[Lnc-business] Thoughts.

[Francis Wendt]

I appreciate and echo your thoughts, Mr. Philips.

---
FRANCIS WENDT
LNC Region 1 Alternate
 406.595.5111 

On 2020-05-29 11:43, john.phillips--- via Lnc-business wrote:

> Dear Colleagues,  
> 
> (I always like that intro by Mr Lark so I am appropriating it). 
> 
> The LNC is currently experiencing another influx of emails regarding the removal of Mr Hayes removal as chair of the Convention Oversight Committee, both in favor and opposed. 
> 
> I believe all sending those emails believe they are acting in good faith and have their valid reasons for doing so. 
> 
> However, there is a problem with every single one from each side. 
> 
> I point out that you whether you are criticizing Mr Hayes or Mr Sarwark, both sides are calling out one of them for bullying tactics and ramrodding their own agendas through, while praising the other for utilizing exactly the same tactics.  
> 
> Criticizing methods when results do not fit your desires while ignoring those same methods in pursuit of what you support is a widespread growing trend in our party that I find very disturbing and disheartening.  A trend which has been led by the members of this board. 
> 
> I sympathize with your feelings toward Mr Hayes and/or Mr Sarwark - I have butted heads with both of them several times myself, but I cannot stand by and watch one be praised and the other condemned for using the very same deplorable tactics, tactics both plainly attempted to employ in front of nearly 1000 delegates as well as in more personal settings. 
> 
> This is not ok.  Nor has it been ok when the board members, including myself have employed the same praise/criticize dichotomy. 
> 
> I would like to think I have done less of it, but I have done it, and I may be wrong about less. 
> 
> We as a board have been negligent in allowing these actions and others to occur under our watch.  While some of us have sometimes spoken up and attempted to draw attention to these failures in word and deed, we have stopped short of taking action on them.  
> 
> Every single one of us is guilty of this to one degree or another, with no exceptions. We have ignored bullying and underhanded tactics, we have ignored dereliction of duty, we have glossed over lies, we have been, and still are, guilty of inaction when action was demanded. 
> 
> For those reasons I have some conclusions: 
> 
> I accept the removal of Mr Hayes, honestly he has done many good things, but he has also done many of the things he has been criticized for, and we should likely have taken action sooner for that. 
> 
> I ask for the immediate resignation of Mr Sarwark for all the same reasons with recognition of his past service, and in addition his public refusal to fulfill his elected position.  If he does not resign I call upon this entire board to affect his removal for cause. 
> 
> Furthermore I encourage every member, and especially delegates, to consider very carefully whether they wish to re-elect any of us, or move those seeking them to higher positions.  Some have failed less than others and you may find it worthwhile to grant them another term, sadly the best among us are not running again.  I do ask you to look deeply and with intellectual honesty at not just whether you agreed with our votes, but whether we really and truly represented you as we should have.  I think we as a body have failed our members in many ways - particularly over the last few months and surrounding the convention, but your opinion is your own. 
> 
> As such, I am also looking hard at my own failures in this regard, and weighing heavily whether I should even continue seek a second term.  
> 
> Regardless, I will continue to proudly support our candidates for public office, and for at least the remainder of this term strive to serve better, while not allowing the poor actions to go unchallenged. 
> John Phillips
> Libertarian National Committee Region 6 Representative
> Cell 217-412-5973