[Lnc-business] Proposed

Fri Jul 5 12:06:26 EDT 2019

Also Mr. Merced (excuse my prior informalities) do you think the chair and
the ED did not discuss this first?  Discussion to get a feel and to find
out any potential unseen issues is not anti-transparency - though I would
argue the ED and the Chair doing so without alerting the officers or the EC
must certainly is.

On Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 9:51 AM Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
wrote:

> Alex, because you are too nice to consider yourself blindsided.  I think
> you were disrespected.  But how you feel is how you feel, I know how it
> looks to me.
>
> No, the chair was never paid.  LNC members have, in limited and special
> circumstances been paid contractors OUTSIDE OF THEIR LNC DUTIES.  Such as
> ballot petitioning.
>
> Several Bylaws committees have discussed this issue meaning they certainly
> thought it was a bylaws, and therefore, a convention decision.
>
> On Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 9:44 AM Alex Merced (LNC Vice Chair) via
> Lnc-business <lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>
>> 1. This was not discussed with me since that was asked. I wouldn’t
>> consider myself blindsided, the LNC list is kinda where things like this
>> are supposed to be proposed and discussed. Dan brought his idea to everyone
>> so we can discuss, there is no blindsiding. If we discuss things in private
>> channels people get upset because of transparency but if we bring it up on
>> public channels then people get upset for not being approached prior. (If
>> we wonder why so little gets discussed it may be due to the likely
>> antagonism of bringing anything up in any channel which could also just may
>> be the matter the tone of an email can often times seem more serious or
>> combative than it probably is usually intended)
>>
>> 2. From a strategic point, I don’t disagree with Dan’s assessment. Having
>> a Chair that can be a more active face will allow them to do their duties
>> as Chair better and who better to build relationships with people &
>> organizations we need to build relationships with them the Chair and ED.
>> The Chair to my understanding had been paid in the past, was this changed
>> by a delegate vote, LNC vote or at the discretion of the Chair this would
>> give me some clarity on what’s the right channel for this to move through.
>>
>> 3. Also compensation would create an incentive to emphasize unity in the
>> party since there would be personal financial consequence to the Chair if
>> discord and fractures in the party grow.
>>
>> Although, the first thing would be to determine what historically has
>> been the proper channel for making this decision and discussing the pros
>> and cons.
>>
>> Alex Merced
>> Vice Chair of the Libertarian National Committee/LP
>>
>> > On Jul 5, 2019, at 10:43 AM, Richard Longstreth via Lnc-business <
>> lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>> >
>> > A change of this magnitude should be decided by the delegates and will
>> not
>> > have my support. The basic DNA of our party is grassroot volunteers and
>> our
>> > leadership structure is designed to have a volunteer board supervise and
>> > direct paid staff. The two should not mix, especially by an LNC vote. I
>> > also have the feeling our bylaws or policy manual are designed to
>> > discourage paid members on the LNC.
>> >
>> > Richard Longstreth
>> > Region 1 Representative (AK, AZ, CO, HI, KS, MT, NM, OR, UT, WA, WY)
>> > Libertarian National Committee
>> > richard.longstreth at lp.org
>> > 931.538.9300
>> >
>> > Sent from my Mobile Device
>> >
>> > On Fri, Jul 5, 2019, 06:57 Caryn Ann Harlos via Lnc-business <
>> > lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>> >
>> >> This was sent to the LNC from Starchild, and I support what he said as
>> >> well.  This would represent an internal power refocus - a decision for
>> the
>> >> delegates.  I frankly think it is as terrible as the not-heard prior
>> Bylaws
>> >> Committee proposal to expand the LNC to over 100 persons then
>> consolidate
>> >> power into a small Executive Committee.  I further feel there has been
>> >> already a freezing out of the rest of the LNC with the chair
>> effectively
>> >> treating the officers as non-officers, and the party being subtly ran
>> by
>> >> the chair, the ED (at the direction of the chair so not a criticism of
>> the
>> >> ED), and whoever is the current LNC favourite of the chair.
