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Also available here: http://marketliberal.org/LP/Platforms/1983_09%20LP%20Platform.pdf
Also available here: http://marketliberal.org/LP/Platforms/1983_09%20LP%20Platform.pdf


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The following is far from complete at this time:
[[Category:National Platform]]
 
As Libertarians. we seek a world of liberty, a would‘ in which all individuals are sovereign over their own lives and no one is forced to sacrifice for the benefit of others.
 
We believe that respect for individual rights is the essential predocndition for a free and prosperous world, that force and fraud must be banished from human relationships, and that only through freedom can peace and prosperitiy be reallized.
 
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.
 
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 each individual has the right to exercise sole dominion over his own life, and has the right to live his life in whatever manner he chooses, so long as he does not forcibly interfere with the equal right of others to live their lives 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 life of the individual and seize the fruits of his labor without his consent.
 
We, on the contrary, deny the right of any government to do these things, and hold that the sole function of government is the protection of the rights of each individual: namely (1) the right to life -- and accordingly we support laws prohibiting the initiation of physical force against others; (2) the right to liberty of speech and action -- and 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 -- and accordingly we oppose all government interference with private property, such as confiscation, nationalization, and eminent domain, and support laws which prohibit robbery, trespass, fraud and misrepresentation.
 
Since government has only one legitimate function, the protection of individual rights, we oppose all interference by government in the areas of voluntary and contractual relations among individuals. Men 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 on a free market; and the resultant economic system, the only one compatible with the protection of man's rights, is laissez-faire capitalism.
 
 
(2)
 
INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS AND CIVIL ORDER
 
No conflict exists between civil order and individual rights. fiBoth concepts are based on the same fundamental principle: that no individual, group, or government may initiate force against any other individual, group, or government.
 
1. FREEDOM AND RESPONSIBILITY
 
Members of the Libertarian Party do not neceissarily advvocate or condone any of the practices our policies would make legal. Our exclusion of moral approval and disapproval is deliberate; people's rights must be recognized; the wisdom of any course of peaceful action is a matter for the acting individual(s) to decide.  Personal responsibility is discouraged by society routinely denying the people the opportunity to exercise it.  Libertarian policies will create a society where people are make and learn from their own decisions.
 
2 CRIME
 
The continuing high level of violent crime -- and the government's demonstrated inability to deal with it -- threatens the lives, happiness, and belongings of Americans.  At the same time governmental violations of rights undermine the people's sense of justice with regard to crime. The appropriate way to suppress crime is through consistent and impartial enforcement of laws that protect individual rights.  Laws pertaining to "victimless crimes" should be repealed since such laws themselves violate individual rights and also breed other types of crime.  We applaud the trend toward private protection services and voluntary community crime control groups.  We support institutional changes. consistent with full respect for the rights of the accused that would permit victims to direct the prosecution in criminal cases.
 
 
VICTIMLESSS CRIMES
 
Because only actions  that  infringe  on  the  rights  of  others  can
properly be termed  crimes, we favor the repeal of all federal, state,
and local laws  creating "crimes" without  victims.  In particular, we
advocate:
a.  the  repeal  of  all  laws  prohibiting  the  production,  sale,
possession, or  use  of  drugs,  and  of  all  medicinal  prescription
requirements  for  the  purchase  of  vitamins,  drugs,  and  similar
substances;
b.  the repeal  of all laws restricting or prohibiting the use or sale
of alcohol, including  the imposition of  a minimum drinking age,  and
making bartenders or  hosts responsible for  the behavior of customers
and guests;
c.  the repeal  of all laws  or policies authorizing stopping  drivers
without probable cause to test for alcohol or drug use;
d.  the repeal  of all laws  regarding  consensual  sexual  relations,
including prostitution and  solicitation, and the  cessation of  state
oppression and harassment  of homosexual men  and women, that they, at
last, be accorded their full rights as individuals;
e.  the repeal  of all laws  regulating or prohibiting the possession,
use, sale, production,  or distribution of sexually explicit material,
independent  of  "socially  redeeming  value"  or  compliance  with
"community standards";
(3)
 
f.  the repeal of all laws regulating or prohibiting gambling; and
g.  the repeal  of all laws  interfering  with  the  right  to  commit
suicide as infringements of the ultimate right of an individual to his
or her own life.
We demand the  use of executive pardon to free and exonerate all those
presently incarcerated or  ever convicted solely for the commission of
these "crimes."
Further, we recognize  that, often, the  Federal Government blackmails
states which refuse to comply with these laws by withholding funds and
we applaud those states which refuse to be so coerced.
 
