[Lnc-business] What the experts say about political parties vs. interest groups

[Norm Olsen]

Dr. Lieberman . . .

 

May I add to my previous response . . .

 

The Libertarian Political Expo (http://www.lpex.org) is a very bold step in
the direction of building strong and effective affiliates.  This event
deserves all the support the national organization can muster.  It is
important that we make this event as successful as possible so that it will
be repeated in the future, and made more effective each time as we learn
more about what works and what doesn't with each recurring event.

 

I'll be there, perhaps you and several other LNC members will be there as
well.  I believe it will be an environment in which we can learn a lot.

 

Norm

--

Norman T Olsen

Regional Representative, Region 1

Libertarian National Committee

7931 South Broadway, PMB 102

Littleton, CO  80122-2710

303-263-4995

 

From: Lnc-business [mailto:lnc-business-bounces at hq.lp.org] On Behalf Of
Scott L.
Sent: Friday, March 20, 2015 8:56 AM
To: 'lnc-business'
Subject: [Lnc-business] What the experts say about political parties vs.
interest groups

 

 

http://www.wwnorton.com/college/polisci/campaignsandelections/ch/06/outline.
aspx

 

 

>From   CAMPAIGNS & ELECTIONS: Rules, Reality, Strategy, Choice   (this is a
book)

 

 

.  Political Parties 

The goal of electing public officials is what unites political parties and
what distinguishes them from other groups.

 

.  Interest Groups 

An interest group, or a collection of people with the shared goal of
influencing public policy, are different from political parties in that they
do not run their own candidates for office, and they typically seek more
specific policy goals than parties.

 

GGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGGG

 

I apologize for sounding like a broken record, but the above is why I keep
writing over and over that this Board needs to focus on helping our
affiliates elect Libertarians to public office, and helping them get
Libertarians appointed to public office.  And for the time being, getting
Libertarians elected, or even appointed, to Federal or State level offices
is going to be a very, very, very rare event.   It is not a good idea to
craft strategy and tactics based on events with a 0.1% chance of occurring.

 

If we call ourselves a political party, but in reality we act like an
interest group, then the public will view us

as a failed political party.  If the public views you as a failed
organization, you are not going to get anything constructive done in the
real world.

 

The Chair's recent proposal for the National LP to set up initiative/cause
websites is not a bad idea per se. 

 

However, focusing on increasing membership or even just collecting e-mail
addresses is not going to help us achieve liberty in our time when these
recruits find out that yes, we do run candidates in elections, but that we
celebrate losing elections as much or more than we celebrate winning
elections.

 

 

   Scott Lieberman

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