Changes to the Reluctant Activists for Ron Paul 2008 meetup

Dear Reluctant Activists (and you fanatical Ron Paul supporters as well!),

We've been discussing for a few weeks now how to transition our meetup group as the presidential campaign moves into the convention phase. Since Ron Paul's new book The Revolution: A Manifesto has come out it is clear that Dr. Paul is strongly emphasizing education as one major strategy to continue to expand our Revolution.

Many people, even many of us who value individual liberty, lack an understanding of the principles of free market economics. In order to effectively fight in the battlefields of politics, business, education and in our personal relationships we must become masters of the principles of the market economy and sound money so we can successfully oppose destructive government intervention. This is what Dr. Paul studies and we must do the same.

Thus a change of emphasis, but not of purpose, for our meetup. We still will support the Ron Paul presidential campaign and the political campaigns of other free market candidates running for local and state offices. We will continue to update each other on our individual efforts to promote liberty in our neighborhoods and cities. What we will also now do is hit the books and educate ourselves so we can more effectively deliver the message of individual liberty!

Look for some cosmetic changes soon to the meetup site to emphasize the economics focus. We will still tag Ron Paul meetups, but perhaps try and attract other economic related interests. I will try to have a topic or two for each meetup relating to Austrian economics, but you are encouraged (please!) to suggest topics that you are interested in or need more information about. There are plenty of materials on the mises.org website that we can use, and there are other resources (many mentioned in the back of Ron Paul's book). If the group wishes, we can even tackle one of the more in depth Mises.org workshops or seminars, either bit by bit at each meetup or do an entire weekend on Austrian economics at some point!

Eventually I have a vision that we will develop our own discussion group materials that we can teach to others in small groups. It is critical for our freedom and for the freedom of our country that these economic ideas once again become mainstream, and just as much of current economic beliefs that originate from the teachings of Marx/Lenin and Keynes were passed along through small group discussions in schools, churches, union meetings and political gatherings, we can re-educate ourselves and others via similar methods.

I'm looking forward to learning together with you more about the basic principles of liberty and freedom, and then teaching these great truths to others.

See you at our next meetup, and I suppose if we were in Vienna we might say,

Bis Nächste Woche (until next week)!

Klaus