4. SAFEGUARDS FOR THE CRIMINALLY ACCUSED
 
Until such time as persons are proved guilty of crimes, they should be
accorded full respect for their individual rights.  We are thus opposed to reduction of
present safeguards of the rights of the criminally accused.
 
Specifically, we are opposed to preventive detention, so-called "noknock”
laws, and all other measures that t.hreaten individual rights.
 
We support full restittition for all loss suffered by persons arrested, indicted,
tried, imprisoned, or otherwise inuured in the course of criminal proceedings against
them that do not result in their conviction.  When they are responsible, governmental
police employees or agents should be liable for this restitution.
 
We call for a reform of the judicial system allowing criminal defendants and
civil parties to a court action a reasonable number of peremptory challenges to
proposed judges, similar to their right under the present system to challenge a
proposed juror.
 
 
5. JUSTICE FOR THE INDIVIDUAL
 
The present system of criminal law is based almost solely on punishment with
little concern for the victim.  We support restitution for the victim to the fullest
degree possiblefiat the expense of the criminal or wrongdoer.
 
We oppose the prosecution of individuals for the right of self-defense.
 
We oppose all "no-fault" insurance laws. which deprive the victim fo the right
to recover damages from those responsible in the case of injury.  We also support the
right of the victim to pardon the criminal or wrongdoer. barring threats to the
victim for this purpose.  We applaud the growth of private adjudication of disputes by
mutually acceptable judges.
 
We support a change in rape laws so that cohabitation will no longer be a
defense against a charge of rape.
 
 
6 JURIES
 
We oppose the current practice of forced jury duty and favor all-volunteer juries.
 
In addition. we urge the assertion of the common-law right of juries to judge
not only the facts but also the justice of the law.  Juries may hold all criminal laws invalid that are,in their opinion, unjust or oppressive, and find all persons not
guilty of violating such laws.
 
(4)
 
T’ INDIVIDUAL SUVERHGNTY
 
The only legitimate use of force is in defense of individual rights -- life.
liberty. and justly acquired property -- against aggression. whether by force or
fraud This right inheres in the individual. who -- with his or her consent -- may be
aided by any other individual or group.
 
The right of defense extends to defense against aggressive acts of government.
We favor an immediate end to the doctrine of "Sovereign Immunity" which ignores
the primacy of the individual ove.r the abstraction of the State. and holds that the
 
State contrary to the tradition of redress of grievances. may not be sued without its
permission or held accountable for its actions under civil law.
 
\__‘.i
 
L 3 GOVERNMENT AND MEl\l'I'AL HEALTH
 
We. oppose the involuntary commitment of any person to a mental institution
To incarcerate an individual not convicted of any crime, but merely asserted to be
incompetent. is a violation of the individual's rights We further advocate
 
a the repeal of all laws permitting involuntary psychiatric treat-
ment of any person. including children and those incarcerated
in prisons or mental institutions;
 
b an immediate end to the spending of tax money for any program
of psychiatric or psychological research or treatment.
 
c an end to all involuntary treatment of prisoners by such means
as psychosurgery. drug therapy. and aversion therapy.
 
d an end to tax-supported "mental health" propaganda campaigns
and community "mental health" centers and programs and
 
e an end to criminal defenses hased on "insanity" or "diminished
capacity‘ which absolve the guilty of their responsibility
 
9 FREEDOM OF COMMUNICATION
 
We defend the rights of individuals to unrestricted freedom of speech and
freedom ofthe press It is particularly important in any society including our own
to guarantee the right of individuals to dissent from government itself We recognize
that full freedom of expression is only possible as part of a system of full property
rights The freedom to use onesown voice. the freedom to hire a hall. the freedom to
own a printing press. a broadcasting station or a transmission cable. 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 peoples property to promote one‘s ideas without the voluntary consent of the
owners
, We oppose all forms of government censorship whatever the medium
involved Specifically. we oppose all laws against obscenity or commercial
adverts sin g . "W-e--conedetm n——secu~i=i»ties--regu~lations-that-deprive-financittl-advi$OTy"
 
