Note: The following was produced for distribution by the Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota at the Rochester Tea Party Patriots' Tax Day Rally. Social hour begins at 6p tonight (4/15/13) and the program starts at 7p in the Grand Ballroom at the Ramada Hotel and Conference Center located at 1517 16th St. SW in Rochester.

The Mayo Clinic can hardly be blamed for seeking a public subsidy of its planned $3 billion expansion in Rochester. After all, the venerable healthcare institution and longtime Minnesota hallmark must operate within its given business environment. Government continues to hold a monopoly over the development and maintenance of essential support structures such as roads, sewage, and bridges. In order for the Mayo Clinic to invest with confidence, its managers must know that their efforts will not be choked off by inadequate infrastructure.

Imagine how Mayo's effort might flourish if it did not depend upon government cooperation. What might the Mayo Clinic expansion look like under the condition of liberty?

When individuals and organizations are free to act upon their own judgment in pursuit of their own happiness, a condition made possible when their rights are protected equally under the law, they enjoy liberty. With government focused solely upon the protection of rights, the Mayo Clinic would be free to invest in whatever infrastructure they believed would best serve their interests. They could build their own roads, bridges, and parking ramps. They could contract with the best utility providers. They could even expand into the hospitality and retail sectors if they saw fit. Best of all, they would be able to proceed with confidence that public policy would not change arbitrarily.

Over time, such freedom would result in the most efficient and effective allocation of capital, just as it did when Dr. William Worrall Mayo began his private practice in 1863. His unconventional team approach to medicine might never have thrived if anyone other than he and those he partnered with had anything to say about it. The result of their unconstrained effort was a provision of highest possible value to their patients, a world famous achievement. So it would be with an unconstrained Mayo today.

Contrary to conventional wisdom, there exists no “public interest” in Mayo's enterprise. The Mayo Clinic has an interest in long-term profitability. Current and future Mayo staff have an interest in secure and gainful employment. Finally, patients have an interest in the best possible healthcare. These parties trade willingly with one another to their mutual benefit when left free to do so, and require no public subsidy to produce and enjoy value.

As the legislature continues to deliberate the state's role in the Mayo Clinic expansion, they do well to consider the precedents being set. We all do well to consider how government imposed constraints drive organizations like Mayo to seek subsidy in the first place.

For widest distribution among Minnesota liberty activists. Please share with your friends in liberty.

*Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota*
Official Convention Call

To: Current and Prospective Members and Supporters of the RLCMN

Pursuant to the Bylaws and Rules of the Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota, the 2013 Convention is hereby called to convene:

Saturday, March 9, 2013 at 11:00 am
Golden Valley Library
830 Winnetka Ave North, Golden Valley

Agenda

10:30am - Registration Opens
11:00am - Call to Order

The business of the convention shall be to:

1. Nominate and Elect the Board of Directors*
2. Elect a delegate and alternate to the State Central Committee*
3. Approve any changes to the Bylaws and Rules*
4. Transact other business as may properly come before the convention.

*Members in good standing of the RLCMN, as well as supporters who are in accord with the principles and positions of the RLCMN are invited to unite under this call. To be eligible to vote or seek office at this convention, you must have paid your dues prior to the beginning of the convention.

Nominations will be open until the beginning of the convention, but are preferred to be submitted in advance to assist with ballot preparation.  Submit your name and position(s) to rlcminn<at>gmail.com by Friday March 8 - Chair, Vice Chair, Secretary, Treasurer, Director and/or State Central Delegate.

Registration: Free for Sustaining Members (and higher), $5 for other Members, $10 for guests.

Issued this 7th day of February 2013 by the Board of Directors of the Republican Liberty Caucus of MN

Prepared and paid for by the Republican Liberty Caucus of Minnesota, P.O. Box 14244, Saint Paul, MN 55114; rlcmn.org