Date: Tue, 28 Aug 2001 17:36:49 -0700 (PDT) From: advo@best.com (Advocates for Self-Government) Subject: Liberator Online, Vol. 6, No. 14 To: liberator@theadvocates.org Reply-To: liberator-request@theadvocates.org
In This Issue:
German politician seeks to censor U.S. web sites; Hooray -- TWO MORE states meet "Discover Liberty" targets; record number of Americans say "re-legalize pot"; Time magazine is amazed by the home schooling revolution -- and so are we; Mary Ruwart is asked: Are excise taxes ok?, What libertarian books should newcomers read?, and What if a new Hitler pops up?; Michael Cloud tells you how to find thirsty horses, lead them to water, and persuade them to drink; Plus -- renowned outreach tool is now HALF PRICE!
All this and *much much more* in the world's largest-circulation libertarian email newsletter...
THE LIBERATOR ONLINE
August 28, 2001 Vol. 6, No. 14 Circulation: 58,297 in 98 countries
Published by the Advocates for Self-Government. Created and edited by Paul Schmidt, mailto:paul@self-gov.org Co-edited by James W. Harris, mailto:james@self-gov.org
"Could your local organization use more members? More volunteers? More candidates? More leaders? If so, then [the new Advocates project] Discover Liberty is the way to make it happen....Millions of Americans are already libertarians -- they just don't know it. This is a great opportunity to help them 'Discover Liberty.'"
-- Steve Dasbach, Libertarian Party National Director
(See "President's Corner" below for more on Discover Liberty!)
CONTENTS
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
* Wow! TWO MORE states meet "Discover Liberty" goal!
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
* Advocates President speaking schedule * Ongoing Activities and Opportunities
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
* German Official to Ask U.S. to Ban Web Sites * Record Numbers Say: Re-Legalize Marijuana * Time Magazine: Home Schooling Revolution * "Despotism over mind and body ..."
ASK DR. RUWART
* Are excise taxes libertarian? * Which libertarian books should I start with? * What if another Hitler arises?
PERSUASION POWER POINT #109
* "Thirsty Horses" by Michael Cloud
PRODUCT REVIEW
* The incredible Operation Politically Homeless (OPH) -- now HALF-PRICE!
PRESIDENT'S CORNER
Dear friends:
Congratulations to Montana and Washington State libertarians!
They've become the second and third states, respectively, to meet -- and exceed -- their goals for "Discover Liberty." (The targets for each state were set based on population. You can see the goal for every state at the Discover Liberty Web site: http://www.DiscoverLiberty.org.)
Montana's goal was five OPHs. Libertarian Party of Montana activists achieved that on August 15. And they've gone on to *exceed* that goal by a whopping 80% -- and they have many more OPHs planned. Congratulations -- and special kudos to Montana Discover Liberty coordinators Mike Fellows and Stan Jones.
And hats off to Washington State, the first medium-sized state to reach and exceed its goal! The Libertarian Party in Washington State has been a leader in Discover Liberty since the program was first announced. They've been gung-ho since the beginning.
On August 20, they reached their target of 41 OPHs. And they've gone way beyond that. As I write this, they've completed 52 OPHs -- and have another 62 already planned! Hooray for Washington State LPers!
There are lots of people who deserve congratulations in Washington State for this remarkable achievement. Special thanks to coordinator Jacqueline Passey Bartels, who has been whipping up enthusiasm there -- and across the whole country, for that matter -- since Discover Liberty kicked off.
A quick recap for newcomers: "Discover Liberty" is the Advocates' exciting new nationwide outreach program. It's nothing less than the largest one-on-one, face-to-face libertarian outreach in history. The Advocates' goal is to oversee and coordinate no less than *two thousand* Operation Politically Homeless (OPH) booths in a 12-month period, in all 50 states -- and in doig so, reach hundreds of thousands of Americans with the ideas of liberty!
