southern reaches of the county even though Artesian water had offered to do it privately. Turns out that I was the only one who had a problem with that! After I commented that the more private ownership we had, the better, the following question was asked: "what happens when the private water company decides it isn't profitable to serve a group of customers"? My immediate, unthinking, response was "it's always profitable at some price", which while true is hardly going to diminish our reputation for coldheartedness. Someone else chimed in that ALL infrastructure should be public, and suddenly the topic was changed. So my knee jerk statement stood as my last word.

On reflection, I think the best way to respond to a question like that is NOT to initially try and defend private operators, but rather to show the downside of public operators. For example: "That's an interesting question. It's not likely that it would become unprofitable to serve existing water customers, but the arguement could certainly apply to new customers. I believe that if you build a house a mile away from the nearest public water pipe, the government will tell you to dig a well. The private company would agree, but would be willing to run a pipe if you are willing to pay for it. But, suppose there is an existing sewer system in the area, and you want to hook up to it. A private company says 'Great, a new customer'. It's the public system that assesses a massive impact fee on you in addition to the hookup charge. In other words, they punish you for wanting to use their system. And we see in the present case that when the government (NC County) seemed to be deciding it couldn't afford a public sewer down there, a private firm stepped up and said they would do it. Further more, when the government owns the infrastructure, political considerations come into play. Look at the Symrna annexation debate. The county is denying them county sewer service because of a political dispute. Privately owned services may not be great, but since they need to make a buck off of you, it is to their benefit to supply the service you need."

A little wordy, but hopefully, you get the idea. It is important to practice responding powerfully but succinctly to 'challenges'. We don't need to make every conversation an exercise in proselytizing, but when the chance arises to get our point of view out on the table, it's a shame to waste it.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

Congratulations to Ray and Helen Buranello for winning the 'sort of 50/50' at the last New Castle County meeting. Unfortunately, Ray has accepted a new job in Manasas, VA. We will miss them both.

The next 'Libertarian Discussion Group' will be 11am Sunday September 14th at 'A Piece of Ireland' (enter through the door facing Rt 4 to find us most easily). The breakfast buffet should be back in operation! The topic will be 'How would YOU change the Constitution, if you could?'. Please join us and share your insights and opinions. (Note that this meeting conflicts with Newark Community Day. Please watch LPD-Announce for confirmation, or call me on the 12th or 13th.)

Sign up for party announcements at YAHOOGROUPS.COM The list name is LPD-Announce

LP DE IN THE NEWS

Did you make news this month? Let me know. Send any 'Letters to the Editor' (LTTE) or articles you have published to Tom Uffner (tom@uffner.com) to post on the web site. Include where and when, and copy me to be listed here.

Bill Morris: Delaware State News, August 3: "National sales tax politically feasible."(LTTE) Bill Morris: Delaware State News, August 5: "Income Tax reform needed."(LTTE) John Colgan: News Journal, August 11: "Libertarian Party is the only alternative" (LTTE) John Colgan: Delaware State News, August 11: "Vote Libertarian for real change" (LTTE) Jim Larsen: Brandywine Community News, August 22: "Delaware taxes estates more" (LTTE)

"Life ... is a series of habits disturbed by a few thoughts" (cited without attribution by George Will)

HELP WANTED

Newark Community Day is Sunday, Sept 14th, and we will have our usual booth. Contact Lisa Busch (ldbusch@yahoo.com) or Brad Thomas (bradct@delanet.com) to help out.

We are considering upgrading our paper newsletter to a professionally printed tabloid. Printed on newsprint, it is no more expensive than the way we do it now (for the convention mailing, at least), and we can get a lot of extra copies to use for publicity. The downside is we need more high quality content. Someone of you MUST have positions you want to expound on! We are also looking for 'position papers' to post on the web site, so your work can do double duty. Send me an email or give me a call to talk it over.

And on a related issue, two requests from Terri Lewis

First - Attn: Research Lovers!

I am looking for persons interested doing some research for the Documentation Committee. What I need are volunteers who'd like to spend a little time searching the laws and regulations at various levels of government to determine all the requirements for either political candidates or political parties.

Our Mission is to make it simpler for Libertarian candidates and LPD officers to meet election filing-requirements by providing state board officers, county officers and state- and federal-level candidates with up-to-date filing requirement information in a timely manner and in a user-friendly format. (Local requirements may be researched case-by-case. The county/local officers should ultimately accept this function.)

And second - Hi! Fellow former LPD candidates,

I'm looking for a favor. I'm hoping that you'll give me a few minutes to share your impressions/understandings of filing requirements, ease of obtaining information, etc., from when you were a candidate for the LPD. I have been charged with providing information for candidates to make their lives simpler when it comes to meeting filing requirements, and any information that you provide will be helpful. Thank you, in advance!

If you are interested in either of these, please email Terri at terril@ezol.com.

CANDIDATE CORNER

It's September, 15 months to the next general election! Rather than write a column this month, I just want to ask that anyone who is seriously considering a race in November 2004 please contact me.

RESOURCES

The CATO Institute's 'Handbook for Congress' is a powerful resource to have available. It is reissued for each new congress, so it's content is always fresh. It is full of Libertarian viewpoints on, and solutions to, (primarily Federal) problems. I just recently found out that it is available on line (in PDF). It is wonderfully well 'chunked' in that the table of contents is detailed enough that each entry downloads very quickly. If you are like me and dislike reading on line, it is easy to print. Thanks to CATO for this marvelous resource.

http://www.cato.org/pubs/handbook/handbook108.html

CALENDAR

The Libertarian Party of Delaware state board meetings are open to the public, as are all of the county monthly meetings. As things are always subject to change, please email the indicated party before attending.

NCC Discussion Group: 11am Sunday September 14th (second Sunday), A Piece of Irelan d (Chesmar Plaza, Newark) Email John Colgan: libertarian@snip.net

Newark Community Day: Sunday September 14th NC County: 6pm Sunday September 21 (third Sunday), A Piece of Ireland (Chesmar Plaza, Newark) Email Lisa Busch: ldbusch@yahoo.com

Kent County: 7pm Tuesday September 16th (third Tuesday), Dover Email Jim Conk: jconk4@comcast.net

Sussex County: 7pm Tuesday September 23rd (fourth Tuesday), Bella Capri Restaurant, Georgetown Email John Elliot: tyre@dmv.com

State Board: 2pm Saturday September 27th (last Saturday), Nino's Pizza, South Smynra Email Terri Lewis: tslewis@comcast.net

Next issue of First State Libertarian deadline for editorial content: September 27th

Join the Libertarian Party of Delaware or contribute. Visit our web site at www.de.lp.org

Thanks to Tim Young and 123clickit.com for making libertarian@123clickit.com available to us.

QUIP of the MONTH

There is something out there, everywhere, watching over us. Unfortunately, it is our government. -- Woody Allen