LIBERTYandPROSPERITY.org
LONEGAN SOCIAL MEDIA SEMINARS–TOMORROW OCEAN CITY, TUESDAY, ABSECON.
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1.? Thanks to the more than one hundred of you who came to the Shore Diner yesterday (Saturday) to meet and question Republican State Senator JOE KYRILLOS, candidate for U.S. Senate in the June 5 Republican primary election.???If he wins, he runs against Democrat Bob Menendez.? We apologize to those who had to stand in the back, and who could not eat until later.???? KYRILLOS then left for a second event hosted by Republican Assemblyman JOHN AMODEO at the Point Diner ins Somers Point.??? We were told that fewer than a dozen people attended that event.??? Thanks for helping us teach Senator Kyrillos and the state Republican leadership that a lot of folks in Atlantic County are willing to come forward and support candidates–who understand and fight for liberty and prosperity.
2.? Thanks especially to Joel Brockenberry for finally attending one of our breakfast meetings after thinking about coming for more than a year.?? Joel gave an inspirational talk of the difficulties of discussing politics at family reasons as a black American who is also a conservative who shares our love of liberty and the Constitution.
3.? TOMORROW (MONDAY), MAY 7? at 7:00 P.M.:? AMERICANS FOR PROSPERITY ECONOMIC FREEDOM TOUR at Ocean City Library, 1735 Simpson (17thStreet), Ocean City, NJ.??? Learn about economic freedom and how liberty and freedom creates prosperity.?? Then learn important Facebook and Twitter techniques to be more effective in delivering our message of liberty and prosperity to others.??? For details, go to http://www.
4.? TUESDAY, MAY 8, at 6:30 P.M.:?? THE SAME AFP ECONOMIC FREEDOM TOUR will be at the Absecon Clarion Suites, 342 White Horse Pike, Absecon, NJ.??? We are grateful to Steve Lonegan for giving us two opportunities to achieve our dual mission:??? Learn how? and why liberty brings prosperity?and how and why tyranny and despotism destroy it.?? And how to effectively teach our message of liberty.
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6.???? Liberty and Prosperity on the Radio.?? Our Executive Director, Seth Grossman will be a guest on the Larry Trulli and Dan Klein programs on 1020AM WIBG Radio (Ocean City and much of South Jersey) ?tomorrow (MONDAY) and most Mondays ?from 8AM to 10 AM until further notice.?? Grossman also hosts his own program on 92.1FM Radio (Vineland and most of South Jersey) Saturdays from 8AM to 9AM.?? We also hold a breakfast discussion every Saturday morning from 9:30 A.M. to 10:30AM that is open to everyone who wants to learn more about liberty.?? It is held at the Shore Diner, Tilton and Fire Roads by Parkway Exit 36 in Egg Harbor Township.
7.???? IMPORTANT BUSINESS MEETING:??THIS SATURDAY MORNING, SECOND SATURDAY OF EVERY MONTH?RIGHT AFTER THE BREAKFAST ENDS AT 10:30 A.M.??? Many of you are now attending our breakfasts on a regular basis.? Why not take the next step and become a voting member?or even a leadership position as an officer or director?? If interest, please contact Dennis Mahon, Seth Grossman, or any voting member.
8.???? ??TWO VERY GOOD VIDEOS ABOUT HOW SERIOUS THE FEDERAL BUDGET DEFICIT IS.?? View them, and learn a whole lot more, ?at?our website at http://www.
9.???? DID YOU GET A PARKING TICKET AT SOMERS POINT BAYFEST BECAUSE YOU DIDN?T KNOW ABOUT THE NEW RESIDENTIAL PERMIT LAW??? If so, please contact Seth Grossman as sethgrossman49@gmail.com and give him the details.?? This is a difficult situation.?? We are not asking Somers Point officials for favors or special treatment.?? We want to know the facts.??? If the parking regulations were so confusing to out-of-town visitors that they did not know they were violating the law, we think Somers Point should waive the violations for that day.?? We are asking the Somers Point Police Department, the Municipal Prosecutor, and Frank Cosgrove and other members of the Bayfest Committee for assistance.
10.???? BECOME A MEMBER.?? You can joint as a non-voting, supporting member for $30 per year and attend and take part in all business meetings.??? Voting members must pay? $60, attend 3 business meetings per year, and participate in at least one volunteer project per year.
