In case you missed it, here is a link to the statement that Gavin Newsom made last night:

"Governor Newsom's Address to California"

Yes, it's possible to see this as an opening shot in his campaign for the Democratic nomination for President, but he does make a number of important points that should be considered by everyone who cares about the future of this country (not just California), regardless of their political party (including independents). Especially Republicans. Please don't let the fact that he is a Democrat cause you to just dismiss what he is saying as partisan propaganda. Some of it is, but there are also basic principles here that we all need to recognize and support, as citizens.

Of course we Libertarians have been trying to get people to understand many of these points consistently, year in and year out, regardless of who is president. But regardless of what motivated Newsom to make this particular statement right now, it's good for the people of California to be hearing them now, from the holder of the highest elected office in our state. Not that we can depend on the Democrats to consistently uphold those principles, but it's good that Democrats are hearing those things from one of their own -- and it's a shame that Republicans are not hearing those things now from the leaders of their own party.

This is further evidence, if any were needed, that we cannot depend on the Republicans to preserve our liberty - or the future of this country as a republic or a democracy, in any combination. Yes, there are some well-meaning, even principled, people in the Republican Party, but as a whole that's not the direction that party is heading.

If you have Republican friends, or friends who voted for Trump, please reach out and remind them that they are in the best position, right now, in the short term, to try to steer him away from this authoritarian path. He seems to believe that everybody who voted for him supports what he is doing. I certainly hope that's not the case!  But it's especially important for those people who did vote for him to make that very clear, by speaking out now.

And as always it's time for us as Libertarians to redouble our efforts to grow our own alternative party that will consistently stand up for the principles of liberty going forward.  Ultimately it will be how we all prioritize these things, how many of us as individuals consider them important, regardless of what is being said by whoever may be holding any particular office at the moment, that will determine what sort of country the next generation will inherit.