Responsible adults will make the right decisions for themselves, their families.

by David Ulmer
Chair, Libertarian Party of Wake County

Individuals and private businesses have done more to combat COVID-19 than any government edict by practicing what their mothers taught them. They didn’t need to be told what to do. They were doing it voluntarily, before government mandates.

In fact, hasty government decisions based on limited information and considering only one aspect of the situation may have caused more harm than good. Now, sadly but predictably, partisanship and name-calling could drown out any civil discussion of how to respond to, and recover from, the pandemic.

People who want to get back to work to provide for their families are not being irresponsible. People who prefer to stay home to protect themselves and others are not promoting tyranny. No one wants people to die. Everyone wants to stay safe.

Science isn’t always cut and dried. What we think we know today may not be true tomorrow. Discoveries can shape how we respond to a disease.

Given current, accurate, and complete as possible information, responsible adults will almost always make the right decisions for themselves and their families.

The most productive government action is to develop recommendations while remaining flexible as new data comes in. Let the people decide how to apply them. Government should empower, not restrict people.

If a business can operate safely and profitably within these limits, they should go ahead.

Rather than a one-size-fits-all approach, let local communities modify those recommendations. What’s suitable for urban areas like Wake, may not be right for rural counties like Scotland. Nor should government decide what is or isn’t essential.

COVID-19 is a serious public health crisis. Severely damaging a robust economy, putting millions out of work, is also detrimental to public health.

The response from most North Carolinians to the virus is proof again that the limitless potential of free people, working together, can solve the most important problems we face.

#WakeLP #WakeUpLiberty #covid19 #coronavirus

Many of you have attended one of our WakeLP monthly speaker events at Tobacco Road. We all know how much fun it is to enjoy a burger and beer and learn about important issues in Wake County and North Carolina. Unfortunately, we’re having to adjust to this current situation like many other groups.

WakeLP will have it's first online Zoom event Wednesday, April 29, at 7 p.m.

It should be fun, even without the great service we get from Tobacco Road. So, BYOB.

Jo Jorgensen, a Libertarian presidential candidate, will be our special guest. Jo will talk about the government's response to the pandemic and how she plans to move liberty forward if elected to represent the LP as our candidate for President. She'll be the second Libertarian presidential candidate to have addressed the WakeLP.

Jorgensen was the Libertarian candidate for vice president in 1996, on the Harry Browne ticket. She also ran for Congress in South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District in 1992. She's currently is a senior lecturer in psychology at Clemson University.

We’ll start as usual with an informal, lightly-moderated, thirty-minute social. Our guest will speak beginning at 7:30 p.m.

The Zoom meeting invite and details will be sent out the morning of the event. Please register with your name and email address here.

Wake Libertarians support several charity organizations every month. These include the St. John's MCC food pantry, Habitat for Humanity of Wake County, the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle, and the Food Bank of Central and Eastern North Carolina.

All these groups need help during the coronavirus pandemic. “Since we can’t show up and help physically, I encourage those of you with $20 lying around to consider donating to one of these causes.” urged David Ulmer, WakeLP chair. “

"If not these, please consider another charity of your choosing.”

Patrick Bowersox, WakeLP secretary, is buying items at Lowe’s to donate to St. John’s this month. You can send him money directly via PayPal at [email protected].

Giving directly to a charity or Patrick means WakeLP does not have to try to account for the donation separately, and none of these fine groups are subject to theft.

“I appreciate your time, and all of these groups would greatly appreciate some money if you can spare it,” Ulmer said.

Here’s how to contact them: