From:
A Strategic Plan for the Libertarian Party, Affiliated State Parties, and Their Affiliates
Draft of 18 August 2001

• Goal 1: Increase the number of Libertarians holding public office [1]
• Goal 2: Strengthen Libertarian Party state and local organizations
• Goal 3: Increase the Libertarian Party's support base (members, contributors, and volunteers/activists)
• Goal 4: Increase the Libertarian Party's market share among youth
• Goal 5: Increase public awareness of, acceptance of, and support for Libertarian ideas
• Goal 6: Remain the Party of Principle as we grow

Along with each goal, SPT recommends adoption of a metrics and or monitors. Metrics constitute targeted levels of achievement which can be measured to determine whether the implementation of the strategic plan is achieving those targets. Monitors constitute measurable levels of achievement for which no specific target is presented because of lack of benchmark data or because the measured values may not be directly controlled or influenced by the LP at its present size and composition.

In support of these six goals, SPT recommends that the LNC adopt the following strategies, and that the LNC recommend these strategies to its affiliates:

• Strategy 1: Define, develop, and promote the LP brand
• Strategy 2: Develop and use high-quality presentations of Libertarian ideas, which present both direction and destination, to support the work of affiliates, campaigns, the national party, and individuals
• Strategy 3: Redevelop the Libertarian Party Platform, presenting both direction and destination, with an eye toward electoral success without compromising core beliefs
• Strategy 4: Track the performance of core and critical activities in state and local Libertarian Party organizations; encourage and support these organizations in creating and executing plans to improve performance
• Strategy 5: Define and codify relationships between (and expectations among) national, state, local, and campus Libertarian Party organizations
• Strategy 6: Expand and strengthen Libertarian Party organizations at levels other than the affiliate level (e.g. local, city, county, campus)
• Strategy 7: Recruit more and better qualified candidates
• Strategy 8: Target races and allocate resources for maximum effectiveness
• Strategy 9: Coordinate campaign activities within and among campaign levels
• Strategy 10: Increase the number of new people comprising the Libertarian Party's support base
• Strategy 11: Increase the commitment of those already within the Libertarian Party's support base
• Strategy 12: Strive to achieve a left/right balance among the Libertarian Party support base
• Strategy 13: Provide training, training materials, and training support to Libertarian Party candidates and campaigns (e.g., campaign methods), Libertarian organizations (e.g., organizational matters), and individuals (e.g., communications skills).
• Strategy 14: Develop and implement an internal program of ideological education
• Strategy 15: Target public opinion leaders to embrace and espouse libertarian ideas
• Strategy 16: Target existing independent groups to act in support of Libertarian Party efforts and provide opportunities for us to spread our message
• Strategy 17: Encourage state, local, and campus Libertarian Party organizations and our entire support base to be involved in political processes at all levels outside of campaigns and elections
• Strategy 18: Focus resources to achieve the repeal of drug prohibition at the federal level by 2010 and get substantial credit for it
• Strategy 19: Develop an awareness that success requires adequate resources of all sorts
• Strategy 20: Motivate the Libertarian Party support base to increase activism by recognizing and rewarding both effort and success and by making involvement in the Libertarian Party an enjoyable, positive experience

In support of each strategy, SPT presents a number of tactics which are intended to demonstrate the feasibility of implementing the strategy. Because much of the implementation of this strategic plan is dependent upon acceptance and support by the LP's affiliated state parties and their affiliates[2], SPT does not recommend that implementation be limited to the listed tactics. Rather, SPT hopes that state and local LP organizations will elect to support this strategic plan and will determine for themselves which tactics are most appropriate and effective for themselves.

This report includes a discussion of third-rail issues -- issues which have the potential to be divisive within the LP's membership. Classification of an issue as a third-rail issue was not intended to convey a sense that the membership was evenly split on the issue. Rather it recognized that a significant number of members passionately hold opposing views on certain issues and that care must be taken to avoid loss of support for whatever strategic plan SPT recommends.

Additionally, there is an extensive SWOT[3] analysis demonstrating that the strategies proposed by SPT meet the following four criteria:

• The proposed strategies build on identified strengths of the LP
• The proposed strategies seek to remediate identified weaknesses of the LP
• The proposed strategies seek to take advantage of opportunities available to the LP
• The proposed strategies attempt to minimize exposure to threats to the LP

A prospective planning cycle is also presented for consideration.

[1] In this report, the term "Libertarians" refers to members of the Libertarian Party and "libertarians" refers to individuals who hold viewpoints generally consistent with those hold by the Libertarian Party.

[2] SPT recognizes that not all affiliated state parties have LP organizations under them. In this report, the term "affiliates" in the context of affiliates of a affiliated state party includes chapters, districts, regions, affiliates, clubs, and any other LP organizations established beneath affiliated state parties.

[3] SWOT is an acronym standing for Strengths, Weaknesses, Opportunities, and Threats.