-newsletterr-of—freed<n—m«~of~+he——pnoes: We further condemn indirect censorship
through government control of the postal system and regulation of cable  -g
transmissions 5 D '
' ‘We support the repeal of the Intelligence Identities Protection Act. which?‘
classifies information as secret that should be available to taxpayers. violates. freedoino g
. ~01 ;5P¢_¢Fh and Press and prohibits public discussion of covert gotverlttininfinl-ii*.'.?e.i'
Ll Nfiainitlll-3'1")’ activities and spvinll abroad 7 i t ’ 
 
_‘ I
..|’g
 
  J 1 We also oppose ' the governments burgeoning practice
or the premises of other innocent third parties-‘. in  ”
 
(5)
 
enforcement. We further oppose court orders gagging news vcovera’8¢".017"°ii‘m“i‘{.l‘»‘*t
 
proceedings —- the right to publish and broadcast must not be abridged n1B.I76.1Y»‘i‘1".¢."‘!i'~‘:9,§"v'.i it“
 
convenience of the judicial system. We deplore any efforts to impose thou'ghttigcCDn{?}7U1§.g
on the media, either by the use of anti-trust laws. or by any other governmenfvrsIiI.03l0lT».:
 
in the name of stopping "bias" We further deplore all measures tbato.res¢ri¢.l‘.'."i
 
competition in the electronic media by barring telephone compan.icS'l.'~rom~;f.:
 
publishing electronic newspapers and electronic "Yellow Pages." ~
 
To complete the separation of media and State, we support legislation to repeal
the Federal Communications Act, and to provide for private homesteading and
ownership of airwave frequencies. thus giving the electronic media First
Amendment parity with the other communications media Government regulation of
broadcasting can no longer be tolerated /We therefore urge -repeat-rrf-the-"'fzir—ness
doctrine." the "equal time" rule. and the "reasonable access" provision Government
ownership or subsidy of broadcast band radio and television stations and networks --
in particular. the tax funding of the Corporation for Public Broadcasting -- must end.‘
We also oppose government ownership of. grants of monopoly franchise for. or
regulation of . "pay TV" cable. or satellite transmission systems We specifically
condemn such government efforts to control broadcast content by banning
advertising for cigarettes and sugar-coated breakfast f ouds or regulating depiction of
sex or violence
 
We call for immediate cessation of federal funding and contracting of ads
produced by the National Ad Council. so that no individuals be forced to pay to support
issues or ideas to which they would not voluntarily contribute The implied threat of
loss of license renewal broadcasters face. if they refuse to show National Ad Council
advertisements for f ree. can only be ended by abolishing the F CC.
 
In particular. FCC regulation of political coverage must be immediately ended,
to stop its chilling effect on the level of political debate in this country Federally
mandated lower rates for political ads. which unjustly harm established broadcasters.
must cease. as must FCC rules and regulations that uniustly benefit established
broadcasters
 
Removal of all of these regulations throughout the communications media
would open the way to untrammeled diversity and innovation We shall not be
 
satisfied until the First Amendment is expanded to protect full. unconditional .freedom
of communication.
 
10 FREEDOM OF RELIGION
 
We defend the rights of individuals to engage in'(_ any
religious activities that do not violate the rights of others. on or er 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.
conservatorships. or instruction under confinement -~ to force children to conform
to their parents’ or any others‘ religious views Government harassment or
 
obstruction of unconventional religious groups for their beliefs or non-violent
activities must end.
 
I I THE RIGHT TO PROPERTY
 
There is no conflict between property rights and human rights. .Indeed.
property rights are the rights of humans with respect to property. and: as such.‘ are
entitled to the same respect and protection as all other human rights.
 
(6)
 
 
Moreover. all human rlghts are property rlghts too. such rights as my 
freedom from involuntary servitude as well as the freedom of speech and the free‘doiii~. e 2
of press are based on sell‘-ownership. Our bodies are our property every bit as much 
as is iustly acquired land or material obiects.
 
