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National
Platform of
the
Libertarian
Party
Adopted in
Convention,
July 2,
2006,
Portland
Oregon
Preamble
As
Libertarians,
we seek a
world of
liberty; a
world in
which all
individuals
are
sovereign
over their
own lives
and no one
is forced to
sacrifice
his or her
values for
the benefit
of others.
We believe
that respect
for
individual
rights is
the
essential
precondition
for a free
and
prosperous
world, that
force and
fraud must
be banished
from human
relationships,
and that
only through
freedom can
peace and
prosperity
be realized.
Consequently,
we defend
each
person's
right to
engage in
any activity
that is
peaceful and
honest, and
welcome the
diversity
that freedom
brings. The
world we
seek to
build is one
where
individuals
are free to
follow their
own dreams
in their own
ways,
without
interference
from
government
or any
authoritarian
power.
In the
following
pages we
have set
forth our
basic
principles
and
enumerated
various
policy
stands
derived from
those
principles.
These
specific
policies are
not our
goal,
however. Our
goal is
nothing more
nor less
than a world
set free in
our
lifetime,
and it is to
this end
that we take
these
stands.
Table of
Contents
Statement
of
Principles
I.
Individual
Rights
and
Civil
Order
1.
Freedom
and
Responsibility
2.
Freedom
of
Communication
3.
Freedom
of
Religion
4.
Property
Rights
5.
The
Right
to
Privacy
6.
The
Right
to
Keep
and
Bear
Arms
7.
Conscription
8.
Reproductive
Rights
9.
Sexuality
and
Gender
II.
Trade
and the
Economy
1.
Government
Debt
2.
Corporate
Welfare,
Monopolies
&
Subsidies
3.
Public
Services
III.
Domestic
Ills
1.
Crime
and
Victimless
Crime
2.
The
War
on
Drugs
IV.
Foreign
Affairs
1.
Immigration
Statement of
Principles
We, the
members of
the
Libertarian
Party,
challenge
the cult of
the
omnipotent
state and
defend the
rights of
the
individual.
We hold that
all
individuals
have the
right to
exercise
sole
dominion
over their
own lives,
and have the
right to
live in
whatever
manner they
choose, so
long as they
do not
forcibly
interfere
with the
equal right
of others to
live in
whatever
manner they
choose.
Governments
throughout
history have
regularly
operated on
the opposite
principle,
that the
State has
the right to
dispose of
the lives of
individuals
and the
fruits of
their labor.
Even within
the United
States, all
political
parties
other than
our own
grant to
government
the right to
regulate the
lives of
individuals
and seize
the fruits
of their
labor
without
their
consent.
We, on the
contrary,
deny the
right of any
government
to do these
things, and
hold that
where
governments
exist, they
must not
violate the
rights of
any
individual:
namely, (1)
the right to
life --
accordingly
we support
the
prohibition
of the
initiation
of physical
force
against
others; (2)
the right to
liberty of
speech and
action --
accordingly
we oppose
all attempts
by
government
to abridge
the freedom
of speech
and press,
as well as
government
censorship
in any form;
and (3) the
right to
property --
accordingly
we oppose
all
government
interference
with private
property,
such as
confiscation,
nationalization,
and eminent
domain, and
support the
prohibition
of robbery,
trespass,
fraud, and
misrepresentation.
Since
governments,
when
instituted,
must not
violate
individual
rights, we
oppose all
interference
by
government
in the areas
of voluntary
and
contractual
relations
among
individuals.
People
should not
be forced to
sacrifice
their lives
and property
for the
benefit of
others. They
should be
left free by
government
to deal with
one another
as free
traders; and
the
resultant
economic
system, the
only one
compatible
with the
protection
of
individual
rights, is
the free
market.
I.
Individual
Rights and
Civil Order
No conflict
exists
between
civil order
and
individual
rights. Both
concepts are
based on the
same
fundamental
principle:
that no
individual,
group, or
government
may initiate
force
against any
other
individual,
group, or
government.
