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With me in studio is Mary Green from the Northwest Liberty Academy to discuss an upcoming symposium.
A content platform to support conservative issues in Idaho (candidates, issues, and topics that might otherwise be restricted by the social media platforms or ignored by the local and statewide media outlets.)
Well, that's one of the reasons
we have Janice McGann unrestful
sure in our law, all those
wonderful state reps coming,
they will talk about this
legislative session, which as we
all know, was a little bit
different. Just you know, it was
longer and some things happen
that maybe should give some of
us a little bit of pause. As far
as the separation of powers
goes.
Welcome to Idaho speaks a
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voter. Idaho speaks where issues
take shape. Welcome to Idaho
speaks. With me in studio today,
I have Mary green, from the
northwest Liberty Academy, and
today we're going to talk about
something a little bit
different. We're going to
venture away from the politics,
we're going to get away from the
candidates and the issues. And
actually, we're going to go
deeper, you know, when we talk
about making a change in
America, where else to start,
but with our kids, where else
should we start, then with a
foundational knowledge that we
impart on the youth. And Mary is
here today to talk about the
Northwest Liberty symposium.
Mary, first off, thanks for
coming in studio today. Thank
you. Great to be here. So tell
the listeners of Idaho speaks
what is the Northwest Liberty
symposium? When did it start?
Just give us all the
particulars?
Well, it started with a great
couple from Boise. Allen and
Elizabeth Hodge. They they
started this about five years
ago, I believe, five or six
years ago, because they wanted
to teach the very important
principles of free market
economics, proper role of
government. And the the fact
that we are in fact, a
constitutional republic, not a
democracy. A lot of times they
go into schools, to you know,
public schools, charter schools
to talk about what they do. And
first thing they ask is, are we
a republic, or a democracy or an
autocracy are what are we, and
the most common response they
get from the students who say, I
pledge allegiance to the flag of
the United States of America and
to the republic for which it
stands on a daily basis, the
most common response they get is
democracy. So they wanted to
start something where they could
educate young people, not even
just young people, you know, our
ages are 10 to 110. Just about
what our Constitution is, and
Republic versus democracy, and
well, liberty, liberty in
general.
So So how long has the program
been going?
It will be? I think this will be
the sixth year,
and what is your role with the
organization?
I am an ambassador. So my job is
to make phone calls, do social
media posts, talk to talk to
people like you and try to
encourage people to sign up and
go it's a public relations
position. Mostly. It is
volunteer position. I don't you
know, I sometimes I go to town
hall meetings, or you know, I
went to Lincoln Day dinner and
set up a little table. My job is
just really to get the word out
there.
Now this is a once a year
program when when is it
happening next?
This year? It is June 11 12th
and 13th. in Boise at Boise
Bible College.
Okay. Now for the students who
are in North Idaho. Is there is
there like ride sharing is there
maybe a list of people who are
going to students can connect
with to try to to distribute
some of the costs of the travel.
There are there are usually some
pretty large families going down
from the Bonners and kootenay
County areas. We if you have
trouble getting a ride, if you
need a ride, please give us a
call and we will try to set you
up with somebody
you know you were talking about
is you go into a school and you
ask a question what type of
government do we have? Have an
America. And so often the answer
comes back from the kids. Well,
we're a democracy. And it is
shocking how poorly prepared our
students appear to be. I mean,
because I learned it was a
constitutional republic. It's
kind of written in the first
paragraph of the Declaration of
Independence and, and our
Constitution. But it just seems
like we keep getting further and
further away from the fact that
we elect representatives to go
and represent us and our will to
help impart this knowledge to
the students who are going to be
coming to your program. Who do
you have in the speaker's lineup
for this year's event?
Well, we have our very own
lieutenant governor. Janice
McGinn. We have our Idaho State
congressman Russ Fulcher. We
have a couple of state reps
Priscilla getting's Christie
zyto. Ron, Nate. And they
usually, they they're, they're
some of our regulars.
These are big name people. Yes,
they are. Did you know The
opportunity to sit down in an
education environment? You know,
I'm sure it's not one on one.
But you know, how big attendance
comes to the symposium?
Well, it varies every year.
There was a couple years ago, we
did it in a in an actual hotel,
and we pretty well filled up a
conference room, I didn't get an
actual headcount. But just to
give you some idea, it was a it
was a decent sized room, and it
was about, you know, 10 of those
banquet tables. And I want to
say they were all pretty well
filled,
you know, so that to have the
opportunity for your child, to
sit with the lieutenant governor
for three days, in a small group
setting, and asked the questions
about driving America. This is
an opportunity that comes around
once in a lifetime. When I was
in high school, my senior
government trip, we went to
Sacramento and lived in
California. And we went up and
we got a chance to have lunch
with some of the legislators
from the Sacramento legislation
from the state government. And I
sat with leon panetta, you don't
hate me, Leon's a Democrat, but
you know, the opportunity to sit
with a representative and ask
him the questions. Look them
eyeball to eyeball and get the
answers from them. That's an
experience that carries with me
to this day. And I would imagine
the students who've gone through
your program have some pretty
good stories to tell.