>> >>
>> >> Unfair?  Maybe.  But I am not going to mince my words on what I
>> perceive as
>> >> going on.
>> >>
>> >> The fact that this was thrown on the list without the other officers
>> being
>> >> consulted is another sign.  Was Mr. Merced at least consulted?  Or is
>> he as
>> >> blind-sided as I am?  What about Mr. Hagan?
>> >>
>> >> The chair is not the sole officer as inconvenient as that may be.
>> >>
>> >> =====
>> >>
>> >> Dear LNC members,
>> >>
>> >> I am frankly appalled to see the message below from the new executive
>> >> director floating a major policy proposal on the LNC list, to have his
>> boss
>> >> (the chair) start being paid at party expense. With all due respect, I
>> >> think the executive director is seriously overstepping his bounds and
>> has
>> >> made a major breach of ethics.
>> >>
>> >> The chair appoints somebody to a well-paying position, and then this
>> person
>> >> turns around and advocates that the party start to pay the chair? It
>> >> doesn't take a Mueller report to see the huge conflict of interest in
>> that.
>> >> Nor does it stop there – it would likewise be a conflict of interest
>> for
>> >> LNC members to use party funds to start paying a professional salary
>> to a
>> >> member of their own committee.
>> >>
>> >> But even that doesn't reflect the full extent of the problem with this
>> – I
>> >> don't think the Libertarian National Committee even has the authority
>> to
>> >> make the change he's proposing in the first place. Turning the LP chair
>> >> office into a paid position is something I believe would require a
>> bylaws
>> >> change by convention delegates, and for good reason: Such a move would
>> be a
>> >> significant change in party operations, a major further concentration
>> and
>> >> centralization of power at the top.
>> >>
>> >> Nick Sarwark is generally doing an excellent job as chair in my view,
>> and I
>> >> supported his reelection. But this is not about him – this is about the
>> >> structure of the party and a proposal to alter that structure in a way
>> that
>> >> would set a terrible precedent. What would come next, paying the
>> Secretary,
>> >> the Treasurer, the rest of the LNC, and making them full-time employees
>> >> too, putting more of our limited resources into overhead and attracting
>> >> people to our party's leadership who are in it for the money or as a
>> career
>> >> opportunity rather than because they want to work for freedom?
>> >>
>> >> This is the path toward taking power in the Libertarian Party out of
>> the
>> >> hands of grassroots activists, and putting it in the hands of paid
>> >> professionals. Staff members are *not* elected by our membership, and
>> >> really should not even be on the LNC discussion list and debating
>> policy
>> >> proposals in the first place, unless all LP members are able to do the
>> >> same. Paid employees are banned from being convention delegates, and
>> there
>> >> is a good reason for that; senior staff in particular have a
>> >> disproportionate amount of control over party operations as it is.
>> >>
>> >> Having been on the LNC for two terms, I'm familiar with the pattern of
>> >> committee members seeking to maintain good relations with staff in
>> order to
>> >> have more personal influence with them and how they carry out party
>> >> operations on a day-to-day basis. This is in part because so much
>> power is
>> >> *already* concentrated in the position of party chair, who exercises
>> nearly
>> >> sole control over who is hired and who is let go, that other LNC
>> members
>> >> otherwise have little sway with staff, and consequently tend to be
>> careful
>> >> to preserve what influence they do have by seeking to stay on their
>> good
>> >> side. This is how things have gradually gotten to the point that
>> multiple
>> >> staffers are on the LNC list and increasingly feel empowered to inject
>> >> their personal views into LNC discussions, with the executive director
>> now
>> >> floating a major (and I believe improper) policy proposal.
>> >>
>> >> I don't want to give the impression that I think this is mainly about
>> poor
>> >> judgement on the part of the executive director – although I do think
>> >> floating such a proposal shows poor judgement, he is also new in the
>> job.
>> >> Probably nobody told him there's anything wrong with his weighing in
>> like
>> >> this, and he may have seen his predecessor and other staff similarly
