LCI Exclusive: "Liberty Rocks Seattle" - Libertarian Party of King County WA Event 4.13.2017 Featuring Local Candidates and LPKC Speakers

Liberty Rocks Seattle event, hosted by Libertarian Party of King County, WA

Website: https://www.lpkingcounty.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KingCountyLP/
Facebook Event Link: https://www.facebook.com/events/1511408208903655/

The first video was streamed live via Facebook and has been converted to YouTube Format.  This was an age 21 and over event.

Libertarian Party of King County hosted their first "Liberty Rocks Seattle" event at the Columbia City Theater in Seattle.  The event featured LPKC Chair Michelle Darnell, LPKC Co-Chair Billy Doyle, LPKC Political Director David Johnson, Region 2 Associate Director of King County WA David Malekar, Everett WA City Council candidate Justin Murta in this first part of the event.

Liberty Rocks Seattle 4.13.2017 - Libertarian Party of King County Event, LCI Exclusive - Part 1

In this second half of the event, candidate of Burien WA City Council Charles Schaefer, Kent WA City Council candidate Paul Addis (previous interview with Paul link: http://www.libertychronicle.net/2017/02/paul-addis-l-kent-wa-city-council.html), Seattle WA Mayor candidate Casey Carlisle, and newly announced Seattle WA City Council candidate Amanda Carter, were speakers.  Seattle City Council Position 8 candidate James Passey was able to make a brief appearance at the event.

Liberty Rocks Seattle 4.13.2017 - Libertarian Party of King County Event, LCI Exclusive - Part 2

The following is a transcript as read by Political Director David Johnson:

"Hello Seattle! Hello King County! Thank you for joining us tonight.

We've got a lot of great candidates here. I wanted to talk a little bit about our strategy as an organization as well, and where we're going - not only this year, but beyond this year, because I think our candidates need to understand that this year is an awesome year, we've got awesome opportunities, AND they're a part of something bigger here. And I want you guys to understand that we're not in this just for this year; we're in this to win this, long term, and we want your support long term.

You're all here because you're pioneers and we're striking out on a new journey here. Like all pioneers we are operating lean here. This is our first event; if you look at most Democrat events they have a lot more people. We are the pioneers, the disruptors, the entrepreneurs right now, fighting the big man.

So the exciting part is that the journey has now just begun. You're here in this room; this is the beginning of our journey. This is not the end, and we are going to get a lot bigger, and a lot louder.
Today could not be a better reminder of why we are doing what we are doing. I lost track in the last 24 hours of how many countries we're bombing, or at war with, or are nearly at war with. Does anybody have a number out there? I know it was seven before Trump got into office; I'm losing track now. I would count our own country at this point. I sure as heck can't count and I can't explain how any of those wars are helping Americans at this point.

This is why we're doing what we're doing. After an election where the Democrats put forward a candidate that wanted to shoot down Russian planes, I can't blame people who tried to vote for the lesser evil. But the reality is, there's no lesser evil. There's one evil. There is one party that is a duopoly that is controlling our country right now. That duopoly stands for three things that we stand against: Endless war, militarized police, and crushing debt.

As we stand here today facing not a two party system but a one party scam, we are here for one goal; to form a SECOND party that stands for love, liberty, and logic. I want to talk about what those three points are and what they mean for us here when we're trying to spread our Libertarian message to our neighbors.

Love means that you don't go around the world like a monster bombing everybody. Some people say you're crazy if you question the American war machine right now. I say you're crazy if you DON'T think we should question why we should go kill somebody.

Logic says that you don't make excuses for unsustainable debt as a path to economic ruin. You don't have to believe in the principle that taxation is theft to realize in practice that warmongering and irresponsible social engineering are stealing the future away from our children.