We t\trther hold that the owners of properly have the full right to control.
use. dispose of. or in any manner enioy. their property without interference. until
and unless the exercise of their control infringes the valid rights of others. We
oppose all violations of the right to private property. liberty of contract. and freedom
of trade done in the name of national security We also condemn current government
efforts to regulate or ban the use of property in the name of aesthetic values.
risltinex. moral standards. cost-benefit estimates. or the promotion or restriction of
economic growth
 
We demand an end to the taxation of privately owned real property. which
actually makes the State the owner of all lands and forces individuals to rent their
homes and places ofbusiness from the State. We condemn iaeem-attempts to employ
eminent domain to municipalize sports teams or to try to force them to stay in their
present location
 
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 Specifically we call for the landsetaken
from Americans of Japanese ancestry dtiring World War II.
 
12 PROTECTION OF PRIVACY
 
The individuals privacy property. and right to speak or not to speak should
not be infringed by the government. The government should not use electronic o.r
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 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 he conducted only with the consent of the
persons from whom the data is sought
 
We oppose the issuance by the government of an identity card. to be required
for any purpose. such as employment. voting. or border crossing
 
cl??-
 
I3 GOVERNMENT SECRECY
 
We condemn the governments use of secret classifications to keep from the
public information that it should have We favor substituting a system in which no . _ .
individual may be convicted for violating government secrecy classifications unless  . .
 
U
 
the government discharges its burden of proving that the publ'icat_inn,
 
1 violated the right of privacy of those who have been coerced     
into revealing confidential or proprietary information to . " J    ‘it,
govern ment agents or I f_  .
 
b disclosed defensive military plans so as to materially impair t. r i    f
the cepiihilities to respond to attack a A
 
,'t ..'.
 
it should eltvays be it defense to such prosecution that tihformotion
 
shows that the government has violated the law .5.» mg 
 
(7)
 
 
We call for the abolition of all federalisecrettipoliifle‘ 3 :'V’=ri i—:i.+,£+‘-1’~ ».
seek the abolition of the Central Intelligence Ageni¢y'an'd;,..l2hl9‘
Investigation. and we call for it return to the‘~Atn8ri_Ca’I1a
enforcement. We support Congressional investigation of ‘C-Flmlillfll'§C\um!n§§3iQ£.'.jfi§‘§i:€§:£
CIA and FBI and of wrongdoing by other governmentaleagenrci.es.'    i  =  ~,§,~"s‘=i.:i£.;gf
 
We support the abolition of the subpoena power as used Iby: .Go‘n%gl:i7E;$$lGr;%?l;;Ylt’»aif’;g
committees against individuals or firms. We hail the abo‘lition~of‘”the:.l-Io;tlse*';Ilttt§1?§t‘{ffll‘i",'i=§‘A
Security Committee and call for the destruction of its files on pr.iV8l,E.indi’vidUill9'"?!17d3
 
groups We also call for- the abolition of the Senate Subcommittee oenllxintiter-ll)!-?,;1fil,e%pi:‘ 
 
: g I  J‘
15 THE RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS  ii  j
 
Maintaining our belief in the inviolability of the right to ‘keep and bear—'a’rn1ys.~i
we oppose all laws at any level of government restricting the oW.niei‘sh=i'p=.‘g.%
manufacture transfer or sale of firearms or ammunition We oppose; aylli‘l_tWs'i ’
requiring registration of firearms or ammunition We also oppose any gover-,n.menalt
efforts to ban or restrict the use of tear gas "mace " or other self —protection ndevices
We further oppose all attempts to ban weapons or ammunition on the ~grou"nds that
they are risky or unsafe
 
We support repeal of the National Firearms Act of 1935 and the ‘Federal Gun S
Control Act of 1968 and we demand the immediate abolition of the Bureau of AiTCO’]'N'll. 
Tobacco and Firearms
 
We favor the repeal of laws banning the concealment of weapons or
 
prohibiting pticltel weapons We also Oppose the banning of inexpensive hatndguns
l"Saturday night specials")
 
I6 CONSCRIPTION ANI) THE MILITARY
 
Recognizing that registration is the first step toward full conscription we
oppose all attempts at compulsory registration of any person and all schemes for
automatic registration through govern ment invasions of the privacy of school motor
vehicle. or other records We call for the abolition of the still-functioning elements
of the Selective Service System believing that impressment of individuals into the
armed forces is involuntary servitude We call for the destruction of all files in
com puter- readable or hard—copy form compiled by the Selective Service System We
also oppose any form of national service such as a compulsory youth labor program
 