To learn more about Discover Liberty and OPH, please visit the Discover Liberty Web site: http://www.DiscoverLiberty.org
There you'll find lots of information and features. You can see how your state is doing. And you can check out the color-coded map and big thermometer to see how we're doing nationally in our effort to hit 2,000 OPHs by June 29, 2002.
New Hampshire, Montana, and Washington State are examples for the whole country of how just a few people can make a big difference using OPH.
We still need YOUR help with Discover Liberty. *Volunteers are needed in every state.* (Yes, even New Hampshire, Montana, and Washington State could use more help to make their successes even more spectacular!)
We are excited to have volunteers and coordinators in 31 states. But we want to have OPHs in EVERY state. Is yours organized? Are you willing to volunteer a few hours on a weekend to take libertarian ideas to people in your community?
Discover Liberty is local, grassroots, meet-the-people political outreach at its best. Isn't that just what the libertarian movement needs right now? And OPH is incredibly effective, easy and fun. No experience needed!
University and college students: OPH is a great way to boost libertarian awareness on your campus, and find new members to beef up your campus libertarian organization.
Local and state libertarian organizations: Every week there are great opportunities to reach people with the libertarian message -- and discover the voters, activists, candidates and contributors of tomorrow.
If you want to help discover dozens or hundreds of libertarians in your community, and if you want to be part of an historic national outreach effort, please visit the Discover Liberty Web site: http://www.DiscoverLiberty.org. You can volunteer right there, at your state's page. And you can sign up for our DiscoverLiberty email newsletter (no obligation) to be kept informed of Discover Liberty news and progress in your state.
We're making progress, and it's exciting! But there is more to be done. Join the fun!
http://www.DiscoverLiberty.org
Thank you!
Enjoy this issue of the Liberator Online.
Sharon Harris, President mailto:sharon@self-gov.org
PS: OPH price slashed in half! As part of Discover Liberty, we've improved and updated our acclaimed "Operation Politically Homeless" (OPH) kit -- and we've cut the price in half! Formerly $95, it's now only $47.50 (plus shipping). OPH is the centerpiece of Discover Liberty -- and the best way to discover dozens or hundreds of libertarian-leaning folks in your community! To order or to learn more, visit the OPH department at the Discover Liberty page: http://www.DiscoverLiberty.org .
Or you can read the detailed review of OPH in our Product Review section at the end of this issue.
Thank you!
WHAT'S HAPPENING WITH THE ADVOCATES
* October 6, Connecticut: Advocates President Sharon Harris will be keynote speaker at the state convention of the Libertarian Party of Connecticut, to be held in Meriden. Sharon's topic: "The Case for Libertarian Optimism -- and How One Person Can Make A Difference." For more information: http://www.lpct.org/Convention2001.html
* Libertarian Cruise to Hawaiian Islands: Dr, Ken Bisson has announced that the 5th Annual Libertarian Cruise will begin on February 1, 2002. Although this is not an Advocates event, Ken is an Advocates Founding Member, a former chairman of the Advocates Board, and a long-time libertarian and Libertarian Party leader. This year's cruise will be a 15-day Hawaiian cruise, on the Holland America Line, leaving from San Diego. Sounds wonderful! You can learn more at the Libertarian Cruise web site: https://members.tripod.com/~kbisson/CRUISE2002.htm . You can also sign up for Ken's free monthly email "Libertarian Cruise Update" from kbisson@usa.net. Ken encourages everyone who's curious about the event to sign up for the free newsletter -- it's fun reading even if you don't intend to go on the trip. Bon voyage!
ONGOING ACTIVITIES AND OPPORTUNITIES
* FREE "Libertarian Clips": "Libertarian Clips" is a daily (or weekly, if you prefer) clipping service that brings you news stories from around the world that use the words "libertarian" or "libertarianism." See what libertarians are doing, and see how the media is using those words. It's FREE, and subscribing is a snap. Just click here: http://www.self-gov.org/clips/
* FREE Year 2001 Lights of Liberty Awards: You can win certificates, public recognition, prizes and more for your vital activism for liberty. Awards are given for: 3 libertarian letters to the editor; OR 3 sessions working at an OPH booth; OR 3 libertarian-oriented public speeches. Click here http://www.self-gov.org/lights/ to learn more.
