Labor Party Standing Committee (10/12-6/13)

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I think the labor convention should be held in a field in the beautiful town of Effie, MN.  There is nothing there.  Just like our economy would be nothing without the hard work of laborers everywhere.

If we are too comfortable, we will forget the hardships that people have gone through to win better lives for themselves, be it better wages or civil rights.

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Then I nominate Fairbanks, Alaska.

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Fairbanks, AK

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Indeed.  A vote should be taken.

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I will also run for the vice-chairmanship

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While I commend Gass for his eagerness to be an active and even activist vice-chair of the Labor Party, I believe he takes the position in the wrong direction, transforming the leadership of the party into an impersonal centralized top-down party of positions on legislation.

I see the party as more adaptable, and I believe our most important task is to get Laborites elected to office.  From there, we have to trust that elected members will do their best to represent the values of the party, while also allowing them a wide berth for their own nuanced opinions on various issues.

If an elected member was actively promoting policies not supported by the party, then it is the party leadership's job to ask why and try to work it out from there.

First and foremost, the job of the chair and vice chair is to be administrators.  The members of our party and our elected officials have the first word on our official positions, and should have every opportunity to make their voices heard within our party.

Except for a general philosophy, exact positions on issues should be allowed to evolve and stand for compromise in order to get as close to our general philosophy as possible.  We should strive to be a big tent party of left-of-center Atlasians who push for equity and equality among all Atlasians while also acknowledging that people have different talents in different areas.  And only when people are allowed to pursue such talents, does our nation function at its best.  And I'll be the first to admit that sometimes that will push the boundaries of our party's philosophy.

As your vice chair, I would work closely with the party chairman to ensure that the Labor Party operates as a transparent and open party that all left-of-center Atlasians can be a part of, reporting regularly on intra-party politics.  I believe Gass's idea of having a good knowledge is important.  But I do not believe it should be one person's job to acquire all of that knowledge on his own.

I would keep in contact with elected members and other party members in order to consolidate the goings on in the regions and federal government, so we can have an active debate while ensuring that we remain a party of diverse members who are not afraid to voice their individual concerns and stances on issues, even when and if they don't agree with the majority of party members.

I realize the vote has already started, but I hope those of you who haven't yet cast their ballot would consider me for the position of vice chairman of the Labor Party.

Thank you,

Snowguy716

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Chair:

Adam Griffin

Vice-Chair:

Snowguy716

General Secretary:

seatown

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IDS:

Automatic Endorsements:

[X] Alfred F. Jones (LAB-PR)

ME:

Automatic Endorsements:

[X] Gass3268 (LAB-WI)
[X] TNF (LAB-KY)

Voting on Endorsements:

[X] a Person (LIG-IL)