Reason... Season... Lifetime...

A friend from my high school days led me to this inspirational writing. **Thanks Vicki** While it didn't change my situation - it certainly helped changed my perspective on things and, in time, help me move forward.

Moving forward is the greatest challenge many people face after any loss... Whether Love, career, life.

There's often a reason for it that will materialize in the future. Maybe you were meant to learn a lesson in those roles and you‘ve learned it. Maybe you were meant to meet someone (a future client, a new friend or a future soul mate) and you've met them so it's time to move on. Or maybe you were meant to help someone -and having fulfilled your duty it's time to move on. You won't know the reason until years later - or never at all. So just accept the decision and accept that there may be a grander plan being played out... and move on.

When dealing with any kind of loss we know that time is a great healer. And with time, people who have lost (jobs, friends, family) often come to realize that what once seemed like a disaster, in fact happened for a reason. And that quite often, redundancy was not a set back, but the start of a brand new season..

*********

The short story I am referring to:

A Reason, a Season, or a Lifetime

People come into your life for a reason, a season, or a lifetime. When you figure out which one it is, you will know what to do for each person.

When someone is in your life for a REASON . . . It is usually to meet a need you have expressed. They have come to assist you through a difficulty, to provide you with guidance and support, to aid you physically, emotionally, or spiritually. They may seem like a godsend, and they are! They are there for the reason you need them to be.

Then, without any wrong doing on your part, or at an inconvenient time, this person will say or do something to bring the relationship to an end.

Sometimes they die.
Sometimes they walk away.
Sometimes they act up and force you to take a stand.

What we must realise is that our need has been met, our desire fulfilled, their work is done. The prayer you sent up has been answered. And now it is time to move on.

When people come into your life for a SEASON . . .
Because your turn has come to share, grow, or learn.
They bring you an experience of peace, or make you laugh.
They may teach you something you have never done.
They usually give you an unbelievable amount
of joy. Believe it! It is real! But, only for a season.

LIFETIME relationships teach you lifetime lessons; things you must build upon in order to have a solid emotional foundation. Your job is to accept the lesson, love the
person, and put what you have learned to use in all other relationships and areas of your life. It is said that love is blind but friendship is clairvoyant.

Author Unknown

Been a long while

Been a while since I have blogged - needed the break for personal reasons.

I am going to get active again by noting other blogs comments that I particularly like and there will be original postings on and off as well.

Now that I am no longer state chair - I will post in a blunt, cynical way that reflects my personality. I will post ideas and thoughts outside the mainstream and outside "politically correct" standards that permeate the environment today.

thanks for your patience in waiting while I settled into the real world for a bit.

Ah yes - FREEDOM!

LPKS 2009 State Convention

LPKS 2009 State Convention

Date: March 7th, 2009

Please add to your schedules and plan to be there! I am letting you know early so there will be no excuses. 8-)

Place: Emporia State University
ESU Union - Heritage Room
Emporia, Kansas
Time: 11 AM to 4 PM (if we need the entire time)

This meeting will have the elections of all officers, and this is the meeting where we have traditionally had the chance to change the state by-laws, statement of principles, and/or constitution. All proposed changes must be sent to the chair *in writing, so that we can prepare for the convention and to give all LPKS members as much notice of possible changes being discussed.

Note: ALL OFFICERS are up for election in 2009.
The eight voting officers today in the LPKS constitution today are Chair, Vice-Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Congressional District 1 Coordinator, Congressional District 2 Coordinator, Congressional District 3 Coordinator, and Congressional District 4 Coordinator. These eight are the people who vote on all spending for the LPKS. They are also the voting members of any internal issues that come up between conventions.

Please note that the procedure for electing these eight people is split into two formats. All those LPKS members in attendance from across the state will elect the “name” officers. (Chair, Vice-Chair, Secretary, and Treasurer) Only those members that live in each district elect that District Coordinator to represent them.

If you have an interest in running for one of these positions – please let me know ASAP as we want to keep everyone notified of all possible candidates available.

For the party to grow at its most beneficial pace, we need competition for all officer positions, while it may be the easy way to elect officers without a competition – it is not necessarily the best way.

I have been asked by several people to run as chair again. At this time, I do not plan to run again. If I receive many solid commitments to work to grow the LPKS – I would look again at running for third term. Jason Peck (Vice-Chair) will not be running for another term.

