Join us on Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 11:30 a.m. at Takara Sushi Restaurant in Whitestone to hear Ron Litchman speak on the topic of “New York Libertarian Party At A Crossroads: Will Obtaining ‘Ballot Access’ Make It A Real Political Party.”
The NYLP, last November, obtained the 50,000 votes for governor required to become a “recognized party,” entitling it to put its candidates on New York State ballots for the next four years, without collecting thousands of signatures to qualify for ballot access.
What will the Party become, with its new status? It stands at a crossroads —
Down one road, the party can leverage its newly minted”recognized party” status to broaden its appeal, secularize its message, and engage in the give-and-take that is the nature of electoral politics. That means accepting compromise to achieve intermediate goals, joining forces with like-minded fellow citizens on common ground, demonstrating an ability to govern by addressing real issues with practical, non-dogmatic solutions.
But down the other road, where the party’s Old Guard seems set to go — is a party increasingly sectarian, more rigidly dogmatic. It’s mission is to defend ideological “principles,” not promote practical governmental solutions to voters’ problems. Emblematic of its self-imposed isolation, the party is adopting a rule that only registered Libertarians may be nominated or endorsed.
Standing at the crossroads, the NYLP is presented these existential questions: What is the function of a real political party? Which path leads to actually winning elections?
More Details and directions here.