I.1 Freedom
and
Responsibility
The
Issue:
Personal
responsibility
is
discouraged
by
government
denying
individuals
the
opportunity
to exercise
it. In fact,
the denial
of freedom
fosters
irresponsibility.
The
Principle:
Individuals
should be
free to make
choices for
themselves
and to
accept
responsibility
for the
consequences
of the
choices they
make. We
must accept
the right of
others to
choose for
themselves
if we are to
have the
same right.
Our support
of an
individual's
right to
make choices
in life does
not mean
that we
necessarily
approve or
disapprove
of those
choices. We
believe
people must
accept
personal
responsibility
for the
consequences
of their
actions.
Solutions:
Libertarian
policies
will promote
a society
where people
are free to
make and
learn from
their own
decisions.
Transitional
Action:
Repeal all
laws that
presume
government
knows better
than the
individual
how to run
that
person’s
life.
Encourage
private
sector
dissemination
of
information
to help
consumers
make
informed
decisions on
products and
services.
Enforce laws
against
fraud and
misrepresentation.
I.2 Freedom
of
Communication
The
Issue:
We oppose
any
abridgment
of the
freedom of
speech
through
government
censorship,
regulation
or control
of
communications
media,
including,
but not
limited to,
laws
concerning:
a)
Obscenity,
including
"pornography",
as we hold
this to be
an
abridgment
of liberty
of
expression
despite
claims that
it
instigates
rape or
assault, or
demeans and
slanders
women;
b) Reception
and storage
equipment,
such as
digital
audio tape
recorders
and radar
warning
devices, and
the
manufacture
of video
terminals by
telephone
companies;
c)
Electronic
bulletin
boards,
communications
networks,
and other
interactive
electronic
media as we
hold them to
be the
functional
equivalent
of speaking
halls and
printing
presses in
the age of
electronic
communications,
and as such
deserving of
full
freedom; d)
Electronic
newspapers,
electronic
"Yellow
Pages", file
libraries,
websites,
and other
new
information
media, as
these
deserve full
freedom; or
e)
Commercial
speech or
advertising.
We oppose
speech codes
at all
schools that
are
primarily
tax funded.
Language
that is
deemed
offensive to
certain
groups is
not a cause
for legal
action.
We strongly
oppose the
government's
burgeoning
practice of
invading
newsrooms,
or the
premises of
other
innocent
third
parties, in
the name of
law
enforcement.
We further
oppose court
orders
gagging news
coverage of
criminal
proceedings
-- the right
to publish
and
broadcast
must not be
abridged
merely for
the
convenience
of the
judicial
system. We
deplore any
efforts to
impose
thought
control on
the media,
either by
the use of
anti-trust
laws, or by
any other
government
action in
the name of
stopping
"bias."
The
Principle:
We defend
the rights
of
individuals
to
unrestricted
freedom of
speech,
freedom of
the press
and the
right of
individuals
to dissent
from
government
itself. We
recognize
that full
freedom of
expression
is possible
only as part
of a system
of full
property
rights. The
freedom to
use one's
own voice;
the freedom
to hire a
hall; the
freedom to
own a
printing
press, a
broadcasting
station, or
a
transmission
cable; the
freedom to
host and
publish
information
on the
Internet;
the freedom
to wave or
burn one's
own flag;
and similar
property-based
freedoms are
precisely
what
constitute
freedom of
communication.
At the same
time, we
recognize
that freedom
of
communication
does not
extend to
the use of
other
people's
property to
promote
one's ideas
without the
voluntary
consent of
the owners.
Solutions:
We would
provide for
free market
ownership of
airwave
frequencies,
deserving of
full First
Amendment
protection.
We oppose
government
ownership or
subsidy of,
or funding
for, any
communications
organization.
Removal of
all of these
regulations
and
practices
throughout
the
communications
media would
open the way
to diversity
and
innovation.
We shall not
be satisfied
until the
First
Amendment is
expanded to
protect
full,
unconditional
freedom of
communication.
Transitional
Action:
We advocate
the
abolition of
the Federal
Communications
Commission.
