[Lnc-business] Fwd: LNC 2020 Convention Solution Input

Fri May 8 23:16:38 EDT 2020

Mr. Anderson this is exactly what a majority of LNC members have already
been discussing, and it has nothing to do with humility but with honouring
our bylaws.

On Fri, May 8, 2020 at 9:02 PM Phillip Anderson via Lnc-business <
lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:

> This is excellent, well thought out. Now let’s see who is humble enough to
> lead.
>
> On Fri, May 8, 2020 at 9:14 PM john.phillips--- via Lnc-business <
> lnc-business at hq.lp.org> wrote:
>
> > Forward of an email with detailed convention thoughts from Avens Obrien.
> >
> > Lots of interesting thoughts for consideration.
> >
> > John Phillips
> > Libertarian National Committee Region 6 Representative
> > Cell 217-412-5973
> > ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> > From: Avens O'Brien <avens.obrien at gmail.com>
> > Date: May 8, 2020 8:59 PM
> > Subject: LNC 2020 Convention Solution Input
> > To: john.phillips at lp.org
> > Cc:
> >
> > Hi John -
> >
> > Per your suggestion on Facebook, I am submitting this in an email for you
> > to forward on to the rest of the LNC.
> >
> > I posted this on Facebook earlier today and it has received
> > positive feedback. The original link can be found here:
> > https://www.facebook.com/avobrien/posts/10100329054914256
> >
> > I apologize for the length, I am reviewing the problems around the
> > convention, the downsides of proposed solutions, and finally a breakdown
> of
> > the actual processes involved in my proposed solution.
> >
> > I am aware that others have suggested things like what I am suggesting.
> > I have dived a bit deeper into the details, I believe.
> >
> > As a long-time member, delegate of several years and volunteer, I would
> be
> > happy to assist the convention committee or anyone in implementing these
> > ideas or related but alternative solutions.
> >
> > The content of my original post is below.
> >
> > Best,
> > Avens O'Brien
> > Former Vice Chair, LPNH 2006-2008
> > CA Delegate to National, 2020
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > PROBLEM:
> >
> > The Libertarian Party was supposed to have an in-person convention over
> > Memorial Day Weekend (starting May 21st) in Austin TX. We are unable to
> do
> > that, due to restrictions by the city of Austin or state of TX in the
> face
> > of Covid-19.
> >
> > This convention is where we select our Presidential and Vice Presidential
> > candidates, where we select new LNC officers/reps, and deliberate/vote on
> > changes to our bylaws, platform, and more. It is also a substantial
> > fundraiser.
> >
> > We also have a really great time partying and seeing each other in person
> > since we spend so much time bickering online and it’s really nice to get
> > the real life experience of each other. I have come away from each
> national
> > convention liking my fellow Libertarians so much more than I often do
> > arguing online.
> >
> > So, unfortunately, we will have no in-person convention during Memorial
> > Day weekend.
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > ALTERNATIVE #1
> >
> > One alternative solution is to move the date of the in-person convention.
> > We do not yet know how long travel or gathering restrictions are going to
> > last, and even when they have been lifted, we don’t yet know how many
> > delegates would not be able to attend due to health concerns (themselves
> or
> > those they live with) and also adjusting for new travel location and
> time.
> >
> > Besides the possibility that attendance will be lowered, this creates an
> > issue of perhaps a poor representation of the delegates if, say, all
> older
> > delegates do not attend due to health concerns.
> >
> > This also creates issues with ballot access for some states (which is
> also
> > being worked on) and even more: campaign time. Waiting until July or
> August
> > to nominate minimizes the amount of time our nominee has to campaign/take
> > donations/try to get media attention towards themselves and the Party.
> >
> > I will attend any in-person convention that occurs, because I have low
> > person risk of major Covid-19 complications, the ability to quarantine
> > myself, and an annoying sense of duty to ensure my voice as a delegate is
> > represented no matter what.
> >
> > I realize others cannot make that same choice.
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > ALTERNATIVE #2
> >
> > A second alternative solution is to have an all-online convention using
> > video meeting software like Zoom. This would allow delegates (and
> > alternates) to log in from their computers at home and participate in
> floor
