The Northeast LPO encompasses the counties of Lorain, Medina, Cuyahoga, Lake, Geauga, and Ashtabula. Our mission is to defend, advance, and restore the cause of liberty to our region and our nation through the political process of building membership, obtaining relations with the media, organizing our infrastructure, and ultimately fielding and running candidates for public offices.

On Tuesday, August 25th, our meeting was adressed by Mrs. Rachel Lloyd, the Ohio Coordinator for the Separation of School and State Alliance. Their organization seeks to persuade people that government shouldn't have any more control over children's minds than they do over children's souls. As a farmer from Iowa stated, "I don't want my children fed or clothed by the state, but I prefer THAT to them being educated by the state."

Mrs. Lloyd began by reading headlines and content from various newspaper articles that have been published in the national and local press. Many of them include jealous educrats and corrupt politicians endorsing greater taxes and greater government involvment into our private family lives in the name of education, such as the NEA and Ohio Governor George Voinovich. Many positive articles appeared among them, however, including those praising the benefits of private and home schooling. Other articles included those same educrats and corrupt politicians throwing temper tantrums, kicking and screaming as they are dragged toward acknowledgement of non-governmental schooling success.

Mrs. Lloyd presented irrefutable evidence that homeschooling is growing in popularity (especially since homeschooled children recieve superior educations to those in "public" schools), and voters are continually rejecting tax levies which would be appropriated to the government schools. Clearly, the government institution of "public schools" is on its way out.

One critic in the audience asked why Mrs. Lloyd and the Separation of School and State Alliance simply doesn't propose vouchers and tax credits. It is simple. Because they involve coercive tax dollars, and the allocation of tax money to private schools would create an obligation on their behalf to the government they are beholden to. He who pays the piper calls the tune. Vouchers would liquidate and eliminate private schooling as we know it.

We clearly need a radically new policy to replace the socialist system which exists today. Our Founding Fathers, recognizing the corruption of state-sanctioned religion, officially crafted the concept of Separation of Church and State into our Constitution. It is time we permanently crafted the concept of Separation of School and State as well.

Our September 22nd meeting will be adressed by Alleen Rose Donohoe of the Constitution Society. She will discuss her experience in a Medina County Jail, the ambitious sheriff who abused her, and the lack of traditional common law principles in our system, making our nation more of a police state than a nation with a firm Bill of Rights to protect its citizens.

Our regular monthly meetings are held on the fourth Tuesday of every month, at Denny's in Parma, (398-7076) on the corner of Rockside Road (Snow Road) and Broadview Road. From I480 turn south on I77 and get off at the first exit called Rockside. Turn right or west on Rockside, continue for about 2 1/2 miles and Denny's is on the right just after crossing Snow Road. Dinner starts between 6:00 PM and 6:30 PM, with the speaker starting at 7:00 PM. All of those interested in liberty are welcome.

Also our business meetings on the second Tuesday of the month are held at the same location and time, and are open to all LPO members.

On Saturday, August 29th, local Libertarian activists participated in a rally sponsored by the Northcoast Chapter of NORML, which occured at Public Square in downtown Cleveland. Our region handed out literature, collected many signatures, and had a wonderful time. Never before have we found so many people so willing to learn more about us! The music was spectacular, and the people all recieved us warmly. Present from our region were Garry Seman, Bernard Baltic, Keith Donat, Dave Macko (the king of ballot petitioning), and new activists Helen Hobbs, Mike Salamone, and Stella Salamone. Mike and Stella aided us greatly by helping to raise funds, when they offered their buttons to rally attendants who were willing to contribute. Tom Corbett was also present from the East Central region.

But the greatest aspect of the event occured when Garry Seman, our Media Director, was invited by NORML to adress the rally. Libertarianism and the philosophy of freedom were his themes, and the speech recieved news coverage from WKYC Channel 3 (NBC). Garry spoke about the right to control one's own body, especially the consumption of hemp, and how it relates to individual freedom in all aspects of life. The drug war, he stated, is being used to subvert our Bill of Rights, and was involved in the Waco massacre. Garry talked about his personal experience with being selected for jury duty (his case was the FBI sting involving Cleveland police accused of protecting drug shipments), and being specifically instructed only to follow the JUDGE'S interpretation of the law, regardless of his conscience as a juror. To which he replied to the audience, "I'll be damned if I send people to jail for committing a crime not recognized by our Constitution." Central in his adress was the revival of the lost Ninth Amendment, and the right of individuals to do whatever they please, as long as they don't directly harm others.

On the weekend of Saturday, September 12th, and Sunday, September 13th, Libertarians from our region and from the East Central Region will be conducting an Operation Politically Homeless booth at two separate events. One is a gun show, being hosted by Conrad & Dowdell, and it will take place at the Medina County Community Center. The other one is the Freedom Fighter Encampment being sponsored by NORML, and it will occur at the Crazy River Ranch in Lodi. At both events, the LPO will be conducting its statewide petition for ballot access, and will be handing out the finest LP Propaganda available. Come join us!

On Saturday, September 26th, The Libertarian Party of Northeast Ohio will be conducting an OPH Booth at Public Square in downtown Cleveland. It will occur approximately from noon until 6:00 PM. The event shall be a multicultural rally, sponsored by the Northcoast Chapter of NORML, to protest the marijuana legislation in Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, Ohio, and the United States in general. We need lots of volunteers for ballot petitions, LP literature (national and local), and to contribute to the awesome crowd NORML will need to make their struggle effective in curbing or repealing anti-hemp legislation.

For more information, or to attend these events, make sure to call me at (216)-295-0155, or e-mail me at newslib@multiverse.com.

George Baluk, or regional Chair, and Garry Seman, our regional Media Director, will appear Friday, September 22nd, on Norm Ezzi's "We the People." The show is aired on WERE 1300 AM, and it takes place every Friday from 9 AM until 11 AM. Every month, Mr. Baluk and Mr. Seman appear on Norm's radio program the Friday which takes place just before our monthly membership meetings (which occur on the fourth Tuesday of every month). The show is reserved once a month for local Libertarians who wish to represent the Libertarian Party, and our agenda of restoring liberty for our six counties, Ohio, and America. Be sure to tune in!

Don't forget to spend time at your local polling booth for election day! We need these signatures for our ballot access petition, so make this a petitioning day! The Libertarian Party of Northeast Ohio is urging - no, begging you to do it? If not you, then whom? If not this day, then when?