Social Democratic Caucus

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Since my own Labor Caucus failed to gain much traction, I'd like to join this one.

I, at least, will be supporting the proposed name change to Farmer-Labor Caucus. Seconded.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Are you in favor or renaming the Social Democratic Caucus to the Farmer-Labor Caucus?

[X ] Yes
[ ] No
[ ] Abstain

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I'm honored to accept my nomination.

My apologies. I just finished my holidays, which were...erratically-scheduled.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Fuchsia is ugly (though it's also the best character in Gormenghast, so I guess that averages out).

For the record, I haven't been neglecting Atlasia, but I have been at the end of my first week back at university after the winter break.

I'm also not terribly enamored of 'Social Democratic Union', to be perfectly honest. I was neutral on the dissolution of the JCP. I would support 'Labor Party'. For our color, how about maroon or some inoffensive shade of pink?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Done.

If anybody has any objections to the voting system, raise them in the thread after the vote and we can talk about changing it for future votes.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Where do we want to have our first party convention, if anywhere in particular? For obvious personal reasons I'd be up for Boston, but Chicago has a great deal of symbolic value in the history of the Atlasian left. I'm also up for other suggestions.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

We need to get more people to join. I do NOT want us to become some sort of de facto appendage to the Liberals. Any ideas?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Currently we are the Social Democratic Union (Name Subject To Change). We are voting on a proposed name change to Labor Party of Atlasia as well as a party blazon (the options are maroon or either of two shades of pink). I'm interested in getting membership up and talking to the other parties of the left, as well as non-left parties like the Liberals and Communitarians in areas where we have mutual interests. I understand that you're involved in a relatively large caucus of independent social democrats; we'd greatly appreciate your joining us or at least giving your input.

Our next big order of business is a party convention. If possible I'd like that to be in the first week of February, right before the elections. I've proposed Boston or Chicago as the fantasy locations. We can either have me as the Chairman draw up a platform and have it amended and voted upon at the convention, or we can go into the convention without a draft platform and build one plank by plank once we're there in an exercise of direct democracy. Whichever the membership would prefer.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Welcome! Don't forget to vote on our party name and color, and any input on where to hold our convention and how to put together a platform would be much appreciated.

Once we decide on a color and name we also should start talking about a logo.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

Oh, believe me, it will. If I have any sort of hand in the platform, it is going to include phrases like 'alienation of labor' and 'preferential option for the poor', come Hell or high water.

(Maybe not those exact phrases.)

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I'd certainly be open to seeing some of your ideas that might be included in a platform, either now or at the convention, or both.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

It is imperative that we gain or maintain the official membership of the six people participating in the party but not yet formal members. Fritz, would you be willing to PM some of those people whom you might know better than I do and remind them?

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

That's what I thought. I didn't think it was a problem. Other people were making it out to be a problem. I'll ask bgwah to do that.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

You know I'll be personally supporting you, Napoleon, but I can't guarantee party endorsements until at least the convention later this week/next weekend.

[Okay, maybe Mike Johnson is a competent parliamentarian.]

I've asked bgwah to clarify matters with the RG on Wednesday if there remain any issues by then, and he said yes.

Xahar, you should formally register as well.