Elect Nobody

[FTL_Ian]

We were talking today about Russell, myself and others running for office and then refusing to go, along with other suggestions.  Looks like the process is a bit more involved than running for city council.  There's more paperwork:

http://www.sos.nh.gov/assent.pdf
http://www.sos.nh.gov/RSA%2015-A%20NEW%20FORM.pdf

This "declaration of candidacy" is basically the same form as the assent, but for the general election:
http://www.sos.nh.gov/Intent%20Governor.pdf

This is confusing.  So if you win the primary, you have to fill out another form?  The NHLA's info sheet says only two forms are needed: http://nhliberty.org/files/becoming.pdf

The info sheet also says there is a swearing in date.  If I refuse to attend, will they have to hold a special election, or will the seat sit vacant?

The sheet also claims,

County Business
Being a State Representative automatically
makes you a County Representative
in your county. You will be expected to
attend two county committee meetings
every year, as well as two county legislative
business meetings every year. You
will also oversee the county budget.

Do the county people have the option to replace you if you don't attend?

I don't like the way some of it sounds, so I was thinking of writing "Not to be construed as consent to be governed" before my signature.  Your thoughts?

[John Edward Mercier]

I seem to have read that some legislators attend few, if any, proceedings.

[FTL_Ian]

Russell has suggested discussion on this issue be done at forum.freekeene.com. Please redirect all replies here:
http://forum.freekeene.com/index.php?topic=21.0

[Giggan]

You may want to seriously consider going to those meetings, if if you don't want to vote/take part. From what I understand, they decide budgets for county business, such as sheriff's depts, the county jail, and nursing home. Since it is on such a small level, you may yield quite a large amount of power as a rep, even if all you do is vote against stuff.

[K. Darien Freeheart]

Since it is on such a small level, you may yield quite a large amount of power as a rep, even if all you do is vote against stuff.

But that's kind of the point of running to not be elected. Ian doesn't beleive that "power" is something that a person has the authority to claim above others. Running and then refusing that power is the entire point, it forces those accepting that concession of power to think critically, if only for a moment.

[DigitalWarrior]

From a non anarchist's perspective (mine),

I think that your plan is both immoral and counterproductive.  Most people expect to live in a society where they have surrendered some natural rights in order to secure certain protections.  If an anarchist is elected (without disclosing the intention to abdicate their position), it would likely be because a lot of small/local gov't types (like me) voted for him, believing the best way to secure liberty is to give power to someone who doesn't want it.  I believe that indicating that you would not quit is a fraud against voters.  It is especially bad since it is voters who mostly agree with your principals who you will be disenfranchising. 

A better plan (from your perspective) might be to run as a person who advocates state control of most things, thereby committing fraud and disenfranchising the supporters of those policies.  I believe that act to be immoral, though possible shrewd.

A plan that I would support as neither immoral nor counterproductive is to be elected, then vote against everything you feel is wrong (which is probably everything in your cases, lol). 

[Russell Kanning]

I believe that indicating that you would not quit is a fraud against voters.

A plan that I would support as neither immoral nor counterproductive is to be elected, then vote against everything you feel is wrong (which is probably everything in your cases, lol). 

The idea would be to run and tell people you will quit, or never show up, or show up rarely and then vote against bad stuff.
There would not be any reason to run on stuff you don't actually believe.

[FTL_Ian]

From a non anarchist's perspective (mine),

I think that your plan is both immoral and counterproductive.  Most people expect to live in a society where they have surrendered some natural rights in order to secure certain protections.  If an anarchist is elected (without disclosing the intention to abdicate their position), it would likely be because a lot of small/local gov't types (like me) voted for him, believing the best way to secure liberty is to give power to someone who doesn't want it.  I believe that indicating that you would not quit is a fraud against voters.  It is especially bad since it is voters who mostly agree with your principals who you will be disenfranchising. 

Oh, we'd be upfront about it.  I'd make it clear I have better things to do most of the time.  They'd be voting for "Nobody", so what would they expect?

[lildog]

The info sheet also says there is a swearing in date.  If I refuse to attend, will they have to hold a special election, or will the seat sit vacant?

I'd have to dig to find the RSA but I believe if you have more then 3 unexcused absences you are considered removed from the position and the remaining board can appoint whoever they want to replace you until the next election is held.  I've seen it done a few times for different reasons in Merrimack.

Based on that, is it really worth it to win and have them appoint whoever they want for a full year?  You can open the door to allow someone who would never win a general election to be appointed to fill a void.