Reader Starchild has complained that the media focus on the two major parties, making it impossible for other candidates to get a hearing—which, of course, means people don’t know about them, so they don’t get votes, and thus, a vicious cycle.
That’s a good point. Let’s take a look at Libertarian Party ideals. Here are excerpts from the Libertarian platform adopted in June 2018:
Libertarians advocate individual privacy and government transparency. . .
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. .
. . . we believe that government should be kept out of the matter [of abortion], leaving the question to each person for their conscientious consideration.
. . . we favor the repeal of all laws creating “crimes” without victims, such as gambling, the use of drugs for medicinal or recreational purposes, and consensual transactions involving sexual services. . .
We oppose the administration of the death penalty by the state. . .
We oppose all laws at any level of government restricting, registering, or monitoring the ownership, manufacture, or transfer of firearms or ammunition. . .
Eminent domain, civil asset forfeiture, governmental limits on profits, governmental production mandates, and governmental controls on prices of goods and services (including wages, rents, and interest) are abridgements of such fundamental rights. . .
Competitive free markets and property rights stimulate the technological innovations and behavioral changes required to protect our environment and ecosystems.
. . . government should not be subsidizing any particular form of energy. . .
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 support the passage of a “Balanced Budget Amendment” to the U.S. Constitution. . .
We favor repealing any requirement that one must join or pay dues to a union as a condition of government employment. . .
We favor free-market banking, with unrestricted competition among banks and depository institutions of all types. Markets are not actually free unless fraud is vigorously combated. . .
The Libertarian Party supports the decriminalization of prostitution. . .
We favor a free market health care system. . .
Libertarians would phase out the current government-sponsored Social Security system. . .
The United States should both avoid entangling alliances and abandon its attempts to act as policeman for the world. . .
The Constitution and Bill of Rights shall not be suspended even during time of war. . .We oppose the use of torture and other cruel and unusual punishments, without exception. . .
Our foreign policy should emphasize defense against attack. . .avoiding foreign entanglements. . .
Political freedom and escape from tyranny demand that individuals not be unreasonably constrained by government in the crossing of political boundaries. . .
Government should neither deny nor abridge any individual’s human right based upon sex, wealth, ethnicity, creed, age, national origin, personal habits, political preference, or sexual orientation. . .
We oppose laws that effectively exclude alternative candidates and parties, deny ballot access, gerrymander districts. . .
Libertarians are usually aligned with Republicans. For instance, Bill Weld, who ran for vice president on the Libertarian ticket, has changed his party affiliation to run against Donald Trump, as a Republican this time. On the other hand, Michigan Republican Representative Justin Amash has been hinting that he may run for president next year on the Libertarian ticket. But as you can see in their platform, Libertarians support both liberal and conservative ideals.
Liberal
They tend liberal, supporting individual privacy, including gay marriage, transgendered military service, and the individual’s right to choose abortion. Libertarians believe in separation of church and state. They believe that “victimless” crimes, such as gambling, drug use, and prostitution should not be regulated. They oppose the death penalty.
Libertarians are for reduction of the military, against foreign entanglements and acting as “policeman of the world.” They’re also against the Patriot Act, as well as any form of torture. In addition, they favor immigration of asylum seekers from other countries. And they’re against voting restrictions and gerrymandering.
Conservative
Conservative ideals include support for gun rights, government transparency, an end to the income tax and the abolishment of the IRS, as well as an end to Social Security, promotion of a balanced budget amendment, opposition to requiring federal employees being forced to pay union dues as well as an end to the minimum wage.
Libertarians believe in parental rights, up to the point of child abuse. They believe in property rights and a balance between the rights of individuals and the protection of the environment. Libertarians are for free trade and are against government subsidies for, or bailouts of, businesses.
We will also be bringing you the ideals of the Green Party and others, as well as individuals who are candidates—and why.
