"The Advocates makes invaluable contributions to the freedom cause. For twenty years the Advocates has worked tirelessly to help libertarians better communicate the ideas of liberty. I continue to be impressed by the Advocates' work." -- Ron Paul

Dear friend of the Advocates,

I recently received the following message…

Dear The Advocates, I am a 13-year-old Texan and I have recently taken your World's Smallest Political Quiz. I am amazed. It is unbelievable how such a short Quiz can tell you so much! I have spread the word of your Quiz to dozens (most Libertarian or Republican) including my former Democratic parents who now have found out they are libertarians. Although not many students my age are fascinated and as knowledgeable as me about politics, I am and have gotten excited [about libertarian ideas]..... Some people say that libertarians "will not win," but if we believe like that then our country will not change and we will not be like our Founding Fathers intended America to be.

Wow! My heart soared when I read those words. Because… that is what the Advocates is all about! Founded in 1985 by Marshall Fritz, The Advocates for Self-Government is the only organization that works exclusively to empower libertarians to successfully spread the ideas of liberty.

Just as in the case of this young man – whose encounter with the Advocates has already turned him into a successful libertarian activist -- Advocates programs, tools and training are literally changing lives every day: bringing people into the liberty movement who will make a huge difference now and in the years and decades to come.

The Advocates introduces tens of thousands of people every month to the ideas of liberty. We answer their questions and inform them about the liberty movement. We turn many into full-fledged libertarians. And then we give them the tools and training to become successful and persuasive advocates of libertarianism themselves -- so they can, in turn, find more potential libertarians in the best ways possible. Find out more about the Advocates vital work.

Please take a moment to read it. It is exciting!

The Advocates is making a profound difference in the libertarian movement and the world. And today, -that is...

More important than ever.

Think of what has happened to our liberties in America over the last few years. Look at the unimaginably huge growth of government. Consider the dyed-in-the-wool statist beliefs of the 2008 major-party candidates for president. Think of the enormous loss of fundamental Constitutional freedoms, the contempt for basic human rights and individual liberty that far too many of today’s most powerful political leaders and opinion shapers are showing. America desperately needs a change – a mass movement toward freedom!

Libertarians must make this happen. America is depending on us. I believe with all my heart that we can. And the Advocates is playing a major role in this.

Three reasons libertarians can WIN!

We libertarians are up against great odds: powerful liberal and conservative movements that control today’s political institutions. And yet, I think the advantage is ours.

* First, because the facts and the moral high ground are on our side. The left and the right rehash the tired old failed ideas of the past. Libertarians bring a fresh new view, informed by the wisdom of the Founders and backed with the latest and best in research.

* Second, because our movement is growing, both in numbers and in effectiveness. When the Advocates began, there were only a handful of libertarian publications and organizations, largely outside the public’s awareness. (If you’ve been a libertarian long enough, you may remember encountering questions like, “Why do librarians need their own political party, anyway?”) But in just a few decades our small but determined movement has grown enormously.

* Third, because we have finally burst into public awareness. No longer is politics viewed exclusively as left versus right – a model which leaves out libertarians. Libertarians are increasingly on the political map – and that map is essentially the map on our Quiz. (And I firmly believe the Advocates can take credit for a major part of this awakening!)

So... what is missing? Today we are blessed with dozens of wonderful libertarian organizations that are making the intellectual case for liberty. Their work is outstanding and crucial. Never before in human history has the case for liberty been intellectually stronger. It is downright unassailable. What is missing, however, is a major piece of the puzzle: a mass movement of articulate, knowledgeable libertarians, able to take the ideas of liberty to opinion leaders and to their friends, family, and colleagues – honestly, persuasively, and effectively.

The Advocates, like no other organization in the world, is working to bring that about. My dictionary defines “vital” as: “necessary to the existence, continuance, or well-being of something; indispensable; essential.” I truly believe that the work of the Advocates is vital. It is “indispensable; essential.” It is “necessary to the existence, continuance, and well-being” of the movement for liberty.

The great Cause that makes all other great causes possible.

I’ve pointed out some of the negative factors that make the work of the Advocates so urgent. Now let’s look at the flip side of that coin -- the positive reasons why liberty is so very important today. Liberty makes possible virtually all the good things in our lives. Only liberty makes possible the abundance that allows people to move beyond merely struggling to survive, and express their compassionate, caring side. Liberty brings peace, abundance, charity, art, travel, creativity, tolerance, the opportunity to pursue happiness.

Think of any great charitable cause – feeding and clothing the hungry, eradicating poverty, the arts, medical research, caring for neglected animals, protecting the environment, exploring spiritual ideas – and you will immediately realize that only liberty makes it possible. Around the world, where there is liberty, there is abundance, harmony and happiness. Where liberty is lacking, there is poverty, sickness, violence, tyranny, misery.

Liberty is quite literally a matter of life and death for America and for the world.

As libertarians you and I are working on the great Cause that makes all other great causes possible. The work of the Advocates is essential for this great Cause to win. And that is why I am writing you.

Urgently needed: people with vision.

Let’s face it: education, teaching libertarians to become successful communicators, and day-to-day mass libertarian outreach -- however effective and vital -- are just not as sexy and exciting to a lot of people as political campaigns and red-hot political debates.

And this election year there have been many exciting and worthwhile political campaigns and events competing for the limited resources of liberty-lovers like you. As a result, even though demand for Advocates services is at an all-time high, our contributions are down. To be frank, we’re feeling the pinch. The crisis in our economy has also taken its toll on us.

But I believe you understand how vital the work of the Advocate is. You realize how important it is that the Advocates keeps on going and growing. That...

* the Quiz continues to reach thousands more students like the young man I quoted at the beginning of this letter, in classrooms across America.

* thousands of people every day continue to be exposed to libertarian ideas and the libertarian movement through the magic of the Quiz.

* libertarian activists continue to learn the very best ways to take the ideas of liberty to the public -- and to avoid the many communication errors that plagued our movement for so many years before the Advocates.

* libertarian activists continue to have the finest proven tools and training available to them as they take our ideas to mainstream America.

I ask you to please help at this time with a contribution. Any amount is needed and welcome. I assure you it will be put to use to build the articulate, persuasive movement for liberty America so desperately needs. We have some great thank-you gifts for your generous contribution. But the best thank-you gift of all is the knowledge that, by your support, you are playing a vital role in advancing the great Cause that makes all other great causes possible.

Please click here NOW to use your credit card to make your tax-deductible SECURE donation.

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Thank you for your dedication to the great cause of liberty -- and thank you in advance for your generous support!

                                                                                                    For liberty,
                                                                                                   
                                                                                                    Sharon Harris
                                                                                                    President, Advocates for Self-Government

PS: Your support of the Advocates REALLY MAKES A DIFFERENCE to huge numbers of people and to the glorious cause of liberty. Please make your best donation now.

On April 15 this year, Ron Paul declared on the floor of Congress: "The World's Smallest Political Quiz [is] one of the freedom movement's most recognized and effective outreach tools."

PPS: Your donations make the Quiz -- and our other vital products, programs and services –possible. Please help us continue getting them into the hands of freedom movement activists, students, the media and the world! PPS: Your support of the Advocates is crucial at this difficult time. The economic crisis is really hurting nonprofits -- including the Advocates. We need a strong response to this letter to keep our vital work going.

Can I count on YOU to help us advance this great Cause?

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Or, if you prefer, please call us toll-free at 1-800-932-1776. Thank you!

 

Thank you for being our partner in furthering the glorious cause of liberty!