The Libertarian Party of North Carolina State Convention will be zooming this year. The party had to cancel its in-person convention but is going ahead with an online convention via Zoom Saturday morning, April 4. Registration opens at 9 a.m. and the business will start at 10 a.m.

"We're asking folks to pre-register for the Convention by Thursday so that we have time to check credentials," announced Susan Hogarth, state chair. Pre-register here.

The main businesses items are to consider changes to our platform, select delegates to the national convention, select Presidential Electors, elect a Judicial Committee, and consider any resolutions offered by members.

"We anticipate being able to conduct this business in a few hours on Saturday morning, but we'll need everyone working together to make it happen," said Hogarth. "In between business items, we would love to have time to throw in some fun and education. We should have brief video addresses from candidates, perhaps a live visitor or two, and a presidential straw poll."

If you plan on offering a motion, platform change, or resolution, Hogarth also requests you sent it to convention organizers in advance using this form.

"We also ask that you join via smartphone, tablet, or computer, and not by simply dialing in," Hogarth said.

Go here for a free download and more information about Zoom.

Across the United States, COVID-19 testing supplies are being rationed, resulting in patients being refused testing or experiencing long delays for test results. The result is that we have a diminished understanding of the extent and characteristics of the current pandemic, an impaired ability to slow the spread of the disease with contact tracing, and delayed diagnosis of the disease.

Because the CDC declared coronavirus to be a public health emergency, regulations were triggered that prevented hospitals and private lab companies from developing their own tests. Then, the CDC botched the rollout of the test that they developed, leaving doctors unable to properly diagnose and treat their patients.

The Libertarian Party of Wake County is in “decent shape” in 2020 and getting better. That was the word from David Ulmer, county chair, to the delegates assembled February 26 for the annual county convention.

“WakeLP is in decent shape,” Ulmer said. “As in 2018, we’re taking a team approach to the 2020 campaign. People from the 2018 campaign are doing the same job in 2020; people who’ve done it before and have the experience.

Our 13 legislative candidates will run on the same issues. This year they are school choice, privatizing the ABC system, and housing affordability.

“These issues are designed to work in Wake County,” Ulmer said. “Wake County is trending left, it’s going blue. Raleigh is deep blue, and maybe there’s a little purple around the edges. So we wanted to appeal to voters with issues that appeal to them.”

We chose these issues based on analysis of polling results.

“Wake candidates will focus on under 40 votes who probably only show up in presidential election cycle,” Ulmer explained. “They show up to vote for president, maybe one or two other candidates, but they are flexible.

The most critical point, he said, is that they’re not hardcore committed to the Democratic or Republican party.

That’s something to consider when interacting on social media, Ulmer observed. “Arguing with ardent Trump or Bernie supporters is not productive, and probably not advancing our cause,” he said.

“The people we’re trying to reach may not tune in until two weeks before the election. We should spend our time focusing on our issues and educating undecided voters.

Ulmer admitted WakeLP is not quite hit the mark recruiting volunteers. He said the party has not brought in many new people with the skills it needs.

“We need to have depth and strength, and not have to depend on one or two people,” he said. The key is to ask more people to participate. If you ask five people and only two say yes, that’s OK, he said.

“The goal is not to ask, ‘What more can I do,’ but, ‘who can I find to do more,’” he concluded.

DiFiore for Governor

The convention also heard from Steve DiFiore, Libertarian candidate for governor. View Steve's comment here.