* Libertarian Communicator published: The second issue of our print magazine, The Libertarian Communicator, has been mailed to 20,000 libertarians interested in becoming more powerful, more effective, more successful communicators of the ideas of liberty. This issue features articles by some of the finest communicators in the libertarian movement: David Bergland, Bob Burg, Michael Cloud, Mary Ruwart, Sharon Harris... as well as additional articles, columns, and more! We'll be happy to send you a FREE copy of The Libertarian Communicator -- just click here: http://www.self-gov.org/newmag.html
* Communication Bargain of the Century: You can get the great 3-tape audio course "The Essence of Political Persuasion" from us at the GIVE-AWAY price of only $7.50 - that price includes handling and First Class mail so you'll get it right away! Libertarian Party Political Director Ron Crickenberger says this Advocates offer is "... the greatest gift the libertarian movement has received in years." We've put over 6,000 sets into the hands of libertarian activists in the past couple of years!
To order, see:
http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/persuasion.html
This is a secure site, so you can order via credit card with confidence. You can also call us or mail $7.50 to the Advocates. Our phone number and address are at the end of this issue.
* Quiz FAQ: Who created the World's Smallest Political Quiz? When and where? What does your Quiz score mean? The Advocates has created a huge FAQ ("Frequently Answered Questions") to answer many of the most common questions about the history and theory of the Quiz. You can get to the FAQ by clicking here: http://www.self-gov.org/wspq.html.
GOOD NEWS, BAD NEWS, UNBELIEVABLE NEWS
by James W. Harris
German Official to Ask U.S. to Ban Web Sites
German Interior Minister Otto Schily has announced plans to visit the United States this fall to lobby U.S. officials to shut down German-language Web "hate sites" that are hosted in the U.S.
The sites under scrutiny promote anti-Semitism, Nazism, racism and other repulsive doctrines.
Such sites are banned in Germany. However, in the United States they are widely thought to be protected by the First Amendment. The international, decentralized nature of the Web -- which allows these U.S.-based sites to be accessed in Germany and in other countries where such material is banned -- has frustrated the efforts of the German government to keep Germans from reading such material.
Minister Schily has been reluctant to say what arguments he might use to persuade American officials to outlaw such Web sites in the U.S. Indeed, a spokesman for Schily has refused to even disclose what U.S. officials he is currently speaking with to arrange his visit.
But in a recent newspaper interview, Schily said one possible weapon to close down such sites might be civil lawsuits filed in U.S. courts.
(Source: The Washington Post / Newsbytes.com, http://www.newsbytes.com/news/01/169280.html )
Record Numbers Say: Re-Legalize Marijuana
A record number of Americans favor re-legalizing marijuana, according to a new USA Today/CNN/Gallup poll.
Further, the numbers are rising rapidly.
In the poll, conducted in early August, fully 34 percent favored legalizing marijuana use -- the most support for legalization since pollsters began asking the question in 1969.
According to USA Today, "support for legalization had been constant at about 25 percent for 20 years before the USA Today poll recorded a rise to 31 percent in August 2000 and 34 percent earlier this month."
"We are literally winning the hearts and minds of the American people," said Keith Stroup, founder of the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws (NORML).
While outright legalization is gaining ground rapidly, support for legalizing the use of marijuana for medical reasons is overwhelming. Polls show more than 70 percent of U.S. voters support medical marijuana. And voters in eight states have passed initiatives supporting medical marijuana since 1996. Indeed, no initiative for legalizing medical marijuana has failed to pass.
In England and Canada, support for legalizing marijuana is even higher. According to USA Today, "[p]olls in Canada and England have shown half the population supports legalizing marijuana."