I.3 Freedom
of Religion
Issue:
Government
routinely
invades
personal
privacy
rights based
solely on
individuals’
religious
beliefs.
Arbitrary
tax
structures
are designed
to give aid
to certain
religions,
and deny it
to others.
Principle:
We defend
the rights
of
individuals
to engage in
(or abstain
from) any
religious
activities
that do not
violate the
rights of
others.
Solution:
In order to
defend
freedom, we
advocate a
strict
separation
of church
and State.
We oppose
government
actions that
either aid
or attack
any
religion. We
oppose
taxation of
church
property for
the same
reason that
we oppose
all
taxation. We
condemn the
attempts by
parents or
any others
-- via
kidnappings
or
conservatorships
-- to force
children to
conform to
any
religious
views.
Government
harassment
or
obstruction
of religious
groups for
their
beliefs or
non-violent
activities
must end.
Transitional
Action:
We call for
an end to
the
harassment
of churches
by the
Internal
Revenue
Service
through
threats to
deny
tax-exempt
status to
churches
that refuse
to disclose
massive
amounts of
information
about
themselves.
I.4 Property
Rights
The
Issue:
The right to
property and
its physical
resources,
which is the
fundamental
cornerstone
of a free
and
prosperous
society, has
been
severely
compromised
by
government
at all
levels.
Public
Policy
instruments
including
eminent
domain,
zoning laws,
building
codes, rent
control,
regional
planning,
property
taxes,
resource
management
and public
health
legislation
remove
property
rights from
owners and
transfer
them to the
State, while
raising
costs of
property
ownership.
Public
ownership of
real
property,
beyond that
which is
explicitly
authorized
in the
Constitution,
and claims
against
resources
both owned
and unowned
(such as the
oceans or
waterways)
is
illegitimate
and creates
scarcity and
conflict
where none
would
otherwise
exist.
The
Principle:
Only
individuals
and private
entities
have the
full right
to control,
use, dispose
of, or in
any manner
enjoy their
property
without
interference,
until and
unless the
exercise of
their
control
infringes on
the valid
rights of
others.
Resource
management
and planning
are the
responsibility
and right of
the
legitimate
owners of
land, water
and other
natural
resources.
Individuals
have the
right to
homestead
unowned
resources,
both within
the
jurisdictions
of
governments
and within
such
unclaimed
territory as
the ocean,
Antarctica
and
extraterrestrial
bodies.
Solutions:
All public
lands and
resources,
as well as
claims
thereto,
except as
explicitly
allowed by
the
Constitution,
shall be
returned to
private
ownership,
with the
proceeds of
sale going
to retire
public
liabilities.
Resource
rights shall
be defined
as property
rights,
including
riparian
rights. All
publicly
owned
infrastructures
including
dams and
parks shall
be returned
to private
ownership
and all
taxing
authority
for such
public
improvements
shall
sunset.
Property
related
services
shall be
supplied by
private
markets and
paid for by
user fees,
and
regulation
of property
shall be
limited to
that which
secures the
rights of
individuals.
There will
be no legal
barriers to
peaceful,
private,
voluntary
attempts to
explore,
industrialize
and colonize
any
extra-terrestrial
resources.
The federal
government
shall be
held as
liable as
any
individual
for
pollution or
other
transgression
against
property or
resources.
Transitional
Action:
Rescind all
taxation of
real
property.
Property,
resources
and rights
taken from
their
legitimate
owners by
government
or by
government
supported
private
action,
shall be
restored to
the rightful
owners.
Reverse the
Supreme
Court
decision
regarding
eminent
domain -
Kelo v City
of New
London.
Repeal all
legislation
that
transfers
property
rights to
the state,
including
those
enacted in
the name of
aesthetic
values,
risk, moral
standards,
cost-benefit
estimates,
the
promotion or
restriction
of economic
growth,
health or
national
security
claims.
Sunset all
federal
agencies
that own,
regulate or
administer
property, as
well as
agencies at
the local
level which
exercise
control over
private
property and
resources.
Rescind and
oppose all
international
treaties
that
exercise
government
control over
unowned
resources.
