Randy Langkraehr Weblog

Wednesday November 09, 2005

How To Take Over Amazon.Com
Today's Quote - War and poverty are caused, not by "selfish others," but by our own reactions to them. If we wish to change the world, we must first change ourselves. - Mary Ruwart

Well, Oct 12th. Me a a few friends took over the Amazon Top 10 and hopefully changed a little history.

Mary Ruwart is a famous Libertarian speaker, former candidate, and the author of "Saving Our World In An Age Of Aggression". I have heard her speak twice at conventions, had dinner with her and got a chance to visit, and have seen most of her videos and tapes. She is a research scientist and a very gifted communicator.

About a month before, one of her people contacted me and asked for help promoting a little experiment. We would contact as many Libertarians as we could and get them to buy a copy of the book on Amazon.Com. Since I run several Yahoo groups, including the most influential Libertarian group of all, Badnarik2004, as well as have posting abilities to hundreds of other groups, I sent out a notice saying we were setting this up, with a reminder a few days ago, and several reminders on Wednesday the 12th. Lots of people started their Christmas shopping early (if your Libertarian relative sends you a copy for Christmas it could be my fault), and we watched as the book climbed the non-fiction ranks at Amazon.Com. By the end of the day there was much celebration as the book climbed to number 5 on the Amazon Best Seller List.

It was more than an interesting experiment though. First, with the exposure it received and its high ranking, lots of people hopefully saw the book listed and ordered a copy putting it in the hands of a lot of non-libertarians. Secondly, it showed a lot of Libertarians that just a few of us working as a group can make a difference in visibility. Thirdly, and most importantly, the plan was to get it listed as high as possible, giving both Mary and her book the chance to land a real major publisher leading to professional book placement in stores throughout the United States, as well as possible book tours, maybe some minor talk show appearances etc. Basically, by getting her in the top 10, we generated a lot of credibility for her and we may be able to create a competent visible Libertarian spokesman to the public. It didn't hurt to try. I am sure Mary will funnel some of the profits back into party activities and good causes. Also, I am sure a lot of non-Libertarians will be getting a great Christmas present this year, helping to promote Liberty. I would say it was a win-win-win project, and congratulations to Mary Ruwart and her fans who came up with idea and started it in motion. You can check her out at http://www.ruwart.com.

Elections are coming up in 2006, we will be looking for other ways to take a few volunteers and make a major impact in the visibility of our people and candidates. The more volunteers the more impact we can make. We have a county meeting on Tuesday, October 18th. How about signing up and checking us out? The meetings are interesting, fast paced (we get stuff done and move on) and can always use new faces. Please sign up today. http://libertarian.meetup.com/213/ ( Nov 09 2005, 02:24:56 PM CST ) Permalink

Monday November 07, 2005

Will The Time Keeper Please Put 365 Days On The Timeclock?
Quote of the day: All Politics is Local - Tip O'Neill

Monday, November 7th. I woke up this morning and the only thing I thought the day would bring was meet with a client and then go help my parents paint their house.

Got up this morning to check through my usual 100 emails. I got an email today from Claire Mcaskills campaign group. Only 365 days till the elections. You don't know what a lousy day that turned Monday into. To some people that doesn't mean a lot, but to me and any political activist, it means that it is time to get the game started. Kind of like back in college at CMSU when you had five tests on Monday and you had fun all weekend and waited till 10:30 on Sunday nite to get started on homework (I hope Mom isn't reading today's column). All of the things you really meant to accomplish next year suddenly loom as major projects to get done, working on databases, set up new computer system, start begging for campaign contributions, start lining up more local candidates to fill the County ballot, do a ton of webwork, and a dozen other things that I made the new year's resolution I would do in 2005 are suddenly looming as giant burdens ready to drop. As other political activists read this blog, they will probably suddenly get the same feeling of dread.

Ok, so I didn't get everything done that would have been nice to do in pre-season. I am going out to play the game. I'll catch up as I go. No matter what party you belong to, what are you going to do? Are you going to get off the bench and help your team play this year and get the yardage, or are you going to sit on the sidelines and think about going in for the last few seconds of the game to vote next November and then bitch because your team never stood a chance of winning? Our team needs you now. We need people to suit up to play now. We need candidates (we need you), we need money (we need you to start donating now, and start having fundraisers), we need volunteers (I have a ton of database entry stuff right now you can do from home. Email me and I will get you started. If you want to come use my office equipment even better). You can volunteer in your own area. If you have some time on the weekends or during the week while the weather is nice and want to do something, you can download handouts and start putting them out. Email me at voterandyforchange@yahoo.com and I will put to good use every free moment you can spare. Last year we had a few really good hardworking players, but we didn't have a full roster, and no backup players, and many of our people are tired and overworked and burnt out. We need you to suit up and play this year. You really can make a difference. Just a few people helping out a few hours a week this next year can shift the score of the game. We shift the score enough we can win. Or you can sit in the stands and complain that your team isn't winning and we never make the superbowl. It is your choice. I am going out to play.

