Libertarians stage their convention with private funds, and
criticize the two major parties for $79 million 'welfare check'....

ATLANTA -- Here's one reason that even non-Libertarians should celebrate the Libertarian National Convention, which begins on Thursday in Atlanta:

The event is being paid for without ONE SINGLE DIME of taxpayer money.

The Democratic and Republican conventions, in contrast, will cost
taxpayers an astronomical $79 million!

"Because the Democratic and Republican nominees are both known in advance, their conventions are just obscenely expensive, taxpayer-financed political ads," said Geoffrey Neale, the Libertarian Party's national chair. "They are having pretend conventions, but unfortunately they're paid for with real money."

The organizers of the Democratic and Republican national conventions have each already received checks for $14.5 million from the Federal Election Commission to finance their events, which will be held in Boston and New York, respectively. That $29 million, combined with the estimated $25 million in security costs that each will incur, means that taxpayers will foot the bill for a staggering $79 million.

"The evidence is clear: The two biggest welfare queens in the United States are John Kerry and George Bush," Neale said.
Even worse, Neale noted, is that the Democratic and Republican conventions are invitation-only events, closed to the general public.

"Now there's an entitlement program with a twist," Neale said.
"Politicians are taking $79 million of your money for a private party that you're not even allowed to attend!"

The solution is to privatize ALL political conventions, Libertarians say. "If you agree with the Libertarian message of limited government and individual freedom, we welcome your voluntary support," Neale said. "But if you disagree, you shouldn't have to finance that message with your hard-earned dollars.

"In the same way, George Bush and John Kerry should ask their own contributors to finance the debut of their campaign ads, rather than forcing ALL Americans to pay.

"It's bad enough that Republicans and Democrats plan to saturate the airwaves with another predictable, tedious yawn-a-thon masquerading as a political convention. They should at least have the decency not to send the victims the bill."

The Libertarian National Convention will run from Thursday, May 27 to Monday, May 31 at the Atlanta Marriott Marquis Hotel and ballroom. The 800-plus delegates in attendance will make changes to the party Platform, listen to a wide array of speakers and entertainers and elect a national chair.

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Mike

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People seem to forget that the political parties are private organizations, so it begs the question as to just why the hell we cough up public funds for them to get together and preen and pontificate.

Why do we fund primary elections either? Here in Washington State, the majors (including the Libertarians!?!) just successfully sued to get our open primaries thrown out, so now they've effectively reduced the choices available to the public, yet they expect us to pay for their winnowing process--SOB's!!!

The primaries should either be fully funded by the parties, or they should hold party caucuses and choose their own damn candidates, then let em loose in the general election.

Oh, and what about the presidential 'debates' huh? Those are publicly funded as well, but it's only open to the two majors.

We're a democratic republic my foot...

Why is the gov supporting prez candiddates through the income tax check off?

Why is the gov defining rules for campaign spending?

Let them raise and spend their own money. Let the accounting be published frequently so that we can all see where every dime comes from and where every dime is disbursed.

Don't like Buddhist nuns giving money to a party or NRA giving money? Take it out on candidates in the ballot box.

B