> > discuss, debates, votes etc. This would allow people to participate
> > wherever they are without travel restrictions or health concerns.
> >
> > This also has issues: 1000 people logging in to participate, proposed
> > resolutions, debate, discussion, votes? In the in-person convention hall
> it
> > has its own faults, but there’s also controls: limited microphones, a
> stage
> > from which the meeting is run, and the self-restraint that is (somewhat)
> > created by the fact that individuals attending actually had to pay to get
> > there, and aren’t going to do things that would get them thrown out. We
> DO
> > behave ourselves better in person than we do online.
> >
> > There may or may not also be issues if there’s an online-convention with
> > states (or state parties) recognizing the delegate vote on the
> presidential
> > and vice presidential nominees.
> >
> > Also, let’s be honest: the national convention IN PERSON is a HUGE
> > fundraising opportunity for the party. There are NUMEROUS avenues, from
> > gala dinners to pie-throwing afterparties, where we make money, and an
> > online convention DOES make that harder.
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > PROBLEMS VS SOLUTIONS
> >
> > Along the way, observing this, I have been disappointed in the amount of
> > “problem seeking” behavior rather than “solution seeking” behavior of
> some
> > people inside the party and on the LNC.
> >
> > Many of the people who are adamantly opposed to online convention will
> > disrupt one. Many of the people who are adamantly opposed to an in-person
> > convention will emphasize the risks, the ballot-concerns. These ARE
> valid:
> > online conventions can be disrupted in ways IRL (in real life) ones
> can’t.
> > There may be ballot issues, health risks, and representation problems.
> >
> > Ultimately, it appears that many people may refuse to acknowledge the
> > result of a vote cast in either situation, claiming it’s not
> > representative, or within order, or whatever.
> >
> > No matter what way we decide: we will have huge numbers of this
> convention
> > feeling disenfranchised, poorly represented, or potentially ignored, and
> > this may affect support for our candidates.
> >
> > What can be done about that?
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > A BETTER SOLUTION
> >
> > I can’t honestly see that either an exclusively online or exclusively
> > in-person option will work.
> >
> > As someone who has attended years and years of National and State
> > conventions, here is my preferred solution – one that utilizes online
> > voting and possibly in-person confirmations.
> >
> > We have an online vote among delegates for our President/Vice President
> > candidates, and then potentially move the in-person convention to later
> in
> > the year.
> >
> > BUT BASIC POLLING ISN’T ENOUGH. There are things we need to be able to do
> > that basic polling does not allow.
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > ONLINE VOTE PROCESS:
> >
> > First – state delegate chairs or state party chairs need to ensure they
> > have the best contact information for their delegates – both email and
> > phone. We need to confirm methods of communication, and we ALSO need to
> be
> > VERY communicative about timelines.
> >
> > We should make our decisions about when these things will be happening
> and
> > then giving, say, a week notice so that people can make sure they’re
> > looking out.
> >
> > SO, I’m going to suggest timelines here, which are not binding, they are
> > examples:
> >
> > We tell delegates this weekend, that P/VP nomination process will be
> > occurring beginning on May 21st, and a calendar for the next dates is
> then
> > created based on this start date. This calendar of the timeline should be
> > PUBLIC, posted on the LNC website and emailed to delegates, alternates
> AND
> > even party members (who have an interest in observing).
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > TOKENS
> >
> > So, normally at a National Convention, the delegates receive tokens,
> which
> > they can use NOT for their vote for President and VP, but to determine
> who
> > they want in the official LNC debate. This narrows the field for the
> debate.
> >
> > We need to emulate this process. Delegates (only) should have the ability
> > to give their tokens via a vote distributed via email. Perhaps the link
> to
> > the vote is sent to the email on file, but the password to login is
> called
> > or texted, reducing chances of hacking or others using their code. There
> > are multiple ways to validate votes.
> >
> > Let’s say this is emailed out on May 21st. Delegates will have 24 hours
> to
> > respond – I highly recommend someone from each state is determined by