And liberty says that you cannot protect life, liberty, and property through a bigger, more powerful, more invasive state with the vain hope that they will do good with that power. But rather, life, liberty, and property are best protected by focused, limited government that leads in respecting others by example, instead of leading through violence, persecution, and bullying our fellow Americans. Whether it is a Republican or a Democrat bullying a Republican, a Democrat, a Libertarian, a Green Party [member]; it doesn't matter who you are, the government shouldn't be bullying you, it shouldn't be telling you what to do with your life, and it shouldn't be limiting your opportunities.

So these three pillars are the foundation on which the second major party coalition will be built in opposition to the current major party that is pro-war, pro-debt, and anti-individual; we are anti-war, anti-debt, and pro-individual.

Here in King County it's critical that we spread the message [that] not only do we believe people have inherent right to life, liberty, and property because of abstract principle, but also because those rights are the only means by which we can allow the best in us to flourish. As the major party today leads by example in attacking others and plays Americans against one another, we must show the power to do good and live at peace with one another that comes with liberty.

We will show King County that free people can choose to feed the homeless. We will show King County that free people see problems with addiction and want to empower them rather than imprison them. We will show King County that free people can race to the top building more homes for more people instead of trying to control more and keep homes from being built. And we will show King County that free people can talk about hard issues while treating each other with dignity and finding reasonable common ground with each other.

Our candidates today are the front-line soldiers in this fight, running out by their own choice into a battle where the army behind them is still being recruited, putting everything on the line. I've sat down with all of our candidates as political director; I see every day the stress they go through, the hard work they put through, and the barriers that are put in the way that they fight. Unlike real war, where the people on the frontlines go and they get shot, and they die, and you have a nice ceremony for them, our candidates get back up after every attempt, and we get stronger. This is a fight to do our best this year, AND this is a journey where we will change an entire generation. We will not win AGAINST any individual, whether they're a Republican, a Democrat, voted for Green Party, or didn't vote at all - they're the people we're working with to build a better world.

I've been to Democrat and Republican events over the past several months, and let me tell you the worst-kept secret in politics here: the major parties are literally dying. There are no young people at any of their events. They're a sea of gray hair, whether you're in Seattle or Kirkland or anywhere.
We're the future. This is not a gray audience. I don't see almost any gray hair out here. It's a completely stark contrast. There's a little bit, and we appreciate it. But if you go to a Democrat or Republican event, no comparison. We are the new generation. We are going to outlive the people who we are fighting against right now.

The Libertarian Party tells the story of the next generation, and I am honored to help write your story, and I look forward to the incredible journey ahead."

This contribution is from Seattle-based independent journalist, David Malekar, Editor in Chief for the Liberty Chronicle Independent; and publishes content to other online publications.

Paul Addis (L): Kent, WA City Council candidate is Listening to the City for 2017

Paul Addis (L) for Kent City Council

Paul Addis joins the Liberty Chronicle Independent once again after his 2016 run in WA for Lt. Governor.  You can see his previous interview with us here.  For more information on Paul, you can visit his website and follow him on Twitter and Like his page on Facebook.

DM:  Welcome back to the LCI Mr. Addis! After your hard work on your 2016 WA Lt. Governor run as a Libertarian, you are back in the fray running for local opening position in Kent, WA. What is the position you are running for and how many opponents do you expect to run against?
 

PA:  Thanks for having me back, David. And thanks for all your efforts at Liberty Chronicle, which gives a voice to those who are active in defending individual liberties around the country.

In 2017, I am running for a City Council seat in Kent, WA. Based on past races here I would expect no more than one or two other opponents, which will be a nice change from the 11-candidate race I was recently involved in for Lt. Governor. I’m looking forward to running to serve my local community, where I think the majority of the decision making belongs.

DM:  Going local will help you impact your community directly, right away.  What issues do you see in your city that you want to address?

