The 2008 Libertarian Party of Florida Annual Meeting in Orlando.
ORLANDO--Perhaps it was the high price of gas and everything else that created the low attendance at the 2008 Libertarian Party of Florida Annual Business Meeting, but even though attendence was modest, those who did make it to Orlando, were certainly the most dedicated Florida Libertarians and Party members who got much done. The 2008 LPF Convention had a count of 39 attendees who were a mix of LPF "voting" delegates and non-voting attendees-(spouses, a student, and visitors from the Republican, and Independent Party and a No Party Affiliate.)
The 2008 LPF Convention Agenda was:
Some notable changes and resolutions
Documents handed-out at March 29, 2008 LPF Convention
2008 LPF Convention Stuff
Libertarian Party of Florida Officers at LPF Business Meeting included:
Delegates and (non-voting) Attendees by LPF Region
LPF Region 1
LPF Region 2
LPF Region 3
LPF Region 4
Attendee - Richard Moroney-(NPA) Alachua County
LPF Region 5
LPF Region 6
LPF Region 7
LPF Region 8
LPF Region 9
Attendee - Brenda Kahn -(Independent) Pinellas County
LPF Region 10
LPF Region 11
LPF Convention 2008 Guest Speakers
Libertarians have experimented with ways to turn ideas into action, develop long-term plans and stay focused while trying out different things. There has been a lot of discussion about tying in management, planning, and social interaction in a very Libertarian way. In December of 1999, Florida Libertarians adopted a new Libertarian Social Process for getting things done called the IMP which stands for "Improvement Management Process." The Executive Committee voted to adopt it, and serve as a resource for county use, after a presentation sponsored by the Libertarian International Organization and considerable effort looking at different member suggestions. Here is what is going on.
The IMP was developed and successfully used in several Fortune 100 companies-and even the US government-with superior results. Libertarians can now actually say that the developing standard for managing correctly is Libertarianism.
A political party without politics? The IMP is a way of managing things openly to match our politics. The IMP is basically a turbo-charged to-do list that automatically highlights areas that need attention. The to-do list is created by the membership's own suggestions. As a social process it involves first getting everyone's ideas out on the table ("the desirable process") and then encouraging people to self-assign. This is the exact reverse of how most of society works, where ideas are acted on one-at-a-time from above or by vote.
Benefit of Open Agendas. The idea? Learning to better work together on a non-authority basis, working with instead of against the Libertarian self-autonomy ethic, and start by putting various agendas "on the table" where everyone can discuss them. It automatically develops strategic planning and institutional memory, a growing worry, because all those ideas force everyone to sit down and plan long-term. The hope is to perfect it to make it a tool for all Libertarians. Among the things that are happening in Florida:
* An Ongoing Suggestion Process. Over 600 of your suggestions were collected since the convention, and boiled down into 240 action areas.
* Best Practice Comparison. To complement your ideas, since the convention the Executive Committee looked at the "best practices" of Libertarian groups here and abroad-no more "re-invent the flat tire." We've looked at things like how to win elections by having passive candidates, double the Libertarian vote by having poll-watchers, and how to prevent activist burn-out. In the works: a Florida-Specific Think Tank and candidate training.
* A Simple Management System. The IMP involves a simple management system that "highlights variances" when we wander from agreed goals, and on a timely basis. Using your ideas, we are now looking at areas to increase funds, clarify staffing tasks, and make numerous simple, high-payoff improvements. One exciting idea is the "Financial Tank," a way of permanent funding using trusts or endowments; another an "Action Needed" program for your continuing ideas.
* IMP Teams. All this activity is focused by open IMP Teams. Anyone can sign up or contribute their ideas, or take responsibility for a task. The Teams are working in areas such as Newsletter and Communications, Database design, Fundraising, and Operation Hammerlock-to keep Libertarians in government once elected, and help them communicate their successes.
* Opportunities, Goals and Plans. IMP teams commit to working with each local Libertarian group, to help them communicate needs, developing from the counties a 5-year plan including specific, measurable acts-critical tasks-that are known to work well: OPH Booth, Potluck meetings, Campus and High School Outreach, Targeted Fundraising, along with Campaign methods. A pilot Sister-Party program of activist mentoring with Serbian Libertarians is also being looked at.
* Remembering What We're Doing. A plan gives us a backlog that is organized, so suggestions not immediately feasible are not forgotten, and better continuity in the future. The IMP will help new members be Libertarian-by showing a dynamic fellowship that works by working with them, and that is focused, with tasks at hand for people to self-assign.