(Sources: USA Today DrugSense Weekly http://www.mapinc.org/drugnews/v01.n1555.a01.html )
Time Magazine: Home Schooling Revolution
According to Time magazine, the home schooling movement in America is snowballing -- and achieving remarkable results. In fact, it's becoming so popular some say it poses a serious threat to government-monopoly education.
The article points out that, according to a new federal report, at least 850,000 students were learning at home in 1999 (the most recent year studied); some experts put the figure at twice that. Just five years earlier, the estimate was 345,000.
Time notes that's still only 4% of the total K-12 population. However, Time puts that figure in dramatic perspective: "[T]hat would mean more kids learn at home than attend all the public schools in Alaska, Delaware, Hawaii, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming combined."
Furthermore, while charter schools and vouchers have been getting far more attention, "home schooling has quietly outpaced both of those more attention-getting reforms (only half a million kids are in charter schools, and just 65,000 receive vouchers)." And home schooling is still growing at a whopping 11% a year.
Time further notes the positive side of home-schooling: "...there are signs that home-schooling parents are doing a better job than public schools at teaching their kids....We know the average SAT score for home schoolers in 2000 was 1100, compared with 1019 for the general population. And a large study by University of Maryland education researcher Lawrence Rudner showed that the average home schooler scored in the 75th percentile on the Iowa Test of Basic Skills; the 50th percentile marked the national average. But not all home schoolers take standardized tests, and one suspects the better students are the ones volunteering to do so."
Time also notes the potentially revolutionary nature of home schooling: "In many ways, in fact, home schooling has become a threat to the very notion of public education. In some school districts, so many parents are pulling their children out to teach them at home that the districts are bleeding millions of dollars in per-pupil funding. Aside from money, the drain of families is eroding something more precious: public confidence in the schools."
Says Time: "According to the Federal Government, up to three-quarters of the families that home school today say they do so primarily because, like so many of us, they are worried about the quality of their children's education."
Time says many educators are concerned that, as more parents turn to non-government sources for education, they will be less inclined to support government schools with their tax dollars. Gee, wouldn't that be a shame?
(Source: "Home Sweet School," Time: http://www.time.com/time/cover/1101010827/cover.html )
* * *
"Despotism over mind and body ..."
"A general State education is a mere contrivance for molding people to be exactly like one another; and as the mold in which it casts them is that which pleases the dominant power in the government, whether this be a monarch, an aristocracy, or a majority of the existing generation; in proportion as it is efficient and successful, it establishes a despotism over the mind, leading by a natural tendency to one over the body."
-- John Stuart Mill, 1859
* * *
"Good News, Bad News, Unbelievable News" writer James W. Harris is co-editor of the Liberator Online. His articles have appeared in numerous magazines and newspapers, including The Nation, Reason, The Freeman, the National Taxpayers Union's Dollars and Sense, the Atlanta Constitution, and many more. He has been a Finalist in the Mencken Awards, given by the Free Press Association for "Outstanding Journalism in Support of Liberty."
ASK DR. RUWART
How can you answer difficult questions about libertarianism -- in short, positive, persuasive soundbite-sized responses? It's a challenge every libertarian communicator faces.
Dr. Mary Ruwart is a leading expert in libertarian communication, and author of the international bestseller Healing Our World. In this column she gives readers "short answers to the tough questions" that libertarians are frequently asked.
If you'd like Dr. Ruwart to craft effective answers to YOUR "tough questions" on libertarian issues, just email the questions to her at: mailto:ruwart@self-gov.org . *Due to volume, Dr. Ruwart can't personally answer or acknowledge all email queries.* But we'll run the best questions -- and Dr. Ruwart's answers -- in upcoming issues.
Dr. Ruwart's past answers are archived in searchable form at http://www.self-gov.org/ruwart/
* * *
Are excise taxes libertarian?
Question:
"I am bothered that some libertarians are advocating the idea of excise taxes to fund government. Isn't this just another form of force (making people pay more for things than they have to), and opening the door for yet more social engineering?"
My short answer:
"Yes, indeed! Excise taxes are theft, too.
