[Congressional Record Volume 156, Number 100 (Wednesday, June 30, 2010)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1251]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




          CONGRATULATIONS TO THE ADVOCATES FOR SELF-GOVERNMENT

                                 ______
                                 

                             HON. RON PAUL

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Wednesday, June 30, 2010

  Mr. PAUL. Madam Speaker, the Advocates for Self-Government, one of 
the freedom movement's leading organizations, is celebrating their 25th 
anniversary this year. I am pleased to take this opportunity to 
congratulate the Advocates on this anniversary and wish them continued 
success in promoting liberty.
  The Advocates where founded by my friend, the late Marshall Fritz. 
Marshall saw that the growth of the freedom movement was handicapped by 
the lack of an organization to help activists better communicate the 
freedom philosophy to the general public. In order to remedy this 
situation, Marshall rallied a group of activists and donors and founded 
the Advocates in order to teach libertarians how to effectively 
communicate their principles.
  Under the leadership of Marshal from 1985 until 1991; Carole Ann Rand 
from 1991 until 1995; and Sharon Harris since 1995; the Advocates has 
helped countless libertarians by providing them with the intellectual 
resources necessary to effectively battle for a free society.
  Without a doubt, the Advocates are best known for the ``World's 
Smallest Political Quiz.'' Created by Marshall and based on an original 
idea by David Nolan, this quiz graphs an individual's political 
philosophy based on responses to a series of ten questions that measure 
one's commitment to economic and personal liberty.
  Under Marshall's leadership, the Advocates undertook an aggressive 
program of promoting the quiz, distributing millions of copies of the 
quiz to libertarian activists. They also generously provide free copies 
of the quiz, as well as libertarian literature and other outreach 
materials, free of charge to liberty-minded groups such as the 
Republican Liberty Caucus and Young Americans for Liberty.
  The quiz has been taken over 15 million times online, has been 
reprinted in dozens of newspapers and magazine, is referenced by major 
high school and college textbooks, and is used by educators in 
classrooms across America. The quiz is responsible for many people's 
first contact with libertarian ideas. While traveling around the 
country, I have often heard people say, ``I never knew I was a 
libertarian until I took the quiz.''
  The Advocates also recently revamped their Libertarianism.com web 
site, featuring commentary on the libertarian position on a variety of 
issues from notables in the freedom movement. I was honored when the 
Advocates asked me to participate in this project.
  As they prepare to celebrate their 25th anniversary, it is a pleasure 
to thank the founder, the staff and the donors of the Advocates for 
Self-Government for all they have done for the cause of liberty. I wish 
them continued success.

                          ____________________