Dear LNC members,
I second the views of Kelly Russell Simpson, whose letter you just
received, in opposing a dues increase. You may not know Kelly, because
she has not been to our conventions or active in state or national LP
politics, but she is a longtime dedicated local activist in San
Francisco, and a recipient of the Advocates for Self-Government "Lights
of Liberty" award.
It is my observation that a lot of people at the local level have
little confidence that the Libertarian Party's national leadership is
pursuing the best course for our party. Personally, I feel a large
underlying problem is an institutional culture in our leadership that
favors secrecy, reflects an obsession with "professionalism" and an
inferiority complex about "being taken seriously" which results in
attempts to emulate approaches used by the Democrats and Republicans
and by other management-focused corporations. I believe others would
like to see the party focus on its core mission, improve services to
members and state/regional chapters, and trim expenses rather than
putting money into fancy marketing and strategic planning schemes, and
I agree with these views as well.
Kelly's observation that Joe Seehusen's letter claiming an inability
to pay for faxes reminded her of the threats of government school bond
supporters to cut the services most valued by members certainly hit the
nail on the head. I think the question of where to make budget cuts
ought to be put to party members, with *everything* on the table,
including staff positions and salaries.
While Steve Dasbach's departure was a clear sign of progress and
reform, and there seems to be more willingness now by LNC members to
get directly involved in running the day-to-day functions of the party
instead of entrusting their responsibilities to a less-accountable
professional elite, I wonder how much has really been learned since the
Willis/Browne/etc. scandals and the mistakes that got us into our
present financial straits.
I should add that this is not a blanket implication of the LNC. I know
some of you understand these problems, and I appreciate your continuing
efforts to get the party moving forward.
Yours in liberty,
<<< Starchild >>>
Outreach Director, Libertarian Party of San Francisco