We're Here and We're... Drinking Beer!
While Michael and the rest of the campaign marched off to Houston to headline the Texas LP's convention, I stayed behind to work a Badnarik For Congress table at the local gay pride festival. I'm pleased to report that the day was a very successful one - we passed out at least 300 fliers, which is a good sum considering it was a rather smallish event. Everyone was polite, courteous, and several were very interested in Michael's race. Everytime someone asked "Republican or Democrat?" and I answered "Libertarian," the response was invariably a pleased nod and smile.
Obviously, they know who's really on their side!
I didn't take as many photos this time, since I was so busy handing out fliers, but you can see the few I took here.
The tent, looking all spiffy and clean for about 10 minutes until the breeze started playing with all that dirt you can see. By the end of the day everything (including my teeth) was covered in a fine layer of grit.
My first volunteer for the day, Therese. Taking turns in the hot sunshine, we passed out 200 fliers in under 2 hours, and she had to go make more copies!
Waterloo Park is rather small, but they packed all the vendors in as tightly as they could. Turnout was great, according to the event's organizers.
Check out the biceps. What a depressing day, working at a festival and being surrounded by cute guys that are virtually not guaranteed to be my type. Incidentally, a group got together to play football in the center field area, and they were all women.
My token giggle photo. I guess we should be happy they didn't perform an exhibition - though that depends on the participants.
Pradeep, my second volunteer. He worked a solid three hours with me and then did all the heavy lifting when it came time to break camp and haul everything to my car. Good man!
Here's a copy of the flier we spent all day handing out, in addition to brochures and bumper stickers. I spent all of one day on it, with valuable suggestions from both Allen and Jon, and I'm very pleased with it. (Picture it with the Badnarik logo on top.)
Should a government concern itself with the individual's right to marry?
It is nothing new for the government to get involved in the legality of marriage, almost always in the guise of preserving moral values. Moral values, however, vary by time and place, and what one society considers shockingly inappropriate might not faze another. For hundreds of years it was a crime in India to marry outside the caste, and as recently as the 1960s some states criminalized interracial marriages. On the flip side, having allowed two people to marry, some governments forbid their freedom to dissolve that marriage. In all cases the underlying message is quite clear: the government considers itself a better judge of whom you should marry than you are.
Some say the government must establish the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, but it is the government's role to preserve peace and protect property - not to be our dictionary. Michael Badnarik is opposed to a government that is so nosy as to involve itself with our private marriages.
What has government been doing?
The Bush administration and Republicans on the Hill insist that same-sex marriages will be 'forced' upon the nation if our federal government doesn't take action now. A Federal Marriage Amendment, if passed and added to the Constitution, would impose a uniform restriction across the country regardless of the will of the states - and the people in them. Yet it was Democratic President Bill Clinton who signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act, the law that allows a state to refuse recognition of same-sex couples. Simply moving across state lines can deprive two people of all due benefits and rights.
Both parties have proved that they are no true friend to the individual. Only the Libertarian Party pledges not to violate what is your right - religious sacrament or civil contract.
Vote for someone who will protect your rights!
Elect Michael Badnarik to Congress and he will fight the Federal Marriage Amendment and any similar legislation. Whether you are black or white, gay or straight, he knows it is none of the government's business whether or whom you can marry. Just like any other private, consensual transaction between adults in this country, your choice of spouse will always be your choice.
Obviously, they know who's really on their side!
I didn't take as many photos this time, since I was so busy handing out fliers, but you can see the few I took here.
The tent, looking all spiffy and clean for about 10 minutes until the breeze started playing with all that dirt you can see. By the end of the day everything (including my teeth) was covered in a fine layer of grit.
My first volunteer for the day, Therese. Taking turns in the hot sunshine, we passed out 200 fliers in under 2 hours, and she had to go make more copies!
Waterloo Park is rather small, but they packed all the vendors in as tightly as they could. Turnout was great, according to the event's organizers.
Check out the biceps. What a depressing day, working at a festival and being surrounded by cute guys that are virtually not guaranteed to be my type. Incidentally, a group got together to play football in the center field area, and they were all women.
My token giggle photo. I guess we should be happy they didn't perform an exhibition - though that depends on the participants.
Pradeep, my second volunteer. He worked a solid three hours with me and then did all the heavy lifting when it came time to break camp and haul everything to my car. Good man!
Here's a copy of the flier we spent all day handing out, in addition to brochures and bumper stickers. I spent all of one day on it, with valuable suggestions from both Allen and Jon, and I'm very pleased with it. (Picture it with the Badnarik logo on top.)
Should a government concern itself with the individual's right to marry?
It is nothing new for the government to get involved in the legality of marriage, almost always in the guise of preserving moral values. Moral values, however, vary by time and place, and what one society considers shockingly inappropriate might not faze another. For hundreds of years it was a crime in India to marry outside the caste, and as recently as the 1960s some states criminalized interracial marriages. On the flip side, having allowed two people to marry, some governments forbid their freedom to dissolve that marriage. In all cases the underlying message is quite clear: the government considers itself a better judge of whom you should marry than you are.
Some say the government must establish the definition of marriage as between a man and a woman, but it is the government's role to preserve peace and protect property - not to be our dictionary. Michael Badnarik is opposed to a government that is so nosy as to involve itself with our private marriages.
What has government been doing?
The Bush administration and Republicans on the Hill insist that same-sex marriages will be 'forced' upon the nation if our federal government doesn't take action now. A Federal Marriage Amendment, if passed and added to the Constitution, would impose a uniform restriction across the country regardless of the will of the states - and the people in them. Yet it was Democratic President Bill Clinton who signed into law the Defense of Marriage Act, the law that allows a state to refuse recognition of same-sex couples. Simply moving across state lines can deprive two people of all due benefits and rights.
Both parties have proved that they are no true friend to the individual. Only the Libertarian Party pledges not to violate what is your right - religious sacrament or civil contract.
Vote for someone who will protect your rights!
Elect Michael Badnarik to Congress and he will fight the Federal Marriage Amendment and any similar legislation. Whether you are black or white, gay or straight, he knows it is none of the government's business whether or whom you can marry. Just like any other private, consensual transaction between adults in this country, your choice of spouse will always be your choice.