> 1. Since there are no dues, how can membership expire? > Do you take the oath every year?
It's complicated (and in my opinion rather stupid). Membership has always been perpetual. Previous to the 2004-2006 LNC term the LP charged dues and extra benefits were given to dues paying members. Membership did not expire, but dues did. The LNC eliminated dues, going to zero dues. Because zero dues wreaked havoc on the bylaws (especially future delegate allocation), the 2006 convention passed a series of bylaws changes that essentially reinstated dues but called them something different. The new category is called "sustaining membership". In order to stay a sustaining member, a person must donate at least $25 a year. So still membership never expires, but sustaining membership does. See article 5, section 3 of the bylaws for more info. http://www.lp.org/organization/bylaws.shtml > 2. Other than stating that you support using more volunteers > and the Libertarian Leadership School, the one thing you did > address directly was giving out the mailing list to candidates. > This can't be construed as a campaign donation. All you've got > to do is place a "rent" value of zero dollars and zero cents > for candidates, and presto, we're compliant. If BCRA requires that the party charge for list rental, it would be at the prevailing market rate (which could not be fudged to be zero). I'm not sure if BCRA requires this... haven't read the law myslf lately. I'm not a lawyer (though I may be soon) and this is not legal advice. If you want to rent the mailing list for your campaign, ask the national office. You'll get an answer from staff one way or the other. If you're dissatisfied with that answer, ask your LNC representative to look into it. If the national party doesn't help, you may have more luck with your state party. > 3. The only way a state director program can work is if they > essentially pay their own salary by getting a percentage of > the money they raise. I completely agree. However, there are many states where such fundraising doesn't currently exist. What I was suggesting was a few grand in startup money to get EDs on the job while they setup monthly pledge programs and cultivate relationships with donors. It would be self-sustaining within a few months if an adequate donor base exists (and if an adequate donor base does not exist, the national LP shouldn't give startup money in the first place). > 4. Libertarianism is a set of beliefs. What is a religion? No, that's a religion. http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/libertarianism ------------------------------------------------------------- lib‧er‧tar‧i‧an noun 1. a person who advocates liberty, esp. with regard to thought or conduct. 2. a person who maintains the doctrine of free will (distinguished from necessitarian). [I don't think the free will definitions apply here] adjective 3. advocating liberty or conforming to principles of liberty. 4. maintaining the doctrine of free will. [ditto] ------------------------------------------------------------- http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/religion ------------------------------------------------------------- re‧li‧gion noun 1. a set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe, esp. when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs. 2. a specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion. 3. the body of persons adhering to a particular set of beliefs and practices: a world council of religions. 4. the life or state of a monk, nun, etc.: to enter religion. 5. the practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith. 6. something one believes in and follows devotedly; a point or matter of ethics or conscience: to make a religion of fighting prejudice. ------------------------------------------------------------- I advocate liberty as a political strategy. People can advocate liberty for any of a number of reasons: as a political strategy, a political philosophy, a religion, etc. The difference is I don't believe unlibertarian people are necessarily evil or wrong... they simply have a different political strategy. I evaluate issues on a case by case basis and have invariably found that I support the libertarian solution (though there are sometimes arguments about whether a solution is necessarily libertarian like school vouchers, the fair tax, tax cuts, etc.) I don't assume the libertarian solution is necessarily the correct one before I look at many possible solutions and weigh their probable consequences. Empirical evidence has shown me the world is a better place when we have a smaller government and people are free to do what they want, so I work to shrink government and expand freedom. I work to pursuade people of the benefits of liberty, not to proselytize or convert them to believers who worship Ayn Rand or some all powerful statement. There are many libertarians who similarly do not approach libertarianism as a religion. > 5. In California, when you are a do'er rather than a talker, > you get arrested while standing up for civil rights and the > state chair tries to silence the story in our newsletter, and > you're told the paper isn't actually for news for members, > it's a propaganda page and outreach material for people to get > excited about the party. I don't know anything about that. Feel free to fill me in on the details. > 6. I'll be in Malvern PA either next week or the week after > on business. It might be nice to meet up with some Libertarians > out there. I live very near Malvern (about a half hour). Feel free to email me privately at [EMAIL PROTECTED] or call me on my cellphone at 215-768-6812 if you'd like to meet me and/or other local libertarians. Chuck Moulton Vice-Chair, Libertarian National Committee ForumWebSiteAt http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian Yahoo! Groups Links <*> To visit your group on the web, go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/ <*> Your email settings: Individual Email | Traditional <*> To change settings online go to: http://groups.yahoo.com/group/Libertarian/join (Yahoo! ID required) <*> To change settings via email: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> To unsubscribe from this group, send an email to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] <*> Your use of Yahoo! Groups is subject to: http://docs.yahoo.com/info/terms/