PA:  Yes, I am very involved in my community already, working with charities & foundations. Being on the City Council is just one more way to serve my neighbors. Generally speaking, I see the role of City Council member as a steward, or watchdog, of the finances of the city. The revenues coming into the city belong to the people of Kent. Therefore it is a great responsibility to make sure the funds are spent on the things that help the people the most. Prioritizing spending, while minimizing the tax burden on the residents is an important balancing act. Kent is growing fast and there are many competing interests looking for an advantage within the myriad of current and future development projects. Making sure Kent has a balanced approach to growth, while addressing the concerns of all stakeholders is an important and complex task. I’m looking forward to that challenge, and my experience as a Project Manager at a Fortune 500 company overseeing multi-million dollar projects will certainly pay dividends in that role. I also believe that the entire process of local governance should be as transparent as possible. Technology can help with both transparency and accountability, and I hope we are able to utilize the best tools for that job in Kent.

I have recently been made aware of a couple of incidents in Kent where residents did not get a straight answer on issues related to public works. Both myself and my boss, who also lives in Kent, had difficulty finding resolution to a broken street light and a water shut off valve, respectively, because different agencies passed the buck back and forth without taking responsibility for resolving the issue. It is clear that there is confusion among those being paid to serve our community. That should not happen, and it would be an advantage to deal with these types of issues from within the local government apparatus.

I would also like to make sure Kent is a business-friendly town. With the increasing burden on small businesses related to rising labor costs in Washington State, I would like to make sure that Kent uses every option at our disposal to provide financial incentives to make it easier to do business here.

Paul Addis speaking at the 2016 LPWA State Convention

DM:  Kent residents will be glad to hear about your approach to this position.  What other ways do you plan on interacting with the community to make sure their voices are heard and you are able to represent them?

PA:  Being a resident of Kent and being involved in various activities and organizations around town, I certainly have my ‘ear to the ground’. I’m always listening to the people around me to see what they’re talking about. The other day, as my wife & I were eating lunch, the manager of the restaurant was discussing with us the challenge their chain will face in Seattle when the minimum wage goes up to $15. He was concerned they may have to lay off some of their staff because of the increase in labor costs. When those types of issues come up in Kent, I want to make sure that both the voice of the workers and the business owners are heard before we make decisions on policy.

Other than that, I plan to visit organizations and events that represent the multiple interest groups in the community. That would include events and organizations that have an interest in education, parks, transportation, infrastructure, business and public service such as police and fire. In my opinion, being a representative at any level of government is a proactive endeavor. Residents of Kent are busy making this a special place to live, work and play. They don’t need to add any more to their plate by feeling the need to come see me. I should be willing to go where they are to see how they’re faring in this great city we all love. Of course, my door will always be open to those I serve.

DM:  Excellent news for those in Kent to know you will be there for them and their concerns.  What plans do you have for your campaign trail that volunteers or donors would be interested in hearing about?  What are your media links for readers to follow you on?

PA:  Thanks for asking. My website is Addis4Kent.com, my Twitter is @Addis4Kent, my Facebook is facebook.com/Addis4Kent.

We’ll be doing some canvassing of neighborhoods in Kent to get the word out during the campaign, and perhaps some phone calling & sign waving as well. Volunteers are welcome and appreciated. Anyone who is interested can contact us through the website.

Paul Addis was a volunteer for the 2016 Gary Johnson Seattle Rally visit

DM:  That's excellent news, Mr. Addis.  In closing, what final thoughts would you like to leave with readers and potential voters of Kent, for Paul Addis as City Councilman?

PA:  I’d just like to say that I don’t see this as a competition of good vs bad choices. I’m sure every candidate in this race wants to serve the city of Kent with good intentions. As long as there are average citizens who are willing to step up and volunteer for local positions, Kent will be just fine. I applaud my opponents, and may the best person win.

As for me, if elected, I will do my best to serve with integrity, honesty and transparency. I will always lean toward less taxation, more choices, maximum use of technology, less regulation and continuous improvement in processes while utilizing my experience and skills to make that happen. I promise to be a good steward of the revenues generated by the hard working people of Kent.

Thanks so much for giving me this opportunity to discuss my campaign.

This contribution is from Seattle-based independent journalist, David Malekar, Editor in Chief for the Liberty Chronicle Independent; who publishes content to the WashCo Chronicle and other online publications.