With this in mind, we need many new people to step up, lead and help us grow. Keeping the same executive committee (repeatedly) has a tendency to trend to group complacency, and we must be vigilant that we keep growing and not become stagnant as an organization. New leadership always comes to a group with an enthusiasm missing from the old group and a sense of direction that may or may not have been there before.

If you have an interest in being an officer – please let me know ASAP, so I can compile a list of candidates to announce.

Thanks for all you do for the LPKS!

Rob Hodgkinson - Chair

It's a great time to be a Libertarian in Kansas!

Top 100 LP Blogs.... I am on the list!

Sarah Scrafford at WebPreneur Names Top 100 Libertarian Blogs

At least someone is noticing. Sarah has put together her list of the Top 100 Libertarian blogs & I was told today that I made the list.

Link to that list is: http://www.webdesignschoolsguide.com/library/the-top-100-libertarian-blogs.html

This is interesting to me as once we get past the internal LPKS party elections in March, I should have time to blog more than I have been doing.

I look forward to the challenge of growing the readership here.

Kansas election results

We elected one libertarian in Kansas in 2008. Fredrick Campbell was (re)elected to the County Attorney position in Anderson County.

We retained ballot access for another 2 years due to Randall Hodgkinson’s 3rd place showing gaining 2.1% of the vote (24,946) in the statewide race of US Senate.

Other good showings included Sheri Stearns (Gardner) who had just under 13% of the vote in a 3-way race with the R & D’s. The best showing we have had in a 3-way with the R’s & D’s in the race in a long while if not ever.

We are making progress (even if slow) to getting the message out that the Libertarian Party is not a protest vote but a good vote. This election showed that we need to concentrate on lower level races so we can start winning and take that success to higher levels as we grow.

Speaking of lower level races --- Now that the fall elections are over, it is time to start thinking about the spring races. These spring races are non-partisan meaning you do not run with an R, D or L after your name on the ballot.

These races include most City Councils, School Boards, Community College Trustee’s, Water Boards, and other races as well.

We need candidates for these races next spring.
Most of the filing deadlines are early January 2009 so you need to decide quickly.

If you plan to run in a non-partisan race this spring – please let the LPKS know.

Mark off March 7th and leave this as an open date on you calendars - why coming soon!

Rob Hodgkinson - Chair

It's a great time to be a Libertarian in Kansas!

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HOW TO DONATE TO THE KANSAS LIBERTARIAN PARTY
If you'd like to donate to the Kansas Libertarian Party just sign up by going to (click on): http://www.lpks.org/Donate/DonateToday/tabid/1061/Default.aspx
and choose a one time or monthly donation method. The donation website (PayPal) is encrypted and is a secure site.

Election Night Party!

You are invited to a LPKS PARTY!

Tell your friends and be there!

Join us at a Election Night Party to celebrate the hard work and our LPKS political successes in 2008!

Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2008
Time: 7:00pm - 11:00pm ??
Location: Granite City Food & Beverage
Street: 1701 Village West Parkway
City/Town: Kansas City, KS 66111

Granite City is in the Legends (by the racetrack) across from Nebraska Furniture Mart.

If you plan to attend - please RSVP to Rob Hodgkinson --- Chair@lpks.org

It's a great time to be a Libertarian in Kansas!

Libertarian VP candidate Wayne Root on ‘the battered voter syndrome’

“He lies to me all the time. He takes my money and tells me that I can’t spend it as well as he can. I’ve watched him spend us into financial ruin, giving money to his friends. Wasting money on irresponsible schemes. We’re so far in debt, we’ll never get out.”

“I work extra long hours to support him. I bring home all the money, yet he tells me what to do all day long. He winds up controlling almost every aspect of my life. He even tells me that I don’t know how to properly raise my own children.”

“When he needs me, he’s nice to me. He tells me how he wants the same things I do. After he gets what he wants, he goes back to his real personality. The truth is that he couldn’t care less about me. He couldn’t care less about anyone or anything. He only cares about himself. He uses the rest of us to get what he wants.”

“He keeps hurting me and I don’t know what to do. I’m really scared. But he has me convinced that anyone else would treat me worse. He’s probably right. So I stay.” “It’s probably all my fault. I just need to show him that I support him 100%. Maybe than he’ll treat me better.”
Everyone has heard of “battered spouse syndrome.” Battered spouses lack self-esteem or confidence, and actually choose to stay in disastrous, depressing, dangerous, and even deadly relationships. In many cases, the more loyalty they show to their abusive spouse, the worse they are treated and the more abuse they absorb. Most of us cannot understand how someone can choose to stay in a relationship with someone that torments them, hurts them (physically or psychologically), or threatens to kill them (or their children).