I.5 The
Right to
Privacy
The
Issue:
Privacy
protections
have been
eroded
gradually
over many
years. The
Social
Security
Number has
become a
universal ID
number,
causing
rampant and
massive
identity
theft.
Government
routinely
keeps
records on
the bank
accounts,
travel
plans, and
spending
habits of
law-abiding
civilians,
for no other
reason than
they “might”
commit a
crime in the
future.
The
Principle:
The
individual's
right to
privacy,
property,
and right to
speak or not
to speak
should not
be infringed
by the
government.
The
government
should not
use
electronic
or other
means of
covert
surveillance
of an
individual's
actions or
private
property
without the
consent of
the owner or
occupant.
Correspondence,
bank and
other
financial
transactions
and records,
doctors' and
lawyers'
communications,
employment
records, and
the like
should not
be open to
review by
government
without the
consent of
all parties
involved in
those
actions.
Private
contractual
arrangements,
including
labor
contracts,
must be
founded on
mutual
consent and
agreement in
a society
that upholds
freedom of
association.
On the other
hand, we
oppose any
use of such
screening by
government
or
regulations
requiring
government
contractors
to impose
any such
screening.
Solutions:
We support
the
protections
provided by
the Fourth
Amendment
and oppose
any
government
use of
search
warrants to
examine or
seize
materials
belonging to
innocent
third
parties. We
oppose all
restrictions
and
regulations
on the
private
development,
sale, and
use of
encryption
technology.
We
specifically
oppose any
requirement
for
disclosure
of
encryption
methods or
keys,
including
the
government's
proposals
for
so-called
"key escrow"
which is
truly
government
access to
keys, and
any
requirement
for use of
government-specified
devices or
protocols.
We also
oppose
government
classification
of civilian
research on
encryption
methods. If
a private
employer
screens
prospective
or current
employees
via
questionnaires,
polygraph
tests, urine
tests for
drugs, blood
tests for
AIDS, or
other means,
this is a
condition of
that
employer's
labor
contracts.
Such
screening
does not
violate the
rights of
employees,
who have the
right to
boycott such
employers if
they choose.
We oppose
the issuance
by the
government
of an
identity
card, to be
required for
any purpose,
such as
employment,
voting, or
border
crossing. We
further
oppose the
nearly
universal
requirement
for use of
the Social
Security
Number as a
personal
identification
code,
whether by
government
agencies or
by
intimidation
of private
companies by
governments.
Transitional
Action:
We also
oppose
police
roadblocks
aimed at
randomly,
and without
probable
cause,
testing
drivers for
intoxication
and police
practices to
stop mass
transit
vehicles and
search
passengers
without
probable
cause. So
long as the
National
Census and
all federal,
state, and
other
government
agencies'
compilations
of data on
an
individual
continue to
exist, they
should be
conducted
only with
the consent
of the
persons from
whom the
data is
sought. We
oppose
government
regulations
that require
employers to
provide
health
insurance
coverage for
employees,
which often
encourage
unnecessary
intrusions
by employers
into the
privacy of
their
employees.
I.6 The
Right to
Keep and
Bear Arms
The
Issue:
Governments
at all
levels often
violate
their
citizens’
right of
self defense
with laws
that
restrict,
limit or
outright
prohibit the
ownership
and use of
firearms.
These “gun
control”
laws are
often
justified by
the mistaken
premise that
they will
lead to a
reduction in
the level of
violence in
our society.
The
Principle:
The
Bill of
Rights
recognizes
that an
armed
citizenry is
essential to
a free
society. We
affirm the
right to
keep and
bear arms.
Solutions:
We oppose
all laws at
any level of
government
restricting,
regulating
or requiring
the
ownership,
manufacture,
transfer or
sale of
firearms or
ammunition.
We oppose
all laws
requiring
registration
of firearms
or
ammunition.
We support
repeal of
all gun
control
laws. We
demand the
immediate
abolition of
the Bureau
of Alcohol,
Tobacco and
Firearms.
