I was at the Rogers TV studios on Wednesday and got to say my piece.  Rogers will start airing candidates’ presentations on September 24th (http://www.rogerstelevision.com/option.asp?lid=16&rid=16&tid=21048&ttl=6).

I was more nervous than I wanted to be, although I know you need to have some nerves. I spoke very deliberately and more slowly than during the federal election and tried to fit in the basic message and a couple of specific points in the 2 minutes I had and not cram in too much.  I think there are pros and cons to reading from a prepared text.  If it works to get the message across, then I feel it’s more valuable to be spell it out if I’m given time to do so than worry about the fact that I’m reading.    In interviews on the other hand, I learned I had to take a conversational approach.

Questions welcome.    I’m available for interviews and events if you want to invite me to speak to your group  – even after this election in preparation for a federal election some time in the fall maybe which the media is speculating about !     We need more federal candidates and organizers!!!

And again, if you live in Scarborough–Rouge River and are a libertarian, give me a call!   Or the other OLP candidates.

Hi.  I’m Alan Mercer and I’m running in Scarborough-Rouge River for the Libertarian Party.

In this election, the Libertarian Party is presenting the message of liberty, and this is the same type of message presented by U.S. presidential candidate Ron Paul.

What would it mean to live in a society based on liberty?

Running your own life, making your own choices about education and health care, keeping your own money, controlling your own property. This describes a society based on liberty, freedom and choice.

It would mean you would not be forced to pay for services you didn’t want through unjust taxes such as property tax.   You would use your money to choose education for your kids based on your values and judgment.  It would mean CHOICE.

A big problem with the Tory plan for funding faith-based schools is that these schools would surrender their independence to the government.  The Liberals on the other hand passed legislation to force teens to stay in school until they’re 18.

But instead of all that, I believe there should be separation of school and state.   Education should not be an instrument of economic planning, regimentation and indoctrination.

I think there are legitimate fears we are headed in the wrong direction, towards an even  more authoritarian society.    If that’s the case, the need to reverse course is urgent.  It’s up to all of us to influence the kind of world we live in.

If you support the message of liberty,  then get involved with the Libertarian Party both provincially and federally in order to make people aware of the need for change and the possibilities of a society in which we are free to make our own choices.

September 23rd, 2007