"An Open Letter to Students"
This letter was originally composed by Joe Laux in reply to a specific student inquiry
but was later posted as a response to several similiar questions sent to the LP.
Dear Student:
As the Capital Region leader of the Liberal Party of New York, and a former
resident of Buffalo, I'm thrilled to learn of the activities of your school, and will be more
than happy to help you in any way I can.
The Liberal Party is the oldest continually operating political party in the U.S., having
been founded as an anti-Communist alternative to the American Labor Party. We were founded
on the principles of social justice for all, progressive programs to better the life of all
Americans, and to, as our founder Alex Rose used to like to say, "Keep the Republicans
liberal, and the Democrats honest". We have been responsible for the election of many
progressive leaders of both major political parties, Republicans include: Senator Jacob
Javits, Attorney General Louis Lefkowitz, also New York City Mayors John Lindsay, and
Rudy Giuliani. Democrats include: Governors Averill Harriman, Hugh Carey, and Cuomo;
Senators Moynihan, Schumer, and H. Clinton; also Presidents Kennedy, Johnson, and Clinton.
In fact, since the Liberal Party's inception, no Democrat had ever won statewide office in
New York State without our endorsement.
Some of the issues that the Liberal Party lead the way in was the
establishment of Social Security, the Civil Rights laws of the '60's, the drive to legalize
abortions, to outlaw the death penalty, environmental conservation, and full human rights,
including marriage rights, for the Gay, Lesbian, Bisexual and Transgender community.
In order to best help you, it would be great if I knew exactly what
you'd like to know about the Liberal Party, so I would invite you to write back to me
with any questions or issues you have, and I promise that I will get right back to you
with answers. Also, you may wish to visit our website, www.liberalparty.org, and see
some of the information on our history and issues that is housed there.
Thank you for your interest, and I do hope to hear back from you!
Best,
Joe Laux
Vice Chairperson,
Liberal Party of New York
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