NC LS Fall Conference:
“Localism: Effective Political Activism at Home”
Last Saturday’s North Carolina LS Fall Conference witnessed two inspired speakers and a spirited group of members and guests discuss current political issues facing North Carolina and the country. National LS board member and REBELLION! blogger Michael C. Tuggle led the first Conference segment with his talk on “Seeking Allies,” and a call “to focus on NC, not DC.” He stated that “the federal government has broken out of the restraints intended by the Founders,” and that today “illegal immigration has the official stamp of approval” from the regime in DC. Mr. Tuggle added that “the Tea Party movement is the heir to the American Confederacy,” and “promises a genuine path to smaller government,” but cautioned that “there are troubling signs that it is being co-opted by the powers that be.” He sees that Sarah Palin “is actively steering the Tea Party movement toward supporting even more foreign intervention, including an aggressive war against Iran.” Tuggle offered that to prevent this Republican establishment absorption of the Tea Party, “the League of the South can collaborate with the Tea Party and guide it toward supporting policies that will reduce, rather than increase, the power of the central government.”
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The Conference’s afternoon segment was led by John Evans, Chairman of the New Hanover County (Wilmington) Libertarian Party, who after a few introductory remarks challenged the audience with “what do you want to accomplish?” A longtime candidate for political office and experienced political analyst, he suggested that League members look outward from the organization and toward other groups with similar goals and interests. Evans emphasized that “the public at large will not embrace change unless they are persuaded that the new form is better than the old,” and the LS needs to lead the way in asserting that their goal of political self-determination is better than what we currently live with. He added that we must set strategies that either produce “incremental or sudden change,” and be ready for either eventuality. The interactive format of audience participation was well-received, and both speakers were kept busy answering a multitude of questions and challenges to their assertions.
Overall, the conclusions drawn by the discussion were in favor of LS member involvement in local political groups claiming Tea Party ideology and being active in their discussions of the Constitution, the proper relationship of the federal versus State governments, and the ultimate sovereignty residing in the people of each State, and their political will.
NC State Chair Bernhard Thuersam encouraged all to attend the upcoming 17th annual League of the South National Conference in Atlanta 8-9 October, there is still time to register and secure a hotel room at the airport Hilton. See www.dixienet.org for more information. Many thanks to those members and guests who attended and participated in the group discussion—this has proved to be a popular format and will be a part of future Conferences.
The next NC LS Winter Conference will be tentatively held on Saturday, 12 February 2011 at the Mayflower Seafood Restaurant Banquet Room in Burlington, please make your plans to attend and enjoy another spirited program.
Watch www.northcarolina.chapterlos.net for specific agenda information.
