reply to post by Romantic_Rebel
Me, I am a quasi Libertarian. I pretty much believe in the Libertarian platform except for the border issue. My stance on that is that to enter this
country, you have to do it lawfully and wait your turn. I think the main reason is because to come here, you should understand that the Constitution
is the law of the land and we have enough problems here to be able to handle more people believing that the government is going to support you. The
government produces nothing. They only steal from one person, take their 85% cut and dole out the remaining 15% to keep those on the dole in slavery.
Libertarian Platform from here-
Libertarian platform
1.0 Personal Liberty
Individuals should be free to make choices for themselves and to accept responsibility for the consequences of the choices they make. No individual,
group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government. Our support of an individual's right to make choices in
life does not mean that we necessarily approve or disapprove of those choices.
1.1 Expression and Communication
We support full freedom of expression and oppose government censorship, regulation or control of communications media and technology. We favor the
freedom to engage in or abstain from any religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. We oppose government actions which either aid
or attack any religion.
1.2 Personal Privacy
Libertarians support the rights recognized by the Fourth Amendment to be secure in our persons,
homes, and property. Protection from unreasonable search and seizure should include records held
by third parties, such as email, medical, and library records. Only actions that infringe on the rights
of others can properly be termed crimes. We favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without
victims, such as the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes.
1.3 Personal Relationships
Sexual orientation, preference, gender, or gender identity should have no impact on the
government's treatment of individuals, such as in current marriage, child custody, adoption,
immigration or military service laws. Government does not have the authority to define, license or
restrict personal relationships. Consenting adults should be free to choose their own sexual practices
and personal relationships.
1.4 Abortion
Recognizing that abortion is a sensitive issue and that people can hold good-faith views on all sides, we believe that government should be kept out
of the matter, leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.
1.5 Crime and Justice
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. We support restitution of the victim to the fullest degree possible at the expense of the
criminal or the negligent wrongdoer. We oppose reduction of constitutional safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused. The rights of due
process, a speedy trial, legal counsel, trial by jury, and the legal presumption of innocence until proven guilty, must not be denied. We assert the
common-law right of juries to judge not only the facts but also the justice of the law.
1.6 Self-Defense
The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights — life, liberty, and justly acquired
property — against aggression. This right inheres in the individual, who may agree to be aided by
any other individual or group. We affirm the individual right recognized by the Second Amendment
to keep and bear arms, and oppose the prosecution of individuals for exercising their rights of self-defense.
We oppose all laws at any level of government requiring registration of, or restricting, the
ownership, manufacture, or transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition.
2.0 Economic Liberty
Libertarians want all members of society to have abundant opportunities to achieve economic
success. A free and competitive market allocates resources in the most efficient manner. Each
person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the free market. The only proper role of
government in the economic realm is to protect property rights, adjudicate disputes, and provide a
legal framework in which voluntary trade is protected. All efforts by government to redistribute
wealth, or to control or manage trade, are improper in a free society.
2.1 Property and Contract
Property rights are entitled to the same protection as all other human rights. The owners of property 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 the valid rights of others. We
oppose all controls on wages, prices, rents, profits, production, and interest rates. We advocate the repeal of all laws banning or restricting the
advertising of prices, products, or services. We oppose all violations of the right to private property, liberty of contract, and freedom of trade.
The right to trade includes the right not to trade — for any reasons whatsoever. Where property, including land, has been taken from its rightful
owners by the government or private action in violation of individual rights, we favor restitution to the rightful owners.
2.2 Environment
We support a clean and healthy environment and sensible use of our natural resources. Private landowners and conservation groups have a vested
interest in maintaining natural resources. Pollution and misuse of resources cause damage to our ecosystem. Governments, unlike private businesses,
are unaccountable for such damage done to our environment and have a terrible track record when it comes to environmental protection. Protecting the
environment requires a clear definition and enforcement of individual rights in resources like land, water, air, and wildlife. Free markets and
property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems. We realize that our
planet's climate is constantly changing, but environmental advocates and social pressure are the most effective means of changing public behavior.
2.3 Energy and Resources
While energy is needed to fuel a modern society, government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. We oppose all government control
of energy pricing, allocation, and production.
2.4 Government Finance and Spending
All persons are entitled to keep the fruits of their labor. We call for the repeal of the income tax, the abolishment of the Internal Revenue Service
and all federal programs and services not required under the U.S. Constitution. We oppose any legal requirements forcing employers to serve as tax
collectors. Government should not incur debt, which burdens future generations without their consent. We support the passage of a "Balanced Budget
Amendment" to the U.S. Constitution, provided that the budget is balanced exclusively by cutting expenditures, and not by raising taxes.
2.5 Money and Financial Markets
We favor free-market banking, with unrestricted competition among banks and depository
institutions of all types. Individuals engaged in voluntary exchange should be free to use as money
any mutually agreeable commodity or item. We support a halt to inflationary monetary policies and
unconstitutional legal tender laws.
2.6 Monopolies and Corporations
We defend the right of individuals to form corporations, cooperatives and other types of companies based on voluntary association. We seek to divest
government of all functions that can be provided by non-governmental organizations or private individuals. We oppose government subsidies to business,
labor, or any other special interest. Industries should be governed by free markets.
2.7 Labor Markets
We support repeal of all laws which impede the ability of any person to find employment. We oppose government-fostered forced retirement. We support
the right of free persons to associate or not associate in labor unions, and an employer should have the right to recognize or refuse to recognize a
union. We oppose government interference in bargaining, such as compulsory arbitration or imposing an obligation to bargain.
2.8 Education
Education, like any other service, is best provided by the free market, achieving greater quality and efficiency with more diversity of choice.
Schools should be managed locally to achieve greater accountability and parental involvement. Recognizing that the education of children is
inextricably linked to moral values, we would return authority to parents to determine the education of their children, without interference from
government. In particular, parents should have control of and responsibility for all funds expended for their children's education.
2.9 Health Care
We favor restoring and reviving a free market health care system. We recognize the freedom of
individuals to determine the level of health insurance they want, the level of health care they want,
the care providers they want, the medicines and treatments they will use and all other aspects of
their medical care, including end-of-life decisions. People should be free to purchase health
insurance across state lines.
See the remainder at link.
50-75% of our labor is stolen from us
We do not really own our property only rent it
The closest to the founding principles you will find is in the Libertarian party. Maybe the Constitutional party is right there also.
[edit on 7/30/2010 by endisnighe]