We oppose adding women to the pool of those eligible for and subiect to the
draft not because we think that as a rule women are unfit for combat but because we
 
believe that this step enlarges the number of people subiected to government
tyranny
 
We support the immediate and unconditional exoneration of all who have been
accused or convicted of dratt evasion desertion from the military. and other acts of
resistance to such transgressions as imperialistic wars and aggressive acts of the
military Members of the military should have the same right to quit their jobs as
other persons
 
We call for the end of the Defense Department practice of discharging armed
forces personnel for homosexual conduct We further call for rotractionof all ten-
 
than-honorable discharges previously assigned for such reasons anddeletion of Such,
information from military personnel files
 
(8)
 
we supp.ort'= the right olifree _1persons to rV.0luntan1lya¢$E8bl1Sh. <r¥StS£.t,<3»l§1l.e; :’tt)..frar;
 
I rin‘0tasso¢iat¢iir.in.. labor. ‘unions, i‘An.r:emp’l0¥er 5h0U1.dihjaN*ei.th¢ .vN7Brl1.|il3i1.oé. in¢is.aT8§11i!IZ¢i W .' 4
 
»employ,'ees.
 
—'.re use ttq‘recog_n,ize;.a union as the‘co‘.llectivei bargaintingg agenjtrofisogmieg.gor:.all%;},offits,
 
We
 
_ ._ ' L . 4.. 3 by ‘ ‘y  .'.; '.»".;:  pjh,"  I.‘
oppose government--interlierentce in h,agr»gatn~inosg..soc~hr iarcompulsorys A
 
..arhitration orfthe in1‘posi,tio,n«of an ob.l~igati.on to «b,ar.giain* .7l7h'fefi€f0Hi¢$‘W9.;’U%E8€rif1’£lJ¢3Ii
 
  of -the.‘rN'ationaliI Lab or. Relations Act. an.d.all 2 state iRi=giht-'.to-Work ;La§rsio. rw»l1iic?h;».prorhibii‘t
 
  employersfrominalting volttntary contractsw«ith.tun'io.ns We 9J1J70$§?‘«'i£:II;SDV¢!=nin£nt
bacl;-to-wor;k»orders as'theimp<vsit‘ion ofiafonmof7for:cedrla'b.or=g7.' -  T    I
 
I Workers and cmrloye rs shot! It!‘ haw: the *nishsf=19><9nsao=iZ¢irr¢se¢9H.436? ‘P9-Y-‘9i¥5
 
if they so choose. Nevertheless. boycotts or st~r;iIlte,s[d_o.-into}iU§t1iIyj>,thge'_rinfitiation?pl"
violence against other w.ork.ers; employers. pst‘r*i.lc,e.-;ur;e2t=lter«s~i.  ’l."gi;:ti‘l11__r;)‘t3,gp‘_t b_
 
bystanders    b up by .,b  V I '=_‘,=_’e':  V
. - ‘ ,_‘ .  . ‘J-fig’:  ‘mt;  "
13 IMMIGRATION    g, P . A . V  ;.      ., :
 
We hold that human rights should not be denied or ..abridgge.d“;,on;\'th“e»-i*hasis»iof  I
nationality We condemn massive rou11_dups of Hispanic .Amer.icga‘n.'s :'a=ndi‘T:odhepsy.lbyaftéhiees ., ,
federal government in its hunt for individuals not possessin.g‘rreg.ujrired‘.pi~gove?nhh);;h{e,,gg. ,
documents We strongly oppose all measures that ’ . punishreImpgljbye‘rsri;=‘wI)‘D‘Il1'ifr§§Ti¥«pt:"r.~i
undocumented workers Such measures repress free enterprise. harass ?wojljl;:§::r§;a;i31'n;l$
systematically discourage employers from hiringflispanics °  .   
 
I Undocumented non—citizens should not he denied the fundamentalfreedorn to
labor and to move about unmolested Furthermore immigration must not ‘be
restricted for reasons of race religion, political creed age or sexual preference.
 