> each
> > state party to call/email/remind delegates to do this. I would agree to
> do
> > this for CA if needed.
> >
> > The LNC collects the results of the token vote. This determines (based on
> > number of tokens received) who is in the main debate. There is a minimum
> > number required from the conventions that I can’t remember right now
> (30?).
> > This would be the same.
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > DEBATE
> >
> > The LNC hosts a live Zoom debate (say on the 23rd) using a moderator who
> > was going to be chosen for the in-person debate anyway. The only
> > participants will be the debate moderator and the candidates who
> qualified.
> > This will be recorded, for distribution to the delegates.
> >
> > SPEECHES
> >
> > At each convention, we allow the candidates (I believe anyone who was
> > nominated and then seconded?) to address the convention in a limited
> speech
> > (5 mins?) in which they can speak themselves, or have others speak on
> their
> > behalf.
> >
> > Candidates would be given the right to prepare a video of the same length
> > as the usual speech, which could potentially feature other people who
> speak
> > on their behalf, or might be a well-produced campaign video. Whatever
> they
> > want, within the time limitations. These videos will be hosted on various
> > video platforms, and collected by the LNC.
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > VOTE #1
> >
> > The LNC, on May 24th, would then send out an email to all members, with a
> > link to the debate, as well as a link to each candidate video. Also, to
> the
> > delegates: a link to the first Presidential vote. (Again, perhaps
> requiring
> > a password that was sent separately, again to better validate the votes).
> >
> > The delegates would have 48 hours (or perhaps 24 hours) to vote (this
> > allows for what usually happens during an in person convention – internal
> > caucus and campaign lobbying can occur via phone calls and emails). This
> > puts us at the 26th if we’re doing 48 hour votes.
> >
> > The results of this vote would be emailed to the delegates/members (and
> > shared on social media) and then if another round is required, we do the
> > same thing we would do at the in-person convention, with a slightly
> > different timeline: candidates have say, 12 hours to send new
> time-limited
> > videos dropping out/endorsing anyone, before another round of voting.
> >
> > This continues in the same fashion until we have determined our nominee
> by
> > over 50% of the delegate vote. The same process occurs for the VP spot.
> >
> > This should land us into the very beginning of June with our results.
> >
> > ________________________________
> >
> > POTENTIAL IN-PERSON CONVENTION
> >
> > Once the Presidential and Vice Presidential candidates are chosen, we can
> > begin petition collecting or ballot efforts or campaigning and volunteers
> > and whatever the heck we need to begin doing to support them.
> >
> > We plan for an in-person convention in, say, August or even September.
> > This allows us to do platform, bylaws, officer elections. We can also
> > certify the vote made in late May/early June regarding our P/VP nominees.
> >
> > This in-person convention can also have the Presidential and Vice
> > Presidential nominees as the keynotes, and operate much like other
> > conventions: celebrating an already determined nominee, and generating
> > press and interest for that. As well as fundraising.
> >
> > THE BIG IF:
> >
> > IF as we get into June, we find that an in-person convention is less
> > likely even as far out as July or August or September, we still have a
> much
> > longer timeline for determining what changes we need to make when:
> perhaps
> > officer elections also become an online process like P/VP.
> >
> > Perhaps a motion is made to reserve bylaw and platform changes to the
> 2022
> > convention in order to acknowledge this unprecedented event globally, and
> > then we do some sort of online state chair convention to ratify the P/VP
> > election. I’m not sure, but the fact is we can spend months figuring out
> > the right solution for THAT. We just can’t spend months waiting on our
> > Presidential/VP ticket.
> >
> > Please feel free to contact me for further clarification, questions, or
> > help.
> >
> > I look forward to learning what the LNC decides.
> >
> > Best,
> > Avens O'Brien
> > CA Delegate 2020
> > Former LPNH Vice Chair, 2006-2008
> > 818.308.5098 | avens.obrien at gmail.com
> >
> > ...
> >
> > Avens O'Brien
> > http://www.avens.me
> >
> >
> >
>
-- 

*In Liberty,*

* Personal Note:  I have what is commonly known as Asperger's Syndrome
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