Dear Friend of Liberty,
I’m offering you four important books for 30 bucks. Or you can pick just one for as low as $11.97. Free shipping.
I selected these four books for a reason.
These aren’t just any old books about liberty. They are books about the Libertarian Party, about libertarianism applied to many issues, and about how to communicate Libertarian Party principles and solutions.
I want you to read these books this winter because I want to help you be a better Libertarian Party activist later this year.
One of them I wrote myself last year. I couldn’t find a book that introduced the libertarian philosophy and also gave lots of information about the Libertarian Party for volunteers and candidates. So, I wrote that book myself!
It’s called Introduction to the Libertarian Party.
Brian Holtz, of California, a multi-term member of the Libertarian Party’s Platform Committee, writes:
I’m jealous at how good this book is! … Most of the chapters would be great as standalone readings for those particular topics, and I hope the author releases them for redistribution, so they will be read more widely than even this instant classic will be.
You can find a list of the chapters on the order page.
I’m donating as many copies of my book as you order from this appeal, which ends on Jan. 31. So, 100 percent of your donation for this book will help fund other efforts after shipping costs are covered.
The book Why Government Doesn’t Work was written by Harry Browne, the Libertarian Party’s 1996 and 2000 nominee for president. Harry Browne was famous for his bold libertarian solutions and was considered a master communicator by many. These books from 1995 are not in new condition — they’ve been in our basement storage for more than a decade, but are still great for reading, especially if you are new to the party and aren’t familiar with Browne’s fantastic work.
The following two books, we’re getting in bulk, at cost, and the profits help fund other LP projects.
Libertarianism in One Lesson, by David Bergland (Ninth Edition, 2005), answers the most common questions about libertarianism. What is libertarianism? Does libertarianism work in the “real world”? The book lays out the central premise of libertarianism — “you own yourself” — and reveals how that deceptively simple statement has an enormous impact on the relationship between government and individuals.
Finally, Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion, by Michael Cloud (2004), will help you “open hearts and minds to the ideas of liberty.” From the book’s cover: “Want to open closed minds? Want to make people really listen? Want to make people hungry to hear about liberty? Want to learn more powerful and effective ways to communicate libertarian ideas? Secrets of Libertarian Persuasion makes this possible.” For disclosure purposes, Michael Cloud is a current board member on the LNC.
Again, these aren’t just general books about liberty, politics or economics. These were selected to help you be a better Libertarian Party activist.
Please order them all today for 30 bucks, or just pick one.
Yours in liberty,
Wes Benedict
Wes Benedict
Executive Director
Libertarian National Committee
The link above doesn’t work, but I received an email about it also.
There is a Valentine’s Day donation drive.
http://click.icptrack.com/icp/relay.php?r=59131539&msgid=420787&act=3FAD&c=1115108&destination=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.lp.org%2Floveforliberty%3Futm_source%3DiContact%26utm_medium%3Demail%26utm_campaign%3DLibertarian%20Party%26utm_content%3D20140214%2BLove%2Bfor%2BLiberty%2B-%2B%252414
Agreed!
Mr. Benedict’s book is a must read, especially the chapter about long term party building vs win now mentality. All party members would be wise to read the whole book, and as it says, pass it along to a friend (I gave out all my copies to other people, and am hoping they pass them along).
Good for you Mr. Wagner. All too often people don’t step up and admit their errors.
Also – Wes Benedict, sorry that I overlooked that you had donated your books to this cause. I have seen so much impropriety in the LNC of late and over the past several years, it is easy to fall into the trap of being wrongfully prosecutorial. Your contribution of free books is gracious on your part. I apologize, and thank you.
-Wes
And yes, Shane is very correct that this type of fundraising marketing works … more importantly if you are choosing materials that don’t have the appearance of impropriety due to an author being a board member … this type of approach is helping to reinforce your ideas in your donors so that they stay engaged and interested in what your organization represents.
Ok Kudo’s to Wes! … Boo on Cloud.
Wes, in his email, Benedict made it clear he’s donating his own book. I’m not sure about the others.
I agree that this was a mistake as the staff and LNC should avoid the appearance of impropriety. Books by board members and staff should be avoided unless it’s clear that proceeds will go toward the LP. A much more complex situation involving a book rocked Liberty Works about a year ago.
With that said, offering books as a premium is a good fundraising technique and I’m glad to see them moving in the direction of better marketing. They should have made it at least $50, but it’s a start.
This was my post to the Libertarian Party of Oregon facebook group in response to this solicitation:
So the recent national fundraising letter from the LNC has an offer to get 4 books for $30, or any one for $11.
The catch? One of the books is written by the LNC E.D. Wes Benedict … and another by board director Michael Cloud (you may know him from such recent scandals as being paid $38k on a no-bid non-documented contract by his (current? former?) lover who was E.D. at the time)
—–
I am seriously getting tired of the national office not understanding that to gain the trust of the public, we need to be beyond reproach. Would it have been so hard to donate your royalties back to the party’s coffers to not look like parasites?
“George Whitfield January 9, 2014 at 6:05 am
I just ordered all four to give as lucky draw prizes at my Libertarian Party Meetup Group.”
Great idea!
I just ordered all four to give as lucky draw prizes at my Libertarian Party Meetup Group.
For those who haven’t read Wes’s book yet I recommend it. Bergland’s and Browne’s are good as well. I haven’t read Cloud’s.
Good selection of books.