"Some libertarians advocate returning to the Constitution (and excise taxes) as a way to get closer to the no-tax ideal. However, a truly libertarian society wouldn't have any taxes at all!"
* * *
Which libertarian books should I start with?
Question:
"I have become very interested in libertarianism and the Libertarian Party during the last few months. I want to study it deeper. If you had to pick one book to read to get started, which would it be? Then maybe books number 2 and 3? Can you steer me in the most effective way so I can catch up? Thank you."
My short answer:
"Naturally, I'm partial to my own book, "Healing Our World," which you can order from the Advocates or obtain as a free download at my web site, http://www.ruwart.com/. If you combine "Healing" with one of Harry Browne's books ("The Great Libertarian Offer" or "Why Government Doesn't Work"), you'll have a good balance. "Libertarianism in One Lesson" by David Bergland is a concise treatise on rights that will round out your 'education.' All of these are available from the Advocates by phone, mail, or online at http://www.self-gov.org/."
* * *
What if another Hitler arises?
Question:
"I agree with the concept of neutrality and free trade in most issues. But...What if, without U.S. intervention, someone like Saddam Hussein tries to become another Hitler? What if he were to use his armed forces to conquer the entire Middle East, then Europe, etc.? If we didn't get involved he could consolidate all of his holdings, build his military stronger and then be a real threat to the U.S. Would the government of a libertarian state believe in assisting the overthrow of a dictator who attempted to conquer the rest of the world? Would we only recognize threats to our own soil, or to other libertarian nations as well?"
My short answer:
"Most modern tyrants, including Hitler and Saddam Hussein, built up their military with Western assistance, sometimes in the forms of taxpayer-guaranteed loans. Without our help, I doubt that Hussein would be a problem today.
"However, let's assume that a tyrant was able to become self-sustaining. In a libertarian nation, those who wanted to fight the oppressor would be free to raise support (money, time, volunteers, mercenaries) to protect the victims. Others in the same libertarian nation might choose to remain neutral and would not be obligated to contribute to this effort.
"Naturally, the more 'successful' a tyrant was in extending his or her reach, the more likely that freedom-loving people would rally in oppositon. Since a modern libertarian society would likely be aware of its special heritage, many would see tyranny as a threat to be disposed of quickly. In the process, however, those who were pacifists or didn't feel threatened wouldn't be tyrannized themselves through taxation, the draft, etc."
* * *
Dr. Ruwart's book "Healing Our World" features persuasive arguments for liberty, backed with *over 500 references* showing how liberty works. You can browse the entir book online at: http://www.ruwart.com/Healing/
You can order it at a special reduced price of only $12.95 (plus shipping) from the Advocates. Check out our online catalog at: http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/opp.html
Dr. Ruwart's book "Short Answers to the Tough Questions" -- an essential guide for anyone wanting to become a better libertarian communicator -- is also available from the Advocates for $12.00 (plus shipping):: http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/opp.html
And see the "Product Review" at the end of this issue for information on Dr. Ruwart's new tape set!
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PERSUASION POWER POINT #109
Thirsty Horses by Michael Cloud
"Why couldn't you convince that guy that libertarianism is right?" asked John.
"You can lead a horse to water, but you can't make him drink," said Bill, a new libertarian.
Sometimes that's true. Other times, it's n excuse. Often, it's an opportunity to learn.
Let's consider the horse that would not drink.
Maybe he wasn't thirsty. Maybe he didn't like our water. Maybe he didn't like the way you led him to the stream.
You might have the wrong horse.
Or maybe we're asking the wrong questions. Maybe we're trying to solve the wrong problem.
We're trying to figure our why this one horse won't drink our water.
We need thirsty horses.
1. How do we find thirsty horses? When we lead thirsty horses to water, they'll drink as much as they can.
2. How can we tell when a horse is thirsty? How does he act? How does he look? What are the clues?
3. How can I tell when a horse is NOT thirsty? How is he different from a thirsty horse?
4. How can I make horses thirsty? As Infomercial pioneer Steve Scott suggests, "Salt their oats ... and they'll drink as much water as you want."
