[EM] Letter to Editor for LP News

[Alex Small]

Editor-

I want to inform Libertarians about an effort by a non-partisan, nation-
wide group of voting reform advocates on behalf of a Libertarian candidate.

I'm on a mailing list for discussing election methods like instant runoff,
and approval voting as well as proportional representation.  Tired of only
discussing the mathematics, we decided to raise money for a candidate who
supports approval voting.  In approval voting the voters simply indicate
their approval or disapproval of each candidate.  You don't have to worry
about the "spoiler effect" or "wasted vote syndrome" when using approval
voting.

The candidate whom we chose was Paul Hager, a Libertarian seeking the
party's nomination for Secretary of State in Indiana.  Mr. Hager is
intelligent, articulate, and very devoted both to Libertarian ideals and
real election reform.  By the time this letter appears in LP News we will
presumably know if he secured the party's endorsement at the Indiana LP
convention.

Our goal is to secure $2002 in donations.  Just among a handful of list
members we have raised more than 20% of the goal.  We are now looking for
other sources of donations, and I encourage Libertarians everywhere to
support this cause.  The American people are intelligent and rational, and
normally cast their one and only vote for the candidate most likely to
defeat their least favorite.  Approval voting would allow them to support
Libertarians without worry, and hence Mr. Hager's efforts deserve your full
support.

To learn more about approval voting and Paul Hager go to
www.hager2002.org.  To learn more about our initiative please contact me.
Finally, I wish the best of luck to all Libertarian candidates in 2002.

Sincerely,

Alex Small
6689 El Colegio #22
Isla Vista, CA  93117
805-685-8455
asmall at physics.ucsb.edu