They do. And the nice thing
about our program is because it
is at a college, we all eat
together, and a lot of times the
speakers will stay and eat with
us. So you have a chance to sit
there and you know, eat pizza
with lieutenant governor. And
that's, that's a really amazing
experience, especially when it's
danis mageean. But our speakers
do they try to be a lot more
personal and not so formal and
distant, as it might be, you
know, if you just walked up to
them in the state house, they
actually do you know, they sit
down with us, and they talk to
us. And they Yeah,
so let's go over some of the
programs that the students are
going to be going through. So
Youth Ambassadors, let's let's
talk about what is Youth
Ambassadors?
Well, Youth Ambassadors are for
ages, around 10 to 18. Now, a
little worried about that, we
say the age is 10. But if you
are a nine year old, who is
very, very smart and wants to
get involved, we absolutely
won't tell you no, we are 100%
willing to work on a case by
case basis. So if you are Youth
Ambassador, basically what you
would do is what I do you, you'd
spread the word you talk to
people, you would help out a
little bit with the symposium
introduced speakers at the
symposium is one of our more
exciting jobs.
Boy, that's a great opportunity.
I mean, being able to get up and
speak in front of a group,
especially with powerhouse
leaders, like you've got common.
That's an experience that's just
going to take them to the next
level. One of the programs you
got listed here, advancing
foundational principles of a
free society and free
enterprise. Let's talk a little
bit about about that class. What
does it cover? What's the scope?
What are the particulars?
Well, it's usually taught by
someone from the foundation for
economic education. This year,
we have Howard Beatty, and he is
wonderful. He usually does an
interactive game, which you
know, adults love it, too. It's
it's not just for kids at all.
He, I think this year, he's
going to talk about the benefits
of a capitalistic economic
system versus socialistic.
Usually we have some elements of
that but I think this year is
going to be more heavily focused
on socialism versus cap.
federalism Oh, and
talk about timing on that.
Absolutely. So understanding the
proper role of government and
our constitutional republic. Oh,
my goodness, I don't think it
could be a better title than
that. Let's talk a little bit
about this course.
Well, that's one of the reasons
we have Janice McGann and
restful sure in our law, all
those wonderful state reps
coming, they will talk about
this legislative session, which
as we all know, was a little bit
different. Just you know, it was
longer. And some things happen
that maybe you should give some
of us a little bit of pause. As
far as the separation of powers
goes. They will talk about, they
always talk about and Elizabeth
Hodge usually talks about this
herself, the unintended
consequences of well intended
legislation. She herself was a
state rep here in Idaho for a
while, and she has had first
hand experience with the
unintended consequences,
you know, and that's so true.
You, you sit there, I know, none
of these people want to destroy
America. They're they're all
well intentioned. Even the
Democrats, I'm sure they're well
intentioned. But sometimes you
can take legislation too far.
Being a conservative, I believe
the government that governs
least, governs best. And if we
can get to that point where
government has its roles,
there's things that government
does better than private
industry. There's only a few
things, but there are things
that are best left to
government. And I think
providing an understanding to
kids, as what is the proper role
of government in our
constitutional republic? That
that's just mission critical,
because I don't, I don't think
they're really getting that in
schools.
No, they're not at least not
anymore. I graduated. It's been
a couple of years now since I
graduated, but we we did go to a
private school. So we had it
better than some, but we did not
really go in depth into how our
Constitution is supposed to
work, and how much power
everybody is supposed to have.
When you got listed down here.
You also have regional economic
workshops. What are these about?
Well, that would be the
children's act and business
fair. I have never gone by
myself, because it's for ages,
eight to 10, I believe, or five
to 10. That is a great program.
I know people who have gone have
said it's a lot of fun. It's
it's like a science fair. But
with instead of, you know,
showing your experiments, you
bring your little business, you
know, some kids make bird
feeders or cupcakes, and they
bring it and they get a insider
information on the world of
economics by running their own
little business for a day.
Boy, that's fabulous. Now, wow.
So June 11th 1213. How do folks
find out about more information?
How do they sign up?
Go to our website on NW liberty,
academy.org. all lowercase.
There, you can see our mission
statement. You'll get a little
more information about the
program. And then we have our
register section somewhere down
at the bottom of the page.
And I'll include those links in
the show program. Note. So the
Northwest Liberty symposium,
this is your chance get your
kids signed up. I mean, you got
to do something with them in the
summer. Anyway, let's start off
the summer with a good
foundation of what it is to be
an American. Get them to the
northwest Liberty symposium,
June 11 12th 13th. You got to
act now early bird registration
ends on May 20. Right?
Yes, and about that. We never
ever turn anyone away for lack
of funding. The early bird price
is $200. If you do not have $200
to spend on your kids going to a
symposium, please call us get in
touch with us. Elizabeth and
Alan's contact information is on
the website. And we do have
scholarships and sponsorship
programs. We don't want you to
not come because of funding.
Well, perfect. Mary, thank
you so much for coming in. Thank
you. Thank you for putting this
program on.
Sign up your sons and daughters
for the Northwest Liberty
symposium June 11 12th and 13th
being held at the Boise Bible
College. This event is sponsored
by the Northwest Liberty
Academy. Early Bird registration
ends may 20. But signups are
accepted all the way up to the
day of the event. Visit www dot
Northwest Liberty academy.org.
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