In a historic virtual presidential nominating convention, Libertarian Party delegates from 50 states and the District of Columbia nominated Dr. Jo Jorgensen for President of the United States Saturday evening.

“I’m glad that the voters will finally have a real choice because the non-choice between Trump and Biden is still an option between big government and more big government,” said Jorgensen. “The volunteers are already pouring in, and it looks like it will be the most massive volunteer effort that the LP has ever seen. It is really growing from the grassroots.”

Jorgensen holds a doctorate in industrial/organizational psychology from Clemson University, where she teaches. A native of Grayslake, Ill., Jorgensen is a wife, mother, and grandmother currently living in Greenville, S.C.

She ran for South Carolina’s 4th Congressional District in 1992. After a statewide televised debate with her Democratic and Republican opponents, Dr. Jorgensen’s debate performance was widely praised in the media, and the Greenville News referred to her as “a rose between two thorns.”

In 1996, she was the Libertarian candidate for vice president.

We’re still waiting for things to get back to normal – the old normal, that is. Hopefully, by the time you read this, the governor will have graciously consented to move North Carolina into Phase II of reopening. WakeLP is planning a live speaker for July and maybe June. More details later.

But even if you stay at home, you can still work for liberty. Here are some ways.

Call Your Legislator for Fair Districts

The state General Assembly is back in session this week. While we expect them to focus on COVID-19, there are other important issues we should keep up the pressure on them to support. One is redistricting.

There are currently five bills, all with broad tripartisan support, languishing in the NCGA: H69 (Reives-McGrady), H140 (McGrady-Reives), and H648 (Warren-Hanig). Fair Districts NC, a coalition including the Libertarian Party, is urging people to contact their legislatures to keep up the pressure for their consideration.

The Virginia legislature recently passed the ballot initiative to create a redistricting commission. If voters approve it this fall, Virginia will become the first state in the South to establish an independent redistricting commission. So this is the right time to act.

While the most effective method for lobbying is visiting, a telephone call is a second-best way, and best under current limitations. You can look up your legislator here.

Read more here.

It’s also important to answer the one-constitutional question in the U.S. Census: How many people live at this address? The census is delayed, but the data collected will still be used to draw new Congressional, judicial, and legislative districts for 2022.

Fair Districts expects at least one and probably two special NCGA sessions, one around June and most likely another after the election, especially if control of the state House or Senate shifts. Then the new legislative session starts in January, and that’s the last chance to pass reform for this redrawing.

Look up your legislator here. 

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