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From: Bob.Waldrop@f418.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Bob Waldrop)
Subject: PUBLIC HEARINGS on Ballot Access, Vote Fraud and Other Issues
Message-ID: <1993Apr5.200958.15654@dsd.es.com>
Followup-To: talk.politics.misc
Originator: rthomson@mesa
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Reply-To: Bob.Waldrop@f418.n104.z1.fidonet.org (Bob Waldrop)
X-Us-Mail: P.O. Box 526175, Salt Lake City, UT 84152
X-Telephone: 801-582-3318
Organization: Morning Glory Productions, SLC, UT
Date: Mon, 5 Apr 93 20:09:58 GMT
Lines: 274

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 Announcing. . . Announcing. . . Announcing. . . Announcing
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                     PUBLIC HEARINGS

                on the compliance by the 

                UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT

          and the governments of the states of

         FLORIDA, LOUISIANA, ARKANSAS, MISSOURI,
         WEST VIRGINIA, NORTH CAROLINA, INDIANA,
          MARYLAND, OKLAHOMA, NEVADA, WYOMING,
                   GEORGIA, AND MAINE

      with Certain International Agreements Signed
     by the United States Government, in particular,

           THE INTERNATIONAL COVENANT ON CIVIL
                  AND POLITICAL RIGHTS
                 (signed 5 October 1977)

                         and the

        DOCUMENT OF THE COPENHAGEN MEETING OF THE
        CONFERENCE ON THE HUMAN DIMENSION OF THE
         CONFERENCE ON SECURITY AND COOPERATION
                        IN EUROPE
                       (June 1990)

                 A Democracy Project of

                   CELEBRATE LIBERTY!
        THE 1993 LIBERTARIAN NATIONAL CONVENTION
                   AND POLITICAL EXPO

                     Sept. 2-5, 1993
              Salt Palace Convention Center
                     Marriott Hotel
                  Salt Lake City, Utah

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These hearings will investigate charges that the governments
referenced above routinely violate the political and
democratic rights of political minority parties.  Persons
interested in testifying at these hearings, or in submitting
written or documentary evidence, should contact:

                       Bob Waldrop
                     P.O. Box 526175
                Salt Lake City, UT  84152
                     (801)-582-3318
          Bob.Waldrop@f418.n104.z1.fidonet.org

Examples of possible information of interest includes
evidence and testimony regarding: 

(1)   Unfair or unequal treatment of political minorities;

(2)   Physical assaults on volunteers, candidates, or
      members of minority parties;

(3)   Arrests of minority party petitioners, candidates, or
      members while engaged in political activity;

(4)   Structural barriers to organizing third parties and/or
      running for office as anything other than a Democrat
      or Republican (e.g. signature totals required for
      petitions to put new parties and candidates on ballots,
      requirements for third parties that Democrats and
      Republicans are not required to meet, etc.);

(5)   Taxpayer subsidies of Democratic and Republican
      candidates that are denied or not available to third
      parties;

(6)   Fraudulent or non-reporting of minority party vote
      totals (e.g. stating totals for Democratic and
      Republican party candidates as equal to 100% of the
      vote);

(7)   Refusals by state legislatures, governors, and courts to
      hear petitions for redress of grievances from third
      parties, and/or unfavorable rulings/laws
      discriminating against third parties;

(8)   Refusal to allow registration as a member of a third
      party when registering to vote (in states where
      partisan voter registration is optional or required);

(9)   Vote fraud, stuffing ballot boxes, losing ballots, fixing
      elections, threatening candidates, ballot printing errors;
      machine voting irregularities, dishonest/corrupt
      election officials, refusal to register third party voters
      or allow filing by third party candidates; failure to
      print third party registration options on official voter
      registration documents; intimidation of third party
      voters and/or candidates; and/or any other criminal
      acts by local, county, state or federal election officials;

(10)  Exclusion of third party candidates from debate
      forums sponsored by public schools, state colleges and
      universities, and governments (including events
      carried on television and radio stations owned and/or
      subsidized by governments;

(11)  Any other information relevant to the topic.

Information is solicited about incidents relating to all non-
Democratic and non-Republican political parties, such as
Libertarian, New Alliance, Socialist Workers Party, Natural
Law Party, Taxpayers, Populist, Consumer, Green, American,
Communist, etc., as well as independent candidates such as
John Anderson, Ross Perot, Eugene McCarthy, Barry
Commoner, etc.


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Representatives of the governments referenced above will be
invited to respond to any allegations.

