One of the myths repeated by the political class is that electing Libertarians to office would lead to a parade of horribles.

But as the experience of San Miguel County (CO) Sheriff Bill Masters and Mendocino County (CA) District Attorney Norman Vroman shows, life is good for citizens who elect Libertarians to protect their communities.

The county seat of San Miguel County is Telluride, Colorado. Home of the famous bluegrass festival, Telluride received a second place ranking in the "50 Best Places to Live" list in the 2002 issue of Men's Journal.

Although I received some initial interest from several students at Utah’s colleges and universities since the initial launch of the Fair Representation Challenge last summer, I have yet to hear of any efforts to make student body elections more competitive and representative.

Recently, the Salt Lake Branch of the NAACP warmly received Larry Miller in connection with the $1,000 scholarship he annually offers the organization, despite the “Brokeback Mountain” flap.

Many of us celebrate romance during the month of February. (And a quick survey of the work of some Libertarian romance novelists, such as Karen Kay and Lauren Royal, reminds me that I am woefully out of my depth on this subject.)

So, as Valentine's Day approaches, why not briefly explore the relationship between love and politics?

In the libertarian-themed movie Serenity, Captain Malcolm Reynolds' character ("Mal") is a hardened military veteran who seemingly lacks a moral compass. But in the closing scene of the movie, Mal shows that his heart also governs his actions when he speaks metaphorically to a member of his crew.

... "representative," that is.

Many Americans celebrate Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Day to commemorate the slain civil rights leader's efforts to foster a more inclusive society.

But as we compare a portrait of Utah's diversity to the composition of and competition for seats in the Utah Legislature, it's easy to see that as the members of Utah's political class invoke Dr. King's name, they continue to betray his dream.

Is liberty important to you?

It must be for many Americans because members of the political class claim that they must to lie to you, enslave you, and steal from you to allegedly protect your liberty.

But are these false prophets of freedom delivering on their promises? Here's one way to check.

The winter holidays prompt many Utahns to reflect on matters spiritual and share joy.

And although some CEOs who don't live in Utah have expressed concerns about our local culture, one of the season's memories I am fond of is my party's campaign seven years ago to proclaim the virtue of being a Mormon and a Libertarian.

The year was 1998.

In the spring of that year, Elder Marlin Jensen of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints gave a lengthy interview, urging members of the LDS Church to become not only more politically active, but active in more than one political party.

As a former employee of public relations agency Fleishman-Hillard, I am not unfamiliar with union-backed corporate campaigns ... especially those against Wal-Mart.

And because I love a bargain, I was a regular Wal-Mart shopper ... until recently.

So why did I change my shopping habits?

Was it Frontline's report "Is Wal-Mart Good for America?"

This fall I've had the pleasure of teaching a course titled U.S. Government and Politics at Salt Lake Community College.

Because their instructor is the chairman of the Libertarian Party of Utah, my students have a better idea of what a Libertarian is and what a Libertarian believes than do most students.

Over the next few weeks, my class will study political parties, campaigns, and elections.

One of the textbook's upcoming chapters discusses the role of non-incumbent political parties, how election laws favor incumbent political parties, and how many debate organizers exclude candidates affiliated with non-incumbent parties from participating in pre-election debates.

The recent U.S. Supreme Court decision in Kelo v. New London reminds Americans of local government's ability to transfer real property from Poor Peter to Politically-Powerful Paul.

As Utah's November 8th local government elections approach, have you discovered which candidates for office have designs on your home?

The Political Economy Research Center has drafted a statement of principles for preserving freedom and livability in America's cities and suburbs titled "The Lone Mountain Compact."

So how are student leaders at Utah's colleges and universities coming on winning the prize offered in the Fair Representation Challenge by making their student body elections more competitive and representative?

Let's ask the reporters and columnists at their student newspapers to find out!

Below is the contact information for student newspapers -- and those who write for them -- at Utah’s colleges and universities:

The Westminster College Forum