Transition:
We oppose
any
government
efforts to
ban or
restrict the
use of tear
gas, "mace"
or other
self-protection
devices. We
further
oppose all
attempts to
ban weapons
or
ammunition
on the
grounds that
they are
risky or
unsafe. We
favor the
repeal of
laws banning
the
concealment
of weapons
or
prohibiting
pocket
weapons. We
also oppose
the banning
of
inexpensive
handguns
("Saturday
night
specials")
and
semi-automatic
or so-called
assault
weapons and
their
magazines or
feeding
devices.
I.7
Conscription
The
Issue:
Any form of
coerced
national
service
program is a
type of
involuntary
servitude.
Examples
include
conscription
into the
military and
compulsory
youth labor
programs.
The
Principle:
Coerced
national
service
programs
presume the
government
can claim
ownership of
the lives of
individuals.
Such
programs are
a form of
involuntary
servitude
and are a
clear
violation of
the US
Constitution
13th
Amendment.
Solutions:
All forms of
national
service will
be staffed
by willing
participants
without the
need for
conscription
or other
means of
mandating
such
service.
When people
perceive a
just cause,
history has
shown that
they
willingly
volunteer to
serve.
Transitional
Action:
All schemes
for
automatic
registration
through
government
invasions of
the privacy
of school,
motor
vehicle or
other
records
should be
immediately
eliminated.
The
still-functioning
elements of
the
Selective
Service
System
should be
abolished
and all
associated
records
should be
destroyed.
The
President
should
immediately
pardon,
providing
unconditional
exoneration,
for all who
have been
accused or
convicted of
draft
evasion,
desertion
from the
military in
cases of
conscription
or fraud and
other acts
of civil
resistance.
I.8
Reproductive
Rights
The
Issue:
The
tragedies
caused by
unplanned,
unwanted
pregnancies
are
aggravated
and
sometimes
created by
government
policies of
censorship,
restriction,
regulation
and
prohibition.
Recognizing
that
abortion is
a sensitive
issue and
that people
can hold
good-faith
views on
both sides,
we believe
that
government
should be
kept out of
the matter,
leaving the
question to
each person
for their
conscientious
consideration.
The
Principle:
Individual
rights
should not
be denied
nor abridged
on the basis
of sex, age,
dependency,
or location.
Taxpayers
should not
be forced to
pay for
other
people's
abortions,
nor should
any
government
or
individual
force a
woman to
have an
abortion. It
is the right
and
obligation
of the
pregnant
woman
regardless
of age, not
the state,
to decide
the
desirability
or
appropriateness
of prenatal
testing,
Caesarean
births,
fetal
surgery,
voluntary
surrogacy
arrangements
and/or home
births.
Solutions:
We oppose
government
actions that
either
compel or
prohibit
abortion,
sterilization
or any other
form of
birth
control.
Specifically
we condemn
the practice
of forced
sterilization
of welfare
recipients,
or of
mentally
retarded or
"genetically
defective"
individual.
We support
the
voluntary
exchange of
goods,
services or
information
regarding
human
sexuality,
reproduction,
birth
control or
related
medical or
biological
technologies.
We oppose
government
laws and
policies
that
restrict the
opportunity
to choose
alternatives
to abortion.
Transitional
Action:
We support
an end to
all
subsidies
for
childbearing
or child
prevention
built into
our present
laws.
I.9
Sexuality
and Gender
The
Issue:
Politicians
use popular
fears and
taboos to
legally
impose a
particular
code of
moral and
social
values.
Government
regularly
denies
rights and
privileges
on the basis
of sexual
orientation
or gender
identity.
The
Principle:
Consenting
adults
should be
free to
choose their
own sexual
practices
and personal
relationships.
Government
does not
have
legitimate
authority to
define or
license
personal
relationships.
Sexuality or
gender
should have
no impact on
the rights
of
individuals.
Solutions:
Culture
wars, social
friction and
prejudice
will fade
when
marriage and
other
personal
relationships
are treated
as private
contracts,
solely
defined by
the
individuals
involved,
and
government
discrimination
is not
allowed.
Transitional
Action:
Repeal the
federal
Defense of
Marriage Act
and state
laws and
amendments
defining
marriage.