But the tale of woe you just read above is not from a battered spouse. This person is suffering from “battered voter syndrome.”

Both Republicans and Democrats fall victim election after election to such abuse.
Let’s start with battered Republicans. How many times can conservative or free market libertarian voters be lied to, without waking up to the deception? Year after year, at election time Republicans trot out candidates who portray themselves as libertarian conservatives standing for free markets, smaller government, lower spending, lower taxes, and more freedom. But after they are elected, they govern very differently than they promised. The reality is that Republicans talk about smaller government, but once elected, they expand government just like Democrats. They treat us like battered voters.

Even one of my heroes was guilty of this offense. Remember when Ronald Reagan said, “The nine worst words in the English language are ‘I’m from the government and I’m here to help.’” Then he was elected and oversaw a dramatic expansion of government. Reagan also said he’d eliminate the Department of Education. It is still standing almost three decades later- not only standing, but growing at an alarming rate. The budget of the Department of Education is $80 Billion dollars almost 3 decades after Reagan pledged to eliminate it. Eighty billion dollars.

Remember when George H.W. Bush (daddy of W) said, “Read my lips, no new taxes.” Then after his election, he promptly raised taxes.

Remember George W. Bush’s promises to cut government and reduce spending. Then he was elected and went on a spending rampage that would embarrass a drunken sailor. The first veto of his Presidency was against stem cell research. But earmarks, pork, waste and bloated budgets never seemed to bother W.

Now we have John McCain- yet another Republican Presidential candidate promising to be a conservative free market libertarian. But in his prior political life McCain voted against tax cuts; supported amnesty for illegal aliens- whose demands for government spending and entitlements threaten to bankrupt our nation; supported more government regulation, more bureaucrats, and higher taxes in the name of global warming; supported violations of our civil liberties (like warrantless wiretaps); and created a campaign finance bill (McCain Feingold) that eroded our free speech.

And that was all BEFORE McCain joined with Barack Obama to support the trillion-dollar government bailout- the greatest rip-off of taxpayers in American history.
Yet the specter of socialist radical Barack Obama has once again been used by Republican campaign consultants and strategists to frighten conservatives and free market libertarians reluctantly into the arms of McCain and Palin. I keep hearing those sad, pathetic words (that are trotted out every 4 years by Republicans), “well they are the lesser of two evils.” But is that good enough? Republicans threaten us with the specter of bigger government- then they get elected and give us bigger government. Should anyone be surprised when President John McCain governs in much the same way as prior Republican Presidents once elected? Any fiscally conservative, small-government advocate that votes for John McCain is certainly suffering from battered voter syndrome.

But it isn’t only Republicans who suffer from battered voter syndrome. Democrats have spent their fair share of time being abused by their own heroes too. Democrat politicians promise responsible government that will help “the little guy,” and then give us Congressman Barney Frank to oversee Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, while his lover runs the very programs that put the housing market and financial system into crisis.

Then there is Obama- the man of “change.” Well he has raised over $600 million dollars in change- smashing all-time records for campaign contributions. Who gave him $600,000,000? What do they expect in return? How did he do that in the worst economy in our lifetime? Does this ring any alarm bells in your mind? When Obama promises to “spread the wealth around,” to whom will he give your money?

Is Obama really for the “little guy?” He has been one of the biggest beneficiaries of contributions from Lehman Brothers, Bear Stearns, and Fannie Mae/Freddie Mac. All of them were at the very center of our credit crisis, investment banking meltdown and Wall Street bailout. Why did they choose to give so much money to Obama? What did they expect in return? Did all that campaign cash prevent Obama from speaking up about the looming financial meltdown?
Obama comes from the Chicago political machine- a modern day Tammany Hall. The economy of Chicago and the state of Illinois have been wrecked by this corrupt Democratic machine- with bloated budget deficits; out of control spending; unfunded state government employee union liabilities; among the worst public schools in the country; among the highest taxes in the country; the highest murder rate in the country; and one of the biggest population exoduses in the country.

If you like Chicago, you’ll love America with Obama as President. If you think Obama is the man of change, you are a battered voter.
Do you see a pattern? Republicans promise smaller government and more freedom from Big Brother. But once elected they bring us bigger government and the Nanny State. They expand government in order to help their friends- defense contractors, oil companies, pharmaceutical companies and agribusiness (billion dollar farm conglomerates). The small business owners that Republican politicians talk about at election time are thrown overboard in favor of corporate lobbyists.

