I am firmly convinced that the "selling" of the ideas of freedom and liberty can only be done to a people who are productive. It necessarily involves creating a clash between producers and non-producers. At present, producers are made to be manipulated to "participate" in taking care of all but their own. Our idea, at the local level, is to emphasize our platform center: That the sole object and only legitimate end of government is to protect the citizen in the enjoyment of life, liberty, and property, and when the government assumes other functions it is usurpation and oppression. Alabama Constitution, Article 1, Section 35 With that in mind, we are developing our various platform and issue papers in which the following are crucial applications on a local level: 1. Abolition of all property taxes as each individual family is capable of determining what services/goods they value to spend their money on 2. Agressive lobbying for a law that FORBIDS as criminal activity ANY government agency being able to seize private property for any reason 3. Abolition of all business licenses because individuals are entirely capable of determining whether or not they wish to use a given service and pay for it 4. Privatising existing structural services and thereby reducing the immediate and future needs of local government by at least 62% 5. Immediate reduction of the sales tax by 50% of local take thus removing government impediments to economic growth. This course of action, if successful, will, of necessity, set in motion the battle between producers and non-producers in any social setting. This is a war producers have lost in this county for the last 100 years -- it is time to reverse course beginning at home. Tim Yarbrough ======================== How is minimum government, such as local police and court, funded without any kind of tax support? Doug ======================== Doug: Good question. First, we know that the budget for these items can be handled by the reduced sales tax as it exist on PRESENT volume of sales. Secondly, our analysis of the economic impact is that within one year of enactment the sales in the local area will increase by approximately 40m which would produce "over and above" resources amounting to an additional 1.5m. Our estimates are extremely conservative in accordance with the figures we have witnessed in the local area as the sales taxes have increased. Projections, using those figures, would place the additional revenues at 2.5-3m. Further, we are also of the opinion that a freer people will not need to support the "law enforcement growth industry" as it is presently conceived and practiced. This could possibly lead to a reduction of force in the amount of 40-50% of personnel -- not to mention getting federal involvement out of the way. For Christ's Crown and Covenant, Tim Yarbrough Heart of Dixie ======================== good question. I have heard theories from some in the libertarian camp that it can be done via voluntary funding (lotteries, county fairs, fundraising banquets, etc.) and user fees. But I have told them all... and I keep repeating: PROVE to us, empirically that it will WORK IN THE REAL WORLD... not in the land of theorydom. Thus, many are working to build their own Liberty Districts -- USA, also. According to CP membership, how much, per capita, should a sheriff office, a Court system and the Clerk's office actually cost? Somewhere, there HAS to be a reasonable cap (with perhaps some insurance policy for extreme emergeny overtime needs). How many full-time deputies are needed per 1,000 folks? c. ======================== I understand. So, there is some level of taxation even for minimal government. And both should remain minimal if human nature can manage it. Doug