We therefore call for the elimination of all restrictions on immigration. the
abolition of the Immigration and Naturalization Service and the Border Patrol and a
declaration of full amnesty for all people who have entered the country illegally We
oppose government welfare payments to non-citizens just as we oppose government
welfare payments to all other persons
 
Because we support the right of workers to cross borders without harassment
we oppose all govcrnmenwnandated "temporary worker" plans Specifically. we
condemn attempts to revive the Bracero Program as government imposition of
second-class status on Mexican~horn workers
 
We welcome all refugees to our shores and condemn the efforts of U S officials
to create a new "Berlin Wall" which would keep them captive We condemn the U S
governments policy of barring those refugees from our shores and preventing
 
Americans from assisting their passage to help them escape tyranny or improve
their economic prospects
 
I9 DISCRIMINATION
 
A A Individual rights should not be denied. abridged or enhanced at the expense‘ I
of other peoples rights. on the basis of sex. wealth. race. color. creed. age. national 
  _0:f.lfl1ll. ersonal habits. political preference. or sexual orientation by the laws In 
level o a government Protective labor laws. Selective Service laws. and othors.‘Ii,tt\_‘1_Igngi_.;j..,_*§;:
{that violate rights selectively should be repealed entirely rather than beingiextendqd§g.,é§9:r~.*}iE
 
(9)
 
 
. Discrimination imposed by the government has br.o.ught‘tdlpsrlljll;l0,gii"!I§§°P£}f...,....,,  t
relationships of people. set neighbor against neighbor, created .grass,a"aIjtt1_y5l,tCes.l: f;l.s’;‘s4,l,f.a*;‘
 
diminished human potential. Anti-discrimination enforced bythe:vgovern?ment’§‘ifit§3*i}tog:-:5
""325
 
reverse side of ti): coin. and will for the same reasons create 11.19,  _
oppose any government attempts to regulate’ '%,:pnt9lIfl,l,6¥-“;,~
 
discrimination. including discrimination in employment. housing, and; .privateIy«j~g,
 
 
 
.3
I
I
 
owned so-called public accommodations. The right to trade includes the‘=right.not  ,,:.,
 
trade -- for any reasons whatsoever.
 
20 WOMEN'S RIGHTS
 
We hold that individual rights should not be denied or abridged on thebasis of
sex. We call for repeal of all laws discriminating against women, such as protective
labor laws and marriage or divorce laws which deny the full rights of men and
women. We oppose all laws likely to impose restrictions on free choi.ce and -private
property or to widen tyranny through reverse discrimination. V
 
Recognizing that each person must be the sole and absolute owner of his or
her own body, we support the right of women to make a personal choice regarding
the termination of pregnancy. We oppose the undermining of right via laws
requiring consent of the pregnant woman‘s parents. consent of the prospective
father. waiting periods, or compulsory provision of indoctrination on medical risks
or fetal development. However, we also oppose all tax funding for abortions. It is
particularly harsh to ‘force someone who believes that abortion is murder to pay for
another's abortion. We also condemn state-mandated abortions
 
21 CHILDREN'S RIGHTS
 
Children are human beings and, as such, have all the rights of human beings.
We oppose all laws that empower government officials to seize children and
make them "wards of the state" or, by means of child labor laws and compulsory
education. to infringe on their freedom to work or learn as they choose. We oppose
all legally created or sanctioned discrimination against (or in favor of) children. just
as we oppose government discrimination directed at any other artificially defined
 
sub-category of human beings. Specifically we oppose ordinances that outlaw adults-
only apartment housing.
 
We also support the repeal of all laws establishing any category of crimes
applicable to children for which adults would not be similarly vulnerable. such as
curfew, smoking, and alcoholic beverage laws, and other status offenses. Similarly.
we favor the repeal of “stubborn child" laws and laws establishing the category of
"persons in need of supervision." We call for an end to the practice in many states of
iailing children not accused of any crime. We seek the repeal of all "children's codes“
or statutes which abridge due process protections for young people. We further favor
the abolition of the juvenile court system. so that juveniles will be held fully
responsible for their crimes.
 
Whenever parents or other guardians are unable or unwilling to care for
their children. those guardians have the right tlo seek other persons who are willing
to assume guardianship. and children have the right to seek other guardians who
place a higher value on their lives. Accordingly, we oppose all laws that impede
these processes. notably those restricting private adoption services or those forcing
children to remain in the custody of their parents against their will.
 
