Setting Priorities: What Changes Do We Push?

by Kristan Overstreet

Posted March 18, 2006

Crunch time has come for reform efforts in 2006. The national Libertarian Party convention is near the end of June. If we are to submit proposals for change to the bylaws and platform, we need to do so in the next two to three weeks. We have to decide, and decide now, what our specific program for change is going to be.

But what proposals should we push? We have at least two proposals for every plank in the platform- keep the old or say nothing. We have proposals for bylaws changes, platform changes, even changes to the Statement of Principles. The alternatives run into the hundreds- and we have little, if any, consensus. We're not going to have the opportunity to put all of these things up to a vote- not even if we only present one option for everything we discuss here. At most we might get twenty changes to the platform for a vote. We need to set our priorities- and here are some guidelines to consider.

Bylaws Changes First: Our list of bylaws changes is much shorter than the same list of platform changes. Essentially, they consider only of support for zero-dues, the repeal or change of the membership pledge, a sunset rule for platform planks, and changing the name of the party. Bear in mind that the purists are already moving to have zero-dues repealed at the convention. They will be stronger than ususal during bylaws debate. These changes are the most vital to future Libertarian viability... so these changes should get top priority for proposal and support.

It's Easier to Delete than Amend: It only takes a plain majority to remove a platform plank- but two-thirds to add a new one or change an existing one. Obviously, with so much wrong with the platform, we can't afford to waste any time on a proposal that won't pass if it costs us a proposal that might have passed. Every platform plank which we would rather say nothing at all rather than have the existing plank goes to the top of our agenda. If a proposal to delete has over 50% approval, and the highest proposal to amend is less than 70%, the proposal to delete should get priority. Remember: it is better to be silent, and be thought an idiot, than to speak, and remove all doubt.

If We Can't Agree, Move to Delete: On some proposals we currently have two, three, or more proposals which all have approval ratios of below 50%. We don't want the current plank. We don't want the proposed changes our fellow reformers forward. We don't want to be silent. In these cases, when we don't seem to know what we want, we must recall that a platform is meant, among other things, to unite the party. Any issue on which we cannot unite should be set aside; therefore, add any divisive plank to the list to delete, and put them in the second tier of priority.

Don't Propose What We Won't All Back: Disunity is a sign of weakness. If our caucus splits on proposals it makes, unaligned delegates won't support us for leadership votes at the convention. With limited time, limited space and limited support, we must focus our remaining energies on only those proposals to add or amend which have unanimous or nearly unanimous support. Only the proposal to change with the most support of all alternatives should be forwarded to the committee.

And finally: Forget the Statement of Principles. It takes an overwhelming majority to change the Principles. We aren't going to get that supermajority. We should only forward a proposal to amend the Principles if we have fewer than twenty proposed platform changes or if the national Platform Committee is already considering changing the Principles. Otherwise, changing the Principles takes up time that could be used to get other parts of the platform moderated or expunged.

Fellow Reform Caucus members, it's time to wrap up our voting. We need to know what our program is for 2006- long past time. I hope the guidelines I mention help our caucus leaders, and our representatives on the appropriate committees, decide which battles we take on now, and which we save for another day. Whatever else happens, we must be organized and have a strategy... because if 2006 goes by without party reform, I do not think the Libertarian Party will survive intact.

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