( Nov 07 2005, 06:17:29 PM CST ) Permalink

Just Venting About Our Media Treatment

Quote Of The Day-Thou shalt not covet thy neighbor's house, thou shalt not covet the neighbour's wife, nor his manservant, nor his ox, nor his ass, nor any thing that is thy neighbour's. - GOD (Speaking to Moses who wrote this down, Exodus 20: 17)

Christopher Davis was our Libertarian Candidate for Secretary of State in 2004. He announced this year that while he is still a Libertarian, he would run as a Republican in 2006 in the State Representative race in District 23 (Columbia area). We have four or five Libertarians that have won State Rep. Seats this way (yes their are Libertarians in the State House, they are just incognito). While I don't like this approach, Chris is a friend of mine who I treat like a little brother, and I supported him in this decision.

Was watching KMIZ Channel 17, the ABC affiliate in Columbia tonite. Chris apparently withdrew from his State House race today due to an upcoming move. I haven't talked to him and this message is in no way getting down on Chris. More power to him.

When Chris was running as a state wide candidate for Attorney General as a Libertarian, he got virtually no attention from the media. In fact they went out of their way to shun him like the plague, and he is a good looking photogenic well spoken kid. If you want to see a picture you can go to http://groups.yahoo.com/group/VoteChrisDavis/. This same station didn't even interview him during the Secretary of State debate, and if they showed him as a candidate in any of the newsclips during the debate, it was an accident on the editors part. Tonight, now that he is a Republican candidate, he gets full exposure with a 30 second news clip and his picture, saying the Republicans will now have to search for a new candidate against the Democrats, and this is a small State Rep race versus a major race when he was a Libertarian state wide candidate in 2004, but because he is a Republican or Democrat, now he is mainstream media newsworthy.

Not going to make this a whining complaint article about how unfair this is, and that we don't get fair media coverage by the mainstream media and somebody needs to do something. I already have ideas what I am going to do by 2008 and will outline them in the future. Just again pointing out that unless we as Libertarians get more recognition by the media, probably by buying more ad space and commercials, so we are considered big media customers also and get some attention, we will never become seriously considered as potential candidates and a credible force for change in Missouri and the USA. When you are donating to the big two parties, slip the Libertarian candidate a few bucks also. Unlike the other two parties, we are the ones looking out for your freedoms outlined in the Bill of Rights and promoting less taxes and less government. No Libertarian candidate ever raised your taxes. No Libertarian candidate ever gave your child or grandchild a permanent police record for smoking a joint when they were a kid. No Libertarian candidate ever sent your son or daughter off to die needlessly in a foreign war. No Libertarian candidate ever took your family farm and gave it to a real estate developer to build a big box store to raise the county sales tax revenues. Get the picture?

I am through now and feel better. Thanks for letting me vent.

PS: Apparently the computer spell checker does not like the way half the words are spelled in the bible quote. Kind of sad when modern technology questions Bible grammar.
( Nov 07 2005, 12:56:08 AM CST ) Permalink

Sunday November 06, 2005

Calling Young, Hungry And Energetic Business People Craving Publicity

Quote Of The Day - Those who deny freedom to others, deserve it not for themselves; and, under a just God, can not long retain it.-Abraham Lincoln

I have been around politics since my dad campaigned for Ike Skelton (D-US REP 4th. District) who won his first seat in the US House in 1977. There were earlier campaigns he was involved with, but this one involved a candidate that I knew, and the whole Nixon/Watergate era had put a visible side to politics, as opposed to something that just happened in a vacuum somewhere out of the reach of the American people, and I actually saw that politics was really local and could be affected by the activities of local people. I, however, really didn't see myself as wanting to get involved in politics and campaigns.

Back in the mid 80's I was just struggling to start my tax service and trying to make some money in the off season as a real estate broker with a local realty company. One of the realtors there, Ray Maring, was a retired loan officer who decided to run for Presiding Commissioner. Every day he left the office early in the morning and walked a different part of the county handing out campaign info and shaking hands. Every day he went at this cheerfully and tirelessly, even though he was not the usual candidate predicted to win. I really admired his tirelessness and optimism, and we would talk on many occasions when he came back to the office to rest. I asked him why he was dedicating so much time to a race he probably wouldn't win, and he let me in on a little secret. He was running to win, but even if he didn't win, the publicity would boost his real estate career. He said that many beginning lawyers in the city starting their practices would run for Prosecutor, Public Administrator, Judge, or some other local office just for the publicity and the credibility it would provide. Getting coverage in the paper as a credible candidate would provide more advertising than buying thousands of dollars in ads. If he didn't win Presiding Commissioner, the publicity would boost his profile as a real estate broker, and improve his customer base.

