This page informally records opinions stated by PlatCom members on proposed Bylaws changes. Inclusion of a proposal in this list is of course no guarantee that the PlatCom will even take a position on the proposal.

SoP: Use & Close Bylaws Loophole

Some of us might want to vote on SoP language without implying agreement with the parliamentary strategy proposed by the Bylaws Committee, so Alicia suggested a separate straw poll on it.

• Support: BCapozzi, Holtz, Mattson
• Abstain: Haller

SoP: Replace Cult/Omnipotent

1. Keep the Current Cult Language
2. Change Cult to "Challenge All Aggression"
   • [Draft Proposal of the 2008 Bylaws Committee]
   • We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend all aggression against the rights of the individual.
3. Change Cult to "Seek A World Free…"
   • ["seek" language proposed Oct 2007 by Starchild]
   • We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state seek a world free from aggression and defend the rights of the individual.
4. Change Cult to "Support the Rights…"
   • [proposed Jan 2008 by Alicia Mattson]
   • We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual support the rights of individuals to direct their own lives and deny that government is capable of making better decisions for individuals.
5. Delete Entire Cult Sentence
   • [proposed Jan 2008 by Alicia Mattson]
   • We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual. We hold that all individuals have the right to exercise sole dominion over their own lives, and have the right to live in whatever manner they choose, so long as they do not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live in whatever manner they choose.
6. Change Cult to Self-Ownership
   • [proposed Feb 2008 by M Carling]
   • We, the members of the Libertarian Party, challenge the cult of the omnipotent state and defend the rights of the individual assert that each person owns himself or herself and that no corporation, government, or other person may own him or her or the fruits of his or her labors.

• Current Standings (0-9 range voting)
  • 6.8 Change Cult to "Challenge All Aggression"
  • 6.6 Delete Entire Cult Sentence
  • 6.0 Change Cult to "Seek A World Free…"
  • 4.0 Change Cult to "Support the Rights…"
  • 3.0 Change Cult to Self-Ownership
  • 0.0 Keep the Current Cult Language

• Holtz scoring
  • 9 Change Cult to "Challenge All Aggression"
  • 8 Change Cult to "Seek A World Free…"
  • 6 Delete Entire Cult Sentence
  • 3 Change Cult to Self-Ownership
  • 1 Change Cult to "Support the Rights…"
  • 0 Keep the Current Cult Language
• Capozzi scoring "prefer #5. can accept 2, 3 and 4 in that order. cannot accept 1."
  • 9 Delete Entire Cult Sentence
  • 7 Change Cult to "Challenge All Aggression"
  • 6 Change Cult to "Seek A World Free…"
  • 5 Change Cult to "Support the Rights…"
  • 0 Keep the Current Cult Language
• Ferguson scoring "Want 5, Can accept 4. Eh on 2, then 3. Can't accept 1."
  • 9 Delete Entire Cult Sentence
  • 7 Change Cult to "Support the Rights…"
  • 5 Change Cult to "Challenge All Aggression"
  • 4 Change Cult to "Seek A World Free…"
  • 0 Keep the Current Cult Language
• Mattson scoring "ditto Donny"
  • 9 Delete Entire Cult Sentence
  • 7 Change Cult to "Support the Rights…"
  • 5 Change Cult to "Challenge All Aggression"
  • 4 Change Cult to "Seek A World Free…"
  • 0 Keep the Current Cult Language
• McLendon Scoring: "I'm OK with 2 or 3
  • 8 Change Cult to "Challenge All Aggression"
  • 8 Change Cult to "Seek A World Free…"
  • 0 Change Cult to "Support the Rights…"
  • 0 Delete Entire Cult Sentence
  • 0 Keep the Current Cult Language

SoP: Trim Hypothetical Govt Language

• […] hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual […] Since governments, when instituted, must not violate individual rights, […]
• Support: BCapozzi, Ferguson, Holtz, Mattson, McLendon

SoP: Cut Talk of Government Rights

• We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that where governments exist, they must not violate the rights of any individual.
• Support: Roland
• Oppose: Holtz

LP Purpose

• Haller: Oppose
• Holtz: Amend or Oppose. Prefer: "The Party's purpose is to implement and give voice to the Statement of Principles by uniting voters who want more liberty behind the electoral choices that will most move public policy in a libertarian direction."
• Mattson: Support but not as a PlatCom recommendation

Up-or-Down Votes on PlatCom Proposals

Note new version: The Convention Chair shall then open the recommendation to debate without amendment for a period of up to 15 minutes before bringing the matter to a vote. If the recommendation fails, the Convention Chair shall inquire if any amendments are proposed from the floor. If there are such proposals, the Convention Chair shall request a vote on whether to consider amendments, and with majority approval may consider amendments for a period of up to 10 minutes.

• Haller: Support
• Holtz: Support
• Mattson: Support

Auto-Delete Widowed Platform Sections

• Haller: Oppose: delegates might like section but not its planks
• Holtz: Support
• Mattson: Support

Style Committee

• Haller: Amend or Oppose. Drop the power related to "positive versus negative phrasing"
• Holtz: Amend or Oppose. Drop the power related to "positive versus negative phrasing"
• Mattson: Support

PlatCom Ranks Convention Resolutions

• Haller: Oppose
• Holtz: Support, but amend to allow resolutions responding to events inside the 30-day window, by putting all last-minute resolutions at the end of the queue.

Convention Committee Deadlines

Gives PlatCom a minimum of 12 months to work, instead of 5.

• Haller: Support
• Holtz: Support
• Mattson: Support

Convention Committee Representation

Rank states for convention committee representation by delegation size at previous NatCon, eliminating delays in knowing what states get to pick.

• Haller: Oppose unless uses delegate allocation rather than actual attendance
• Holtz: Support but prefer delegate allocation rather than actual attendance
• Mattson: Abstain

NatCon Motions Require 10% Standing Second

Would prevent frivolous amendments during Platform debate.

• Haller: Oppose unless a simple threshold like 10
• Holtz: Support but prefer lower/simpler threshold like 10
• Mattson: Abstain as not PlatCom-related