Amazingly, after the initial LIO grant, the IMP costs nothing, and is actually showing ways to liberate Volunteers' time and increase funding. There will be a manual on the Internet anyone can download.
* A Tool for Ambitious Goals? The IMP is being studied in local groups already, but is available for use everywhere. Besides helping with the Teams, we are asking Libertarians to sign up as Passive Candidates, by merely allowing the LP to place their name on the ballot with all the actual filing and other work to be handled by the State LP. Why? People respond when they see a large LP slate in the polling booth. This worked tremendously well in New Hampshire, where 29 Libertarians were elected after one-third of Party Members signed up-which, adjusted for population, would be like 480 here from a membership of 6,000. Can we even come close to that in 5 years? Each county taking advantage of your ideas is the first step.
To Participate: The IMP is not a State program, or a county program, or even strictly political. It is an ongoing tool that belongs to the membership, and that everyone can learn about, improve, and use. It is there to help people work together in a Libertarian, long-term way. Start by adding your suggestions to our growing list, and if there is an opportunity that you want to own, and investigate for your Libertarian group. The IMP teams are for everyone. We want you! Contact your local chair or Regional Rep, or the IMP Coordinator at 727-344-1038.------------------------------
By LEE COUNTY Libertarian Donald "Kim" Hawk
Two questions are commonly asked of me as a board member of the Lee County Soil and Water Conservation District.
I was able to condense my answer to the first question into one sentence: Our agency is a taxpayer-funded charity. As I formed those words I realized I had described most of the government programs in existence today.
Until we ended the program in January 2007, our main charity was a "free" lawn sprinkler check up. "Free" meant other taxpayers were picking up the tab to the tune of $500 per visit. Dozens of private companies in Lee County provide thousands of inspections for $30 to $80 per visit.
The answer to the second question requires more explanation. The year was 1937 and Franklin Roosevelt seemed to believe that if he put enough people to work for the government, the depression would end. Thousands of government programs including soil and water districts were created, employing millions of Americans.
Little attention was paid to the burgeoning debt.
Fast forward to today and we have a virtual alphabet soup of overlapping and competing federal, state and local agencies vying for and often suing each other over control of water and soil.
Our money came from a variety of taxpayer funded sources including the USDA, Florida Department of Agriculture, SFWMD, Lee County government and Cape Coral city government.
We eliminated our budget because there is no logical reason to maintain these vestiges of the "New Deal." Soil and water districts across the country are bureaucracies in search of a mission and should be discarded. I believe the most effective strategy for conserving water is to promote private ownership of water utilities.
Most Americans don't realize that the essence of every economic policy debate is one of capitalism vs. socialism. Many people I have met and virtually all politicians are what I call "selective socialists." They argue that some things are too precious to be entrusted to greedy capitalists. They include healthcare, K-12 education and water distribution but paradoxically leave food, shelter and clothing to the ruthless profiteers.
Water is a commodity and should be treated as one. Water is like electricity in that we are captive customers and therefore have no choice of provider. The difference is that electricity is supplied by private companies whose prices reflect the cost of production. Cost to the consumer is proportional to the amount used which explains why we don't have an electricity conservation board. Conservation is promoted by the pocketbook.
Media hype and alleged crises of dwindling water supplies would be comical if they weren't taken so seriously. Hysterical claims of water shortages grab headlines and promote fear but sidestep the actual problem which is government mismanagement.
We Americans will never run out of drinking water although we may run out of free or cheap supplies. I realized this a few years ago when people began casually dropping a dollar for 12 ounces of bottled H2O. The end of the era of government water pumped to your home for a penny a gallon (5,000 gallons for $50) does not mean our Florida lifestyle is over. Recycled and brackish irrigation for golf courses and lawns in concert with tolerant plants and grasses will become common and reverse osmosis is already well established in our area. Where there is a will there is a way.
The elegance of the free market is its ability to adapt and innovate. It always finds a solution to even the most intractable problems without throwing people in jail or turning neighbors into snitches. Whether or not we accept it, history has shown us that capitalism is the only method which works in the real world.
Although Roosevelt began our descent into debt, we are now in a full blown dive as we scream past the $9 trillion mark, with no end in sight. We absolutely must put an end to this madness.
The Libertarian majority at the Soil and Water Board is taking the lead in Lee County. I hope others will follow.
- Donald "Kim" Hawk is a member of the board of the Lee Soil and Water Conservation District.