Well Ray won the race and assumed the role of Presiding Commissioner, and had a long term in office and served the citizens of Johnson County well. He would still come into the office when he could, and an interesting city council race came up. There are 5 seats on the city council and three were already occupied by University employees. There were two seats up for election and two more CMSU employees were running for them. Ray encouraged me to run as an independent businessman, and reminded me that even if I didn't win, it would help my business, and as a real estate broker and tax consultant, I would be a definite addition to the city council.

I ordered several thousand brochures and set out on foot to walk the town, knocking on doors and handing out brochures and leaving brochures in door of those not home. Ray even agreed to be my campaign treasurer, even though I had no real campaign treasury, just so I could use some name recognition from him by placing Ray Maring, Campaign Treasurer on the bottom of my brochures. I learned a lot going door to door talking to people, and while I didn't win, I did learn a lot about political campaigns and politics. The publicity was fantastic, including a front page story with my picture on it, and an endorsement from the local paper to boot, and Ray was right, the next year my tax business went up dramatically. It was so good for business I put my name in the hat the next two election cycles, even though I didn't campaign and had no chance of winning, just because every year business grew because of the publicity. Even several years after this, when asking new clients about why they picked our firm, people would say they recognized my name from the elections, and it put my business over the top.

I figured this was the end of my need for fame and didn't see the need for me to run for anything else in the future, however, I felt sorry for other friends that were running for various offices, since campaigns are a whole lot of work, and volunteers are greatly appreciated, and I started volunteering for people who were running campaigns for county or city office. It didn't make any difference if they were Republican or Democrat, if I liked them and thought they were the best candidate for the job, then I volunteered time and advice and if I had a little extra, some money. I went into 2003 with no ambition to run for anything. I had come to realize I was a Libertarian and had contacted the state party about helping out on campaigns. Somehow I ended up being a candidate instead of a campaign worker in 2004. I was worried that this might hurt business, since a lot of people have weird ideas and impressions about Libertarians, but guess what, 2005 was the best tax season ever, and I got a ton of free publicity.

So here is the deal. We have a bunch of local elections on the ballot in 2006 and we can use qualified candidates to fill them. If you are a young, hungry business person (or a rich retired business person), are not crazy or weird, and would like to make the United States an even better country, and score at least in the top half of the ball diamond on The World's Smallest Political Quiz and want some free good credible publicity that money can't buy, then come to one of our county meetings and introduce yourself. Email me at randyforgovernor@yahoo.com to help you find the meeting or event nearest you. We can use good candidates, and you will get some real credible publicity that buying newspaper and radio ads won't generate. ( Nov 06 2005, 04:48:14 AM CST ) Permalink

Saturday November 05, 2005

Using Cows To Explain Politics

People often ask how Libertarians picture a perfect government, and if you keep reading this blog you will find out more, but here is a simple example used by a lot of Libertarians

Definition of Communism
You have two cows. The government takes both cows and gives you part of the milk.

Definition of Socialism
You have two cows. The government takes one of your cows and gives it to your neighbor.

Definition of Nazism
You have two cows. The government takes both cows and shoots you.

Definition of Bureaucracy (our government today)
You have two cows. The government shoots one cow (taxes), milks the other, and pours the milk down the drain (regulations).

Definition of Libertarianism (true capitalism)
You have two cows. Everyone leaves you alone. You sell one cow and buy a bull.

( Nov 05 2005, 06:42:08 PM CST ) Permalink

I Guess Introductions Are In Order

I guess a few words of introduction should be in order since many of you are wondering "Who is this guy?"

I am originally from Emma Missouri and now reside in Johnson County, and own and operate Affordable Tax And Insurance with offices in Warrensburg and Concordia. Am also a licensed Real Estate Broker and own The Davken Company which specializes in financial management and marketing. For more info you can check out www.randyforgovernor.com/aboutrandy.

I have always been interested in politics and am a Libertarian political activist, and am an elected Committee Man in Johnson County, The Johnson County Libertarian Party Treasurer, and a member of the Missouri Libertarian Party Executive Committee. I ran for Governor in 2004, and only lost the state wide primary by less than 300 votes to the previous 2000 Primary winner. I will most likely be running for state wide office again in 2008, but will postpone that decision till after the 2006 elections are finished.

I decided to start this blog because I though the free publicity of a public forum couldn't hurt visibility for future campaigns, and this would be an excellent opportunity to get the Libertarian message out. If anyone has any questions or would like a specific topic covered, by all means email me. I will get really busy January through April with tax season, and may not contribute much to this blog in that time period, but otherwise have lots of time, and enjoy spreading the message of less taxes, less government, and more personal freedom and responsibility.Thanks for taking the time to visit and please drop in again. This blog will not always be boring politics as usual, and you may be surprised at what is expressed here.

A final note, as I was spell checking this first post, the blogger dictionary could not find the word "blog" and asked me if I wanted to change it to something else. You would have thought that would be the first word in their dictionary.

( Nov 05 2005, 06:35:49 PM CST ) Permalink