Date: 26 Jul 95 23:39:15 EDT From: William Winter <73163.3063@CompuServe.COM> To: 3-*PR Libernet Subject: LP RELEASE: USA Today & Generation X ----------------------------------------- NEWS FROM THE LIBERTARIAN PARTY 2600 Virginia Avenue, NW, Suite 100 Washington DC 20037 ----------------------------------------- For release: July 26, 1995 For additional information: Bill Winter, Director of Communications (202) 333-0008 ----------------------------------------- Libertarianism is generating excitement in Generation X, says USA Today WASHINGTON, DC -- What's the future of American politics? Libertarianism, according to a front-page article in the nation's largest newspaper, USA Today, on Wednesday, July 26th. The story -- entitled "The GenX Philosophy: Many reject politics, lean libertarian" -- declared: "What liberalism was to the Sixties and conservatism was to the Eighties, libertarianism may be to the youth of the 1990s." Libertarian Party National Director Perry Willis agreed wholeheartedly. "USA Today is absolutely correct," he said. "The growing appeal of libertarianism to Generation Xers is the political tsunami that will reshape American government. And only the Libertarian Party is poised to take advantage of this trend." The article continued: "Many of the 41 million members of Generation X are turning to...libertarianism, a mixture of liberal views on social issues and a conservative bent on pocketbook concerns." Willis said the trend is not surprising, given the events of the past 20 years. "Generation Xers have experienced first-hand the failures of liberalism and conservatism," he said. "After all, what have the Republicans given them? Flag-burning amendments, Internet censorship, massive federal debt, and the failed War on Drugs. And what have the Democrats given them? A bankrupt Social Security system, affirmative discrimination, higher taxes, and the failed War on Drugs. No wonder Generation X is turning Libertarian," said Willis. The Libertarian Party is gearing up to take advantage of this surge in interest, and hopes to run more than 1,000 candidates for public office in 1996, said Willis. Included will be at least 218 candidates for U.S. House -- the first time since 1920 that a third party has run candidates for a majority of Congressional seats. "We're going to make sure those 41 million Generation Xers have Libertarian Party candidates to vote for when they cast a ballot in 1996," Willis vowed. The USA Today article comes when increasing attention is being focused on the libertarian movement -- and the Libertarian Party -- as a major force in American politics. For example, the Wall Street Journal noted: "Libertarian impulses show growing appeal among the disaffected." (January 20, 1995) Rolling Stone stated: "In part because of its appeal to young Americans ... libertarianism appears to be gaining converts." (April 6, 1995) And New York magazine declared: "The real inspiration behind the Republican revolution is libertarianism." (June 12, 1995) The growth of the Libertarian Party seems to confirm such speculation. In the last 18 months, the Libertarian Party has increased its contributor base by more than 25 percent, voter registrations by 8 percent, and has elected a record number of Libertarians to public office. # # #