>> >> getting involved in policy matters. Likely he has a high opinion –
>> probably
>> >> justified – of the chair's fundraising abilities, and may have just
>> thought
>> >> he was offering a sensible, practical idea.
>> >>
>> >> But there is a *lot* wrong with it. I strongly urge LNC members *not*
>> to go
>> >> down this path, and further to set some institutional guidance for
>> staff
>> >> members to limit their participation in LNC matters, for the good of
>> the
>> >> Libertarian Party and the need to keep it a bottom-up organization,
>> which
>> >> adheres to the highest ethical standards. The LP must not be allowed to
>> >> become another failed, top-down party like the Democrats and
>> Republicans,
>> >> run by those who are in it for the money and the power rather than by
>> their
>> >> grassroots members, because if that happens you can be sure it will
>> also
>> >> move away from being a *libertarian* party.
>> >>
>> >> Love & Liberty,
>> >>
>> >> ((( starchild )))
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> On Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 7:46 AM Caryn Ann Harlos <
>> caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org>
>> >> wrote:
>> >>
>> >>> I oppose.  This is a decision for the delegates at convention.
>> >>> Additionally, considering the fact that right now our chair has been
>> >>> engaging in making enemies of particular sub-groups of libertarians
>> and
>> >>> Libertarians, it would be particularly galling to those Libertarians.
>> >>>
>> >>> On Fri, Jul 5, 2019 at 6:00 AM Daniel Fishman via Lnc-business <
>> >>> lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>> >>>
>> >>>> Dear LNC, As I ponder how to replace one of the best fundraisers I’ve
>> >> ever
>> >>>> known, It occurs to me there is a synergistic opportunity right now.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I have thought for a long time that the chair of the LNC should be a
>> >> paid
>> >>>> position.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> There is a possibility right now to make that happen. Rather than
>> going
>> >>>> through a hiring process to replace a head of development, I’d like
>> to
>> >> put
>> >>>> the chair to work full time right now as a contractor. I believe a
>> paid
>> >>>> chair can focus full time on major donors and issuing press releases
>> --
>> >>>> two
>> >>>> things I would like to see us improve on immediately.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Lauren and I talked about the need for a paid chair a few weeks ago,
>> and
>> >>>> the serendipitous timing of the current Chair’s availability
>> concurrent
>> >>>> with the personnel needs of the organization leads me to believe the
>> >> time
>> >>>> for this proposal is now.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> I am proposing that the LNC offer the chair a contract to become a
>> >>>> contractor of the LNC. In return for this the chair would undertake
>> the
>> >>>> duties of major donor maintenance and recruitment, public appearances
>> >> and
>> >>>> press secretary as required.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> By making this a contract position, the LNC can terminate the
>> contract
>> >>>> with
>> >>>> 30 days notice if there is no longer an organizational need. This
>> also
>> >>>> doesn't change the nature of the position for future chairs, which
>> would
>> >>>> probably need to be done as a change to the bylaws.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> The positives are immediately apparent. A chair who can focus on the
>> >>>> business of the party, fundraising and appearances, is critical to a
>> >>>> professional and consistent message.  A chair who can support the
>> >>>> affiliates through meetings and advise is a chair who is growing the
>> >>>> party.
>> >>>> And a chair who is able to focus 100% of their professional effort to
>> >> the
>> >>>> job is an asset to the party.
>> >>>>
>> >>>> Recognizing the role the chair has in the appointment of the
>> Executive
>> >>>> Director I hesitated to make the case -- but this is such a unique
>> >>>> confluence of events, I wanted to at least present the LNC with the
>> >>>> opportunity for you all to give it thumbs up or down.
>> >>>> ---
>> >>>> Daniel Fishman
>> >>>> Executive Director
>> >>>> The Libertarian Party
>> >>>> Join Us <http://www.lp.org/join>
>> >>>>
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> >>> --
>> >>>
>> >>> *  In Liberty,*
>> >>>