11.?? PLEASE REVIEW AND SUGGEST CORRECTIONS AND IMPROVEMENTS FOR PROPOSED SETH GROSSMAN COLUMN FOR THE CURRENT AND GAZETTE WEEKLY NEWSPAPERS IN ATLANTIC AND CAPE MAY COUNTIES.??? Previous columns are posted at http://www.
Last week, Spirit Airlines gave the American people an important teachable moment about New Jersey?s motto,? Liberty and Prosperity.
Republicans like Assemblymen John Amodeo and Chris Brown could have used that moment to explain that liberty does not only allow us to enjoy the rewards of the good choices we ?are free to make, but to also accept the consequences of our bad choices.??? Liberty creates wealth and prosperity because it encourages people to become smarter and make better choices in the future.
But they didn?t.??? Instead they joined with the left-wing media to teach Spirit Airlines a far different lesson–That most Americans no longer care about ?liberty, rules, or contracts.?? What counts today is celebrity, media exposure, being a ?victim? and part of ?group, and having politicians on your side.
Spirit Airlines is one of the few examples of economic success New Jersey.?? It? began in 1980 as Charter One, a small charter airline that flew from Detroit to various tourist destinations including Atlantic City.??? In the early 1990?s, it bought some jets, changed its name to Spirit Airlines, and began scheduled? airline service.?? Spirit? became a national success by offering the cheapest flights in the country.
It did so with some creative cost-cutting techniques.??? It avoided big cities, and? used Atlantic City Airport as its hub.?? Before Camden County Democrats took over, Atlantic City Airport had free parking and low landing fees.? Flight attendants also checked in baggage.?? Meals were not served.?? Fares were discounted until planes were full.? Telephone customer service was non-existent.?? And fares for cancelled flights were not refunded for any reason?unless you paid extra for flight cancellation insurance.?? And, of course, you paid extra if you checked bags or wanted seats with leg room.
Locals complained about Spirit.? Stand-up comics joked about it.?? But Spirit planes were? full because even the biggest complainers loved the low prices.
Last year, another airline gave me a $300 voucher when a cancelled flight left me stuck overnight at Midway in Chicago.?? But I never used it because Spirit was always more than $300 cheaper.
In short, Spirit Airlines is a great example of liberty at work.?? If you want meals,? personal customer service, and refunds when you change your plans, you are free to fly on a different airline and pay three or four times more.?? But if you just want reliable service for the cheapest possible price, you book with Spirit and follow their rules.
Liberty gives you the freedom to make your own choices.??? If you choose Spirit, you save a lot of money on your ticket.?? But you also take the responsibility of? losing money if you? cancel your flight for any reason?even a good one.
Jerry Meekins is a 76 year old Florida resident who had been sick with throat cancer for a long time.?? Last month, he booked a round-trip flight to Atlantic City on Spirit Airlines for $197 to visit his daughter.?? He could have bought flight-cancellation insurance for $14 more.? But he freely chose not to.? He could have bought a $600 ticket on another airline that allows cancellations and offers refunds.? But he freely chose not to.
Two weeks before the flight, Meekins was told by his doctor that his condition had worsened, and that he should no longer fly.?? So he demanded a refund of his $197.
Spirit Airlines refused, and released this public statement:? ?We receive many requests for refunds every day for similar situations. . . ?We will not make customers who follow the rules pay for those who don?t.?
So Meekins made himself a victim?and a celebrity.? He? called the liberal daily newspaper and the local TV station and stood in front of the Tampa Airport Terminal with a sign denouncing Spirit Airlines for its ?corporate greed?.?? He wore his VFW hat to win the sympathy and support of fellow veterans.
The left-wing Huffington Post posted the story on AOL and soon Meekins was a national ?hero of the Occupy Wall Street crowd.
Then Republican Assemblymen John Amodeo and Chris Brown of Atlantic County piled on.?? They publicly demanded a resolution in the state assembly ?condemning Spirit?s maltreatment of veterans and terminally ill patients?.?? They urged Governor Christie to intervene.
The media and the politicians won.??? Spirit Airlines gave the refund and changed its policy.???? Thousands of customers who change their plans will now get doctor?s notes?and refunds?and higher fares for everybody.??? Liberty and prosperity lost.
Respectfully submitted,
SETH GROSSMAN
Personal email sethgrossman49@gmail.com