Supporting Ann Mah in 2008

(Published in the Topeka Metro on Friday, October 31st, 2008)
I campaigned twice for the 53rd District KS House of Representatives, in 2004 & 2006. Both times, Ann Mah beat me to the ground in total number of votes. Granted, I had an uphill battle running as a Libertarian with a very limited budget.

In between campaigns, I've had the honor of working with Ann Mah on several issues. Though I haven't always agreed with her votes, she has earned my respect in many ways.

Ann Mah is very responsive to OUR FEEDBACK. Simply put, if you let her know (respectfully) how you feel about any issue she has to vote on, she will listen. If enough people tell her the same thing, she will go with the wishes of her constituents.

Ann Mah goes out of her way to make herself available for her constituents. I really appreciate the public forums she hosts at Lake Shawnee and other areas, where she invites her constituents to actively contribute their ideas.

Also, Ann Mah's constituent service is the best I've ever seen. She literally does the best she can to help her constituents with issues that fall within her scope as State Representative.

I do not know much about Ann's current opponent, Cecil Washington. He may well be a good man, but I've never been contacted by him, nor have I ever heard anything else about him except for Jack Woelfel's letter in his support.

Ann Mah has earned my respect the hard way, and I feel confident supporting her campaign for a 3rd term as my State Representative in the 53rd District.

Respectfully,

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com

Truckhenge Music Festival II (2008)

All I can say...
...is the 2nd Truckhenge Music Festival was one hell of a great party!!!

Special thanks to Bob Cutler of the Klusterfux, Jen and Adam Angellini from Wakamojo, and Bob Curry from Side Effects, for helping us get things done.

9 bands: Wakamojo - Schumann's Resonance - Klusterfux - SideEffects - Mirror Image - Hammerjunk - Obone - Lazer Panther - The Hemorrhoids. Remember those bands, I'm sure you'll be seeing a LOT more about them over the next year! In fact, several of them are competing in the Battle of the Bands at the Boobie Trap bar tomorrow night (Saturday Sept. 27).

This 2nd concert was MUCH better than the first concert last year! For one, there was NO band drama to deal with; these bands work together very well! Second, since we kept more control over the event this year (instead of letting someone else take over and BS), we knew much more about what was going on, than we did last year.

I've heard anywhere from 300 to 400 people came out this year. 350 was my estimate, so we'll go with that for now. We actually lost count after 156 people signed the list - it was starting to form a line so we decided to just let people sign the list on their own.

The sound was great! Truckhenge forms such a great natural amphitheater that the sound doesn't have to be blasted up too loud - it sounds great all the way through the audience area and isn't distorted or blowing your head off.

And some of the bands played great remake songs that were also remade to include "Truckhenge" in them. That's a cool theme that I'm sure we're going to work with next year!

Oh, there will definitely be a "Truckhenge Music Festival III (2009)"! We'll have a meeting in October for anyone interested in working with us to make next year's party even better. We're already planning to spread it over a whole weekend (instead of just one night), so look for a Friday to Sunday event. If we get some sponsors and some volunteers, we may also set up a second stage.

The possibilities are here, we just need people to step up!

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com

Lessman's Farm website: www.LessmanFarm.com
Truckhenge: www.Truckhenge.com

Meth Wars: Program Monitors Pharmacies

I believe government news like this "Program to monitor pharmacies in meth battle" needs to be recieved cautiously.

Sure it "feels good" to hear the government is going to "do something" to stop illegal drug use. But I need to know a LOT more information before I can just accept another government program, especially when it appears to be a seriously invasive program.

What information are they going to collect from the pharmacies? Who will be collecting the information, where will it be stored, and how will it be used? How do they expect this to fix the meth problem? How will they fund the program? What will they do with the already existing programs that are similar but apparently aren't working? If those other programs are working, then why do they need another program?

WE the People keep letting the government jump into whatever programs it wants, without paying attention to the consequences. We've already got serious budget and economic problems.
Why are we being told that they government doesn't have enough money to pay for all of the road construction, infrastructure, police positions, and various social services the government says it needs?

If the government doesn't have enough money to pay for its existing needs, why is it starting new programs that will cost more and be even more invasive, without disbanding the older similar programs that apparently aren't working?

Thomas Lessman
Web: www.ThomasLessman.com
Blog: www.talessman.blogspot.com
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Libertarian Party of Kansas: www.LPKS.org

Government again blowing smoke up your...

From the Topeka Capital-Journal story "Little of tobacco settlement spent on smoking cessation". Here is my response:

It's amazing how much BS people will let the government get away with.

Certain state leaders claimed the $$$ from the lawsuit would go to reimburse states for tobacco-related illnesses and programs, and for educational "smoking prevention campaigns". Instead, State leaders spent the $$$ on just about everything BUT what we were told it would be spent on. It went to road work, pet projects, and many other non-smoking related things.

I predicted that outcome even back when the lawsuits first hit the news. The next prediction is even worse. Since the State blew all that lawsuit and tax money, guess what they'll say when smoking-related health costs and deaths continue to increase?

Government: "Golly people, all these rising health care costs mean we have to raise your taxes - AGAIN!"

Get rid of bad government. Vote Libertarian! www.LPKS.org

Thomas Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
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Political Party Member Disparity Reduced

This is my comment on a story in the Topeka Capital-Journal titled "Political party member disparity reduced". http://cjonline.com/stories/072608/loc_309880856.shtml

Libertarians, Constitutionalists, Reformists, Greens, and other parties have been trying to give you more choices for decades.

Yet time after time, you keep re-electing the same Republicans and Democrats, just different faces.

A lot of Republicans, and some Democrats, are beginning to understand the Libertarian party as being more in tune with what can save America.

But with 523 registered Libertarians in Shawnee County, and only 7 or 8 of us show up for the monthly meetings?

Bottom line is that no matter what party you are registered with, if you don't actively participate in that party, you have only yourself to blame when things don't go the way you want.

LPKS/LNEKs meetings: Last Thursday of each month.
LNEKs meeting this Thursday (7-31-08). 7:00-8:00 PM. Planet Sub on 21st & Wanamaker (Next to Target). All meetings are open to the public!

Thomas Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/
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2008 Country Stampede

This was the first Country Stampede I've ever been to. I never thought I'd say this, but that concert was the most fun I've had in years! One way or another, I will FIND a way to go back next year!

I met Chris Simmons from The Simmons Brothers band; you can hear their music for free on The Simmons Brothers' MySpace page. Someday we hope to see them play at Truckhenge!

I also got to see live performances by Rascall Flatts and Taylor Swift. And there were tons of things to do besides listen to music - I highly recommend the Toyota Tundra exhibit, THAT is a vehicle with excellent offroad performance!

This year I only got to attend Saturday's events. Next year I hope to get a better package, for all 4 days and with camping. If you can go, I highly recommend it, and you should plan ahead by at least 3 months! EVERY hotel room, bed & breakfast, and other sleeping places were taken between Manhattan and Topeka! I'd estimate at least 4'500 people were in the main area on Saturday around 7 pm. It was crowded but not too badly. And there were TONS of activities and things to sign up for.

Anyway, I really had a good time, and I want to thank Shannon for taking me. While there I took notes, so now I have more ideas for the next concert we host at Truckhenge!

Thomas Lessman
Web: http://www.thomaslessman.com/
Blog: http://www.talessman.blogspot.com/

Lessman Farm, Catfish Pond, & Truckhenge:
www.thomaslessman.com/LessmanFarm/

World History Maps by Thomas Lessman:
http://www.worldhistorymaps.info/
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