Lt. Governor Candidate for Washington State, Paul Addis (Libertarian) Interview

Paul Addis, Washington State's Libertarian
candidate for Lt. Governor in 2016

The following contribution is from Seattle-based independent journalist, David Malekar; who regularly publishes content to the WashCo Chronicle and other online publications.  The interviewee, Paul Addis, is the Lt. Governor Candidate for Washington State.  Paul has been featured on the Washington Libertarian website.You can find more information on Paul at the website addis4lg.com 

DM:  Thank you Paul, for taking the time out to address the people in this interview.  First question for you is, why?  What's your motivation behind your campaign in 2016 for Lt. Governor?

PA: Thanks for having me, David. My motivation for running for Lt. Governor is to highlight, promote and support the growth of the Libertarian Party in Washington State. What I mean is that, by running a campaign for public office, I will have opportunities that wouldn't otherwise be available to me. I have filed my intent to run with the Public Disclosure Commission (PDC), but we are still a couple of months away from the official ballot filing with the Secretary of State, and I have already been mentioned in the Seattle Times, contacted by KING5 TV and invited by the Key Peninsula Democrats to a panel discussion. This type of publicity is not available to individuals and parties that don't run for office. As well, a public campaign offers volunteers and supporters a focal point for activity. In 2014, when I ran for State Representative in Seattle, I began my campaign with only a few volunteers. By the end of the campaign I had as many as 15 supporters canvasing precincts to hand out my material. Those were people I hadn't even known when I started the campaign, and they all signed up because they wanted to support the platform and message. Without the campaign, they would have had nowhere to do that in their legislative district. So, at the current stage of development and growth of the Libertarian Party of Washington, it is more important for me to assist that growth and development of the supporter base than whether or not I win an election. The winning will come as the base grows. We're putting one foot in front of the other here in Washington, and the Libertarian Party campaigns of 2016 are the next step in a long term plan. That plan includes gaining experience by electing leadership and running candidates, recruiting new supporters and candidates, training activists and consistently repeating those steps.

Paul Addis speaking at the 2014 LPWA convention

DM:  Growing the party in Washington seems to be a key focus.  In your campaign, what are the biggest issues you want to tackle or bring light to?

PA:  The position I’m running for, Lt. Governor, has a unique role to play, which is not as directly legislative as most of the open positions such as State Representative, State Senator, Governor US Congressional positions. Of course, that is, unless the Governor can’t fulfill their duties and the Lt. Governor would have to fill in for a time. The Lt. Governor’s main duties include being President of the State Senate, as well as appointing members to specific committees. As the Senate president, the Lt. Governor helps decide which legislation moves to the floor for debate. That role, along with appointing committee members, can best be handled by a third party such as myself, due to the lack of allegiance to either of the two main parties. My decisions would be made based on libertarian principles, rather than party affiliation or favors owed to big money interests. Which brings me to my biggest issue. I believe that one of the greatest threats to the free market is the influence of money in politics. In Washington, we had a piece of legislation a few years ago where the legislature voted to give a tax break to Boeing, but that legislation did not remove the tax burden for smaller aerospace companies such as Hexcel. The result of that legislation was that Hexcel, which competes with Boeing in some product lines, was no longer competitive due to greater government-imposed overhead costs. Hexcel couldn’t pay as high of wages, so Boeing could pick off the best workers from Hexcel. Boeing could offer lower price points to customers. All of this was the result of actions taken by the legislature, not natural dynamics of the free market. This behavior makes the playing field un-level for businesses. This is no isolated case, and many times it is due to the attraction that this kind of power brings from companies and industries that want unfair advantages and are willing to pay-to-play in this crony capitalist game. That is why I do not take money from PACS, corporations, unions, lobbyists or any special interest groups. I only take donations from individuals. That decision is based on principle, but I also bring it up often in my campaign to highlight the problem. It is certainly an issue that most voters agree on from both sides of the aisle. I’d also like to see some innovation in how we make healthcare available. I think allowing social service funds (i.e. EBT Cards) to be used for direct primary care fees would provide better service for those in need at lower costs to the tax payer. It would be a step in the right direction. I’m also a big proponent of giving families more options when it comes to educating their kids. Along with a more decentralized approach to education. I think direction is more important than destination at this time, so I’m OK with anything that moves us toward a more free-market based system. Other issues that I feel strongly about include accountability of law enforcement and better transportation solutions in Washington.