5. How can I motivate horses to come to me when they ARE thirsty?
6. How can I get horses that can't or won't drink to lead me to thirsty horses?
7. How can I make my water more attractive to horses that are thirsty?
Too many frustrated libertarians blame the horse. They hold his head under until he drinks or drowns.
When it comes to persuasion, libertarians need more horse sense.
We try to persuade people who don't want liberty ... that they DO want it.
We need to find people who want the blessings and benefits of liberty.
1. How do we find thirsty prospects? Ask prospects if they're thirsty.
* "Do you think government is too big, about the right size, or too small?"
* "Do you think taxes are too low, about the right amount, or too high?"
* "Do you have too much freedom, about the right amount of freedom, or too little freedom?
* Reach out to them when they feel the heavy hand of government. April 15th. In line at the Department of Motor Vehicles. When they have just received an IRS audit notice. When they pay their property taxes. Or after they paid taxes on their parents' estate.
* Reach out to them when someone they deeply care about is feeling government's heavy hand. A son or a daughter arrested for smoking marijuana. A neighbor or family member who is being audited by the IRS. A friend with a business or rental property who is being hounded by government bureaucrats.
2. How can we tell when a prospect is thirsty? What are the clues?
* Offer them water. "If we could have a federal government so small it didn't need an income tax, would you want it?" "If it were possible to End Drug Prohibition and the No-Win, Morally Wrong War on Drugs, would you want it?" "If it were possible to repeal all 20,000 federal anti-gun laws, would you want it?"
* Listen to them. "That bleepity-bleep federal government is too $@#% bossy!" "Can you believe these $%@*!$# taxes?" "Did you see 'Mr. Stossel Goes to Washington'? It was really cool." (If the person is complaining about government or politicians, chances are, they're thirsty.)
3. How can I tell when a prospect is NOT thirsty? How is he different from a thirsty prospect?
* Listen to them. If they never complain about government, politicians, or taxes, they probably aren't thirsty. Nor if they praise the government for doing the best it can.
* If they proudly work for the government. A happy IRS auditor. A self-righteous DEA agent. A Department of Motor Vehicles employee who believes the people in line are an imposition.
* If they TELL you they're not thirsty. Especially if you've offered them water on a dozen previous occasions.
4. How can I make prospects thirsty? Steven K. Scott's "A Millionaire's Notebook" teaches two techniques:
A. Salt their oats.
B. Emotional word pictures.
A. How do you salt their oats? How do you make them thirsty? What's the secret to getting them to ask you to lead them to water? You just experienced three examples. Questions! What thought-provoking questions can you ask that will stimulate their interest in liberty? What questions would intrigue or hook them?
What questions would prompt them to say, "Tell me more!" What questions about government or liberty would tempt or tantalize them?
(Does this intrigue you enough to go test your salt questions on unsuspecting and possibly thirsty horses? Does this tempt you enough to go looking for horses?)
B. "An emotional word picture is a statement or story that enables the hearer to visualize what is being said," writes Steven Scott.
* Use emotional word pictures from some of my earlier Persuasion Power Points: The Better Mousetrap Myth, Welfare Pigeons, The Other Person's Shoes, Persuasion, Lessons from the Gardener, Flat Earth Politics, Evangelist or Church Preacher, The Wrong End of the Stick, Prospecting For Gold, Would You Push the Button?, Big Government As Wile E. Coyote, Take Out the Trash, Chinese Bamboo, and Ben Franklin's Road to Excellence.
* Aesop's Fables. Parables of Jesus. Tales from Uncle Remus. Fairy tales and fables.
5. How can I motivate prospects to come to me when they ARE thirsty?
* Advertise and publicize your water.
* Create word-of-mouth. Tell everybody how thirst-quenching your water is.
* Hand out road maps that show people how to get to your water. ( The Advocates' website is http://ww.self-gov.org).