Oppose any
new laws or
Constitutional
amendments
defining
terms for
personal,
private
relationships.
Repeal any
state or
federal law
assigning
special
benefits to
people based
on marital
status,
family
structure,
sexual
orientation
or gender
identification.
Repeal any
state or
federal laws
denying
same-sex
partners
rights
enjoyed by
others, such
as adoption
of children
and spousal
immigration.
End the
Defense
Department
practice of
discharging
armed forces
personnel
for sexual
orientation.
Upgrade all
less-than-honorable
discharges
previously
assigned
solely for
such reasons
to honorable
status, and
delete
related
information
from
military
personnel
files.
Repeal all
laws
discriminating
by gender,
such as
protective
labor laws
and
marriage,
divorce, and
custody laws
which deny
the full
rights of
each
individual.
II. Trade
and the
Economy
We believe
that each
person has
the right to
offer goods
and services
to others on
the free
market.
Therefore we
oppose all
intervention
by
government
into the
area of
economics.
The only
proper role
of existing
governments
in the
economic
realm is to
protect
property
rights,
adjudicate
disputes,
and provide
a legal
framework in
which
voluntary
trade is
protected.
Efforts to
forcibly
redistribute
wealth or
forcibly
manage trade
are
intolerable.
Government
manipulation
of the
economy
creates an
entrenched
privileged
class --
those with
access to
tax money --
and an
exploited
class --
those who
are net
taxpayers.
We believe
that all
individuals
have the
right to
dispose of
the fruits
of their
labor as
they see fit
and that
government
has no right
to take such
wealth. We
oppose
government-enforced
charity such
as welfare
programs and
subsidies,
but we
heartily
applaud
those
individuals
and private
charitable
organizations
that help
the needy
and
contribute
to a wide
array of
worthwhile
causes
through
voluntary
activities.
II.1
Government
Debt
The
Issue:
The national
debt imposes
debt upon
Americans
without
their
consent, and
loads our
economy with
a fiscal
anchor that
will burden
many future
generations.
Our
escalating
national
debt is
nothing less
than theft
from our
grandchildren.
The
Principle:
The
government
should
operate on a
"pay as you
go" basis,
and not
incur debt.
Solutions:
A debt-free
government
frees up
economic
resources,
allowing for
lower taxes,
economic
growth and
lower
interest
rates.
Transitional
Action:
Eliminate
the national
debt using
an
incremental
approach,
being
careful to
avoid social
disruption.
We support
the passage
of a
“Balanced
Budget
Amendment”
to the US
Constitution
that
restricts
Congress
from
spending any
more than it
collected in
revenue the
previous
year.
Eliminate
earmarks,
pork-barrel
spending,
and other
forms of
political
corruption.
Congress
should sell
assets and
reduce
spending on
non-essential
functions to
pay off the
national
debt as
quickly as
possible.
II.2
Corporate
Welfare,
Monopolies &
Subsidies
The
Issue:
Subsidies,
government-granted
monopolies,
and other
forms of
corporate
welfare
today exist
as
privileges
granted by
government
to those
with
political
access.
These
destroy the
level
playing
field that
free markets
depend on,
create a
corrupt
relationship
between
government
authority
and special
interests,
and are
unconstitutional.
Furthermore,
the loans by
government-sponsored
entities,
even when
not
guaranteed
by the
government,
constitute
another form
of subsidy.
The
Principle:
Individuals
must be free
to be
aggressive
competitors
and form
corporations,
cooperatives
and other
types of
companies
based on
voluntary
association
in the
market
place, and
must enjoy
no
state-sponsored
advantage.
Those who
best supply
a good or
service in
the market
will enjoy
natural
dominance
only as long
as they
continue to
benefit
consumers.
Subsidies
and
government-granted
monopolies
protect the
non-competitive
from market
forces.
Solutions:
Replacement
of all
government-granted
monopolies
and
subsidies
with
deregulated
free markets
and informed
consumers
will benefit
both
consumers
and
producers,
eliminate
political
favoritism,
and maintain
a strict
separation
of markets
and state
authority.