Children should always have the right to establish their maturity by assuming
administration and protection of their own rights. ending dependency upon their
 
parents or other guardians and assuming all the responsibilities of adulthood.
 
(10)
 
22. AMERICAN INDIANRIGH'l'S .  i'~
if I I . H t -.‘:' 
 
The 51310!‘ T 8'-‘W3 undenlyma U16 Unconscionabla plight of America’s?l,hdia’n‘si.  '
333)’ 5° §“mmBl'1Z°d 8S_ follows: (I). the unresolved complexity of dual national»  I
¢1Ul°P§h1P: (2) the_attrition of reservation lands andabridgement of Indian rights to
“°“1_"11m8 PFODBFUBS: (.'i) the subjugation of individual Indians to the Bureau of
Indian Affairs and _tribal governmental authority; and (4) various federal
commitmuents to provide the tribes with health, education, and welfare benefits
 
forever in exchange for expropriated lands.
 
We favor the following remedies. respectively: (1) individual Indians should
 
be free to select their citizenship, if any. and tribes should be allowed to choose their
level of autonomy, up to absolute sovereignty: (2) Indians should have their just
property rights restored, including rights of easement, access, hunting and fishing:
(3) the Bureau of Indian Affairs should be abolished and tribal members allowed to
decide the extent and nature of their government. if any; and (4) negotiations should
be undertaken to exchange various otherwise unclaimed and unowned federal
properties for any and all remaining governmental obligations to the tribes.
 
We further advocate holding fully liable those responsible for any and all
damages which have resulted from authorization of . or engagement in. resource
development on reservation lands. including damages done by careless disposal of
uranium tailin gs and other mineral wastes.
 
T'R~ADE-A'N'D"I'H}.‘ECDNUHY
 
Because each person has the right to offer goods and services to others on the
free market, and because government interference can only harm such free activity.
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 f ramework 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.
 
1. THE ECONOMY
 
Government intervention in the economy imperils both the personal freedom
 
and the material prosperity of every American. We therefore support the following
specific immediate reforms:
 
a. drastic reduction of both taxes and government spending;
b. an end to deficit budgets;
 
c. a halt to inflationary monetary policies;
 
d. the removal of all governmental impediments to free trade; and
 
e. the repeal of all controls on wages. prices. rents. profits. production.
and interest rates.
 
2. TAXATION
 
Since we believe that all persons are entitled to keep the fruits of thlit‘
we oppose all government activity that consists of the forcible collection of mnnfilttlim
 
goods from individuals in violation of their individual rights. Specifically. veg.
 
it
 
 
---------------
 
[Excerpts printed in the "Vol 1 No 2" 1986 "Special Issue" of LP News]
 
 
Military Policy
 
We recognize the necessity for maintaining a sufficient military force to defend the United States against aggression. We should reduce the overall cost and size of our total government defense establishment.
 
We call for the withdrawal of all American troops from bases abroad. In particular, we call for the removal of the U.S. Air Force as well as ground troops from the Korean peninsula.
 
We call for withdrawal from mulitalteral and bilateral commitments to military intervention (such as NATO and to South Korea) and for abandonment of interventionist doctrines (such as the Monroe Doctrine).
 
We view the mass-destruction potential of modern warfare as the greatest threat to the lives and liberties o f the American people and all the people of the globe. We favor international negotiations toward general and complete disarmament down to the police levels, provided every necessary precaution is taken to effectively protect the lives and the rights of the American people. Particularly important is the mutual disarmament of nuclear weapons and missiles, and other instruments of indiscriminate mass destruction of civilians.
Foreign Aid
["cartels" <=> "circles", otherwise identical to 1990 plank]
We  support  the  elimination  of  tax-supported  military,  economic,
technical,  and  scientific  aid  to  foreign  governments  or  other
organizations.  We support the abolition of government underwriting of
arms sales.  We  further support abolition  of federal  agencies  that
make American taxpayers  guarantors of export-related  loans, such  as
the Export-Import Bank  and the Commodity Credit Corporation.  We also
oppose the participation  of  the  U.S.  government  in  international
commodity  cartels which  restrict  production,  limit  technological
innovation, and raise prices.
We call for  the repeal of  all prohibitions on individuals  or  firms
contributing or selling  goods and services  to any foreign country or
organization.
 
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