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        RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE DOCUMENT OF THE
          COPENHAGEN MEETING REFERENCED ABOVE:

"(The participating States) recognize that pluralistic
democracy and the rule of law are essential for ensuring
respect for all human rights and fundamental freedoms. . .
They therefore welcome the commitment expressed by all
participating States to the ideals of democracy and political
pluralism. . . The participating States express their conviction
that full respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms
and the development of societies based on pluralistic
democracy. . . are prerequisites for progress in setting up the
lasting order of peace, security, justice, and co-operation. . .
They therefore reaffirm their commitment to implement fully
all provisions of the Final Act and of the other CSCE
documents relating to the human dimension. . . In order to
strengthen respect for, and enjoyment of, human rights and
fundamental freedoms, to develop human contacts and to
resolve issues of a related humanitarian character, the
participating States agree on the following. . .

"(2). . . They consider that the rule of law does not mean
merely a formal legality which assures regularity and
consistency in the achievement and enforcement of
democratic order, but justice based on the recognition and
full acceptance of the supreme value of the human
personality and guaranteed by institutions providing a
framework for its fullest expression."
      
"(3)  They reaffirm that democracy is an inherent element of
the rule of law.  They recognize the importance of pluralism
with regard to political organizations."

"(4)  They confirm that they will respect each other's right
freely to choose and develop, in accordance with
international human rights standards, their political, social,
economic and cultural systems.  In exercising this right, they
will ensure that their laws, regulations, practices, and policies
conform with their obligations under international law and
are brought into harmony with the provisions of the
Declaration on Principles and other CSCE commitments."

"(5)  They solemnly declare that among those elements of
justice which are essential to the full expression of the
inherent dignity and of the equal and inalienable rights of all
human beings are the following. . ."

". . . (5.4) -- a clear separation between the State and political
parties; in particular, political parties will not be merged with
the state. . ."

". . . (7)  To ensure that the will of the people serves as
the basis of the authority of government, the participating
states will. . ."

"(7.4) -- ensure . . . that (votes) are counted and reported
honestly with the official results made public;"

"(7.5) -- respect the right of citizens to seek political or public
office, individually or as representatives of political parties or
organizations, without discrimination."


                RELEVANT SECTIONS OF THE
        INTERNATIONAL COVENANT OF 5 OCTOBER 1977
                    REFERENCED ABOVE

The States Parties to the present Covenant. . . Recognizing
that. . . the ideal of free human beings enjoying civil and
political freedom and freedom from fear and want can only
be achieved if conditions are created whereby everyone may
enjoy his civil and political rights, as well as his economic,
social, and cultural rights, Considering the obligation of
States under the Charter of the United Nations to promote
universal respect for, and observance of, human rights and
freedoms. . . Agree upon the following articles. . .

Article 2.  (1) Each State Party to the present Covenant
undertakes to respect and to ensure to all individuals within
its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights
recognized in the present Covenant, without distinction of
any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion,
political or other opinion, national or social origin, property,
birth, or other status.

(2)  Where not already provided for by existing legislative or
other measures, each State Party to the present Covenant
undertakes to take the necessary steps, in accordance with its
constitutional processes and with the provisions of the
present Covenant, to adopt such legislative or other measures
as may be necessary to give effect to the rights recognized in
the present Covenant. . .

Article 3.  The States Parties to the present Covenant
undertake to ensure the equal right of men and women to
the enjoyment of all civil and political rights set forth in the
present Covenant. . .

Article 25.  Every citizen shall have the right and the
opportunity, without any of the distinctions mentioned in
article 2 and without unreasonable restrictions:  (a) to take
part in the conduct of public affairs, directly or through
freely chosen representatives; (b) to vote and to be elected at
genuine periodic elections which shall be by universal and
equal suffrage and shall be held by secret ballot,
guaranteeing the free expression of the will of the electors; (c)
to have access, on general terms of equality, to public service
in his country.

Article 26.  All persons are equal before the law and are
entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of
the law.  In this respect, the law shall prohibit any
discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and
effective protection against discrimination on any ground
such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other
opinion, national or social origin, property, birth, or other
status.



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There will be no peace without freedom.
Think Globally -- Act Locally.
Resist Much.  Obey Little.
Question Authority.

Comments from Bob Waldrop are the responsibility of Bob
Waldrop!  For a good time call 415-457-6388.

E-Mail:           Bob.Waldrop@f418.n104.z1.fidonet.org
Snail Mail:       P.O. Box 526175
                  Salt Lake City, Utah 84152-6175
                  United States of America
Voice Phone:      (801) 582-3318
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-- 
		      Don't blame me; I voted Libertarian.
Disclaimer: I speak for myself, except as noted; Copyright 1993 Rich Thomson
UUCP: ...!uunet!dsd.es.com!rthomson			Rich Thomson
Internet: rthomson@dsd.es.com	IRC: _Rich_		PEXt Programmer