Genuine
crimes
committed to
create a
monopoly,
such as
blackmail,
bribery,
fraud, libel
or slander
are
prosecuted
as any other
crime.
Transitional
Action:
Eliminate
all federal
grants of
monopoly or
subsidy to
any private
companies,
such as
utilities,
airlines,
energy
companies,
agriculture,
science,
medicine,
broadcasting,
the arts and
sports
teams.
Repeal all
anti-trust
laws. All
federal
agencies
whose
primary
function is
to make or
guarantee
corporate
loans must
be abolished
or
privatized.
II.3 Public
Services
The
Issue:
Federal,
state and
local
governments
have created
inefficient
service
monopolies
throughout
the economy.
From the US
Postal
Service to
municipal
garbage
collection
and water
works,
government
is forcing
citizens to
use monopoly
services.
These are
services
that the
private
sector is
already
capable of
providing in
a manner
that gives
the public
better
service at a
competitive
price.
The
Principle:
A free and
competitive
market
allocates
resources in
the most
efficient
manner.
Consumers of
services
should not
have their
choices
arbitrarily
limited by
law.
Solutions:
Libertarian
policies
will seek to
divest
government
of all
functions
that can be
provided by
non-governmental
organizations
or private
individuals.
Transitional
Actions:
All rate
regulation
in utilities
should
transition
to free
market
pricing.
End the
Postal
Service's
monopoly and
allow for
the free
competition
in all
aspects of
mail
delivery.
State and
local
monopoly
services
should be
opened to
free-market
competition.
Local and
state
governments
can auction
assets such
as utility
systems and
landfills to
private
industry,
thereby
immediately
reducing the
tax burden
on their
citizens.
III.
Domestic
Ills
Current
problems in
such areas
as energy,
pollution,
health care
delivery,
decaying
cities, and
poverty are
not solved,
but are
primarily
caused, by
government.
The welfare
state,
supposedly
designed to
aid the
poor, is in
reality a
growing and
parasitic
burden on
all
productive
people, and
injures,
rather than
benefits,
the poor
themselves.
III.1 Crime
and
Victimless
Crime
The
Issue:
Violent
crime and
fraud
threaten the
lives,
happiness
and
belongings
of
Americans.
Government's
ability to
protect the
rights and
property of
individuals
from crimes
of violence
and fraud is
compromised
because
resources
are focused
on vice
rather than
on real
crimes. Laws
that codify
"victimless
crimes" turn
those who
simply
conduct
voluntary
transactions
and exercise
free choice
into
criminals.
This results
in the
United
States
having one
of the
highest
percentages
of the
population
in prison of
any country
in the
world; yet
real crime
remains
prevalent in
many parts
of the
country.
Principle:
Government
exists to
protect the
rights of
every
individual
including
life,
liberty and
property.
Criminal
laws should
be limited
to violation
of the
rights of
others
through
force or
fraud, or
deliberate
actions that
place others
involuntarily
at
significant
risk of
harm.
Individuals
retain the
right to
voluntarily
assume risk
of harm to
themselves
in the
exercise of
free choice.
Solution:
The
appropriate
way for the
federal
government
to address
crime is
through
consistent
and
impartial
enforcement
of laws that
protect
individual
rights. The
law
enforcement
resources of
the federal
government
can be used
most
efficiently
if limited
to
appropriate
federal
concerns.
Limiting law
enforcement
to true
crime will
restore
respect for
the law and
those who
enforce it.
Transitional
Action:
Immediately
reform the
justice
system's
mandatory
sentencing
policies to
ensure that
violent
offenders
are not
released
from jail to
make room
for
non-violent
offenders.
Repeal
criminal
laws which
work against
the
protection
of the
rights and
freedom of
American
citizens,
residents or
visitors,
particularly
laws which
create a
crime where
no victim
exists.
III.2 The
War on Drugs
The
Issue:
The
suffering
that drug
misuse has
brought
about is
deplorable;
however,
drug
prohibition
causes more
harm than
drugs
themselves.
