From: Al and Masha Sten-Clanton 
Subject: Re: National leaders or convention
On Tue, 14 Oct 1997, Andy Baracco wrote:
> 
> 
> Hi Carl. I agree with everything that you said except for that last part
> about putting your full support behind what decisions are made whether you
> think they are right or not. I think this sets a dangerous precedent. This
> is like the Germans being expected to fully support the decision to
> exterminate the Jews. A democratic organization must allow its members to
> follow their conscience. Obviously, if you constantly find yourself in
> disagreement with an organization, you should probably leave that
> organization, but an organization that cannot except dissent is nothing
> more than a cult.
> 
> Andy Baracco
> 
> 
> 
Andy, my only addition or revision of what you say is this.  Dissent
internally (not genuine disruption) must be an absolutely protected right,
in order that members of an organization can exchange perspectives and try
to persuade each other of the right trail to travel.  As one who disagrees
on some important matters, though, I believe I can't morally do anything
outside the organization to hinder its efforts to carry out the policies
with which I disagree.  Voting is meaningless otherwise.  If I come to
disagree too strongly or with too much, I can leave and chart my own
course or join something else.  (I've never been much of a joiner, and NFB
has been the single great exception in my life.) My take on this business
probably would be different in an instance where I was required to join an
organization in order to make a living at my trade:  examples might be
union shops or states where attorneys are required to be members of the
Bar association.
I hope you find these comments useful.
Al
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