Democrats promise to take care of the “little guy.” But once elected they throw the little guy overboard and hand the country over to trial lawyers, teachers unions, federal and state employee unions, radical environmentalists, and entitlement addicts. Democrats swear they will raise taxes only on the rich in order to spread the wealth around. But once elected, you become “the rich.” The reality is that Obama wants to spread the wealth around from those who work hard, achieve success and create jobs to those who don’t- because those are his voters. His economic philosophy isn’t about “fairness,” it is simply about BRIBERY.

Polls show that 90% of Americans now believe we are on the “wrong track” as a nation. That’s the highest rate in history. Yet if you’ve been voting for the same 2 choices- Republican or Democrat- for the last 20 or 30 or 50 years…if you’ve been voting all these years for “the lesser of two evils”…perhaps it’s no coincidence why we are on the wrong track. You’ve been voting for the wrong track.

Voters who choose the same 2 flawed choices of Republican or Democrat year after year are starring in “Groundhog Day.” You make the same choices election after election, yet you keep expecting different results! You fall for the same deceptions, lies and fraud year after year, yet you’re shocked that nothing changes. You still believe it when the politician offers “CHANGE” without asking what is his track record, and exactly what is the change that is he now offering? You are a battered voter.

But there is another choice. There is a way out. There is a right track. The Libertarian Party is here to end the abuse. As “America’s Third Party” we offer you the relationship with government that you’ve always desired.

We don’t deceive or lie or defraud voters. We support smaller government, reduced spending, lower taxes, school choice and more freedom. We do not support special interest pork-barrel spending or corporate welfare. We don’t just talk about these principles of limited government. We don’t just trot out actors (known as “candidates”) to portray a love of these principles every election day. We live these principles every second of every day. And once elected, Libertarians have a proven track record of actually doing what we said we’d do.

The Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr and Wayne Root could never hope to raise the $600 million dollars like Obama. Doesn’t that tell you something? Follow the money. Whoever gets the big corporate contributions is expected (or required) to return the favor- only one thousand times bigger (with taxpayer’s money).

Barr/Root isn’t bought or paid for by special interests or large corporations. Our campaign and convention were not funded with your tax money. We don’t owe anyone anything. Our only interest is you- the American citizen and taxpayer.
Isn’t it time that you supported a candidate who actually cares about you- the taxpayer? A candidate who actually says what he or she means- not just at election time, but after the election too. Isn’t it time you supported a candidate who is actually committed to a set of principles- not just to using principles as a “marketing tool” to get elected. Someone who actually pledges to make their own office less powerful, less important- so they can give the power back to the citizens and taxpayers.

The Libertarian Party and the Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root want a long-term healthy relationship with you. Together, we will build a future that is better for our children and better for our country. No, we’re not going to win this Presidential election. Not this time. But we have achieved all-time Libertarian Party records for media appearances and exposure to mainstream American voters. We are building a foundation of credibility for future victory at the national level. And it’s what that foundation is built upon that should be most important to you. We offer you the unique opportunity to take power back from the politicians, bureaucrats, lawyers, lobbyists and special interests.

We don’t batter our voters. We better them.

I started my campaign 18 months ago by announcing a 16-year detailed plan to win the White House. A small businessman and home-school dad from low-tax Nevada, who has never collected a government paycheck, or been corrupted by the “Beltway Insiders” or special interests in Washington D.C., is now the Vice Presidential nominee of a major third party ticket. I’d say that’s one heck of a successful start for my plan. November 4th isn’t an end, but rather the beginning of my long-term vision to give power back to the citizens.

Join us in starting the process of recovery from battered voter syndrome. You can do it. You can leave. You can change the self-destructive pattern. You can stop wasting your vote on the two parties that 90% of American voters agree have led us in the wrong direction. It’s never a wasted vote to choose a candidate that you really like, instead of someone you neither like nor trust. You actually have a choice. A third choice- the Libertarian Party is “America’s Third Party.”

Stop accepting the battering and abuse. Stop accepting the lies and deception. Choose a positive, healthy relationship with Bob Barr, Wayne Root and the Libertarian Party. On November 4th, come home to us.

Make your vote count. Go to www.LP.org and join us today.

Wayne Allyn Root is the Libertarian Vice Presidential nominee on the Libertarian Presidential ticket of Bob Barr/Wayne Root. His web site is: www.ROOTforAmerica.com