The
so-called
"War on
Drugs" is in
reality a
war against
the American
people, our
Constitution
and the Bill
of Rights.
It is a
grave threat
to
individual
liberty, to
domestic
order and to
peace in the
world.
The
Principle:
Individuals
should have
the right to
use drugs,
whether for
medical or
recreational
purposes,
without fear
of legal
reprisals,
but must be
held legally
responsible
for the
consequences
of their
actions only
if they
violate
others’
rights.
Solutions:
Social
involvement
by
individuals
is essential
to address
the problem
of substance
misuse and
abuse.
Popular
education
and
assistance
groups are a
better
approach
than
prohibition,
and we
support the
activities
of private
organizations
as the best
way to move
forward on
the issue.
Transitional
Action:
Repeal all
laws
establishing
criminal or
civil
penalties
for the use
of drugs.
Repeal laws
that
infringe
upon
individual
rights to be
secure in
our persons,
homes, and
property as
protected by
the Fourth
Amendment.
Stop the use
of
"anti-crime"
measures
such as
profiling or
civil asset
forfeiture
that reduce
the standard
of proof
historically
borne by
government
in
prosecutions.
Stop
prosecuting
accused
non-violent
drug
offenders,
and pardon
those
previously
convicted.
IV. Foreign
Affairs
American
foreign
policy
should seek
an America
at peace
with the
world and
the defense
-- against
attack from
abroad -- of
the lives,
liberty, and
property of
the American
people on
American
soil.
Provision of
such defense
must respect
the
individual
rights of
people
everywhere.
The
principle of
non-intervention
should guide
relationships
between
governments.
The United
States
government
should
return to
the historic
libertarian
tradition of
avoiding
entangling
alliances,
abstaining
totally from
foreign
quarrels and
imperialist
adventures,
and
recognizing
the right to
unrestricted
trade,
travel, and
immigration.
IV.1
Immigration
The
Issue:
Our borders
are
currently
neither
open,
closed, nor
secure. This
situation
restricts
the labor
pool,
encouraging
employers to
hire
undocumented
workers,
while
leaving
those
workers
neither
subject to
nor
protected by
the law. A
completely
open border
allows
foreign
criminals,
carriers of
communicable
diseases,
terrorists
and other
potential
threats to
enter the
country
unchecked.
Pandering
politicians
guarantee
access to
public
services for
undocumented
aliens, to
the
detriment of
those who
would enter
to work
productively,
and
increasing
the burden
on
taxpayers.
The
Principle:
The
legitimate
function and
obligation
of
government
to protect
the lives,
rights and
property of
its
citizens,
requires
awareness of
and control
over the
entry into
our country
of foreign
nationals
who pose a
threat to
security,
health or
property.
Political
freedom and
escape from
tyranny
demands that
individuals
not be
unreasonably
constrained
by
government
in the
crossing of
political
boundaries.
Economic
freedom
demands the
unrestricted
movement of
human as
well as
financial
capital
across
national
borders.
Solutions:
Borders will
be secure,
with free
entry to
those who
have
demonstrated
compliance
with certain
requirements.
The terms
and
conditions
of entry
into the
United
States must
be simple
and clearly
spelled out.
Documenting
the entry of
individuals
must be
restricted
to screening
for criminal
background
and threats
to public
health and
national
security. It
is the
obligation
of the
prospective
immigrant to
demonstrate
compliance
with these
requirements.
Once
effective
immigration
policies are
in place,
general
amnesties
will no
longer be
necessary.
Transitional
Action:
Ensure
immigration
requirements
include only
appropriate
documentation,
screening
for criminal
background
and threats
to public
health and
national
security.
Simplifying
the
immigration
process and
redeployment
of
surveillance
technology
to focus on
the borders
will
encourage
the use of
regular and
monitored
entry
points, thus
preventing
trespass and
saving
lives. End
federal
requirements
that
benefits and
services be
provided to
those in the
country
illegally.
Repeal all
measures
that punish
employers
for hiring
undocumented
workers.
Repeal all
immigration
quotas. |
