Re: [independence-1] Platform convention

Terry:

My thoughts on your idea/initiative - 

1) It's great that you're passionate about something
and 'working it' to try and implement but,

2) Isn't what you want the stuff that political
parties are about - or the IP is/could be about -
thereby rendering your group either meaningless (or
less meaningful) by itself or simply a sub group of
something larger?

3) Isn't what you propose a function and
responsibility of the electorate and elections? 
Voters don't like their officials spending money they
don't vote them back in to office - no need for a
PAC-like group to be supplanted into the mix,

4) Isn't your effort a duplicate of organizations that
already exist (i.e.- The Concord Coalition, Citizens
for Responsibility and Ethics in Washington, et al)? 

5) Do you honestly believe you're going to get flocks
of people in and form this uber group of 5 million? 
The more than century-old NRA (with much more
energizing issues - even if they can be polarizing)
has only about 4 million members by comparison. This
lends credibility questions to your effort (as in,
"This guy's not credible. I'm moving on.")

5) If people believe 2, 3 and 4 above (as I do) why
commit to giving your group $8 per year? In the scheme
of the world you're an entire unknown (as in - "who's
this guy?"). That doesn't inspire people to give you
money every year for dues but, rather, smacks of
several emails I get everyday from barristers, bankers
and dethroned government officials from African
countries offering to "share" their pilfered wealth
with me if only I get in contact with them. 


You may end up with some supporters outside of
Minnesota, but I'd posit that the members you may have
been able to gather to date are MNIP members
sympathetic to the cause and to a fellow-IPer's
efforts.  Keep on keeping on, but realize why not
every "great idea" that one generates is viewed as
highly by anyone else.  And, if you don't think
someone is pulling their weight in a position put your
name in the ring to take over.

Respectfully, 
Phil Fuehrer


--- Terrance Bushard <[address removed]>
wrote:

> Peter,
> 
> You certainly are confused. You say the choice is
> between giving up  
> on the country or doing something. If the
> "something" you do is the  
> wrong thing, what's the difference?
> 
> We have an accountability problem in this country
> and the IP's, and  
> your response, is to have a party! Good grief!
> 
> You have 2 choices.
> 
> You can either choose to be part of the solution to
> the  
> accountability problem by organizing for that
> purpose, or you can  
> choose to be part of the accountability problem by
> failing to do so.
> 
> Your actions to date tell me you choose to be part
> of the  
> accountability problem! Hopefully, that is because
> you have a hearing  
> problem, as in you choose not to hear.
> 
> One last time. I have a solution to the
> accountability problem. It is  
> simple, affordable and fool proof. Here it is.
> 
> http://www.americ...
> 
> Respectfully
> 
> Terry Bushard
> [address removed]
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> 
> On Jan 28, 2008, at 9:57 PM, Peter Tharaldson wrote:
> 
> > Tim-
> >
> > I am confused. The process we devised in 2005
> worked well. We  
> > considered planks and changes one by one. The
> member that spoke was  
> > speaking against any additions to the platform.
> >
> > One of the things that changed was to establish a
> base platform and  
> > then consider changes...that allows for a greater
> hearing of any  
> > changes...and in fact, unlike most platform
> conventions, we did get  
> > through every proposed change. About 1/2 of the
> additions were  
> > made, 1/2 failed.
> >
> > Let's reintroduce your proposals on May 3rd. This
> time I think  
> > considering them as divided proposals would work
> well. I understand  
> > that they are all related to efficiencies from
> technology  
> > improvement, but that is a lot of wording to
> digest and it would be  
> > easier to handle them one by one.
> >
> > The Platform gets another shot on May 3rd per the
> call of the  
> > convention. Try it again...I would be happy to
> help divide them in  
> > a stategic manner that would probably sell better.
> >
> > Peter
> >
> > As for not coming to the convention...it is always
> worth it. The  
> > choice is between giving up on the country and the
> state or doing  
> > something. We did a lot on Saturday....and maybe
> that was the  
> > problem...but people were excited.
> >
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > Tim Nelson <[address removed]> wrote:
> > I hope I never see a repeat of the behavior of a
> few of the "movers  
> > and shakers" at the morning session of the
> platform convention. If  
> > trying to prevent the motions for platform changes
> were not enough,  
> > the grandstanding to testify against every change
> by one member  
> > really took the cake.
> >
> > Are you adults? Did you not know that a platform
> convention just  
> > might get involved with the platform?
> >
> > I considered leaving before my platform change
> came up. I felt that  
> > I didn't belong in that room, or in the party.
> When my turn came,  
> > my heart wasn't in it.
> >
> > On a personal note, since my political viewpoint
> is so wrapped  
> > around the downsizing of the public sector through
> new technology,  
> > and the party is not, perhaps it would be for the
> best if I find  
> > myself a seat outside the party.
> >
> > It has been nice to meet, and talk to many of you,
> especially  
> > Peter, Jack Uldrich, Peter Hutchinson, Red and the
> meetup groups.
> >
> > Tim Nelson
> > Golden Valley
> >
> >
> >
> >
> > --
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> > This message was sent by Tim Nelson
> ([address removed]) from  
> > The Twin Cities Independence Party Meetup Group.
> > To learn more about Tim Nelson, visit his/her
> member profile
> > To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list
> settings, click here
> >
> > Meetup.com Customer Service: [address removed]
> > 632 Broadway New York NY 10012 USA
> >
> >
> > Be a better friend, newshound, and know-it-all
> with Yahoo! Mobile.  
> > Try it now.
> >
> >
> >
> > --
> > Please Note: If you hit "REPLY", your message will
> be sent to  
> > everyone on this mailing list
> ([address removed])
> > This message was sent by Peter Tharaldson
> ([address removed])  
> > from The Twin Cities Independence Party Meetup
> Group.
> > To learn more about Peter Tharaldson, visit
> his/her member profile
> > To unsubscribe or to update your mailing list
> settings, click here
> >
> > Meetup.com Customer Service: [address removed]
> > 632 Broadway New York NY 10012 USA
> 
> Terry Bushard
> 651-639-9831
> [address removed]
> http://www.americ...
> 
> 
> 
> 



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