Paul Addis (right)
Volunteering at the Bread of Life Mission in Seattle.

DM:  As Lt. Governor of Washington, what would be your first major action within office?

PA:  My first objective would be to get to know each of the legislators, especially in the State Senate. One of the major roles of the Lt. Governor is to appoint members to various committees. I believe that, in order to do that effectively, I would need to build solid relationships with the members of the Senate to assist my decision making on those matters. Currently, the leaders in the largest caucuses send the Lt. Governor recommendations for appointment to these committees. As I’ve mentioned earlier, my decisions would be based on libertarian principles rather than party affiliation. Whereas the current Senate is made up of members from the Democratic and Republican parties, I would like to keep a fair balance from both sides of the aisle, but with an eye toward their history of voting and support for particular legislation. For example, if a Republican or Democratic leader sent me a recommendation for a potential committee member and that Senator had consistently voted in favor of crony corporatist legislation such as the Boeing tax break, the bill to increase taxes on certain parts of e-cigarette/vaping products, or voted against the industrial hemp bill, I would have a difficult time agreeing with that recommendation. In order to perform that function properly, I believe it would be extremely important to build relationships with as many Senators as possible so I could have better firsthand knowledge to inform those decisions. As for the first legislative action I would take, that would be dependent on what legislation is brought forward. My role would be to lead parliamentary discussion during the debate on the Senate floor.

DM:  On the topic of "unnecessary taxes and regulations," which ones do you plan on cutting or removing to help the common person and small business thrive?

PA:  There has been an ongoing effort in Olympia to institute a state income tax in Washington. First of all, that is one thing I would do my best to avoid. I don’t believe there is any good reason to tax the medium of exchange between two consenting parties that decide to trade for mutual benefit. Income tax goes against the foundational principle of a free society. As for current taxes, I would think the Business and Occupational tax (B&O) would be some low hanging fruit. I don’t see that there is any real benefit to the businesses that pay the tax. And I believe there is some bi-partisan support for the elimination of the B&O tax. I’d also like to see more of the gas tax spent on the roads that are used by the people who pay the tax versus the projects that only 2% of the people utilize. However, as Lieutenant Governor I would be limited as to how I could directly affect that type of legislation. My role would be more about facilitating legislative activity than authoring or sponsoring actual legislation.

Paul Addis (center)
Speaking against non-judicial foreclosure
at the Capitol in Olympia in 2016.

DM:  Paul, thank you for providing our readers with great insight to your platform.  I will be following up with you in a little while, to update everyone on your campaign.  In closing, what final thoughts and last messages would you like to provide to everyone reading?

PA: Thanks again for having me, David. I’d like to reiterate to your readers a couple of things that are important to keep in mind about our current political landscape. The first is to consider how crony corporatism, meaning big money interests in politics, damages the foundation of a free society. When certain organizations are allowed to pull the strings of our policy makers, the natural and healthy dynamics of the free market are severely mitigated. Free market capitalism has done more to liberate oppressed people, mobilize individuals out of poverty and benefit society in general than any government system ever could. When we allow corporate interests to undermine that system we all lose. That is why it is important to choose your politicians wisely. Lastly, I would like to say that I believe the future health of the American political system depends on having a viable third (and more) party. More options means more competition. More competition means better choices for the consumer. The duopoly that is the Republican and Democratic parties have become too similar to allow the American voters a real choice in elections. It’s time to vote for parties that ‘can’t win’ until they start winning. You can be that change. It starts now, and it starts with you.