September 17, 2015
Chris Dock | LPMN Chair
Another State Fair has come to a close, and the 2015 version of the Great Minnesota Get-Together was a huge success for the Libertarian Party of Minnesota. Our “Freedom on a Stick” slogan was extremely popular, with hundreds of people taking photos of our banner. Our booth had nearly four times the traffic compared to last year, and we had over 1,500 people sign up to be on our information contact list.
Our issue messaging was a huge draw (complete with signs, buttons, and t-shirts) including Legalize It, Don’t Spy On Me, Wage Peace, and Rank Choice Voting. As an example, the vast majority of people understand that ending the failed War on Drugs isn’t about encouraging more people to use mind-altering substances; it is about restoring the freedom of personal choice and putting an end to the negative outcomes that are caused by prohibition.
It was also clear that our messaging is beginning to reach a larger audience, and people know we stand for much more than just legalizing marijuana. Some examples of our improvement from last year in terms of recognition and support are as follows:
- A common initial question to visitors at our booth has been “Are you familiar with the Libertarian Party” – last year, the answer to that question was usually “no.” This year, a much higher percentage of people said “yes” or at least “somewhat” – which shows our continued and consistent efforts on messaging, issues, and running candidates in state and local elections are having a positive impact.
- For visitors who said they were not familiar with the Libertarian Party, our literature piece that summarizes Libertarian Positions and agreement/disagreement with the major parties was very well-received. Thousands of these pieces were distributed during the Fair, and the impact was immediate – the typical comments were “this really makes sense,” “I get it now,” and “this describes who I am.”
- Other people who visited our booth knew that we were a political party that is neither Democrat nor Republican – and these people were actively seeking a new option. The energy and support for a new approach to government is increasing every day, and people were excited to hear about our real-world solutions to the problems that the current power structure has created.
Click to enlarge
2015 has been a tremendous success in our three major external outreach events – the May Day Festival, Twin Cities PRIDE, and the State Fair. More people are hearing our message, and more are understanding how our solutions to the issues of the day represent reasonable and rational options in a world where those are not commonly proposed.
Outreach Director Needed: We are seeking a dedicated Outreach Director to identify, plan, and organize more Outreach Events across Minnesota – click here for more information! Please contact us if are interested in helping us in this capacity.
On a personal note, I would like to thank each and every member of the LPMN who contributed to our success at the State Fair and throughout the rest of the year – those who designed our graphics, coordinated the production of our merchandise and advertising, organized our State Convention and outreach events, ran for office, wrote our articles, and spent hundreds of hours volunteering at our events and thousands of dollars supporting our cause. You are the people that make the growth and success of the LPMN possible, and none of our accomplishments would happen without all of your efforts. Thank you for everything you do!
State Fair in Pictures
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
Concerned about the expansion of government control and the erosion of individual liberty? Please consider joining and becoming active with the Libertarian Party of Minnesota. Libertarians support liberty on all issues, all the time! Libertarianism is a philosophical and political movement to promote personal freedom, strong civil liberties, a genuinely free marketplace, and peace.
Want to comment? Join this conversation on our Facebook thread.