LOBBY GROUPS NEED NOT REVEAL FUNDING SOURCES

There are two sides to the idea that "lobbyists" need to reveal their
source of funding.

But first I have to ask letter writer Robert C. Barber and Prof.
Norman Frohlich what is so important about knowing the source of
funding. The merits of the idea either stand on their own or they do
not. The arguments are either substantive or they are not. Naming
those who fund the idea will simply dry up the source of funding for
all, since funders open themselves up to ad hominem attacks.

One need only look at the case for legalizing drugs. The government
has spent trillions demonizing drugs and their users. Libertarians and
the Marijuana Party strongly support ending drug prohibition. However,
anybody who was foolish enough to donate money to either party would
be skewered as a legalizer and demonized by the state, not to mention
competing politicians. Any volunteers? Didn't think so.

Envy politics is the only reason I can think of that others would want
to know who funds whatever ideas. I suspect the only reason Prof,
Frolich and the Robert C. Barbers want to know who funds the Frontier
Centre or any other entity for that matter is so that they can attack
the persons who support Peter Holle rather than the ideas he expounds.

We are supposed to have a political system that includes a secret
ballot in this so-called free country. Naming the financiers of
political ideas means there is effectively no secret ballot.

Chris Buors

Libertarian Party of Manitoba