[Lnc-business] Other memberships

[francis.wendt at lp.org]

Mrs. Harlos,

 

Let me please reiterate that this is a draft that was my first crack at tackling the issues we are seeing currently. I understand that it isn’t perfect or even acceptable to some. Regardless of that I did say that I did not intend this for debate, because only a handful of LNC members have the authority to debate this issue. I would say that that group includes neither you nor me.

 

I appreciate that you have your views on this, my input was simply to spur members of this committee that are saying we need a bylaw amendment to put forward their own language.

 

I fully accept that I may be wrong in my language, and I invite the Bylaws Committee to cut it to pieces and find a better product. I encourage everyone to forward your own language to the Bylaws Committee, because the default of doing nothing doesn’t seem to be doing the party very well.

 

The real point that this brings, which the committee has been dancing around, is what are the rights of adults vs. the rights of children, and were do you draw that line. I would fully welcome debate on that topic, because it is very relevant with the chair’s words of:

 

“the Iraq war is now old enough to be drafted in the Iran war, yet apparently not old enough to buy a pack of cigarettes.” 

 

If these topics fit better in the discussion of the Platform Committee, I would love to see them take a stab at it. The long and the short of it is as an alternate I have very little power, so I am exercising that which I have, but as I said, I’m fine with being wrong.

 

 

Francis Wendt

LNC Region 1 Alternate

406.595.5111

 

 

 

From: Caryn Ann Harlos <caryn.ann.harlos at lp.org> 
Sent: Sunday, January 12, 2020 2:02 PM
To: lnc-business at hq.lp.org
Cc: francis.wendt at lp.org
Subject: Re: [Lnc-business] Other memberships

 

Mr Wendt this would prohibit some freed felons from being members.  That would be very contrary to our historic position on this.

 

Further trying membership to voting rights elevates voting in a way that would be offensive to many members.

 

And I don’t think it anywhere near majority support that teens cannot be sustaining members. 

 

If we are trying to avoid babies, it could be to sign and personally comprehend the pledge.  That’s very simple - is it subjective?  Yes.  But so are arbitrary age lines.