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Libertarian Strategy Monthly
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Building Local Organizations: A Basic Foundation
Conversing WithJakeBy Jake PorterBuilding localorganizationsfrom coast-to-coast is absolutely critical to the successof electing Libertarians to public officewhere they can work to implement alibertarian agenda which will makeevery American prosper. In order todevelop local organizations we needcandidates, with a record of communityinvolvement, who have in place both avolunteer and a voter base.
Candidates:
The purpose of a politicalparty is to run and elect candidates toforward the political agenda of the party.Local offices, particularly non-partisanoffices, are often winnable forlibertarians. Likewise, it is possible forlibertarians to become appointed to localboards where they can gain valuablepolitical experience and namerecognition which will benefit them infuture elections. Also, when we runcredible campaigns for local office ourcandidates running for higher office tendto do better in those communities.
Volunteer Base:
A candidate with novolunteers stands little chance of beingelected to public office. This is why weneed to bring the party back into theLibertarian Party. Local events are agreat way to network with fellowlibertarians.Forexample, amonthlycoffee, asupper club,or a trip tothe bar afterwork all aregreatnetworkingevents.Libertarianswill becomemore open to volunteering when theirnew friends run for office. On the otherhand, it is important to make certain thelocal group does not turn into a completesocial club where nothing is everaccomplished; however, there is noreason why we can’t have fun whiledoing real politics.
Voter Base:
Now that you havecandidates and a volunteer base yourgroup is ready to build a base of voters.Most people don’t like politics enough tovolunteer or run office. We are the rareexception. We are the leaders who mustinfluence the voters through our politicalactivism. With voter registration lists,campaigns can effectively target theirdistrict with yard signs, direct mailings,door hangers, and door-to-door efforts.If someone is not going to be receptiveto the idea of voting for you, it is bestnot to waste time and money trying tosell the voter on something he or shedoes not want. Likewise, if someone hasnot voted since Ronal Reagan last ranfor President, it might not be a good ideato spend time and money pandering to
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