* When they are thirsty, point them to your water. You don't have to motivate them. Their thirst will motivate them.
6. How can I get prospects who can't or won't drink to lead me to thirsty horses?
* Ask them to do it. "It sounds to me like you're not interested in my libertarian ideas. If you have a friend or co-worker who is interested, would you ask them to get in touch with me?" Or: "Would you give me their phone number or email address?"
* Show them how to tell when a horse is thirsty.
7. How can I make my water more attractive to horses that are thirsty?
* Don't quench their thirst with a fire hose. Don't make them drink more than they want.
* Don't muddy the water. Don't put things in the stream that have nothing to do with water. Your opinions on religion, or sex, or how to raise children do not belong in the water. Your personal values do not belong in the water. The water belongs in the water.
* Make it safe to drink there. Don't browbeat or threaten a prospect sampling our libertarian ideas. Let them decide how thirsty they are, and when they want to return.
There's nothing wrong with the horses.
There's nothing wrong with the water.
To persuade we must master the subject of thirst.
Michael Cloud is the Persuasion columnist for the Liberator Online and The Libertarian Communicator. In July 2000, at the Libertarian Party national convention, Cloud was voted the Most Persuasive Libertarian Communicator in America and honored with the Thomas Paine Award.
Michael Cloud is creator of "The Essence of Political Persuasion," the classic 3-tape libertarian communication course, also available exclusively from the Advocates at the *give-away* price of only $7.50 postpaid (includes First Class postage!). For more information, or to order, click here: http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/persuasion.html
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PRODUCT REVIEW
Operation Politically Homeless (OPH) Kit
Price cut in half!
If you've read this issue's Pesident's Corner, you know all about the Advocates' new Discover Liberty program.
And you also know that Operation Politically Homeless (OPH) is the centerpiece of Discover Liberty.
OPH is the incredible tool that lets two or more libertarians (or even one, in a pinch) get dozens or even hundreds of names of hot libertarian prospects, wherever people are gathered.
Do you want to find more libertarians in your hometown? Do you want to quickly gather the names of libertarians and libertarian-leaning people for your organization's mailing list -- by the dozens or hundreds?
Then you need OPH!
To make sure as many people as possible can do an OPH, we've cut the price on this legendary tool by HALF! After over a decade of selling for $95.00, it's now only $47.50 (plus shipping).
Following is more detailed info on OPH. Or, you can go directly to these URLs:
*You can order an OPH kit here: http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/ophpage.html. (or you can order from our phone/email/mail address at the end of this issue).
* Read what libertarian leaders and activists say about OPH: http://www.theadvocates.org/discover/praise.htm
* Detailed description of OPH: http://www.theadvocates.org/discover/OPH.htm
* OPH World Record and other amazing results: http://www.theadvocates.org/discover/oph_world_records.htm
Questions and Answers About OPH
1. What is Operation Politically Homeless?
It's the highly praised "Libertarian Event in a Kit" that is the easiest, most fun way ever discovered to bring libertarian ideas to the public -- and to get the names and addresses of new and potential libertarians.
Set it up anywhere there are people, and Operation Politically Homeless will draw crowds and help you quickly identify libertarians and potential libertarians.
OPH is a proven, time-tested, acclaimed success. It's endorsed by libertarian leaders and organizations across America. Literally tens of thousands of people have been introduced to libertarian ideas by OPH.
The OPH kit provides everything you need: signs, Quiz cards, Harris 5-Jar Technique materials, manual, instructional audio tape, and more. All you supply is a booth, a simple frame or stand for your OPH chart, and some libertarians who want to make a difference.
OPH is far more effective than a mere literature table. It actively engages passers-by, catching their attention, intriguing them. People *want* to stop at the booth. It's fun for everyone involved. And because it uses the World's Smallest Political Quiz, it opens people's minds to a new political landscape that (unlike the old left-right line) includes libertarians.