>> >>> *Libertarian Party and Libertarian National Committee Secretary *-
>> >> Caryn.Ann.
>> >>> Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org> or Secretary at LP.org.
>> >>> *Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee* - LPedia at LP.org
>> >>> Call me at 561.523.2250 and follow my public figure page at
>> >>> facebook.com/pinkflameofliberty/
>> >>>
>> >>>
>> =========================================================================
>> >>> Peaceful Commerce With All Nations * Non-interventionism * Re-Legalize
>> >> All
>> >>> Drugs * End Government Intrusion In The Bedroom * Repeal All Gun Laws
>> *
>> >>> Abolish All Taxation * Sound, Free-market Money * Abolish The Fed *
>> End
>> >>> Corporate & Individual Welfare * Abolish The IRS and Repeal the Income
>> >> Tax
>> >>> * Privatize Transportation Infrastructure * Free-market Emergency
>> >> Services
>> >>> * Open Migration * Transfer Government Schools To The Private Sector *
>> >>> Eliminate Regulation *
>> >>>
>> >>> *VOTE LIBERTARIAN * 800-ELECT-US or http://www.LP.org <
>> >> http://www.lp.org/>*
>> >>>
>> =========================================================================
>> >>>
>> >>
>> >>
>> >> --
>> >>
>> >> *  In Liberty,*
>> >>
>> >> *Libertarian Party and Libertarian National Committee Secretary *-
>> >> Caryn.Ann.
>> >> Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org> or Secretary at LP.org.
>> >> *Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee* - LPedia at LP.org
>> >> Call me at 561.523.2250 and follow my public figure page at
>> >> facebook.com/pinkflameofliberty/
>> >>
>> >>
>> =========================================================================
>> >> Peaceful Commerce With All Nations * Non-interventionism * Re-Legalize
>> All
>> >> Drugs * End Government Intrusion In The Bedroom * Repeal All Gun Laws *
>> >> Abolish All Taxation * Sound, Free-market Money * Abolish The Fed * End
>> >> Corporate & Individual Welfare * Abolish The IRS and Repeal the Income
>> Tax
>> >> * Privatize Transportation Infrastructure * Free-market Emergency
>> Services
>> >> * Open Migration * Transfer Government Schools To The Private Sector *
>> >> Eliminate Regulation *
>> >>
>> >> *VOTE LIBERTARIAN * 800-ELECT-US or http://www.LP.org <
>> http://www.lp.org/
>> >>> *
>> >>
>> =========================================================================
>> >>
>>
>>
>
> --
>
> *  In Liberty,*
>
> *Libertarian Party and Libertarian National Committee Secretary *- Caryn.Ann.
> Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org> or Secretary at LP.org.
> *Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee* - LPedia at LP.org
> Call me at 561.523.2250 and follow my public figure page at
> facebook.com/pinkflameofliberty/
>
> =========================================================================
> Peaceful Commerce With All Nations * Non-interventionism * Re-Legalize All
> Drugs * End Government Intrusion In The Bedroom * Repeal All Gun Laws *
> Abolish All Taxation * Sound, Free-market Money * Abolish The Fed * End
> Corporate & Individual Welfare * Abolish The IRS and Repeal the Income Tax
> * Privatize Transportation Infrastructure * Free-market Emergency Services
> * Open Migration * Transfer Government Schools To The Private Sector *
> Eliminate Regulation *
>
> *VOTE LIBERTARIAN * 800-ELECT-US or http://www.LP.org <http://www.lp.org/>*
> =========================================================================
>

-- 

*  In Liberty,*

*Libertarian Party and Libertarian National Committee Secretary *- Caryn.Ann.
Harlos at LP.org <Caryn.Ann.Harlos at LP.org> or Secretary at LP.org.
*Chair, LP Historical Preservation Committee* - LPedia at LP.org
Call me at 561.523.2250 and follow my public figure page at
facebook.com/pinkflameofliberty/

=========================================================================
Peaceful Commerce With All Nations * Non-interventionism * Re-Legalize All
Drugs * End Government Intrusion In The Bedroom * Repeal All Gun Laws *
Abolish All Taxation * Sound, Free-market Money * Abolish The Fed * End
Corporate & Individual Welfare * Abolish The IRS and Repeal the Income Tax
* Privatize Transportation Infrastructure * Free-market Emergency Services
* Open Migration * Transfer Government Schools To The Private Sector *
Eliminate Regulation *

*VOTE LIBERTARIAN * 800-ELECT-US or http://www.LP.org <http://www.lp.org/>*
=========================================================================