Populares convention: FINAL VOTE ON MERGERS

[wormyguy]

Hello all remaining Populares members (and new/returning ones, should you so choose!);

By popular demand, and in response to recent political events in Atlasia, I'm opening this thread up.  I'll also crown myself chairman for the purposes of this thread (it's what Dallasfan would've wanted... I think).

Several questions on the table (this is a non-binding gauge of opinion that will be used for binding proposals later):

1. Which of the following options is most preferable to you?  (rank options using Instant-Runoff Voting)

[ ] Ask to merge with another party
[ ] Disband
[ ] Change name
[ ] Status quo

2. If we do merge with another party, who would you prefer to merge with? (Rank with IRV)

[ ] Liberal Party
[ ] Communitarian/Whig Party
[ ] Social Democratic Union
[ ] Individual Freedom Party
[ ] United Imperial Front
[ ] Other:

Here are the options for how we could merge with another party:

Simple merger:  One party totally dissolves and all its members become members of another party.

Simple merger with name change:  Both parties dissolve and all their members become members of a new, renamed party.

Become a caucus:  One party converts to being a caucus in the other party.

Electoral pact:  The least radical option; neither party dissolves but they agree that a candidate from either party can use both parties' names on the ballot.

3.  If we do ask to merge with another party, which way should we do it?  (Rank with IRV)

[ ] Simply merge with them.
[ ] Ask them to simply merge with us.
[ ] Simple merger with name change.
[ ] Populares become their caucus.
[ ] Ask them to become our caucus.
[ ] Form an electoral pact

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

Hi there...I know I'm not welcome per se, but I would encourage a merger with the IFP...just my two sense. Sorry xP

[wormyguy]

@20RP12:  You can join us if you want a vote.

(My personal summum bonum would be if POP and IFP merged, and became a caucus in the Liberal Party.)

[wormyguy]

1. Which of the following options is most preferable to you?  (rank options using Instant-Runoff Voting)

[1] Ask to merge with another party
[ ] Disband
[2] Change name
[3] Status quo

2. If we do merge with another party, who would you prefer to merge with? (Rank with IRV)

[1] Liberal Party
[4] Communitarian/Whig Party
[5] Social Democratic Union
[2] Individual Freedom Party
[3] United Imperial Front
[ ] Other:

3.  If we do ask to merge with another party, which way should we do it?  (Rank with IRV)

[4] Simply merge with them.
[ ] Ask them to simply merge with us.
[3] Simple merger with name change.
[1] Populares become their caucus.
[5] Ask them to become our caucus.
[2] Form an electoral pact

[Senator Napoleon]

None of my business, but if you merge, I think Populares is a way cooler name. Or even a simple "Libertarian Party".

[wormyguy]

None of my business, but if you merge, I think Populares is a way cooler name. Or even a simple "Libertarian Party".

Yeah, that's my main scruple with merging with anyone - Populares is the best party name ever

(hence why I'd rather we become a caucus)

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

@20RP12:  You can join us if you want a vote.

(My personal summum bonum would be if POP and IFP merged, and became a caucus in the Liberal Party.)

Yeah but I don't like the idea of the Liberal Party becoming a gigantic entity /:

[wormyguy]

@20RP12:  You can join us if you want a vote.

(My personal summum bonum would be if POP and IFP merged, and became a caucus in the Liberal Party.)

Yeah but I don't like the idea of the Liberal Party becoming a gigantic entity /:

But including the ex-Populares in the Liberal Party, we'd be a majority.

[white trash heroes]

1. Which of the following options is most preferable to you?  (rank options using Instant-Runoff Voting)

[1] Ask to merge with another party
[ ] Disband
[] Change name
[] Status quo

2. If we do merge with another party, who would you prefer to merge with? (Rank with IRV)

[ ] Liberal Party
[ ] Communitarian/Whig Party
[ ] Social Democratic Union
[1] Individual Freedom Party
[3] United Imperial Front
[2 ] Other: Pigs Wear Boots

3.  If we do ask to merge with another party, which way should we do it?  (Rank with IRV)

[1] Simply merge with them.
[ ] Ask them to simply merge with us.
[2] Simple merger with name change.
[3] Populares become their caucus.
[4] Ask them to become our caucus.
[5] Form an electoral pact

[Jayhawker]

Due to complications, Pigs Wear Boots is now a caucus. You're welcome to join it!

[shua]

1. Which of the following options is most preferable to you?  (rank options using Instant-Runoff Voting)

[1] Ask to merge with another party
[3] Disband
[ ] Change name
[2] Status quo

2. If we do merge with another party, who would you prefer to merge with? (Rank with IRV)

[3] Liberal Party
[4] Communitarian/Whig Party
[ ] Social Democratic Union
[1] Individual Freedom Party
[ ] United Imperial Front
[2] Other: Moderates (?)

Here are the options for how we could merge with another party:

Simple merger:  One party totally dissolves and all its members become members of another party.