2. How many people are needed for an OPH booth?
Many successful booths have been done by only one person. But two or more is better. A typical booth has 3-4 people. And at a big event -- the more the better! Some OPHers have found themselves literally swamped by crowds of people standing in line to take the Quiz!
3. How does OPH help me gather the names of libertarian-leaning folks?
Not only is OPH irresistible for many passers-by -- OPH provides a vital "quality control" to your recruiting efforts. The names you'll gather will have already scored libertarian on the Quiz (or otherwise expressed interest in libertarian ideas) -- thus insuring that they've been exposed to libertarian ideas and are eager for more information.
4. What Are Some Good Locations for OPH Booths?
OPH works its magic virtually anywhere there's a crowd or a steady stream of people. It doesn't have to be at a political event. In fact, some of the best results have come from non-political events like music concerts or county fairs.
A few suggestions from past successful OPHs: gun shows; college registration days; art fairs; state or local fairs; political rallies; political meetings (we've had successful OPHs at Democratic, Republican, and even Socialist gatherings); tax protests; drug relegalization rallies; science fiction conventions; computer shows; flea markets....
Look in the "Events" section of your local paper. Check regional magazines that list festivals and fairs. Call your Chamber of Commerce and ask about upcoming events (they'll likely inundate you).
You can probably come up with many more ideas yourself. The most important thing to remember is this: right now, today, this weekend, there are several great places for an OPH within a short drive of you. There will be people there who (even if they don't know it yet) are libertarians, or libertarian-leaning.
Will they encounter the ideas that they're hungry for? The ideas that can change their lives -- and help win the world for liberty?
It's up to you.
5. What's in the OPH Kit?
You get three large Diamond Chart posters (based on the World's Smallest Political Quiz); one 5-Jar Technique Kit (a great way to let people express their disgust with Big Government!); two sets of five booth signs; colored dots for the Diamond Chart; 1,000 Survey Quizzes designed for the booth; 1,000 Deluxe Quizzes; a Training Manual that tells you how to best use all this; and an audio tape guide to successful OPHing.
The package is designed so you can be easily set up and running in no time. An OPH is simple, easy to do, and fun!
Your OPH Kit can be used for many years to bring thousands of people to the cause of liberty. Get yours today!
************* PRICES SLASHED! *************
In conjunction with Discover Liberty, the Advocates has upgraded the OPH kits -- and slashed the price in half!
You can order an OPH kit here: http://www.reliablehost.com/self-gov/ophpage.html.
This will take you to our online catalog. You can order via credit card from there if you wish. Our site is credit card secure -- you can order with the same confidence you'd feel at your local department store. While there, you can browse our other libertarian products and order any you wish.
You can also, of course, order by phone, mail or fax, from the address below.
Thank you!
See you in two weeks! You can contact the Advocates at:
Snail Mail:
Advocates for Self Government 5 South Public Square, Suite 304 Cartersville, GA 30120
Phone: 770-386-8372; for orders, 800-932-1776 Fax: 770-386-8373 Email: mailto:advocates@self-gov.org WWW: http://www.self-gov.org/
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You can see back issues of the Liberator Online on the Advocates' web site: http://www.self-gov.org/liberator/
The Advocates for Self-Government is a non-profit educational organization. Our purpose is to: (1) present the freedom philosophy honestly and persuasively to opinion-makers and the public so that they can encounter, evaluate, and when ready, embrace the ideals of self-government; (2) help libertarians become effective and powerful communicators of the ideas of liberty; and (3) change the political map from the inaccurate and exclusionary 'left-right/liberal conservative' line to a more accurate and inclusive model (like that on our World's Smallest Political Quiz) that includes libertarians and others.
PLEASE NOTE: Contributions to the Advocates are tax deductible under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code. If you would like to support the vital, world-changing work of the Advocates, we *welcome* your donation. To support the Advocates' work, see http://www.self-gov.org/donate.html -- or give us a call at 1-800-932-1776.
"May it be to the world... to assume the blessings and security of self-government." -- Thomas Jefferson