Thanks Brien. Arguing amonst ourselves and some of the less productive communications *are* a waste of time. We have so much work to do. 
Jean
You're welcome Jean. I think you touched on a very important aspect of this forum when you wrote that some posters will surely scare timid folks away with some of their posts. I have already seen the mistrust of my friend Russ in some of his posts. I don't wish to single him out but he did attack me and made up assumptions and attributed them to my writing. I think this kind of behavior undermines the real work that needs to be done. It is reprehensible. This is all I will write concerning this poster.
I believe in ideas. I do NOT believe in trying to disparage others through any means. If someone has an idea, then we should discuss it. We should not ridicule those who may not have all of the facts or see things in a different light than others. Perhaps we should try and get more ideas out in the forum so those who are open minded can consider those ideas and perhaps change their own minds if they can see things in a different light than they did previously. This is the way we can move forward.
I get the idea here that some out in the forums are self appointed "leaders" who think they are more more important than others. Welcome to the Animal Farm where everyone is equal but some are more equal than others. Well that, of course, doesn't wash with me.
I may be new here recently but I have followed this forum for a long time. I have been a Party member and I have had my writing published in the Libertarian News. I am an old friend of Libertarianism and it seems to me that there are some people here that, intentional or not, will certainly alienate newcomers who don't think or support exactly like some "participants" wish them to think. I agree they will do more harm than good and it may be prudent for everyone to reconsider their intentions and actions here on this FSP forum. It is wise to be vigilant against those who wish to stifle ideas, no matter what they are, because that is the true enemy of Liberty.
I have posted my vision of Liberty and my role in the FSP in the FSP General Forum under the "FSP as bus."
Perhaps I will cut and paste it here. I'll be right back. It reads as follows.
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Man o man all of this arguing and name calling. It can be downright depressing and confusing. I am just one person and was a dues paying member of the Libertarian Party until I found all they did was badger me for more money almost weekly in my mail. No different than any other charitable organization I concluded. But this doesn't change my Libertarian Ideology. It just eliminated annoying mailings.
This FSP, to me, means making a commitment to move to NH for the purpose of being more free than I am now in Connecticut. It doesn't mean I have to band together with other people to move government in any one direction. If that is your vision, then I applaud your zeal. I don't disagree with the concept. I just won't let it direct my course in life. Wherever I move in NH, I will make a difference as only one person can in this life. I will vote my Libertarian principles regardless of where I live. I just think my votes will be more effective in NH. I am an independent businessman who runs a very successful business but I don't deal with the general public. I have a niche and it works very well for me. It frees me up to live anywhere I want. I lived in the Upper Valley near Lebanon NH for over 10 years. My kids are NH natives. I am not. But what does this matter anyway? Except that when I move back to NH, I will be more familiar with the state than others who never lived there at all. I will construct my own reality in liberty and not be constrained by having to find a job or commute to work.
This freedom is all very personal. I will move where I want and when I want. It doesn't matter to me who moves where and why. I feel I will choose the best town for my situation and deal with it from there. I want small and to be left alone. If I want to join some organization, then I will do that when I am ready.
The real change comes in the ballot box. Whomever said that the town meeting was the best place to get things done was correct. As Tip O'Neil said, "All politics is local." If I choose a small town like Springfield and run into like minded people, so be it. If not, I will always vote my conscience without regard to "throwing away" my votes.
I currently sit on the Zoning Board of Appeals in a small Connecticut town. I know that on the surface this would make most Libertarians sick because they are anti zoning. But, since zoning isn't going away here anytime soon, where best to apply my Libertarian viewpoints through action. I have a vote on a board that allows people to do what they wish to do with their own property. What better way to be a Libertarian activist than to grant variances to those people restricted by the zoning board. So until the zoning laws and board is abolished, I have a way to effectively undermine the zoning board here in town.  I am promoting the freedom of the property owner to do what he wishes to do with his own property by helping that property owner eliminate obstacles thrown at him by restrictive zoning laws. Is this not effective Libertarian change with regard to the parameters within which I have to act?
I write this as an example of how we all make our own reality. It is futile to argue over who is a "leader" or more of an "activist" with a better vision of liberty than another. If one makes a name for themself as a good representative for the shared ideas and ideals of another individual or group, then all well and good. I don't require these things to carve out my vision of liberty into reality. I am an individual and will do what I think is best for me based upon information made available to me.
I can't be a cheerleader for anyone or anything except individual liberty. And if my reality happens to coincide with another's vision of liberty as they carve out their reality, then all well and good. Two points for the home team. Until then, I will continue to move along with my personal vision of liberty while seeking a life more free for myself and my family and if it happens to support another's idea of liberty, then progress is probably happening without us even knowing it.
So this is how I explain my role in this whole deal. I hope it gives whomever reads it some insight into my beliefs of personal liberty and how I can contribute to the FSP in my own way. Meanwhile, I will continue to contribute ideas where I think they are appropriate. I thank you for your welcoming attitude.
Brien