Simple merger with name change:  Both parties dissolve and all their members become members of a new, renamed party.

Become a caucus:  One party converts to being a caucus in the other party.

Electoral pact:  The least radical option; neither party dissolves but they agree that a candidate from either party can use both parties' names on the ballot.

3.  If we do ask to merge with another party, which way should we do it?  (Rank with IRV)

[3] Simply merge with them.
[ ] Ask them to simply merge with us.
[2] Simple merger with name change.
[1] Populares become their caucus.
[] Ask them to become our caucus.
[4] Form an electoral pact

I think the party trying to subsume another party isn't going to get us much of anywhere. But
it seems to me that in any of these merger options, we can form a caucus within it if we choose.

[angus]

1. Which of the following options is most preferable to you?  (rank options using Instant-Runoff Voting)

[1] Ask to merge with another party
[ ] Disband
[2] Change name
[3] Status quo

2. If we do merge with another party, who would you prefer to merge with? (Rank with IRV)

[1] Liberal Party
[4] Communitarian/Whig Party
[5] Social Democratic Union
[2] Individual Freedom Party
[3] United Imperial Front
[ ] Other:

3.  If we do ask to merge with another party, which way should we do it?  (Rank with IRV)

[4] Simply merge with them.
[ ] Ask them to simply merge with us.
[3] Simple merger with name change.
[1] Populares become their caucus.
[5] Ask them to become our caucus.
[2] Form an electoral pact

This is acceptable to me as well.

[wormyguy]

Alright, with a majority of party members voting I'll move on to my two proposed bylaw amendments.  All party members are eligible to vote.  These votes shall last for 72 hours, or until 6:40 PM EST on 2/04/2012.

Merger Proposal 1

The Populares shall merge with the Individual Freedom Party upon approval of this bylaw amendment by both parties.  The new party shall be provisionally entitled "Populares-Individual Freedom" prior to a vote on the name and shall continue using the abbreviation "POP" and the color teal prior to a vote on abbreviation and color.  The new party shall retain the bylaws of the Populares, and shall vote on adopting either the Populares platform, the Individual Freedom platform, or a new platform.  All members of the Populares and Individual Freedom Parties shall be considered members of Populares-Individual Freedom upon the enactment of this merger.

Merger Proposal 2

The Populares shall dissolve as a party and all members shall be considered registered to the Liberal Party in the Populares Caucus.  The Populares Caucus shall maintain the platform and bylaws of the Populares Party.  Should Merger Proposal 1 pass in this vote, this measure shall not take effect until Merger Proposal 1 is either rejected by the Individual Freedom Party or until Merger Proposal 1 has taken effect, in which case Merger Proposal 2 will be again voted on by the united party.

[wormyguy]

Merger Proposal 1: Aye.

Merger Proposal 2: Aye.

I strongly urge my other party members to do the same.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

I strongly encourage an aye vote on Merger Proposal 1.

[Teddy (IDS Legislator)]

I strongly encourage an aye vote on Merger Proposal 1.

[Oakvale]

None of my business really, but as Chair of the Liberal Party I think you guys would be better suited to 20RP12's Individual Freedom Party. We're not really libertarians, and I'm worried Marokai will hunt me down and murder me if the Liberal Party becomes too "big tent".

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

None of my business really, but as Chair of the Liberal Party I think you guys would be better suited to 20RP12's Individual Freedom Party. We're not really libertarians, and I'm worried Marokai will hunt me down and murder me if the Liberal Party becomes too "big tent".

[Senator Napoleon]

While I am not in a position to say who should and should not support the Liberal Party, and I see issues to work together on, I think it is more appropriate to wait and let these new parties settle in before merging or anything like that.

Im open to discussing some kind of agreement that allows us to work closely to improve the Northeast Region. If that works out, things can be further discussed.

That being said, I stood against the decidedly nonlibertarian federal age restrictions put forward by the IFP and helped defeat that.

[wormyguy]

Well, the second proposal wouldn't actually require the approval of the Liberal Party; we'd just be joining en masse.

[Senator Napoleon]

Right but if that helps Marokai pursue his divide and conquer strategy, we all lose.

Does this proposal need to take place asap or something?

[Oakvale]

Well, the second proposal wouldn't actually require the approval of the Liberal Party; we'd just be joining en masse.

Oh I know, just my $0.02.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

That being said, I stood against the decidedly nonlibertarian federal age restrictions put forward by the IFP and helped defeat that.

What are you talking about?

[Senator Napoleon]

That being said, I stood against the decidedly nonlibertarian federal age restrictions put forward by the IFP and helped defeat that.

What are you talking about?

The marijuana bill, silly.

[Pacific Councillor Big Wiggly Style]

That being said, I stood against the decidedly nonlibertarian federal age restrictions put forward by the IFP and helped defeat that.

What are you talking about?

The marijuana bill, silly.

I voted nay on the final version of the bill, don't criticize me of things when you don't have your facts straight.